Exploring Technology in a Wizard World
Chapter 469 - 468: The King’s Private Library

Chapter 469: Chapter 468: The King’s Private Library

Next, for Richard, came a long wait.

Waiting, waiting, waiting.

During this time, Richard consumed food brought by Princess Rose, drank fruit beverages, and even made a trip to the Garden of Eden to oversee Pandora as she undertook her latest learning and work tasks.

After finishing these tasks, candles had been lit in the lounge as evening approached, yet there was still no sign of Princess Rose.

Richard was close to truly believing that Princess Rose had run off to shirk her responsibility, especially since she currently had every motive to do so.

Just then, footsteps sounded from outside.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

"Creak," the door opened, and Princess Rose strode in. Her eyes were swollen and red, as if she had been crying, looking like ripe, juicy peaches. There was also a red mark on her forehead, as if she had been "disciplined" with a ruler or a short stick.

Richard looked at Princess Rose and asked directly, "Did you get the key?"

Princess Rose glared at him, her voice huffing, "Key, key, it’s all about the key! Which is more important, me or the key? Instead of caring about that key, shouldn’t you be concerned for me first? Seeing me in this state, shouldn’t you ask what I’ve gone through or if I’ve been hit, before asking about your damned key?"

"But... we aren’t very close, are we, Princess Rose? And, in my view, the key is clearly more important than you. So, of course, I should care about the key," Richard candidly responded, causing Princess Rose to almost choke with indignation.

After a glance at Princess Rose’s face, Richard continued, "Speaking of which, don’t tell me you really got caught stealing the key and were severely ’educated’? Then..."

Princess Rose’s expression turned embarrassed, and the next moment, she stamped her foot fiercely and exclaimed, "None of your business! Just know that I got the key, here, this is it!"

As she spoke, Princess Rose took out an antique-looking brass key and waved it in her hand. Under the lighting of the lounge, the brass key shone like gold, dazzlingly bright.

Richard glanced at it and responded flatly, "If you had pulled out this key as soon as you came in, none of this would have happened."

Princess Rose was internally furious and felt the urge to bite Richard hard, but she thought she would probably not be able to...ahem, beat him, and so she gave up.

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Princess Rose spoke to Richard, "My father said the key can be given and the library can be entered, but with conditions. Firstly, those entering the library must be members of the Royal Family."

"Oh?" Richard looked at Princess Rose, "What, are you suggesting that I go in under the guise of being your unknown-numbered fiancé? That way, I’d indeed be a member of the Royal Family."

"In your dreams!" Princess Rose exclaimed loudly, "Even if I die, I wouldn’t let you be my fiancé, no matter which number you’d be!"

"Then how do we fulfill this condition?"

"It’s simple, although you’re not a member of the Royal Family, I am, and I’m of the Direct Lineage. So, I will accompany you in there, and I’ll monitor you the entire time to ensure you don’t tamper with anything," Princess Rose said seriously.

"But you wanted to go in anyway, right? How is that different?"

"You’re so dense, it’s obviously different," Princess Rose exclaimed, "Before, I just wanted to take a look and satisfy my curiosity before leaving. I would let you take your sweet time reading books, as I certainly don’t like being cooped up in there. What’s so great about reading books? Whatever it is, it has to be more interesting than reading, right?

"But now it’s different. I must stay with you the whole time and can’t let you out of my sight, so it’s not possible to leave whenever I feel like it. Got it?!"

"I see," Richard nodded, "So there are other conditions, right?"

"Yes, of course, there are other conditions. That is, your time in the library is limited. You are only allowed to read overnight, and you must leave when dawn breaks."

"Just one night?" Richard pondered: If he could find the knowledge he sought in the library, one night might be enough. Even if he couldn’t understand everything, he could use a special method to memorize it and sort it out later, gradually digesting it after leaving.

With that thought, Richard said, "Alright."

"Then let’s be on our way," Princess Rose said, "The carriage is waiting outside. We’ll ride the carriage straight into the Imperial Palace and then to my father’s private library."

"Fine," Richard replied without fuss. With time being of the essence, they made the most of it, and he followed Princess Rose out.

...

Outside, indeed, a dedicated carriage was waiting. Richard and Princess Rose boarded, and under the coachman’s control, the carriage quickly started off, passing through the streets of Williams City and rolling into the magnificent complex of the Palace.

Richard then alighted from the carriage and, following Princess Rose’s lead through twists and turns, entered an old-looking palace within the Palace. They walked to the very end and stopped in front of a smooth wall.

"This is it," Princess Rose pointed to the wall in front of them and said to Richard, "Behind this is my father’s private library. My father said it contains many assorted documents, the authenticity of which even he cannot verify. To prevent them from causing confusion if they spread, they must be protected. Of course, tonight is an exception for you."

"Next, get ready to make the most of your reading," Princess Rose continued as she took the key to a corner and searched, "According to my father, the activation spot should be... Yes, found it, here!"

Her tone lifted slightly, followed by the sound of the key being inserted and turned with a "click."

"Boom!"

As the key turned, a part of the wall pushed outward, revealing a narrow door wide enough for one person to pass through.

"Go ahead," Princess Rose ordered.

"Alright," Richard didn’t hesitate and stepped through, followed by Princess Rose.

Upon entering, Richard saw that the library was brilliantly lit without any dust, because the illumination came not from lamps or candles, but from the multitude of crystals embedded in the walls.

Yes, crystals!

The crystals were semi-transparent, a specialty of the East Coast called Sunshine Crystals. These crystals could be charged with sunlight during the day and then emit light in the dark. They had countless advantages over lamps or candles. Even compared with the electric lights of Eden, they offered the benefits of cleanliness and energy efficiency.

However, Sunshine Crystals were more fragile than glass and very costly, with many nobles unable to afford them. Now, seeing them abundantly placed here indicated one thing—the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom was wealthy, and the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom’s King was extremely wealthy!

Indeed, extremely wealthy!