Rejected By The Alpha King, Claiming My Throne

Isabelle's POV:

I sank into the steaming water of the tub. The warmth seeped into my aching muscles, washing away the physical soreness. Outside the door, Faye stood guard.

I closed my eyes and focused inward. System, open.

Instantly, my consciousness was pulled into a white space. A translucent blue screen materialized before me, displaying streams of data. A three-dimensional model of my own body rotated slowly in the center. The facial area was highlighted in red, with a notation beside it: "Chronic Silver Poisoning. Tissue necrosis: 27%. Cellular regeneration possible with targeted chelation therapy."

Chelation therapy. The knowledge surfaced in my mind instantly. I had never learned it in this life, but I knew exactly how it worked now. It was a treatment used to remove heavy metals from the body.

The system interface had other options: "Pharmaceutical Synthesis," "Diagnostic Scan," "Surgical Simulation." My fingers tapped on "Pharmaceutical Synthesis."

A new window opened, listing the ingredients for a "Silver Chelation Agent." Most were common herbs in this world: moonpetal, dragon's blood resin, dew-kissed moss. But a few were unknown to me, and the required measurements were precise down to the milligram.

A system note appeared: "Host can use spiritual energy to catalyze synthesis. Basic materials can be sourced from the physical world."

Spiritual energy? Was that the force I'd used against Matron Hicks? I focused my will, pushing a sliver of that inner warmth toward the system. A small energy bar next to the human model flickered and rose by a tiny fraction. The system ran on me. My near-death experience had awakened something within me.

I pulled my consciousness back to the bathroom. I needed those herbs.

I called Faye in and gave her a list, padded with other common herbs for calming teas and sleeping draughts to avoid suspicion.

Faye didn't question it. "My Luna, you were always skilled with herbs before... before your face..." she said softly.

I almost forgot that I had once studied herbology. I had been a noblewoman, and I knew this world well. I had simply gained something more after death.

Faye returned quickly with a basket brimming with plants. I locked myself in my room, laying them out carefully. Back in the system's white space, I scanned each herb. The system analyzed their properties and provided a step-by-step guide for extraction and combination.

I began my work. I used the handle of a small silver dagger to crush the herbs into a paste in a stone bowl. Then, I closed my eyes and slowly channeled my spiritual energy into the mixture. I could feel the paste changing, a gentle warmth spreading through it as the energy catalyzed the reaction.

Hours later, a small bowl of dark green, fragrant paste sat before me.

A system notification pinged in my mind: "Primary Silver Chelation Agent successfully synthesized. Purity: 78%. Sufficient for initial treatment."

I took a deep breath and faced my reflection in the mirror. With a steady hand, I scooped up the paste and began applying it to my damaged skin.

A cool sensation spread across my face, followed by a faint tingling. It wasn't painful. It was the feeling of healing.

My counterattack would begin with this face.