Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son-Chapter 533: A Hopeless World [4] [Epione]

’...Epione.’

With her vibrant sliver hair that faded into a hue of blue.

She wore a simple gown without any accessories but she still looked beautiful.

The two pristine white curves that framed her forehead like a natural crown had grown brighter than before.

Epione stopped a few steps inside the hall.

Her eyes were on the blue bird that perched over my head. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Her eyes met mine for a moment, then shifted to Mortis and the others.

"Grandfather," she said softly.

Mortis gave her a gentle nod before he said. "Come here."

She obliged, walking past me and the distinct smell of her grazed me.

Mortis placed his hand over her head, careful of her horns as he smiled.

His smile though didn’t last long, it faded into tiredness.

"Did you heard the news?" He asked gently.

Epione lowered her eyes and gave a nod. "Yes, grandfather."

Mortis let out a small sigh as he removed his hand.

"I’m sorry." He said. "I shouldn’t have fixed your marriage without taking your happiness into consideration."

’Would you look at that?’

I raised my eyebrow as I gave him a look.

Though Mortis was a good grandfather he still kept his people over family.

’Pretty sure he didn’t regret selling Epione.’

She didn’t respond but she did steal a glance towards my direction.

I stayed where I was, Liraz still sitting on my head like a tiny king.

"I understood why you did it," she said after a moment. "I just didn’t agree with it."

He nodded his head before he looked at Leila like a man who understood an assignment.

"Leila, I think there will be a lot of things that you needed to do." He said, looking at the princess of Orth. "Are you sure you can help Himmel completely?"

"Huh?"

Leila titled her head, caught off guard.

"Epione." Mortis said, ignoring the girl. "I believe you are free right now."

Epione nodded though she looked confused as well.

"Very well." He said, gesturing towards me. "You will go to Orth Kingdom with Himmel as the representative of our household."

Epione blinked in response. "But wasn’t Sibry the one—."

"She is sick." Mortis cut her off. "You will be taking her place."

I let out a sigh, ready to intervene.

There was no point of bringing her into this mess.

But before I could respond, Epione turned around and walked towards me.

With a gentle smile she bowed slightly. "I will be in your care."

I opened my mouth to refuse but couldn’t.

’Ah, nothing would happen with me being around her.’

I rubbed my temples as I said. "We will be traveling to Lumina in an hour."

My eyes met with hers. "Be ready by then."

Epione nodded without hesitation.

"Yes."

Mortis looked relieved, like he had just moved a heavy piece on a board.

Leila, on the other hand, looked between the two of us with clear confusion but wisely kept silent.

’...I should really ask for something absurd when I am done with this.’

For now, I had to get rid of this so called cult known as Council of Better Future.

---

[Orth Kingdom, Lumina.]

The teleportation portal dimmed down as I walked outside of the light.

Blinking a few times, I adjusted my eyes to the light before I looked around.

There was no one to greet us as I had asked.

’There is no point in gathering attention to ourselves.’

"Huh?" I turned my head as I heard Leila’s confused voice. "Where did that man go?"

’Ah, she was talking about Arawn.’

He did come here with us and vanished as soon as we reached Lumina.

"Don’t worry about him." I said as I felt a bird sitting over my head. "I would like to end this early."

"Ah, yes." Leila quickly walked past me. "I will arrange everything quickly!"

"...."

I quietly looked at her as she rushed outside in haste.

"She has gotten herself busy with work." Epione spoke softly standing beside me. "After Sir Orion died, she hasn’t been the same."

I nodded my head as I didn’t say much, even though those who killed him had already died...She still lost her love.

We stepped out of the stone chamber into the inner courtyard of the Orth royal grounds.

And I could immediately feel the restlessness in the air.

Liraz shuffled on my head, then flew off and landed on Epione’s shoulder this time.

We walked down the corridor that led toward the guest wing.

Servants bowed, their eyes lingered on me.

We reached a balcony overlooking the outer districts of Orth’s capital.

A table and a few chairs were already arranged for us.

’I don’t have time for this.’

I let out a sigh and fell on one of the chairs, Epione sat down opposite from me.

Her hands were hidden under the table.

"Thank you." She said suddenly. "For breaking my marriage with Zavien."

I leaned back in the chair, staring at the sky instead of her.

"Don’t worry about it." I replied softly. "They won’t force any new marrige on you from now on."

My reply was met with a long uncomfortable silence.

I lowered my head to find her staring dead into my eyes.

She looked like she had thousand things to say but all she did was nod her head.

Liraz tilted his head, then hopped closer to my side of the table.

I leaned forward and gently patted his head, he let me do it.

"When is your bird going to grow?" I asked, messing with his head.

"He is still a young one." Epione replied gently. "It will take him a while to reach his full potential."

"..."

I didn’t think he would ever reach his full potential.

His death was confirmed by the hands Morningstar.

’...But as long as Epione is alive he will come back to life through ashes.’

After all, he was the last phoneix in this world.

Liraz puffed up proudly, as if he understood none of that and all of it at the same time.

Epione watched him with a soft smile. It was small, but real.

"You should smile more out side of stage." I said, looking at her face. "It suits you."

"I can say the same for you." She replied, her smile dying out. "But what do you mean by outside of stage?"

"...."

I fucked up, didn’t I?

I was not supposed to know that she was ECHO.

Much to my relief, Leila returned again, this time with two cloaks folded over her arm.

"Routes are cleared," she said. "We move through the lower districts first. There was mana fluctuation reported near a small town in east."

"Good," I said, standing. "I will look into it right now."

Liraz flapped once and returned to my shoulder.

Epione stood as well, taking one of the cloaks from Leila.

As she draped it over herself, her horns caught the light.

"Can’t you retract your horns back?" I asked, wearing the cloak.

Epione titled her head. "What do you mean?"

Instead of responding, I showed her.

With a single thought of mine my forehead bulged and two horns protruded out.

They soon grew into two big antlers that made me look much taller.

"...."

"...."

A complete silence veiled the place as they both stared at my horns like they were mesmerized.

Leila was the first to blink.

"...You could do that this whole time?" she asked.

I touched one of the antlers lightly. "It’s not that impressive."

I glanced back at Epione and much to my surprise, her horns seemed to react to my presence as they slowly began to glow.

But before something drastic happened, I retracted my horns back.

Epione touched her horns in confusion, like she felt the glow.

Epione lowered her hand, but her eyes stayed on me now, not hiding it.

"What are you?" she asked.

"I don’t know." I replied, covering myself. "So don’t ask anymore."

She studied my face, then gave a small nod like she accepted that half-answer.

Leila passed me a earpiece that I placed on my ears, Epione did the same.

"I will guide you from here." She responded with a smile. "Good luck."

I nodded as I walked closer to Epione who instinctly tried to move back.

"Stay still." I ordered, grabbing her hand. "I have a better way to reach the place quicker."

Before she could protest, I took a step forward as the space around me wrapped.

In a instant, the world changed as we stood at the entrance of the lower district.

The lower district of Orth was nothing like the palace.

It was old, rusty and filled with people.

Epione’s hand was still in mine, She slowly pulled it back.

"...Please warn me next time," she said softly.

I nodded as I began to walk inside the place.

Liraz shifted on my shoulder, feathers slightly raised.

Through the earpiece, Leila’s voice came low.

"Am I audible?"

"Yes." I replied softly. "Guide us."

She began to give direction while my eyes shifted around the place.

Nothing stood out of ordinary but it was still jarring.

’Hm?’

I felt Liraz’s trembling body making me stop in my track.

The blue bird quickly hopped onto the hands of Epoine, like he was hiding.

"What happened to him?" I asked genuinely confused.

Epione’s face turned slightly pale as she looked up at me.

"He only does this....."

Her voice slowed down as I felt a threatening mana.

"....When he feels a dragon nearby."