As Iria's only purpose when she left the palace was seeing the doctor, she only brought Elian and the soldier who drove the carriage. Besides, she didn't want the royal guards to know that she was seeing a doctor.
When Arin became the King, Antony became the Captain of the Royal Guards and Elian was the Vice-Captain. They were the two guards whom Arin trusted the most and it was why he assigned Elian to be responsible for her safety.
The soldier who came with them remained to watch the horses and the carriage. As such, Iria entered the forest with Elian and cautiously made their way towards the abandoned house.
The house was only half an hour walk from the beginning of the forest and the two could see the house in no time.
"Let's be careful," Iria said to Elian. "We will just look around and if we see any clue, I will send the soldiers here when we return to the palace."
She was well aware of her condition and she didn't want to be so reckless.. However, it was hard to keep herself in control when the missing children crossed her mind.
Even when her enemies couldn't stop talking about how cruel she was towards them, she could never bear to hurt children or someone who couldn't defend themselves even if they were from an enemy kingdom. That's why it was so hard for her to be in her normal mind.
Children are to be protected. It's one of her beliefs that never wavered.
They observed their surroundings and search for some clues. There were several footprints of both horses and humans in the area but it was normal as hunters frequented this forest. However, Elian's gaze trailed to one footprint after another and he realized that the footprints disappeared near the door to the abandoned house.
"Your Majesty... " The guard instantly shut his mouth when he saw the gesture of the Queen.
Iria's ears were still sharp as before and she realized that someone else was in the area.
It might not even be just a single person.
Understanding the situation, Elian slowly reached for the hilt of his sword. He slowly walked towards the Queen and stood before her.
Iria was right as some men came out from their hiding place and finally showed themselves. They were more than 10!
The way they dressed... they didn't look like soldiers but assassins. Then Iria came to a realization.
This was a trap!
She had fallen into someone's trap but... who was this someone?!
"I will try to hold them back," Elian murmured to her. "Please leave this place, Your Majesty. You can't afford to exert your strength for now."
His words.
It reminded Iria of the time Rion begged her to leave while they were in the Serene Valley. The haunting memory invaded her mind, causing her unable to think clear.
"Your Majesty, please... you have to leave. It's -"
Elian couldn't finish his words as the assassins already came for him! He blocked the powerful strike and pushed back the one who attacked him. When another one came for Iria, Elian's single strike killed him right away!
"Your Majesty!"
Elian's voice snapped Iria out of the haunting memory that lived in the most inner part of her brain. She glanced around and quickly picked up the sword that the dead assassin dropped.
"I can use my left hand," she said to Elian.
Ever since she was a child, her father trained her in both hands. However, she wasn't used to fighting with her left hand and it can't be compared to what she could do with her right hand.
However, she was the Masked Commander. The skills her left hand possessed might still be normal for others but... there was one problem.
Some of the assassins were quite skilled. In fact, they were the most skilled assassins she had ever come across! She can tell much while she was fighting against them and with the pain in her right shoulder adding to her disadvantage, she was struggling.
It seemed like someone was determined to kill her today.
However, she won't leave Elian to die alone. Losing one companion was enough.
The Queen was doing quite well with her left hand but it might not last long. When she pressed her sword against the sword of an assassin, the latter suddenly withdraw and his well-built body clashed with her right shoulder, making her fall to the ground!
Why did she felt like this assassin knew her weakness?!
She felt as if he was deliberately aiming at her right shoulder!
The former Commander tried to get back on her feet but... the pain resurfaced and with that rough clashed, the pain was now ten folds compared to other times!
Failing to get back on her feet, she held her shoulder and grunted in pain while the assassin towered over her, ready to strike her and end everything!
In a split second, a sword pierced through the assassin's body and he abruptly dropped to his knees before he collapsed to death. Elian was standing behind with a blood-stained sword. He tried to help her up but two assassins attacked him at once!
Elian blocked one of the strikes while he kicked the other one, causing the assassin to take several steps backwards, involuntarily!
There were still more and while Elian was busy fighting against one of them, another one came to Iria who still struggled with the pain. She managed to pick up her sword again with much difficulty but the pain forbids her from lifting higher.
The former Commander thought that this was the end, until...
Something pierced through the chest of the assassin just like before! But this time, it was an arrow. All other assassins were shot in their legs as well!
Where did it come from?!
Finally, the assassin that towered over her collapsed, revealing the one who was at a distance opposite her.
He was riding a horse and with a bow in his hand, rage was so obvious in his eyes!
Three of the assassins managed to commit suicide while the guards who came with the King managed to stop two from doing the same!
"Take them to the palace for interrogation," Arin Helev commanded the guards while Elian helped Iria up.
Standing still with her left hand holding her right shoulder, Iria looked at Arin who was still mounted on his horse. She observed him for a while and finally realized that the incident wasn't the only thing that triggered his rage.
She was one of the reasons and the way he looked at her was the proof of that.....
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