Despite the rebellion in Helsia that was growing more and more intense each day, Zaro Aventine was back to Jerivia. As he had something else to do, an official will be taking care of the situation in Helsia for the time being.
When the King entered his chamber, he finds his wife sitting on a couch near the door to the balcony. As he didn't inform her beforehand, he doubted that Athena will be aware of his arrival. So, he walked closer to her and sat on the couch opposite her. However, he was surprised to see that Athena was still not aware of his presence.
Just what was she thinking?
"Athena," he finally called out and she quickly turned her head to him. He noticed the shock on her face and he asked, "What are you thinking?"
"You're back? When?" Surprisement was still evident on her face and Zaro Aventine slightly smiled.
"Just now," he replied. "Did something happen? You aren't aware of my presence even after I sit right in front of you."
Athena shook her head. "I was only enjoying the view."
Zaro Aventine could feel how the strange stiffness was still in his wife. It was the same as when he was about to leave and even when he was in Helsia, the memory troubled him many times. He wanted to ask her about it but... he doubted that she would tell him.
"Are you alright?" he asked. "I was away for weeks again and I don't hear anything from you."
Athena nodded her head. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me." She briefly paused and asked, "Why did you return? I hear that the situation there is bad."
"That's right, but I have something important to do," the King replied.
Now, turning all her body to him, Athena observed her husband. "Is it about the upcoming war? Did you plan to join it too?"
"Athena -"
"You're really aiding Aryan Tripas?"
"It's not for him," Zaro Aventine quickly said. "I have to save Helsia so that I can strengthen Jerivia. That's why."
Staring at her husband, Athena shook her head. "That's not right, Zaro. Did you already forget what you tell me many months ago? You said that Aryan Tripas is your enemy because he killed your only sister."
"I will only join this war to stop Orius and Iria," Zaro Aventine insisted. "After that, I will still work to fulfil my promise to avenge my sister. I have no plan to accept Aryan Tripas."
"You're joining him in a war," Athena argued. "That's already the same as accepting him as an ally." The Queen shook her head once again. "Don't do this, Your Majesty. It will only destroy you."
"I have to do this," Zaro stated but his voice was still calm. "Please try to understand me, Athena. With the rebellion stirred up by Orius, I have no better choice."
Athena thought about it for a while before she stood up. "I will never agree to this. If you insisted to do it, then don't blame me no matter what I do."
She tried to walk out of the chamber but... Zaro Aventine grabbed her hand.
It wasn't easy for him too! After all those messes in Helsia, he came home only to argue with his wife and have her disappointed in him!
"Can't you understand me just this once?" the King asked. "I'm really tired."
Athena narrowed her eyes at his hand before she broke free from his grip. "You don't know what you're doing, Zaro. What do you even expect from a man like Aryan Tripas?"
The King didn't say anything and the Queen walked out of the chamber.
With a troubled mind, Zaro Aventine sat still in the quiet room alone for almost half an hour. The current situation even made him feel suffocated!
Right now, everything was tiring for him and... such a feeling only reminded him of one thing.
How his life went wrong.
When his father was still alive, when Orius was still his brother, and... when Iria was still beside him, everything was fine. Though there used to be difficult days, he always managed to go through it with the help of his father and Iria.
After leaving his father to die that night and forcing Iria to turn her back on him... his life turned into a mess.
And right now, he truly missed those days.
When General Trevor entered the King's chamber, almost an hour had passed since the Queen left.
Halting a few steps away from the King, the General bowed. "Your Majesty."
"Mobilize the soldiers," the King ordered. "We will follow the plan."
With that said, the General bowed once again and walked out of the King's chamber.
*
After receiving the King's order, General Trevor decided to briefly go home before he went to the camp of the Royal Army. Though it was noon, he realized that his father was home and the General decided to greet him before he left for the camp. Then he entered his father's chamber.
"Father," General Trevor bowed to greet his father and took a seat opposite him.
"You're back?" the Minister of War said to his only son with a little smile on his face. "You should have informed me beforehand."
"I was with His Majesty," the General promptly said. "You also know that I can't know anything beforehand if that's the case."
The Minister of War nodded. "You're right. Maybe because you're out of the kingdom for so long this time, I was really looking forward to your return." He sighed and added, "But you have to leave for war again right away. I started to think it was wrong of me for advising you to join the military."
"Don't say that, Father. You know I like what I'm doing," General Trevor quickly said. "The court already agree to aid the Nardodians?"
The Minister of War nodded. "You know that they always want to strengthen our Jerivia by forming an ally."
General Trevor didn't say anything as one thing crossed his mind. Then he looked at his father and with a bit of reluctance, he asked, "Father, do you think how the previous King passed away was strange?"
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