The two friends accompanied by some soldiers rode past the market in a hurry. Though many people noticed them on the way, they didn't seem to be surprised at all.
The whole kingdom was aware of the friendship between their Crown Prince and the Masked Commander. So, seeing them together was a common occurrence. However, that doesn't mean that there were no rumors.
People often say that the best friends look good together and they will make a great couple. Besides, the Masked Commander was a celebrated warrior in Jerivia. The Jerivians often say that it would be great to have her as their Queen.
It's not that Iria Alewine had never heard about the rumors. She indeed heard them but it didn't affect her. For her, Zaro was her best friend and her future King, nothing more.
People often said that a man and a woman can't be friends but... she didn't believe that. She deemed the saying ridiculous.
When the group reached the farm, they all get off their horses. Zaro Aventine quickly meet the farmers while the soldiers helped the farmers out in any way necessary.
Meanwhile, Iria stood still, surrounded by different types of crops. Though she wore the silver mask, her little smile could still be noticed from her lips.
If Arin Helev didn't come to see her, just the sight of the farm might still make her feel disheartened. However, she can enjoy the atmosphere and the place genuinely, all thanks to their unexpected encounter just two days ago.
While she should be wary about him being spotted and all, his presence in her kingdom made her feel at ease.
Was it even right to think this way?
She finds herself strange but it wasn't the first time. She had already lost count of it.
While her friend was busy talking with the farmers, she walked around the farms alone. Just as Zaro said, the damage caused by the heavy rain was huge and witnessing it made her quite worry. The farmers will surely have a tough time if this goes on. What's more, their economy will be affected too.
Commander Iria was so invested in the damaged crops that she didn't even notice how some female farmers approached her. She only realized it when they were just two or three steps away.
"We're so happy to have you here, Commander!" one of the middle-aged women exclaimed. Her curious gaze couldn't stop observing the Masked Commander as she was in awe. Others weren't much different from her. It's not every day that they got the chance to meet the most capable warrior of their kingdom!
"I followed His Highness here but I don't know a thing about farming," Iria Alewine confessed with a little smile. "I won't be of much help."
"That didn't matter," the younger woman on the left quickly said. "You don't have to know about this. You are already great at your own field."
The other women instantly nodded their heads in agreement while one woman with brown hair ran to her and offered her a mug filled with water. "Have some, Commander. You must be thirsty."
Iria Alewine wasn't feeling that thirsty. However, she didn't want to refuse the good deeds of these farmers wives and children. As such, she took the mug with a little smile and drank the water.
The enemies of Jerivia said that the Masked Commander was a ruthless being. However, the people of Jerivia said that she was a kind and thoughtful person. However, both sayings were true. The Commander was the kind of person who always knows how to act in accordance with the situation and timing.
After emptying the mug, the Commander returned it to the brown-haired woman who took it with a smile. Though Iria wanted to explore the farms more, the curious stares of the women remind her that they still didn't plan to let her walk away.
It was always like this. Even when she went to the market, people would surround her in no time. Some asked her questions, some praised her and some shop and stall owners tried to give her their goods to express their gratitude.
She could never do anything with ease and at times, it was a headache for her.
She once visited the market without wearing her mask and almost no one knew her identity. However, she coincidentally crossed paths with an official who knew her face and the moment her name escaped the official's lips, all attention was on her. She could barely leave before more people noticed her and since then, she won't go to the market without wearing a mask again.
It's fine if she was to just rode past but if not, she didn't want to risk again.
Iria Alewine didn't want to expose her face to the people because if they knew, it will be easy for the enemies to know it too. Thanks to her mask, she can freely travel to any kingdom without much risk and she didn't want to give up on that rare freedom for a warrior like her.
"Commander, we heard that your Alewine Army is recruiting soldiers. Are we going to face another war again?" one young woman asked the Masked Commander.
The moment she finished her words, all the other women appeared so worried and uneasy. This somehow pained the Commander.
Must people always live in fear of wars? They deserved to live happy and peaceful life. They didn't commit any crime.
"Though nothing is predictable, I don't think we will fight another war so soon," she assured the women. "About recruiting soldiers... it's a way of strengthening the army and prepared for whatever awaits us in the future."
Hearing the explanation from the Masked Commander herself, the women smiled in relief.
"Even if our enemies launch a war against us, we have no reason to worry as long as you're here," one woman stated with confidence.
Her words only made the Commander feel troubled. She put up a calm facade but at times, she also used to feel the pressure. In the end, she was just a human too.
All the women bowed their heads when they saw the Crown Prince approaching them. The latter nodded to greet them back and they all returned to their work.
"What are you thinking?" Zaro asked as he ruffled the hair of the Commander who seemed to be lost in her thoughts. When he saw her finally looking at him with displeasure written all over her face, he let out a chuckle.
"How can you zone out while talking to those women?" the Crown Prince asked her in a challenging tone.
"You don't have to know about it," she replied, bluntly.
Zaro Aventine simply laughed and pointed his chin at the soldiers who stood a few steps away. "Let's go. We still have to visit other farms."
The Commander nodded and followed her friend. However, she suddenly halted her steps when she noticed a somewhat familiar figure far away in the right. However, it soon disappeared from her sight.
Was she wrong?
She rubbed her eyes and looked in the same direction but still, there was no one.
Maybe she was just mistaken.
He won't be here.
Trying to brush it off her mind, she continued following her friend and they left for other farms in the surrounding areas.....
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