After spending a good time with his cousin, Crown Prince Arin was on his way to return to the palace with Hanson Lorin. The sun was about to set and it will be dark soon.

Unexpectedly, he saw some of his guards after they rode past the market. When the soldiers saw him, there was a hint of anxiety and nervousness on their faces.

When he gets off his horse, Antony rushed to him and bowed. "Your Highness."

"What are you doing here?" He asked, glancing around their surroundings.

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess hasn't returned yet and we are waiting for her," Antony replied, lowering his head the whole time.

"The Crown Princess? Didn't I tell you to escort her back?"

Antony immediately dropped to his knees and the other guards followed suit. "Please forgive me, Your Highness. The Crown Princess said she realized that she still had something to do. She said that it's more comfortable for her to go with her guard and ordered us not to follow her. I can't go against her order."

"The sun will set soon, Arin," Hanson said, taking a step towards his friend. "We should locate Her Highness as fast as possible."

Narrowing his eyes at his right-hand man who was also the Captain of his guards, the Crown Prince asked, "Do you sent soldiers to search for her?"

"Yes, Your Highness. They haven't returned." Antony said to the Prince.

"Split up and search for her throughout the capital. Don't miss any places." The Crown Prince firmly declared his order.

"Yes, Your Highness." The guards replied in unison and stood up to comply with the Crown Prince order until...

"It's the Crown Princess!"

One of the soldiers shouted and they all glanced around. Seeing the Crown Princess riding her horse towards them from the left with her guard, everyone let out a breath while the Crown Prince stared at her the whole time until she reached where they gathered.

Iria looked at her surroundings and she was quite surprised. She only went to spend some time in the woods and practise her swordsmanship as skipping practise just for a few days could be harmful to her but... why was everyone here?!

"Your Highness, it's late and we are worried about you. Where have you been?" Antony promptly asked her as he rushed to her.

"I only took a walk in the woods nearby. What's going on here?" She asked with a confused face. Even the Crown Prince was here?!

Antony tried to reply but...

"It's good that you're safe. Let's return now." Arin Helev said and he mounted on his horse.

After glancing at each other with a confused face, the guards all mounted on their horses and they ride back to the palace.

*

Iria just finished taking a bath but one maid instantly came to tell her that the Crown Prince was waiting for her to have dinner. Unlike the night of the wedding, they can now dine in the dining room rather than the Crown Prince's chamber.

The maids escorted her to the dining room where the Crown Prince was already sitting. Without saying anything, she sat down opposite him with a bit of hesitation.

When she glanced at the dishes on the table, she raised a brow and looked at the Crown Prince. "These - "

"I told the servants to look for someone who knows how to prepare the dishes you have in your kingdom," Arin spoke up. He quietly took an empty bowl and filled it with the soup. Then he placed it before her. "It might not taste the same but... it will be better than forcing yourself to eat our dishes."

He knows that she struggled with the foods here?! It never seemed that way and it made Iria confused. As such, she ended up staring at the dishes without saying anything.

"What you did today is quite dangerous, Crown Princess." Arin calmly said when she fell silent.

Being aroused from her stupor, Iria glanced at the Prince. "I only do what I wanted. It's not a big deal."

"I know. I have no intention to stop you from doing things that you like but... it's also my duty to make sure that you're safe."

"For the sake of the alliance?" She simply asked.

"Yes, but there is also another reason. We're married now, and I'm your husband."

Husband? For many times in just two days, Iria was unsure of the Crown Prince's intention again. If this alliance marriage was just a cover, why did he had to try so hard? She couldn't understand!

"Wherever you want to go, you can go. You can also do whatever you wish. I won't restrain you. However, you shouldn't leave without guards anymore. You are a royal and you will surely know that palace life is not simple." Crown Prince Arin added.

Iria instantly understood the hidden meaning behind his seemingly normal words. It's not simple? That means it's dangerous. An internal enemy? Who might it be?!

"I will keep that in mind." She finally said after remaining silent for a while.

Crown Prince Arin nodded. "Drink the soup while it is still warm." He said and started eating the dishes.

*

"I already told you before that we should be careful, Antony." Crown Prince Arin said to his right-hand man who was kneeling before him. "What will we do if something happens to the Crown Princess in the evening?" Unlike other time, his voice was quite stern and full of authority.

"I didn't think through that, Your Highness. It's my fault." Antony promptly said. His eyes were glued to the floor all the time.

"Sometimes, Antony, protecting is important than an order. Don't make another mistake by being thoughtless. The risk is too high." The Crown Prince firmly said.

"I understand, Your Highness. I will remember that."

Maintaining a nonchalant face throughout the talk, the Crown Prince took a seat in a chair behind the desk. "Go and receive your punishment."

"Yes, Your Highness." Antony quickly stood up. Then he bowed and left the Crown Prince's chamber.

Arin lifted the quill and dip it in the ink. The moment he started writing on the sheet, he hardly squeezed the quill which caused it to broke. He threw the quill away and tear the sheet apart. He placed both of his tightly clenched fists on the table.

He was more than tired of living in wariness. When will this come to an end?!