Nardodia
When Theo opened his eyes, he finds himself on the floor of a familiar room.
Wasn't this his quarter in the palace?
Why was he here?
When he recalled the last thing he remembered, it was him fighting against the assassins in the Pecan forest, the outskirts of the Qalagon capital.
If he was here, then... what about the Crown Prince?!
At the realization, his eyes grew wide and he tried to push himself up but to no avail. His whole body ached and it hurt even when he moved a bit.
Much to his surprise, he heard the sound of the door being opened and three men walked inside. When he looked up at the man who was standing above him, he raised a brow and finally managed to push himself up with much difficulty. However, his knees and palms were instantly pressed against the floor.
"Your Majesty."
"You were here all along?" Aryan Tripas spoke. "Then where is Emor?"
When Theo recalled what happened, he felt tight-lipped.
What if the King was behind that assassination attempt?
It seemed like the King didn't know the Crown Prince's whereabouts and if he said that the Crown Prince was on his way to the Qalagon Royal Palace when they parted... will that only make the situation worse?
"I'm asking you a question!" Aryan Tripas snapped. "Where is the Crown Prince?"
"I don't know, Your Majesty," Theo promptly replied, bracing himself.
"You don't know?" Aryan Tripas asked with doubt and rage written all over his face. "You're responsible for his safety and you left the capital together. Now... you don't know his whereabouts?!"
"It was an assassination attempt," Theo stated. Still kneeling before the King, he didn't dare to look up even once. "We were attacked near the border and that's the last thing I remember. Then I wake up here. I don't know how I return either, Your Majesty. Please believe me!"
Aryan Tripas's face turned pale when he heard the news!
Assassination attempt?!
"Where?" he promptly inquired.
Theo didn't see the expression on the King's face as his gaze was on the floor the whole time. However, he was taken aback when he heard the King's question!
He didn't know?
"The Vale Province in the western border," he replied despite his confusion.
"Send soldiers there to look for the Crown Prince," the King promptly ordered the Captain of the Royal Guards who was standing a step behind him. "Be careful not to create rumors."
With that said, the Captain bowed and left to comply with the King's order.
Aryan Tripas was distracted by his thoughts for a few seconds before he finally shifted his attention back to Theo. He observed him for a while and said, "Let the doctor treat your wounds first. Then you will help the other guards in finding the Crown Prince. Remember. You won't be safe if anything happens to him."
Theo was taken aback once again. However, he knew better than to question the King.
"I understand, Your Majesty," was his only response before the King left his quarter.
Now that he was alone, Theo sat on the floor and glanced at the empty door.
It seemed like the King was really innocent in this matter.
Was his decision to conceal the whereabouts of the Crown Prince wrong?
* * *
The Royal Palace of Qalagon
A day had passed since Crown Prince Emor woke up and despite the serious nature of his injuries, his situation still improved a bit.
"My soldiers look around the Pecan Forest and its surrounding inns but your guard is nowhere to be found," Arin Helev said to Emor Tripas who was sitting on the bed. "Can't you still recall how you part?"
"I'm not sure," Crown Prince Emor responded. "I thought that he was behind me all the time but maybe I was wrong. I barely forced myself to stay conscious at that time."
"Still no suspect in mind?" the Qalagon King asked. "If you have, then I can send the spies to investigate that person.
Emor Tripas thought about it for a while before he shook his head. "I don't know." When one thing crossed his mind, he looked at Arin Helev and said, "You don't have to go that far to help me. I will take care of it once I return."
"You're a friend of mine," Arin Helev argued. "What I suggest is not even much."
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes when he said, "I always wonder why you decided to trust me when I first came to offer my help. After all, my betrayal made you suffer a huge loss. I know you lost many soldiers in that war with Alora."
The young King recalled the time they first met again after that war. The time he went to Nardodia to negotiate with King Aryan while he was still the Crown Prince. He still remembered how their conversation that time bothered him to a great extent.
That time, he realized that there was much more to Emor Tripas. It might be the reason why he wasn't that surprised when he reached out to him.
"I think a person who wishes to mend his ways is deserving of a second chance," he finally said. "Besides, you're the Prince of Nardodia, a true royal. If I were you, I bet I will do the same." He made a deliberate paused and added, "I'm talking about that betrayal."
What he always believed crossed Arin's mind once again.
Was that really a betrayal while there was no loyalty from the very beginning?
In his opinion, it was just a well-executed plan.
"Then do you still trust me like you did when I offer my help?" Emor Tripas asked him and it wasn't what Arin expected.
"If I don't trust you, I won't help you when you collapsed near the gate four days ago," the Qalagon King replied after a brief thought.
Hearing this, there was a subtle smile on Emor's lips. "I'm glad," he muttered. "It will be so much better if I can change my uncle's mind.. But I don't think I'll be able to do that."
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