Crowned Prince | hendery

28: The Return to Sui

"As much as you want to protect your wife, this is not how one should do it, your highness." Illia stands beside him shaking his head.

"I do not wish to be scolded."

"Then who shall be brave enough to reprimand you?"

Hendery takes a deep breath in before walking towards the camp that they have prepared for him. Illia was tailing behind him as both the second in command and the only person who was brave enough to scold him for what he had done to his wife.

"Would it not be a better option if you had explained to the princess the circumstances of this war?" Illia continues to speak as he matches his pace with the prince.

"Are you not her former lover?" Hendery stops walking, making Illia halt. "You know full well of her stubbornness."

"Yet that stubbornness is no excuse to suddenly drive her off back into Sui."

The soldiers around them were both curious about the conversation and turned their heads away from the two nobles. Though everyone around them was busy– or at least pretending to be busy– all ears that were close enough to hear wanted a glimpse of what they were talking about.

Yet the silence that was now surrounding the two nobles was not the direction those around them thought this conversation would flow towards. They were expecting a little more information about the prince, the princess and the count.

"Have you forgotten who the woman you married is?" Illia breaks their silence as he walks closer to Hendery after taking note of the curious eyes on them.

Hendery turns the other way.

Illia doesn't let him take a step further by holding onto his wrist and stopping him from walking any further.

"Let go, count."

"Punish me, I do not care. If I do not speak you would not understand."

Hendery looks over his shoulders and tugs the count away from the eyes that were watching them. How inconvenient for them to be talking in front of a number of his men about his wife, who he had pushed into a carriage and back home to her family and a number of them had witnessed.

He leads the count behind the tent that was already made with no wandering eyes watching them, but not far enough for it to be dangerous to stay in.

"Your highness might be a force unparalleled in the kingdom of Hwei, but have you forgotten the reason why your wife has stayed unwed all these years?" Illia speaks as soon as Hendery is standing in front of him.

The prince stays quiet.

"Your wife will hold this against you–"

"It is better that she is angry at me, that she harbors frustration– much better than risking her life staying close to me."

"What are you saying?"

Hendery looks up at Illia. He realizes that he did not know about his mother, the count had no idea about what may become of him once people began to connect the dots between his birth and the lost ruler of Maha'ali.

"The longer I stay helping Maha'ali the more danger looms over her."

"Do you think she does not know?"

Hendery snaps his head towards Illia. "No." He pauses. "It is you who does not understand. Would you allow Guanxi to be in the same war that you are in?"

"Guanxi cannot fight! Taeha–"

"Princess."

Illia coughs. "The princess has been training since her childhood. She has practiced–"

"To practice and be in war are two different things."

"Guanxi cannot fight and the princess can!"

"Even if she can, I would not allow a blade to touch her. Even the smallest scratch on her hand or arm or face would make me lose my mind. Do you not understand?"

Illia once again was silenced.

"I cannot even fathom the idea that she does not return to my side."

"Why is it that you are telling me about this? It is not me who deserves to hear about your fear." Illia puts his hand on his shoulder. "It is her you should tell this to."

The count leaves that moment, leaving the prince all by himself. The darkness was slowly enveloping the sky as his men were close to finishing the site.

If this may be the only thing that can keep her safe, he would do it.

On the other hand, the carriage arrives in Sui a day after. Taeha's anger was gone, all that she could feel right now was the growing need to prove Hendery wrong. As the carriage pulled itself upon a familiar set of stairs, one that she has not seen since the last couple of months, she was ready to walk out and back up into her empty room.

The door to the carriage opened and as soon as it did she was out of that thing. She raises her head to give a look at the castle she was still much familiar with, but instead she sees her brother standing by the entrance of the castle.

"Taeha!"

As if he knew she would be back.

"Are you a part of this as well?" Her footsteps were heavy as she moved up the stairs and towards the crowned prince of Sui. Her armor was clanging against each other with each of her steps making castle workers turn their heads towards the– now– princess of Hwei.

"I have only been informed a few hours prior."

Taeha sighs. "How can a crowned prince be such a coward?"

Taeil raises an eyebrow towards his sister. "Are you talking about me or Prince Hendery?"

All that the crowned prince of Sui received was a glare from his youngest sister. She walks inside the castle. The decorations have not changed– but she was too cloudy to think about anything besides getting into her room and changing into comfortable clothes.

"Call Juna to my room!" Taeha announces to the ladies cleaning the hallway of the castle. "Tell her she must make her way as soon as possible."

That was the last thing the princess told the ladies before disappearing into the stairs. The cleaning ladies scramble among themselves before assigned one person to call on the infamous Juna.

"Did she call for her?" Taeil walked into the same area as Taeha did and asked the ladies cleaning.

After receiving the confirmation, he stands there staring at the stairs before taking a deep breath himself. It is beyond him what happens to his sister and the crowned prince of Hwei, however, the rage that his sister was exhibiting was worrying.

"I must inform the prince." He sighs as he ever so slowly drags himself to his office.

Taeha calling on Juna has never ended well for the image of the royal family.