It was the Commander's turn to shut her eyes when she saw Orius nodding his head.
It was really true? He was her twin brother?!
"You shouldn't come here, Iria. This is a very dangerous move," Orius Aventine said to her. This made Iria realized one thing.
"Who are you scared of?" she asked him. "Zaro?"
The Commander's heart sank when Orius refused to respond. Was it really the doing of her best friend?!
"What did he do? Did he threaten you?" she asked Orius again, trying her best to not lose her self-control.
It already hurt enough to know what King Tobias did! And now... it's Zaro, the one whom she considered half of herself. While they were in Qalagon, she had once said to Orius that losing Zaro would be like losing half of herself.
"You should leave Jerivia," Orius muttered. "It's not safe for you here, Iria. Go to Cedore. You said that the Emperor wants you to go to him."
"You have to tell me the truth first," Iria Alewine insisted. "What did Zaro do?"
She was still stubborn as ever and it made Orius sighed. "I don't know how he finds out that we are twins. I only know that I fell to his trap," he finally said. "When I entered the King's chamber that night, he was already dead. I don't know it at first and I crouched down to look at him. Talking about the right timing, some servants entered and started screaming. The next thing I know, I was arrested."
"You admitted to the crime because of Zaro?" Iria Alewine asked. How hard it was for her to utter those words!
What happened to her once kind-hearted and considerate best friend?!
Staring at the reaction on her face, Orius hesitated to answer for a while. However, he realized that it was useless now. He knew how much she cared for Zaro but... he was a completely different man now!
"If I don't do that, he won't spare you," he finally said in a low voice. "He is a changed man now, Iria. Besides, he is the King. No one would dare to stand against him."
Orius looked at her face which hinted at torment and pain. "Please... leave. That way, I will be able to do something. Go to Cedore or wherever you want. It's fine as long as you're safe," he pleaded with her.
"If Kerin didn't tell me the truth, you will surely be killed as you have admitted to the crime. Don't you care about that?" Iria asked as if she didn't hear him at all.
Her behaviour made Orius even more desperate!
"I don't care," he replied with a sigh. "I kept my silence all those years to keep you safe, Iria. I can do anything and even if I have to give up on my life, it's fine. Just be safe. That's all I want."
"Then leave."
Orius raised a brow at her response. "What are you -"
"I will handle things here." The Commander interrupted him from speaking more. "Leave with Kerin and go to Cedore. Inform the Emperor about what happened and ask for his help."
"Iria -"
"I have a higher chance of holding out than you," Iria Alewine snapped. "If Zaro can use me against you, that means he is capable of doing the same with me. Only if you leave, I'll be able to fight back."
"But it's dangerous," Orius protested. "Zaro is the King now and he has completely lost his mind. He is not the same Zaro you used to know, Iria. He won't hesitate to hurt you!"
His words pained Iria. Her heart that was already broken due to the things King Tobias did was now crumbling to pieces because of Zaro Aventine, the one whom she always defined as the most important person to her.
The pain was so agonizing and even more intense than the pain that the crime of King Tobias gave her!
What did she do to deserve this?
Just like her father, all she did was being loyal to the throne and the kingdom!
"I have the Alewine Army," she firmly stated, ignoring the piercing pain she felt. "Please... do as I say. You're more at a disadvantage than me. I will arrange some of my soldiers to escort you there. I will make sure that you reach there safely. So please... leave."
Orius knew that she had a point but... leaving her here? He believed that dying would be better!
With Zaro completely changed, his move couldn't be predicted anymore. What if she suffered for helping him?!
However, Iria already opened the door to the cell and urged him to come out.
She finds it hard to think clear but... she was determined to save him no matter what.
Then they both fled from the prison.
*
An hour passed and the siblings were in an alley near the market. Rion and Kerin were also there and so was the confused Zire. However, Orius refused to let the soldiers of the Alewine escort him.
"Zire, do you think you can do it?" Commander Iria asked the General.
"What about you, Commander?" Zire promptly asked. If he left with the Second Prince, then what about his Commander? Won't she be in danger?!
"Rion and I will join you soon enough," Iria Alewine replied. "For now, I want you to escort the Prince out of Jerivia safely."
Zire nodded right away. "I understand."
"Please enlighten him on your way," Iria said, turning to Orius. "He will understand everything."
Then she took off the braided bracelet on her left wrist and offered it to her brother. "Qalagon have a good relationship with Cedore. So, approach Arin Helev first and give him this. He will understand and he will help you."
Orius took the bracelet and glanced down at it before he looked at Iria again. "Do you trust him?" he asked her.
Iria Alewine didn't need any second to ponder before she said, "I do."
Zire raised a brow as he had no idea of his Commander's relationship with the Qalagon King. However, he believed that the Second Prince will tell him soon as his Commander's request but... what happened next surprised him again.
Orius took a step closer and hugged the Commander for the first time. "Take care, Iria. You must survive."
"You too," Iria Alewine said as she exchanged his hug.
This reminded her that she indeed had a family. The soothing feeling ease her pain in the slightest bit.
Finally, Orius pulled back and bid goodbye to his sister. Then he left for Qalagon while Iria stared at him until he was out of her sight.....
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