Standing before Orius, the six Enaerions bowed their heads while the four shadow guards attention was on their Princess.
"Your Grace." The Master Enaerion greeted the Duke. "Please forgive us for being late. We have to look for bows and arrows as we thought that it's better to play safe. That took some time."
"Why are you here?" Orius asked and raised a brow. "Is my sister here too?"
"No, Your Grace. Her Majesty is at Qalagon but... if she heard of the situation here, I think you will see her soon enough," the Master Enaerion replied.
"Then can you not tell her about this?"
"I'm afraid I can't do that. It's my duty to report everything that's going on here to the Queen. That's the order I receive."
Though Orius expected this answer, hearing it only made him feel more troubled.
The news won't go down well with Iria and he was sure of that.
"They might come back again," the Master Enaerion spoke up. "We will escort you back to where you stay. Please be careful, Your Grace. The whole Helsia is not safe for you anymore."
Orius nodded though imagining Iria to hear this incident still troubled him.
What was he supposed to do?!
However, it seemed like he wasn't the only one who was stuck in this kind of situation.
"I said you don't have to tell Augustus about this!" Crown Princess Ophelia snapped. However, it was soon followed by a frown.
"You know the rule, Your Highness," Linus said to her. "If His Highness happen to hear it from other sources, we will be in trouble."
Ophelia let out a sigh when she looked at her personal guard. However, Orius promptly spoke up.
"Shall we return first, Your Highness? Andres was supposed to come for us but they take me to another place. I think he will still be searching for us desperately."
The Crown Princess thought of her husband who would be worried sick and she nodded. "Alright. Let's go."
Linus and one another guard stayed behind to look for the Crown Prince and informed him of the news while everyone else left the woods.
*
A few minutes had passed since Orius and Valerie along with Ophelia arrived at the inn where they stayed.
The Enaerions were still with them to ensure their safety as Crown Prince Andres and his men were yet to arrive. However, they didn't need to wait for long as Andres Francia soon arrived with the guards. Linus and the shadow guard who go with him returned with the Crown Prince's too.
All the guards retreated from the room, including the Enaerions and only the two couples were inside now.
"What happened?" Andres Francia asked with anxiety still evident in his voice. "I came with the guards but no one was there. We look for you so much but Linus told me that you're safe now."
He searched for them like crazy and though it was less than an hour, it felt like years! He felt like he was dying each second!
"They blindfolded me and tied my hands. Then they take me to another place," Orius explained. "There was nothing I could do. Fortunately, Iria's men and the shadow guards of the Crown Princess arrived in time. Thanks to that, we're safe."
Hearing this, Andres Francia stared at his wife who was standing a few steps away from him. Though Ophelia met his gaze too, the Crown Prince didn't say anything and stood still.
"Let's talk later," Orius said and along with Valerie, they go to the next room which they used during their stay there.
"Are you angry at me?" Crown Princess Ophelia asked her husband who stood still.
Andres briefly narrowed his eyes and looked at her again. "No. I'm angry at myself. I was so thoughtless."
"You don't have to think that way," the Crown Princess muttered. "This kind of incident is not that rare. We are royals and we have many enemies."
Hearing this, Andres sighed and walked towards his wife. "I shouldn't have brought you here. It's too dangerous," he muttered and stood before her as he observed her. "Are you alright?"
Though Linus told him that the Crown Princess was fine, he still couldn't be at ease.
"They don't know who I am," Ophelia said. "Valerie must be scared."
"I will make sure that Zaro Aventine pay for this. He dares to capture you and Valerie. He will soon reap what he sows," the Crown Prince uttered in a firm voice.
The Crown Princess maintained her silence and as she was much shorter than him, Andres glanced down at her. "Aren't you scared too?" he asked.
Ophelia thought about it and shook her head. "I know that they won't be able to touch me. You know, my brother never stop assigning some shadow guards to protect me. I know that they will appear sooner or later. It's always like that."
She talked as if she had experienced that type of incident before and it surprised Andres.
"Do you think being the Princess of the most powerful empire is all rosy?" she asked him when she understood his thoughts. "I'm always the target of my father and brother enemies. It's why Augustus is so wary of my safety. Maybe it has become a habit of his. He still let his men protect me even after the marriage."
Though Andres didn't say anything, his gaze never left her. He felt like many of her traits were hidden by her lively nature and among them, there must be a pain too. Apart from thinking of this, he also made a mental note to select some capable guards for her once they return to Cedore.
Who knows? She might still be not safe even though she wasn't in Aederin anymore. It's never hurt to be careful.
"I'm sorry," he muttered in a low voice. "As Zaro Aventine demanded Orius to come alone, I can't come no matter how much I wish to. I can't promise that you won't be in danger again but... no matter what, I will try my best to protect you.. I promise you that."
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