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The Royal Palace of Jerivia

An hour had passed after he finished breakfast and Zaro Aventine was all set to go to Helsia again. He stayed at Jerivia for 5 days but... he rarely got to chat with his wife during that.

The young King was busy at most times but even when he wasn't, Athena rarely spend time with him.

This was so unlike her and Zaro Aventine still couldn't stop worrying because of that.

Even now, though Athena came to see him off, there was still that strange atmosphere around her.

"Be careful and have a safe journey," Athena said to him, forcing a little smile that wasn't convincing to him.

"You really won't tell me what's going on?" he asked her for the many times in five days.

"I already told you many times that everything is fine," Athena insisted. "You should go now. It's way past your estimated departure. The soldiers at Helsia will be worried."

Zaro Aventine stared at her for a while as he felt too helpless. He didn't know what to do. He wasn't experienced in this kind of situation.

"Take care then," he finally said as he didn't know what else to say.

It can't be helped. His mind went blank.

The King turned to the right to mount on his horse but... he halted and turned to his wife again. "Are you sure that you don't want to come with me? It will be better than staying here alone."

"No," Athena said, shaking her head. "The atmosphere there is not really for me. Just go. I'll be fine."

Zaro Aventine stood still for a while. As he didn't know what to say anymore, he mounted on his horse and depart for Helsia with Derin and the other guards.

The Queen stared at her husband until he was out of her sight and then walked back inside. She entered her chamber and quietly sat on a couch near the door to the balcony.

Soon enough, Aziel walked inside.

When Aziel saw the Queen quietly sitting alone near the opened door, he glanced around and picked up the small blanket from the long sofa. Then he covered Athena with the blanket.

"It's cold," he said. "You even open the door."

"I want to watch the outdoors," Athena said to him.

"But your mind is somewhere else," the guard pointed out. "You don't even tell His Majesty that today is your birthday."

"My birthday?" Athena muttered and looked up at him.

Aziel nodded. "You forgot? You turn 21 today."

Athena narrowed her eyes when she realized that it was her birthday.

She really forget?

"In Nathania, you used to celebrate your birthday each year," Aziel said. "You never forget about it."

"Maybe because I have too much on my mind these days," Athena muttered. "Besides, I'm not in a mood to celebrate my birthday."

Aziel gave a quick thought and said, "Then let's go out for some fresh air. It's not good for you to spend your birthday here, sitting all alone like this. You can go out and have some fun."

Athena frowned when she heard her friend. "That's too much of a hassle. It's not easy to disguise while all the people at the capital knows my face."

"If you wear a cloak and a veil, it will be enough," Aziel argued. "Just agree with me, Your Majesty. We only have birthdays once a year. It's too precious to just let it be gone this way."

Queen Athena looked at the guard and sighed. "You're still the same, Aziel." She clicked her tongue and added, "Persistent as ever."

"But you always give in for the sake of my persistence, don't you?" he said with a little smile. "That means it's worth it."

Athena quietly stared at her friend who was standing beside her. "You're such a fool," she remarked and sighed. "Why do you never live for yourself?"

"That's such an absurd question to ask a royal guard," Aziel simply responded. "Have you ever seen a guard who lives for himself?"

When the Queen opened her mouth to say something, Aziel beat her at that. Like always, he was the only one who dared to do that to her.

"If you feel bad for me, then just agree. Let's go out to have some fun." The guard sighed and added, "How long do you plan to sit still here like a lifeless person?"

The Queen smiled and finally gave in. Then she rose from her seat. "Fine then. Let's go out."

*

When an hour passed, the two childhood friends already find themselves in the vast market of the capital.

Just like Aziel suggested, the Queen wore a red cloak and a veil to conceal her identity while Aziel wore something casual instead of his royal guard uniform. However, his hand was on the hilt of his sword all the time.

It's a rule for a royal guard to be alert all the time.

The market was quite buzzy as there was a small festival ongoing which was mostly celebrated by the commoners.

Many performances were held and each of them attracted quite a crowd.

Athena and Aziel also blended in among the crowd and enjoyed the show. Seeing children among some of the performers reminded the Queen of her childhood which was more like an adventure.

"Do you still remember how you always helped me to sneak out of the palace when we were young?" she asked Aziel who was standing beside her. "Your father was the Captain of the Royal Guards at that time and you always get punished for helping me to sneak out," she added with a chuckle.

Aziel nodded. "You were quite cruel. You know that but you always ask me to help you and at the end of the day, I was always the only one who got punished."

Athena sighed at his response. "You never say no. If you refuse, I won't force you. I'm not cruel as you claimed."

"You're the Princess," he argued. "How could a guard say 'no' to the Princess?"