"I heard you want to see me."
It was almost time for dinner when Prince Orius walked inside Iria's chamber. The Commander tried to get herself to sit when her gaze landed on the Second Prince and Orius Aventine quickly helped her.
"Careful. You still don't have enough strength to move too much," the Second Prince muttered and sat on the chair beside her bed. "How is your hand?"
"It's fine. It doesn't hurt that much," Iria responded as she briefly glanced down at her hand. "I heard that you have a hard time trying to track down the assassins, Your Highness."
"That's right, but I won't give up," Orius Aventine firmly said. "They dare to launch an attack against you in our own land. That's totally unacceptable."
"I know how you feel but... I think we misunderstand their purpose," Iria murmured, meeting the Prince's confused gaze.
"What do you mean?"
"If they really want to kill me, I think they got the chance that day," Iria explained.
"It's unlikely for an arrow to hit you without you sensing, Commander Iria. In that case, it means they don't stand the chance. Once they release the first arrow, the assassins knew that they will alert us and that lower their chance even more," Prince Orius argued.
"But they can use a stronger poison, Your Highness," Iria stated. "We know that some kinds of poison can kill a person even if it's just a very small wound. The assassins knew my capabilities and that might be why they use the poison but... " She paused when she felt the aching on her throat that made her coughed a few times.
When the Prince stared at her, his concern was pretty evident in his face. "You don't seem to be fine, Commander Iria. Are you sure that the doctor killed the poison?"
"This is the side effect of the antidote," the Commander said and took a deep breath. "What I'm saying is that... why don't they use a stronger poison? They should know that the poison they used won't be enough to kill me."
Orius Aventine thought of what she said and realized that she had a point. "So... you mean that the enemy wants you ill and not dead?"
"That's most likely," Iria Alewine said. "But the question is this, Your Highness. What benefit would they have just by making me sick?"
Just what was the plan?
"I think it's pointless to look for the assassin, Your Highness. Knowing the plan of the mastermind is more important," she added, staring at the Prince's confused gaze.
Many possibilities crossed the Second Prince's mind. Of course, the enemies will be contented to make her unable to do anything. They will be very glad to know that she wasn't in a condition to protect the kingdom even if it's for just a while. However, killing her would be the most satisfying option but everyone knew that it wasn't an easy feat.
"I will look into it," Orius Aventine finally said. "We will soon know if anyone is planning to wage a war against us."
Without much thought, Iria nodded as she also thought that was highly likely.
After a while, Prince Orius left and Iria was alone for a while. She heard that the King went to visit the outskirts of the capital but he would be back before midnight. She still remembered how King Tobias would always visit her whenever she was ill. No matter how busy he was, he always makes sure to have time for her.
Thinking of this made Iria felt a bit uneasy. She was unconscious for more than a week and... the King will be so worried about her.
The sound of the knocking on the door aroused Iria from her stupor and she shifted her gaze to the door where she saw Rion walking inside with a tray of food. Maybe it's time for dinner.
"Commander, His Highness said that he has to go out for some matters. He told me to serve you dinner personally," Rion said as he approached her.
"You must be busy," the Commander muttered. With her in this situation, Rion will have to take charge of the army but she heard that he personally lead the soldiers and ensure her safety while she was in a coma.
As expected of her most trusted soldier.
"You will be my priority until you recover," Rion replied as he sat beside her bed. "Don't worry about the camp. I go there today and see it for myself that Zire and Jolene are doing a great job."
Iria Alewine was often amazed by how Rion always saw through her. Well, she always did the same.
When she glanced down at the foods on the tray, she noticed Rion taking a bite of each dish. Did he just...
"What are you doing?" she inquired though she understood what was going on.
"I won't allow you to be poisoned again. Once is more than enough." Rion simply said yet his voice hinted at determination and regret. "Who knows, after failing to kill you, the enemy might try to repeat the same method they used on the late Princess."
"Rion... "
"From now on, I will first taste all your dishes and even medicines. I won't trust anyone," Rion firmly said. Then he put down the spoon he used and picked up another clean spoon which he offered to his Commander.
"If it is indeed poisoned, then what about you?" she asked though she doubted that the enemy would make another move.
Rion glanced at Commander Iria as if he was surprised by the question. "I don't really care about that. As long as you're safe, that's enough."
"But I care," she argued. "Do you think I will be happy if you died in my place? No. I will surely spend the rest of my life with guilt."
Once again, Rion maintained his silence. Maybe he thought of how to answer his Commander. Then he finally said, "That's still better than you dying, Commander. I will never allow you to die before me. Please keep that in mind."
"Since when did you become so defiant?" The Commander's tone hinted at annoyance and amazement which Rion noticed clearly.
"You used to tell me to reason with you if necessary," the right-hand man said, having no plan to back down. "I'm doing just that, Commander."
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