Chapter 27-Lurking In Shadows

Another morning in Driuce had arrived. It was our fifth day in Driuce and the Royal family was still grateful that the issue has been resolved. It was an accident that Princess Sarin cannot control her powers. But thanks to a complicated seal that I've done, her powers was off from rampage. After all what I did to Princess Sarin, she was excited to go out because I always escaped the palace because I didn't trust the food that they were cooking. When Zain discovered it, he tagged along with me. For some unknown reason, I don't know what the hell is Ehadris doing here? Speaking of Ehadris, he discovered that these two have an assumption that I'm not the Epiphany they know. Well, part of it is true. I am Serena in the first place, but I am Epiphany in this second life. So I can't blame them if their imagination is quite active. The plaza was still lively from the day I witnessed it for the first time.

“Big Sister Kind Witch!” one of the children exclaimed.

I waved at them, and they waved back. They ran away from us, and Ehadris and Typhon got confused while Zain was smiling at us.

“Big Sister, Kind Witch?” they said in unison, but with a different tone.

Ehadris and Typhon looked at me like I did something wrong, while Zain was preventing himself from laughing. Typhon crossed his arms and stared at me. He said,“Your Highness, what trouble did you make this time?”

I glared at Typhon. “Hey! I didn't do anything! I just put the thugs to sleep because they are using children to lure their victims. Then, after they lure their victims into dark alleys, they will rob them,”I explained as I played my fingers. Actually, that's what I read in the little girl's mind at that time.

“What do you mean you put them to sleep? You almost destroyed the plaza that time! Remember when you beat a thug and almost killed him?” Zain said, in disbelief.

I glared at Zain, and Ehadris walked near me and patted my head. “I never thought that Her Highness was such a bad tempered person. If someone bothers you, just tell us, and I will beat them for you,” Ehadris said, and he smiled like an evil person.

Zain struck his head, and Ehadris scowled in pain. “Why did you hit my head?” Ehadris shouted.

“You only make the problem worse! Now shut up, Ehadris, and behave! ” Zain lectured Ehadris.

While those two kept on fighting, Typhon grabbed my arms and walked toward a cafe. There are sweets like chocolate mousse and strawberry shortcake. It was paired with tea, and the ambiance of the cafe was cozy. “The engagement was called off. We can return to Eblines by tomorrow,” Typhon said.

My eyebrows were raised by what he said. “But what about Sarin? Did she get mad when you announced that?” I asked in confusion.

Typhon shook his head, and I let out a deep sigh. The king of Driuce's health is getting better thanks to the formulation that Cloud sent to me. The food has arrived, and it was more appetizing than I expected. Typhon got out his dessert fork and put his chocolate mousse cake in my mouth. I was shocked by what he did. “Eat well, Your Highness. Drooling for your food will never end if you keep staring at it. Dig in,”Typhon said, and he used his fork to eat.

I was blushing when he used the fork he used to feed me. “Uhm, Lord Typhon. Isn't that gross if you use the fork that you used to feed me?” I asked.

Typhon looked at me and smirked. He answered,“Nope. I just want you to know that it was an indirect kiss. I'll keep doing that until I marry you.”

My face was flushed red, and I covered my face in shyness. “D-Don't say that! It's embarrassing!”

“I'm serious. I knew it that day, the first time I saw you.” Typhon said.

I frowned. The first time we met was in that forest, when he kicked me hard in the stomach. So where is the love there, in his feet? “Liar. The first time I saw you was in that forest, and you gave me a full blown kick that time. So where is the love there? In your feet or in your legs? It's a big no if that's the way of telling your love!” I said, and I crossed my arms.

Typhon was sulking and almost choked on his cake when I said that. “Okay, I'm so sorry if I do that. Can we just forget about it?” he said.

“Lord Typhon. I forgot about it for the time being. But, the way you said that you knew you would marry me the day you laid eyes on me is just a little bit off right now,” I said.

He slapped his forehead, and I whispered, “Maybe I forgive you, but I won't forget. Besides, can we just eat like we were friends?”

He smirked and whispered,“ Nope. You made me crazy, so I'll keep doing this until we're married.”

Our conversation was interrupted when someone held my shoulder.

“I want to interrupt, but don't you mess with me, Lord Typhon. I can't let you have Her Highness,” Ehadris said, and Typhon was annoyed.

He was about to blow up this place when I felt that there was killer intent. I looked around, and I saw the same man from twelve years ago. He was smiling and mouthing, “I found you, Experiment Zero!”

I ran outside the shop and looked around for him. I searched for him in every corner, but he wasn't there. I heard another voice echoing in my head.

“Your Highness, wake up!”

It was Zain's voice! But why is he waking me up? Then a realization hit me. I wasn't strolling in the city. I was sleeping. I opened my eyes slowly, and I saw their worried faces. But what happened? Did I collapse again?

“Your Highness, you must stay in the palace in Eblines. Putting yourself in danger won't do any good as your health is declining,”Zain said.

My health is declining? What do they mean?

Typhon spoke in a serious voice: “Your Highness, you may be the successful experiment of Project Ouroboros, but using too much of your ability may end up on your final death bed.”

I looked at Ehadris. He bit his lower lip and gritted his teeth. He said, “Sorry for not telling the truth, Your Highness. I know you know who I am, but my main goal here is not your offer to marry me. I need to collect your soul.

What the hell is happening? Maybe this is just a dream! A dream? No, it's a nightmare! I closed my eyes and opened them again. I saw my parents worriedly looking at me. “W-What happened? I thought I was in Driuce with Lord Typhon and the others,” I said as I was gasping for air.

Big Brother Rowan answered, “You don't remember what happened?”

I shook my head. What happened?

“You engaged in a protracted battle with Princess Sarin; initially, your body was resistant to her poison. But when you got back to Eblines, you passed out in your room. Your antidote was still being found by Cloud and Sky,” Zain said.

I smiled and looked at them, saying, “I may be dead by the time they discover it.”

Ehadris entered the room and looked at me seriously. He shouted, “They are still lurking in the shadows, searching for you. If you gave up, I don't know if I'll see you again, Serena. This is your last chance.”

“My last chance?” I said then that I remembered something. I'm not in Eblines. I'm still in the country of Driuce. All that I see was just a dream, and the worst is another nightmare. I immediately grabbed a knife and was going to stab myself when someone stopped me by hugging me.

“Your Highness! Wake up! Stop hurting yourself!” Typhon shouted.

I looked around, and I saw myself at the top of the palace, holding a sharp knife. Typhon was worriedly sick. I looked at the back, and I saw Zain and Ehadris deeply sigh as soon as I woke up. What the hell is happening?

“What is happening, Lord Typhon? I don't understand! I was sleeping in my room, then I encountered a dream within my dreams, and then suddenly I saw myself here holding a knife!” I shouted.

Lord Typhon tried to calm me down. “Your Highness, what matters most to us is your safety. Maybe you're just stressed after what happened earlier,” Typhon said.

I tried to remember what happened earlier. But it seems that I forgot about it. I hesitated to ask, but at the back of my mind something was boggling me. “What happened earlier?”

They were shocked, and they looked at each other. “You don't remember? We were about to leave to stroll in the city, but before we could step out of the palace, you heard familiar voices, and then you kept calling one name. Alastor,” Zain said.

My knees feel weak, and I fall to my feet. Alastor Serelem, the head of the researchers on Project Ouroboros, killed my happiness as a child. The one who caused me to lose my heart was the man who performed the surgery and put another person's heart inside my body. Who would have thought that our paths would cross again?