The Evil Empress Adores Me - Chapter 142

“Your Highness, please!”

“The flames are too intense, please remain calm…”

The knights at that time had caught up to Damian, grabbing onto him. 

Damian tried to have his wits about him.

How would Charlize act?

What judgment would she make?

If she were here…

In an instant, Damian roared thunderously. 

“…Stay calm everyone!!” 

Pure silver wings began emerging from his back. 

Purifying power seeped out, alleviating the situation as the smoke and flames began to be repelled. 

Breathing became less demanding, and the searing heat that seemed to cook one’s entire body diminished. 

Damian started calling out to the people escaping the fire. 

“Come this way! Slow down, don’t push, walk out!”

The people’s disorderly and hasty exit gradually became orderly. 

As he helped with the evacuation, things took a turn for the worse. 

BOOOM!!

The sound of something collapsing resounded loudly.

Damian’s face turned pale. 

One name came to his mind at that terrible moment. 

“Charlize!”

He made his way through the crowd, frantically moving through the library. 

 

***

 

As I continued to move, I held onto the children’s hands tightly. 

I had been maintaining the divine beast’s power ever since. 

It was up to me to protect the people and children following me from the scorching heat.

‘…but I feel nauseated.’ 

I was thinking about so many things at once, my head felt like it would explode. 

Ellen, who was holding my hand, looked up at me worryingly. 

“Sister, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I tried to smile.

Truthfully, I was far from fine. 

But if I showed any distress, it would affect the others. 

I can’t show a moment of weakness. 

I gritted my teeth, pulling myself together. 

‘You can go a little further. A little further…”

Fortunately, the entrance to the library was getting close.

I braced my legs and moved quickly.

But just then.

CRRICK. 

An unpleasant sound reverberated across the ceiling as if the building itself were being pulled apart at its seams. 

Aghast, I stiffened my shoulders and looked upwards. 

And.

BOOMM!!

“Aaaaaa!” 

“Aaaaaaa!!”

Sharp screams erupted. 

The burnt pillars couldn’t support the ceiling, and the ceiling collapsed.

People reflexively closed their eyes. 

“Phew…:”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. 

The huge white wings that protruded from me were holding up the debris. 

At the same time, cold sweats ran down my back.

‘If I used the power a little later, everyone would be in jeopardy!’

I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

Though I’m getting light-headed…

‘I don’t think I’m feeling so well.’

My hands and feet had lost their warmth and were numb.

It would spell disaster if I collapsed right now. 

And if I were to collapse, these people would be trapped inside the library…

Unable to overcome my nervousness, I pursed my lips. 

“Char, Sister Charlize.”

But at that moment, Ellen called my name with a worried expression. 

“Is Sister okay?”

“I’m okay.”

Even though she responded firmly, Ellen looked restless. 

Something’s not right, why is she so fixated on me?

“Sister, your nose…”

Huh? Nose?

Now that she mentioned it, why is my nose itching? 

Without giving it a thought, I wiped the bridge of my nose with my sleeve, only to be shocked. 

Ahh, it’s blood!

Continued use of the divine beast’s power seemed to place a strain on my body. 

Is this the result of not being from the Winsor bloodline, didn’t I just use a tiny portion of the power?

I’m so upset!

I hurriedly took out a handkerchief and covered my nose.

Ellen was now looking at me with a teary face.

“Sister.”

“Really, I’m fine.”

“But…” 

Ellen wasn’t in the mood to stop worrying.

But then.

“Charlize!!”

Someone called out my name at the top of their lungs. 

I raised my head.

It wasn’t just anyone else, and there was no way I could mistake that voice. 

“Damian!!”

It was Damian!

He sprinted like crazy and grabbed my shoulder. 

His scarlet eyes looked at me with dismay. 

“Are you hurt?! 

“Ah, about that…”

After deciding my words for a moment, I nodded. 

“I’m a little dizzy, but overall I’m all right.”

“…you.”

Damian pursed his lips with a look that had a lot to say.

It also didn’t help that Damian disliked my use of the divine beast’s power. 

But in my defense, it was an emergency!

“What do you mean, all right? Your nose is bleeding…”

Damian instantly encircled his arms around me, hugging me tightly. 

His arms were trembling slightly. 

It’s not like I didn’t understand what he felt, so I lifted my hand and gently caressed Damian’s quivering figure. 

Had I been in Damian’s shoes, I’d probably go mad for fear of losing him forever. 

“Damian, we need to get the people out.”

“….I know.”

After a moment passed, Damian released me from his embrace with a long sigh. 

“You can withdraw your power now.”

“But.”

“It’ll be okay. I’ll take your place.”

Damian manifested the divine beast’s powers with those steadfast words. 

In an instant, the air became lighter.

Whoof.

I exhaled short breaths. 

Without a doubt, Damian being by my side makes me feel more at ease. 

“Kids, come here.”

Damian took the children, one in each arm.

I also held the other children firmly in both hands.

Finally, Damian looked at the people around him. 

“Can everyone walk?”

“Yes, I think I can.”

“Then please follow me. Don’t stray too far.”

After saying that, Damian began moving. 

People followed after us. 

Eventually.

A light was visible in the distance.

It was the front door of the library.

At last, everyone, me and Damian included, tumbled out the front door. 

“Everyone step back, His Highness, the Crown Prince, and Lady Charlize are coming out!”

“There are others too!”

“Medical staff, where are the medical staff?!”

“When will the fire brigade get here!”

My field of vision turned white instantly before slowly regaining color. 

I gasped and looked around the hectic surrounding. 

There were busy knights and staff everywhere. 

At least the people we brought out seemed to have left unscathed. 

“Ha….”

I let out a long sigh of relief.

In a loud voice, Damian called out to a medical team. 

“Doctor, where is the doctor?!”

“What is it, Your Highness!”

A doctor rushed over.

Damian suddenly sat me down before the doctor. 

“Stay still.”

What?

Confused, I looked up at Damian.

“I’m fine. Others need care more urgently than me…”

“You’re fine?”

Damian shot at me with a suppressed voice.  

“I already know you overexerted yourself.”

Cut short, I kept my lips sealed. 

Damian then looked at me, the concern written across his face was indescribable. 

“Please, won’t you calmly get treated, at least for me?”

“But…”

“Unless you want me to be worried sick.”

…I didn’t mean to make Damian worry.

I nodded.

“All right.”

Speaking candidly, I wasn’t feeling well, so I quietly entrusted my well-being to the medical staff. 

While the doctor examined my condition, Damian bombarded the doctor with constant questioning. 

“How is she?”

“Well…she’s exhausted.”

The doctor carefully opened his mouth.

For a second, Damian’s gaze became intense. 

“Is it bad?”

“Not at all. There’s nothing life-threatening. Some rest, and she’ll be fine.”

The doctor hastily added. 

Damian breathed a sigh of relief. 

“Phew….I see.”

“She just requires rest, there’s nothing else she needs…”

The doctor followed up while examining Damian this time. 

Well, the current situation was urgent enough to warrant this level of concern.

Damian waved his hands impatiently.

“You may leave.”

The doctor bowed his head and quickly left.

Just barely after the doctor left, Damian looked back at me with an almost tearful look. 

He then dropped to his knees in front of me. 

“Really…I’m glad it was nothing major.”

His voice was trembling slightly.

“If your safety was at risk…” 

I bit my lip softly.

“Sorry.”

“…No, it’s nothing for you to be sorry for.”

Even as he answered, Damian didn’t take his gaze off me. 

Fortunately, the people we brought back were also being treated. 

But aside from the ones we rescued, there were quite a few people in the library. 

“Hey, did everyone else evacuate?”

“…why are you…”

Damian bit his lip in response to my question. 

“You’re always worried about other people…”

“…pardon?”

“I’m begging you, worry about yourself first and then others.”

Damian’s eyes conveyed his seriousness. 

Understanding where he was coming from, through and through, I had no choice but to nod in agreement.