Commander Nico's words put the Masked Commander in a daze. In an instant, her short yet memorable time in Qalagon crossed her mind.
Even when she wasn't feeling well, Arin Helev was always too worried. And when she was sick, he was even willing to give up the annual tournament just to stay beside her.
If he were to know about her current condition, just how would he react?
"Can you not tell him about this incident?" she asked the Qalagon Commander though she didn't have much hope and... she was right.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," Nico Petrus said to her. "If he happens to know it from another source, it will only be worse. I already failed him once and I don't want to repeat."
As a Commander herself, she understood his situation but... strangely, she was scared. If a man as patient as Arin Helev lost his cool, the fruit won't be sweet. Not at all.
"How is he?" She could barely bring herself to ask this question. Once again, she finds herself wavering from the strong belief which was planted in her since she was a child, all because of 'him' again.
"As the new King, he is doing fine. But I bet you heard how the retired King and Queen moved to the Southern Palace with Prince Morin. He is mostly alone in that huge main palace. So, he spent all his time working," Nico Petrus replied, observing the Commander's reaction.
Guilt, regret, concern, longing and many more. That's what he witnessed.
"King Tobias told me that it's the same poison," Nico Petrus stated when Iria didn't say anything. "Seems like someone is eager to create more trouble."
"Just like last time, it's challenging to track down the mastermind," Iria Alewine muttered. "I look up Iria's case in the past weeks but... every single clue leads me to nowhere."
"The same goes for me," Nico Petrus stated. Somehow, his voice was tired and desperate at the same time. He felt like he had made his late lover wait for too long now.
"But I have my suspicion." Iria voiced the words which she had never said to anyone.
"You suspect someone?" Nico Petrus uttered, somewhat confused. "Who is that?"
Iria Alewine let a few seconds passed before she said, "Aryan Tripas."
"The King of Nardodia?" Nico Petrus used to think of the possibility but it never got further due to lack of clue.
"I think he's the one who will be most eager to stop the alliance marriage. For his plan to reclaim Nardodia to work, he wouldn't want your kingdom to be stronger," Iria Alewine explained. "His actions now also makes my suspicion stronger. He can't wait to form an alliance with every rival kingdom of Qalagon."
"Emor Tripas?"
Briefly thinking of the Nardodian Crown Prince, Iria Alewine shook her head. "Not him. I think he has no idea."
"If Aryan Tripas is indeed the mastermind, I don't think there is a way for Emor Tripas not to know about it. After all, it's the fake soldier who helped his uncle in everything," Nico Petrus stated, bluntly. It's obvious that the betrayal still affected him. Maybe even pained him.
In all honesty, the Masked Commander knew that Nico Petrus had a point but... she couldn't agree to it. She still remembered all the things that the Nardodian Crown Prince said to her - his pain, his insecurity and... his strange view of life; they were real. She could feel it that night.
He wasn't that bad but... that's his nature.
Considering how he was brought up, it's a miracle that he wasn't a tyrant like his father!
"I'm sure there will be many more things to know," Iria insisted. "Things aren't always how it appeared."
Nico Petrus finds her quite strange but he decided to not comment on it. He believed that she will have her reasons.
"If your assumption is true, that means Aryan Tripas is now aiming at you. You should be careful, Commander Iria."
Iria knew that whoever the mastermind was, he didn't want her dead. If it indeed was Aryan Tripas, why would he hesitate to kill her? Just what did that scheming King want?
While Commander Iria was debating in her mind, Nico Petrus rose from his seat and took a few steps towards her. Then he placed something on top of the drawer near Iria's bed.
"I don't have much time. So, I will go now," he said and added, "I hope you recover soon, Commander Iria." Before Iria could ask him any more questions, he stormed out of the chamber.
Quietly staring at the empty door, Iria shifted her gaze to the things he put on top of the drawer. It seemed to be letters, two letters. She picked up the first one and realized that it was from Vienna Mareyi. The thought of her 'friend' drew a little smile from the Commander's lips. Then she read the content of the letter.
The Lady will be finally marrying General Hanson and she was very busy preparing for the wedding these days. She also confessed that she really missed the short time they spent together and... how she wished to wish to have her at her wedding.
The last part made the Commander's smile faded a bit. She also wished to attend, if possible. However, the date was less than two weeks away and even if she had the time, she won't be able to go there with her current condition.
'I look forward to the day when we will meet again.' This was the closure of Vienna Mareyi's letter and Iria slowly put it down. She wished to see that elegant looking yet carefree lady again but... will she be given the chance? She wasn't sure.
The Commander quietly glanced down at the letter for almost a minute before she finally put it back and picked up the other one. As expected, it was from Arin Helev this time and... it's her first time seeing his handwriting. It suited him well - neat and arranged.
What the Qalagon King wrote were the same words he often told her but this time, he also wrote that it was very lonely in the palace. Though he was the King, he didn't hesitate to show his weakness to her and through his words, she could feel how much he longed for her presence.
She felt the same.
However, the last paragraph was completely focused on another thing. Reading it, the Commander raised a brow and she clenched her fist.
This won't be possible.
She sat still for a few minutes, trying to processed what he told her until... she finally put both the letters away. She had to be sure of something.....
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