Chapter 11

Even with the presence of the fireplace full of burning logs, the atmosphere was growing colder in the tent. The two persons of authority sat on either end, while one was glaring intensely, the other simply sat there with an annoying smile on his face.

Lady Calytrix who was standing beside Elara's makeshift bed had been straining her neck to see the both parties in turn. Her old bones shivered slightly, not from the cold but from the tension around her.

Her attention mostly was on this rogue prince. To her knowledge, Lady Elara had never met him, nor had they any reason to meet. Then why was he here? To check on her? Thats absurd!!

Lady Calytrix couldn't understand his reasons, but the way he carried himself- so casually, so arrogantly- made her uneasy. He could be a prince but at the moment he was in a Commander's tent, he could show some manners at the very least.

The prince, however, oblivious or simply indifferent to the growing tension in the tent, exhaled a quiet sigh before speaking.

"You could at least show me some courtesy," he said, his tone light, yet undeniably expectant. "I did come all this way just to check on you."

Elara who had been watching him in silence, finally spoke. "And your Highness could have done the same by not disturbing my rest," she countered, her voice calm but edged with steel. "Yet your highness still thought it better to march in here, even after being informed of my condition being unfit to receive guests- as for your highness coming all this way, I was told your highness was in the area when you coincidently heard about my situation."

"Ah, but My Lady- Ops! Commander! Fate works in strange ways," he mused, a trace of a smile lingered on the corner of his lips. "and who am I to ignore its calls?"

Elara let out a soft scoff. She had not expected the man to be soo annoying. "Fate?" she replied dryly. "You mean a passing band of mercenaries?"

Adrian chuckled, his voice ringing like music in the air, "Perhaps mercenaries are but fate's messengers," he countered, crimson eyes gleaming with mischief. "Delivering me exactly where I was meant to be."

Lady Calytrix blinked, momentarily thrown by the absurdity of his response.

Elara, however, was not amused. Rather, she felt tired of this conversation that was going nowhere. She needed answers and all she had gotten so far were... excuses and nonsense.

"I don't indulge in fantasies, Your Highness. I prefer reality- things that are tangible and practical." Her gaze sharpened, her patience wavering thin. "So, if you have something to say, get to the point. Otherwise, you've already checked on me, and may leave now."

The smile didn't leave Adrian's face, but something in his expression shifted ever so slightly. Amusement gave way to something more calculating, more serious. The man who was so nonchalant and light-hearted a while ago finally sobered.

"... I do have something to say," he admitted, before turning his gaze toward Lady Calytrix. "But not with an audience. Leave us."

Calytrix hesitated, glancing at Elara for confirmation, but before she could move, Elara's voice cut through the space between them. Her eyes fixed on Adrian, trying to figure him out.

"That won't be necessary." She leaned back slightly, suppressing the groan from the pain her shift inflicted on her wounds, but her voice was firm as she continued. "Given my condition, a physician is required to stay with me at all times. Whatever your highness needs to say, you can say in front of her- and, I would rather that you don't order my people again."

Truthfully, no matter how much Elara acted, she was still an outsider. If she stayed alone with this prince and he asked her something she didn't know and considering she didn't know almost anything, it was best to keep the Lady beside her.

Adrian studied her for a long moment before exhaling a mild exasperation. "How convenient," he remarked. "Being Commander must be quite useful- you get to assign anyone you want to accompany you on missions. And yet, on such an important mission, you assigned your nanny as your physician. I get she is from house Lavender and all but still..."

Calytrix stiffened beside Elara, who showed no signs of panic or the chaos that was created by his words. Her nanny? So this lady was her nanny? That explains her motherly instincts toward her.

"Would Your Highness care to test my physician's skill himself?" she asked, her tone deceptively polite. "Perhaps you'll find her far more capable than you assume."

"Adrian chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "No need," he said, his smirk returning. "I'd rather not give you an excuse to poison me."

"Poison Your Highness?" she repeated, startled. "Why would I-"

"Since you are not in any condition to be conversing alone," he cut her off smoothly, his tone light, but lacking the teasing arrogance from earlier, "You should rest."

He stood up but instead of turning to leave- he walked straight toward her.

Elara's breath hitched, her already pounding heat thudding louder in her chest. There was something different in the way he moved now, something deliberate. The playful arrogance that had colored his words moments ago was gone. Something else took its place, something quieter- something unsettling real as if the playful and arrogant behavior was nothing but a facade. Or was it this seriousness?

Gone was the detached, smirking prince who had spent most of their exchange toying with words. Now, as he stopped beside her bed, Elara could see it clearly in his face.

Genuine concern.

Lady Calytrix reacted instantly, stepping between them, her stance stiff and protective. Yet Adrian made no further move, neither did he protest, his crimson eye still locked onto Elara's.

For the first time since he entered her tent, the weight of his presence felt different. He was no longer just an intruder in her space, carelessly testing boundaries. There was something different now- something composed, unwavering.

Something regal.

Despite his earlier playfulness, there was an undeniable serenity in his expression, a quiet authority that made him, at this moment, truly look like a prince.

"Your Highness..." Lady Claytrix's voice broke the silence, the tremble in it evident.

The playfulness returned on Adrian's face as he smirked, "Don't worry, I am not going to eat your lady."

"Still, I would advise your Highness to keep your distance. As both Your Highness and Lady Elara are unmarried-"

"Would it be fine if we were married then?" Adrian countered, making the physician take a deep breath.

"That's enough!" Elara interjected. She didn't want Lady Calytrix to be reprimanded by this arrogant prince. Though Elara- the girl with silver hair- was the daughter of a grand duke, a rank that had the highest authority after the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Lady Calytrix was nothing but her nanny, she feared that if this madman got offended by her words he could punish her and Elara might not be able to do much in that matter than.

"Heh, I just wanted to wish Commander Lupina a fast recovery. I am not sure why that might be a concern..." Adrian shrugged as he stepped back.

Just then, a strong gust of wind swept into the tent, tousling Adrin's golden hair. And in the shifting light, elara caught a faint rosy sheen at its edges- an almost unnatural glow, making the handsome man more breathtaking.

Yet, though the wind parted the tent's flaps and sent a chill through her, she thought it strange that it was not enough to move even a single strand on the black cloak Adrian was wearing.

With the wind also came a faint, sweet fragrance. Elara's breath hitched. She knew this scent. But from where?

The dream. It had been in the dream she had of her past, lingering in the air. But how? One couldn't smell things in a dream, could they? And yet, she was certain- this was the same fragrance she had mistaken for the lavender's scent.

As if sensing something off, Adrian suddenly offered a partying smile. "Well then, Commander Lupina, I wish you a swift recovery. I did hear that the Aeternum people heal fast, not to mention the direct heirs that have extraordinary self-healing abilities, yet..." he faked a sigh before changing the subject, his gaze lingering on Elara's shoulder for the briefest moment, as if knowing its exact condition. "As much as I would love to stay and chat more, I can't disturb your rest anymore. Maybe we can continue another time?" and without waiting for Elara's answer he made for the exit without a backward glance.

The moment the tent's flap came to a halt behind him, and the moment the crunches of his footsteps were gone, Lady Calytrix let out a shaky breath, lowering herself onto the stool.

"You have my gratitude, My Lady," she said softly.

Elara frowned, unsure what she was thanking her for. Lady Calytrix, noticing her confusion, offered a small, wry smile. "I know you stopped me because you didn't want me to confront his highness. You feared my words might offend him... and I'd be the one to pay the price.

Elara remained silent. She had considered that possibility. Though Prince Adrian had acted amicably, he was still a prince- someone powerful enough that his moods alone could determine another's fate. But she had not expected this old lady to notice her intentions.

Lady Calytrix sighed her hands still trembling slightly. "I don't know how that rogue prince knew I was your nanny when there are a few that know about this face... but at least he doesn't seem to know about the tension between you and the Grand Duke."

Elara stiffened. Tension? She wasn't on good terms with the Grand Duke- her supposed second brother?

Before she could fully process this, Lady Calytrix continued, unaware of the turmoil her words had sparked. "Perhaps His Grace already knew you would attempt to enter the jungle, and that's why despite your multiple protests he sent me on this mission."

Elara's breath caught. Another shock.

Ever since Adrian's sudden appearance and his claim about coincidently meeting the mercenaries while hunting, she had suspected him to be their boss or in any way connected with them. But now their conversation that had hinted that he knew she might go into the jungle and this- Calytrix's claim that suggested the Grand Duke had anticipated her actions and sent her here.

The mercenaries did say they were hired by House Aeternum- but Elara had suspected there was more to their claim. Yet if Lady Calytrix was right...

Silence stretched between them as Elara tried to piece it all together. Then, she remembered the cloak, "Did you... find the cloak Prince Adrian was wearing strange?"

Lady Calytrix paused, considering. Then, with a thoughtful nod, she answered, "It was strange. A prince without inheritance, exiled from the royal palace since birth, shouldn't be able to afford a Veil of Obscura."

Elara's expression though remained unreadable, but inwardly, her mind turned sharply. Veil of Obscura? She had never heard of such a thing. And what did Calytrix mean by exiled since birth? Why would such a price visit her? And why was he exiled since birth? What crime did he commit by being born?

Her mind went back to the cloak since the other matter was something she couldn't comprehend at the moment without asking questions and so, awakening suspicions. If the cloak was something rare or difficult to obtain, then how had the mercenaries also been wearing them? She was certain their cloaks were the same as Adrian's.

Before she could dwell on it further, Lady Calytrix added something even more unsettling. "Even the Grand Duke had to pull some serious strings to get his hands on one of those cloaks."

Elara's pulse quikened.

Every time she thought she was close to understanding the mercenaries' true allegiance, the truth twisted into something even more elusive.

Who exactly was the 'master' they had spoken of?

The playful, arrogant prince, Adrian Thalor Rosethorne, whose easygoing nature was likely nothing but a well-crafted mask?

Or the Grand Duke- the second brother of this silver-haired girl, whose body Elara now occupied? A man she apparently wasn't on good terms with?

How is she going to solve the mystery Kael had mentioned in her dream when she is unable to solve this little mystery about the master of those mercenaries- which Elara was sure more than the mere mercenaries they were acting as.

Would she ever be able to meet her brother again, or was it just a dream and Elara was taking it too seriously?

Whatever the case, she would definitely figure it out.