It wasn't even long since she finished breakfast but the Masked Commander already finds herself in the streets of the capital of Nardodia. It had been a while since she gets off her horse as the market and streets were quite crowded.
Though it had been just a little over a month since Nardodia was revived, everything seemed to be going smooth without a hindrance. This made Iria's face brightened up a bit beneath her silver mask. It's always great to see people doing well, regardless of the kingdom.
Emor Tripas was right beside her and there were also a few guards following them at a distance. The Crown Prince glanced at the Masked Commander once in a while and it was the first time he saw her this carefree since she realized his identity. That put him at ease.
"Our culture was not much different from the Qalagons even before. And now, after five years under the Qalagon's rule, everything about us has become similar to them," he explained to the Commander who seemed to be intrigued by everything she saw.
Iria Alewine only nodded in response and continue walking. She didn't need much time to realize that Crown Prince Emor was telling the truth. The items in the shops and stalls here were very similar to the items in Qalagon capital.
"I never know that you love to visit places around," Emor Tripas remarked, failing to hide his amusement and of course, amazement. For a while, he even thought that the Crown Princess of Qalagon he once knew was back!
"I'm always open to a new adventure or challenge," the Commander replied, which made Emor Tripas slightly smiled.
"So... the reason why you agree to the tour is the thrill to explore new things?" he asked and continued by saying, "I got the wrong idea that you don't hate me that much anymore."
"I strongly believed that trust should be earned... and so is forgiveness," Iria Alewine stated, briefly glancing at Emor Tripas.
"Have I ever earned your trust?" he inquired. His doubt was more than evident in his face which also hinted at curiosity.
"You bet your life and saved my life once. So, maybe that somehow makes me believe in you," Iria Alewine frankly responded.
Though she used to be suspicious of him during those times, she was convinced that he won't do her harm. Well, she wasn't wrong. After all, she wasn't the one who he caused harm.
Come to think of it, he never seemed like someone who wished to harm her. It was always the other way round.
"I'm willing to work on earning that forgiveness you mentioned," Emor Tripas suddenly pointed out. When Iria Alewine looked at him with a confused face, he said, "Don't look at me as if I'm a crazy person. This is just the way I am. Sometimes, I feel confused about everything. Before we met, it's never easy for me to communicate with other people, except Alena."
"Alena?"
Emor Tripas nodded. "You know her. She is that young woman who came with me to Jerivia. My only friend ever since I was a child."
Iria Alewine realized that he was right. He was confusing and it's hard to understand him. Sometimes, he even seemed like someone who had no idea about communication, a relationship of every kind and the normal flow of life.
"You sound like you are an animal of a rare species," she remarked, making him chuckle.
"That's a good example," he mused as he tilted his head. "Do you want to eat something? We can also take a rest."
Iria Alewine glanced around and without saying anything, she took a seat on one of the chairs of the outdoor stalls. Emor Tripas stared at her with a flustered face before he eventually walked to her and sat opposite her.
"You want to eat here? There are many better places," he said, dumbfounded.
"Outdoor stalls aren't bad either," Iria Alewine argued and glanced up at the sky. "Seems like it will rain soon. We should hurry."
Emor Tripas stared at her for a while before he finally smiled and nodded. "Alright then."
Just when they tried to order something...
"Please forgive me, Father! It won't happen again!"
They both darted their eyes to a distance where the scene took place. People watched as a young boy was being dragged by someone whom he called 'Father.' The father seemed to have no mercy on his own blood as he continuously dragged and beat his son with a cane on his hand.
"You useless fool! How dare you go against me! You better brace yourself for the time we reach home! You won't get away with this!" the father howled.
The child winced in pain and repeatedly begged his father who turned a blind eye to all his pleas. There were scratches and some minor wounds in his arms and face but his father had no intention to stop!
Meanwhile, the people just watched as if they were watching some show. They strongly believed that one shouldn't get involved in the affairs of someone's family. If the one who abused the little boy was someone else, maybe they would step up to help him. However, in this case, everyone believed that the father was merely disciplining his child.
Feeling worried, Iria Alewine shifted her gaze to the Crown Prince, hoping for him to do something but... she blinked as she was even more surprised by what she saw.
Emor Tripas's face was covered by cold sweat that ran down the side of his face. His right hand which was placed on the small table was tightly clenched as he watched the desperate child! His other hand couldn't be still either and as the pleas of the little boy became louder, he covered his ears with his palms and shut his eyes!
"Your Highness... " Dumbfounded, the Commander rose from her seat. When she turned to look at the child again, she noticed that both the boy and the father were already out of her sight. Then she shifted her attention back to Emor Tripas who didn't appear to be fine at all. She noticed how his hands shivered!
As she was starting to feel anxious, she walked to him and crouched down beside him. She couldn't see his face as he already lowered his head. "Crown Prince," she muttered and reached out her hand but... that only made him lowered his head even more!
What happened? He was fine just a while ago!
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