The evening sun cast a warm glow over the estate as Adanna made her way to the library, the cobblestone path leading her through the well-manicured gardens. She couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation at the prospect of seeing Alejandro again.
As she pushed open the heavy library doors, the scent of aged parchment and leather bound books greeted her, mingling with the faint scent of candle wax. Alejandro looked up from his table, his eyes widening when he saw her alone. He stood, his hand brushing against the map laid out before him. "Adanna," he said, his voice a soft caress of her name, a blush staining his cheeks as he stumbled over his words.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, his shyness endearing. "Serena is not here yet," she said, her voice just above a whisper. "I hope she did not get lost."
Alejandro nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he cleared his throat. "It is...it is no problem," he said, his English tinged with a hint of Spanish. "We can...start without her."
Adanna approached the table, her eyes drawn to the map. "What is this?" she asked, pointing at the sprawling landscape of the Aeronian Kingdom.
Alejandro swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "It is...the map of the Aeronia mountains," he said, his voice low. "The Duke's father...and his friend, they went there. His friend returned, but the Duke's father...he did not."
Adanna's eyes widened with concern. "What happened?"
Alejandro shrugged, his eyes never leaving hers. "No one knows," he said, his voice heavy. "It is a mystery. The map shows a hidden path...one that could lead to the dome's entrance."
Adanna leaned in closer, her curiosity piqued. "What do you think happened to him?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He took a deep breath, his hand tracing the mountain range on the map. "I...I think he may have found something," he said, his gaze flicking up to meet hers. "Something important. Something...dangerous."
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the room felt as if it had stopped spinning. Alejandro's cheeks flushed, and his voice grew softer, more earnest. "I know he is out there, Adanna," he said, his hand hovering over the map. "And I will find him."
Adanna's heart swelled with admiration for his determination. "You must really care for the duke," she said, her voice barely audible.
Alejandro nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "More than you know," he murmured, his gaze intense. The room grew quiet, the only sound the distant hum of the evening's preparations outside.
Adanna felt a warmth spread through her, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time. Alejandro's shyness was endearing, and she found herself drawn to him even more. She took a step closer, her hand reaching out to touch his. "Thank you for sharing this with me," she whispered, her eyes searching his.
He looked down at their entwined fingers and then at Adanna, his gaze filled with a mix of vulnerability and hope. The air grew thick with tension, and Adanna felt her breath hitch in her chest. Alejandro's hand trembled slightly, as if he was fighting an internal battle, his eyes searching hers for permission.
As the moment stretched on, the door to the library swung open, breaking the spell. Adanna and Alejandro jumped apart, their cheeks flushing as Serena and Leonardo stepped in. The sound of their laughter from the corridor grew louder, and Adanna's heart sank. She had been so close to...kiss...Alejandro, but now, she wasn't sure if she had imagined the whole thing.
"Adanna! There you are I was looking for you everywhere!" Serena exclaimed as she and Leonardo entered the library, their banter from the corridor trailing behind them.
Alejandro coughed nervously, quickly clearing his throat. "Ah, Serena, Leonardo," he said, his voice slightly shaky. He gave them a forced smile, his hand still lingering in the air where Adanna's had been just moments before.
"What is going on here?" Leonardo asked, his eyes flicking between Adanna's flushed cheeks and Alejandro's awkward stance.
Alejandro coughed, straightening up as if nothing had happened. "Just trying to piece together some information," Alejandro replied, attempting to regain his composure. "Did you find anything at the masquerade ball?"
"Yes actually, during the masquerade Princess Anjali snuck out and today I saw Princess Anjali talking to a guard and handing him a paper and giving him money," Serena said, her eyes meeting Alejandro's.
Leonardo raised an eyebrow. "So that is why you were trying to talk to her?" he said with a teasing smirk.
Serena rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed slightly. "Well, I thought it could lead to something."
Adanna, still recovering from her moment with Alejandro, asked, "What about the scene where Aetheris was shot? Did you find anything?"
Leonardo reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object, laying it on the table. "We found this," he said, revealing a shimmering dragon scale.
Adanna's eyes widened. "Isn't that...?"
Serena nodded, finishing her thought. "The exact same scales that were on Princess Anjali's dress yesterday?"
They all stared at the scale on the table, the implications heavy in the air. Adanna broke the silence, her voice trembling slightly. "You don't think Princess Anjali could be part of this, do you?"
Leonardo nodded slowly, his expression serious. "It's a possibility..."