Shadow Empress (GirlxGirl) (COMPLETED)

Chapter 22 | North Kingdom

ELPIS'S POV

"Elpis, what happened to your body?" Bella asked after I take my clothes off. I don't remember hurting myself before coming back to the room.

"What do you mean?" I asked, curious.

"These scars. It's new. How bad was the battlefield for you? How many times have you hurt yourself? How did you manage to get your body filled with scars?" I looked at myself in the mirror and wonder.

"I didn't include this little information in any of my letters because I didn't want Virtra to go back to her old self." I touched my left arm when it started to shake again.

"If they knew I injured myself to the point that the doctors need to keep me alive by hitting my chest, Virtra would've burned the whole enemy territory without a care in the world. I can't let her do that. Winning the war might be our priority. But winning without thinking far ahead and caused unnecessary death, that's not how I run things." I smiled before my eyes caught on something familiar.

"This symbol. It's a slave branding from the North. Where did you get this symbol from?" I asked. I've been seeing these symbols everywhere now.

"It was from the medicine bottle that the so-called genius been selling to the villagers. It turns out the herbs he used weren't to cure the disease. He's been poisoning the villagers." I see.

"Did you said that this branding symbol is from the North?" I nodded.

"What a coincidence! This content inside this poison is only available in the North. Even if I used my influences in the underground, I still can't obtain the specific herbs. The person who created this poison must've been someone in status." Bella pointed out.

For someone to produce a considerable amount of poison, require a lot of money and labour.

"Bella, why did you accepted to be the high consort again? Did Virtra asked you to do something?" I asked my high consort. Weirdly, she decided to go back to court after begging me to leave. Bella sighed before smiling at me.

"Virtra knew that Virtacus is alive. She said that if I managed to find the origins of the herbs, I might be able to pinpoint Virtacus location." Virtra knew her brother is still alive?

"That explained why she sent the noble consort here. We have to go back to the capital tomorrow." Bella was surprised.

"What about France? She has to stay and take care of the people who are recovering." Is it wise to leave France alone? But I need to be with Virtra.

"I'm fine, your majesty. You should be with the imperial consort." France walked into the room with a smile on her face. She's been working hard for the villagers. Just looking at her facial expression, I know she's tired. But she has to bear with it. Saving people's lives is a passion of hers.

"But I can't leave you." France sighed at Bella.

"I know how to take care of myself. Besides, sister Virtra needs the empress. She needs you more than I do. If your majesty worried about me, just leave a couple of imperial guards here." She has a point. Bella nodded her head.

I can't say much since France decided it herself.

"Alright. But promise me you'll take care of yourself." France nodded before she turned to Bella.

"Sister, you need to list out the herbs that you used for the medicine. Don't forget to write out the instruction as well." Bella nodded.

"Your majesty. Now that the imperial consort had ordered sister Bella to be the high consort again, do you think Virtacus will try to attack the Empire?" France's question made me wonder.