The long night was not over for Irelina Mercius. They found out about her bizarre black veil when Medicius accidentally touched it. He got stung by the electric vines and burned his right arm. He immediately drank a healing potion and looked at Ella’s perturbed expression.

Mercius wondered why they had hidden such a secret. Why did Irelina have to cover her face? He thought while looking at Irelina's condition.

Even the regent was surprised. All they could do now was not ask questions and save it for later.

Medicius injected another syringe with the healing potion into Irelina’s left arm, but it was no longer effective. Irelina’s entire body was slowly turning plum, like a brittle burn of paper, from her neck to her arms.

The regent was not happy with what she witnessed. She will not allow Irelina to die in vain. 

“Why is it not working on her?!” The regent exclaimed. 

“I don’t know. I have used all the healing and vitality potions on her. I don’t know what else I could inject,” Medicius said, feeling strange about Irelina’s abnormality to potions. 

“Then use your healing spell,” her tone was stern. 

“If I do that, she might fall into a deep coma. We don’t even know how her body will take it,” Medicius felt reluctant to use the healing spell on Irelina. 

Regent Robina furrowed and was angry. “Do everything you can! I promised her father that I would take care of her. So do as I say! Use your healing spell on her right now!”

“But, Your Highness, my healing spell only works with people who have efficient mana to absorb it in a certain amount. Irelina doesn’t have mana at all, and I’m afraid—” 

“It’s an order, Medicius.” The regent demanded, adding, “Do everything you can to your limit, and I believe you can handle that.” 

Medicius gulped and looked at Irelina’s frail body, thinking, What will I do? She doesn’t have mana at all. If I go beyond my limit, she will be bedridden forever and never again will she open her eyes.

“What are you waiting for, Medicius? Heal her, now!” 

The regent was impatient for a moment. She promised Irelina’s father that no matter what happened, she would treat Irelina as her own. 

While the Regent’s Palace was in silent dispute, Devin heard what had happened from one of the guards who had brought Medicius there. Bothered by it, he hastily entered the emperor’s office, interrupting His Majesty.

“Your Majesty!” Devin panted. 

“It’s late, Devin Gratus. You’re supposed to be sleeping. Why did you suddenly barge in without my permission?” His tone was cold.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but you must hear me out. Something happened in the Regent’s palace,”  

Zeddrick stopped writing. 

“What happened in the Regent’s Palace?” 

“It’s about the 9th Concubine. She was poisoned, but—” 

“Oh, it’s about the 9th Concubine. I thought it was my mother who got poisoned. Then why bother?” he said heartlessly.

“I don’t want to be rude, Your Majesty, but the poison used on the 9th Concubine was the same poison that killed Empress Earlena—the Death Poison spell.” 

Zeddrick jolted from his seat in anger.

“Did you just say the Death Poison spell?”

“Yes, and it is untraceable, Your Majesty.” 

“Is the 9th Concubine dead?” 

“No. She’s barely breathing.” 

“What?!” He was stunned and added, “Are you saying she’s still alive?! That’s impossible.” 

“I agree, Your Majesty. No one lives by the death poison spell, and I’m surprised that she’s still breathing unconsciously. Medicius is currently there, trying to cure her.” 

“I want to see it for myself. Let’s go,” Zeddrick said, thinking, What Devin said is true. No one survives from the dark magic spell. How can she still be alive?

They hastily left to go to the Regent’s Palace. 

Meanwhile, Dianthus was having a good night's sleep, thinking that her dark magic had killed Irelina. She looked forward to tomorrow’s great news. 

Before Medicius started the healing spell, Irelina murmured something. 

“What are you trying to say, Lady Irelina?” Medicius leaned his head a little closer.

“I—I will come back in no time. And, once I’m back, I will find the culprit who did this to me.”

Medicius could not believe what he heard from her fierce words. He moved backward and felt something different from Irelina’s aura. He used his mystic probe to examine her body. To his surprise, he found her internal body barred; the red vines were eating her alive. She should have been dead already, that’s what Medicius thought, but an uncharted spell was keeping her body alive.

In his eyes, a powerful entity or symbol whose origin he could not identify. It was useless using his unique eyes. His forehead was sweating and averted his gaze to Ella. He sensed that she didn’t know either. It seems the healing spell is working on her. But what kind of an individual are you, Irelina Mercius? What’s your origin? It seems someone has intentionally irreversibly sealed your power. But why? His temples sweated.

Not long enough, Zeddrick and Devin came in unannounced when Medicius was about to complete the healing spell out of his limit. The regent was surprised to see his son, but Zeddrick was more shocked to see Medicius using the healing spell. He knew Medicius only used it at war and never for ordinary people like Irelina. When he saw Irelina’s wrecked body, he was speechless, as it was indeed the same poison that killed his beloved wife, Earlena. 

Medicius sighed, for the healing spell had been successful. Irelina was now in a deep sleep. He had lost over half of his mana and felt exhausted.

He looked drained thinking, she almost ingested all my mana. I am... so tired. He looked at Irelina again, there was really something strange about her. He pondered.

“How is she still alive?” Zeddrick tone was in disbelief. 

Medicius frowned because he had no energy to explain to Zeddrick. But, it was something that he could not say in front of his mother. Zeddrick noticed his unsettled gaze. 

“Mother, it’s late. Why don't you come back tomorrow?” Zeddrick said, then looked at Ella. “You, as well,” he ordered.

“But Your Majesty—'' Ella’s tone was worried. 

“It’s fine, Ella. You should go and rest. You can come back tomorrow. And don’t worry, I’ll come every other day to check her condition.” Medicius reassured her.

The regent and Ella agreed and left the room to rest. The three of them stood looking at Irelina as she was breathing. 

“Now, talk.” Zeddrick’s cold tone.

“There’s no doubt. It is the same death poison spell used on Empress Earlena Vincentus,” Medicius confirmed. 

“Then, how come she is still alive?” Zeddrick was conflicted. 

“I am unsure.” 

“What?! Do you mean you don’t have any answers about her condition?” 

“It’s not that I don’t have the answer. At first, it was strange because no one survived the death poison spell. And on top of that, she’s just like an ordinary person without mana. But what bothers me is the mysterious uncharted spell infused in her body.” Medicius said.

“What do you mean?” Zeddrick was uninterested. 

“I intentionally used the eye probe spell to scan her body thoroughly. It seems someone has intentionally sealed her mana. But I can’t tell if it was mana or something unknown living in her core.” Medicius paused and added, “I don’t know why, and I believe she doesn’t know either. Also, that black veil she’s wearing is really something.” 

“I’m not interested in knowing about her sealed mana or whatever. I am more interested in who used the death poison spell after more than three years of silence. The 9th Concubine hasn’t left the palace since arriving with her servant.” 

The three of them think for a moment. 

“Then, one thing is certain: Someone in this palace discreetly practices dark magic. Also, have you not heard the rumors about her ruined face?” Zeddrick said. 

“What do you mean ruined face?” Medicius was puzzled. 

“Are you deaf? The 9th Concubine covers her face with the black veil because the shadow demons made her ugly.” Zeddrick was annoyed. 

Medicius was dumbfounded, Who on earth said she was ugly? Contemplating what Zeddrick said to him, Medicius didn’t bother to explain. He was not surprised by how cold-hearted Zeddrick was, knowing what Irelina honestly looked like. 

“If this person is using dark magic discreetly, then we need to find them, Your Majesty. The sooner, the better.” Devin said. 

“Whoever the culprit is, I will not hesitate to throw that person in the Land of Satanus myself,” Zeddrick said sternly.

“I will work on that, Your Majesty,” Devin said.

Zeddrick and Devin left the room, leaving Medicius behind. He went closer to Irelina’s bed and gazed at her black veil.

Medicius was curious about the purpose of the black veil, A veil that stung. Is that some protection? I didn’t tell His Majesty everything. It wasn’t her mana that had been sealed. It was an unstable power that we didn’t know of. More powerful than His Majesty. I wonder what the reason for sealing her power is. And the need to hide her face behind the black veil. Could it be she doesn’t want to be found? By who? Medicius deeply thought about Irelina's secrecy.  

Before the supermoon subsided by dawn, Irelina’s soul separated from her body and entered the obscure dark wormhole as she stood in the moon glade of a bare sphere. Subconsciously, she was hoping to wake up soon while wandering for days amid nowhere.

I lost everything. Now that I am in this dark world, will there be anyone out there who can find me? Irelina thought, sitting floating on top of dark water.