The Regent’s Palace
Irelina Mercius’s new home
Ella Querin was the only servant left to protect and depart with Irelina Mercius, the daughter of Arcy and Esmeralda Mercius, from the ruins of their small country caused by the shadow demons. She sobbed while combing Irelina’s wavy, long, shiny black hair. Her face was covered with the magicus black veil.
Irelina’s black veil was bizarre. It was embedded with a magic spell made by her mother’s blood. Her parents were the only ones who could look at her face behind the veil. It released a painful purple electric vine if anyone dared to touch it. She started wearing the black veil when she was born. As she ages, she is prohibited from using the mirror and has never seen her face, as she was young and pure at heart; she only followed her parents' will.
And, for the last seventeen years, she had never removed the black veil, even when sleeping and bathing. She would come of age in a few more months, and only then could she remove the veil.
“Ella…” Her tone was gentle. “When will you stop crying?”
Ella sniffled and wiped her tears with great concern.
“How can they be so cruel? You just got here and are mourning your family’s death. And you becoming the 9th Concubine of this place is unfair and unjust. Why did you not refuse?”
“If I refuse, where would we go? Father said that we could trust the regent. He also mentioned that the regent was one of his closest friends for a long time.”
“I know, but still—”
“Ella. We should be grateful that there are still people like the regent who accepted us even though we don't belong in this country,” she said bluntly.
“I’m sorry, Lady Irelina. I overstepped.” She put the hairbrush on the table.
“That’s alright—don’t apologize. I know you’re concerned. Let’s stay here for a while. Tomorrow, If the regent visits, I will talk to her about us.”
Ella gladly agreed. She had never seen Irelina’s face.
Out of curiosity, she tried to touch the black veil when Irelina was soundly asleep. Luckily, she stopped midway and realized that she would patiently wait no matter what. Until the day when Irelina is ready to show her face to everyone. Irelina was the kindest lady she ever served.
A week later, Regent Robina finally visited them. There was a big commotion that had happened with the country’s barrier spell. The Emperor of the West, Doris, rashly came to the Golden Empire with Apollis, the archmage, to discuss the peculiar rumble of the barrier. They were able to resolve the shattered barrier spell temporarily. But Zeddrick was not convinced the barrier would hold for another unexpected occurrence. It seemed a mysterious entity was trying to break the barrier, and they didn’t even know when it would occur again.
Regent Robina and Irelina were having a high tea prepared by Ella for them.
“Are you settling well in the palace?” Regent Robina asked as she drank her tea.
“Yes, I am, and we are deeply grateful to you, Regent Robina,” she said politely and placed the teacup on the table.
Regent Robina smiled but was curious about her face behind the black veil. She was trying to figure out whether her face was ruined by the shadow demons or something that could not be known. A moment of silence when—
“My father—how well do you know my father?” Irelina asked.
Regent Robina simpered as she held her teacup placed on her lap. “I never expected you to ask about your father,” she said. “I knew your father well because we went to the same school. He lived in the Southern part of the Vincentus Empire. After a year, we became close friends. Thanks to him, I met my deceased husband, Freddrick Verticulas. They were inseparable as best friends. Your father was a bubbly man and a born merchant, so he travelled much with his father. Until one day, he never came back to Hēnte. Out of the blue, your father sent me a letter and mentioned that he established a small country and named it after his family name, Mercius. From then on, he often sent me letters and talked a lot about you. How he loved you and your mother.”
Irelina felt a sense of relief in her heart. She placidly smiled with teary eyes. Her father and mother were everything to her. When the shadow demons ambushed their land, her parents saved her and left Ella with her instead of them. The last words her father said were, “Run! Run away, Irelina! Save yourself! Don’t look back!” It was still so vivid to her that she could remember her parents' last smiles and tears looking at her as they burned to the ground, embracing each other.
She looked at the open window as the silhouette of the curtain rustled.
“My parents…they were everything to me. Seeing them die in front of my eyes was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.”
The regent was stunned to hear such sorrow from her. But despite what had happened to her at such a young age, she was still trying to live a normal life.
“And I believe as sons and daughters, the love of our parents will remain forever regardless of what happens. I’m sure your parents are at ease because you’re in good hands now,” were Regent Robina’s comforting words to her.
Irelina nodded and pondered as she thought about her parents. Please watch over me, Father and Mother. I will try to live as normal as you want me to be.
Meanwhile, the seven concubines were having afternoon high tea in the glasshouse beside the emperor’s palace. It was a refreshing afternoon surrounded by an enormous variety of chrysanthemums, and an angelic fountain in the center of the garden. The wisteria vines were well-maintained by the gardener and were about to blossom soon.
While they comfortably enjoyed their high tea with assorted desserts, behind Dianthus were like backdrops of cattleya and moth orchids, uniquely designed and placed. The glasshouse was embedded with revivora spells to maintain its healthy glow with fresh ventilation.
“I’m curious what the 9th concubine's face looks like. Was Irelina her name?” Samantha opened the topic.
“Me, too. I am curious. No one has seen her walking around in the regent’s palace. Don’t you think so?” Lily added.
“She must be a discreet person who doesn’t want to meddle with anyone,” Erielle said.
Dianne sipped her tea while listening to their conversation. She smoothly glanced at Yzabelle and gently set the teacup on the table.
“Since she’s the topic for the day, what do you think of her, Yzabelle? Are you also curious about what she looks like?”
Yzabelle gracefully sipped her tea as they wondered and waited for her opinion. She was the oldest among them, and it was common for the ladies to respect someone older than them whether they hated them or not; their moral values needed to come first for the credibility of their family’s name.
“I am curious about her as well. But what can we do? It was clear from the regent that she didn’t like to be seen.”
“So, you’re saying we should just let it go?” Dianthus’s brow slightly furrowed.
“I am not sure why everyone’s bothered about her. She’s not meddling with any of us or the emperor. Aren’t we supposed to be contented? That the emperor shows no interest in someone like her with a ruined face?” Yzabelle said sarcastically.
Some felt embarrassed and distressed, except for Dianthus, who was displeased by her sarcastic tone. The atmosphere became upsetting.
“My, my, shall we change the topic? The emperor’s birthday is just months away. Would it be great if we plan something for His Majesty?” Amelia tried to divert their attention to the emperor’s upcoming birthday.
Luciana seemed not to care about them as she enjoyed her selection of sweets and a teacup of Jasmine tea.
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