Chapter 20: The Grand Elder

"You're back. Did I predict it correctly?" Lareia asked the moment the carriage door swung open in front of the mansion.

Clint ignored her and went straight inside the mansion, leaving a gloomy atmosphere all over the place. Lareia stood there, confusion written all over her face as she stares blankly at the sky.

"Did I make the wrong predictions? Did things make a wrong turn because he trusted me? He better tell me what happened by tonight or else my anxiety will kill me..." she thought to herself while walking back inside. Looking down, she bumped into the back of a man.

"I apologize," Clint said in a low voice, facing away from her and looking down. "It's just... we won the first round, but I don't know about the next..."

Upon hearing this, Lareia took his hand and pulled him to the garden. When they arrived, she pushed him down the bench. Clint remained motionless while staring at the pair of boots Lareia are wearing, while she watched him helplessly.

Running out of patience, Lareia heaved out a heavy sigh and smacked him. "Ouch!" Clint was about to rub his head, but Lareia beats him to it. Her cold hands that brushed against his soft hair and head, the pain he felt was slowly relieved as his tensed up muscles relaxed.

"Now, tell me, what happened?" Lareia asked.

Clint slowly looked up, his blue eyes meeting her bloody-red ones. He kept staring right into her eyes, still contemplating if he should speak or not.

"Do you trust me?" Lareia asked when she got no response from her earlier question.

"Of course, I do! Why would you doubt me?" Clint said defensively, making Lareia chuckle.

"I should ask you the same thing. Why are you doubting me? I thought trusting someone blindly, as long as they don't destroy you, is fine; but why are you acting like this? You better answer or I might kill you because of frustration," she replied irritatedly.

Clint immediately stood and took hold of her arms. "I-I'm not doubting you!" His grip slowly weakens as he lowers his head. "I'm doubting myself... do I deserve your aid when something serious is happening inside the palace? Your help means that you're willing to risk your identity and, I doubt that I can protect you," He stated in a low, tender voice.

Upon hearing this, Lareia can't help but smile and pat his head. "You did great already, tell me everything so we can make a plan that will help you without my identity being at risk, alright?" Clint nodded like a child.

After calming down, they sat side by side on the bench while watching the sky. Clint diverted his gaze from the beautiful scenery towards the ethereal woman by his side.

"Congratulations, you predicted everything accurately," Clint said out of nowhere with a smile on his face.

"I already figured that out," Lareia replied nonchalantly. "If we succeeded in the first round, then I'm guessing that they requested for a re-match. What trump card are they planning to use?"

"The grand elder." Lareia immediately understood the meaning behind the mention of his name. The grand duke of Fel Kingdom is Clint's grandfather, and it seems as if he was on his deathbed.

"The grand elder fell ill and relayed a message to me before losing his consciousness," Clint reported, taking Lareia's attention away from theories that are building inside her head.

"The Tranquil Kingdom must not be trusted. Never sacrifice something important for other purposes, no matter how important they are. Beware of the eyes and ears of the walls. Beware of them who manipulate. Lastly, beware of your sinful soul," Clint repeated exactly what the grand elder said.

"What kind of illness does the grand elder have? Maybe I can help you?" Lareia suggested but Clint only shooked his head.

"That matters are private, according to his own wish," Clint replied, a little disappointed.

"Tell me then, why are you acting like that just because your grandfather fell ill?" Lareia blurted out.

"It's because I have so many regrets right now, that I wish he can stay longer for me to remove all the regrets and doubts that are troubling every decision that I make. It really is true when others say that, "You will only know how much you love and give a person the importance that they deserve, when that person is gone or on the verge of death."

"I wonder how that feels..." she murmured. Clint looked at her curiously, not knowing what was inside the picture, but stopped himself from asking because of that expression that she wears.

"Lareia? What is your plan?" Clint asked, diverting the subject back to the main problem.

"Plan? I won't be able to make a plan if you don't give me the full details," Lareia refuted and Clint smiled apologetically.

"We don't know what virus or whatever it is, all we know is he is dying and nobody knows what poison he took for him to be in this current situation."

"Then I will use the last condition regarding our agreement in the library," Lareia said, standing up.

"What is it, my lady?"

"Bring me to the Tranquil Utopia Kingdom."