"Your Highness, the royal doctor told me to inform you that Commander Iria has woken up."
It had been two days since Princess Athena Valen returned to Nathania and Crown Prince Zaro was going through some reports in his chamber when one of the soldiers on duty near Iria's chamber informed him of the news.
In a split second, relief and happiness washed through the Jerivian Crown Prince who had been looking after the Commander for more than a week now. He abruptly rose from his seat and rushed to the chamber where Iria was treated.
Rushing inside, the Crown Prince's gaze first landed on his friend who was still lying on the bed just like the past week. However, this time it was different. Her eyes were opened and he even saw her darting them to him at the sound of the door. Though her eyes were barely opened, at least they didn't appear too lifeless.
All of a sudden, everything that happened between them before she was poisoned crossed Zaro Aventine's mind. He felt regret and awkward at the same time.
The royal doctor and Rion who were inside the chamber bowed to greet him and he finally approached the bed. This time, he stood near the other side of the bed and glanced down at his friend. He stared at her for almost eternity yet he didn't open his mouth at all while Iria calmly exchanged his gaze. Then he turned to the doctor.
"How is her condition?" he asked.
"Her pulse is slowly back to normal and the poison will be completely gone soon. However, she will need some time to regain her strength and completely recover, Your Highness," the royal doctor responded.
"There may still be some fever and coughing but that's the side effect of the antidote fighting the poison. The effect of the poison is already slowed down, so there is nothing dangerous. We only have to wait for it to be fully killed," he added.
"Alright. I got it," the Crown Prince said as he shifted his gaze back to the Commander. Then Rion escorted the doctor out, leaving them alone in the huge chamber.
Iria Alewine tried to push herself up but the Crown Prince was very quick to bend down to stop her. "Don't. You're still weak and you need rest."
"My head is spinning, Zaro," Iria muttered in a very low voice. "Maybe I slept too much."
Crown Prince Zaro quietly stared at her and then let out a sigh. He helped her sat on the bed with her back pressing against the backrest. After he ensured that she can sit comfortably, he poured some water for her and helped her drink it.
"How do you feel now?" he asked as he sat finally beside her.
Iria Alewine looked at her hand which was now thickly bandaged. "It doesn't hurt but I feel like my head is about to explode."
Zaro Aventine slightly smiled at her response. "It's because you slept for more than a week. Don't worry. It will be normal soon."
More than a week? Iria Alewine already knew that the arrow was poisoned but... she had no idea that she slept that long!
"Then what about my soldiers?" she asked. How troubled she felt was too evident in her eyes!
"That still mattered the most in this situation?" Zaro asked with disbelief before he let out another sigh. "They don't know that you're ill. Jolene takes your place for now."
When he saw the relief in her face, Zaro felt too helpless. "You're attacked, Iria. It's an assassination attempt and since the assassin is nowhere to be found, that means the enemy still lurks around us."
Iria Alewine recalled what happened in the Amlant Forest. Somehow, she felt like something was amiss. It's strange but she didn't say anything as she can't be sure, for now.
"I'm still alive and I won't give them the chance to go after me again," she simply said to Zaro in a low voice that had become her usual voice.
"You're weak right now," Zaro uttered. "You heard the royal doctor, Iria. You need time to regain your strength and you're in no situation to protect yourself right now."
"I will be safe here," Iria murmured. "You're here and Rion is also here. Don't worry too much." She didn't fail to notice his tired face and the dark circles that surround his eyes.
Did he look after her the whole time? He must be worried to death.
"Where is Prince Orius? Can I see him?"
As her question was quite unexpected, the Crown Prince ended up staring at her for a while. He maintained his silence for so long that Iria even thought that he wasn't planning to answer her. Then he finally said, "Orius still look for the assassin but it's pretty late now. I bet he will return soon."
He made a pause and added, "I will tell him to meet you once he returns."
Iria nodded, thinking of one thing that she wished to ask the Second Prince.
"You have become quite close with Orius these days," Zaro Aventine pointed out, making her darted her eyes to him.
"He helped me a lot while I was in Qalagon. He also saved my life many times," Iria replied. Glancing at the Crown Prince's unreadable face, she truly wished to know what he was thinking right now.
"Alright," Zaro Aventine said after a few seconds. "It's fine as long as you didn't care about him more than me."
"Are you serious?" the Commander asked with disbelief. Did he really think that all those years will be easily forgotten or replaced?
"No one will take your place in my life. You know that," she calmly said and added, "You're still the most important person to me."
Zaro Aventine never doubt whenever she said that, except this time. He wasn't sure anymore, not after knowing that she loves the new King of Qalagon.
Will one really be able to prioritize friendship over love? He doubted that.
Nevertheless, he forced a little smile. He didn't want to do something which he would regret again. While she was unconscious, his cold treatment towards her before she was attacked always crossed his mind and buried him with self-guilt.
He didn't want any more argument.
"Have some more rest," he said as he stood up. "I'll come back when it's time for dinner."
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