"Is Arin not back yet?"

It had been a while since they finished breakfast in the camp and with the Crown Prince's absence, King Regan was feeling pretty anxious now. Besides the competition was about to start.

Did his son plan to miss all his matches for the day and finish the annual tournament empty-handed for the first time?

"Yes, Your Majesty. We still didn't hear anything from His Highness." Antony who was standing a few steps behind the King responded. They were on the tent used for administration and General Hanson Lorin was also standing on the King's right a few steps away.

"Shall I send a soldier to the palace, Your Majesty?" General Hanson asked. "I think we should know His Highness situation before the competition start. If he is absent without any information, the people will grow anxious."

King Regan Helev gave a quick thought and nodded. "That would be good, Hanson. Do it before it's too late."

"Yes, Your Majesty," General Hanson responded as he bowed. Then he turned around to leave the tent and comply with the King's order until... he suddenly halted.

It was the Crown Prince and Crown Princess who suddenly made their way inside the tent.

When King Regan saw his son and daughter-in-law, he quickly walked to them while the two bowed before him. "You've returned?" He quickly glanced at Iria who didn't seem to fully recover yet. "How are you feeling now, Crown Princess? Don't you want to rest more?" he calmly asked.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My fever is gone and I will be fine soon," Iria replied to the King with a slightly lowered head.

"That's great to hear," King Regan remarked with a little smile. "Last night, I received a letter from Jerivia. Your father is coming to Qalagon and I think he will be here after 5 days."

Iria had already heard the news yesterday but not Arin. As such, there was a bit of amazement on the Crown Prince's face.

The King of Jerivia will be visiting Qalagon? That's the first in more than 5 decades! In the past, it was never possible due to the rivalry of the two powerful kingdoms.

"I heard about it yesterday," Iria responded to the King.

Regan Helev nodded and then turned to his son. "You should be the one in charge of the preparation to welcome the King of Jerivia. He is your father-in-law and I think it's only natural for you to do that."

"I understand," Arin uttered and briefly glanced at his wife. "Iria still needs to rest but she insisted to return because she doesn't want me to miss the competition. So, I'll bring her back to our tent first and then prepare for the tournament."

"Alright. You should go now," King Regan stated and the couple left the tent.

The moment his son and daughter-in-law were out of his sight, King Regan turned to General Hanson with a flustered face. "I think Arin was trying to say that he was okay with missing out the tournament and stayed beside his wife in the palace."

"I also think that's the case," Hanson Lorin respectfully responded to the King.

After maintaining his silence for a while, King Regan let out a sigh but it was soon followed by light laughter. It seemed like his son had become a new person!

*

"I'm really fine with staying in the palace with you. What if your condition gets worse because of the atmosphere here?"

Iria shifted her gaze to Arin Helev when she heard him retorting again. She thought they already come to an agreement and returned to the camp!

They were now standing inside their tent and when she tried to spoke up, Arin holds her and led her towards the bed. Then he made her sit. "Let's talk like this. You will get dizzy again if you stand for too long."

Iris hated how even his smallest gesture of concern made her felt warm but... it can't be helped.

Even the infamous Masked Commander can't control her feelings!

"Didn't you say that you never belonged to yourself but the kingdom?" Iria asked Arin back. "Then how can I let you miss such an important tournament for my sake and let the people down?"

"But -"

"I will be fine. You should go and get prepared," Iria calmly said, hoping to give him some assurance.

Finally, Crown Prince Arin sighed in defeat. "Alright then. But you should promise me that you won't leave the camp. You really need a rest."

Iria Alewine gave a quick thought and nodded. "Fine. I promised you."

There was a subtle smile on Arin's lips when he heard her. "You said before that you don't want to make an empty promise, so I'll believe you." He briefly paused before he said, "Rest in the tent and I'll ask Lady Vienna to accompany you once she is free."

After Iria nodded, Arin Helev turned around and left the tent to prepare for the tournament.

Even after Arin left, Iria was sitting still in the bed. She appeared so dull and hopeless but this time, her mind was clear.

While Arin Helev believed that she was Princess Iria Aventine, she was currently mourning the death of the exact person.

It made her felt so undeserving of his care and attention.

Not to mention that he was willing to give up the tournament just to be beside her! For someone like Crown Prince Arin who was used to being the best and the champion, she knew that it won't be easy to even be willing of giving up the tournament which he won each year.

While Iria was thinking of these, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching her. When she turned her head to the entrance, she saw a guard making her way to her. Then the guard bowed when he was a few steps away.

"Your Highness, Lady Vienna Mareyi came to meet you."

Iria didn't expect the Prime Minister's daughter to come this fast but she was quite glad. She somehow had a feeling that it would be better to have a companion at these times.

"Let her in," she said to the guard. Then the guard bowed and left right away.....