A few more weeks.
He asked for that but she didn't even have a week left.
Nevertheless, Iria Alewine forced a little smile. "What's the matter?" she calmly asked.
Arin Helev narrowed his eyes and slowly let loose of the bedsheet which he squeezed. "I need to mobilize our soldiers and prepared for war. There isn't much time left."
A war?
Who would they be facing all of a sudden?!
"We received news that the Alora Kingdom is preparing to wage a war against us. Two weeks is all we have," Arin added.
Two weeks?
"That's too risky," the Commander blurted out. Two weeks to get ready for a war against Alora? It was sure that Qalagon was at a disadvantage!
Arin finally smiled when he heard her. Did she even have knowledge of military affairs?
"How can you smile in this situation?" Iria bluntly asked when she noticed him smiling.
"Nothing," the Crown Prince muttered. "I'm sorry, Iria. It's your first time asking me to spend some time together but... it seems like I will be busy training and mobilizing our soldiers starting tomorrow."
Iria Alewine knew that this was the only chance for them but... he had to prioritize his kingdom just like her. Then she realized that she already started missing the little time they spent together in the past two months.
"Don't be. It's your duty to protect the kingdom," she muttered. "You will have to stay in the camp from tomorrow, right?"
Arin nodded. "But don't worry. I promise that I will return with victory and when that time comes, I will give you all my time."
He had no idea. The time won't come.
Despite feeling the pressure, Iria Alewine faints a smile while trying her best to stay calm. "Even if you stay in the camp, don't tire out yourself too much. You will need a lot of strength to lead the war."
Arin nodded with a relieving smile. "Alright. I'm grateful that you understand me. I was so nervous on my way back." He let out a light chuckle but... if only he knew what Iria was thinking!
"It's getting late," he calmly continued. "Rest early and see you tomorrow morning."
Iria Alewine nodded with a fake smile. Then Arin stood up and walked out of her chamber.
The moment Arin shut the door, all the calm facade of the Masked Commander instantly dropped!
She was feeling so empty to the point where she wondered if she was making the right decision!
For the first time in her life, she regretted being the Commander of the Alewine Army.
If only they were both an average person who didn't have to bother about duties. Will it be better?
Staring at the empty door, she was lost in the unfamiliar heartache which the Qalagon Crown Prince made her experienced. If only he wasn't a great man, would she ever have to experience the pain of falling for an enemy?
* * *
After having a meeting with the officials, King Regan had another meeting with the Crown Prince, Commander Nico and some Generals including General Hanson and General Elian. Prime Minister Casar Mareyi and Minister of War, Dilan Lorin were also present. The Minister of War was General Hanson's father.
"Commander Nico, what is the current situation of your army? Are you prepared to take part in the upcoming war?" King Regan asked the Commander of the Petrus Army.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Nico Petrus replied as he lowered his head. "This is a dangerous and uncertain war. We cannot let His Highness handle it alone. The Petrus Army will offer him every assistance we could."
"That's great," King Regan said as he nodded. "No matter how prepared King Declan is, I'm sure that our two major armies combined will be able to defeat him."
"The Alora Kingdom used to be a neighbouring kingdom and ally of the fallen Nardodia," Crown Prince Arin spoke up. "So, if our speculation is right, they will attack us from the former border between them and Nardodia. The north."
"I will work on strengthening our defence there. General Elian can take charge in training and mobilizing our Petrus Army," Commander Nico suggested.
Crown Prince Arin nodded. "That's a good idea. Then just in case, I will work on strengthening the defence of our other borders. General Hanson is always the one in charge of the training in the Royal Army camp. So, he can continue with that."
"We don't have much time. So, we should push forward the training and everything else," King Regan uttered. "Give your all and I'm sure that we will receive some more information after a week. We will have another meeting after that."
"Yes, Your Majesty." They replied in unison.
*
Arin Helev went to the Royal Army camp with General Hanson after the meeting ended. Meanwhile, Iria Alewine had a guest who was none other than Commander Nico Petrus.
"Why did you come?" the Masked Commander asked Nico Petrus who was sitting opposite her. The two were sitting on a chair in the pavilion.
"Did you hear about our upcoming war with Alora? I want to -"
"Don't be wary about me," Iria Alewine promptly said, interrupting the Commander of Petrus Army. "The war will take place in two weeks but... I will be returning to Jerivia in 5 days. I don't have time to create trouble."
Five days? Commander Nico raised a brow as he didn't expect to be that soon. However, he quickly maintained his composure again.
"You get me wrong," he said. "You already give me your word and I don't doubt you."
"Then what are you trying to say?" Iria asked, confused.
"You know how uncertain the war is, especially this one," Nico Petrus said. "So, I want to ask you a favour."
"A favour?" Iria asked.
Nico Petrus nodded. "If I don't survive this war, can you promise me to find out the one who killed Princess Iria? Avenge her in my place."
Iria Alewine narrowed her eyes when she heard the Commander's request. "I will surely do that even if you don't ask me, but... I will also be fighting an uncertain war as soon as I return. Nothing is promised for me too."
"A war? With which kingdom?" Nico Petrus asked with a confused face.
"Helsia."
Commander Nico felt more confused. Didn't she just fight against them right before she came here?
"I will make sure to avenge Iria as long as I'm alive," Iria Alewine said and asked, "Can you also promised me one thing?"
"What is it?" Nico Petrus quickly asked.
Iria Alewine squeezed her dress and remained quiet for a while before she said, "In the upcoming war with Alora, please protect the Crown Prince. Make sure that he returns alive."
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