Judging from the look on Klaus Ermias face, it was clear that he wasn't pleased to meet the man who was kneeling beside his bed. "I already told you many times not to follow me," he said. His voice was cold and full of authority.
"I apologize, milord. It was the Duke's order. He told me -"
"The Duke. The Duke. The Duke!" Klaus Ermias chanted the title three times and each time, his voice was raised higher and higher. "I'm tired of hearing that. My uncle should just leave me alone. I'm not a kid anymore."
"But Your Highness -"
A sharp glare from Klaus Ermias was enough to make the man fell silent. He quickly lowered his head. "Please forgive me."
"Call me that once again and I'll have your head, Theo," Klaus warned the young man named Theo. His voice, his expression and his face; everything about him proved that he was serious.
"I understand," Theo quickly replied. He still lowered his gaze, not daring to face the rage of the man on the bed.
Klaus Ermias fell silent for a while before he shifted his gaze back to Theo again. "You were in the forest, right? Do you know who did that?"
"I was indeed in the forest during the assassination attempt but... I killed them all in order to not lose them. They were running away and I was alone. I had no choice but to shoot them," Theo explained to Klaus. Then he added by saying, "I'm not sure but I think they are Queen Lorey's men."
"This Queen is quite tiresome. If she is not useful for our plan, she should have already been dead," Klaus Ermias remarked with a darkened face. Clenching his fist, he hardly squeezed the blanket that covered his lower body.
"But milord, why did you do that today? What if your life is in danger? You even get injured," Theo cautiously said. He was being careful not to anger his master again.
Klaus Ermias recalled what happened in the Garetth Forest. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm still alive and that's enough. Don't tell my uncle about this," he deadpanned.
"I will do that."
Klaus Ermias shifted his gaze to the windows and stared at the outdoors. "It's late. Get me out of here."
"You want to return to the camp in that condition? Why don't you rest a bit more?"
When his master didn't say anything, Theo understood that he had made up his mind. Then he stood up and bowed. "I'll be back right away."
Theo walked out and Klaus Ermias was alone in the room again. He pushed himself up and sat on the bed. Then he narrowed his eyes at his arms which Iria hold before.
That was strange. Why didn't he react though someone touched a part of his body? It was the first in years! He recalled how he rushed to her aid when he saw the arrow. Why did he do that? He had no idea. Many miracles took place today and he had the answer to none of them.
Feeling lost, he muttered, "Just who are you?"
It wasn't long before Theo returned again. Standing a few steps away from the bed, he said, "Milord, the inn owner said that all the accommodation fees are already paid."
"The Crown Princess?"
Theo nodded. "She asked the owner to check on you from time to time and call a doctor again if necessary. She paid for all those in advance."
Klaus Ermias fell silent again. He briefly narrowed his eyes at his wound before he said, "Alright. Let's leave this place first."
* * *
Just as Iria predicted, the situation in the palace was a mess! Crown Prince Arin had deployed not only the guards of the Crown Prince Palace but also from the main palace to search for the Crown Princess who went missing.
Arin Helev was also outside the palace, looking for his wife himself. Antony and a few guards joined him. At first, Arin believed that Iria would soon return again though he was feeling worried, knowing that she sneaked out completely alone this time. However, that time can't come and now, it's already past dinner time!
The anxiety of the Crown Prince was more than evident in his face and eyes now. The anger he felt when he heard that she sneaked out alone was long replaced by anguish. It became more tormenting as time passed!
Halting his horse, he desperately glanced around the streets and the corner of the market. Throughout his life, he never felt as desperate as he did now. What's more, he never wished for something to the point where he felt like he was going crazy!
He wished for her to be safe, to be alive and to return to him.
Did what he always feared finally happened? Did she... left him? He was never the type to let his assumption control him but this time, it made him wild and he can't help but continue assuming many bad things!
Since when did he become so pessimistic?! Maybe she was just caught up with something!
"Your Highness, shall we return and ask the other parties about the situation on their side? We might be able to know something about Her Highness from there." Antony who was on his right said to him.
"No," Arin promptly replied. "I'm sure that we will already receive the message if there is something. Let's look around this area again."
"Yes, Your Highness."
They were all about to start riding their horses again until...
They saw one soldier riding a horse towards them. He came from the direction which would lead them to the palace. The Crown Prince and his troops waited for the soldier and in no time, he reached where they were.
The soldier quickly gets off his horse and kneeled on one knee before the Crown Prince. "Greetings, Your Highness. The Crown Princess just returned to the palace and -"
The soldier couldn't even finish reporting because the Crown Prince already rode his horse in the direction of the palace without saying anything! All his men followed him right away, leaving the messenger alone with a bewildered face. What was that?!
Arin rushed back to the palace and all he could think of was meeting Iria as fast as possible. He quickened and quickened his pace until he finds himself in the Crown Prince Palace. He gets off his horse in a hurry and ran inside. Then... he saw Iria on the pavilion.
It was clear that not much time had passed since she returned as she was still dressed in clothes that would be suitable for horse riding. What's more, a few guards were standing near the pavilion, watching over her. They didn't plan to let her left again!
When Iria turned around, Arin finally saw her face. Her reaction was a mixture of guilt and nervousness. Maybe she also knew that she messed up quite big this time. However, Arin couldn't think of such things.
When he saw her alive and standing, he lost the control and calmness which he always maintained. Feeling relief, he rushed to her and just when she was about to speak up, he pulled her in to a hug!
Everyone near the pavilion was taken aback by his action and... Iria was also among them.....
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢