Despite the presence of thousands of souls before the gate of the Nardodian Army camp, complete silence occupied the place once again.
Standing before the horse that Iria rode, Aryan Tripas looked up at Iria and the latter never stopped observing him.
It seemed like he was really serious.
"You sure live up to the rumors about you, Aryan Tripas," the Qalagon Queen pointed out after what felt like hours. "Even now, you only ask for me not to take the throne and not to kill your heir. If anyone else were in your place, they will beg for the lives of their people."
"No matter how worse I am, I know that you won't touch innocent people just because they are my people. Why would I bother to beg for it?" Aryan Tripas simply said to Iria.
"Then does it mean you believe that I will kill your nephew?" Iria Helev asked.
"Why would you hesitate?"
Iria let a few seconds pass before she said, "Even if I conquer Nardodia, I have no intention to kill Emor Tripas." She scoffed and continued, "Maybe you forget that your nephew is nothing like you, Aryan Tripas. He once saved my life and you should know that a warrior like me takes such an act seriously. We always try to repay the favor."
Aryan Tripas started to think if he underestimated the bond shared between Emor and the King and Queen of Qalagon.
Can a true friendship really exist between them?
"Then that's good for me," Aryan Tripas said to the Queen of Qalagon. "I'll be sure that you won't harm my nephew."
As Aryan Tripas spoke, Princess Iria entered the Queen's mind. Then she briefly turned to Commander Nico who had his eyes on the Nardodian King with hatred more than evident in his eyes. He was struggling to be still and Iria could feel that.
After a brief thought, the Queen shifted her gaze back to Aryan Tripas. "I will accept your offer." She glanced at the Generals standing a few steps behind Aryan Tripas and said, "But they shouldn't cause trouble for me later. Lots of blood is already shed due to this war you triggered. I'm sick of it."
Aryan Tripas briefly glanced at his Generals before he turned back to Iria and said, "You don't have to worry about that. I have already given them my order. For the sake of Emor and Nardodia, they won't do anything."
Once again, Iria glanced at Commander Nico who still had that braided bracelet Princess Iria made for him. After looking at the bracelet on the Commander's left wrist, Iria turned back to the Nardodian King. "Do you still remember Princess Iria Aventine?" she asked.
Her question made everyone turn to her, including Nico Petrus.
"Princess Iria was my friend, my family," the Queen muttered as she slightly narrowed her eyes. "When I had no family, she was there for me. She was someone with a heart as pure as snow, a trait that someone like you would never be able to understand. In a dangerous place like a palace, she beautifully bloomed like a flower but... you killed her for your greed.
"Do you know this, Aryan Tripas? No matter how many crimes you committed in your life, poisoning Princess Iria to death will always be your greatest crime and now... it leads to your downfall."
Aryan Tripas didn't say anything as he knew that he really wasn't in a position to do so. However, he still remembered how he considered that as one of his mistakes. Though he poisoned the Princess, the Masked Commander still went to Qalagon in her place and Arin Helev even fall for her.
If the alliance marriage was not fulfilled, then what would their world be like now?
He will still claim back Nardodia but... Jerivia might still be protected by the Masked Commander and Iria might not even meet Arin Helev, let alone fall in love with him! Emor won't be acquainted with Iria and... all the things that happened now might be prevented. However...
The decision made by the Masked Commander to marry the then Crown Prince changed everything.
It all started with that alliance marriage and if it didn't went wrong, things won't turn out this way!
When everyone was waiting for her to continue, Iria said, "It must be better this way. At least, my soldiers won't lose their lives for your greed." Then she called out, "Commander Nico."
The Commander whose gaze was on Aryan Tripas the whole time was somewhat startled when he heard the Queen calling his name. Finally, he broke his gaze and turned to Iria. "Your Majesty."
"Let's end this," the Queen said in an almost tired voice. "Aryan Tripas offers his life and I think insisting to wipe off his soldiers is a crazy decision. Why bother to sacrifice the lives of our soldiers while the enemies already surrendered?" She turned to Nico Petrus and commanded, "Take his life as he offers."
When all the others glanced at each other with confusion, wondering why the Queen told Commander Nico to do that, Nico Petrus slightly raised his brow and narrowed his eyes at the braided bracelet on his wrist.
Even Orius was feeling confused this time.
To avenge Princess Iria, shouldn't his sister wish to end the Nardodian King herself? Why must she ask Nico Petrus?
"It's time to fulfill your promise," Iria said to the Commander who quietly stared at the braided bracelet on his wrist. "I already fulfill mine by giving you this chance."
Hearing this, Orius turned to Nico Petrus and his gaze trailed to the braided bracelet on his wrist. The custom in Jerivia instantly crossed his mind and he raised a brow.
Did that one have something to do with the late Princess?
What promise was Iria talking about?!
Nico Petrus thought of the time he asked Iria to avenge the Princess if he happened to die in the war with Alora. Now, she was keeping the promise by giving him the chance and he too fulfilled his promise to her by protecting Arin Helev in that war......
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om