Roothallow.
Next morning, Arnold came to Ariana on the main Praetorium where Ariana was already sitting on her seat reviewing the documents and sheets.
" You send Aiden and Rowan to the Rainywood to help Aria?" Arnold asked, behind her seat.
"Yeah."
Silence-
"What's the matter, Arnold? Are you angry that i send them without asking you?" Ariana said, gaze fixed on him now.
"No. I was just…i just wanted to know where they both went." Arnold replied, voice cracked.
And just for a second-Ariana's guard down but she hide it.
" Thanks for asking. You really care for them" Ariana said, voice calm now.
" There is also someone about whom i care" He said " and she-"
" I have something urgent to do Arnold, let me excuse you for a moment" she interrupt, sensing the word what comes next. She stood up and pass him but he grab her wrist-softly-determined not to go.
"Don't you want to hear what i say next" he asked, broken.
" I know what it is" She replied.
"And even you are pretending like nothing happened?"
"Because it is nothing." She replied, harsh- breaking his every hope.
"Really…" he said, voice low only she could hear it. "… then why couldn't you say it looking into my eyes but she didn't or just…couldn't.
" You are still lying Ariana, to yourself more than anyone-even than me" He said, lossening his grip.
Silence.
Then a soldier entered the room with a hurry like if he stop-the world will end.
" Your majesty! King of Morching dynasty summoned you two on his pavillion" the soldier said.
"What's the matter?" Ariana blinked.
"I don't know. He said it's urgent"
Ariana's gaze lingered on Arnold for a brief second before she headed out from the Praetorium.
Inside the pavillion of king Mordian.
" What's the matter that king Mordian summoned me here with urgency." Ariana askedas she entered the pavillion.
" Yeah, i did. There is something important."
"And what's that?" Arnold approached as he entered the room.
" We found something strange this morning. There were some soldiers of Van lang with the costume of our soldiers and they also killed some soldiers of us." He replied, tensed.
" But how is this even possible. It couldn't happen if-"
"Without someone from our court feed them" Ariana complete it for him.
"Do you suspect anyone from the court?" she asked suddenly.
"No, but we can't spare anyone for this" king Mordian said.
" We can't let the soldiers to know about it. It's the matter of trust and loyalty and even a little mistake could ruin everything" Arnold exclaimed.
"But it could be anyone-even from the soldiers-"
"No. It's not a small matter that soldiers could do it. There is someone powerful behind it" Ariana interrupt.
"So what's now, Do you already thought what we have to do now?" King Mordian asked.
"Just wait for their new threat. Their plan was failed so they don't sit silently, they will do something-anything. And that will be our turn" she said coldly.
At night.
When the light of the moon surrounded on the pavillion of the royals and everyone slept-a figure appeared, wearing a black cloak. That person took a horse and start going towards the pavillion of Van lang but someone appeared on that person's way-
Ariana.
And behind that man, two figure appeared-
Arnold and king Mordian.
Ariana approached and attacked on that man, he strike but his cloak off his head and that man was-
Iguna.
He belonged from a powerful and respectful family.
"Sir Iguna! I didn't expect this from you." Ariana growled.
"I…i was forced" Lord Iguna said.
"Sorry if you are mistaking betrayal with forced." Ariana said, voice cold as ice.
"My…my daughter and my wife is in the controlled of king Volar. He said if…if i don't do this he will kill them" Lord Iguna said, tears fell from his eyes.
"But how he captured them and when?" Arnold asked.
"My wife is from Van lang dynasty and she went there when she found out her mother died but…but it was just a rumour"
" Don't worry. Your wife and daughter will be fine and i promise to bring them back safely but we can't tolerate what you did" Ariana said.
"I know. And i am ready for any punishment amd even ready to die. Just protect my wife and daughter." Lord iguna replied.
"Guards, spell lord Iguna in the prison" Ariana ordered and some soldiers took him with them.
Inside the pavillion of Ariana.
"You are upset"
"No" she replied.
" You are. You didn't want to prison him, do you?" he asked.
"I didn't. He did all that for his family but as an empress, i had to because it would be bad with those who lost their parents due to the betrayal" she said looking at the moon.
" I don't know who i am" she whispered to herself.