The Alliance Marriage Went Wrong

Arin Helev and Iria were bidding farewell to Crown Prince Emor. The Prince had recovered and he wanted to return to Nardodia to solve things there. As the royal doctor said that he would be fine now, Arin arranged soldiers to escort the Crown Prince back to his kingdom.

"The soldiers will be with you till you reach the border," Arin Helev said to Emor Tripas. "That means we won't know if you reach the palace safely or not."

"You should inform us once you arrive," Iria added. "We will be waiting."

Emor Tripas nodded. "Alright. I'm very grateful for your help. I will make sure to repay you one day."

"There's no need for that," the Qalagon King stated. "You help us and that already put you in danger. Rather than risking your life, you can stop, Emor. You already did enough and I won't blame you."

"Stopping midway is not my style," the Nardodian Crown Prince simply said with a little smile. "Take care and be careful too. I don't know what is waiting for us next. As I got exposed, my uncle is being careful with me."

"Just think about yourself," Iria uttered with almost an annoyed voice. "We will be fine."

Emor Tripas simply smiled.

"What about the spies then?" Arin asked when the spies they were expecting crossed his mind.

"They will already know that I'm here," Emor replied. "It's just that they don't show themselves and my uncle might already hear the news. That means... if anything is to happen, it will be on my way back."

Iria raised a brow when she heard Emor. "That means it's dangerous. You shouldn't go."

The expression on the King's face proved that he agreed with his wife. However...

"My uncle might be a monster but I want to believe that he won't wish to kill me," Emor Tripas insisted.

"Then I will assign more guards just in case," Arin Helev suggested but the Crown Prince shook his head.

"You already assigned enough guards, Your Majesty. I will be fine." He briefly glanced around before he turned back to the couple and said, "I'll get going."

Arin Helev nodded with a bit of reluctance. "Alright then. Have a safe journey."

"Don't forget to inform us once you arrive," Iria promptly said with a hint of concern in her voice.

Emor Tripas nodded. "Take care."

With that said, he departed for Nardodia with the soldiers.

Arin and Iria returned to their chamber after seeing off Emor Tripas. Though it had been a while since they woke up, the sun only rise now.

"You sleep so less last night," Arin said to Iria as he covered her with the small blanket. Then he sat beside her. "Do you have nightmares again?"

"I haven't had them for a while," Iria muttered. "I don't know why it suddenly haunts me again."

"Then do you want to sleep more?" the King asked. "It's still early."

Iria slightly smiled and placed her head on his thighs. Then she looked at him with a smile on her face. "I think it's better this way."

Arin sighed as he shook his head. Nevertheless, he pulled up the blanket for her. "Seems like I have to settle to being your pillow then."

Iria smiled and closed her eyes. She remained that way for a while without saying anything but Arin never took his eyes off her.

"Arin."

"What's the matter?"

She was still closing her eyes and all his attention was on her.

"Do you often wonder what the future has in store for us?"

Arin Helev nodded though she couldn't see him with her closed eyes. "I think about it a lot."

"Then do you use to feel scared?"

"Yes."

"Since when?"

The King briefly thought and said, "Since you appear in my life."

All at once, she opened her eyes and met his eyes that were looking down at her. "Why?"

"Even during the alliance marriage, I used to be scared. What if you suddenly leave me one day?"

Iria recalled how she let that fear come true.

Did that still haunt him?

"Are you still scared then?" she asked.

Arin let a few seconds pass before he nodded. "I don't think I will ever stop fearing of losing you, Iria. So, I'll do anything to keep you safe, even if it's at the cost of my life."

"Don't be cruel," she muttered. "Then what about me?"

Rion died saving her and if Arin was to suffer the same fate as Rion... she didn't even want to think further.

She only knew one thing.

That she will lose her mind.

After maintaining his silence for a while, Arin Helev flashed a little smile. "Don't worry, my love. I won't ever leave your side." He paused and said, "But I'm curious. What will you do if something happens to me?"

He saw her stern face but he still smiled. "I'm just curious," he repeated.

"I don't want to think about that," Iria said and get up to sit beside him. "I don't think you will be able to do it either."

He nodded. "Then I shouldn't be selfish by asking you to do things I couldn't do myself."

Just when Iria was about to speak up, they heard the sound of knocking on the door and Arin responded.

The one who walked inside was the Master Enaerion and he just returned from Helsia. He halted and kneeled a few steps before the King and Queen.

"Greetings, Your Majesties."

"You already return? Did something happen?" the King promptly asked. Though Iria was the one who tasked the Enaerions, he also knew everything as they always informed each other.

"Something unfortunate happened but everything is fine for now," the Master Enaerion replied and continued, "The Duke of Larica and the Crown Prince of Cedore are at Helsia. Their wives too. And a few days ago, the King of Jerivia captured the Duchess and the Crown Princess to lure the Duke."

Hearing the news, Iria abruptly rose from her seat.

Andres and Orius were at Helsia?! Ophelia and Valerie too?!

What were they thinking?!

"We reach on time and no one got hurt, Your Majesty," the Master Enaerion quickly said to the Queen.. "They are now at a safe place."