It had been a while since Crown Prince Arin sat beside Iria at the peak of the Jaria Mountain. However, he didn't utter any word making the Commander confused once again.
Sometimes, he was cold and at times, he was warm. She didn't know how to define him right now.
"I'm not ignoring you," Arin Helev finally spoke up. "My mind went blank. That's why," he added.
Why did it seem like he had gotten better at reading her mind? Was she that easy to read?
Maybe it's a new weakness created by her feelings for him. No one had ever succeeded in reading her, especially in times of war. Her enemies never succeeded in predicting her moves.
"Was killing me not a part of your plan?" Arin Helev suddenly asked her. When he noticed her surprised face, he clarified by saying, "You got many chances if you really wish to do that."
"I might lie during all those times but... I won't stoop that low. Besides, I'm not a fool to not know the consequences," Iria Alewine frankly replied.
"That means you indeed considered killing me," Arin Helev suddenly said, blankly staring at the ground. This made Iria blinked in surprise.
"You're right," she finally admitted, recalling the time when the Second Prince asked her if she would kill Arin Helev if she was ordered to. "However, I never think that I can do it," she confessed.
It's not every day that she could speak her true mind.
Her response. It drew a little smile on his lips but no one would know that the small smile was the first genuine smile of the Qalagon Crown Prince since the day she left him. Even now, she was still his only happiness.
Not to mention that she was no ordinary woman who can't hurt any soul. Her swords had slashed thousands of her enemies without any hesitation. But if she can't hurt him, the Crown Prince of her enemy kingdom, that already defined where he lies in her heart.
He was glad enough to know that.
"Your hands... " he muttered with his gaze fixated on them. "I don't see any big scar," he pointed out. He still remembered how she told him that she was wearing gloves all the time because she didn't want people to see the big scar on her hand.
That turned out to be a lie too.
Iria Alewine quietly stared at the back of her hand before she revealed her palms to him. "If I claim that I'm Princess Iria with these calloused palms, will you believe me?" she asked. "I wield a sword all my life. I can't have the gentle and soft hands of a Princess."
"I think they are beautiful. They are the hands which protect this kingdom and its people for years."
His remark put the Commander in a daze. She never knew that he was capable of saying such things. With a blank face, she stared at her hands before she curled them and withdrew them back to the side.
When one thing crossed Arin Helev's mind, he wanted to say it but... when he looked at her, he felt hesitant to do so. What if she refused to believe him?
Then he convinced himself that it's best to say it now rather than save it for later. Even when he rushed back to the palace after hearing that she was feeling unwell, the fact that he won't see her again in Qalagon never crossed his mind.
That made him realized that anytime could be the last.
"Your father, Commander Darien Alewine... " he started and studied her expression. He knew that it instantly made her uncomfortable but... he still decided to continue. "I don't know if you will believe me, but... my kingdom wasn't behind his assassination. I don't know who was the one behind it but I can assure you that it's not our doing."
"What do you mean?" Iria Alewine quickly asked, confused.
It's not the doing of the Qalagons? Does that make sense?
"I don't have an explanation," Arin Helev responded, somewhat desperate. "Maybe someone did it and made it look like our doing. I have no idea about the mastermind behind that incident, but believe me, Iria. We are innocent in that matter."
Commander Iria recalled how the survivor of the incident claimed that it was the Qalagons who attacked them. Even when they investigated the area where the incident took place, it pointed at Qalagon as the belongings of the opposing sides had the symbol of Qalagon, an eagle, with them.
Did he say that someone tried to put the blame on them deliberately?
The Commander's mind went blank. She wasn't even sure of what to believe.
"Why did you suddenly bring that up?" she asked. "It happened three years ago."
"Though your father was an enemy, I always thought of him as an admirable opponent," Arin Helev explained. "Besides, he is your father. I don't want you to hate me, thinking how my soldiers were the ones who killed your father. Believe me, Iria. I don't think my soldiers are skilled enough to let that happen."
They were talking about the assassination of Commander Darien Alewine, the most capable warrior all around the continent! Was it even possible for mere soldiers to kill him while he was on his way back to the capital? The chances were very low!
Iria Alewine knew that he was having a point. She used to find it strange too. However, the moment the mourning period of her father was over, the whole Alewine Army fell into her responsibility. She never got the time to think of anything else.
She fought wars after wars and the cycle never end. She wanted to know the incident in detail and avenge her father if possible but... her life and time didn't belong to her anymore. She had to prioritize the living rather than revenge. That way, three years passed by before she even had the chance to realize it.
"I always want to avenge my father," she said to the Qalagon Crown Prince. "However, I was busy protecting the kingdom and the people. I never got the chance to do what I desire."
Was that why she was so protective of her freedom while she was in his kingdom? Because she never had one before? The thought pricked the heart of the Crown Prince. It turned out that her life was even dull than his tormenting quiet life!
"Can you give me a day?" The words escaped his lips before he even realizes it. Deciding to not revoke his words like a coward, he looked at her and said, "Please give me just one day while I'm here."
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