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Edward pondered for a moment and agreed. After Cisco finished drawing the map of the scene with small fireballs, Edward looked at Mengdie, who was silently staring at the map, hesitated, and softly said, "Mengdie... you aren’t thinking of... storming the execution grounds, are you? If that’s really the case, as a prince of the Silver Moon Kingdom, I... I will stop you when the time comes..."
Hearing Edward speak so earnestly, Mengdie couldn't help but let out a laugh. She turned her head away, looking at Edward with a flirtatious smile, and slowly said, "Hehehe... What do you think? Your Highness, the future king."
Everyone was indifferent. After thinking everything through, Mengdie gently patted Nia's head, gave her another comforting smile, and then looked up at the bright moon in the sky. In her usually calm eyes, a hint of imperceptible anxiety began to emerge...
※※※
The cold moonlight shone on Mengdie's delicate face, casting a hazy and holy glow on her already fair skin. The general fatigue from the "ordinary healing potion" she had taken was completely gone. Even if she continued to watch the three moons descend behind the mountains and listen to the first crow of the rooster at sunrise, she did not feel the slightest bit sleepy.
Edward and his group had left several hours ago. The only thing left was the flame map on the table.
Mengdie walked over to the table again and carefully observed every part of the map. The more she looked, the more solemn her expression became.
"Gurgle... Sister...?"
Unbeknownst to her, the bedroom door was gently pushed open. Nia, the little girl who had fallen asleep in her clothes last night, walked out of the bedroom clutching her pillow, tears still on her cheeks. It seemed that even in her sleep, she had been crying.
Mengdie quickly masked her solemn expression with an easy smile. She hastily took a white hairpin from Aya's dressing table nearby, pretending to have just woken up, and put it on in front of the mirror.
"Ah, why are you up so early? Sleep a bit more."
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Mengdie took a white ribbon, tied up her hair, and carefully fastened it. She tossed her hair back and smiled, "See, I just woke up. Sleep a little longer."
Nia looked at Mengdie with drowsy eyes, then wandered around the room, seemingly looking for something. Soon, the little girl holding the pillow realized that someone was missing from the small room. The events of yesterday flooded back into her mind like a tide...
The little girl screamed and ran towards the door, continuously calling out for her sister. Mengdie quickly grabbed her, and it took a great effort to calm the little girl's heart. She assured Nia that she would definitely ensure Aya's safety! After half a day of careful rest, Mengdie looked at her pocket watch; it was ten o'clock. She put on a battered hat handed to her by Nia to hide her hair and wore the men's clothes brought by Edward the night before. She instructed Nia not to leave the house, took a deep breath, opened the door, and headed towards the Grand Plaza of the Mysterious Garden!
Mengdie walked slowly. About half an hour later, she finally arrived at the square in the wealthy district. Because of the events of the previous day, news spread quickly among the nobility and thus quickly throughout the royal city. So, before eleven o'clock, the area was already crowded with people eager to see what the ferocious Black Flame Serpent really looked like.
"Heave-ho... Heave-ho..."
Indeed, Mengdie had told Nia not to follow her. But in reality, how could the little girl not follow? She quietly followed behind Mengdie, but upon reaching the Mysterious Garden, she suddenly realized that Mengdie's figure had vanished from her sight?
"Meng... Sister Mengdie?!"
Nia leaned against the wall and called out softly. But with the crowd coming and going, where could Mengdie be? Besides, even if Mengdie hid her conspicuous long hair under a hat, her exceptionally beautiful face would inevitably attract people's attention wherever she went. How could she be so untraceable like now?
The church bell tower slowly struck twelve times. The resounding bell tones were soul-stirring. The previously bustling square gradually quieted down, and people stopped talking to each other, turning their eyes to the temporary platform in the center of the square.
The platform was about two meters high, square, and about the size of two basketball courts. The ground was covered with fireproof material. In the very center of the platform stood a stake for burning at the stake, surrounded by various combustibles. Four masked, bare-chested men stood at the four corners of the stake. Around the platform, an orderly circle of armored soldiers with long spears stood guard. The solemn atmosphere made every onlooker's hair stand on end, sending shivers down their spines.
As the last echo of the bell faded, the crowd at one end of the square suddenly parted. Surrounded by many soldiers, a haggard young girl with handcuffs and chains slowly walked forward. The one escorting her was none other than "Water's Ripple," Knight Linda, one of the Silver Moon Royal Knights!
Nia nervously clutched her sleeve. If not for biting her teeth hard, she might have shouted out immediately!
Aya on the platform slowly moved her feet. Urged by the soldiers, Linda eventually left her side and stood on one side of the front square. Behind her, facing the direction of the mountaintop royal palace, stood a magnificent throne higher than the platform, with a lavish throne arranged at the top!
The four masked men tied Aya to the stake and retreated. Then, accompanied by the remaining 29 royal knights, the elegantly dressed old king arrived slowly in his carriage. Assisted by the knights, he ascended the throne, looking down at Aya below with immense hatred in his eyes. Edward, standing beside the throne, had a face full of tension and unease. In contrast, the chief steward and his son Dika, standing on the other side of the old king, were expressionless, making it unclear what they were thinking.
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