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"Your majesty. what should we do to those captives? Shall we free them again like last time?"

It took couple of moments before Cavi answered. "Trey. Don't you think this group of attackers are the same with the recent one?"

The royal guard shook his head who was following Cavi's carriage at the window side. "No. I think they're different, your majesty."

"OH? How say so?" though he was amaze that they have the same assumption, his tone sounded nonchalant.

"When I checked the bodies of the last attacker, they seemed to be the same as this one since they both wear black attired and the same weapons. But when I looked closely at the fabric the clothes are made of, that's when I realized they're different. The last attacker's clothes are made of low-quality fabric. While this one…" trey paused in his speech, not knowing whether he should say it or not.

Yet, Cavi already knew what he was about to say. They both have the same guess.

"Their clothes are made of high-quality fabrics that was only made in the capital."

The guard nodded with Cavi's words. Silence followed as Cavi turned to the sleeping lady beside him. she seemed really exhausted too much.

"Bring the caught assassins to the capital to be interrogated."

"Yes, your majesty!"

"Also…" Trey glanced at the king who now seemed bothered while looking at Lady Hariah.

"I understand, your majesty. I will suppress the news of Lady Hariah being missing for a night along with his highness, Prince Raziel. I won't let anyone spread a rumor that will destroy the lady's reputation."

Hearing his promise made Cavi finally rest assured. He's always been bothered because of it since the day they went missing. If ever, it will be used against Hariah by those people who were targeting him.

"Good that you know what to do." Though it was a vague praise, this made Trey smile. Finally, his king was able to appreciate him. which never happen in this past several years since he became his guard.

***

For the past days of traveling, Hariah spent her time sleeping in Cavi's carriage. After returning from the abandoned village, she had caught a cold and had been having fever every now and then.

Thus, Cavi decided to take care of her along the way.

"Your majesty. we're arriving at the capital soon." With Trey informing, he shoved the curtain to the side and looked outside. The first thing he saw was the big plaque on the gate contain the words 'Frost Capital'. Now, they're home. However, instead of being happy or relieved like most people who return to their homes, Cavi felt his body tensing.

For him, the palace was both a home and enemy's den. Where he can neither relax or feel protected. He should always stay on guard.

As he glanced at hariah who looked peaceful in her sleep, he wondered how can she does that. Sleeping with no worries. Talking to people without suspecting or doubting them. And also, freely showing her emotions…

Still, he knew people like her were always the one that ends up falling into evil people's tricks. And that's something he wouldn't let happen.

Holding her hand, he pressed his lips together. "Don't worry. I will protect you."

***

As the royal carriage passed by on the street of the capital, people were praising and greeting the king in an utmost welcome. Some even lit fireworks and beat drums.

"Greetings, your majesty! welcome for your safe return!" the ministers greeted in chorus as they welcome their king in his arrival after almost two months.

"Your majesty. what's your order?" Trey asked after seeing him wave his hand on him.

Cavi looked around first before talking in secret. "I will attend the banquet first. Take Lady Hariah in the Snow Palace."

Hearing the palace's name, Trey's face reddened in nervousness. "Your majesty! You must not. It's the palace of the future empress."

Cavi was both surprised and annoyed by his reply. Yet, after thinking for a while, he had decided.

"Then, bring her to Plum Palace. Don't let anybody know. Especially the Queen Dowager's people."

Trey bowed to his king. "As you order, your majesty!"

As Cavi went out of the carriage, he watched it driven by Trey towards the West palace. Now, he needed to face another battle right after returning. As he walked towards the main hall, where his enemies lurk, his body tensed as his face turned colder and emotionless than before. For him, it's his armor that he must wear to protect himself from the enemies' swords and arrows.

***

It was near midnight when Cavi was able to escape such suffocating feast of ministers who never really acknowledge him as their king. Of all the ministers, only half of them was his own people. And the other was the Queen Dowager's people that supports his older brother.

In such was, he was able to maintain a fleeting balance in his court. A balance that one wrong move may disrupt the balance and will immediately cause his own demise.

As he walked on the silent hallway towards his palace, a royal maid suddenly appeared before him. and judging by her clothing, he knew in an instant whose people she is.

"Did Queen Dowager asked me to meet her?"

"Yes, your majesty. she requests you to meet her in her palace."

'Request? Or command?' Cavi could only suppress his bitterness.

"Fine." As he decided, the eunuch following him announced their change of path.

"To Chiwon Palace!"

***

For Cavi, this place was perhaps the coldest place he ever went to. Still, he was always forced to come back, again and again.

"I really felt bad that I called you out here though it's already late and you should have rested instead. But, I just missed my son that I couldn't wait for the morning anymore..." the ingenuity of her words made his stomach churn and want to puke.

"Thank you for your care, Royal Mother."

Queen Dowager Fei elegantly took a sip from an expensive porcelain tea cup and carefully placed it back on the plate her servant was holding.

"Oh." She pretended to have remembered something, brows raising. "I seem to hear that you have found a woman during your trip this time, your majesty. I heard… she had an unsurpassable beauty. Is that true?"

Cavi was right. it was really about hariah.

Taking the tea but didn't drink it, he let the water in it played in circles. "It's indeed true that I found a woman. But if she's an unsurpassable beauty, I doubt that."

"Oh? Then, that's a lucky coincidence. I am needing more servants this time after few had left to their home. Why don't you-"

"Royal Mother." Hastily, Cavi suddenly interrupted, stopping the Queen Dowager. "It's already late. I will surely visit you again tomorrow. The royal doctor said you're not young anymore. you need to rest early. Then, I'm leaving now."

"Y-your majesty! Your…"

Despite her irritated protest, Cavi still left the palace. This made the Queen Dowager mad so much that she threw the tea cup on the floor, breaking it in an instant.

"Your majesty! please ease your anger!" all the servant pleaded in fear of their master's wrath.

"Disobedient son! He's reminding me that I am now old!? How dare he! Just wait, you, impudent child! You think you can defy me again like what you did in the past? Then, let's see who will win in the end…"