The royal palace of Nardodia
Emor Tripas wasn't in a hurry to depart from Vialand like others. So, he was only back in the evening. Now, she was having dinner with his uncle, the King.
"How is the gathering, Emor?" the King asked his nephew. "Is there any problem?"
"No, uncle. It's nice," the Crown Prince replied. "It's my first ti seeing so many royals in one place and it's more fascinating than I thought."
Hearing the response ford a subtle smile on the King's lips. "It's good if you enjoyed it. It's not a bad idea to attend that kind of gathering often. It will help you a lot once you beco the King."
His last sentence made the Crown Prince narrowed his eyes. "I'm not interested in the throne," he muttered.
He hated how power change so people and... he didn't wish to experience the sa.
A year ago, he almost lost himself and he was glad that he didn't.
He didn't want to be like Zaro Aventine.
As he was busy with his thoughts, he didn't even notice how his uncle's face had turned sour.
"You're the Crown Prince," Aryan Tripas sternly said. "You shouldn't say such a thing."
"But -"
"Do you think I retrieve the throne from the Qalagons just so I could pass it down to soone else?" the King snapped. "You're a Tripas, Emor. The foundation of this kingdom is laid by a Tripas. Anyone who isn't a Tripas by blood shouldn't sit on the throne."
Emor Tripas looked at his uncle and realized that he took this matter very seriously. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I shouldn't have say that."
Aryan Tripas maintained his silence and tried to calm down himself during that. After a while, he said, "You're 20 now. I think it's ti for you to find a wife and settle down."
The Crown Prince raised a brow and his left hand that was below the table nervously squeezed his dress. He knew very well that protesting would be useless if his uncle insisted.
"You refused when I attempt to bring the current Qalagon Queen to Nardodia. So, this ti, I will do it as I see fit," Aryan Tripas said in a pretty firm voice.
"Uncle, please... I don't think I'm ready for that -"
"For the stability of the throne, it's best for you to settle down."
"I can't even let anyone touch !" Emor Tripas snapped. "How am I supposed to get married with this condition?!"
The tone of his voice was quite high and he had never done that before. This made Aryan Tripas raised a brow and Emor just realized what he did.
"Please forgive ," he pleaded. "That wasn't my intention."
Much to his surprise, Emor didn't notice any rage in his uncle's eyes or face. Instead, he kept on staring at him quietly.
Aryan Tripas in his mory hated to be questioned, let alone being yelled at. He never tolerates such an act of disrespect.
"Fine," the King finally said after what seed to be forever. His voice was calm and that surprised Emor once again. "We should find a way to cure your illness first."
In the King's mind, the young Emor appeared along with the incidents that made him developed this mysterious illness. Even during those tis, he always feels responsible for him.
Being a younger Prince in a royal family wasn't easy and he was well aware of that.
Maybe that's why Emor always had a soft spot in his cold heart. He always saw himself in him.
His uncle's sudden calmness rendered Emor speechless. It even made him wondered what had gotten into him.
Still staring at his face, Aryan Tripas understood what his nephew was thinking. "I always care for you, Emor," he said. Letting a few seconds passed in silence, he rose from his seat. "You must be tired due to the journey. Rest early."
The King walked out of the dining room, leaving behind the confused Crown Prince.
* * *
The Alewine Army Camp, Cedore
In the middle of a small training ground reserved for high ranking Generals, Zire was having a friendly match with Kerin.
The once childish and lacking General was nowhere to be seen in the friendly match. Instead, General Zire was now a capable and reliable General who served as the second-in-command of the powerful Alewine Army.
After losing Jolene and then Rion, his carefree nature was gone but those sufferings transford him into a stronger person. In contrast to his easygoing and childish nature in the past, he was now a mature and serious person who rarely smiled.
The price of changing was always high and in the case of Zire, it was the lives of his closest companion and his lover.
There was still one thing in him that didn't change. It was his devotion and loyalty to Iria who was his forr Commander. However, he was always loyal to the Alewine Army and he also wholeheartedly accept Orius as his Commander.
Orius trusted him and relied on him a lot. After all, he had served in the army longer than most of the current soldiers. He had also earned the trust and respect of the soldiers.
"Your skills are so great now, Zire," Orius remarked when Zire won the friendly match without much effort. "I bet you will be able to beat by now."
"I doubt that, Commander," Zire promptly said. "You're as capable as your sister. It's not an easy feat to beat you."
"Then we will have to see for it one day," Orius Alewine said with a little smile. "I really wish to know the result."
"Anyti, Commander."
Orius firmly patted the General on the shoulder but the latter remained the sa - firm yet calm. At tis, he used to hear the soldiers say that he was becoming more and more like the late Rion.
The Commander retreated from the training ground with the Generals and he entered his tent. Much to his surprise, soone was waiting for him inside.
"You ca?" he said and raised a brow. "What is it this ti?"
"I ca here to train with you," Valerie replied with a small yet genuine smile.
"Again?" Orius asked. "Aren't you tired from yesterday?"
"You know, my father is a General in the royal army. I was trained ever since I was young and one-day training is not enough to tire out," the Lady simply said.
Her words made the Commander slightly smiled.. "Fine then. What will we do today?"
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