Forensic Imperial Concubine

A day had passed and yet the library door remained firmly shut with no one able to open it. As Lance returned to the Imperial
Palace, the Holy Maiden stood guard from outside. Her face was solemn as she recalled what she had been told about the
library. Only the Holy Maiden would be able to open its door. For years that had held true until Harper arrived here and changed
everything. Now, the library was denying her access no matter how hard she tried. She was clueless about what had changed.
Still, she was certain that this weird phenomenon must have something to do with Harper.
Diana didn't leave the Starry Palace either. She glanced at the Holy Maiden, taking pleasure in her misfortune. "Catherine, as the
Holy Maiden, you seem to be quite ordinary. What? Can't you even open the library door and go inside? If that's the case, don't
you think it's time for you to give up on being the Holy Maiden?"
The Holy Maiden, on the other hand, merely turned a deaf ear to Diana's teasing. All her concern was over the library. Over and
over, she tried to form a connection. However, she just couldn't feel a thing. Ever since Harper got sucked into it, the connection
was severed.
"Hey, Catherine, I'm talking to you! Would it kill you to reply?" Diana growled as she stomped forward and grabbed Catherine's
sleeve. Right then, the earth shook again. Diana failed to stay on her feet and was thrown a distance back. Catherine also fell to
the ground because of the great shock. But she was better than Diana. She did not care about her own safety. Instead, her gaze
shot straight to the library.
The enormous library fell through the ground and sank beneath the earth right in front of them. In seconds, it had become
nothing but a pile of ruins. Dust filled the air as the earth rocked. The entire South Kingdom was shaken up, its people growing
jittery at the strange happening. Even Lance who had just fallen asleep woke from his slumber.
"Your Majesty, something is wrong!" someone anxiously called out as he ran into the king's quarters.
Lance shot up from the bed at once and asked, "What happened? Why are you panicking like this?"
"Something terrible happened at the Starry Palace!" replied the servant.
Lance's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Starry Palace. "What? Did something happen to the Holy Maiden?"
"No. The library was completely destroyed. It's a mess there. Princess Harper was trapped inside and has not come out yet!" the
servant said anxiously. If Matthew found out his beloved wife was buried inside, he would go crazy. The whole South Kingdom
would have to face his wrath. It would be a disaster.

Upon hearing that, Lance felt everything turned black. He staggered, unable to steady himself. Fortunately, the servant beside
him was quick to react and keep him from falling onto the floor. He understood the severity of the situation. Lance bristled as he
gave out his order. "Go find her! She must be found and brought here to me, dead or alive!"
"Yes."
The entire Starry Palace was in chaos. After all, the library was an essential part of it and had now collapsed, almost taking the
rest of the palace with it. Broken white jade bricks and crystals scattered all over the ground. Taking in the destruction
surrounding her, the Holy Maiden looked dumbstruck.
Diana was also in a terrible state herself, as the incident had badly hurt her leg. Now the Starry Palace, which everyone revered,
was in shambles. Diana was too horrified to say a word.
"The Starry Palace is destroyed." the Holy Maiden stated in a rather calm tone, though her eyes held an array of mixed feelings.
Her home for the past ten years was now wrecked, yet somehow a part of her was happy to know that. Why would she feel
happy to see her home demolished? Probably because she had never wanted to live here, just as she had never wanted to
become the Holy Maiden.
Diana struggled to get up. The guards quickly regained their senses and came to help her and Catherine get out. More guards
and servants began to clean up the debris while simultaneously searching for any trace of Harper.
Kile had been feeling drowsy earlier, so he had headed back to his room to rest. Waking up from the earthquake in the middle of
the night, he had the sudden urge to run away. However, he wasn't quick enough and was struck on the head by falling glazed
tiles. When he appeared in front of the library's ruins, his head was wrapped in thick gauze. He looked ridiculous.
"Slow down, Your Highness!"
"My beauty! Where are you?" Kile shouted as he jumped over the ruins in search of Harper. "My beauty, are you still alive?
Please answer me."
"Your Highness, be careful!" Kile's servant cautioned as he followed him, fearing something bad would happen to him again. Kile
had been very unlucky since he had arrived here. He was even sustaining injuries while still sleeping.
"Why are you following me? Stop it! Go and search for my beauty instead!" Kile urged in an irritable tone, furious that they
weren't following his orders to clean up the ruins. Even he, the lofty prince, was helping out.

Miguel had been resting when he heard about the chaos in the library. His first thought was that it was Harper's fault. But it
turned out that she was actually buried beneath the ruins.
"Master, what should we do?" asked his servant, York.
"Send a message to His Majesty and tell him that Lady Harper was imprisoned in the Starry Palace's library and that the library
collapsed. Also tell him that she is trapped inside and no one knows whether she is dead or alive," Miguel stated as he calmed
himself. He had thought entering the library was one of Harper's tricks. While she was a cruel and cunning woman, she would
never put her life in danger. She valued her life too much for that.
"Yes, master," York replied at once. After he left, Miguel rolled down the window and looked outside. The passersby were all
terrified at the sight of the palace. Lance worried about Harper who was still in the library. If anything terrible happened to her, the
whole balance of the four kingdoms would be smashed to smithereens!