“And Chen Mo,” Evan paused, then continued, “have you noticed that after this incident was resolved, he started talking a lot more? Before, he was always very quiet, as if he was deliberately holding something back, unwilling to make any emotional statements.”
“I only understand now. It wasn't that he didn't want to speak, but rather that he couldn't.”
Bai Ci was taken aback, slightly confused. “Couldn't speak? Why?”
“Because of his ability,” Evan explained. “During the fight with Isabella that day, I noticed that all of Isabella's attacks were locked onto Chen Mo because of his words, completely ignoring Lin Wan and me.”
“He kept using his words to provoke Isabella, deliberately drawing her attention to create an opportunity for Lin Wan to deliver the bomb right to Isabella's core.”
“I see.” Hearing Evan's description of the situation, Bai Ci gained a general understanding of Chen Mo's class skill. “He kept holding back just so he could use his ability to pin down Isabella at the critical moment.”
“Yeah,” Evan nodded, a trace of admiration in his voice. “He's a very responsible person. Although he usually seems to have a bad temper, he never backs down when it matters most.”
Bai Ci's gaze fell back onto the tombstone as she shifted the topic. “Regardless, it's a good thing this matter has been resolved. At least the plague won't continue to spread.”
“Postmaster Byrne's obsession with Isabella was simply too deep.” Her tone carried a hint of sorrow. “To keep his daughter, he didn't hesitate to seek the help of a cult, nor did he care about dragging the entire town down with her. This obsession was too heavy, too fanatical.”
Hearing this, Evan sighed softly. “Actually, that wasn't obsession. At its root, it was just a desire for control.”
“He never truly loved Isabella. What he loved was the feeling of being in control of everything. He opposed Isabella being with Edmond not because of Edmond's humble background, but because Isabella's choice was beyond his control.”
He paused, then continued, “By the way, when I came to the cemetery earlier, I ran into the doctor from the hospital. I chatted with him for a bit and heard something that might help you understand Isabella's situation better.”
Bai Ci turned her head to look at him. “What is it?”
“The doctor said Isabella wasn't sick at all.” Evan's tone held a touch of pity. “Because Postmaster Byrne's control was too strict, she couldn't take it anymore, so she came up with the idea of faking an illness just to get some breathing room.”
“Out of pity, that doctor helped her keep up the lie.”
Hearing this, a wave of complex emotions washed over Bai Ci. It turned out that from beginning to end, it was all a misunderstanding—a tragedy triggered entirely by Postmaster Byrne's desire for control.
She had always thought Isabella was truly sick, and that Postmaster Byrne, desperate because of his daughter's illness, had turned to any remedy he could find, ultimately being seduced by the cult.
But she never expected that Isabella hadn't been sick at all. She had only wanted a little bit of freedom, yet she was turned into that bizarre monster alive by her own father in the most extreme way, ultimately meeting such an end.
Even in death, Postmaster Byrne probably never understood that his so-called “love” and “protection” were actually the deepest harm he could inflict on Isabella.
With his desire for control, he had personally ruined his own daughter, shattered the peace of the entire town, and ultimately destroyed himself.
Bai Ci remained silent for a long time before she slowly spoke, “I see... In other words, when Postmaster Byrne sought out the cult and tried to save Isabella through those bizarre means, Isabella was actually perfectly healthy, but he turned her into that thing while she was still alive.”
Evan nodded gently and let out a heavy sigh without speaking. The cemetery fell into a brief silence once more, with only the rustling of the wind through the leaves making the surroundings feel exceptionally quiet.
After a long while, Evan spoke, shifting to another topic in a gentle tone, “The funeral is over. Where do you plan to go next?”
Bai Ci raised her head and looked into the distance. “I don't know.”
Next, she would of course leave the instance and return to her personal independent space. Where else could she go?
“I need to write a letter home first to ask about my parents' plans. Perhaps I will stay here for a while to accompany Hugo and see this town that has just regained its peace. Or perhaps I will go back and return to my original life.”
Aligning with Lora's persona, Bai Ci chose a safe answer.
Just like how Lin Wan and Chen Mo were about to leave the instance and would use the excuse of leaving the town first, it would probably be the same for her when she departed.
Seeing her seemingly lost in thought, Evan couldn't help but smile, his tone carrying a hint of gentle teasing without any malice. “For a young lady of noble birth like you, once you go back, I'm afraid you'll soon have a new fiancé, won't you? After all, family alliances never wait for anyone.”
Hearing this, Bai Ci also smiled gently. “If there are benefits to be gained, probably. My engagement to Hugo was originally arranged by the family. If I go back and the family has a better arrangement, I might accept it.”
The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a warm and gentle glow over them, as if soothing all the grief and regrets of this past period.
The wind of the town, carrying the fresh scent of the fields, blew gently past. Everything was slowly returning to peace.
Rate on N.U.
