Episode 18

Eliza slowly opened her eyes and as soon as she was conscious, she abruptly stood up.

"Christopher!!"

She shouted, agitated, and began to look around her, realizing that she was inside a fountain at some kind of shrine.

As she looked to her side, her eyes misted over and her breathing normalized upon seeing Christopher submerged beside her.

She immediately took him in her arms, checking that he wasn't injured. The terror she felt at seeing his chest pierced was not small; it felt as if her world were collapsing.

"Chris..."

Calmness returned as she verified that Christopher was unharmed and simply unconscious.

"You're awake."

At that moment, Eliza summoned a pistol to aim at the stranger who had suddenly appeared before them.

"When did he get here? I didn't sense his presence at all."

"Who are you?"

Eliza asked sternly, aiming at the emperor.

"I am the emperor of this empire and also your father."

The emperor replied with an expressionless face, completely calm.

At that moment, Eliza realized everything; they were no longer at the battle site, and Leon was not there.

"So he's the prince's father."

Eliza lowered her weapon, which disappeared instantly.

"What happened to the demon?"

Eliza asked very seriously.

"He's dead."

The emperor answered.

"Where is Leo-"

"You're awake!!"

Leon's exclamation of joy at seeing Eliza awake cut her words short.

Leon ran to Eliza and hugged her, regardless of his elegant clothing getting wet.

"I'm so glad, I thought you'd never wake up!"

"Get off me, it's not like I've been unconscious for months."

Eliza said with annoyance, to which Leon fell silent.

"Well... actually, you've been unconscious for a full three months due to your injuries."

Eliza's eyes widened in shock at the revelation and then she looked at Christopher.

"When will he wake up?"

She asked.

"We don't know. This fountain heals any wound as long as the individual is alive, but the process is slow and also depends on the individual's healing abilities... It can take days, or it could take weeks, or even months, and during that time the individual will be in a coma."

Leon explained.

"That child nearly died from his injury, and you were not in much better shape either. Your power went out of control to such an extent it almost destroyed your body. If I had been a few moments later, you both would be dead."

The emperor said with a hint of anger in his voice.

And why shouldn't he be angry when his children had been wounded by a demon that had been mocking him under his nose, disguised as a noble, for years?

He had just found his lost daughter and almost lost her again forever because of it. There were plenty of reasons to be angry.

"I see... Thank you very much for saving us."

Eliza thanked him and left Christopher in the water, then got out of the fountain, noticing her body was completely recovered and even feeling lighter and stronger.

"Well, I think it's time to have a serious conversation with you two, who claim to be my family, right?"

Eliza looked at them seriously, and both nodded.

"I was just about to ask you for that. We have to talk seriously about many things."

The emperor stated.

The three of them left the place while Eliza turned to look at Christopher one last time before leaving.

First, Eliza was taken to a room where several servants helped her bathe and change her clothes. Once ready, she was led to the emperor's private garden where he, along with Leon, waited in a beautifully decorated gazebo in the middle of the garden.

Eliza took a seat, and the emperor dismissed the servants, leaving the three of them alone.

"Well, shall we get started? Can you explain to me the fact that I am her Majesty's daughter?"

Eliza asked, looking at the emperor.

"Just as you heard, you are my daughter, the girl who disappeared on the day of the empress's death, your mother."

"This is a fact known throughout the empire. The empress died in an attack while returning to the palace after visiting her parents in the South. With the empress was the two-year-old princess, and on that fateful day, in addition to the empress's death, the little princess disappeared and was never found... Even in the novel, they mention it; the princess never showed up, so it was assumed she was dead. That was one of the traumas tormenting the male protagonist, Leon."

"How can you be so sure that I am your daughter, the lost princess, since I can remember I've lived in the streets with a vagrant until I was adopted..."

"The irrefutable proof that you are my daughter is your power. Our family is the last lineage of witches in this world, and besides Leon and myself, the last person who could possess that power was my second daughter; no one else in this world would have it unless they were my direct descendants. Moreover, your physical features would also confirm it; you have the same appearance as the missing child, and our relationship is undeniable. You are definitely my daughter, and I also verified it while you were unconscious."

The emperor explained calmly.

"Well, it really seems to be true... I am the missing princess who should never have appeared. Is this what they call the butterfly effect? Although, now that I think about it, it would make sense that she never appeared because the original Eliza died at the hands of Christopher before being able to get out of Marko's clutches. Now everything makes sense..."

With a sigh, Eliza ended up accepting the reality that is not at all unpleasant. The daughter of the most powerful man in this world is a title she is willing to accept and enjoy very much.

"Alright, I guess there's nothing more but to accept it. And now what?"

Eliza asked expectantly.

"It's obvious, you will return to the position you belong, as the only princess of this empire... The empire will know that the lost princess has returned and taken the place that originally belonged to her."

The emperor responded in a solemn tone, causing Eliza to feel a slight shiver.

"For some reason, I'm sure this will be a nuisance..."

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