They were astounded and started looking at each other's sides to see who might be the culprit. Irelina never failed to entertain them with intrigues. While Dianthus felt restless, she tried to hide her agitation and clenched her fist on the sides of her skirt. Irelina thought, ‘Her expression is undeniable. She is the culprit. But how did she learn how to use dark magic? What I know is that it’s forbidden to use inside the palace. Her power was healing like Medicius. Something is quite not right.’ she pondered.
“Everyone, be quiet!” Zeddrick commanded, and everyone became quiet.
He then challenged Irelina. “However—” His stare was fierce, but Irelina did not blink an eye away from his gaze, “If you lied to us, I would be the one to kill you.” His tone was heartless.
Irelina bowed confidently. “Do what you think is right, Your Majesty.”
He was stunned by her audacity.
“Irelina—” Regent Robina mumbled and was worried for her sake.
Irelina looked around and found Sidañian standing beside Devin. ‘Again, Sadi, I’m sorry. I want to make this celebration more controversial. It seems this empire dislikes you. So let me save your presence tonight. I don’t care what they think since I already made the promise. Let’s blow their minds.’ She said to herself.
“Sadi, do you mind honoring me by removing my veil?”
‘What?!’ The guests were in awe. “Did she just call the Emperor of Horos by a pseudonym?” A guest said while the rest were shocked.
Sidañian was surprised and just smiled, playing along with her script. “With pleasure, Lady Irelina.” He strolled towards her. What?! What is going on? Everyone wondered in awe. Zeddrick watched without malice, but indeed, his face tells it all—he is not delighted to see the closeness between Sidañian and Irelina. His thoughts wandered with questions like, ‘Why is she calling the Emperor of Horos, Sadi? And what is this I’m seeing? He just followed the 9th Concubine words like an obedient dog. Am I missing something? He frowned his brows.
Sidañian stood behind Irelina and steadily removed the pin from the veil. He then whispered behind her left ear.
“You owe me a lot this time, Lady Irelina.” His tone of breath made Irelina’s flesh flinch.
Though slightly quivered, she quietly whispered, “I know, and I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you. I would happily accompany you if you do not break my condition.” She smiled, and so did he.
“Of course. Are you ready?”
Irelina confidently said, “Yes. Let’s do this.”
All of them were curious about what she looked like. Irelina closed her eyes, and Sidañian removed the veil as it slowly fell onto the marble floor. She slowly opened her eyes for everyone to see.
‘How can it be? She didn’t have any scars at all.’ A viscount exclaimed. Her exquisite face mystified everyone. Her siren golden eyes glistened from the light of chandeliers, her fairy skin was almost like snow white, and her radiant long wavy black hair and soft peach color lips made her stand out in the crowd. When all eyes were on her, she gave His Majesty a soft smile and said to herself, ‘I won, Your Majesty.’ Zeddrick was in disbelief. He could not utter a single word of judgement. Her revelation had indeed captivated His Majesty’s eyes of desire to have her. Even the regent has fallen at her enchanting beauty. Irelina's gesture of pure innocence is like the bud of Jasmine that blossoms in spring and the charisma of Aurora that your eyes will not dare take away from her presence.
How could this happen?! Dianthus seethed in anger and thought, ‘I’m not going to stand here and do nothing. I have done everything to reach this status, and now a mere impostor like you will try to take everything away from me. How dare you! Irelina Mercius!!’ She was mad at her.
“Are you trying to trick us?! We all know you have a ruined face. You’re an impostor. Where is Irelina Mercius?!” Dianthus yelled irresponsibly.
Her father and brother were baffled to see her causing such foolish fuss in the crowd. Still, Irelina displayed calmness over anger while letting Dianthus do her rants towards her. ‘I’m already at my piqued with this bitch.’ She thought and glanced at Dianthus's defeated face.
“Seriously?" She paused with a fiery stare and said, "Tell me, why do you look so agitated with my presence, Dianthus?”
Dianthus flinched, and Irelina’s siren-golden pupils reacted as it glowed in hues. Not everyone noticed it, but Sidañian, Medicius, and Castaeus had briefly seen it. Her glare towards Dianthus brought an uncanny feeling to their spine—a faint presence of a powerful entity from her soul as they kept quiet and watched.
“B—Because you’re not the real Irelina Mercius!” Her tone was tense.
“How could you possibly know?" She shrugged her hand. "I was born like this, duh—besides, how can you prove that I am not the real Irelina Mercius? Have you let someone check on me? Or did you use something else? Like magic, perhaps?” Irelina’s provoking tone towards Dianthus seemed endless.
Dianthus gripped her skirt, tight-lipped, and was uptight. She thought that Irelina might know something about the dark magic she used. She raged in anger within herself, thinking, ‘She’s trying to provoke me, but I will not let you do what you want. I will not ruin my plan to become His Majesty’s empress.’ She gritted.
“Enough of this!” Zeddrick shouted, adding, “I don’t care whether you are the real Irelina or not! Your presence is already ruining the party. Return to the Regent’s Palace immediately, and don’t show your face unless I said so.” He commanded Irelina.
Irelina looked at His Majesty with a cold expression. ‘I don’t care about this party anyway. Now that I said what I wanted and proved them wrong. That’s all that matters. Now that I know the culprit, I only need to gather evidence. And once I have everything, I will slap them to his face and leave Hēnte for good.’ She crossed her arms and gave His Majesty a smug smile.
“Not a problem, Your Majesty. Since I won the bet, I do not intend to stay at your lavish party, which doesn’t suit my taste.”
She gladly turned her back on him. Zeddrick was appalled by her boldness. She proudly smirked and smiled sweetly at Sidañian, who stood before her, waiting as she thought, ‘Let’s leave this boring party.’
“Sadi, are you not coming with me? Irelina said.
Sidañian knew it was time to end their roleplay. He did enjoy the play to his heart’s content, and a perfect ending to let everyone’s mind ponder when the night’s over. He offered his left hand towards Irelina, and so did she. He put it onto his left arm as they faced their backs on Zeddrick with nothing to fear. But His Majesty was annoyed, and before they could leave the hall—
“Stop right there!” He yelled.
They stopped but didn’t turn their heads back on Zeddrick. ‘Now what?’ She felt annoyed while Sidañian thought, ‘What a nuisance.’ they furrowed their brows.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Zeddrick's tone was stern or perhaps a slight touch of jealousy.
Irelina looked sideways; her gaze was so fierce and eerie that Zeddrick’s eyes widened—a stare that could make a man’s heart throbbed in fear. ‘What was that, just now—?’ His unsettling thoughts.
“Like you said, Your Majesty, I’m ruining the party. So I’m going to leave. But it doesn’t mean I’m going by myself.” She boastfully lifted her chin and said, “Besides, I promise the Emperor of Horos that I will entertain him until the day he leaves this palace.” Taunting His Majesty. She smirked and bowed, adding, “Well, then, Goodbye.” and averted her glance away from Zeddrick.
Sidañian conceitedly grinned without looking back and thought, ‘I never felt so intense being with a fearless woman like her. I believe my stay here is worth it.’ Leaving everyone behind, Zeddrick's lips were sealed in silence as he felt aggrieved by Irelina’s scathing words.
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