An Ice Or A Stone?

Hearing how General Hanson addressed Iria, Lady Vienna turned to Iria with a confused face.

"She is the Crown Princess," Hanson said as he stood beside the woman.

Lady Vienna raised a brow but when she met Iria's gaze, she quickly bowed. "I apologize for not recognizing you, Your Highness."

"General Hanson, who is this lady?" Iria asked Hanson Lorin.

"She is Lady Vienna Mareyi, the only daughter of the Prime Minister, Your Highness," Hanson replied with his head bowed.

Iria turned to the Prime Minister's daughter. "Nice to meet you, Lady Vienna."

"You're too kind, Your Highness. It's an honor to meet you." Lady Vienna respectfully said. A little smile was always on her face which made her very pleasant to look at.

Hanson Lorin glanced around before he turned back to the Crown Princess. "Your Highness, did you come out with just your guard? The Crown Prince will be worried if he heard about this."

"I know. I'm on my way back." Iria simply said.

"Then I will escort you back." Hanson quickly said but when he glanced at the accessories on the stall, his lips curved into a slight smile. "Do you plan to buy those for His Highness?"

Commander Iria was at a loss for words! Buying it for Crown Prince Arin? That never once crossed her mind!

"I can return with Rion. It will be good for you to escort Lady Vienna. It seems like she is here alone." Iria ignored the General's question and only replied to his first sentence.

"I'm fine. The Crown Princess safety is more important than mine." Vienna Mareyi promptly said.

Just when Iria was about to speak up, she heard a familiar voice from behind.

"Here you are."

The Commander froze. It's Arin Helev. She recognized his voice pretty well now!

"Arin."

"Your Highness."

Both Hanson and Lady Vienna bowed to greet the Crown Prince while Iria stood still, with no movement. What the Crown Prince said to her a week ago repeatedly echoed in her ears!

'You shouldn't leave without royal guards anymore.'

Right now, she was caught on the spot!

Soon, Crown Prince Arin stood beside her and glanced at his friend before he turned to the Prime Minister's daughter. "Lady Vienna." He nodded. Finally, he turned to Iria who still didn't even attempt to look at him!

Much to Iria's surprise, Arin turned back to the two without saying anything to her. "Hanson, escort Lady Vienna back. I will take care of the Crown Princess." He calmly said.

Hanson nodded and glanced at the sun-shaped accessory on Iria's hand with a little smile. The keen eyes of the Commander didn't fail to notice this. Then the two walked away, leaving her with the Crown Prince whose face was still devoid of any expression. Was he an ice or a stone?

When the Crown Prince didn't say anything, Iria stretched out her hand and showed him the sun-shaped ornament which she personally chose. "You can have this." So that she wouldn't have to explain why she was standing in front of this stall!

Arin glanced at the ornament on her hand without saying anything. Then he finally took it. Placing on his hand, a subtle smile was formed on his lips and he put it inside his pocket. "Let's return. It's getting late." Gesturing her to follow him, he turned around and started walking.

Iria barely resisted the urge to frown. He didn't even scold her for sneaking out neither did he thank her for the ornament. He wasn't just aloof but strange too! However, she quietly followed him along with Rion.

*

As soon as Antony received the news about the Crown Princess, he returned to the palace with the guards. Then he quickly went to the Crown Prince chamber.

"Your Highness, I return as soon as I receive the news. Is the Crown Princess safe?" He asked, standing in front of Crown Prince Arin with his head lowered.

Even after waiting for a while, the Crown Prince didn't respond to him. Was the Crown Prince angry because the guards failed to fulfil their duty? He wasn't sure but he knew one thing. Angry or not, punishment was a must when making a mistake. The Crown Prince maintained strict discipline and order in his palace.

When he finally lifted his head and glanced at the Crown Prince, Antony's eyes widened in surprise.

The Crown Prince was fully concentrated on a small thing that was in his hand. It seemed like an ornament but what shocked Antony the most was the subtle smile on the Crown Prince's lips!

The Crown Prince who rarely smiled was staring at an ornament with full attention while smiling! Was he seeing things or what?!

"Your Highness." He addressed him again with a confused face. Finally, he attracted the Crown Prince's attention and the latter shifted his gaze to him.

"The Crown Princess is fine." Arin simply said when he realized what was going on.

"That's good news, Your Highness." Antony quickly said and his gaze met the floor again.

"You know what to do. You can leave now."

"Yes, Your Highness," Antony replied and left to punished the guards for failing to fulfil their duty.

If the masked Commander wished to sneak out, she would surely find a way even if the palace was heavily guarded. However, no one knew her identity and even the Crown Prince believed that it was due to the negligence of his guards!

After Antony left, Arin opened his hand, revealing the ornament again. After gazing at it for a while, he glanced around his chamber and rose from his seat to get his sword. Then he hanged the sun-shaped ornament on the handle. Another one with the shape of a bonsai tree was already hanged on the handle too.

Lifting his sword, he slightly smiled out of satisfaction. "Mother, apart from the one you gave it to me when I was young, this is my first time to receive such an ornament again. No matter what, I will fulfil the promise I made to you." He muttered while holding the ornament with the shape of a bonsai tree.....