With a stupefied face, Iria Alewine slowly walked towards Kerin who was still on the ground.
What did he just say?
Twin brother?
That's nonsense!
"I'm telling the truth, Commander," Kerin uttered in a desperate voice. "His Highness ordered me not to tell you anything but... I can't just sit still while he could lose his life anytime."
"Explain," the Commander said. She finds his claims absurd but... why would he lie about such a big matter?
"Though your father was his best friend, the late King was always wary of his growing power. Besides, the people admired your father a lot. That's why... " Kerin's voice trailed off and he narrowed his eyes.
"When your mother gave birth to you and His Highness, your father was away due to war. His Majesty was in your family mansion that night and when he heard that one of the twins was a boy, his insecurity grew. If your father had a male successor, he was scared that it would threaten the position of his descendants. So... he took away the baby boy that day.
"He forced the doctor to lie to everyone and even threatened your mother with your father's life. When his wife, the late Queen gave birth to Princess Iria a week later, he forced her to accept him as the twin of the Princess. He was the King and no one can go against him, Commander. Even the doctors had to shut their mouth."
Kerin paused and looked up at the Commander again. "Before she died, the Queen wrote a letter and arranged someone to keep it safe. She ordered the person to give the letter to His Highness once he turned twelve. She wrote the details in that letter because she felt so guilty.
"His Highness also met both the doctors and though it wasn't easy, he managed to make them confessed. He already proved everything years ago, Commander. But... he never revealed anything to keep you safe."
Iria Alewine felt numb. The things she heard and witnessed these days... they were too much.
King Tobias really did that?! Not to mention that he killed her father 17 years after he committed such a despicable crime!
He truly had no limits yet she never had a clue about it!
"Commander, though His Highness resented the late King a lot, I'm sure that he wasn't the one who killed him. Don't you find the whole thing suspicious?" Kerin asked her. "Why would he admit to the crime while he is innocent? I'm sure that he is threatened." Making a brief pause, he added, "The apple never falls far from the tree."
Iria Alewine was well aware of what Kerin meant. However, her mind can't even function well right now!
"I have to meet His Highness first," she muttered as she shook her head.
It wasn't easy for her to suspect her best friend that easy!
"Even if you go there, you will be escorted by His Majesty's men," Kerin pointed out. "Do you think he will want to speak in such a situation?"
"I can go in secret," Iria Alewine firmly uttered. She was quite versed with the structure of the prison and with her skills, it won't be hard for her to sneak in.
* * *
The night in the prison cell was quite chilly. There was nothing else that provided light except for fire torches lit on the wall near each cell.
The cold and the darkness didn't seem to faze Orius at all. Still sitting on one corner of his cell, he shut his eyes as his back and the back of his head pressed against the prison wall. He rolled up his right knee and placed his right arm on it.
As he closed his eyes, his conversation with Iria earlier in the night was played in his mind.
She was quite stubborn. What was he supposed to do?
Everything that happened in the past days crossed his mind and he felt lost. He should have been more careful. Now, he was trapped.
While Orius was fixated on his thoughts, he heard the sound of a light footstep coming towards his cell. Knowing that it was pretty late now alerted him.
After all these, he already knew that anything was possible now.
The footsteps became closer and closer and he stood up. He was in a special cell and all other cells around him were empty. If anyone came this way, then that means that person was here for him.
Could it be Kerin?
Finally, one person in a black cloak appeared before his cell. Once he saw the face of the person, his curiosity was instantly replaced by anxiety.
What was she doing here?!
It's dangerous!
Iria Alewine removed the part of the cloak that covered her hair and some of her face. She met the gaze of the Prince whom Kerin said her twin brother.
Why did it only occur to her now that Orius really resembled her father? Suddenly, she finds herself very dumb!
"What are you doing here?" Orius asked her in a very low voice, being careful not to alert the guards.
"There is nothing to wary of," Iria Alewine said. "I rendered some of the guards unconscious and some must be dead. I'm not sure of the exact numbers."
She killed some guards to get here? That was beyond his expectation!
What happened to that kind-hearted soul who used to force herself to be ruthless so that she could protect her kingdom?
Right now, he looked at her eyes and... he saw a mixture of nonchalance and ruthlessness. She killed some Jerivians but... it seemed like she really didn't care!
While he was busy observing her, what Iria said next made him understood everything.
"I heard that you're my twin brother and not the Prince. Is it true?"
Kerin met her. Orius knew that right away and he shut his eyes.
This was the reason why she changed!
"Please answer me, Your Highness. You know that I'm not a patient person," Iria urged him right away.
He was glad that she finally knew the truth but... everything was a mess now. Was he too late?
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