Iria Alewine just entered her chamber after spending a long yet enjoyable day on the farm with Crown Prince Arin. Her dull mood in the morning was gone and she seemed to be feeling a lot better now.
Unexpectedly, she heard the sound of the knocking on her door and Rion made his way to her.
"What is it, Rion?" the Commander quickly asked her right-hand man who was halting a few steps away.
Recalling what troubled him during the day, Rion stood still and his left hand nervously squeezed the handle of his sword which was hanged on his waist.
Iria Alewine had known Rion for too long and she understood right away that he had something to say. "What do you want to say? Just say it," she uttered in a pretty calm voice.
Rion remained still even after hearing his Commander until... he suddenly dropped to his knees. "Commander, I will risk my life to say this. Please don't forget who you really are. The Crown Princess of Qalagon is just a fake title that will soon be gone but... " He paused when he felt the pressure rising.
He always admired and respect his Commander. He always placed trust in her and never once defy her or questioned her but... he can't just sit still while his Commander was participating in a dangerous gamble which could even cost her life!
"Why don't you finish?" Iria Alewine calmly said when Rion fell silent for a while.
"Commander, I -"
"I know what you're worrying about, Rion," Iria Alewine uttered as she rose from her seat. "But be at ease. No matter how I feel, I won't forget who I am. I'm the Commander of the Alewine Army and I won't betray my conscience."
No matter how she feels? Rion raised a brow when he understood the meaning. "Commander, you -"
"Let's not talk about this anymore," Iria promptly said and turned her back at Rion. "It's late. You should go and rest now."
Rion only felt more troubled but no matter what, he couldn't defy the Commander. Then he stood up and bowed. "Have a good rest," he muttered and left the chamber.
The moment she heard the sound of the door being shut, Commander Iria squeezed her dress. Rion was the one who knows her the best but... was her feelings too obvious to the point where she even made him felt uneasy?!
Why can't she be herself anymore?!
* * *
A few days passed by uneventfully. Iria Alewine was mostly in her chamber and the Crown Prince was also quite busy with military affairs lately. The Commander spent her days without meeting anyone, except Vienna Mareyi who used to visit her from time to time.
To end the quiet days, a letter arrived from Jerivia and it was received by Prince Orius. It was the letter that the Commander was waiting for - the King's letter. So, the second Prince rushed back to the palace once he read the contents. He wanted to inform Iria as soon as possible.
When Prince Orius entered Iria's chamber, it was afternoon and Crown Prince Arin was in the Royal Army camp. What the Commander's first noticed was the letter in the Second Prince's hands. She calculated the days since the King returned to Jerivia and it was about time to receive his message now.
"It's a letter from my father," Prince Orius said and handed the letter to Iria.
The Commander quickly took the letter from the second Prince and read the contents.
King Tobias had indeed listened to her request but... why did she felt a pain in her heart? Shouldn't she be happy that her King changed his mind for her sake and decided to not lead the war?
"Is this what you really wanted?" Prince Orius asked her.
Iria sensed the disappointment and anger in the Second Prince's voice but she feigned ignorance and put down the letter. "Yes. I can't let His Majesty fight an uncertain war in that age," she replied.
"But why is it okay for you to fight?" the Prince grunted. His gaze urging her to give him an honest answer!
Once again, Iria Alewine stared at the letter. It's written how King Tobias had a meeting with the officials and the Generals including Jolene and Zire. In a few days, the Alewine Army will be ready to fight again and with the help from the Royal Army, she was to lead the war.
"Answer me," the second Prince demanded. "You know how dangerous this war is. Your army might be prepared soon, but they suffered a lot last time."
"I can manage that -"
"Then what about the Qalagons?"
Iria Alewine narrowed her eyes when she heard Prince Orius's question. The Qalagons?
Arin Helev.
"What will we do if the Qalagons attack us right after they find out the truth?" Prince Orius uttered.
"I used to handle situations more dire than this, Your Highness. I know that the Qalagons will also need a few weeks to reinforce their army if they want to start a war. I will find a way during that time," Iria Alewine replied. Her firm voice hinted at no sign of backing down!
Prince Orius took a step towards Iria and clenched his fist. "You can't be lucky each time, Commander Iria," he muttered in a low yet dreary voice.
"I'm well aware of that," the Commander said. "However, I won't give up even before trying."
The second Prince shut his eyes and when he opened it again, his expression was just blank!
How could he easily change to a completely different person in a split second?!
"So, you made your decision?" he muttered and took the letter from her. "Fine. As per my father's instruction, everything will be prepared soon for us to leave safely. We should get prepared for it too. We will leave Qalagon in five days."
Without waiting for the Commander's response, the Prince turned his back at her and walked out of the chamber.
The moment the second Prince left, Iria pressed her palm against the wall as she felt like her body had lost all energy!
Five days.
That's all she had left here and after the next five days were over, she will bid goodbye to this kingdom and Arin Helev forever.....
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