Chapter 98 - More Planning

“I must meet the one who holds the key to solving this problem. If I can’t meet him tomorrow, it’ll take two months before I can find the solution. By then, the drought will take place and will threaten people’s lives. We won’t be able to stop the drought by then.”

“How about we visit him together? If he’s such an important person, I want to meet him as well.”

Having him meet Cladis wasn’t such a great idea. There was a chance that the Crown Prince would realize that there was no proper way to hold off the drought. Also, he was the one who knew about a different kind of secret that Xyles knew. Ella had a lot of questions to ask.

“No. He’ll hide if you come along,” replied Ella.

“What, are you meeting with a criminal?”

Those were the only kinds of people who might refuse to meet with the imperial family. Cladis’s expression looked like he was ready to stop Ella from meeting that kind of man. That’s when Xyle interrupted their conversation as he knew why she wasn’t willing to let the Crown Prince join her. He, too, was interested in him based on what Ella had told him and had a lot to ask this person. As such, Xyle didn’t want Cladis to go with them too.

“No, that’s not true. He’s still too young, so his blood might not match with yours, and he might avoid facing you. That’s all. That’s why Ella isn’t telling the Emperor at this moment,” interjected Xyle.

“Blood?” questioned Cladis.

“You must know what flows within your blood as well.”

Cladis became silent. Ella looked at him curiously, which caused him to blank out and look at Xyle instead.

‘This is why I dislike people who know secrets.’

Cladis turned to the ceiling, trying to calm himself down. The magical rune engraved on the ceiling sparkled faintly.

‘But that’s also why they are trustworthy.’

Cladis confirmed the existence of it and felt relieved. Xyle then clicked his tongue as he watched Cladis checking the ceiling and looking relieved afterward.

‘This is why I dislike people who know secrets.’

After checking that Xyle’s expression had relaxed, Cladis turned to Ella. She looked as if she didn’t understand what they were talking about. He wished that she wouldn’t know about this secret forever. Regarding that matter, Xylem was trustworthy enough to share secrets with. They knew each other’s secrets, so there was no chance Xyle would spill his secret first.

Cladis was relieved and grinned at Ella as if nothing had happened. He then looked at Xyle with knowing eyes and said, “Then I’m given no choice. I hope you take good care of Ella while I’m gone, Tower Master.”

“I’ll take good care of her even without you saying that. You don’t need to ask me to do that,” replied Xyle.

“She’s still my fiancée.”

“Didn’t I tell you before? Future fiancée?”

“Saying the word ‘future’ doesn’t mean she could be anything else,” retorted Cladis.

“Crown Prince. You should watch your mouth,” snarled Xyle.

“I will. If you do the same, Tower Master.”

The two men growled at each other as neither backed down and glared. Ella, pushed aside by their opposition, heard a hint among their words, looked at them, and wondered, ‘Blood match? What is that?’

The question arising from the hint made her forget that she had to stop them from fighting. Those words never appeared in the books. It surely meant something significant, but she couldn’t even guess what it meant. The book that seemed ordinary, calm, and romantic was heading to an unknown path. The story was drastically different from how it was normally supposed to be ever since Clara appeared, but Ella still wished for it to be peaceful, so she sighed in surrender.

‘There’s so much mystery to this world the more I learn about it.’