Chapter 1323: Chapter 46: Not Mom

When Aiwass clearly saw the person’s face, he couldn’t help but hold his breath.

It felt as if time had come to a halt at this moment.

She wore an elegant dark green long dress, with transparent yellow lace resembling Withered Leaf Butterfly patterns at the neckline and cuffs. By the aesthetic standards of the Irisflower People, this was considered quite a modest and simple style.

Her face was adorned with light makeup, which made her appear much younger. Her long platinum blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, topped with a pale yellow hat decorated with white feathers and green ribbons.

That face was at least eighty percent similar to the “Annie Alexander” Aiwass had seen during the ascension ceremony.

The remaining twenty percent was because she wasn’t as youthful as that Annie at the ceremony.

The “Giulio Alexander” from the ascension ceremony was twenty-seven years old, and he was a senior to both Annie and Mina by two grades. That means Annie at the time couldn’t have been more than twenty-five years old.

This age is when a girl is at her most beautiful… the time when all life force blooms.

–And now, fifteen years have gone by.

If Aiwass’s mother were still alive, she would also be forty years old by now.

…probably looking just like this.

Perhaps due to the influence of the Path of Beauty’s strength, or perhaps due to the beneficial effects of a wealthy and carefree life on beauty, Annie looked much younger than her actual age, probably appearing just over thirty. But if scrutinized closely, one could still see the faint traces of time on her face.

And it wasn’t just Aiwass who was caught off guard.

Annie’s pupils also trembled violently, involuntarily drawing in a sharp breath.

“Julio…”

She murmured softly, obvious shakiness in her eyes.

Clearly, Annie had only just learned about this… thus she hurried over to make sure, to take a good look at Aiwass’s appearance. Just one look, and she couldn’t hold back.

A strong sense of nostalgia mixed with sadness turned into tears overflowing from her eyes.

–That was a completely genuine emotion.

Even from afar, Aiwass felt his nose tingle.

Originally, when Aiwass learned that there was a “Annie de Vandom” in the Duke of Vandome Mansion, whose authenticity was unknown… his feelings were incredibly complex and conflicted.

After all, his own biological mother was murdered, and now he just found out… there was another person exactly like her, living healthily and peacefully. On one side, he felt relief and happiness, but on the other, there was a sense of disappointment… besides, there was a subtle resistance.

He subsequently avoided mentioning or thinking about this matter because Aiwass instinctively wanted to delay dealing with it.

–Even Aiwass himself didn’t know how to confront this “person structurally identical to his biological mother” yet a complete stranger to him.

Although he would certainly meet her once he went to the Duke of Vandome Mansion… he still delayed as much as he could.

And Annie was completely opposite to Aiwass–

After Sherlock left the Dream Realm, he surely informed the Duke of Vandome about his arrival.

If Aiwass wasn’t at the Irisflower or hadn’t known about this matter when told, even Sherlock’s safety might not have been guaranteed; just like offending the friend of the strongest person in the world, no slightly clever and cautious person would hope for “the other side to forgive them,” and would most likely choose to destroy the body or find a scapegoat to take all the blame.

No one would dare to gamble on this. Saying it out loud is tantamount to forcing others to kill oneself.

Sherlock was wise enough, so he didn’t say a word. Even when Aiwass came to save him, he was still speaking positively of the Duke of Vandome–this, in fact, was doing the Duke a favor.

Aiwass understood this as well.

If Sherlock were really that safe, he wouldn’t have been unable to send even a normal letter, nor would he have had to ask Aiwass for rescue.

Now that Aiwass knew about this matter and had even headed for the Irisflower… having already interacted with Sherlock in the Dream Realm, there was no longer any point in destroying evidence at this stage.

But since Sherlock wanted to do a favor for the Duke of Vandome, Aiwass was willing to fulfill his wish. After all, it was Sherlock himself who was kidnapped, and of course, he had the right to handle everything. Not to mention, Sherlock was also doing this to avoid making things difficult for Aiwass… this even gave Aiwass half a favor in return.

If it weren’t for him mediating, Aiwass might indeed have stormed the Duke of Vandome Mansion.

But Aiwass indeed bore the blood of the Vandom Family… the current Duke of Vandome might already be Aiwass’s only living human relative in this world. This undoubtedly put the issue back in Aiwass’s hands.

But Sherlock was smart enough not to take that step; and because the Duke of Vandome was smart enough, he didn’t do anything unnecessary either.

Aiwass just didn’t expect… that Annie couldn’t resist the stirring in her heart, and before Aiwass met the Duke of Vandome, she took the initiative to hurriedly come over and meet him once at the door.

–That resonance of bloodline was absolutely genuine.

Annie so deeply missed her biological father Giulio Alexander.

To the extent that she remains unmarried to this day, still maintaining her single status. The complexity and depth of this emotion made her burst into tears upon seeing Aiwass.

When Aiwass looked at the weeping Annie, his expression turned incredibly complex.

He could sense the stirring emotions in her heart… he could also taste Annie’s confusion and timidity, along with her mustered courage and unattainable love.

But when Aiwass walked slowly forward… his mouth opened then closed, yet he still couldn’t say the word “mother.”

The feeling was just too strange, he still couldn’t express it.

“Aiwass…”

Annie whimpered like a little girl, awkwardly reaching out to clutch at Aiwass’ sleeve: “Can I call you… Aiwass?”

Her voice was distant, yet yearning to come closer. Like a moth fluttering around a candle flame, at times near and at times far.

“…Of course.”

Aiwass bent slightly, responding softly: “I am honored.”

As if he was worried about waking someone from a dream… his voice unconsciously softened. Annie’s hand was very cold, chillingly cold.

But neither Aiwass nor Annie mentioned anything about “what Aiwass should call Annie.” He didn’t call her mom, nor did he say aunt. Both tacitly ignored the form of address.

After all, they both knew–Aiwass’s mom might count as Annie, but if Aiwass really called her mom, it wouldn’t be quite right either.

Aiwass quietly followed behind Annie, walking towards the entrance of the manor.

Meanwhile, Arsene tactfully kept silent, trailing far behind.