บท 42: We Can't Always Follow Our Heart
King Tobias Aventine was in his daughter's room, sitting right next to her bed. The royal doctor was also in the room, checking the Princess's condition. When the doctor checked Princess Iria's pulse, he pulled a long face.
"Is her condition that bad, doctor?" The King asked, narrowing his eyes at his only daughter with concern.
His wife the late Queen died when the twins' Princess Iria and Prince Orius were just two years old. Since then, his only daughter became the apple of his eye. However, the Princess always had weak health just like her mother and now, with poison running in her body, she had become weaker each day.
"Though Her Highness take the antidote, the poison already affect her organs. I'm afraid that we will have to prepare for the worst, Your Majesty." The doctor informed the King with regret.
King Tobias hold his daughter's hand and when he withdrew, he tightly clenched his fist and eyed the man who was standing on his right a few steps behind. The young man was Callan, the Captain of the Jerivian Royal Guards. "Is there no improvement in the investigation?" The King asked.
"The one who poisoned the Princess committed suicide right away. We investigate him through his acquaintances but we can't find out who is behind this." Captain Callan replied to the King with his head bowed.
When King Tobias shifted his gaze back to his daughter, his face turned darkened. "The Princess of Jerivia was attacked while being in the shelter of a palace. If words get out, we will be a laughing stock and not only my daughter, Commander Iria who is in Qalagon will also be in danger."
"I will make sure that no one gets a grasp of this matter, Your Majesty." Captain Callan promptly responded.
Apart from the King's trusted Ministers and some of the royal guards, Commander Iria's trusted subordinates and the royal family members, the ones who knew about this were a few maids who looked after the Princess and the royal doctor. However, the King already issued an order and no one was allowed to talk about this matter.
"Father."
The King quickly turned around to see his eldest son standing at the door. From the look on Crown Prince Zaro's face, it was clear that he heard what the doctor said. He knew that his only sister could pass away anytime.
The King gestured the doctor and Captain Callan to leave and they both complied right away. Then the Crown Prince walked closer to his sister's bed.
"Is there no way to save Iria?" The Crown Prince asked his father, standing beside him. Narrowing his eyes at his sister who was lying on the bed unconscious, he was boiling with rage on the inside.
His only sister was a kind and beautiful soul. Who on earth had the audacity to hurt her and make her like this?! Right now, he thirsts for revenge more than anything but there was nothing he could do! He already leads the investigation for a month now but it was only a failure. Searching for the mastermind behind this assassination attempt was like searching for a needle in a haystack!
"Only the gods can help her now." King Tobias muttered. He rose from his seat and gently tapped his son on the shoulder.
"She didn't deserve this, Father. She has a kind heart and she never causes harm to anyone. Why must she suffer like this?" Zaro Aventine complained to his father. Must life be this unfair?!
"Zaro, life is never fair. Iria was born in a royal family and you know what that means." The King hinted at the insecure life of the royals and turned back to his daughter again. "No matter what, we should make sure that the one who did this pay for his crimes. As her father and brother, that's our responsibility."
"I won't forget that." Zaro promptly responded and then turned to his father. "But Father, must you really lead the war? I can -"
"Zaro."
The Crown Prince fell silent when he heard his father's stern voice. King Tobias shut his eyes to calm down himself and when he opened it again, he looked at his son. "I think I already make myself clear during the court meeting. I made this decision for our Jerivia, so I don't want to hear about this matter again."
His father's voice was much calm than before but Zaro Aventine knew that he was serious. His father won't change his mind and pursuing this matter will only make his father angry at him. That was never good, he knew it from experience. As such, he maintained his silence and only narrowed his eyes at the floor.
King Tobias Aventine was always a firm ruler but he was also a father who deeply loved his children. He always tried his best to balance his two responsibilities but it was never easy. Even this time, he let out a sigh when he looked at his son.
"I know that you worry about me, son. However, you should remember that we are royals and we can't always follow our heart." He calmly said. "As a father, I never want to make my son worry but I'm the King. I should always put my kingdom first.
"One day, the throne will be yours and you will become the King of Jerivia. Thousands of lives will depend on you and your decisions. They will look up at you with high hopes. When that time comes, you will understand me."
For a while, his father's words repeatedly echoed in Zaro's ears. Just thinking of his father to be gone was pure torment for the young Crown Prince. For a split second, he even thought that it might be better if they weren't royals and just a noble or even commoners!
"I think we should inform about Helsia and my sister's condition to Orius and Iria. They should know about this." He finally spoke up when the two people in Qalagon crossed his mind. He wondered how much it would affect them once they knew the Princess's condition.
"I will take care of that. You should worry about the investigation." The King said and slightly smiled at his son. "Let's go. It's time for dinner."
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