CHAPTER 78 - PHILOSOPHER’S STONELast night, Heinrich couldn't get a wink of sleep.
The commotion at the top room of the highest tower, where Harriet and Liam were sleeping, was actually a commotion that had nothing to do with him or his problem at all. Moreover, the castle was very spacious and the distance between the tower and the guest residences that Heinrich and Julian were occupying was quite far.
If it wasn't for the white dove, the Artificial Spirit that he released from sensing the suspicious mana fluctuations last night, he wouldn't know what had happened.
Heinrich felt his heart shatter into pieces. Harriet Goldlane might be a different individual from his teacher, Cynthia Delaroche. However, that woman was most likely her reincarnation, and they had the exact same face and nature.
Because of that, Heinrich couldn't hold back the pain in his chest seeing Harriet sobbing by Liam Almandine's side last night.
Why after his master was reborn into this world, did she have to suffer again?
Heinrich could not accept it.
Why was fate always cruel to her? Why couldn't the world let her be happy? He wanted to curse himself. Part of it was his fault, as he couldn't be quicker to remember his past in his previous life. Heinrich felt very guilty.
So, walking alone down the hall with Heath, he had something to say.
"Have you ever heard of the Philosopher's Stone, Young Lord?" Heinrich asked.
Heath blinked and turned to the man with wide eyes.
"The Philosopher's Stone is not a hoax. Seventy years ago, Henry Marigold I, had found a way to create it," Heinrich said then.
Heath furrowed his brows in disbelief.
“This will be my second promise because I can't apologize to you,” Heinrich said to Heath, looking him straight in the eyes. He added with a very serious expression, "I'll bring you the Philosopher's Stone to heal Liam Almandine so that Madam Harriet Goldlane can live happily.”
Heinrich and Julian's actions had killed Heath's men and those closest to him, his right and left hand whom he trusted the most.
Heinrich knew he couldn't use the Philosopher's Stone to bring the dead back to life because he had already tried. However, he knew that as long as Liam wasn't dead, the Philosopher's Stone could still save him.
Heath's eyes flashed at Heinrich, and the young man immediately grabbed the man's collar. “How did you know about Liam Almandine–”
Pushing Heath's hand off his collar, Heinrich smiled. For some reason, he saw his young self in Heath's figure. It was like looking in a mirror. One look at Heath, he knew clearly that Heath loved Harriet as much as he loved Cindy.
“I just want to pay off a debt,” Heinrich smiled calmly, and Heath knew the man was lying.
Heinrich walked away from there, leaving Heath.
He walked down the long hall of the castle, down the castle courtyard and finally came to the front door, where his horse and all his guards and Julian were waiting for him. So he got on his horse.
He turned and looked at the majestic castle in front of him. And without any farewell from anyone, he went to lead his entourage home.
***
Ezekiel waved his hand at the woman who was sticking her body out the window of the carriage, waving from a distance. Cecilia decided to go back to the capital, while he had to escort the envoy from the West Continent back to the border.
Shortly after Cecilia left, he saw Heinrich and Julian's entourage appear at the borders of this Northern Region. Julian lowered his head, while Heinrich wore his gentle business smile.
“Good afternoon, Your Highness,” said Heinrich.
Ezekiel nodded. "Good afternoon," he replied.
"Thanks for waiting for me," Heinrich said calmly and gently, in a warm low tone.
Ezekiel was so uncomfortable hearing that, so he just nodded, not intending to continue the conversation with Heinrich.
"Oh, was that your lover?" asked Heinrich, making Ezekiel flinch.
Ezekiel saw Heinrich's flawless warm smile.
“I heard rumours that Madam Goldlane should have married you and become the Empress. But because of that woman…” Heinrich purposely stopped his sentence when he saw Ezekiel who was glaring at him. “Hahaha, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have impolitely mentioned that…” Heinrich said.
Ezekiel was a bit surprised. He was sure Cecilia had gone far enough before Heinrich appeared. How could Heinrich see her?
"Miss Cecilia Morganite, huh?" Heinrich asked quietly. "You do know what the metaphysical properties of Morganite are, don't you?"
With a soft pink hue, Morganite was often associated with innocence and purity, sweetness, romance, and love. Morganite was believed to bring healing, compassion, and promise to those who wear it.
However, did Cecilia Morganite carry all those traits, as her name suggested?
Silently, Heinrich sneered.
Even Ezekiel did not represent the name Euclase, the stone of strength and clarity. The stone that connected the heart to the mind, enhanced intuition and brought clarity within.
In contrast to the name Euclase which was supposed to represent timeless honesty, a passion for constantly generating new energy in hope of eliminating unwanted and negative human nature, what did Ezekiel do?
His vision was obscured by the other woman even though Harriet was already there clear before his eyes. Harriet, the woman who was about to be announced as the next Empress. It was clearly dishonesty and infidelity, and not only that, abuse of power.
Heinrich had not been idle while he was here. He collected a lot of information on this continent while he still had time. And coincidentally, the scandal between Ezekiel, Cecilia, and Harriet which turned out to be very famous reached his ears as well.
Heinrich quietly gripped the horse's leash tightly.
“You are a lucky man,” Heinrich continued and flashed his best default smile.
Ezekiel became more and more uncomfortable every second because of this man. He seemed to speak sarcastically, but his expression and words were absolutely flawless. In contrast to Harriet whose demeanour always seemed neutral, Heinrich seemed to have a strong disdain for him.
Of course, in his heart right now, Heinrich was cursing Ezekiel by reading the book of 1001 Curses from the West. Liam Almandine was a thousand, no. That monstrous monster was a million times better than this damn crown prince.
But Heinrich also couldn't be grateful that Harriet married Liam Almandine.
Even in this life, Heinrich was still late.