What nonsense was this? Maverick Yaris, the legend of the Silveren Army will resign?! That's impossible!

"You are joking, right?" Arias uttered. "Joining the army is your dream ever since you were young. I still remember you talking about how happy you were that you got to achieve your dream." He glanced at Maverick right in the eyes, hoping to hear some answer.

​​

"It's my dream but I'm not joking." Maverick rose from his seat and blankly stared at the outdoors. "I committed many crimes, it's time to pay for it." He murmured.

Arias abruptly stood up when he heard Maverick. "You should explain so that I could understand." He snapped.

Maverick took a deep breath once again. Then he turned around, faced Arias and faint a smile. "I hope you remained a righteous soldier as you have always been. In my case, I'm not qualified to wear this uniform anymore." His voice trailed off as he narrowed his eyes at the uniform he was wearing.

"Maverick, no matter how we live now, we were once inseparable best friends. Don't you think you're so cruel to me? Seven years ago... " He paused and tightly clenched his fist. "I lost my best friend without even knowing why. And now, after seven long years, the exact friend tells me many nonsense which I don't even understand! Don't you think it's too much?"

Maverick quietly stared at Arias for a while but the latter didn't know what he was thinking. The room was more than quiet and after what seemed to be forever, Maverick turned away and retreated to his chair. "I shouldn't have talked to you. I only wish to have a chat with my old friend one more time but I shouldn't."

"Maverick -"

"Don't tell anyone about what I said today. If possible, pretend like you don't hear it." Maverick's voice was firm and unyielding. He didn't even spare Arias a single glance.

"Please. You should tell me why you are like this." Arias gave him a pleading look. His voice was desperate which was the complete opposite of Maverick.

Maverick finally shifted his gaze to Arias. "You will know it soon but not now. I really hope I was a good person like you, Arias. If that's the case, I won't have to be ashamed of myself." But it's too late though he couldn't say it. "Please leave. I have many things to wrap up as I will be resigning soon. Your presence here will only distract me."

Arias felt helpless. Back then and even now, he could never make Maverick change his mind once he made a decision. He had a firm and unyielding heart.

Must he just leave like this? It was so hard that the feeling choked him! He stared at Maverick who was working, treating him as if he doesn't exist! He knew his behaviour too well that Arias wasn't even surprised.

"I will come again tomorrow." He said the only words that came to his mind and leave the office.

The moment Arias left, Maverick halted whatever he was seemingly doing and glanced at the empty door. "When the truth comes to light, you can hate me but I hope that you will not be too much in pain, my only friend." He muttered. All at once, an undeniable sadness and pain were evident in the Colonel's eyes.

* * *

In Edeladon, Yelena and the Prince were on their way back to the palace. The former will bid goodbye to the King and Queen and she will return to Silveren.

"You were so confident but I totally beat you." Felix's smile was menacing. He was sitting in the backseat of the car with Yelena whom he was talking to.

"How many times do you plan to say that? You beat me just once and you are already boasting for an hour!" Yelena frowned as she noticed Felix's victorious smile. He defeated her in horse racing just once but she had lost count of how many times he had boasted! This was too frustrating. She shouldn't compete with him!

Felix laughed at her reaction. It was always fun to tease her! "Well, you were bold enough to challenge the President of this country's Equestrian Federation. You should at least prepare for the after effect, right?" He asked which earned him a glare from her.

"Will you just keep quiet? We both won and lost once. We are even." She sighed and turned her head away. "If I had known that you are this narcissistic, I will never compete with you."

"Okay then." Felix nodded. "Let's just call it even but why are you so stubborn? You bought a plane ticket while I offer my private plane for your return."

"I'm only minimizing the risk. Let's be careful for now. We don't want to see our pictures on all the front page of tomorrow's newspapers." Yelena clicked her tongue which was followed by a smile.

Felix sighed, inwardly whining at their situation. "Fine then." He reluctantly agreed. Looking at the bigger picture, he was convinced that it's not a bad idea to be careful for now. Only two months had passed since Maurice Serano briefed the media on their broken engagement. It might be a wise decision to let some time pass.

Felix holds Yelena's hand and flashed a smile. "I think words are not enough to describe how happy I am due to your visit. My parents approved of you and that means so much to me. Wait for a while and I will come to you soon again." He calmly said to her. His voice warm and assuring.

"Don't say that. You are always the one who made the efforts to see me and it's my first time coming to you. If I'm not so busy, I would love to come here again. It's so nice to know that I'm in the country of the man I loved." Yelena narrowed the distance between them and put her head on his shoulders, holding onto his arms tightly.

"I don't know what will await me after I return but I regained my strength, thanks to you." She muttered.

"Take good care of yourself and don't try to suffer everything alone. You can always lean on me. If it's for you, I'm ready anytime." He said which made her chuckled.

"What is it?" He asked, confused.

"I hope I don't have to call Matthew again to ask about you. You are always so jealous." She teased.

Felix frowned. "Did Matthew said that?" Did they tell each other everything?!

"No. He won't dare." Yelena responded sarcastically. "I can feel it. That's all."

Felix sighed in defeat. "Fine. I catch your message. I won't miss your calls for that long again. Even if I'm occupied by my messed up thoughts, I will tell my men beforehand so that they will notify me about you." He promised and narrowed his eyes at her. "Satisfied now?"

"A little." She jokingly said which made him laughed.

"You're hopeless." He remarked.

They reached the palace and everything was already prepared for Yelena. The King and Queen were also there. They had some events to attend to but they want to see off their future daughter-in-law first.

"Do you have a great time?" Queen Nicola asked. Her voice was warm just like the other day.

"Yes, Mother. You have a beautiful villa." Yelena responded.

"She was enjoying at first but she lost to me in horse racing. She became grumpy since then." Felix chimed in, much to Yelena's frustration. He glanced at her with a mischievous smile.

"That again. You also lost to me in a shooting." Yelena bluntly said which made King Lawrence burst out into a laughter.

"You compete in shootings and horse riding?" The King mused. He wasn't expecting that kind of date at all!

"Yes. She defeated me in a shooting." Felix promptly said.

"You must be very skilled, Yelena. I would love to learn from you one day." The King's eyes twinkled with mirth. He was too fascinated by this young Captain!

"You don't know how to use guns, Father?"Yelena raised a brow. From what she heard, the royals and nobles usually served in the army for a year or two.

"I'm not that skilled. It's been a while since I lay my hands on it and I think I would be worst than Felix now." The King replied. He indeed served in the army but like his son, he was never that interested in guns. But now, he was convinced that it would be fun.

"You might regret it, Father. She is known for being a strict instructor." Felix chimed in again with a playful smile.

"That's better. It means that I will concentrate more." King Lawrence simply said.

"Don't worry, Father. We will have so much time soon. I will teach you and make sure that you excel in it." Yelena spoke up, feeling thankful for the King's open-minded nature.

"Will you drop her off at the airport?" Queen Nicola asked her son.

Felix was about to respond but Yelena beat him at that. "No, Mother. We have our own rules whenever we were about to part. Felix won't see me off but Matthew will take me to the airport."

"Is that so? What kind of rule is that?" The Queen curiously asked.

"I started this. Whenever I left Silveren, I always tell her not to see me off because I would change my mind and want to stay longer. We want to prevent that." Felix answered his mother's question.

This put the King and Queen in a daze. How much did this young couple would long for each other to come up with such a rule? How hard would it be to be miles apart when they loved each other to this extent?