The Alliance Marriage Went Wrong

"Are you alright?" Iria asked Elian who stood beside her.

"I'm fine, Your Majesty," Elian replied and added, "Just a few scratches."

Though Iria felt relief, Arin who was still at a distance troubled her. Antony and the remaining guards didn't know what to do either and in no time, the situation became too awkward and deadly quiet too.

Knowing that she was the one at fault, Iria couldn't mutter any words. This reminded her of the time he find her in the market when she sneaked out during their time of alliance marriage.

At that time, Arin didn't say anything for the whole evening and only talked to her during dinner. Later, he told her that when he was angry, he chose to remain silent.

He's really angry with her.

Finally, Arin Helev gets off his horse and walked towards Iria.

Did Iria notice that his gaze was on her right shoulder the whole time? Maybe. She slowly put down her hand as she felt guilty.

Even when Arin was standing right before her, he didn't mutter any word though his gaze never leave her.

"Arin... "

"Escort the Queen back to the palace," he said to Elian. "Also call the royal doctor to check on her."

With that said, Antony quickly arranged some of the guards to ensure that the Queen returned safely.

As she walked past Arin, Iria turned her head to him and watched him standing still. She wanted to say something but considering how angry he was, she decided to give him time to collect himself. She didn't want to argue with him. So, she left the forest without a protest.

Once the Queen and the others were out of sight, Antony walked towards the King.

"Make sure to get to the bottom of this incident," the King commanded in a low voice yet his suppressed anger was more than evident. With a firm voice, he added, "No matter who this person is, he shouldn't live."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

With the letter he received and the incident that was just unfolded being played in his mind, Arin Helev clenched his fist.

The letter wrote 'Wesdale Forest. If you wish to save your wife, go there right away.'

Who sent him such a letter?!

First assassination attempt since their marriage and he was determined to punish the one who dared to make this move!

He looked at Antony and said, "Try to find out who sent the letter too. Someone might see the person."

* * *

Iria woke up after a deep sleep. As she opened her eyes, what happened in the forest instantly crossed her mind.

When she left the forest with Elian and the guards, she returned to the palace right away and the royal doctor came to check on her. He gave her a painkiller and with the medicine taking affect on her body, she fell asleep in no time.

It seemed like the sun had set now as the room wasn't that light. However, when she turned her head to the left, she saw Arin sitting on a chair beside the bed where she was sleeping.

Looking at his eyes, she noticed that the rage was still there though it had gone down a bit compared to that in the forest.

"You're awake," he muttered with his gaze never leaving her. "How are you feeling?"

Iria knew that he would already learn her condition by now and... that means he knew that she kept it from him all those times. The feeling made her nervous and a bit anxious too.

"I'm fine now," she replied in a low voice. "The pain is gone."

Silence fell upon the chamber and it was so similar to the atmosphere in the forest a few hours ago. The silence was too tormenting for Iria and she felt like it was killing her!

"I'm sorry, Arin... "

Her voice trailed off when he turned away from her.

He had never done that before and it pricked her heart.

He still maintained his silence. Maybe he was too angry to talk.

"Arin," she muttered once again. With the unfamiliar cold treatment, she didn't know what to say anymore.

"I'm fine with it even if you keep something from me, Iria," he finally said, looking at her. "But not the information that concerns your health and safety. I'm your husband. Don't I deserve to know if you're sick?"

"I don't want to make you worry," Iria said. "You already have so much to take care of."

At times... no... many times, Arin Helev wished to be an average man who can spare more time for his wife, his family.

She was this sick yet he had no idea. He even felt like the most irresponsible husband!

"At first, I don't intend to hide it from anyone. But as I start to adapt to my new life with the help of my family, I started to fear that the smile on their faces will be gone because of me," Iria continued. "That's why I ended up concealing."

"You almost died today," Arin Helev argued. As he was overwhelmed with anger, he finds it so hard to control himself. "What do you expect me to do if you're dead? Do you really think I can go on?"

The fear that covered him when he received the letter and the tormenting hours he spend to reach the Wesdale Forest... it was agonizing.

When he saw her almost being killed by the assassin, he felt like his heart was about to stop beating. When he saw her struggling to even lift a sword, he hated himself. When the royal doctor said that her shoulder was in a serious condition, he hated himself even more.

They were married for almost half a year yet he had no clue.

It made him wondered if it would be different if he could spare more time for her.

"Arin..."

"Please give me some time," he said as he rose from his seat. As guilt swept over him, he finds it so suffocating. "Rest for now," he muttered and walked out of the chamber.

Iria quietly stared at the empty door for a while before she shut her eyes. She felt so helpless in this unfamiliar situation.

What could she do to mend it? She really didn't know.....