"Are you sure about coming with us?" Orius asked his wife who was sitting opposite him.
The two were currently having dinner in the dining room of their mansion.
"I don't plan to force you if you're not interested. You also know that it's quite dangerous," he added as he observed the reaction on his wife's face.
"I want to go," Valerie replied. "It's not like the people there know my face. I will just think of it as a simple journey."
"Valerie -"
"I will be fine," the Duchess insisted. "You know I have some skills and I can protect myself as long as things don't go too wrong. I trust in you."
Orius knew that his wife's skills in using weapons were quite good. It was normal as she was from a military family and he already witnessed it himself too. However, he still couldn't stop worrying.
Nothing was predictable.
"The Crown Princess will be coming too," Valerie calmly said to her husband. "It will be good to accompany her. Besides, I want to help you too. We're married and we should do everything together, right?"
"If it's dangerous, I will always choose to leave you out," Orius promptly said, making his wife stare at him for a while. "But there's nothing I can do if you insisted," he added after a few seconds.
Nevertheless, Valerie still stared at him without saying anything. At one point, it made him uncomfortable and even nervous. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he finally asked her.
"Do you experience a change recently, Your Grace?" Valerie asked.
"Change?" Orius met her gaze, confused.
Valerie nodded. "You make me feel that you don't behave this way just because I'm your wife but because you have feelings for me."
Orius Alewine already knew how bold his wife could be, but... each time, he was still taken aback.
This was a part of her that he could never get used to it.
Her frankness always stunned him.
"You don't answer me," Valerie pointed out. "Am I wrong?"
"No... You're right," Orius admitted. "It seems like you've succeeded."
Now, it was Valerie's turn to be stunned.
He admitted? That easy?
She was expecting for him to say that he didn't know.
"You're not the only one who is honest," Orius said with a little smile when he noticed the look on her face. "I hate beating around the bush too."
"Why didn't you tell me then?" Valerie asked with that confused look on her face.
"You never ask me," was her husband's simple response.
"You're helpless," she said, shaking her head.
She never knew that she had to ask him if she wanted to know.
Can't he just say it himself?
Orius simply smiled as he said, "Well, this is me." He paused and added, "If you want to come with us, I won't stop you. Instead, I will just work hard to keep you safe. Once we come back, we can finally go to Qalagon."
"You're the Commander," she said. "What about the army if you keep on travelling around?"
"Zire is even better than me in administrating the army," he said with a laughter. "Kerin can help him out and I will just rely on them."
* * *
It was the break of dawn when Arin was woken up by the sound of knocking on the door. Iria who was sleeping in his arms was also aroused by the sound and they both pushed themselves up.
They glanced around and exchanged glances with each other as they were both surprised.
Wasn't it still early?
"Come in," Arin finally responded as he believed that it must be an emergency.
Antony quickly walked inside and halting a few steps away from the bed, he bowed. "Please forgive me for the intrusion this early, Your Majesties," he said with his head lowered. "I have something to report."
"What is it?" Arin Helev promptly asked.
"The guards at the gate informed me about someone who collapsed near the gate. I go to check the person and... it's the Crown Prince of Nardodia. I don't know what to do."
"Emor Tripas?" Arin Helev gasped as he glanced at Iria who was equally surprised as him. Then he quickly gets off his bed and wore a robe. "I will go and check on him. You can come later if you wish," he said to Iria.
The Queen nodded. "Alright. You should hurry."
With that said, Arin Helev immediately left the chamber with Antony while Iria get dressed to go and check on the Crown Prince too.
Arin Helev walked to the main door of the palace and saw Emor Tripas who was unconscious. He bent his knees to observe him and noticed that almost every part of his upper body was covered with blood!
What happened?!
Why was the Crown Prince of Nardodia here alone?!
"Bring him in," the King commanded. "Call the royal doctor too. Hurry!"
The guards quickly did as the King ordered and also tend to the Crown Prince's wound as much as they could while waiting for the doctor to arrive. Soon, the doctor arrived and started treating the Crown Prince while the King stood on the side with Antony. By this time, Iria was also inside the chamber now.
"Do you have any idea of what happened?" the King asked Antony as he stared at the Nardodian Crown Prince who was laying on the bed.
"No, Your Majesty. The guards said that the Crown Prince suddenly appeared and he was alone too," Antony replied and added, "I will try to find out what happened."
The King nodded and shifted his gaze to Antony. "Tell everyone to shut their mouths. No one should know that the Crown Prince of Nardodia is here." Glancing at Emor Tripas once again, he continued, "I'm sure that he has a reason for coming here instead of Nardodia."
"I understand."
"Find out what Aryan Tripas is up to these days and assign some capable guards on the door to this chamber. No one should enter without my permission," the King commanded after giving a brief thought.
Then Antony bowed and walked out of the chamber......
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