Chapter 18-Sorrow, Regrets and Pain

I still remember what happened earlier. Epiphany became unconscious again, and that made us summon the Royal Physician and Royal Pharmacist again. I didn't expect that leaving her all alone in Glaustein would bring her suffering and, worst of all, she would become the sole survivor of that gruesome experiment, the Project Ouroboros. I almost threw up when I saw the data that Noah and his squad confiscated yesterday from the abandoned orphanage where Epiphany stayed. I didn't expect that no forgiveness could eliminate all of her pain.

"My dear Epiphany, all I want is to move you away from danger."

My wife, Amethyst, caresses my back. I hugged her and I let out all my regrets about what happened to Epiphany. "You did what was best for Epiphany. If there are people to blame, those are the people who harmed Epiphany," Amethyst said, and she kissed my forehead.

"I know, but who knows what will happen if she stays in the palace? I don't want her to suffer what I experienced during her escape," I said in a cracked voice.

I looked again at the profile of Epiphany and the other children who suffer under Project Ouroboros. I read a part of her data and I was furious that such a monster could do that to my younger sister.

"Experiment Zero. After her heart deteriorates from the prototype drug number eight, we open her chest to replace another heart. We tried to replace her heart to seek the possibility of a second life by replacing another heart in the specimen. After successful replacement, she suffered seizures and a high fever due to the rejection of the organ. To prevent this from happening, we inject immunosuppresants to stop the immune system and the antibodies from attacking the organ."

A loud knock from the door was heard. I wiped out my tears. I heard Noah's voice and permitted him to enter. As soon as he enters, I know that bad news will surge from the information that he has collected.

"Prince Rowan, I need to talk to you. We discovered something terrible about the heart that Epiphany received from Project Ouroboros,"he said. I gave him permission to speak, and then he proceeds.

"The heart that she received from the Project Ouroboros was the heart of the deceased first princess of the Zeprailles empire. No other than Princess Serena," Noah said.

Our eyes widened from what I've heard. But that is impossible! Princess Serena died eighteen years ago! How come they preserved her heart for such a long time?

"Your Highness, you know how cruel Princess Serena died at the hands of her own father. Besides, we have a theory that a special time magic has been cast to preserve that heart without suffering from decomposition. But to do that, they needed the help of the witches. " Noah said in a serious tone.

I can't believe that the traitor was among the peers of Epiphany. But who? "Is there anything that could help to track the members of Project Ouroboros? I mean, the physician, herbalist, and chemist that participated in the said experiment?"

Noah looked at his data and his eyes widened. He turned the data on me and my eyes widened. I couldn't believe my eyes that the Headmistress of the Falcon Order participated in that experiment. But what is her reason?

"Noah, I have a bad feeling. If Headmistress Caroline was lingering around Epiphany, I know they were observing Epiphany as the successful result of their experiment. Some of the roots of this demise are not fully uprooted. Some of them may target Epiphany," I said in a serious tone.

Noah walked by the window and leaned on it. "Your Highness, you need to keep this from Her Royal Highness. This matter will break her heart, or worst of all, she may end up as the monster we never expected to be created," Noah uttered.

Epiphany is not a monster! Amethyst, on the other hand, interrupted our conversation. "Epiphany is not a monster, Noah. She was just a pure girl who lost her faith in us. If Epiphany becomes a villain, she has the right to do so because, in the first place, she is broken for abandoning her and letting her suffer for a long time. All we have to do is to let her know that we will never leave her, no matter what the cost is." Amethyst said in a serious but gentle voice.

Now I understand why she wanted to leave us before. Those pains that we never felt, those sufferings are incomparable. When Epiphany called my name in Glaustein, I chose not to turn around. because I knew I could never leave her.

"Noah, is Typhon there? I need to talk to him also, "I asked.

Noah nodded and he was about to leave when Typhon appeared in front of us by using his void. He was frowning when he arrived. I know that he was irritated by the events earlier. "Is Her Royal Highness, alright? Is she awake?" Typhon asked continuously in a panic but serious tone.

I halted Typhon from talking and I massaged my right temple because this kind of matter gives me such headaches. "She is fine. She lost consciousness due to emotions that flowed in her body earlier. For now, Typhon, you mentioned earlier that when you bumped into Epiphany, she said that she hated the scent of hyacinth. Did she mention why?" I asked Typhon.

Typhon shook his head. He crossed his arms and sat beside Noah. "No. But now that you mentioned it, I find it weird that Epiphany dislikes hyacinth's scent because she was fond of it when we were just kids," Typhon said in a curious tone.

While we were talking, a maid opened the door without our permission. She looked frightened, and she kept calling for help. Noah tried to calm her down, but she kept uttering one word. "Her Highness was!"

Our eyes widened, and we went to her room. The servants looked confused as we were running to the corridor. When we entered the room, the Royal Physician was unconscious and the Royal Pharmacist was sitting while leaning on the wall. We saw an expressionless face of Epiphany. Her blue eyes turned red, and she was standing beside the window.

"Epiphany!" Amethyst called her but she didn't respond.

Epiphany summoned her weapon, the one she used to have fairy wings, but this time she transformed it into a staff. She released an attack, but Sir Ehadris appeared and blocked it.

"Epiphany, are you drowning again in Alethea's dimension? Or are you drowning again in your past life?" Sir Ehadris asked.

Epiphany looked at Sir Ehadris and uttered words that made us all confused, "Return to your world, Ehadris. Don't make me wait."

She went back to her normal state, and when she saw the Royal Physician and Pharmacist injured, she was surprised. "What did I do?"

She panicked, and we tried to calm her down, but she released a pressure that made her all crouch down to the floor. Only Sir Ehadris could stand the pressure, and he walked slowly to Epiphany. He transformed into his original form, the adult form. He has long hair and garnet eyes. So the rumors are true. He resembles a godly figure. He held Epiphany's chin, and Epiphany looked shocked.

"You've been such a pain until now. To answer your offer, I will grant your wish. I will be your husband, which you've never imagined." Sir Ehadris said and he kissed Epiphany on her lips.

Our eyes widened at what we had seen. "Ehadris!" Noah shouted his name.

Ehadris stopped kissing Epiphany and he looked at Noah. "What? That's the only thing I knew to stop Her Highness from her rampaging powers," Sir Ehadris said, and he akimbo'd in disbelief. On the other hand, Epiphany was shedding a tear in anger and covered her hands with mana.

"How dare you steal my first kiss? You crazy old jerk!" Epiphany shouted and he punched Sir Ehadris on his face, driving him outside the room.

"Ouch! Stop calling me old jerk! For your information, I am the same age as you!" Sir Ehadris exclaimed, and he stood up, shaking his head.

"You're lying!" Epiphany shouted back.

"Actually, he was stating the truth. He was the same age as you, Your Royal Highness," Noah said.

Even I was shocked. Sir Ehadris was a genius indeed. At a young age, he had already attained the sage class. I wonder what kind of nutrition he received when he was just a child. Sir Ehadris. Just who are you?