After spending the night in Orius's mansion, Arin and Iria returned to the palace after bidding goodbye to the couple. They will briefly meet others in the palace and then they will be leaving for Qalagon.
Now, the couple were all set to leave while the Emperor and Empress came to see them off. Andres also came to bid them goodbye.
"Where is the Crown Princess?" Iria asked her cousin who came out alone.
"Her family left yesterday and because of that, she had several drinks last night. So, I decided to not wake her up. It's still early anyway."
Iria nodded as she understood Ophelia's situation. When her family left after she married Arin, she felt empty too.
"Be good to her. It's not easy to start a life in a new place," she advised her cousin who nodded.
"Don't worry. Just take good care of yourself," Andres Francia replied with his gaze briefly focused on her shoulder.
"I will."
"You should go now. The sun will rise soon," Emperor Kalos said to the couple.
"Take care," Arin spoke up. "We will visit you soon again."
With that said, the couple entered the carriage. Like he often did, Arin decided to ride the carriage with Iria rather than riding a horse. Then they depart for Qalagon.
*
After seeing the couple off, Andres returned to his chamber where he saw his wife sitting on the bed.
"You're awake," he said as he walked closer to her.
Glancing at her husband, Ophelia held her head. "I think my head is spinning. How much did I drink last night?"
"Much more than you thought," was Andres's response. "I already told the servants to bring some honey water for you once you wake up. So, have that and sober up."
Ophelia simply nodded until Iria crossed her mind. "Wait! Isn't your cousin and her husband supposed to leave today?"
"They just left."
The Crown Princess promptly frowned. "Why don't you wake me up? I really want to see her off."
"Iria understand you. You know, she also married to a faraway place," Andres Francia calmly replied and tried to walk out, but...
"Why don't you say anything?" Ophelia asked him. "I recall that I talked a lot last night."
Andres understood what she said but he didn't know much to say. "I don't understand you but I decide to trust you," was all he said before he walked out of the room.
Ophelia was taken aback but she instantly felt grateful. She was afraid that he would be distancing himself because of that but it didn't seem like it.
Maybe she was right about him.
* * *
The Royal Palace of Helsia
"What are you talking about?"
Glancing down at the Chief of the Prison Guard who was kneeling before him, Zaro Aventine was tightly clenching his fists.
"I'm asking you a question!" the young King growled when the Chief was too scared to say anything.
"King Rozalez is gone, Your Majesty," the Chief repeated, bracing himself for the King's rage. He knew how big of an issue this was!
"Last night, some unidentified men broke into the prison and take away -"
The Chief couldn't finish his words as anger took the best of the King!
Zaro Aventine suddenly lifted his right leg and roughly landed his foot on the left shoulder of the Chief! The latter fell due to the force and he clenched his teeth in pain but he didn't dare to show anything. He pushed himself up and get on his knees, assuming the same position again.
"Useless!" the King spatted. "Some unknown men managed to break into a heavily guarded prison?!"
"The guards are still looking for them, Your Majesty. Please give us some time!" the Chief pleaded.
"If you fail to find them before sunset, all the guards who were on duty last night won't live to see tomorrow, including you," the King warned in a deadly low voice. "Do you understand?"
The Chief gulped in fear but he didn't dare to protest. "Yes, Your Majesty!"
With that said, he left the King's chamber in a hurry.
"Tell General Trevor to come and see me," Zaro Aventine commanded Derin who was standing on his right a few steps away.
General Trevor was his most trusted General and he always accompanied him whenever he travelled.
Derin left as the King commanded and soon, he returned with General Trevor.
The General halted a few steps before the King and get down on his knees. "Your Majesty."
"Someone helped King Rozalez and rescued him from the dungeon last night," the King said to the General.
Looking up at the King, General Trevor raised a brow but he quickly lowered his gaze again. "What do you want me to do?"
"It might be the doing of internal forces or external forces," the young King stated. "Let's start with the easier one first. Arrest all the ex-officials who aren't locked up in prison and interrogate them. Just in case, also interrogate the ones who are in prison too. Don't miss anyone."
"I understand, Your Majesty. Is there anything else?"
The King gave a brief thought before he said, "If anyone refuses to cooperate, kill them. It will serve as a lesson for others."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
With that said, General Trevor left right away.
"Do you have anyone you suspect, Your Majesty?" Derin asked the King who just settled on the couch.
"The ex-officials and soldiers still have hope on King Rozalez. It might be their doing but... if it's not, then it's the doing of someone who doesn't want me to strengthen Jerivia."
"Like Qalagon or Cedore?"
"Aryan Tripas can also be a possibility," Zaro Aventine stated. "He wants me to be weak so that I would accept his proposal."
Derin stood still while the King concentrated on his thoughts.
"If we failed to find King Rozalez, we will be in great danger, Derin," Zaro Aventine muttered. "The hope of the ex-officials and the soldiers will grow and at the worst, there will be a rebellion. Dealing with a rebellion will surely make us weak."
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