Iria Alewine was sitting alone in a chair on a balcony. It was evening and she was watching the two men who were having a friendly match in the training ground.

One was Crown Prince Arin and the other was Commander Nico Petrus.

Commander Iria knew that she had fought against the Commander of the Petrus Army before but... his features. Why did she felt like someone had described the same features to her before?

Tall, olive-green eyes and auburn hair... she had heard it before but... she can't recall where and when.

After watching them for a while, Iria realized that the two men were quite a match. The Commander was even better than General Hanson Lorin.

When the sun was about to set, the two men put down their swords and left the training ground. Then soon enough, Iria finds herself in the dining room with the Crown Prince and the Commander.

"Commander Nico came to practice with me and I thought that it would be great to have dinner together," Crown Prince Arin said to Iria who was sitting beside him. "You also heard the rumors, right? It's not easy to see him," he added with a light chuckle.

"But I'm always present when needed," Commander Nico argued with a playful smile.

"That's right," Arin replied with a nod.

"You seem to be recovering well, Your Highness. I'm really glad," Nico Petrus said. His keen gaze observing Iria like he did when he greeted her on the camp a few days ago.

Princess Iria's best friend? Who might she be? Then he realized the time when the late Princess described her best friend to him without giving him the name.

'Someone who was more than skilled with weapons and the complete opposite to her but a great friend who can deal with all her immature act.'

Putting the description in mind, he bravely met her gaze. Her aqua blue eyes... somehow it rang a bell on his mind. Then he blinked.

No way! That Masked Commander?!

Iria Alewine didn't know what made the Commander blinked but she ignored it... for now. "Thank you, Commander Nico," she replied to him with a calm voice.

When she narrowed her eyes, Commander Nico was placing his left hand on the table. However, what interested her the most was... a red braided bracelet on his left wrist. Wait!

A red braided bracelet?!

Didn't her late friend used to wore the same?!

As someone from Jerivia, she knew that there can be many similar braided bracelets but... not this one. She once noticed her friend making the bracelet personally. She didn't ask her about it as she simply thought that it was for the King or one of the two Princes but...

Why did a Commander from Qalagon wear the bracelet which the Princess of Jerivia made?!

All the time, Commander Nico was studying her expression. He was convinced that she knew about this bracelet. She was really the best friend?

"You have a nice bracelet, Commander Nico," Iria finally said, breaking the silence that goes on for a while.

Nico Petrus forced a smile and looked at the bracelet on his wrist. "Someone made it for me and give it to me," he replied. His response troubled the Masked Commander more!

"That's strange, Commander Nico," Crown Prince Arin spoke up when he noticed the braided bracelet. "The Crown Princess told me that it's a custom in Jerivia to give a braided bracelet to someone you cared about. It signifies protection and blessing."

"Really?" Commander Nico said with a smile and touched the bracelet. "I have no knowledge of the custom in Jerivia."

The way the Commander looked at the bracelet... it was clear that he deeply cherished it. When Iria stared at the scene, she finally finds the answer to the thing that troubled her.

Princess Iria had once told her if she was to fall for a man, it would be someone with olive-green eyes and auburn hair. It was the same features as this Commander!

They knew each other? No... judging from the bracelets... They love each other?!

Until a while ago, the possibility never once crossed Commander Iria's mind!

Princess Iria was in love with a Commander from Qalagon?!

The dinner goes on but it was pretty quiet now. With the two Commanders realizing the shocking identity of each other, they can't say anything much but on the inside, they felt more than troubled.

*

Iria Alewine was already in her chamber for a while when Rion knocked on the door and walked inside. The latter handed her a letter which he claimed that a guard gave it to him, saying that it was for the Crown Princess.

The moment the Commander read the contents of the letter, she knew who sent it though a name was never written.

"I need to leave the palace briefly," she said to Rion and put away the letter.

"It's late, Commander. What's the matter?" Rion asked.

"I have to meet someone, Rion. I will tell you the details later," Iria said and gets prepared to leave.

"But the Crown Prince -"

"I know. He won't be pleased to hear it," Iria said as she halted her movement. Then she looked at Rion. "I won't take long, so stand guard here and if anyone comes, tell them that I already fell asleep."

Rion remained quiet for a while before he nodded. "I understand. Please be careful."

The Commander nodded and Rion walked out of the room.

Iria Alewine quickly gets changed and put on a black cloak. She took out her sword which she kept hidden in the bottom of a drawer and hang a small knife in her waist too. Then she left the palace with a horse.

Riding through the market, she halted near the entrance of the 'Hudale Inn'. Now that the people already knew her face, she had to be careful not to get noticed. So, she covered her face with a mask and went straight to the room which was mentioned in the letter.

When she entered the room, she saw Commander Nico who was standing near the window with his gaze fixated on the sky. However, the Commander heard the sound of the door being opened and quickly turned around. When his gaze landed on Iria Alewine, his face was unreadable.....