Seeing Zaro Aventine in flesh again after more than a year, Orius Alewine clenched his fists as he instantly struggled to not lose his cool.
After everything he did to his twin sister, how could he possibly be calm?
That Jerivian King was the one whom Iria used to describe as her everything. However, his change shattered her heart and he even took away her closest companion from her.
Why was it so easy for him?
Orius didn't understand.
It seemed like he was even worse than his father, the late King Tobias Aventine. At least, King Tobias lived his life in regret and torment for what he did. However, his son was just one shameless person.
"Let's hide somewhere," Andres said to Orius when he noticed the rage in the latter's eyes. "Being caught isn't an option. His soldiers will outnumber us and we're in his territory right now."
Orius didn't say anything yet his gaze was still on the one who lived as his older brother for two decades. However, Andres grabbed him and turned him around just when the Jerivian King was about to look in their direction.
Zaro Aventine ended up staring in their direction for a while until the two men disappeared among the crowd.
"Is something wrong, Your Majesty?" Derin promptly asked when he noticed that the King was getting distracted.
Zaro Aventine narrowed his eyes and looked up again. "No. Maybe I got it wrong." Once again, he glanced around his surroundings as he was feeling a bit uneasy. "Let's return. It should be enough for tonight."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
With that said, everyone mounted on their horse and returned to the palace.
Staring at their disappearing form from afar, Orius's face turned dark.
"You should get ahold of yourself," Andres who stood beside him said. "Mixing our work with emotion will only work at our disadvantage."
"I'm not patient like you," Orius argued, his gaze was still fixated on the path though Zaro Aventine and his soldiers were long gone.
"I don't believe that," Andres said in a calm voice. "You know everything but you can hold back for a decade. I don't think I'll be able to do that."
Orius looked at his cousin and uttered, "That's because I have no better choice. It's the only way I could protect Iria."
"Then you can do it this time as well," Andres firmly stated. "If you act recklessly, Iria will be worried. She doesn't even know that we're here."
Orius Alewine thought about it and finally nodded with reluctance.
"Let's return for now," Andres Francia promptly said. "We have to make a plan to rescue the ex-officials."
* * *
It had been a while since Zaro Aventine was back to the palace. The young King was sitting still on the couch in his chamber and the look on his face proved that he was troubled by something.
In the market, he saw someone from the side and though it was just for a split second, he had a feeling that it was Orius.
They lived as siblings for 20 years and he doubted that he would mistake him for someone else. However, he wasn't that confident.
If Orius was really here, then...
Was he the one behind the disappearance of King Rozalez?
Really?
When he realized that it was the doing of someone from outside Helsia, Zaro Aventine suspected Aryan Tripas or Arin Helev.
Orius didn't cross his mind at all.
He knew that it wasn't Orius's style.
Did he see it wrong?
The King heard the sound of knocking on his door and when he responded, Derin walked inside. He halted a few steps away from the couch where the King sat and then bowed.
"Your Majesty, General Trevor said that he had completed the search in the whole kingdom. However, King Rozalez is nowhere to be seen."
"It seems like he is not in Helsia anymore," the King muttered. "Perhaps, Cedore."
"Cedore?" Derin asked, raising a brow. "Prince Orius?"
When the King looked up at Derin with a somewhat displeased look on his face, the latter quickly lowered his gaze.
"I apologize, Your Majesty. It was out of habit."
"Orius is now the Duke of Larica and the Commander of the Alewine Army," Zaro Aventine stated. "He was never an Aventine. No wonder he was always so different."
"I heard that Emperor Kalos favored him a lot," Derin spoke up. "He is also supported by his father-in-law, the Duke of Manea and also maintains a close relationship with Crown Prince Andres Francia. He is a powerful figure in Cedore."
Zaro Aventine thought about it and though he believed that taking away King Rozalez was unlike Orius, he realized that he had enough power if he wished to do so.
Was that person in the market really Orius?
If that's the case, it means his once younger brother was up to something more.
What might it be?
The young King had no idea for now.
"I think Orius is here," Zaro said, looking up at Derin who raised a brow. "I'm not so sure. You should look for him in secret."
"I understand, Your Majesty," Derin promptly replied and left to comply with the King's order.
* * *
It was already past midnight but Orius couldn't sleep at all. Laying on the bed, his right arm was behind the back of his head as he recalled the moment he saw Zaro Aventine for the first time since everything changed.
During the past year, he used to wonder what would it be like if he saw Zaro Aventine again. Now that it happened, he couldn't brush it off his mind.
The young Duke recalled what Zaro Aventine said to him while he was falsely accused and locked up in prison after the death of Tobias Aventine.
'This is the price you must pay for fooling me all those years.'
This was what Zaro Aventine said to him.
What's even funnier was that the Jerivian King said his heart was broken because he truly loved him as a brother.
Yet he still accused him of the crime he never committed.
Well, maybe Zaro Aventine did that because he was the real culprit. He just wanted to cover the fact that he was the one who killed his own father.
What a pathetic being!
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