It's the first time he said such a thing to her and Vienna Mareyi was at a loss for words.
Hanson Lorin liked her and she knew that. He also knew that she felt the same. However, he was always careful around her.
As a soldier, the General's life was more uncertain than normal people. If war erupted, he will have to go and fight. He might not even return alive.
If that really happened, then what will become of her?
If they were linked together too much, he was scared that it would only destroy her future.
What if he made her a widow at a young age?
"Why do you look at me like that?" the General asked Lady Vienna when he noticed her quietly gazing at him for a while.
"I never heard you say that before," Vienna Mareyi promptly remarked. She kept on pressing her nails together and when Hanson Lorin saw this, there was a smile on his face. She always did that when she felt nervous but... he rarely witnessed it.
"Why are you feeling nervous? It's unlike you," he mused.
"I'm sorry for making you worry," Vienna Mareyi finally said the words she wanted to say. "I know I break the rules but... I want you to know that I don't have any regret."
"I know that," Hanson Lorin quickly said. "You never give up on me to have no regrets. So, I'm sure that you won't do anything which you would regret later."
The General paused for a while and continued, "Actually, I was very scared when you confessed what you did. The Masked Commander is the pillar of Jerivia and now that we are at odds with them again, we need to be alert than ever.
"The Crown Prince and I led the soldiers to fight against the Alewine Army a year ago. It was the toughest war I had ever faced in my life. If both sides don't withdraw due to some problems, there was a huge possibility for us to lose for the first time.
"The Masked Commander is smart and skilled but... her biggest strength is her soldiers trust in her. With her mere presence, their morale always reaches the sky," Hanson Lorin told Vienna Mareyi.
"Do you know why I tell you this?" Hanson Lorin calmly asked and said, "It's because you defend such a person. In the future, if her sword ever aimed at us again, we can be in danger."
When Vienna Mareyi tried to speak up, Hanson Lorin quickly said, "But I don't blame you."
Lady Vienna looked at General Hanson with a confused face. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"I know you spent a lot of time with the Masked Commander during her stay here. So, you regarded her as a friend. If I were you, I can't say that I won't do the same," the General explained and added, "I was scared for your life. That's why. Ever since we were young, I never once imagined a life without you."
Vienna Mareyi quietly stared at Hanson Lorin before her lips curved into a smile. He was quite open today and it didn't suit him at all.
"Actually, I also don't know that I will make such a decision when I overheard her saying that she is not the Princess. I was scared and I even thought of running away but... I was caught before that," Vienna Mareyi explained and Hanson Lorin raised a brow.
She was caught?!
"That Jerivian Prince almost killed me and I was convinced that I will die that day. However, she shields me and begged for my life." Vienna Mareyi recalled the time when the Masked Commander bravely asked the Prince to kill her first.
Then she added, "At that moment, I realized that even if she is not the Princess of Jerivia but the Masked Commander, she is still that same person whom I considered a friend. So, I made that decision and risk my life for it too."
Hanson Lorin didn't understand what she was saying.
The Jerivian Prince? Who was that?! Not to mention that she was almost killed by him!
"Who is the Prince you are talking about?" he asked as he was so curious. Apart from the Masked Commander and Rion, there was another Jerivian? A Prince on top of that?!
"I had seen him once or twice before but I don't know his name. I think he disguised as a guard in the Crown Prince Palace. He wore the uniform of a guard," Vienna Mareyi replied.
A guard? Hanson Lorin wondered who among the guards would be the Prince of Jerivia. Besides, he was more than flustered. The Jerivians were too daring to take such a risk!
Who would have thought that the Masked Commander and the Prince of Jerivia disguised themselves as the Princess and a guard?
Such a possibility never once crossed the General's mind!
"Don't worry too much," Vienna Mareyi calmly said when she noticed his troubled face. "She might be the Masked Commander but... she truly cared about His Highness. I'm sure that she won't do anything to harm the Crown Prince."
The Prime Minister's daughter lips curved into a smile when she added, "Who knows? They might even end up together again."
Hanson Lorin stared at her as he hopelessly shook his head. "Are you a fool or are you just being optimistic?" His words were soon followed by a chuckle.
"I'm not joking," Vienna Mareyi argued with a frown. "You know that the Crown Prince is serious about her. You are his best friend but you don't even know him well." She paused and said, "Even if everyone says that it's impossible, he will still try to find a way. The Crown Prince is that kind of person. Do you think he will give up that easy?"
When Vienna Mareyi thought of the Crown Prince's reaction and actions when he heard the truth, she shook her head. "He will surely do anything to have her back."
Hanson Lorin thought about what Lady Vienna said and he realized that she had a point. The Arin Helev he knew was never one to give up easily and instead, he was the most persistent person he had ever known! Not to mention that his patience was something!
Will the Crown Prince really try to reunite with... the Masked Commander?!
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m