When the man heard us Ermias question, his face turned sour. Then he turned his back at him and walked towards the chair. "Is there a problem with that?" he simply asked. His voice was calm yet cold.


    "Uncle, must you really go that far? That''s not -"


    "Those useless men told me that the Crown Princess was also followed by someone," the Duke of Bond said, brushing off his nephew. His words instantly made the Captain fell silent. "Was that you?"


    us Ermias recalled how he had a bad feeling before the hunting took ce. As such, he ended up following the Crown Princess and the two guards. However, he was spotted and things went out of hand, so he had to run away not to get caught by the Crown Princess''s guard.


    "No. I heard about her disappearance while I was in the camp." He couldn''t tell the truth. It would be the same as digging his own grave.


    The Duke took a seat in the chair and looked up at his nephew. "Stay out of this and only concentrate on your own task."


    Though his uncle''s voice was calm, the Captain understood that it wasn''t a request. As such, he nervously pressed his nails against each other while trying to stay calm. "The Crown Princess is a Jerivian, Uncle. We don''t have anything against -"


    "Emor!" The Duke growled as he abruptly rose from his seat while the Captain was rendered silent by his uncle''s rage.


    ncing at his nephew with disappointment, the Duke took a step towards him. "Have you gone crazy? What nonsense are you talking?"


    "Uncle," us Ermias muttered. ncing at the Duke who was taking another step towards him, his face turned pale and in no time, cold sweat was formed in his face. He wanted to take a step back but... he couldn''t move at all. It was as if he was paralyzed!


    "You might live with another name but the blood in your veins is still the same," the Duke of Bond uttered when he was standing right in front of his nephew. "Did you forget who you really are?"


    The question and the eerily low voice invaded the body of the Captain and in no time, he was filled with fear and he can''t utter a single word! He tried his best to stand still but like always, it was hard.


    For him, it was always the hardest thing. To face his uncle.


    The next second, he noticed how his uncle was reaching out his hand to him. Every part of him wanted to run away and avoid him but... he couldn''t move at all. Having no choice, he clenched his fist and braced himself as he shut his eyes.


    The door to the room where they stood was suddenly opened and the Duke darted his eyes to it. However, us Ermias remained still. Maybe he didn''t hear the sound at all.


    "Please calm down, Master. The Young Lord hasn''t recovered from his injury and he isn''t in his right mind now. Please understand him."


    When us Ermias heard the familiar voice that begged for him, he instantly opened his eyes and nced down at the young woman beside him. The young woman was kneeling in front of the Duke with a lowered head.


    "Injury?" The Duke of Bond asked as he raised a brow. However, us Ermias didn''t say anything and only nced down at the young woman with a flustered face.


    "Yes. Theo told me that the Young Lord is injured a few days ago while hunting. He didn''t tell you anything not to worry you," the young woman replied to the Duke.


    The Duke of Bond shifted his gaze back to his nephew and observed him. "How did it happen? Is it serious?"


    The Captain quickly turned to his uncle and shook his head. "No. I was shot by an arrow but I almost recover now."<novelnext></novelnext>


    "You should be careful, Emor. Don''t forget your worth," the Duke said in a stern voice. However, the rage on his face was now gone and his gaze had softened a bit.


    "Yes, Uncle. I will remember that."


    The Duke of Bond nced at the outdoors through the window that was a few steps away. Then he turned back to the young woman who was still on the floor. "Emor should rest here until the sunrise. Take care of him."


    "Yes, Master," the young woman quickly replied and get back on her feet. Then she left the small hall and the Captain instantly followed her out.


    The moment they both entered the chamber which belongs to him, us Ermias quickly closed the door and turned to the young woman who was also facing him. "Why did you get involved? You know how risky it was!"


    "You did the more risky one. Why must you confront your uncle?" The young woman asked him back. Unlike him, she didn''t raise her voice but remained respectful.


    "Alena, you can be punished if you interrupt like that. You know him well," us Ermias said in a much calmer voice.


    "Then you should stop putting yourself in danger too, Emor. Don''t go against your uncle. Don''t you already understand it from your experience? It never ends well." The young woman named Alena Varia argued.


    He was always being careful around his uncle. Why did he suddenly behave like that?


    us Ermias stared at the tenacious young woman and let out a sigh. They were the same age and they grew up together. She was his only friend but... he could never understand her. She should worry about herself too.


    "Alright. I understand," he said as he walked towards the bed. "You should go and rest too."


    "What about your injury?" Alena promptly asked him.


    The Captain briefly nced down at his shoulder before he shifted his gaze back to his friend. "I''m fine now. Don''t worry."


    "Are you sure?"


    He frowned though he knew that this was just her nature. "Yes. Just trust me."


    Alena finally nodded and walked towards the door but...


    "Alena."


    She halted and turned around when he heard him calling her.


    "Thanks for earlier," the Captain said as he slightly smiled.


    When Alena noticed his rare smile, she nodded and smiled in return. Then she walked out of the room.....