CH 28

Cladis most likely came to the Glass gardens with Clara. Was he so in love with her that he prepared such magic for her? If that was the case, Ella felt a bit bitter. Still, at least she knew that Cladis was currently here. She now understood why there were so many people waiting outside the garden. It seemed the park closed its entrance for the Crown Prince. Ella felt delighted as she was relieved when suddenly another thought came into her mind that made her freeze. ‘Wait… It seems like we entered so easily to the place where the Crown Prince is currently in. Or is it me overthinking about it?’

Although Cullan was a prince, he was a prince from another country. Under normal circumstances, he would still need to present some kind of identification even if he was the Crown Prince’s close friend. Somehow, they were allowed to enter the garden so easily. ‘Why?,’ thought Ella. Ella tried to come up with an answer to her lingering question. Clara, the woman Cladis had brought to her party, was the answer. If Clara was also at the garden today, then she must be an outsider like herself. Within the capital, there were many locations to have dates and there were ample choices for the lover of the Crown Prince to think about visiting. Those spots were more likely to be chosen by women who grew up in this world, as those were places that would guarantee their future. It was unlikely that someone would choose to go to the Glass garden for a date. Of course, there was the possibility that Cladis chose to come here himself. Still, he never was the type to be quick on trends, so that possibility wasn’t likely. In the novel, he didn’t even know about this place. In the first place, Ella was the one who brought him here. Someone must have purposefully brought him here. That person had to be someone that knew what was supposed to happen at the Glass garden in the novel.

‘If Clara is an outsider like me, who isn’t from this world, what should I do?’ Ella’s heart sank. She wasn’t sure if she felt relieved or worried. Perhaps she wasn’t as special as she thought she was. There was also the possibility that she wasn’t the only one to be transported into this world. She tried to understand her current situation, but her pounding heart couldn’t relax. Then, another question appeared in her mind.

‘If I was Clara, what would I do?’ Clara was with Cladis at his fiancée’s party. Now they were at the Glass garden together. ‘What’s next?’ If Ella’s assumption was correct, then Clara was probably on her way to the flower deep within the Glass garden. While she was pondering, she came up with another possibility. 

“Cullan, did you talk to me yesterday only because Clara asked you to?”

Cullan’s footsteps stopped immediately. For a slight second, he couldn’t hide his surprise and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Well, your face says otherwise. It’s okay. I’m sure you couldn’t reject your friend’s request. Did you already know that I wanted to come here too?”

“Why do you think that?”

“You appeared before me with such perfect timing. If it weren’t for you yesterday, I would have either approached his highness or ran to my brother to ask who that woman was. Either way, I was bound to cause some ruckus, but I didn’t. Instead, you appeared and answered any questions that I had about her.”

“I want to say no, but I also don’t want to lie to you.”

“When I talked about the Glass garden, you weren’t surprised at all. All along, you wanted to bring me here as well. Isn’t that true?”

Ella’s words continued to surprise Cullan. He was curious to know how much she actually knew. There was, however, a misunderstanding that he wanted to clear up before it was too late. “There’s something I want to explain to you.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I did go to the party because Clara asked me to. I wasn’t planning to because I didn’t want to come to a debut party for someone else’s fiancée. It would be boring,” explained Cullan while expressing his disgust at the thought of it.

He did, however, come to the debut party without Clara’s request in the novel.

“You see, Clara told me that I would be able to find the girl of my dreams if I went. She was certain that this would be my only chance, so she told me a lot of things. It did interest me. Why was Clara so sure of what she was saying to me? Why was she certain that you are the girl of my dreams? I wonder.”

As he was speaking, he was scrutinizing Ella. Although Ella wanted to tell him it was rude, it wasn’t the right time to do that.

“So, I came with my doubts. Then, there she was. My ideal type was Cladis’s fiancée. Well, Clara’s assumption was right, so I played along. You know, we made a bet. If Clara’s assumption was correct, then I promised to tell you everything you wanted to know about her.”

“Did she tell you to bring me here?”

For a long time without saying a word, Cullan stared at Ella. Ella never said anything about being Cullan’s dream girl. Eventually Cullan let out a long sigh and nodded.

“Yes. She told me that if I brought you here then that means you won’t marry the crown prince. Maybe you understand what that means?”

Hearing Cullan’s answer caused Ella to smile. It was eureka. There was a possibility that Clara was someone like her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have said such things if she wasn’t. Besides, Clara was dead set on becoming the crown princess. My God, what a kind woman.

“Ella.”

Cullan called Ella, who suddenly became very happy and smiled. 

“Yes?”

“Do you know what she was talking about?”

“Oh, I’m not sure what she meant. But, there’s one thing that’s for sure.”

“What is it?”

Ella stopped and looked at Cullan. Was it okay to tell him? Although she wasn’t sure, she knew he was always by her side. In this life, she wanted him to be there for her. Ella thought it would be better to tell him her plan regarding Cladis. Fortunately, there wasn’t anyone in the garden with the exception of the crown prince, who could be on the other side. Still, the garden was the best place to tell some secrets. 

“I’m not going to marry his highness,” said Ella.

Cullan’s expression brightened. It was easy to guess what he was thinking at the moment. As Ella was about to open her mouth to deny what Cullan was about to say, a voice interrupted her.

“What are you talking about?” asked Cladis coldly.