Hanson Lorin was caught off guard once again! The Crown Princess knew of that ornament matter and it's clear that she knew what's going on between him and Lady Vienna yet she feigned ignorance to him. It seemed like she was trying to help them and he was grateful but... he still couldn't believe that she had this side in her.

Since the first time he met her, the Crown Princess was pretty aloof, just like the Crown Prince. Though she also had open sides which he witnessed from time to time, he knew that she cared less of many things. She was hard to read and again, that's also the trait of the Crown Prince.

"We already finished our business for the day anyway. So, you should do as the Crown Princess said."

General Hanson was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Crown Prince Arin's voice. Then he quickly nodded and turned to Iria. "I will do that, Your Highness."

Iria nodded once and shifted her gaze to Vienna Mareyi who was also turning to her. When she saw the smile of gratitude in the face of the Prime Minister's daughter, she slightly smiled in return. Then Vienna Mareyi left with General Hanson Lorin.

"Your mind always works pretty fast when it comes to helping those two," Arin said when the two were already a few meters away. When Iria didn't respond and her eyes only trailed in the direction of the two, he stood before her and blocked the view. This made Iria sighed.

"I just want Lady Vienna to be happy. That's all," she bluntly said.

"And my friend is always caught up in your tricks," Arin remarked and she looked at him with disbelief.

"I'm sure that what I did won't just benefit Lady Vienna but also your friend. Besides, you're the one who told him to do as I said."

"If I don't take your side, who else will?" He sat opposite her and there was a slight smirk on his lips. However, it was soon replaced by an amusing smile.

Iria didn't say anything. All she did was sitting there with an annoyed face until... "Does that mean you will always take my side?" She suddenly blurted out the thing that crossed her mind.

Arin Helev simply nodded without even thinking.

"Why is that?" You don't even know me well. She wished to say this sentence too but... she couldn't.

"Because I'm your husband. A husband is supposed to support his wife, right?"

His frank response made her felt uneasy but... the sincerity in his eyes startled her more than ever! Why did he always do this? He should stop making her confused! This wasn't the time to be confused anymore.

Even if she felt confused a hundred times... no... a thousand times, the fact remains. She was Commander Iria Alewine and not Princess Iria Aventine.

There she goes again, thinking of something yet refusing to say it. This was what Arin hated. Whenever she acted this way, it always gave him that insecure feeling. However, even this time, he didn't say anything about it. "You love to spend time outside the palace. It's still early. Do you want to go somewhere with me?" he asked her.

"Somewhere?" she asked him back with a bit of confusion.

Arin nodded. "It's a beautiful place. You will surely like it."

"Alright." The word escaped her lips before she could even realize it. She instantly cursed herself on the inside for responding that way. This wasn't what she decided. She should really stop this once and for all.

* * *

"I don't expect you to see in the palace."

Hanson Lorin was walking with Lady Vienna beside him. The latter was supposed to be inside a carriage and he was supposed to be riding a horse. However, the Prime Minister's daughter suggested walking when they were still several meters away from her family mansion. Like always, he complied with her wish.

"You might see me in the palace more often from now on. You heard what the Crown Prince said," Vienna Mareyi replied with a little smile. "I don't expect to see you too but I'm glad. I heard that you're very busy these days."

"That's true. Being a soldier is never easy." Hanson Lorin laughed and added, "Especially when your best friend is your Commander."

Vienna Mareyi was reminded of the unpredictable life of soldiers. She recalled herself losing her sleep whenever General Hanson went to fight a war. "I used to wonder why you chose this way despite being the eldest son," she said to him.

If Hanson Lorin hailed from a military family, it would only be natural for him to continue his family legacy. However, that wasn't the case. He was the eldest son of the Minister of War, the one who will inherit all his father other titles.

Why did he choose to fight on the battlefield rather than participate in the administration of the Kingdom? He shocked almost everyone when he walked down this road!

Hanson Lorin halted and Vienna Mareyi followed suit. He turned to her and slightly smiled. "Why? Are you worry about me?" he asked.

Lady Vienna nodded. "That's only natural."

"It's because Arin has many strong supporters in the administrative line but not in the defence line. I want to help him shoulder some of his burdens by giving him strong aid in the army. That's why I choose this path," Hanson promptly said.

Vienna Mareyi was taken aback by his response. To help the Crown Prince?

Once again, there was a faint smile on the General's face. Then he started walking again. "I'm his only friend. I was with him since we were a child and I know all his hardships and struggles. As his friend and his subject, I can't allow him to face his enemies alone. So, I chose to stand by his side and clear a path for him."

Now that she heard it more, Lady Vienna started to understand how General Hanson felt. "That's a great cause. Only someone with a big heart will be able to think that way," she remarked.

Hearing her words, a genuine smile appeared on the General's face. "I'm glad you understand. I was always feeling uneasy, thinking how much I would make you worry. Though risking my life is a nature of my job, I can't help but wonder if your heart wavered -"

"I never think that way," Vienna Mareyi quickly said before Hanson could even finish his words. "Do you know why I'm always so straightforward with you, General Hanson? It's because as you said, you risk your life all the time.

"No matter what happens, I don't want to regret anything. I don't want to cry over something that I don't do when I had the chance. That's why."

Hanson chuckled at her frank response. "It feels like you already predict for me to be unlucky," he teased her.

"No. That's not it," Vienna Mareyi quickly said. Unaware that he was just joking, she narrowed her eyes at his sword and a single arrow-shaped ornament on the sword handle. "Her Highness told me that a single arrow signifies protection. That's why I gave you that. I want you to always be protected."

Hanson looked at the ornament and then Lady Vienna. "I'm just joking. I'm well aware of how you wish for me to be safe," he calmly said to her and she finally smiled again.....