The Alliance Marriage Went Wrong

Days passed by peacefully and Iria\'s family had also left for Cedore. Arin\'s arm was now fully healed and the King was already busy carrying out his daily responsibilities again. Even now, he was getting prepared to start another busy day.

"Who did you say is coming again?" Iria asked Arin. Sitting on a couch, she looked up at her husband who was standing a few steps away.

"I think I already tell you three times," the King jokingly said. "Since when did your brain become that bad?"

The Queen frowned. Why was he always so playful?!

"You can just tell me rather than playing around with me," she said and let out a sigh when she saw the amusing smile on Arin\'s face.

"The Magistrate of Zeon Province, Cillian Mareyi," Arin finally responded to her question with the same amusing smile on his face.

"Ah! I remember. You said that he is the eldest child of Prime Minister Casar," Iria said while nodding several times. Then one thing crossed her mind. "Why does the heir of the Prime Minister serve as the Magistrate of a small province that is so far away from the capital?"

Arin Helev walked towards Iria and sat on the armrest of the couch where the latter sat. "Cillian is very intelligent but he doesn\'t want to get involved in the power struggles between the officials here in the capital. My father also tried to put him in the royal court many times but he failed each time."

Iria Helev blinked. Can someone refuse to obey the King?

"Appointments aren\'t done using royal orders, Iria," the King explained. "If someone isn\'t willing to take the job, we never force them. Instead, it should be mutual consent."

"Does that mean he is willing now?"

Arin nodded. "You want me to work on fulfilling my dreams, right? Cillian will be very helpful in that."

When many possibilities crossed his mind, there was a hint of nervousness on Arin\'s face but Iria noticed this and promptly spoke up.

​ "Don\'t worry, Arin. I\'m fine now and Morin is doing well too. Just focus on what you have to do and I\'ll protect myself and Morin."

Hearing her out, there was a subtle smile on the King\'s lips. "I know that you\'re fine now. You prove it to everyone by crushing Commander Julio in that duel." He made a deliberate pause and jokingly asked, "Do you think Commander Julio will have the face to show up in the capital again?"

The Queen let out a laughter. "If Commander Julio hears that, he will be so disappointed in his King."

Arin Helev simply smiled. "Who cares? I\'m just proud of you. Commander Julio is one of the best swordsmen here in Qalagon but you beat him so easily." He briefly paused and added, "You will also have a guest, right?"

Iria\'s smile slipped a bit when she heard her husband. However, she reluctantly nodded. "General Trevor is coming." She recalled how the General said that he will be coming for an answer and let out a sigh. "He is still stubborn and persistent."

"We are in the middle of making a peace deal with Jerivia," Arin said. "I bet it will also have something to do with that and not just his curiosity."

"It must be," was Iria\'s response and it made Arin chuckle.

"Welcome him and chat with him during the day and I\'ll be meeting Cillian during that. Then I can meet the General at night," he calmly said and Iria nodded.

Arin smiled and planted a kiss on the crown of her head. "I\'ll get working then."

With that said, he walked out of the chamber.

Iria wasn\'t alone for long as Elian walked inside and bowed. "Your Majesty, I heard that the guest from Jerivia has now entered the capital. He will be here soon."

"That\'s good," the Queen remarked. "Where is Morin?"

"His Highness practice in the training ground with his instructor, Your Majesty," Elian replied. "Would you like to go there?"

Iria gave a quick thought and nodded. "Alright. Let\'s go."

*

Iria Helev soon finds herself in the training ground, watching Morin who was practicing at a distance. Elian was also standing behind her.

Staring at Morin who had shown great improvements, Iria\'s lips curved into a smile.

"Do you think the Prince improved a lot?" the Queen asked her personal guard. "At this point, he will be fit to face the real thing soon. Who knows? Morin might even become the number one swordsman here in Qalagon."

"I\'m not sure about that, Your Majesty," Elian replied, making the Queen turn to him.

"Why is that, Elian?"

"For that to happen, His Highness will have to surpass you first," Elian said with a little smile. "Do you think he will be able to do that, Your Majesty? Now that you\'ve almost recovered fully, you\'re approaching your best form again and you\'re still young."

Iria Helev slightly smiled and turn back to Morin. "Once Morin reaches his prime, I will already past my prime. If he keeps on working hard, I believe that he will be able to surpass me and his brother. Let\'s wait, Elian. One day, Morin will become the pillar of our Qalagon."

The moment Iria finished talking, Morin who was in the middle of training with his instructor saw her and ran to her. "Sister-in-law!"

Like always, the young Prince was lively and it drew a smile from Iria\'s lips. Then she bent down to match Morin\'s height. "How is your training today, Morin?"

"It\'s great. I learn a new technique today but I have already mastered it," Morin Helev replied enthusiastically.

Hearing this, Iria briefly turned to the instructor who bowed his head. She exchanged the greeting with a nod.

"Will you practice with me today?" the young Prince asked the Queen with an exciting smile on his face. However, just when Iria tried to respond...

"Your Majesty, it seems like the guest from Jerivia has arrived," Elian informed the Queen and Morin instantly frowned.

Iria chuckled when she saw the Prince\'s disappointed face and she rubbed his hair. "I will come back once I welcome and talk to the guest, alright?"

The young Prince nodded with reluctance and Iria walked back to the main palace with Elian......