As soon as they heard that man, everyone screamed with joy. Camilla narrowed her eyes when she heard the announcement as well. When she turned to look in other directions, she glimpsed a figure bound on top of the bamboo. But the figure was unclear to Camilla. That figure was not as bright as the one she had seen just a minute before.
Camilla moved her gaze from the unclear figure to the sparkling figure. But what was it exactly? She moved her gaze, but the person was nowhere to be seen. No, there was no one. Camilla tried to look for her, but she could not find the figure anywhere.
As Camilla was looking for that gleaming figure, she heard another statement that completely caught her off guard.
"Burn her to death."
When she made a quick U-turn, her eyes began to tremble. 'Are they going to burn that woman to death?' Camilla wondered. Camilla's eyes flew wide open, and she could not move or even flutter her eyelids. Someone ignited the blaze, but when they did, it raced across their body and the mound of hay burst into flames in a second.
Everyone started screaming and making fuses here and there and running here and there, but Camilla was watching the bamboo girl. When the girl laughed, Camilla's ear began to pierce. Camilla appeared to be able to hear only that girl's voice and nothing else. Camilla covered her ears when she could no longer stand it.
"Hahhaahaha."....
That girl was laughing when the bamboo suddenly caught fire, and she started screaming. Camilla's eyes widened as she turned her attention to her own body as that girl's body started to burn. She could feel it scorching all over her body. Camilla began yelling out of the blue because the agony in her body was excruciating.
"Ah," Camilla screamed as she fell to the ground. She began to writhe in agony. While tightly clutching her arms, she screamed in agony, wondering, "W-why?"
"My b-o-d-y."
Slowly, everyone started vanishing in front of her eyes, except that girl. Except for that female, no one was around. After taking a few deep breaths, Camilla noticed she was having problems breathing. Her entire body was on fire. She turned her head to look at that woman as well. The agonizing shriek of the woman was intolerable. Camilla reached out her hand to the woman. Camilla observed her hand being burned as she was doing this. Her hand's flesh started poking out. She screamed in agony and dread as she got frightened. Camilla gaped at her lips to take a breath; her skin burned, and her eyelids gradually closed.
[The scene has changed to an ancient library.]
Adela's eyes were closed, and a firefly buzzed around her. Richard, who was standing behind Adela, appeared eager to observe and learn. After waiting a few minutes, the firefly flew away from there. Adela blinked open her eyes and turned to see Richard. Richard asked, "What is it? Did you come across anything important? Were they indeed spies?"
"No, prince," Adela thoughtfully replied, while giving a negative nod. "They are not spies."
"I assumed they were spies," Richard sighed.
Adela dropped her gaze as she had a thought. When she heard the prince, she said, "Yeah, they are not, but there was something they were discussing, and I believe it is crucial information for us."
Richard narrowed his eyes and asked as he raised his eyebrows in eagerness.
"What's that?"
"My firefly overheard them say there's a secret chamber over here. You are accustomed to knowing every nook and cranny of this library, my prince. Have you heard or seen it before?"
Adela asked Richard as she fixed her gaze on him. As Richard heard her, he arched his brows upward in surprise. That was something he had never heard before. He and his mother spent a lot of time here, but he had never heard about the secret chamber from his mother.
Richard was astonished as well. He nodded his head in the negative and stated, "No, as far as I remember, my mother had never told me anything like that. And while I am familiar with every nook and cranny of this library, I have seen nothing odd."
"If so, then why did that guard say that the Emperor vanished from this library once, and after a while, that guard spotted the Emperor coming out of the library?" said Adela.
As Richard had never witnessed such things, and his mother had never informed him that there was a secret chamber, he erupted in shock. "Adela, I believe the guard didn't find my father properly at that location. Considering how wide the area is and the possibility that my father was reading somewhere."
Adela gently bowed her head in response to Richard's words. "Maybe, prince," she said.
But Adela did not accept Richard's explanation. If such were the case, she wondered why the emperor had sealed the library. If he explained it was for his son, it would be a white lie. Because he couldn't stand his son and his first wife, he was also responsible for her death. There ought to be something the prince was unaware of. The emperor might have hidden something here, and Adela needed to find out what that was.
Then Adela suddenly smiled and said, "Prince, now we can read."
"Yes, Adela."
As Richard said, they walked through the row. Richard showed the library to Adela. Every part was different. White magic books, red magic books, black magic books, and so on.
Richard, however, couldn't show Adela everything at that precise time. So Adela thought of checking out only the white magic bookcase. "My prince," she said, "the library is so enormous; I suppose I should first check out these bookshelves."
"Sure," Richard responded with a tilt of his head.
Richard was also attempting to assist Adela with finding books when she started checking them out. They were working together. After some time, Adela put four thick books on the table, which made a loud noise because of the weight.
Adela squeezed her lips together as she gazed at Richard. She did not mean to make any noise, but it was by mistake. Richard sighed, and he put seven books on the table. Adela widened her eyes to see it. She asked in a curious tone, "Prince, you are so fast."
"Actually, no," Richard responded with a smile. "My mother read these books. So I'll take it all and see if it helps you as well. I hope you will love these books as well."
Adela's eyes sparkled when she heard, "Ahhh". She smiled at Richard with excitement on her face. Richard made eye contact with him immediately. Adela was as adorable as he imagined, his cheeks blushing. Adela suddenly reached out and took Richard's hand, saying, "Thank you so much, prince."
Adela clasped Richard's hand, and his eyes widened. He said a timid "A-Adela."
"I'm not sure how I'll thank you, prince. I appreciate you, and I will work hard for you." Adela stated.
Richard flashed more. He stammered, "I did nothing. It's just a little help."
Adela pulled her hands away and sat down on the chair, saying, "Oh, but that is a lot for me." She began turning the page. Richard's mouth gaped open, and he gasped. His gaze was fixed on Adela. He sat carefully next to her since he wasn't sure what he was doing. But he loved to see Adela more.
Richard put his thumb on the corners of his eyes and nodded. Did he start like Adela? Richard moved his gaze to Adela, and when he looked at her, his heart only wanted to talk to her and spend time with her. But did Adela also think the same way Richard did? As he thought, he gaped at his mouth to speak.
Tonight, he would ask if she liked someone else or not. After giving it some thought, Richard eventually said, "Adela."
Adela answered, without glancing at Richard, "Yes." She was busy with books.
"Adela, do y-o-u-?" Richard began to hesitate. When Adela heard, Richard was not saying anything. She looked away from the book and toward Richard.
"My Prince, what is it? Aren't you feeling well?"
Richard responded, "No, it's not, and I'm well, Adela."
"Then? Why are you hesitant? Let me check out your temperature." Adela stepped forward and stroked Richard's forehead, as she had said.
"Everything is fine. But-."
"But why is your face so flushed?" Adela asked a question as she fixed her eyes on Richard. Richard, too, had his gaze fixed on her. They didn't stop staring at each other. Adela was puzzled why the prince had changed so drastically and why he remained silent.
Suddenly, though, Richard moved down close to Adela and placed his forehead on her shoulder. Adela's eyes became wider. She couldn't even blink, and her lips gaped. Adela was perplexed by what had just occurred. He got so rigid. Despite this, his breath was so loud that Adela could hear it. She opened her arms wide as she considered whether or not to touch him. But she did not dare to do it.
To be continued...