Chapter 22: Escape from the Chaos
◎When she regains her memory, I'm afraid her life will be wasted again.◎
"Don't waste time. Wait until the play is over before you discuss anything else. Come down first and let the actors come on stage."
The hoarse voice seemed to come from hell, and Melia suddenly opened her eyes.
She immediately turned back to confirm Taffy's location, then took a deep breath: Great, the time we went back to is before her death...
There is one less choice left.
"Okay, after all, the next performance...is the one my father likes to watch the most."
Melia smiled at the crowd, gracefully jumped down to the stage, and was caught steadily in Ronnie's arms.
Sura's eyes were fixed on the stage, and he seemed to be looking forward to the upcoming performance more than anyone else. There were still a few empty seats in the front row, which were reserved for the heir, Melia, and Muala's other relatives.
Soon, Melia's shadow blocked the sunlight in front of his eyes.
The drums sounded, the curtain opened, and performers in colorful clothes came in from all directions.
Young men and women in white clothes carried baskets and scattered candies everywhere. Each of them had a bell hanging around their neck, acting as the lambs around the shepherdess.
Melia, like everyone around her, was staring intently at the stage, pretending not to care about the empty seat next to her: Muro has a good sense of smell. He knew that Sura was going to cause trouble, and he didn't even pretend to be a filial son.
She first looked at the heroine Soina.
I have seen their performances before, and Soina should have been wearing a fairy-like tulle skirt, but this time she changed into an ordinary shepherdess's large apron. Did she put something under her skirt?
Last time, the potion was mixed into the food, and it evaporated from the top. This time, she deliberately chose a rooftop stage with leaks everywhere, and the food, water, and wine were also temporarily replaced. How would Sura use the potion?
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
The actors sang and danced, and the lyrics and plot seemed to have changed a bit.
Soina is no longer a goddess transformed into a human form. She has been a human from the beginning and fell in love with the prince at first sight.
The goddess still fell in love with the prince. This time, she transformed into a lamb beside Soina, ready to replace him at any time.
…
Click, someone suddenly sits down next to me.
Melia turned around subconsciously and was shocked: "Elena?!"
The princess pulled her scarlet shawl aside and sat down in Muro's seat. She was wearing a long gown with a golden fringe and even a circle of gems on her scarlet shawl.
There's reason to believe she came to celebrate in festive attire, even carrying a ceremonial sword.
Elena frowned: Are she and Melia so close?
"Be polite, Miss Melia."
"Uh... Your Highness, welcome."
Melia was humiliated, but she didn't care. She was glad they showed up. The moment she saw the heroine, she felt relieved. As everyone knows, the heroine has a heroine's aura and won't die before the story is over.
If she only learned from the supporting character in the book and clung to the heroine's thighs, she would probably die less often.
Seeing her hesitant look, Elena raised the corners of her lips and clapped gently.
Swish—two guards dragged a masked man, their feet scraping against the ground, leaving a trail of blood. The guards shouldered past the extras waiting to go on stage and made their way directly to Melia.
With a clang, the metal-wrapped crossbow and crossbow arrow were thrown to the ground together.
Elena gave her a sarcastic look. "This is a gift for you—after all, someone couldn't even see such an obvious assassin."
"Thank you." Melia patted her heart and breathed a sigh of relief. There were definitely assassins hiding in the dark, but as long as Elena and the guards were there, Sura wouldn't dare act rashly.
Human life is sometimes cheap, sometimes dear. Those who, like Sulla, prefer to keep some things in reserve must consider the increased risks.
Huh? No madness this time?
Elena was a little surprised. She turned to look at the stage and said, "Don't be so sentimental. I just hate being pointed at by arrows."
Yes, yes, yes~ I know. Melia stuck out her tongue in her heart: You didn't do anything last time~
She adjusted her posture and lay comfortably in the chair: "Your Highness also likes "Shepherdess Zoina"?"
"No, I have a friend who likes to watch it." The answer came out of her mouth, and Elena was stunned.
The little white cat was interested in everything. He liked to lick apple pie, eat fried fish, and squat in front of the window to look at the moon.
The last time I told her I only told her half of the story. This time I came because I promised her that I would protect innocent civilians, and also because I was curious about the revised plot.
The next time the little white cat showed up, she wanted to hold her on her lap and tell her the story.
Is it because of this expectation that we are called "friends"?
"Oh~ a friend." Melia blinked, her smile growing wider. "To be your Highness's friend, she must be incredibly intelligent, considerate, beautiful, and a truly talented person..."
"She's silly, white and fat."
As if afraid that Melia wouldn't understand, Elena raised her hand and gestured to the cat's size: "She is...her arm is this thick."
No, you have a grudge against me? Even a cat's waist isn't that thick, is it?!
Melia's eyes widened, and she was about to say something to save her dignity, but she suddenly stopped and asked, "Where are the Sula people?"
Following her gaze, Elena's expression became solemn: Sura actually took the opportunity to leave while they were talking!
Although all the other members of parliament were present, there were only a few of the highest elders sitting in the back watching the performance, and now there was not a single one to be seen.
Where is the potion?
The two people who were attacked looked at the place where the food was placed at the same time.
No... the food had been replaced. There was no time to poison it, so even Muro had to bribe the people in the wine cellar. They probably did something with the food they brought.
Melia's pupils contracted: Those gifts also have IOUs?!
Before she could raise her hand to call the servants, a cry of surprise suddenly came from behind her.
"There's a fire—"
"Someone come and put out the fire—"
The flames illuminated the sky red as they danced desperately on the flammable grease and linen, accompanied by a fishy scent of lavender.
Thick lavender smoke rose from the carpet under the feet of the gifts and guests, entangling everyone in the venue.
So that's how it is. The potion had already been prepared, so there was no need to make it last minute.
Melia was about to give the order when she saw Elena fall backwards. At the same time, Ronnie and Taffy, who were closest to her, also began to lose their focus.
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
Under the cover of purple mist, actors from somewhere played drums, beating against my heart again and again.
The approaching footsteps were neither hurried nor slow. All they had to do was control Melia and make her sign the contract in the chaos. At worst, they could wait for the fog to dissipate and make her admit all her debts in public.
Melia seemed to see arms trying to reach through the fog and grab her wrists.
How could I possibly let you succeed——
Ding-ling, gold coins were thrown into the sky, and the world suddenly turned upside down.
Tap, tap.
"Has anyone seen Melia?" someone asked loudly.
The people trapped in the fog showed no reaction. The guests were completely absorbed in the environment, with only the thumping of the actors' drums as the only sound.
The masked man had a gloomy expression and waved to his men behind him: "Disperse, we will search separately."
The foul smell in the mist grew stronger, and their footsteps gradually slowed down.
The leading man used a blade to cut open his palm, using the pain to dispel the hazy feeling: "Don't waste time! If you dare to delay the master's fortune, we will all die!"
…
Elena walked in the morning mist.
She blinked her eyes slowly. There were fragrant wild grasses everywhere around her, and the shepherdess's soft singing came to her ears.
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
The sheep jumped rhythmically, circling the valley again and again.
Everything seemed so beautiful, and she couldn't help but look forward to it: What kind of face did the most charming shepherdess in the legend have?
The distant mountains came towards her, and finally, she saw the slender figure from behind.
The music in my ears suddenly quieted down, and the sky and the earth became a blur, fragmented and blended. But it didn't matter, the girl not far away was the brightest color in the world.
The morning light shone on her beautiful face, and her emerald eyes shone like gemstones. Her hair was blown by the wind, revealing her delicate red lips.
The young shepherdess was wrapped in a pure white robe, the shawl on her shoulders like a sunset. Jingle bells, jingle bells, every time she walked, the golden bells on her wrists and ankles jingled.
So beautiful——
When their eyes met, Elena's mind was filled with pure emotion. She couldn't remember her own name or where she came from, but she was certain that she liked that clear and innocent charm.
The shepherdess walked faster than the mountains. She raised her cane and tapped Elena lightly on the shoulder...
"Elena, wake up, wake up for me—do you hear me? Hello?"
Slapping the heroine is an instant death option, so Melia picked up a small branch and poked Elena's shoulder.
This sister is known as the Dragon Blood Princess, but why does she always fall to her knees so quickly every time she encounters potions? Where is her immunity?
"May I have your name?"
Being poked by branches, Elena was not annoyed at all. Instead, a blush appeared on her face. "I'm a traveler from afar. Can you help me find a place to stay?"
OK, you're in a fantasy world with a shepherdess, right? Even without a lead actor, you can't stop me from adding to the drama.
Melia grabbed her wrist unhappily and said, "This is Rome. If you're not feeling well, just find a place to stay."
Anyway, in her eyes, the ruins here are all intact cabins, so it doesn't matter where she lives.
They had just escaped from their limit, and the square was still in chaos.
She had to move to another place to flip the coin first. In case Sulla or other elders really killed someone, there would still be time to go back and change the result.
"No, I want to go with you." His wrist suddenly broke free and then was held tightly again.
Elena's ocean-blue eyes were filled with smiles: "Is your home nearby?"
Oh no, Melia's face fell instantly: When she regains her memory, her life will probably be wasted again.
The author has something to say:
Thanks to Luchen_piuma and Leilei of Mosesdanxiang.
Thanks to Yunyunyunyunyunyun, Lanshanbujian, DWR, Mosedanxiang, Xiaodou, rain, Seventeen, x, Zengshijinghongzhaoyinglai, 180, and An for their support.
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