CH 101

Cladis laughed at Ella, who tried to act as if she didn’t know anything about it. He then added, “Alright. I’ll pretend as if nothing has happened. Let’s keep it that way in the future as well.”

“That’ll depend on what you’ll do, Your Highness.”

He pleasantly smiled at Ella, who immediately made a bold look on her face as she spoke. Cladis liked her the most whenever she looked at him like that. ‘The proud and bright Ella.’ Those were the same eyes she had when she was younger. Unlike those times, however, his heart now tingled.

“Don’t worry. I won’t ever disappoint you anymore,” declared Cladis as they slowly began to head toward the estate. Although Ella couldn’t trust him, she nodded mercifully.

By now, they were far away from the Magical Tower and began passing by streets with people. Ella remembered what Cladis had said and made a sulky expression that didn’t look like she was disrespecting him. She then told Cladis, “I’ll trust you for now. After all, I said I was going to give you a chance.”

“You’ll never regret it. I’ll show you that I’m worthy of being by your side.”

“Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“What do you mean?”

“By what you just said. Aren’t you embarrassed to say something like that?”

“No. If I can win your heart, I can say much more. Tell me anything that you wish to hear. I can say it.”

Ella blushed in response to Cladis who seemed to speak without any hint of embarrassment. She wasn’t young or innocent enough to truly be touched and feel romantic over such words. Not only that, she even feared that she might never overcome such cringy feelings.

At the sight of Ella trying to turn away to cover her blushing, Cladis wiped the serious expression off his face and looked at her teasingly. It excited him whenever she tried to act like an adult. He then asked, “Anything else you want to hear? I’ll do it. Come on. Tell me.”

Cladis pulled her horse next to him to get close to her and whispered. Startled by this, Ella covered her ears and stammered, “W-what are you doing! People are looking!”

The road leading to the Constance estate was occupied by several people walking by, and so was the alley that Ella and Cladis were walking along right now. A few of those people stopped as they recognized the Crown Prince and stood still to stare at the two of them. Then it appeared that they ran straight home to tell the story of what they had just seen.

Because she cared about what people might think of by what they saw, Ella pulled herself away from Cladis. However, her attempt was in vain as he immediately came closer to her by the same amount she had moved back.

“I’m doing this so people can see,” explained Cladis. He wished that rumors that he was madly in love with Lady Constance would spread far and wide so that no one would bother Ella while he was gone.

“Your Highness.”

“And one more thing. I think I’m in a terrible position compared to the Tower Master. Is that not true?”

All this time, Cladis had been concerned about Xyle and Ella. Whenever they were together, they seemed to act too naturally. It had only been two days since they met. ‘How close will they be in two months?’

That thought lingered in his mind, and he couldn’t deny it. Ella wondered what answer she should give him. At the same time, she couldn’t understand why Cladis made the situation like this when he was so quick to know what was on people’s minds. But the question that remained in her mind didn’t have an answer. Even asking herself this didn’t give her an answer.

Ella inquired about the question that she had asked herself multiple times before, “If you’re so quick to understand, why were you fooled by Clara?”