Zaro Aventine had already reached Helsia a day ago. With his wife, he stayed in the royal palace.
Though many moves weren't taken during the past year, the Minister of War took charge of the area and Minister Gerin helped him out. The latter mostly stayed in Helsia during the past months as the Minister of War had many works in Jerivia.
Even now, Minister Gerin was the one who led him to the dungeon where the deposed King Rozalez was locked up for more than a year now.
Death or living as a prisoner... this was always the fate of defeated kings.
"It's this one, Your Majesty," Minister Gerin said to the young King when they halted next to one wooden door where two guards stood watch.
"Open the door," the King commanded.
One of the two guards quickly took out a key and did as the King ordered.
The Jerivian King walked inside with the Minister and two guards followed them inside with fire torches just in case.
When Zaro Aventine took a glance at the former King who was now a mere captive, he was taken aback.
Shackles were fastened on the former King's hands and legs which were attached to a chain. He can walk around the dungeon but the chains weren't long enough for him to reach the door. However, his appearance was what surprised the young King.
With worn-out clothes, grown beard and hair, he didn't even resemble a normal person, let alone a King.
Though he had never seen King Rozalez before, Zaro still finds it hard to believe his eyes.
When the fallen King Rozalez finally turned his head to the young Jerivian King, the two guards made him kneeled right away.
Still on his knees, King Rozalez looked up at the King of Jerivia who observed him without saying anything. "You must be the new King," was his short yet impassive remark.
"It seems like that arrogance doesn't die with your once royal appearance," Zaro Aventine remarked and the fallen King scoffed.
"How dare you!" Minister Gerin exclaimed in rage when he noticed the disrespect shown by the captive towards his King.
"Let him do or say whatever he wants," Zaro Aventine simply said in a calm voice. "His days are numbered anyway."
Looking down at the fallen King who was made to kneel before him, Zaro continued, "You refused to surrender when you lost a year ago, remember? That caused the death of all your Generals and you were captured by force. You should be thankful that we're kind enough to spare your people.
"Rather than making them slaves, we accepted them and give them the same treatment as my subjects."
King Rozalez refused to say anything. Despite being locking up for more than a year now, his hatred for the Jerivians and Iria was still rooted in his heart. Oh! The Second Prince should also be included. He heard that his older son died in his hand.
Being cut off from the world, he heard nothing about Iria's departure or the real identity of the Second Prince. All he heard was the change in the monarch of Jerivia.
"It seems like some officials and soldiers still have hope in you. That's why I'm here to end and cut everything from its roots. I just want you to know that," Zaro Aventine uttered.
Cut everything from its roots? King Rozalez understood what he meant right away.
The young King was here to end him so that all hope will be lost and he will get full control of Helsia. However, he already expected this to happen sooner or later.
"I'll meet you again once things are prepared," the Jerivian King added with the shadow of a mocking smile on his face. Then he turned his back at King Rozalez and left the dungeon right away.
* * *
After having a peaceful yet luxurious wedding and feast yesterday, the atmosphere in Cedore was quite pleasant. The royal family members were still thrilled to have a new addition to their family while the people can't wait to see their new Crown Princess.
As per the royal custom of Cedore, the new Crown Princess will meet the people for the first time. She will be having a tour of the capital with her new husband accompanying him. Through this, every Cedoreans will get to know the face of their future Empress.
"I hope they will be doing fine," Empress Amina muttered, thinking of her son and his new wife who might currently be greeting the people right now.
The Empress was in one chamber of the palace with her husband. Arin and Iria were also there and so was Emperor Lucius with Crown Prince Augustus and Crown Princess Elysia.
"They will be fine," Emperor Kalos said to his wife. "It will be a bit tiring. That's all."
"I don't think my daughter will get tired," Lucius Arille pointed out. "She always loves to try new things and her energy never ran out for that."
Everyone laughed when they heard the claim of the Aederin Emperor.
"I'm glad to hear that," Kalos Francia remarked. "I was worried that the Crown Princess will have a hard time dealing with the people."
"This is what she wants," Augustus Arille spoke up. "So, I'm sure that she will be fine."
His words confused the Cedore and Qalagon royals and Emperor Lucius laughed.
"You still wondered why we proposed the alliance marriage, right?" he said and continued, "It's because Ophelia kept on begging me. When she returned from Vialand, she kept on telling me that she wanted to marry the Crown Prince of Cedore.
"I don't believe her at first but soon, I realized that she meant it. Though it's hard for me to let her marry to a faraway place, I seek some information on Andres and I think that he's admirable, worthy of my daughter. That's why I discussed with the officials and sent that proposal."
Glancing at the Emperor and Empress of Cedore, he added, "My daughter is always carefree and she rarely takes things seriously but once she did, she never changed her mind. She like Andres a lot and I can swear that it won't change. So, I really hope that this marriage will work out.
"After all, her happiness has all come down to this."
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