When Sharon opened her eyes, she found that she was no longer in the dream world. Instead, she was laying on an expensive bed with gauze wrapped around her neck. Her throat was dry and scratchy. When she looked around, she found that she was back in her bedroom. She pinched herself to ensure that she wasn't actually dreaming.

Her eyes grew dull as she stared at the ceiling. She realized immediately that she had failed. Somehow, her parents managed to get her to a doctor in time. They managed to save her life. Everyone was relieved except for one person.

Sharon.

No matter how hard they tried to get her to eat, she refused it. They tried to force water and food down her throat, but she clenched her mouth shut. The servants were irritated by her refusal to even move. They didn't want to take care of her any longer.

The Marquis was beyond furious. Not only had his plan backfired, but he was now the talk of the town. His daughter foolishly chose death over marriage, causing him to lose face within the noble's tight social circle.

He was forced to find Kane. A daughter who took her own life was considered much more shameful than a daughter who ran off with a lowly merchant. Once Kane heard the news, he rushed over to the Marquis residence. It was the first time he had ever entered Sharon's family home. He did not know that it would be under such circumstances.

When he noticed the love of his life laying on the bed, gaunt and malnourished, he felt his heart shatter. Uncontrollable rage infiltrated his heart. Who dared cause her to decline to such a degree?! Whoever it was, he vowed to make them pay.

He kneeled next to her bedside and grabbed her abnormally pale hands. He squeezed them, "My love. I am here."

Her eyes fluttered open at the sound of his voice. He was horrified to see her once fiery eyes were now lifeless and dull as they looked at him. A thin smile crossed her pale lips. Her weak hand raised to caress his tender looking face.

She whispered out, "I must have finally died, for now I am in heaven."

He chuckled lightly and held her hand that caressed his face, "You silly woman. How long will you lay in bed for?"

He reached forward and pinched her sunken cheek. Her eyes widened, "How can I feel pain if I am in heaven?"

His eyes watered, "It's because you are alive, my love."

Her eyebrows pinched together, "I'm... Alive?" She pulled her hand away and used what little energy she had left to remove herself from Kane, "No. You mustn't touch me."

He looked at her shocked by her refusal, "Why?"

Her lip trembled, "I have been sullied. Ruined." She shook her head, "Leave before I ruin you too."

His lips pressed together, but he made no movement to leave. He spoke firmly, "I will never leave you. Do you know how often I laid awake wondering if you were alright or not? I came to your house, but your father turned me away at the gate. But I was always trying to see you. Even after I heard the news that you would marry someone else."

A tear escaped Sharon's eye and slowly trailed down her cheek, "P-Please... Kane... Just let me die..."

He clutched her hand, "I will never leave your side. Please don't leave mine."

This was the last struggle that Sharon could endure. She broke down and sobbed, "He ruined me Kane! I was forced to be with him!"

Kane realized what she meant and his face turned pale. Thousands of thoughts crossed his mind. He desperately wanted to kill that vile man. He wanted to rip him apart. However, right now, all he could focus on was the frail woman in front of him.

He shook his head as his eyes watered. He shouted, "I don't care! I still love you! I will always love you!"

She sobbed, "K-Kane.... You wouldn't say that.. You wouldn't say that if you knew..."

"Knew what?"

Her voice was like a whisper, "I'm pregnant...."

As Kane watched the woman he loved suffer in front of him, he realized something important. He didn't care about any societal rules. He didn't care if his reputation would be tarnished. He didn't even care if he lost everything. The only thing he cared about was the woman in front of him.

And he was determined not to let her go.

He embraced her gently and whispered in her ear, "I still want you. I will still marry you. You are the love of my life. I will never abandon you."

She whispered back, "But what about the child?"

He pulled away and smiled at her tenderly, "The child will be mine. No matter what anyone says. I will treat them like my very own flesh and blood."

"Oh... Kane..." Joy began to fill her lifeless eyes. Kane bent down and kissed her tenderly. His promise was as real as the kiss they shared.

When Kane went to leave, he stopped to glare at the Marquis. He spoke in threatening tone, "I think it would be better if she married a lowly merchant than die by her own hand. Don't you think?"

The Marquis's face was dark, "Yes. I agree."

Thus, the Marquis chose to salvage his reputation over his own daughter.

Not only did the Marquis disown her, but the entire family did as well. Not one single family member dared to stand up for Sharon. Not one dared to try to comfort her or take her side. They all kept their heads down and their reputations clean.

Sharon always knew that her family valued their reputation more than their own family members, but it still hurt just the same. However, whenever she felt low, she just had to remind herself that Kane was still by her side.

Once Kane left the house, he came back every day to feed Sharon. When she was in good enough health, the prior engagement was canceled and the current engagement was set in motion. Sharon moved in with Kane, but before they could be married; they had to meet with the King and Queen.

Queen Luna is seen as a heartless individual. She appeared cold on the surface unless she was with someone she liked. However, there were only a few that this applied to. She had also heard about the monstrosity that had occurred to Sharon. She knew it all, but there was little she could do to help.

So when she saw Kane and Sharon come to them for permission to wed, she was filled with happiness. In truth, Queen Luna wasn't as heartless as she seemed. She was actually quite soft. The King, who was aware of his wife's opinion on the matter, allowed his wife to deal with the situation.

Queen Luna spoke, "You two may wed. However, marrying a merchant will ruin your chance to be a high ranking noble. Are you sure you want to do that Sharon?"

However Sharon only smiled, "My father has already removed my name from the family tree. I have no desire to be a noble. As long as I can marry Kane, I will be truly happy."

Queen Luna nodded. As a fellow mother, she could tell in one glance that Sharon was pregnant. Even though she hid the pregnancy quite well, it didn't escape the Queen's watchful eyes. This filled her with admiration towards the couple and she decided to take sympathy on them.

Queen Luna spoke, "Kane. From this day forward, you will be known as Lord Kane."

He looked up at her in surprise, "My Queen. You can't possibly mean..."

Queen Luna smiled at his astonishment, "Welcome to nobility, Lord Kane."

Queen Luna surprised everyone by not only refusing to kick out Sharon from nobility, but also promoting Kane to nobility. Such a thing was unheard of. For years nobility was only something you could be born into. While demoting Sharon's rank in nobility was technically a bad thing, everyone thought that Queen Luna took mercy on her and that Sharon was lucky.

Sharon started her new life with Kane. She was ready to move on from her past and forget her pain and torment. She stuffed down any painful feelings and locked away the memories. She looked to the future she had once envisioned with Kane.

However, the past refused to be ignored.

Sharon tried to ignore her previous agonizing memories, but they still came to haunt her in her sleep. Every night in her dreams she would see the Earl's son's face. She would wake up in a panic while screaming. Kane was always there to comfort her. In his arms, she was sure the pain would eventually go away.

It only got worse.

When her daughter was born, she was thrilled. She was determined to be the most wonderful mother. And she was... At first.

To Sharon's horror, her daughter barely looked like her. Every time she looked in her daughters eyes, all she could see was the Earl's son. Eventually, the trauma she was forced to endure exploded once more. The memories drove her insane.

She got less sleep. She grew more irritable.

It wasn't long before she turned explosive. One little thing would set her off. Her irritable nature drove her once doting husband away. Although he loved and cared for her deeply, there was only so much he could take. He wouldn't leave her, but he couldn't stay either.

Eventually, that only left Sharon and her child alone in the mansion. She couldn't even look at her own daughter without feeling overwhelming hate. Although she hated herself for feeling this way, she found it impossible to control her outbursts.

Sharon was forced to watched herself lose everything all over again. However, this time it was her own fault. If she had been born in the far future, she may have been able to get the help she desperately needed. Unfortunately, she was born in an era that shamed and practically tortured those with poor mental health.

However, there was one thing that was lucky for Sharon. Her daughter turned out to be far smarter than anyone could possibly ever imagine. Through her daughters wit, she led her mother away from the path of darkness and back to the path of light. It was a long and painful process, but her mother finally had the chance to redeem herself in her daughter's eyes.

And she did just that.

.......

[Back to Seri's perspective]

I concluded the story with a faint smile on my face. I sat back and shrugged, "I am not sure on the exact specifics, but from what I have uncovered during my research, this story is very close to the truth. So, I am dying to know. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

He stared at me slack jawed, "You're my-my... My D-Daughter?"

My smile disappeared in an instant. I spat out, "Don't you dare call me that. My father is Lord Kane. No matter what, he will always be my father."

The Earl's son ignored me and felt as if he had been given a lifeline. He gained the courage to speak, "I-I can change. I can be a father to you. If I adopt you, you can inherit land and receive whatever your heart desires. You won't be considered a lowly noble."

My irritation grew which showed in my smile, "I don't need handouts from trash like you. And trust me, I don't use the word trash lightly."

I sighed and leaned back in my chair. I pinched the bridge of my nose, "I suppose I ought to be a bit more grateful. I would not have existed if it weren't for you contributing to my genes." I glared at him in disgust, "But it begs the question: Is it worth existing if it means that several lives will be ruined in the process?"

He blinked at me in fear and confusion, "I-I don't understand."

I spoke to myself, "Luckily I managed to take control of this body. If it had been the other one then... Who knows just how that would have turned out."

Millie heard me mutter and glanced at me, "Seri. What should we do about this new puppy?"

I smiled at her question and looked at the man in front of me still cowering, "I'm not sure. Just what do you think we should do?"

He gulped, "Just let me go. I-I won't tell anyone. If you want anything, I will give it to you."

I smirked, "Now, now. Do you really believe I will let you go? You know our names. You know our faces. You should know by now just how serious this is."

He trembled, "I will do whatever you ask. Just please- don't hurt me."

I scoffed, "I bet my mother said the same thing to you."

Seeing him turn pale at my lack of empathy, I turned to Millie. "Millie. Go slow. Make sure he can last several days. I want him to suffer until his very last breath."

Millie's face lit up, "You mean it?"

"I do."

"What?! No! Listen to me! I will give you anything!" We ignored his pleading and Millie pulled out a needle and stuck it into one of the jars. I watched as the syringe began to fill up with the strange liquid.

She turned back to me with a devious smile. "Seri, this is my new creation. It heightens the perception of pain. It is quite unbearable."

I smiled sweetly at her, "Wonderful."

I watched as Millie giggled and smiled, all while torturing the man before me. Even though he looked similar to me, I felt no bond. I watched with cold eyes as he writhed and screamed. However, I felt nothing as I watched him be cut, burned, pricked, and anything Millie's demented mind could come up with. To me, this man was not human.

He was a monster.

She played and played until he no longer could face the pain. Then he fainted. She sewed him up, treated him with medicine, then stuck him in a dog cage that wasn't even fit for an animal to live in. Then, we left the underground dungeon and returned to the dorm.

As I laid in my bed, the stench of blood and urine still overwhelmed my nose.

I sighed and spoke to my empty room, "Original Seri... I hope you aren't mad at me for getting retribution for your mother... I know she was awful to you, but she really is trying now... I hope you don't hate me..."

-I don't-

I sat up abruptly as I looked around the room in a panic. Just now, I had heard a whisper in my ear. Yet....

The room was completely empty.