Chapter 187: Cleenah’s thoughts

The preparations for the Primordial Legacy Festival were drawing ever closer to the day of the event.

In one of the rooms of her residence, Cleenah was attending a meeting with several elders of the Qiezhuran Clan. Most of them were Rank-A Dragons, while a few others had reached Rank-S, including Garph, who sat not far from Cleenah.

The meeting covered the progress of the festival and the arrival of the various Clans that would attend the celebration.

"So far, the preparations are going well, Lady Cleenah. Some of the small Clans have also arrived and begun to lend their help."

An elder reported the situation calmly. He then explained a few matters that still had to be settled, including the arrangements for the guests who would arrive over the coming days.

Cleenah listened while nodding from time to time.

"What about the Clans that haven’t given us a definite answer?"

"Most of them have sent word, Lady Cleenah. However, a few still haven’t replied."

"In that case, don’t press them too hard. We only need to make sure that those who do come receive the welcome they deserve."

"Understood, Lady Cleenah."

The meeting continued with several other topics.

Some of the elders gave reports on the festival preparations, while the others discussed the state of security in Qiezhuran ahead of the guests’ arrival.

With more and more Dragons coming from various Clans, keeping order was naturally becoming harder. What’s more, relations between some of the Clans had not been very good lately.

Cleenah then smiled faintly, though there was no warmth in that smile. But no one noticed it, or tried to understand the smile of a little girl who, in their eyes, knew nothing.

"Apart from the festival, there is something I want to discuss with you."

Hearing her words, the elders immediately turned their attention to her.

Cleenah placed both hands on the table, then continued in a soft voice.

"It concerns Lord Julian and the Voidborn who is with him."

A few elders glanced at one another, but no one said anything right away.

"I’m sure you all know about the earlier incident. The Drazhuel want that Voidborn, and Damien even tried to capture it in our territory."

Cleenah paused for a moment, then continued:

"However, I have decided that Lord Julian and his companions will remain under the protection of the Qiezhuran. I have no intention of changing that decision just because the Drazhuel might make an issue of it."

The elders listened to her calmly. Then one of them nodded.

"Of course, Lady Cleenah. Your decision is the decision of the Qiezhuran. We have no reason to oppose it."

"I agree as well," another elder added. "After all, Lord Julian is a guest who has received Elder Garph’s protection. We shouldn’t treat him disrespectfully."

"That’s right. What’s more, the incident took place in our own territory. If the Drazhuel wish to make an issue of it, they should discuss it properly."

One by one, the elders voiced their support.

Even some of the Dragons who had remained silent before began to nod, showing that they had no objections to Cleenah’s decision.

Seeing that, Cleenah’s expression didn’t change.

"...Thank you. I’m glad you understand my decision."

Their faces were truly thick, weren’t they?

Cleenah lowered her head slightly, her eyes narrowing behind the thin white cloth.

’They really are good at lying.’

At first, they had opposed Cleenah becoming Clan Leader, saying this and that just to remove her from her position.

Then, not long after, they had all slowly changed. They said they shouldn’t be rude, that they shouldn’t doubt the choice of the previous Clan Leader, and that Cleenah actually had good leadership or something of the sort.

It sounded ironic. When Cleenah realized they were lying, it had been so sudden and suspicious.

The support they had just expressed was a lie.

At the very least, they didn’t truly accept Cleenah’s decision the way they claimed. Some of them didn’t even have any desire to keep protecting Julian if the Drazhuel began to apply pressure.

And what made Cleenah even more uncomfortable was that these lies weren’t anything new.

Over the past while, she had begun to find signs that the Qiezhuran’s situation was far worse than it looked.

Some of the elders who had once been so loyal were beginning to show changes in attitude. They still carried out their duties as usual, but whenever the conversation touched on the Drazhuel, their answers often didn’t match the truth that the Eyes of Essence revealed.

Even so, Cleenah had never rebuked them right away.

She understood that not every lie meant betrayal. Some Dragons might simply be afraid, while others had begun to doubt whether the Qiezhuran still had the strength to face the Drazhuel.

Unfortunately, that still didn’t make things any better.

"Lady Cleenah, if I may say something..."

One of the elders suddenly opened his mouth again.

Cleenah nodded.

"Go ahead."

"Some Dragons from other Clans have begun talking about that Voidborn. They’ve heard that the Drazhuel lost something very valuable, and that the creature is now in our territory."

Cleenah listened without interrupting.

"There are even some saying that the Qiezhuran is deliberately protecting an infiltrator who stole something from the Drazhuel."

"...Is that so?"

"Yes. Of course, I don’t consider that accusation true. But I’m worried the matter will affect our relations with other Clans."

The elder then suggested that the Qiezhuran prepare an explanation in case the Drazhuel truly came to question the presence of Julian and Lumi.

Cleenah didn’t give an answer right away.

’...So they’ve already begun.’

The accusation might sound simple, but Cleenah understood the consequences it could bring.

Julian was a human who had entered the Dragons’ territory, while Lumi was a Voidborn who had previously been in the Drazhuel’s possession.

If the two were accused of being an infiltrator and a thief, the Drazhuel could use that excuse to demand that the Qiezhuran hand them over.

And if Cleenah refused, the Qiezhuran could be accused of deliberately protecting someone who had wronged another Clan.

With relations between Clans already poor, an accusation like that could become a reason to start an even greater dispute.

What’s more, with more and more Dragons coming to attend the festival, that news could spread easily.

’...They’ve already prepared their excuse.’

Cleenah didn’t know who was involved in spreading the accusation. The Eyes of Essence could help her tell lies, but they didn’t automatically reveal every plan a person kept hidden.

But from the many signs she had found, Cleenah grew more certain that the threat to the Qiezhuran was no longer merely a possibility.

The Drazhuel already had a pretext they could use to corner them.

And when the time came, Cleenah wasn’t sure how many Clans would truly stand on the Qiezhuran’s side.

"Thank you for telling me," Cleenah finally answered. "I will consider the matter."

"Understood, Lady Cleenah."

Garph, who had been listening to the discussion all along, then lifted his head.

"Lady Cleenah, if the Drazhuel truly make a demand, I will help you deal with it."

Cleenah turned toward him.

"Thank you, Garph."

Unlike the elders before him, Cleenah found no lie in the old Dragon’s words.

Garph truly intended to help her.

And that was precisely why Cleenah felt even more uncomfortable.

The meeting finally ended after a few other matters were discussed.

The elders began to leave the room one after another, while Cleenah stayed in her seat with Garph still waiting nearby.

"Lady Cleenah, would you like to return to your room and rest?"

"...I’m still fine."

Cleenah answered with a small smile.

But in truth, she was already utterly exhausted. Even during the meeting, her body had hurt several times, especially when she used the Eyes of Essence to confirm the truth of the elders’ words.

Even so, that pain wasn’t what bothered her most right now.

’...Forgive me, Garph.’

Cleenah had made her decision long ago. She knew what had to be done to face the Drazhuel’s threat, and she had no intention of changing that plan even as the situation worsened.

But there was one thing that kept making her feel guilty.

That old Dragon had been with her ever since Clyne’s death. Even now, when so many elders were beginning to hide their own intentions, Garph still gave her his support without the slightest lie.

Unfortunately, Cleenah couldn’t tell him what she was really planning.

She wanted Garph to take Julian and his entire group away from the Qiezhuran when the time came. At the very least, that way they would have a chance to avoid the attack that was coming.

And Cleenah had already decided to make sure of that.

But knowing what she had to do didn’t make her feel any calmer.

She was still afraid.

What if everything didn’t go according to plan? What if all the effort she had made still couldn’t save the Qiezhuran?

Cleenah had no certain answer about the final outcome. She only knew that she had made her decision, and now had to accept every possibility that came with it.

’...I’m truly afraid.’

Cleenah quietly clenched her fists beneath the table.

She wanted Garph to stay alive. She wanted Julian and his companions to be safe, and she also wanted to protect the Qiezhuran, the place Clyne had left to her.

But those very wishes made the decision she had taken feel even heavier.

What’s more, Garph was still at her side, completely unaware of what Cleenah was hiding.

’...I’m sorry.’

Even so, Cleenah had no intention of telling him.

If Garph learned of the plan, that old Dragon would surely try to stop her. And Cleenah didn’t want to let that happen.

That was why she had to keep behaving as usual, at least as long as Garph was nearby.

"Lady Cleenah?"

Garph’s voice made her lift her head again.

"...Yes?"

"Are you feeling unwell? If so, I think you should rest first."

Cleenah smiled a little.

"It’s alright, Garph. I was only thinking about a few things."

"...I see."

Garph didn’t say anything right away, but his gaze still showed concern.

Seeing that, Cleenah finally decided to rise from her seat.

"Garph, I’d like to take a walk by myself for a little while."

"By yourself?"

"Umm... hehe... yes, I just want to take a bit of time for myself. After that, I’ll go back and rest."

Garph looked a little hesitant.

But after studying Cleenah for a few moments, the old Dragon finally nodded.

"Very well, Lady Cleenah. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me."

"Thank you."

Cleenah then left the room with her cane in hand.

Her breathing felt a little tight, and her body was still trembling with fear. Cleenah’s face was even somewhat pale, yet she kept trying hard to suppress all the emotions that had built up.

She walked down the corridor of the residence, passing several rooms before finally heading to the garden connected to the outside of the cave.

At the very least, there she could find a little calm without having to keep thinking of how to hide her unease from Garph.

But, as it turned out, someone was already there.

"...Lady Cleenah?"

Cleenah recognized that voice.