In the royal palace of Nardodia, Theo was making his way inside the Crown Prince's chamber.

Crown Prince Emor was sitting on a chair behind a desk. Scrolls were lying everywhere on the desk and it seemed like he was having a hard time trying to go through them. Besides, he didn't look well.

"Your Highness." Theo halted before the desk and bowed. "I'm afraid your suspicion is right. King Tobias is cutting ties with us and the Masked Commander might be the reason."

"Don't you say that things are normal in Jerivia when I told you to check the situation? The same goes for Qalagon," Emor Tripas asked with confusion.

Theo quickly lowered his head. "I apologize, Your Highness. I heard His Majesty talking about some poisoning incident with Colson Leland. It seems like the Masked Commander is the victim but King Tobias covered everything and made sure that words didn't reach other kingdoms."

Hearing the information, Emor Tripas shut his eyes and pressed his fist against his temples. "When will he stop this?" he muttered.

"The Masked Commander is fine now, Your Highness. One of the Generals under her sided with His Majesty but the traitor was exposed and killed," Theo informed the Crown Prince.

Emor Tripas finally opened his eyes again and rose from his seat. "Where is my uncle? I have to see him."

Theo raised a brow when he heard the Crown Prince. "Are you sure, Your Highness? What if you only infuriate him more?"

"It's fine. I can bear with it," Emor Tripas said, though he wasn't that sure himself.

"He is in his chamber."

With that said, he left his chamber and made his way to his uncle's chamber.

*

When Crown Prince Emor walked inside the King's chamber, he find the latter sitting on a chair behind a desk, reading some reports. However, Aryan Tripas darted his eyes to him and put down his work.

"Emor, I heard in the evening that you're not feeling well. Are you feeling better now?" Aryan Tripas promptly asked his nephew who was making his way to him.

"I'm fine now," Emor Tripas said as he stood before the desk.

"That's a relief," the King remarked with a little smile. "What brings you here?"

"I heard why King Tobias is cutting ties with us," Emor Tripas said, bracing himself. It was never easy to confront his uncle!

The little smile on the King's face slipped when he heard his nephew. Thinking of his failed plan always filled him with rage!

"Why did you do that, uncle?" the Crown Prince asked, though he clearly noticed the change in his uncle's expression. "Right from the beginning, your aim was never the Jerivians but the Masked Commander alone. Am I right?"

"Don't you know that I'm doing this for you?" Aryan Tripas asked his nephew back and rose from his seat.

"You poisoned the Masked Commander," Crown Prince Emor pointed out. "How is that for me?"

"If I want her dead, she will already be dead," Aryan Tripas firmly said, glancing at Emor with his formidable gaze. "I want her here in our kingdom." Making a deliberate pause, he added, "Do you think I don't know the way you look at her? Bringing her here will benefit you the most."

Emor Tripas raised a brow as this was beyond his imagination. He narrowed his eyes and concentrated on his thoughts. He was trying his best to stay calm.

After what seemed to be forever, he finally looked at his uncle again and said, "But I never want that. Cornering her and make her come here... that's not what I want, uncle. Besides, she is not the type to do that, no matter how much you corner her."

"Emor!" Aryan Tripas snapped. He was suddenly overwhelmed with rage but... when he looked at his nephew's tired face, he clenched his fist and tried hard to stay calm. Then he took a deep breath.

"With that mindset, how will you even get what you want? Don't you know that Arin Helev is willing to do anything to have her back? He even captured two of our provinces just because of the poisoning incident," he uttered in a firm voice.

"I'm not Arin Helev," Emor Tripas argued, sounding more determined than ever. "Besides, she is not an object, uncle. She can make her own choice and cornering her just to claim her is not right. Why must you hurt her just for that?"

Aryan Tripas could feel his patience running thicker with each word that his nephew spoke. If any other person were in Emor's place, he will already shut that person up a long time ago!

"Don't test my patience, Emor," he uttered. His suppressed rage was more than evident in his voice! Then he turned his back at his nephew. "Return to your chamber and rest. You're not feeling well and maybe that affects your brain."

"Uncle -"

"You should know better than defying me," the King said. His voice was calm in contrast to what he said.

Emor Tripas stared at his uncle's back before he eventually turned around and left the chamber.

Once he heard the sound of the door being shut, Aryan Tripas turned around and stared at the empty door. Then he let out a heavy sigh. What would he do with him?

* * *

It was afternoon when Commander Iria returned to the Alewine Army camp. After meeting her 'maternal uncle' last night, she completely lost her sleep. She even ended up locking herself inside her chamber for half a day.

Some part of her said that the Emperor was speaking nonsense but... another part knew that he had no reason to tell her nonsense.

She didn't know what to do.

After she sat alone in her tent for a few minutes, Rion walked inside and greeted her.

"Commander, is something wrong?" he asked her.

Iria Alewine thought for a while and then looked up at Rion who was standing. "I met the Emperor last night," she confessed.

"He came here himself?" Rion asked with a stupefied face.

Iria Alewine nodded. "I'll tell you the details later," she said and briefly glanced at the outdoors. "How is Zire?"

Rion's surprised face was replaced by concern and he shook his head. "He didn't leave the camp as you ordered but... he resembled a living corpse. He never talked and even when I ask him a question, all I get is a short response."

Iria Alewine felt helpless about all the things happening around her. Not knowing what to do was tormenting her. After remaining silent for a while, she rose from her seat and said, "I'll go and meet him."