After being 'confined' to her chamber in the palace for more than two weeks, Iria Alewine was feeling a lot better now. Thankfully, she was allowed to visit the camp from time to time starting today.
It took her quite an effort to persuade the King to let her move around.
Though she still had fever from time to time, the number had gone down a lot and with a nod from the royal doctor, King Tobias finally allowed her to go out. However, she was told to not tire out herself yet.
That means she still couldn't train for a while. Being a warrior, unable to train this long will take quite a toll on her ability but she can catch up later.
Just a day ago, she heard how the Qalagons captured the two important provinces of the Nardodians and she was quite surprised. That's not the style of Arin Helev who always wished to prevent wars. His action this time was quite cruel as he killed most of the soldiers there, not even giving them a chance to surrender. Only a few managed to escape.
It made Iria Alewine realized that the calm and composed man can also be very ruthless at times until she came to another realization.
She was the reason behind that attack.
It was his way of repaying Aryan Tripas for the poisoning incident.
This reminded her of the promise he made to her the day she left Qalagon. He said that if she died, he will crush Jerivia. He will wipe out the whole kingdom along with the people she loved. That's what he promised her. He wanted her to stay alive, no matter what.
Iria Alewine finally knew that he was capable of fulfilling that promise, much more like a threat.
The Arin Helev she knew might be kind-hearted but... there was another side of him which she never witnessed. Even when she was in Qalagon, he reminded her, again and again, that he wasn't a kind person. That he will be more cruel than she thought.
Was this what he meant? The thing he did to the Nardodians?
No matter what, she didn't want to be at the receiving end of his cruelty. Just the thought of him destroying her kingdom was too much to bear! She shouldn't die in order to not trigger his rage.
Soon, Iria Alewine finds herself on the top of the pavilion, watching her soldiers trained again for the first time in almost a month yet her soldiers had no idea. That had always been the case.
Rion soon joined the Commander and stood beside her. "Commander, how do you feel? Do you still have a fever?"
Iria Alewine slightly smiled as he always asked her that question almost every time in the past weeks. "No. I'm fine right now," she replied.
Rion flashed a smile out of relief. "I'm glad. I really hope you can fully recover soon."
"How is your investigation going?" the Commander asked with a bit of hesitation. She was curious but still... she felt nervous. However, she didn't plan to back down just because of the fear to know the truth.
"It will soon be concluded, Commander. Please wait for a while more. I won't tell you before I'm sure," Rion replied and added, "I don't want to make any mistake."
Iria Alewine understood why Rion thought that way. So, she had no intention to force him. "Alright," she muttered.
"Commander, I heard about what the Qalagons did," Rion said and asked, "Do you really think King Aryan is the one behind the poisoning incident?"
The Commander realized that Rion also understood the reason behind that attack. However, she decided to not comment on it.
"He is most likely," she said. "Besides, did you know that everything is connected, Rion? How I was poisoned and the thing that you investigate now."
"But Commander... " Rion uttered, sounding desperate than ever. "I can't believe this. A betrayal in our army? What did the traitor want? What will they gain from this?"
"That's what you should find out," the Commander said in a firm voice. "Betrayal is never taken lightly and if things go wrong, each one of us will be in danger.
"Arin Helev won't inform me if he isn't sure of it. He wrote that his spies saw King Aryan meeting with someone from this camp. Arin Helev is not the type to do things recklessly. You also know how calm he always remains."
Rion knew that his Commander had a point. The Qalagon King wrote about the betrayal in the army and urged his Commander to investigate the matter soon. If they were too late, it would be useless to regret.
Everyone knew the fate of the traitor and it can even be the end for the Alewine Army.
"Ever since my grandfather founded this army, there has never been a record of betrayal. If the King of Qalagon is right, it will be the first," Iria Alewine uttered as she clenched her fist.
"This is my responsibility, Rion. If a soldier can't be loyal to his Commander, a part of it is the Commander's fault. I'm hugely responsible for this."
Rion shook his head. "Soldiers of the Alewine Army are always loyal, Commander. If one person chose the other way, it's not your fault but the mindset of that soldier.
"Rest assured, Commander. If the report is indeed true, I will bring the traitor for you to punish him as per the rules," Rion firmly added.
"Do you know what's the most strange?" Iria Alewine asked and said, "That the traitor met with King Aryan. What did the Nardodian King try to gain by doing this?"
Rion was pretty confused too. No matter how much he thought about it, this question remains a mystery to him.
Iria Alewine thought of how the assassination attempt happened during the hunting event, the poisoned arrow and... how she survived.
The enemy could kill her by using a stronger poison but he didn't. He didn't want her dead but alive.
Then... a realization occurred to her.
She was the reason.
Aryan Tripas was doing this because of her! What he tried to gain was her!
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