pαndα noνɐ1,сoМ Before the soldiers depart for the border, Zire met his Commander as he will be leading some of the Alewine Army soldiers to get their friends and families. The Commander briefed him on the plan she made with Rion before they left Jerivia. Iria also advised Zire to talk to the families of the deceased soldiers and told him to bring them if they still wish to leave with the others.
Orius wished to go too but Arin asked him to stay beside Iria as both he and Crown Prince Andres will be leaving. So, he agreed to stay.
It had been a while since Arin and others depart from the capital. Orius went to check on the soldiers briefly while Iria heard the sound of the knocking on her door. She responded and just like Arin said to her before, the one who walked inside was Lady Vienna.
Despite all the things she went through, Iria Alewine's face instantly brightened up at the sight of her friend. Vienna Lorin exchanged her smile but when she walked closer and saw her condition, it was replaced by concern. She quickened her pace and immediately sat down next to Iria's bed.
Though the King sent someone to inform her, she didn't hear the details and only know that her friend was here. Her husband wasn't here to brief her on the details, so she didn't know much. However, this wasn't what she expected.
"What happened to you?" she inquired with concern. Why did she look so pale?!
"Just some arrow shot wounds," Iria Alewine replied. Her gaze never left the Prime Minister's daughter the moment she stepped inside her chamber. "You look better than the last time we see each other. I'm glad," she remarked with a small smile.
Lady Vienna sighed. How can some arrow shot wounds be trivial?!
Knowing that it was useless to keep on questioning her on that matter, she asked, "Did you see my letter?"
Iria Alewine nodded. "I might be late but congratulations on your wedding. I really wished to come but... I was sick at that time."
Vienna Lorin recalled the poisoning incident that Hanson told her. "I know. I heard that you were poisoned." Making a deliberate pause, she said, "I was so worried."
"My wounds are not severe this time," Iria Alewine insisted. "The doctor said that I'm exhausted and that takes a toll on my body. It slows down my recovery too but I will be fine after a good rest."
Vienna Lorin nodded. "That's a relief." Feeling a bit nervous, she narrowed her eyes and asked, "Will you stay here from now on?"
"No," the Commander said in a low voice. "But don't worry. I won't return to Jerivia anymore and we can meet from time to time."
"What do you mean?" Lady Vienna asked, confused.
"Once Arin and the others return, I will go to Cedore with my brother," Iria Alewine confessed. "My cousin will escort us there."
Vienna Lorin didn't know that Iria had a sibling but it's understandable. It's only been a little over two weeks since Iria knew it too.
"The Emperor of Cedore is my uncle," Iria explained, understanding how lost Vienna felt.
Lady Vienna indeed heard that the Crown Prince of Cedore led his soldiers to their kingdom. So... the cousin Iria talked about was Andres Francia?
"Then what about your brother?" she asked. She just realized that she still had many things to know about her friend.
Before Iria could answer, the door to her chamber was opened and Orius walked inside.
At the sight of the familiar face, the fact that this man tried to kill her last time crossed Lady Vienna's mind. As such, she abruptly rose from her seat when she saw him walking inside!
Orius glanced at both the Lady and his sister, feeling a bit confused. However, the face of the Prime Minister's daughter reminded him of what happened last time. The atmosphere suddenly took an awkward turn and he didn't know what to do!
"It's fine, Vienna," Iria Alewine said in a calm voice. There was a little smile on her face as she was reminded of the past too. "He is the brother I'm talking about," she informed Lady Vienna and added, "My older twin brother."
Bewildered, Vienna Lorin looked at Iria before she briefly observed Orius for the second time. She was sure that she didn't mistake him. As such, she turned back to Iria again. "Isn't he the Second Prince from that day?" she frankly inquired.
Iria Alewine nodded. "It's a long story. I will tell you later."
With a bit of reluctance, Vienna Lorin nodded and sat down again. Only then did Orius came closer.
"The doctor will come and check on you after a while," he said, standing in front of Iria's bed. "Did the painkiller work?"
"Yes. I don't feel much pain," Iria promptly replied.
Orius slightly smiled at her response. "That's great. Tell me if the pain is hard to bear."
Iria Alewine nodded. "How are the soldiers?"
"They're doing fine," Orius replied. "They all worried about you but I tell them that you're feeling a lot better now."
"I should meet them when I recover a bit more. That will calm them down," Iria said and Orius nodded in approval.
"We can arrange that later. Rest for now."
"It seems like the soldiers trust you a lot," the Commander pointed out with a smile. "Before we left, Rion told them everything. They know that you're the blood of their late Commander. So, I'm not surprised."
The Alewine's were trusted a lot by their soldiers and the same goes for Orius. That's what Iria was saying.
Orius thought about what Iria said before he smiled. "But it's still best for you to recover soon and meet them." He paused and added, "I'll go and stay with them. I'll return when the doctor comes."
"Alright."
Orius turned around and walked towards the door. However, just when he was just a step away from it, he halted. Giving a brief thought, he turned around and glanced at Vienna Lorin. "I apologize for what happened last time, Lady Vienna," he suddenly said, surprising both the two women.
Vienna Lorin thought of what she just witnessed. The way Orius talked to Iria and the way he looked at her; it's obvious that he cared for her, deeply.
She briefly glanced at Iria and said, "I know you do it for her sake. If I open my mouth, she will be in danger." Pausing, she looked at Orius and added, "You apologize but I bet you will still do the same if the same thing occurred again."
"That's right," Orius said without even thinking twice.
Keeping Iria safe was always his only aim anyway.
"Then you don't have to apologize," Vienna Lorin said in her usual calm voice. "I understand you."
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