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Iria Alewine was in her tent in the camp with Zaro Aventine. The Crown Prince was more than busy these days and even now, he barely finds the time to visit her. Despite the things that bothered her in the past days, the Commander was still glad to see her best friend.

"How is the investigation going?"

Zaro Aventine let out a sigh at Iria's question and shook his head. "Seems like the one who killed Minister Julian is quite skilled. There is no clue that would lead us to him." He paused and added, "I think it's the doing of someone who loathes him and not someone from outside Jerivia."

Iria Alewine know that it won't be a miracle even if many people hated a Minister like him. However, killing him with such a perfect plan, especially in his own home wasn't easy. She believed that there weren't many people in this kingdom who would be capable of such a thing.

The Commander looked at the Crown Prince and one thing crossed her mind. "The poisoning incident... " she cautiously started. "It's already known that it's the doing of Aryan Tripas. That means... "

"I know," Zaro Aventine promptly said. "That means he is the one who poisoned Iria and caused her death." He stated the fact that bothered him for weeks now.

"Zaro -"

"I will fulfil my promise, Iria," the Crown Prince firmly said. "Even if it takes time, I will surely crush Aryan Tripas and Nardodia." He met Iria's gaze and added, "That's the last thing I could do for my late sister."

Iria quietly looked at her friend for a while before she nodded. "Alright. I will help you with that. Aryan Tripas must pay no matter what."

Zaro flashed a small yet unconvincing smile and glanced around the tent. Once again, what happened while he was away crossed his mind.

"I'm sorry, Iria. I wasn't there for you while you were going through that," he muttered in a low voice. "It must be very hard."

Iria Alewine saw the pain in his eyes and what bothered her crossed her mind once again. She refused to think about it, at least for now. No matter what, she wanted to save their friendship. There were times when their friendship was all she had and... she will never forget those times.

"You're only doing your responsibility, Zaro. I never blame you," she said to him in an assuring voice.

With the growing number of secrets she kept from him, she only felt more guilty. However, he was the Crown Prince before he was her friend and she always keep that in mind.

* * *

The atmosphere in the royal palace was quite tense compared to the Commander's tent. King Tobias summoned his second son to his chamber and tried to have a normal conversation with him, but... it didn't went well, like always.

"Orius, you should tell me if you have any problem. Must you keep acting up?" the King grunted. "Why is it so hard just to have a normal chat with you for once?"

Orius Aventine used to wonder why the King was always patient with him despite the way he treated him.

Was it because he felt guilty?

After all, he was the one who separated him from his real family and made him live this fake of a life!

"You should just stop," he argued in a cold voice. "I'm not interested in listening to you."

Staring at Orius helplessly, King Tobias felt suffocated. "Is it because of what you said that day?" he asked. "Did you behave like this because of that?"

Prince Orius truly wished to make the King pay for his shamelessness!

Even if he was the King, how can he have no shame even after killing his friend and take away his son because of jealousy? How can he bear to look at him in the eyes during all those years?!

Then he heard the King's voice again.

"You're right. I was behind that incident."

Orius always knew that the King was behind that incident. He heard him talked about it with the only soldier who survived the attack. That night, he thought that he was finally losing control after years. He was determined to kill the King for what he did to his real father but...

He saw Iria. When he wondered what might happen to her, he barely hold back though it almost drive him crazy! He did that for her sake. He will be able to protect her only if he lives.

But now, hearing the King admitted to it, the pain resurfaced and it was more than tough to bear this time!

Orius tightly clenched his fist, reminding himself not to lose control! He had already hold back for years and he should not ruin everything!

"Is your pride more valuable than your kingdom?" he asked the King in a low voice. He still remembered how the kingdom's security was immediately threatened when they lost their most capable warrior. If Iria didn't step up and brought back the anxious soldiers on their feet, Jerivia will surely collapse at that time!

"Do you think I never consider that?" the King asked him back. "I held back for more than 17 years, Orius. Though it was tormenting, I put aside myself for the sake of the kingdom but... I lost control just once and I ended up committing that heinous crime of killing my best friend."

Tobias Aventine glanced around and his gaze landed on the armor which was placed in one corner of his chamber. There was also a sheathed sword there and on the hilt, an ornament was hanged. It was the same ornament he looked at the night Iria was poisoned. The ornament was a gift from Darien Alewine.

"Do you know how much I regret?" he asked Orius in a low voice. "If I could turn back time, I will never do that again. It's been three years but... it never stops haunting me even for just a day!"

"It must be why you always treat Commander Iria well," Orius Aventine scoffed, impassive to the King's face that hinted at torment.

"I admit what I did but don't drag Iria into this," the King said in a firm voice. "I practically raised her. The way I treat her... everything is sincere. It's never an act. I won't exchange her for anything. She means that much to me."