The people from both the villages had now returned and Eric stood in his place as if his feet had been rooted.

Thaddeus stepped ahead and placed his hand over Eric’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Your Highness, let’s return to the mansion for now. It seems like it’s going to rain."

Eric didn’t respond and Thaddeus turned to look at Lysanne and Drac before shaking his head.

"Let’s head back everyone." He simply said as he walked away with slumped shoulders.

Lysanne watched her father leave before staring at Eric’s back. She had no idea that the situation that was looking up to peace and harmony suddenly escalated to the same hostility again, if not worse.

The twins, who also witnessed everything, clasped Drac’s either hands.

"Big Brother, what just happened?" Leo asked.

"Why did they all fight again?" Nico asked.

Drac pursed his lips looking at Eric and then turned to look at Lysanne who also looked uneasy.

"What should we do now?" She asked.

Drac’s gaze lingered on her for a bit before he looked at the twins.

"Take them home for now." Drac told Lysanne.

Lysanne noticed the heaviness in his voice and didn’t say anything but just nodded and walked towards him to get the twins.

"Leo, Nico. Let’s go." Lysanne said.

"No!" The twins shouted clinging to Drac’s hands.

"We want to know what happened!"

"We’re not going!"

"Why does His Highness look so sad?!"

Lysanne sighed and took their hands, "I’ll tell you later, for now, let’s go home."

The twins stared back at Eric and Drac as Lysanne took them towards her horse and after throwing one last look at the two young men, she rode away.

The clouds overhead darkened with a low rumble and the guard team, camouflaged in the trees surrounding the clearing and the supervising panel still stood in their places watching Drac.

"What happens now?" One of the knights from the panel asked.

"We never expected this." A civilian panel member sighed.

"Well, he has restored the river so, that means he has solved the problem." Another knight responded.

"But he said his goal was to restore the harmony between both the villages. That’s failed." Another civilian panel member said.

"Does that mean that ultimately, His Highness Eric failed this Trial?" A knight wondered.

Everyone looked at him for a moment before he realised what he just said and shrank under their gazes.

"I-I’m sorry...?" He spoke and the rest sighed.

Hasik who watched it all massaged his temples, this was completely unexpected. Everyone- including themselves and the whole of Sestia- was sure that Eric would win. But what happened just now could easily blow that certainty.

"There’s still time." One of the elder knights spoke and the others simply decided to wait.

The guards who were in the trees had a different disposition.

"He’s the one Master chose, he must win." One of the guard’s spoke.

"There’s no way he’s losing." The youngest among the group spoke.

"Should we do something then?" Another asked.

"Like what? Sabotage the river so that they could start building it again and then go over the process?" Someone suggested.

"There’s not enough time though, only three days." The youngest said.

"Something drastic might help though."

"Cut the nonsense," their leader snapped after having heard enough, "Master strictly told us to not get involved unless it’s a threat over His Highness’s life. No one will try anything here."

The leader, Kiro stared at Eric from his spot before he added, "This is something His Highness has to solve. So, no one will dare to disobey Master’s orders, clear?"

"Yes!" The team responded at once.

As the faint droplets of rain started falling, Drac stepped ahead and placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder.

"Your Highness, let’s return to the mansion for now. We will think of another way." Drac spoke noticing as how Eric looked despaired.

Drac patted his shoulder for a few times and Eric released a sigh, then turned around without a word to walk towards his horse with Drac following him.

The faint drizzle from earlier had now turned into a steady downpour as everyone in Castermere mansion were tense. The household personnel were spreading the news about Hillford people digging secret channels to keep the water from reaching Lowmere.

"How low of them?" One of the maids scowled.

The one who had just told her that appeared a little uneasy as she leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper, "Apparently, His Highness knew about it and allowed it."

The maid gasped hearing that, "What?"

"What’s going on here?" The two flinched hearing Chelsea’s voice.

The maids bowed instantly to her and she narrowed her eyes.

"Go back to your work." She snapped.

"Yes, Madam." The two spoke before they scurried off.

Chelsea sighed and then made her way to the parlor where Thaddeus and the supervising panel had gathered for some tea to discuss about what happens next.

"The servants keep talking about it," Chelsea sighed as she walked over and sat down beside Thaddeus.

"We can’t really reprimand them for this since even firing them won’t do anything." Thaddeus said.

"His Highness shouldn’t have hidden this news from everyone..." Hasik mumbled, "he should have told everyone the moment he discovered them."

"What was he thinking?" Another panel member sighed.

"There’s no point in discussing this, His Highness made his choice and now we are looking at the consequences." A knight said.

"But that means His Highness loses this Trial!" Hasik snapped.

The people fell silent and the tense air in the parlor grew even thicker.

"We must talk to His Highness and think of a way of solving this." Chelsea suggested.

"We can’t." Thaddeus said.

"Why not?" Chelsea frowned, "We as nobles are not only here to supervise but also are allowed to advice him. He is still young and needs our help. We can’t just let it all go to waste, His Highness and everyone worked hard for this!"

A member from the knights panel shook his head, "I’m afraid that’s not going to help, My Lady."

Chelsea looked at him and he continued, "While you are allowed to give His Highness advice but that also reflects in the records, My Lady."

Chelsea clenched her fists, "Then you expect us to just sit and talk like this while he despairs over our problem? He was the first who had managed to bring all of us together like that. It was the first time in years that I saw both the villages working and laughing together. I can’t give up on that!"

"Chelsea." Thaddeus spoke firmly making her purse her lips and look at him as tears welled up in her beautiful eyes.

Lysanne who stood outside the parlor listening to all this felt even bad. She had no idea on what to do. The Lowmere people’s demand was right, Hillford should have been punished and His Highness made a mistake in letting the channels stay even after knowing about them. He should have punished them all right at that time.

Lysanne then turned noticing Drac walking from the other side and she rushed over to him.

Drac who was headed to talk to Eric noticed Lysanne coming towards him, bowed to her and she stopped before him.

"Are you going to talk to His Highness?" She asked.

Drac nodded and then sidestepped to go past her but she fell into the step beside him.

"I’ll go too." She said.

Drac looked at her, "Why?"

Lysanne’s face was scrunched up in a frown, "I need to convince His Highness to punish Hillford so that it wouldn’t all be a disaster for him and us."

Drac stopped and Lysanne who noticed it also stopped.

"What’s wrong?"

"Don’t come along if you’re going to give him such useless advice." Drac spoke flatly and Lysanne’s jaw dropped.

"What- but he needs to do it. That’s the only way now! Lowmere people will never let this slide, our fields had gone dry while Hillford had been thriving. It is their fault, they stole the water." Lysanne said and Drac still maintained a neutral expression.

"He won’t listen to you even if you go to him and scream about it." Drac said and Lysanne frowned.

"Why not? He should be standing on our side, we’re the victims here." Lysanne said.

Drac stared at her for a long moment, Lysanne stared right back before she sighed, turning to go to Eric.

"Fine, I’ll just go and-"

But before she took even two steps, she felt Drac grabbing her wrist. She turned and looked at him.

"Don’t." He spoke.

"This is wrong!" Lysanne said and Drac sighed.

"Prince Eric was sent here as the ruler of this place."

"I know, and rulers also make wrong decisions that’s why they need advisors." Lysanne added.

"He didn’t make a wrong decision." Drac said and Lysanne frowned.

"What of this is not wrong?" Lysanne asked.

"Eric is thinking from the perspective of a ruler." Drac said, "He has been chosen by someone who has the vision that Prince Eric’s efforts should not only be visible on the exterior of the kingdom but also reach the grassroots. He is doing just that."

Lysanne shook her head, "No, he’s not."

"You are thinking only as a Lowmere person." Drac pointed out, "Prince Eric is thinking from both sides. He knew this clash might happen if the people knew that’s why he didn’t tell anyone. The reason to allow the channels was because the river at first wasn’t strong enough to sustain both the villages. Hillford people had dug the channels but they also did it for survival so that their fields won’t dry up. If Lowmere were in their place, can you say with certainty that you won’t do it?"

Lysanne opened her mouth to answer instantly but then closed it back.

"The Prince knew nobody was wrong here, they were only desperate. That’s why he had told them that the channels can stay only to the point that the river’s flow is repaired."

Lysanne looked down and Drac added, "He never saw Hillford’s actions as crimes. Humans tend to do things that can be wrong to others but ultimately, it’s either greed or survival. If it were greed then Prince Eric wouldn’t have let it slide."

Lysanne listened silently before she looked up at Drac, the firmness in her expression melted away, giving way to deep concern.

"Then... what should be done now?" She asked, "If this goes on, His Highness might lose this Trial."

The corners of Drac’s lips curled up and Lysanne’s eyes widened, this was the first time she had seen this man smile. Although, this smile was more of a confident smirk.

"That’s impossible." Drac spoke without a hint of faltering, "His Highness is going to win."

Lysanne opened her mouth but then closed it back again, Drac let go of her wrist that he had been holding and then walked past her.

"Go and get some rest." He said and Lysanne turned to look at him before recalling something.

"Wait," she spoke and Drac stopped turning his head.

"You said, His Highness was chosen by someone... Who were you talking about?"

Lysanne’s heart skipped a beat after that as a full-blown, genuine smile lit up Drac’s face. His eyes glowed warm amber before he spoke one word.

"God."

Lysanne then watched as he turned and walked away but her heart wouldn’t slow down.