Chapter 20: Regardless of Who You Are
The thoughts that crossed his mind made Hemeri realize that he let himself be affected by General Eloria Camer much more than he thought. He let out a soft sigh and covered his face because of the realization but...
"Greetings, Your Highness."
General Azelyn Camer's greeting made him withdraw his hand and he slightly lifted his head to look at him. "General Azelyn," he greeted him back and added, "It's been a long time."
"It is, Your Highness," the General responded, formal as ever. "I heard from Nygel that you are here and I even doubt it at first. But you're really here."
"You two talk as if I were not here," Alanus chimed in, making the two chuckle. "Have a seat, Azelyn."
Azelyn Camer bowed his head and took a seat beside the Second Prince.
"It seems like you two are still inseparable," Crown Prince Hemeri pointed out, glancing back and forth at his cousin and General Azelyn. He chuckled as he asked, "Do you still cover for each other?"
"That's mostly one-sided, Your Highness," General Azelyn replied, quickly yet jokingly. "I never get myself in trouble but I always have to cover for His Highness and take the blame."
"I rarely asked you to cover for me," Alanus Varence sighed. "You are the one who always stepped in before I even got the chance to stop you."
Hemeri Van Hale only laughed and Second Prince Alanus spoke again, addressing his friend. "What brings you here? I thought that you will be going straight to the camp."
"I come to ask if you will need me for any other matters today," General Azelyn said. "If not, I plan to go to the Camer Army camp and see if I could help with the preparation."
"A preparation for the appointment ceremony of General Eloria?" The Second Prince asked and General Azelyn nodded his head.
"I may not serve in the Camer Army but I'm still a Camer," he said. "I think I should help out."
Second Prince Alanus thought about it and nodded his head. "Alright. It's right of you to help out."
"I'm curious," Crown Prince Hemeri suddenly chimed in. "You are highly skilled and if you were to join the Camer Army, there is a high chance for you to become the Commander, considering how Commander Deric has no male heir. Why didn't you take the chance?"
His cousin was never the type to be curious about other people and hearing him asking such a question was new for Alanus.
What had gotten with his cousin?
Surprisement was also evident on General Azelyn's face but he replied right away by saying, "My goal is always to help Prince Alanus, Your Highness. Besides, Camer Army now has Eloria, and believe me. She is much better than I am."
A slight smile appeared on his face as he continued, "Everyone knows that it's not been long since Eloria entered the world of us, warriors, but she trained hard to be where she is now. And I believe that no one else can achieve what she did in just a span of three years."
The General was full of pride for his younger cousin and Crown Prince Hemeri could also tell that the General was sincere. He was always good at reading people and it seemed like the reports he received about the cousins were true. The Camer cousins indeed share a great bond.
"What do you plan to do today anyway?"
Alanus wasn't expecting such a question from his cousin but he still responded by saying, "Nothing much. I think I will be at the camp."
"Then why don't you take me there?"
"Where?"
"The Camer Army camp."
Raising their brows, Prince Alanus and General Azelyn exchanged confused glances.
Why would Hemeri wish to go there?
"I don't think the Camer Army camp is a place for you to play around," Alanus responded to his cousin, still half-believe that Hemeri was joking. "Do you even know what General Eloria is like? I don't think you have never heard about her."
Hemeri Van Hale suppressed a chuckle when he heard his cousin. He heard too much and it was why he was there at Aritish in the very first place!
"Why don't you enlighten me then?" He sounded and appeared quite earnest that even Alanus could not tell that he was only playing dumb.
Feeling a bit helpless, Second Prince Alanus looked at his friend as if it were his way of asking for help. Though General Azelyn let out a soft sigh, he still ended up responding to the Emerido Crown Prince in his friend and master's place.
"Eloria has quite a reputation, Your Highness; bad and good alike." Azelyn paused, appearing a bit reluctant to continue. After a moment, he eventually continued by saying, "What His Highness meant earlier is that Eloria is very strict and protective when it comes to the Camer Army and the camp. I apologize for saying this but... if -"
"If I go there to play around, I might mess up things," Crown Prince Hemeri finished for the General and slightly smiled as he asked, "Is that what you are trying to say, Azelyn?"
"I apologize," the General repeated himself but the Second Prince chimed in.
"General Eloria is young but whenever anything about her Camer Army is concerned, I heard that she is not afraid of anything. She is not like other warriors or military officials," Alanus Varence said and continued, "She is not bothered by someone's status or influence." There was a playful smile on his face when he added, "That means if you go there and cross the line, she won't let it slide, regardless of who you are."
Hemeri Van Hale had heard about such a report twice or thrice. His cousin was right when he said that General Eloria wasn't like other military officials. She was unique and he knew that.
"What makes you think that playing around is the only thing in my mind?" The Emerido Crown Prince simply asked his cousin back as if he didn't really care about what the latter just told him. "The Camer Army is famous and I just wish to see their camp."
Second Prince Alanus tried to speak up but his friend beat him to that.
"Come with me, Your Highness," General Azelyn said. "I don't think Eloria will mind it. Besides, she is not as worse as the rumors claimed."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone