Chapter 555: Chapter 432 Isabel’s Battle Chapter 555 -432 Isabel’s Battle Isabel, in the form of Yulia, sat obediently and quietly in the carriage, opposite her was the beautiful woman with platinum blonde curly hair.

The carriage was neither an accomplice coming to aid the other party nor the kind of open-top carriage often seen by the roadside.

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It was a carriage owned by a knight or a merchant family, with fruits and exquisite decorations inside the compartment.

The soft cushion underneath made the ride less torturous.

It was something the woman had casually hailed from the roadside.

After just one encounter, the other party was completely under her control.

Without questioning what she intended to do, the person smoothly and naturally got out of their own carriage and handed it over to her.

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As the people inside bade her a warm farewell and left, they didn’t sense anything amiss; they hadn’t even glanced at Yulia for the duration of the trip.

Once Yulia boarded, the woman drew the curtains of the carriage.

Hence, from the outside, it was impossible to see “Yulia” here.

In the dim space, the woman’s pupils spilled over with a rosy halo.

In the enclosed space, that sweet scent became even more intense.

Isabel could clearly feel that her consciousness was gradually blurring.

Soon, she would fall back into that bewitched state.

——This was absolutely unacceptable.

Isabel thought this to herself.

Although she didn’t know who the woman was, it was evident that she had come after Yulia.

If even Bishop Mathers had been controlled so quietly, then she must be a Fifth Power Level Transcendent.

Therefore, it was likely that this person was the Countess Emma from Star Antimony.

If she exposed her true identity at this moment, it was possible that she could put an end to the other party’s criminal actions…

but it was more likely that she would sink into greater trouble.

Whether it was being completely mind-controlled and turning into a puppet; or having her mind manipulated to harm Aiwass and Yulia, damaging her personal relationships; or even being attacked or assassinated to be silenced—it didn’t matter if it was just erasing her memory and then taking her to find the real Yulia, it was something Isabel could not accept at all.

…It was just yesterday that a drunk Aiwass had held her while calling her mom and crying with a whimper.

He spouted nonsense with no logic, much like a sleep talker.

It was then that Isabel first learned that Aiwass, who seemed to know everything and capable of anything, also had his moments of vulnerability; it wasn’t until then that she deeply realized she must not regard Aiwass as her god, and Aiwass was definitely not her savior.

He was also human, with his own loves, hates, and suffering.

Although he always seemed to wear a relaxed and confident smile, he was simply accumulating the pressure silently in his heart.

Isabel couldn’t throw all the responsibility and pressure onto Aiwass.

Aiwass had saved her, and she must protect everything that Aiwass cherished.

——That was only fair!

If she couldn’t even protect a harmless little girl like Yulia, how could she swear before the citizens with a clear conscience that she would protect Avalon?

So, Isabel began to devise a way to awaken herself before she lost consciousness again.

Isabel instinctively realized that the means by which Countess Emma controlled the mind must be that fragrance.

It wasn’t something that would turn her into a puppet, but rather, it would dissolve hostility and generate immense affection.

It was as if becoming best friends with someone she had known for decades.

But when her name was called incorrectly, there would be a moment of clarity.

If the other party did not continue to control her after that, she would be able to break free from the control.

Therefore, Isabel needed to make the other party think of the name “Yulia” after leaving the carriage.

To lay out the plan, she had to take some risks.

——This was her battle.

Once she had a clear objective and understood the risks, Isabel lifted her head, relaxedly opened the carriage curtain, and looked outside.

Her action surprised Emma, but Emma made no move, only watching Isabel with interest to see what she would do.

“Where…

are we going?”

She uttered it in Yulia’s soft and timid voice, which for Isabel, was not difficult to imitate…

she just directly mimicked her past self.

Her eyes betrayed a hint of resistance and timidity, her lips slightly pursed.

“Are you very scared?”

Emma asked softly, extending her hand and gently grasping “Yulia’s” hand.

She gently caressed the back of “Yulia’s” hand, asked casually, “Can you tell sister what you’re thinking?”

Isabel felt a strong wave of dizziness rise from her heart.

It was like soaking in a hot bath after strenuous and tiring study, then crawling into a warm bed.

It felt as though she would fall asleep if she just relaxed.

She closed her eyes slightly to balance the imbalance in her heart and resisted the urge to relax, while putting on a contemplative expression, “Brother told me…

Lohar District is dangerous, and he doesn’t allow me to wander there…

”

“It’s okay,” Emma chuckled gently, pulled “Yulia” into her embrace, rested her forehead against hers, and said in a tone used to soothe a child, “Sister will protect you.”

Isabel dared not resist at all, nor could she afford to show any sign of it.

Images of Aiwass’s face flooded her mind, and she concentrated on recalling every word he had said to distract herself from the overpowering and unnatural sense of affection.

At the same time, Isabel opened her eyes and looked at Emma curiously, asking casually, “If we’re going to Lohar District, does that mean we’re going abroad for fun?”

“We will later.

But this time, I’m taking you to familiarize yourself with the route,” Emma replied with a light laugh, explaining earnestly, “Sister has some matters the next couple of days and can’t just take you away.

You need to remember how to get to the Lohar Building…

and then slip out when your brother goes to attend the Round Table Hall meeting the day after tomorrow.

Got it?”

She currently felt somewhat apprehensive about dealing with Aiwass.

Although Aiwass was just a weakling at the Third Power Level, the inexplicable circumstances last time made her wary.

As a succubus, Emma’s nature was inclined towards caution.

If possible, she hoped to avoid conflict throughout the entire process—not because she wasn’t adept at fighting, but simply because she didn’t like it.

She had already interacted with Aiwass before and, in a sense, exposed her abilities and some of her intentions.

And now she had to stay here for a few more days.

If she were to kill Yulia and take her heart at this time, Yulia’s body could easily expose her.

If a fight broke out on Glass Island, it would be troublesome.

Moreover, one heart might not be enough—opening the seal might require more blood in addition to the heart.

Taking a living person and healing them repeatedly would ensure enough blood, definitely better than taking just a heart.

So although “Father” had said that as a last resort just taking the heart would suffice, she did not want to disappoint her father…

If possible, it would be best to take Yulia away directly.

And having a hostage would also make her safer.

By the time the other party noticed Yulia’s disappearance, she would already be in Star Antimony.

While stalling for time with Avalon, she could take the opportunity to sacrifice her.

——For this reason, Emma needed to have Yulia “come over by herself” at the right moment.

At a time when the “Eye of Avalon” surely wasn’t operating, at a moment when Aiwass definitely wouldn’t be available.

Without alarming anyone…

She was the only one who could accomplish this.

For now, she was merely taking Yulia out to play, just wandering around before taking her back.

If the “Eye of Avalon” actually caught her now, she could explain it away easily since she truly hadn’t done anything.

In fact, she had already planted her psychological suggestions into “Yulia’s” mind.

By “the day after tomorrow, when your brother goes to attend the Round Table Hall meeting,” the seed buried deep would erupt.

By then, she would arrive of her own will guided by her own intentions.

“Remember this.”

In the instant of being proactively interfered with by the “suggestion,” Isabel’s mental defenses completely dissolved.

She nodded earnestly and responded from the heart.

The last image that remained in her mind was of Aiwass holding her and calling out for Mommy the previous night.

She threw herself into Emma’s embrace, arching her back like a kitten, rubbing her head against the other’s soft chest, and making a gentle sound, “Mew~ Can I call you Mommy then?”

“Of course, good child…”

Emma smiled tenderly, helping Isabel tidy her messy hair, “Yulia, you can call me whatever you want.”

The moment she heard this, a strong sense of loathing welled up inside Isabel’s heart.

It was as if, while cuddling sweetly with a lover, the other party inadvertently called out another woman’s name—the film of love that was about to fully engulf her shattered in an instant.

Feeling a strong sense of dissonance, Isabel’s pupils constricted once more.

The rationality nearly drowned by “affection” swiftly returned.

This time, Isabel did not manage to stay conscious for long before she quickly succumbed to that drowsy state again.

It was like trying to stay awake in class when she was so sleepy she couldn’t keep her eyes open, her head bobbing involuntarily.

Yet she still tried to use rationality to open her eyes wide, maintain clarity, but as her head nodded off, she suddenly jerked awake—a state not of drowsiness, but of waking from sleep.

It was for this reason she could maintain momentary clarity.

…

At least the method had been verified to be effective.

Isabel confirmed that the control was not permanent.

Therefore, she let go of a bit of her worry and quickly pondered her situation.

But “Yulia,” as a character, was a girl who spoke very little.

She couldn’t keep chatting with her companion as that would only raise suspicion.

Therefore, she must enter a state of control to conserve energy…

Suppressing the fear and resistance to the unknown in her heart, Isabel willingly submerged herself into a controlled state.

When Isabel lifted her head from Emma’s embrace, her face was adorned with an innocent and contented smile, and she quieted down again.

After all, Moriarty Manor was in the White Queen District, and Emma, being cautious, considered that someone near Yulia’s home might recognize her.

So she kept the curtains drawn, not wanting anyone who knew “Yulia” to see her.

It was only after the carriage passed through the Red Queen District and the White Queen District, officially entering Lohar District, that Emma finally opened the curtains.

Since she needed to let “Yulia” recognize the way back, she had to open the curtains.

However, the slums obviously had no one who would recognize Yulia…

After wandering around here a bit, she could take Yulia home.

The windows revealed a faint white fog.

The distant sound of a harbor foghorn mingled with vendors hawking their wares.

“Yulia” leaned against the carriage window, looking out seriously memorizing the route they had taken.

At that moment, Isabel suddenly saw a girl carrying a basket of wildflowers flash by outside the window.

The girl was grubby.

Despite the arrival of winter, she still dressed thinly, her frame scrawny and shivering in the cold wind.

Even her lips were blue from the cold, which worried Isabel greatly.

She couldn’t help but open the window and looked back.