Emor Tripas didn't show up at dinner. As such, Commander Iria had dinner with Crown Prince Zaro and the Kings of Nardodia and Alora.
In fact, she was tired of seeing the faces and listening to the greedy talks of the two Kings. However, she inwardly reminded herself that she will be free of these unwanted occasions from tomorrow onwards. That made her keep herself in check.
Iria Alewine retreated to her chamber early while her Crown Prince friend was still with the two Kings. She supposed they will be drinking and she would never agree to join them, considering her low tolerance for alcohol.
While she stood near the windows alone, getting some cold breeze of the night in Nardodia, what happened in the day crossed her mind. Was that why Emor Tripas didn't show up at dinner? Was he still not feeling better?
She recalled how he suddenly changed and in her opinion, lost his mind for a reason which she wasn't aware of. Even now, it still made her bewildered. Why did he suddenly act up like that?
Feeling bothered, she suddenly left her chamber without even thinking twice. She wanted to know the reason.
A few minutes passed and the Masked Commander finds herself just a few steps away from the door to his chamber. When she took a few more steps forward, a familiar face who stood near the door spotted her and approached her. The young man bowed when he halted his steps.
"Greetings, Commander. Are you here to see His Highness?" Theo asked the Masked Commander.
Iria Alewine briefly glanced at the door before she turned back to Theo. "How is he? Is he still not feeling well?"
Theo shook his head. "His Highness didn't leave his room since he returns. He also ordered me not to let anyone in. I'm afraid you can't see him for now."
"Alright. Then can you inform me once he came out? I want to talk to him," Iria Alewine said to the young man who nodded.
"I understand."
Just when the Commander was about to turn around...
Theo quickly turned his head when he heard the sound of the door being opened. Then Emor Tripas appeared though he didn't come out of the chamber.
"Theo, let her in," he commanded his guard and then walked away from the door again.
With that said, Theo turned his attention back to the Masked Commander, gesturing for her to enter the room. Iria Alewine was a bit surprised but she still complied.
She entered the chamber and when she glanced around, she saw Emor Tripas sitting on a couch next to the door of the balcony. He was wearing a night robe and she wondered if he was sleeping all this time.
"Did I wake you up? I can leave if you want to rest," she said to the Crown Prince who was very quiet in contrast to other times.
"It's fine," he responded to her with those two words as usual. "I was trying to sleep but it never lasts long."
When Iria Alewine stood still, she stared at his calm yet pale face. What was hidden beneath it? When he blankly stared at the dark outdoors, he appeared quite cold. She just realized that it was his inner side that was actually cold. Right now, he resembled a broken and lost soul with no hope.
"Why don't you take a seat?" Emor Tripas spoke up again, breaking the silence that goes on for a while. Finally snapping out, the Commander took a seat on another couch opposite him.
"You must be shocked a lot today," he pointed out in a low voice. "I'm sorry for that."
For sure, the Commander didn't know what he apologized for. It's not like he suddenly acted that way because he wanted to!
Seriously! What's wrong with him?
She finds his words and behaviour so strange and it even made her mind went blank. She wasn't even sure if she should have a chat with him anymore.
With Emor Tripas never shifting his gaze from the dark outdoors, Iria Alewine wondered if she should just let him rest. She felt like she was only bothering him.
"Why don't you rest again? I will leave -"
"Rest?" he muttered and narrowed his eyes. "I prefer your company." He glanced around his huge chamber as if he was wary of something. Then he finally looked at Iria. "Don't you come here because you have some questions? You can go ahead and ask me."
Iria Alewine met his lifeless gaze. She was sure that he wasn't in a condition to talk about anything. As such, she said, "Forget about it."
"I never once talked about myself, Commander Iria. It's my first time willing to do this, all because of what happened today. I feel like I owe you an explanation for making you worried," Emor Tripas explained though his voice was still as low as before. "But I won't say anything if you don't have a question."
Was that his way of saying this will be her only chance if she wants to know the unsolved questions from the day? It seemed like it and it made her having a second thought.
"What happened today... " She started, cautious of his reaction. When he didn't react, she continued by asking, "Does it have anything to do with your illness?"
It seemed like the Crown Prince didn't expect this question. There was a hint of amazement in his lifeless eyes. However, it soon faded. "I can see that you're curious about my strange illness. Do you want to know how I develop this illness?" He made a deliberate paused and said, "To be honest, most of the people who know the truth are already dead. Only a few are alive."
Noticing the confusion on the Masked Commander's face, Emor Tripas said, "I bet you will already hear many stories about my late father, right? The one who was famous for being a tyrannical ruler."
Recalling the memories of his childhood, he continued, "Those rumors were all true but... there is one thing that is still hidden from the world. The fact that he wasn't only a tyrannical ruler... but also a tyrannical father."
The moment the two words 'tyrannical father' escaped his lips, three words that dominated his childhood crossed his mind - whips, canes and punishments.
He knew very well how wide the scope of one word named 'punishment' was. Some were atrocious to bear for a child as young as the age of four.....
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