Adela

Adela tightened her smile as she listened to Elise's attempt at consoling her. After giving a brief head nod, Adela spoke the words, "I hope so. I'm hoping everything will go as well as it did before."

Elise received a smile from Adela. She considered herself quite fortunate to have Elise in her new life. Last time, Elise supported her, even in her wrongdoing. Elise never complained about anything; she did everything she could for Adela. Even in her previous life, she died because of Adela.

Elise went into the room to set up breakfast for Adela. Adela fixed her attention on Elise's path. She kept her gaze on her way with happiness. 'I was so fortunate to have you all, yet I couldn't understand the meaning of love in my past life,' she thought. 'But now if someone asks me what love is? Then I will explain what love is.'

"Thank you, Elise."

**

Veronica came to a halt when she saw two routes to Targoviste. It's already early in the morning. She pulled off the fabric from the top of her head and looked around. She wondered which route Richard had chosen. Valea Mare or Gura Foi? She contemplated it for some time. Then she took the reins of the horse and began to ride toward Gura Foii. She believed it would be simple to reach the town from this side. She didn't hesitate; she made up her mind and set out on the journey.

[The scenario changed at Valea Mare]

Richard and his men were making their way further into the village. The area was extremely silent, and everything was on the verge of collapsing. Looking around the surroundings, it didn't appear to be the goblins' doing. A few peasants were heading outside to do some work. According to them, it only assaulted them at night, and besides goblins, other monsters also attacked them. They stole all their food after destroying everything, abducting women, and slaughtering men.

So, after hearing the people, Levy returned to their tent; he realized from hearing the locals that goblins were working for those creatures. "My prince," he added, "I believe goblins attacked them because they had powerful things with them. Otherwise, they shouldn't have had the audacity to wipe out everything in this manner."

Richard thought for a while, his eyes narrowing. Aaron couldn't help but inquire when he noticed Richard thinking about something.

"Prince, are you considering the Lycan?"

Saying nothing, Richard nodded slowly. He remembered the look in Lycan's eyes. It seemed to be geared toward killing him, since it was vicious and filled with vengeance. Richard closed his eyes while thinking about it all. Then, after a little while, he got up and declared, "We have to return tomorrow, so there is no time to waste. We have to proceed."

Along with Richard, Aaron, and Levy, they exited the tent after nodding. Levy and Aaron gave all the troops instructions to hurry. Richard looked around and eased away from the location. There was a river flowing. As he stopped, he took a moment to survey the sea below. The water was so transparent that it reflected his face in it.

Snow blanketed everything on the ground. As soon as he touched the water, he realized how icy it was. He appeared to be completely unconcerned. While pondering the situation, he reached for the crystal that Adela had given him. "Adela," he murmured while clutching it in his hand.

When Richard spoke Adela's name while holding it, he felt a warmth in his heart. He had to go, or else he wouldn't be able to make it back in time. He promised her he would return to her on time. Richard arched his brows and then turned back to go to the tent.

After a time, they departed. It was no longer a question of whether they could beat the Lycan; it was time to confront it. They had to win it no matter what. The prince's men started moving towards their target.

[The setting has been changed to the palace of Alfred]

Adela was strolling down to the garden by herself. She was in a bad mood, so she went outside to get some fresh air. She ran her fingers over the roses as she walked through the rose garden. She thought to herself, 'Tomorrow is the tournament. I do not know what will happen there, but whatever occurs, I pray Richard returns home safely.'

She plucked a rose petal while considering Camilla.

'Camilla.' Her inner self made a statement. 'What did I do to you that you were so upset about that you completely blocked all communication with me? I know that something is upsetting you. I know you are not yourself; you embody the spirit of Anesthesia. However, your demeanor toward me has changed. As far as I'm aware, Anesthesia won't take control of your body until you give her the grip, which you didn't do. So why is this behavior, then?'

Adela was wrapped up in her musings when a voice broke her concentration. She turned back and spotted her father standing behind her. When her father smiled back at her, she smiled quickly.

"Adela, you're up so early today."

"Yes, father,"

Alfred went over to his daughter and folded his hands. He didn't expect Adela being there at that moment. "Tomorrow is your tournament; are you scared?" he questioned as he stepped next to her.

Adela laughed when she heard her father speak. "Do you think that, father?" she asked, cracking a slight smile.

"Adela, I suppose you remember what I said," Alfred remarked, flashing a faint smile and glancing up at the sky.

"Yes, father. I won't exert a lot of my strength. Therefore, don't worry about it."

As they talked, they took a leisurely stroll through the garden. "I was just a little concerned about the selection."

When Alfred overheard Adela, he remarked, "Don't worry about it either. The prince will come home safely."

Adela dropped her gaze but made no comment to her father. Her father would know the unsettling things going on inside of her. Alfred noticed his daughter's distracted expression. He noticed his daughter's expression of indifference. He wanted to console her, but he lacked the guts to do so because he was uncertain whether or not Richard would return before the tournament. While walking, Alfred heaved a long sigh, but then Adela said.

"Father, where is mother? She hasn't been around since the morning. Is she still dozing off?"

It startled Alfred when he heard Adela. He stutter-muttered, then cracked his lips.

"Veronica, I-."

Adela arched her eyebrows in response to her father's dilemma. She was also a little taken aback. She awaited her father's response. After realizing there was no way to keep it hidden from his daughter, Alfred's brows furrowed. Finally, he raised his voice.

"Adela, Veronica isn't here. She traveled to Targoviste last night."

"What are you talking about?"

Adela's voice came out in an alarmed, doubtful tone, which Alfred overheard. He inhaled deeply before responding, "Yes, she went to assist the first prince."

"What are you saying, Father?"

Adela burst out in shock and bewilderment. Did she hear it correctly?

"Yes, I believed you were right; I should have..."

Adela abruptly spoke at the top of her lungs before Alfred could finish.

"How could you have allowed her to go there? This is not right, father; you ought to have asked me first. You put her in danger; how could you?"

"Adela."

Alfred's eyebrows tightened when he heard his daughter. He could see the stress on her face, as she felt uneasy. She was looking at him for a response. Alfred raised his brows and remarked.

"I assumed your mother would manage things properly, and without her, I couldn't trust anyone."

"You let her leave because of this?"

"Did you send anybody with her?" Adela inquired, her voice apprehensive.

Alfred replied with a negative nod of his head, "I didn't want to tell anyone about it. So-."

"So you sent her there by herself? How could you do it, father?"

She asked in an agitated manner. It appeared that she had not expected it from him. Alfred was perplexedly staring at Adela. He struggled to comprehend why his daughter was behaving so frantically. She was well aware of her mother's expertise and power, so what was wrong with her? Yet he was hesitant to leave his wife alone in Targoviste, but he controlled himself by saying his wife could handle it. He had complete faith in her. Alfred, though, was concerned after witnessing his daughter's icy glare.

Carson was right; Adela would never accept this news nicely. Alfred attempted to reassure his daughter by stating, "Adela, it's a secret mission. I cannot let such a simple leak happen. So I sent my trusted agent there to protect the prince."

Adela abruptly said, "Father, you should have informed me about this. What will happen if something bad happens to Mother there?"

Alfred's lips parted in surprise at the sight of his daughter interacting in such a way. He had trouble understanding his own daughter. He stepped toward Adela and said, "Let me explain it, Adela."

"No, father, now is not the time for an explanation. I have to go immediately," said Adela. She took a step back to go when Alfred abruptly grabbed her hands and shouted.

"Adela, listen to me."

"No, I won't. I won't listen to you. How could you leave her alone?"

"Adela."

To be continued.