It had been a while since the feast was over and Commander Iria was making her way to the chamber where she was staying since the past day. The hallways of the Nardodia royal palace was quiet to the point where her footsteps were the only sound she could hear. However, she halted all at once.
As someone with a great sense, she could feel that someone was around. Though she couldn't be sure, she had her assumptions. She stood still for a while without any movement until... Arin Helev suddenly appeared beside her. Before she could even react, he pulled her behind the walls on the right.
"I know you will notice my presence," Crown Prince Arin muttered. With the Masked Commander standing before him, pressing her back against the wall, he still holds on to her wrist. As he was standing too close, he was almost trapping her.
"We are in the territory of that scheming King," Iria Alewine pointed out. "You should be careful."
"I know. I already make sure that no one follows me," Arin reassured her. "It's been two weeks, right? Not a single day passed by without me missing you, Iria. The palace is not the same without you."
"You know that I don't belong there," Iria said. Her voice was calm in contrast to what she said.
"That's for now," Arin Helev argued. "It can change in the future."
Iria Alewine realized how strange she was. She didn't want him to waste his time missing her while he had many responsibilities waiting for him. Yet she was somehow scared that he would have a change of heart.
Can one be more selfish than how she was now?
"I will soon take over the throne, Iria. After that, I will do anything to have you back without making you break any rule. You only have to be patient for a while," Arin Helev whispered in her ears.
Hearing this, Iria's eyes grew wide. Feeling troubled, she pushed him and make some gap between them. "What happened to your father?" she inquired. If he will be taking over the throne soon... was King Regan's condition that serious?!
"Don't worry," Arin Helev said in an assuring voice. "My father wants to rest and take his time. Though his illness is not a minor one, it's not life-threatening either. However, he will abdicate soon."
She wanted to ask him if he was alright but still... a part of her fought against that. She didn't even understand the exact situation she was in.
At one point, she wanted to forget everything else and follow her heart but... she always felt a strong reluctance whenever she tried to do that. She wanted him to move on but... sometimes, she used to feel scared. What if he lost his patience? What if he decided to really forget about her?
She knew very well that there will be countless beautiful ladies who would be more than eager to shower him with love!
Why would he always hold on to her, who could never give him what he wanted? Why must he choose the difficult path while there were many easy ways to choose?!
"What are you thinking?" Arin asked her. He narrowed his eyes and hold her hand once again.
During the past two weeks, he missed her more than ever. Wondering how he would be all alone once he takes over the throne, the desire to have her back in his life was growing stronger than ever!
"Why?" she asked. "Why must you hold on to someone like me? I can't be what you wanted."
"You are always wrong," Arin Helev said to her. "You are everything I ever wanted. I want you to know that I never want anything as much as I do now."
When Iria Alewine heard the sound of a footstep towards them, she quickly took a peek and noticed that it was her best friend.
"It's Zaro. He is on his way to see me. I have to go," she murmured.
"I will be leaving early at dawn with the others. As you said, this place is not safe for me and I don't want to spend any more days here," Arin Helev said. "Watch out too. King Aryan is not trustworthy. I'm sure that he knows about us."
Iria Alewine nodded. "Don't worry. I can protect myself."
There was a small yet proud smile on Arin's lips when he heard her response. "I'm well aware of that now. You don't have to remind me."
He just realized how boring it must be for her while she was in his kingdom. With him reminding her about her safety each time while she was more than capable to protect herself and even others, he might be such a headache for her!
Soon, Zaro Aventine walked past the walls that shield them. Then Iria made her way to her chamber not long after. When Arin Helev stared at her disappearing form, one thing entered his mind.
It's already late. Why did that Jerivian Crown Prince want to meet her at this time? He already noticed the way he looked at her that day on the farm and tonight during the feast. It was obvious that he looked at her more than a friend while Iria had no idea.
However, he had no intention to check out the situation. He doubted that Iria Alewine was the type to waver easily.
While he was on his way back to the room provided for him, he saw Emor Tripas standing near his door. When he faced the traitor for the first time since that incident, Arin Helev's expression was just blank. There was no hatred or rage to be seen in him.
"I don't remember myself creating any reason for you to come and meet me," he said to the Nardodian Crown Prince in his usual calm voice.
"I only want to have a conversation with you, Your Highness," Emor Tripas said in a surprisingly calm voice that matched the Qalagon Crown Prince. "After all, it's been a while."
"Though I'm not that interested, I think it would be rude of me to turn you down while I'm in your territory right now," Arin Helev finally said.
He shifted his gaze to the soldiers from Qalagon who were standing guard at his door. The soldiers were quite alert because to them, the Crown Prince of Nardodia was a traitor and a spy.
Arin Helev nodded at the soldiers before he turned back to Emor Tripas and said, "Come inside."
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