Iria walked out of the King's room, hoping to give Arin some alone time with him. It was almost noon and the celebration of King Feric Amias's 50th birthday will be held at night.

Just like Crown Prince Vance Amias said, it will be a small party as per the King's wish. Besides, the King's health would only worsen if he was in a crowded place.

She simply walked the quiet hallways until...

She sensed the presence of someone and she didn't have to guess who it might be. "Follow me." She muttered and continued walking. When she arrived in the palace the day before, she took note of the hallways and their surroundings and she knew which place would be safe to meet in secret. Getting caught was the last thing she wanted.

After walking for a while, she finally stopped near one chamber. It was for the guests and since there were not many guests in the palace now, people rarely walked by, except some guards who patrolled around from time to time. She turned around to face Prince Orius who was standing just two or three steps away. He was still wearing the uniform of a Qalagon guard.

Commander Iria was overwhelmed with disappointment but she tried her best to stay calm. However, the second Prince was simply looking at her with a calm face. "Your Highness, are you sure of what you're doing?" She asked.

"Everything will be easier if I can stay inside the palace. Don't you think so, Commander Iria? Unlike you, I can still leave the palace with ease even if I became a guard there." Prince Orius simply responded.

"How do you manage to catch the one who spies on us? Or is it... " She paused when she saw him smile. Then she let out a sigh. "I was right. That was your plan all along. You arranged that guard to spy on us so that you can catch him and earn the Crown Prince's trust."

"Is there a problem with that? I'm only doing my job as a spy from Jerivia." Orius deadpanned.

"Your Highness, do you know the danger you put yourself in? I also doubt that you arranged everything alone. You have someone who helped you, right? Is it Queen Lorey? Did you collude with her? That's -"

"Commander Iria!" The Prince's snapped. His voice was stern and full of authority which made Iria silent. He paused for a while, trying to calm down himself. Then in a much calmer voice, he asked, "Do you forget who you are?"

Iria narrowed her eyes as the question shook her to the core! Never once did she thought there would come a day when she would be asked such a question! For someone like her who had an unrivalled loyalty and who always devoted herself to her kingdom unconditionally, it wasn't easy to hear such a question!

She fell silent for a while and all the time, Prince Orius scrutinizing gaze was on her, reading her every reaction. Then she finally responded, "No, Your Highness."

"Then your actions should match your words." Prince Orius stated. "You're the Commander of Alewine Army, Iria Alewine. Crown Princess Iria Helev of Qalagon is just a fake and nothing more. Remember that.

"I'm the Prince of Jerivia and whatever I do, it's for my kingdom. Qalagon had lost the only chance to ally with us by spreading the false rumours and they will forever be our enemy. What's more, you never hesitate to destroy an enemy." He added in a deadly low voice.

Iria didn't say anything. She knew that everything the Prince said was right yet she felt lost. She was never like this. What's wrong with her?!

"My father trusts you more than anyone else. Don't let him down. Also, stop arguing with me about my safety. Your situation is no different than mine." Prince Orius spoke up again. His eyes hint at disappointment but he still kept his voice low. "If this happens again, I will have to send a letter to the royal court and say that you're not fit for this task anymore."

"No." Iria promptly said and looked up at the Prince. Then she lowered her head. "Please forgive me for my behaviour before, Your Highness. It won't happen again." She shouldn't disappoint her King and that's the only thing she could think of right now!

"I hope you will live up to your words like you always did," Orius said and glanced around their surroundings. "You should go back before they noticed that you're missing."

Iria nodded and left right away while Orius stared at her disappearing form. Maybe he made a wrong decision. He shouldn't have come to Qalagon. Feeling troubled, he shook his head and walked away.

* * *

The celebration party of King Feric's 50th birthday was quite lively despite just a few guests present in the main hall of the Zoris royal palace. The palace and the main hall was beautifully decorated for this special occasion and throughout the kingdom, the people gathered outside, enjoying the feast that the King prepared for them.

A banquet was held in the hall and the tables were neatly arranged in the form of a rectangle. Sitting on the middle in the head of the table was King Feric Amias. On his right was Crown Prince Vance and Crown Princess Zena. Arin and Iria sat on the King's left while a few guests from their ally kingdoms and also the nobles of Zoris sat on the right and left opposite each other, making a huge space between the two directions.

The King chat with the guests despite his weak health, talking with them about the good old days. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Zoris were also chatting with each other happily, lost in their own world.

Meanwhile, Iria was mostly quiet. She didn't even eat much but she took a few sips of the wine. She was lost in her thoughts as what Prince Orius said to her in the day repeatedly echoed in her ears. She was Commander Iria Alewine and her life now was a fake.

In the past, she never once felt this way, let alone wavered. Why did she behave like this, especially because of the Qalagons?! They were the ones who killed her father, who was the pillar of Jerivia at that time! She couldn't understand herself. Then a declaration snapped her out of her stupor.

"I'm sure that all my guests here are curious about the beautiful couple sitting on my left. I understand how you feel because it's an unlikely occurrence compared to the history of Qalagon and Jerivia. So, I want to request them to talk a bit about themselves." King Feric said to the guests. Despite his pale face, his excitement was hard to not notice.

"What do you say, Arin? Will you accept my request?" He asked Crown Prince Arin, turning his head to him with a hoping smile on his face.....