The Royal Mark-Chapter 348: Poisoned

After awakening, the divine mages, along with Chris and Andrius’ group, returned to the camp to reunite with the other expedition members.

"Can we use your portal to go to Kurzen now?" Chris inquired of one of the elder mages.

"Not yet. We’ve been sleeping for centuries and must gather sufficient mana before confronting the demon army. We should stay somewhere safe while we regenerate our magic and secure provisions. We cannot engage in battle on empty stomachs," the elder responded.

"He’s right, Christopher," Andrius interjected. "We also need to retrieve the other soldiers and mages stationed at Blackhart Castle. Since we haven’t briefed the divine mages on our battle plans, we shouldn’t rush."

"I understand your urgency to rescue Elsa, and I share the same concern for her and Milda. However, we must calibrate our actions with everyone first," Andrius continued.

"I know, I apologize. I’m just anxious. The wedding is in two days, and once that day arrives, Mordrak could easily erase my mark on Elsa. At that point, he could corrupt her effortlessly. She’s alone there without protection, not to mention her condition," Chris replied.

"What condition are you referring to?" the elder mage inquired curiously.

"My wife is currently expecting our second child, and she doesn’t even know it yet."

The elder mage comforted Chris with a pat on the shoulder and said, "Do not worry, my child. Give us a good meal and this night to rest. Tomorrow, we will vanquish those demons and ensure they no longer terrorize all of Vectus."

Chris nodded faintly, smiling despite his lingering concerns. Despite knowing the divine mages held the solution to their problem, he couldn’t shake his worry about King Mordrak’s malevolence and his wife’s stubbornness.

"Is everyone ready?" Andrius called out loudly.

With affirmations all around, a younger divine mage opened a portal for everyone to use, cautioning, "I can’t create a larger portal yet; my mana hasn’t fully recovered. Hurry through; it won’t remain open for long."

Everyone rushed through, letting the women go first. They moved swiftly, heedless of what awaited them on the other side.

Much like Chris during his first portal experience, many mages and werewolves doubled over, vomiting as they reached the other side. They knelt, emptying their stomachs onto the ground.

"Apologies! My mana wasn’t sufficient for a smooth-flowing portal travel," the divine mage apologized.

"You should have warned us!" Andrius retorted between bouts of sickness.

"Oh my, what is this? Are you all trying to ruin my appetite?"

Chris, unaffected by the portal’s side effects, turned with a smile upon recognizing the voice behind him.

"We’ve awakened the divine mages, and I’m still alive!" Chris exclaimed mirthfully to Elandir.

Elandir smirked and welcomed him with a warm embrace. "You’re not the only one with good news."

He stepped aside, revealing Nathan standing behind him.

"Your Holiness!" the divine mages exclaimed in unison, bowing before him.

"Please, rise, all of you," Nathan said. "I am no longer the angel you once knew. Although my wings have returned as part of my body, my powers are so weak they’re almost non-existent."

Elandir noticed the questioning look in everyone’s eyes as they stared at Nathan’s majestic red wings, previously severed by King Mordrak.

"My Mother and Princess Hera healed him with the help of the Tree of Life. They were able to heal his wounds and his wings grew back gradually day after day until it reached its original size. But they really can’t do anything about his powers," Elandir explained.

"That’s better than nothing. Let’s all go inside so everyone can eat and rest. I am sure everyone needs food after throwing up that much," Chris uttered and gestured for everyone to follow him inside the castle.

********** 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

In Kurzen...

Beatrice arrived earlier than expected in Elsa’s room with a warm soup and braised beef that she cooked herself for Elsa’s dinner. She found her lying on her bed, pale and looking weak.

"Your Majesty, I have your dinner," Beatrice called out.

"Isn’t it too early for dinner?" Elsa questioned.

"Yes, Your Majesty. But we must go now, I know that you plan to move tomorrow but the King will no longer allow servants and merchants to go in and out starting at midnight. That includes my husband and me, so if you want to escape, we must do it now.

But you have to eat first, we will be hiding you in the hay for the King’s cows that will be butchered for the wedding. Those cows are in our barn and my husband was tasked to retrieve them tonight," Beatrice explained.

"I will start eating then, go and prepare my stuff," Elsa swiftly stood up, but her vision suddenly went black and she dropped on the floor unconscious.

"My Queen!" Beatrice called out.

She attempted to wake Elsa up several times but it was no use. She pulled Elsa to the bed before walking out of the room to ask for help. The guards heard her and called for a healer.

King Mordrak was also alerted by his chamberlain and immediately went to her room. Milda heard the commotion and invited herself to see what was going on.

"What’s wrong with her?" King Mordrak asked the healer.

"She is being poisoned, My King," the healer casually answered.

"What? Are you sure? Check again! She’s pregnant and it must be the reason why you are mistaken," King Mordrak exclaimed.

"My King, you have known me for a very long time. I would never lie to you but I will check her again," the healer replied.

’I knew it. Her sickness lately was too much, I knew there was something wrong,’ Mordrak thought.

"My King, I am not wrong, she is really being poisoned. But it is more than that, it is as if someone is sucking her life out of her?" the healer asked.

"And who the fuck would do that? Only a witch could do something like that!" Mordrak yelled.

Beatrice was shaking, she already had her suspicion when the healer said the first time that Elsa was being poisoned, so she brazen herself. "Y-Your Majesty... P-Please allow me to speak, I am very worried for Her Majesty," Beatrice pleaded with a stuttering voice.

She continued as soon as King Mordrak nodded, "I-It must be t-the one who sold you the pregnancy potion, that’s poisoning Queen Elsa..." Beatrice boldly revealed.

"What potion?" King Mordrak questioned in surprise.

Beatrice handed over the small bottle to the King and said, "T-The chamberlain told me to place a drop of it to Her Majesty’s morning drink to help her with her morning sickness."

King Mordrak stared at the bottle and his hand began to glow in purple before he threw the bottle to his chamberlain who was already shaking in fear, for he knew what the King would do to him.