บท 27: As Long As It's Necessary
Silence fell upon Prince Orius room in the Hudale Inn. Killing Arin Helev? That never crossed Iria's mind!
"What are you trying to say, Your Highness?" She asked, finally breaking the silence.
Prince Orius simply smiled. "You live with the Crown Prince, Commander Iria. Right now, you're the Crown Princess of this kingdom. Don't you think you can do it?"
"If I'm not mistaken, that wasn't in the plan." Iria promptly said, glancing at the second Prince.
"It's not in the plan but I just thought that it would be great. What's more, I'm sure that Father won't object to this." Prince Orius took another step towards Iria, standing right before her. "Did the masked Commander hesitate to kill an enemy?" He assumed.
There was a little smile on the Prince's face but it only made him looked scarier. Whenever he smiled, it was never out of happiness but to mock or provoke others.
"Does that ever happened?" Iria argued confidently.
"No, but... there can always be the first in everything, Commander." Prince Orius Aventine said and retreated to his seat.
"I will do it as long as it's necessary. However, please keep this in mind, Your Highness. As you just said, Crown Prince Arin is the pillar of this kingdom. If he happened to be assassinated, it would be impossible to leave this kingdom alive." She made a deliberate paused and firmly said, "His Majesty wanted both of us back, alive."
Prince Orius thought about it for a while and said, "You have a point. It's better to give a more serious thought." He rose from his seat again, looking at Iria. "Why don't you return to the palace for now? If the Crown Princess disappeared for too long, it will only draw suspicions. We can keep in touch and work together in this mission."
"Yes, Your Highness. Please inform me if anything happened. Your safety here is important." Iria formally said.
"You don't have to worry about me, Commander. I can protect myself." Prince Orius said and turned his back at Iria.
Staring at the Prince's back for a while, Iria bowed. "Take care, Your Highness." Then she quickly left the room with Rion.
After the two left, Prince Orius turned around and glanced at the empty door. "There's something that changed in her, Kerin. I can feel it." He muttered to his right-hand man who was standing a few steps away. All at once, his calm face was replaced by a troubled one.
* * *
Hanson Lorin was still on the small pavilion with Lady Vienna. He worried about the Crown Princess but it had been a long time since he got to visit Vienna Mareyi and being able to spend some time with her made him happy.
"General Hanson, do you like my gift? I can't come in person to give you that ornament and I sent my maid. I hope you understand." Lady Vienna said to Hanson Lorin who was very quiet. The latter was always like this whenever he was with her and Vienna had already gotten used to it. Maybe because he didn't know how to expressed himself well.
Hanson showed her the ornament on his sword handle with a satisfying smile. "I think this explains everything. You don't have to feel sorry, Lady Vienna. I understand your situation and I'm happy enough to know that you bought this for me."
"I'm glad you like it. That day, I asked Her Highness to help me choose one. I have no idea that she is the Crown Princess." Lady Vienna said with a little smile.
Hanson Lorin raised a brow. "Her Highness?" He recalled that day in the training ground when Iria pointed out his ornament. She knew all along and even today... was she teasing him around?! With a flustered face, the General repeatedly blinked. He didn't expect the Crown Princess to do that!
Vienna Mareyi nodded. "She has a great taste. I'm really happy that she's willing to befriend me."
Hanson finally smiled. "Her Highness is quite lonely in the palace. So, she loved to sneak out and Arin also worried about her a lot."
"Sneak out?" Vienna Mareyi laughed. "She's so cool!"
Her laughter always lingered in his heart. She always remained elegant and well-mannered but... he knew that only he had the privilege to witness this carefree side of her.
"Cool? Because she often sneaked out?" Hanson mused and Vienna's smile turned to an awkward one. "That's strange coming from the most elegant noble lady of our kingdom."
"I would love to sneak out too if I can but... with the guards of our mansion, it's impossible for me." Vienna Mareyi said with a disappointed face and she suddenly raised a brow. "But how did Her Highness managed to do that? The security in the palace is even heavier than our mansion." She glanced at Hanson with a flustered face.
Hanson Lorin let out a sigh. "I think it's because of that guard named Rion. I heard he is quite skilled."
Vienna Mareyi nodded in understanding. "Then I think I should look for a skilled guard too." She said with determination.
"I prefer you not do that, My Lady. Outdoors could never be safer than indoors. I want you to be safe."
At Hanson's response, her eyes twinkled with mirth. Though she knew that he had liked her for a long time, it's not every day that he showed it. "If you say so, then I won't." She said with a nod.
Whenever he looked at Vienna Mareyi, he always finds himself so unworthy of her. That's why he finds it hard to express himself unlike her who was always so straightforward. However, he never stopped striving to be better so that he could be worthy of her one day.
Hanson was interrupted from his thoughts when he heard a voice.
"You're here." It was Arin who was making his way to him. "He glanced around the surroundings and turned back to Hanson. "Where is the Crown Princess?" He asked.
Hanson and Vienna Mareyi quickly rose from their seats at the sight of the Crown Prince. They bowed to greet him.
"Her Highness returned to the palace with Rion. She said she wanted to rest." Hanson cautiously told the Crown Prince.
"She's sick?" Arin asked with a perplexed face. She was fine just a while ago!
"I'm not sure of that. She asked me to stay here and inform you when you're done."
Arin stood still, thinking of what Hanson said. Was Iria sick or... he let out a sigh. Did she do this to wander alone again?! He thought she had dropped that habit! Was he wrong?
"I will return to the palace. You can stay here if you want." He said to Hanson.
"It's getting late. I will return with you." Hanson quickly said. He turned to Vienna Mareyi with a little smile and a nod. Then he immediately left for the palace with the Crown Prince.
He knew that Arin's life was always at risk due to Queen Lorey, so he wanted to make sure that his friend who was also his master was safe all the time.....
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