8

The final night of the ball had given way to a deep unease. The King of the South, Rohan's father, had suddenly fallen ill, and the screams from his chambers had instantly extinguished the palace's merriment. Aurora, recalling medical knowledge from her past life, had quickly rushed to the King's room.

Upon entering, she found the King writhing in his bed. His face was pale, and he was struggling to breathe. A strange odor permeated the air, and beside the bed lay a piece of parchment covered in intricate symbols.

Prince Rohan knelt at his father's bedside, desperately calling out to him. Fear and anger flickered in his eyes. When he picked up the parchment, his face darkened further.

"This is dark magic," Rohan whispered, his voice trembling. "They used it to poison my father."

Examining the King, Aurora had reached the same conclusion. This was no ordinary poisoning. Dark magic was a sinister force, slowly consuming the body and soul.

Just then, Lord Vancroft entered the room. There was a peculiar expression on his face. He didn't seem agitated or grieved. Just... intense focus.

"What's happening here?" Lord Vancroft asked, his voice cold and controlling.

"The King has been poisoned," Rohan said angrily. "And it's the work of dark magic."

Lord Vancroft approached the parchment and examined it carefully. The expression on his face grew even more serious.

"This is a very old and dangerous spell," Lord Vancroft murmured. "The antidote will be difficult to find."

But unexpectedly, Lord Vancroft took action. He asked the servants for certain ingredients and quickly began to prepare something. Aurora watched him in astonishment. She had no idea her father was so knowledgeable about dark magic.

The potion Lord Vancroft prepared glowed strangely. When he administered it to the King, a brief silence fell over the room. Then, the King began to cough, and his color slowly returned.

Rohan and the others looked at Lord Vancroft in disbelief. He had saved the King.

"How did you do that?" Rohan asked, amazed.

Lord Vancroft shrugged modestly. "I have been fighting against dark magic for years. I am prepared for such situations."

This revelation deeply affected everyone in the room. Lord Vancroft, it turned out, was a hero fighting against the dark forces.

When the King regained consciousness, he was speechless, unable to find the words to express his gratitude to Lord Vancroft. The bond between the two families had been strengthened by this event.

However, this moment of relief did not last long. Examining the parchment more carefully, Aurora discovered a terrifying secret. This spell was not only targeting the King. It was part of a larger plan, and it threatened the entire kingdom.

"This is just the beginning," Aurora whispered, horrified. "Something worse is coming."

That night, no one in the palace could breathe easily. The King had been saved, but the threat of dark magic still lingered. And Aurora was determined to do everything in her power to overcome this danger.

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