The Petrus Army always had a great reputation in Qalagon. Though the Royal Army often outperformed them, they were still influential enough in many aspects. The Petrus family were also known for their unrivaled loyalty and huge contribution to the kingdom but...
Right now, the Commander of the Petrus Army who was the heir of the influential Petrus family was willing to lose everything, all for the sake of... the late Jerivian Princess which he loved?
Even the Crown Prince was at a loss for words!
"You seems quite prepared, Commander Nico," Arin Helev finally said, breaking the long-standing silence. Then he rose from his seat. "In less than a week, we will be facing a war against Alora and you want me to punish the Commander of the Petrus Army only to create a crack in the army while we are on the verge of war?"
"Your Highness, I don't -"
"Don't let anyone find out about this matter."
Commander Nico raised a brow when he heard the Crown Prince. "What do you mean, Your Highness?" he asked, confused.
"I will deal with everything else, so I want you to concentrate on the upcoming war." Arin Helev made a deliberate pause and continued by saying, "If words get out before we get prepared, our Qalagon will be a mess even before we fight the war."
Nico Petrus understood what the Crown Prince meant. If words about the broken alliance marriage get out, it will only work at the advantage of their enemies!
"Rise," Crown Prince Arin commanded when he noticed the troubled face of the Commander. Though the latter felt a bit hesitant, he gets back on his feet.
"I know that you have a strong sense of justice, Commander Nico. You think that you should be punished for what you did. I'm well aware of that," the Crown Prince said to the Commander.
"However, there are times when one's conscience is more important than rules. That's why I won't allow you to be punished. Qalagon needs you the most right now," he firmly added.
"Your Highness -"
"I plan to meet my father in the afternoon. You should come with me and we will clarify things to him." Arin recalled what Iria said and added, "After all, this mess started from our side."
Was the Crown Prince aware of the rumour spread by the Queen? It made Commander Nico confused.
Then why didn't he do anything about it?
"What are you thinking?" Crown Prince Arin finally asked the Commander as it had been a while since he noticed his troubled face. "You don't accept what I suggest?"
"That's not the case, Your Highness," Nico Petrus quickly replied. "Please don't worry too much. Just like us, the Jerivians are also preparing for war. They will be fighting the Helsia Kingdom again and I already confirmed it."
With their broken relationship with Jerivia, there was a possibility for the Jerivians to attack them while they were dealing with the Alora Kingdom and... that would be a disaster for them. But if the Jerivians were to fight the Helsians, that means they were in the same situation.
Little did Commander Nico know that he was only bothering the Crown Prince more while trying to assure him!
The Jerivians will also fight another war?
Then what about Iria?
* * *
Commander Iria and Crown Prince Zaro just returned to the Commander's mansion after visiting Princess Iria's grave.
Zaro Aventine was quite worried about Iria. The latter just visited her friend's grave for the first time and... she was so far from being okay. Though she still forced a smile, he can see through her.
She wasn't fine at all.
It was the reason why he decided to follow her home. He didn't want her to be alone in despair.
Now, the two were sitting on the bench in the balcony of Iria's chamber. She might be in her home now but... she didn't feel anything about it.
It's not like she had a family to welcome her back home.
"When we entered the capital, do you know what I worried the most?" Iria Alewine said to Crown Prince Zaro in a low voice. "Each time when I returned to Jerivia, Iria was always the first to welcome me back."
She paused for a while and continued by saying, "Thinking that she won't be there to welcome me anymore, I felt so reluctant to even enter the palace."
"You still have me," Zaro Aventine promptly said and this made Iria slightly smiled.
"I know. That's why I'm glad," she muttered and looked at him. "Don't you dare leave me too. I don't want to lose a friend again."
Crown Prince Zaro was a bit disheartened by the label 'friend'. However, he forced a smile and nodded.
Talking about the late Princess, the Commander was reminded of her promise to Nico Petrus. The Commander of the Petrus Army had fulfilled his promise and now, it's her turn. She was determined to find out the truth behind the death of the Princess.
"Crown Prince Arin Helev," Zaro Aventine muttered and Iria darted her eyes to him. "What is he like?" he asked.
Iria Alewine didn't say anything but in her mind, their last encounter was repeatedly replayed!
His cold yet calm demeanor, his bold yet ruthless words and above all, his determination to have her back... it made her speechless.
He should hate her instead. That way, it might be easier for them!
"What do you want to know?" she finally asked Zaro after maintaining her silence for a while.
"I'm quite curious. After all, you stayed beside him for almost three months," Crown Prince Zaro said as he shifted his gaze from her. "Is he the same as the rumors?"
Rumors? Such as powerful, aloof and all?
Iria Alewine thought about it for a while before she nodded. "He is."
He was the most amazing person she ever met in her life and though he was an enemy, she had great respect for him. However... she would never say these, especially to someone from Jerivia.
"Was he good to you?" Zaro asked her again. If only he knew that he only made her reminisced her moments with him.
Good? It was more than that but... she still hurt him in the end.
"It doesn't matter," Iria Alewine said as she glanced at her friend. "Now that I'm back, everything is over and only the present matters, not the past."
Even herself knew that she was stating nonsense.....
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