Shangri La Pt. 1

19: Secrecy

"Alright, we're far enough from the palace, so what did you wanna tell me since this is so important?" Gin groaned after following the doctor out of the palace grounds. 

"Right, I suppose you would want to know why I've brought you out here?" 

"Obviously." 

"Hah~ Have you noticed anything shady going on since you arrived here?" Zeri questioned, forcing the silver-haired man to rethink everything. 

"Ah– Hm? Anything shady? Not that I can think of, why?" 

"I think something's going on here that is trying to be hidden from us." 

"Huh? Something hidden from us, from who, and why? And how and why would you think that?" he asked, unsure of what the doctor could mean. Seeing how the man was confused to be involved in this only annoyed Zeri even more to the point that she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Ugh– How long have you been serving as a knight for the Todoroki Kingdom?" 

"A few years now." 

"So that means you fought in the recent war, right?" 

"Right." 

"So you also know what caused the war to end, correct?" 

"Yeah, it was a Peace Treaty." 

"Yes, and that Peace Treaty was an idea brought up by a member of the Emerald Clan, and then it was Shiro's idea to make there be an Arranged Marriage between the two families, understand?" 

"Yeah. But what's the reason for bringing up the Emerald Clan member that brought up a Peace Treaty?" 

"Because what if one of the two families believes the Emerald Clan to blame for all of this?" 

"Ah– Okay, now you're making me confused."

"Arg– Okay fine, let me simplify this for you. Members of the Emerald Clan were known to serve as the Miracle Workers here in the East for the Yaoyorozu Clan. When I say Miracle Workers, I mean that the members of the Emerald Clan were forced to heal the injured soldiers of the Yaoyorozu Clan in order to live. And don't you think the Emperor and Empress would be displeased at the thought of a member of the Emerald Clan to be the one to come up with creating a Peace Treaty to stop this war? That means all their Miracle Workers no longer have a purpose to serving them, and do you really think the royalty of both families would just approve of an Arranged Marriage at the drop of a hat?" Zeri clarified, causing the gears in Gin's head to start spinning.

"That would make sense. So are you saying that one of the royal families might try to betray the Arranged Marriage idea?" 

"Possibly, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were the Emperor and Empress to back out of this Arranged Marriage for their daughter." 

"Huh? Why say that?" 

"Because this is just an easy trap to fool you and your knights to be extinguished here and not in the West. You and the rest of the knights here are the strongest from the West, so if the Emperor and Empress think of getting rid of all of you here, then it's an easier victory for them if they march to the West to conquer more land. Understand?" Zeri processed, forcing Gin to understand her words.

"Oh– I see... Wait– Does that mean that they could betray this entire plan of Arranged Marriage at any time?" 

"I'm not sure, but possibly when it gets closer to the date of the Wedding, then things might commence into a mess. Hah~ And as much as I don't want to say this...We need you back." Zeri stated as she looked up at the knight with certainty.