Iria walked to the place where General Trevor was held by her soldiers. She was also accompanied by Zire. Orius will deal with the injured soldiers while the soldiers of the Aliron Army will help in retrieving the bodies of their deceased comrades.
When the Queen get there, she still noticed the same rage in the General's eyes but she remained unfazed by it.
"Leave us," she commanded the soldiers who glanced at each other as they were wary of what the General might do. However, as it was an order, they still bowed and walked away, taking General Trevor's sword with them.
"What happened to His Majesty?" General Trevor asked her with his voice that hinted at suppressed rage. "Did you kill him?"
"I was going to do that," Iria said. "But he took his life before that."
"I don't believe that," Trevor Amari grunted. "You hate him to the core! You must have killed him!" When he took a step forward, Zire unsheathed his sword and pointed at the General's neck.
"Listen to me, General Trevor," Iria spoke up. "I'm in debt to your father, Minister of War Edin Amari and I'm willing to let you live for that. So, don't provoke me and listen to what I'm about to tell you."
Iria still remembered what Zaro Aventine told her. When she helped Orius to sneak out of the prison cell, Prime Minister Dallas and Minister of War Edin were the only ones who still chose to believe that she must have a good reason and defend her. She didn't know if they regret when she left Jerivia but at least, those two men were the ones who always stood by her side even when the other officials tried to make her fall from grace.
"I don't need your mercy," General Trevor stated in a firm voice. "As a warrior, will you choose to live if you were in my place?" He shook his head and said, "I don't think that will be the case."
Zire put down his sword when he saw the gesture from the Masked Commander. Then Iria turned her attention back to General Trevor.
ραпdα nᴏνɐ| сom "I don't want to shed more blood," she started. "With the current condition of Jerivia, it won't need me much effort to conquer the whole kingdom by using the soldiers with me right now. However, I don't want to harm innocent people and... I don't want any revenge for today's incident either."
"Do you expect us to sit still after you killed our King?"
"I don't care about what you think," Iria said with a face devoid of any expression. "However, if you are still the same Trevor Amari that I used to know, I'm sure that you won't want to see the people suffer. If Jerivia is conquered, you know the fate of the officials, military officers and anyone with power. Do you want that to happen?"
Iria's words made General Trevor narrow his eyes. He was among the soldiers who conquered Helsia and he was well aware of the fate of a fallen kingdom. The Queen, his father and other officials and most importantly, the people... only sufferings will await them!
"I don't want that to happen," Iria said to him. "So... if Jerivia is willing to promise peace with us, I won't lead my soldiers to Jerivia. I want you to relay this to your Queen and Prime Minister Dallas. But if you refuse, my soldiers will depart for Jerivia right away."
As General Trevor felt the pressure, he was reminded of what troubled him in the past few days. Then he looked at Iria. "Do you know how King Tobias died?" he asked.
He recalled how the King suddenly became ruthless that day in the Serene Valley. Iria was trying to say something that day and... it seemed like King Zaro Aventine was adamant in stopping her.
Was that why he was so adamant about killing her that day? Because he was scared that she might reveal the truth?
"Why are you asking me that?" Iria asked him back.
Did he suspect something?
"Is the King really involved in his father's death?" General Trevor promptly asked her.
There was a hint of surprisement on Iria's face but she instantly maintained her composure once again. However, as General Trevor was carefully observing her, he still managed to see it.
"There is no use in digging the past, General Trevor," she said. "King Tobias died more than a year ago and now, Zaro Aventine is gone too. Only think of the choice I give you. You must give me an answer now. Will you live and save the people or... will you choose a useless death here?"
General Trevor was now convinced that King Zaro was really involved in King Tobias's death. However, he still had many questions.
How did the biological son of Commander Darien Alewine become the Second Prince of Jerivia?
He always wanted to know this.
"What is your answer, General Trevor?" Iria asked. "I don't have time to waste."
Trevor Amari gave a quick thought and replied, "I will return, for now. I will relay your message but... I have many questions. One day, I will come to get an answer."
Iria Helev realized that the General was still the same. Whenever he was unsure of something, he always had to know it to be in peace.
"Fine," she said and thought of Zaro Aventine. "Bring his corpse back to Jerivia. That's the last thing I can do," she muttered.
Though she didn't mention the name, the General was well aware of who she was referring to. He knew that he should be angry about what happened but... maybe because doubt was planted in his mind, maybe because he still respected the Masked Commander standing in front of him; he didn't even know what to feel.
*
Iria watched as General Trevor left with Zaro Aventine's corpse and Zire was still standing next to her.
"Why didn't you tell him the truth, Commander?" Zire asked her. "Don't you always wait for a chance to reveal the truth and clear your family name?"
"Zaro Aventine is already dead," Iria responded as she narrowed her eyes. "I don't think I should do that to a dead person." She shifted her gaze back to Trevor who was leaving with the corpse and added, "That's the real last thing I can do."
Zire stared at Iria who rarely showed any emotion since the death of the Jerivian King. Though she didn't say anything, he could tell that the death affected her a lot.
No matter what happened, it seemed like it was not easy to erase all those memories that were made during 20 long years......
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