"Why are you still up?"


    Iria Alewine shifted her gaze to the left when she heard Prince Orius''s voice. She was standing on top of the pavilion in the pce and the Second Prince was making his way to her.


    "I can''t sleep," she replied. "So, I came out for some fresh air."


    "Is it because we are leaving early at dawn tomorrow?" Orius Aventine asked as he stood beside her. "We will need days to reach Jerivia. You will surely need some good rest for that."


    "You should also rest, Your Highness. Why did youe out?" Iria Alewine asked. She briefly nced at the Second Prince before she shifted her gaze back to the enchanting view of the capital.


    "I can''t sleep either," the Second Prince replied. "We spent almost three months here and there is a long yet dangerous journey ahead of us. It''s hard to sleep while thinking of that."


    "You don''t seem like someone who would be wary of such a thing, Your Highness. I think I still don''t know you well," Iria Alewine remarked.


    "I''m not that wary," the Prince promptly said. "I just wish for everything to went well. If we failed to leave this kingdom safely, things will be a mess."


    "Don''t worry. I will make sure that we leave safe and sound," the Commander assured the Prince who slightly smiled.


    "Kerin will wait for us near the capital gate and once we leave the capital, things will be a lot easier for us." Prince Orius made a deliberate paused and added, "The Prime Minister''s daughter wille with us until we leave the capital."


    Iria Alewine raised a brow when she heard the Prince. "Your Highness -"


    "She already agreed to it," Orius Aventine stated before Iria could say anything. "I just want to make sure that we leave without any problem."


    Lady Vienna already agreed to it? Why did she keep on putting herself in a risky situation? If the Qgons knew that she was helping them, she will be done for!


    "I know you care about her." The Second Prince spoke up again when Iria fell silent. "That''s why I take such a huge risk and let her live. She is the Prime Minister''s daughter and nothing will happen to her. You should believe that."


    Iria Alewine shifted her gaze to the sky when she heard the Prince out. The vast sky was pretty dark as there were not many stars that night. "Your Highness, do you know why it''s always hard for me to act tough whenever ites to the people I care about? I know everyone is like that but... it''s always harder for me."


    "Why is that?" Prince Orius asked.


    "It''s because ever since I was young, I hardly had anyone. Be it to lean on or to care for, I never had many people around me. So, if there is anyone who is precious to me, I have a strong desire to protect them at all cost," the Commander made a deliberate paused and added, "It''s also my way of protecting myself. I don''t want to lose anyone precious to me again. I don''t think I''ll be able to take it."


    "Do you feel the same about my brother?" Prince Orius promptly asked, much to the surprise of the Commander but... she still nodded.


    "Zaro is my best friend. If I ever lose him, it will be the same as losing half of myself," Iria remarked.<novelnext></novelnext>


    * * *


    "This should be enough. You should return now."


    Vienna Mareyi darted her eyes to Iria when she heard the Jerivian Prince. They almost reached the gate of the capital and... she won''t get the chance to see her again. When the Commander nodded at her with a little smile on her face, she slowly rode her horse towards her.


    "Will we meet again?" she asked.


    "Unless it''s on a good asion, I prefer for us not to meet again," the Masked Commander replied. Her gaze was fixated on the woman whom she regarded as her only friend in this kingdom.


    "We should hurry, Your Highness," Kerin said to the Second Prince. He was the right-hand man of the Prince and he just joined them a while ago.


    "We will leave now," Commander Iria said to Vienna Mareyi with a little smile on her face. "I wish for your safety and happiness."


    Vienna Mareyi watched as Iria and the three men ride past the gate of the capital. With the token of the Crown Princess in their hands, they can pass any gate in Qgon without checking or questioning. Then she takes out a letter which Iria gave her. She asked her to help her in delivering it to the Crown Prince.


    At first, Iria wanted to leave it in the Crown Prince''s chamber but she was afraid that someone might found it as the servants cleaned the chamber each day. So, she asked Lady Vienna to help her in arranging someone to deliver it to the Crown Prince once he heard of her departure.


    Vienna Mareyi knew what she should do but... her heart said otherwise. She had known the Crown Prince ever since she was young and he was also the best friend of her lover. He would be devastated once he learned the truth. Besides, he might not be given the chance to see her again!


    After pondering about it for a while, Vienna Mareyi made a decision. Then she went home and waited for half a day. When afternoon arrived, she left for the Royal Army Camp.


    She promised that she would keep the secret until Iria returned to Jerivia and now that thetter had departed, the promise had be invalid.


    * * *


    Crown Prince Arin was standing near the training ground with General Hanson. The two friends were watching over the training of the soldiers when a soldier came to them.


    "Your Highness, Lady Vienna Mareyi is near the entrance of the camp, seeking an audience with you."


    Arin Helev was quite surprised but when he thought of how Lady Vienna was with Iria, he had a feeling that it must be about Iria. "Bring her to my tent," hemanded the soldier who quickly left toply with the order.


    Having no idea of what brought the Lady to the army camp, the Crown Prince turned to General Hanson who was equally surprised as him. "Why don''t youe too?"


    When he heard the Crown Prince, the General nodded without much thought and they both made their way to the Crown Prince''s tent.....