"I'm glad that you return safely."
King Tobias and Commander Iria were inside the meeting room in the royal palace of Jerivia. When they entered the capital of Jerivia, the Commander went straight to the palace to see the King instead of going home.
The King of Jerivia beamed with pride when he glanced at the Masked Commander. Then he put his hand on her shoulder before he gave her a hug. "I was so worried that things would go wrong on your way back. Now that you return, I think I can finally sleep in peace," he said as he pulled back.
Iria Alewine smiled when she heard the King. "I'm also glad that you're in a good form, Your Majesty. You should look after yourself for the sake of our kingdom."
King Tobias nodded with a smile. "I will do that but first, go home and take a rest. You must be tired from the long journey."
Commander Iria narrowed her eyes and briefly thought about it before she said, "Can I visit Iria's grave first? I heard that she is buried in the royal cemetery."
The King's genuine smile slipped at the mention of his late daughter. However, he immediately forced a little smile again. "Alright. It will be your first time and I'm sure that Iria will also be happy to see you."
Iria Alewine walked out of the room and then out of the big palace door. However, when she glanced around the vast ground of the main palace, she noticed someone riding a horse in her direction. When she identified the person, her lips curved into a little smile and she walked forward.
The moment when he reached the place where Iria was standing, Crown Prince Zaro gets off his horse and stood right opposite her. There was a big smile on the Crown Prince's face when he looked at the Commander.
"You've returned? I was told that you will arrive in the afternoon but when I heard that you're here, I rush back right away."
Commander Iria chuckled at her friend's reaction and hugged him. "Have you been well? I'm so glad to see you again."
Zaro Aventine nodded with a smile. "I'm doing fine, Iria. You're the one who must be having a hard time."
"I'm fine too," Iria Alewine promptly said as she pulled back. Then she observed the Crown Prince. "You have become a lot thinner than the last time we met, Zaro. You should take good care of yourself."
"Now that you're back, I feel like I finally have someone to nag at me again," the Crown Prince playfully remarked and Commander Iria frowned.
"It's for your sake," she argued in a pretty serious tone. "I only want the best for you."
Seeing her in flesh and hearing her saying the same old words which she used to say to him since they were a child, Crown Prince Zaro Aventine couldn't hide his happiness.
Ever since she left, he looked forward to this day - the day when he would reunite with her again. She was away for almost three months and as far as he could remember, they had never spent that long without seeing each other and... it was quite tormenting.
All of a sudden, Prince Orius walked past them and while the Crown Prince was staring at his younger brother, Commander Iria quickly walked after the Second Prince. With a confused face, Crown Prince Zaro followed her.
"Your Highness."
Prince Orius Aventine halted when he heard the Commander calling for him. Then he turned around and faced her.
"I plan to visit Iria's grave now. Do you want to come with me?" Iria asked the Second Prince as she stood right opposite him.
Orius Aventine briefly shifted his gaze to the Crown Prince before he looked at Iria. "Just go with Zaro," he simply replied.
His cold tone and blunt response... though it was the Prince's normal traits, Commander Iria was taken aback by it.
He wasn't like this when they were in Qalagon. Now that they were back to Jerivia, did he switched back to the cold and unfriendly Prince again?!
Why?!
"You haven't visit Iria's grave, Orius. Why don't you just go with Commander Iria?" Crown Prince Zaro calmly said to his younger brother.
"I will go later," Prince Orius responded and turned his back at the two. Then he walked inside the palace.
Iria Alewine stared at the disappearing form of the strange Second Prince. He was back to his usual self again but... why?
She had no idea.
Crown Prince Zaro Aventine let out a sigh and shifted his gaze to Iria. "You know what he's like. Why did you even ask him?"
Iria Alewine couldn't answer, much more like she didn't want to. Should she say that the Second Prince was quite considerate despite his cold and aloof appearance while they were in Qalagon?
Judging from how Orius behaved just now, no one would believe her. They would only think that she was trying to cover up for the Second Prince.
"Just let him be," Zaro Aventine calmly said to Iria. "I will talk to him later but... I don't know if it would work. Even my father cannot do anything with him."
The Crown Prince glance at Iria who seemed to be distracted. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Iria Alewine shifted her gaze to Zaro when she heard him. Then she nodded as she forced a smile. "I'm fine. Will you accompany me to the grave?" she asked in a low voice.
Zaro Aventine nodded at her. "Let's go."
* * *
It had been a while since Crown Prince Arin returned to the camp. He was sitting on a chair, blankly staring at the bracelet in his hand. The braided bracelet was the one that belonged to Iria.
"Your Highness, we should inform His Majesty before it's too late. If rumors spread in the Crown Prince Palace, the situation will be worse." It was General Hanson who advised the Crown Prince. He was standing on the right a few steps away from the place where Arin was sitting.
The Crown Prince remained quiet for a while before he said, "I know. I will go and meet my father in the afternoon." He shifted his gaze to his friend and added, "I won't inform him anything about Lady Vienna. Don't worry."
"Your Highness -"
"I don't decide to conceal it for you, so you have no reason to feel guilty," the Crown Prince promptly said, making the General fell silent. "I can't let her be punished while I'm no different."
"What do you mean?" Hanson Lorin asked, confused.
Arin Helev narrowed his eyes at the bracelet and said, "Even if I know that she is not Princess Iria, I don't think I will have the heart to expose her while she was in our kingdom."
Considering her real identity, exposing her would cause her death and... he will never want to witness such a thing, let alone be the one who caused it!
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