Crowned Prince | hendery

34: What War Is.

Warning: Viewer discretion is advised

Mentions: War, blood and death

!!! proceed with caution !!!

Metals hitting on metals in a distinct tune was music to no one's ears. The smell of iron was filling the air and with her head down as Illia led her further and further away from this unpleasant smell the softer the grunts of pain and suffering were to her ear. Yet every once in a while she would lift her head and watch as someone acquired injury in front of her eyes.

"Your highness!" She sticks her head out as a body hits on her right side. She feels as his body holds up against an opponent. She could even tell how heavy handed the young man's opponent was.

"Princess!" She hears Illia call out her attention as she watches him disappear in front of her and appear beside her. "Cadet, make sure to keep that side of her majesty protected." Illia places his arms over her shoulders as they try their best to hurry her out of the place.

She was being dragged through the amount of people running towards the center of all the chaos. Hearing every little grunt of frustration and fear from all the men of men now running towards the central tent— which she shared earlier with Hendery. The only reason she knew where she was, was because she could hear more footsteps rather than metals hitting each other and the smell of iron was now leaving her senses.

"We're safe in the meantime, your highness." Illia let go of her shoulder as she finally raised her head and they were sitting beneath the entrance to a cave that overlooked where the tents were.

Inside the cave was not what she expected. It was not empty, but rather there were a number of people inside, all part of the Hwei military and a few unfamiliar faces. There were materials, several boxes, and a fire keeping a number of them warm. All eyes were on her as soon as she entered the cave. It was already oddly quiet to begin with, but it was even more now.

"My lord?" One young lady walked up to Illia, one who did not look like she belonged to the Hwei military— aside from the fact that she was a woman among the only male fleet of Hwei, her clothing did not come from Hwei either.

"This is the princess of Hwei, Prince Hendery's wife." Illia walked past the young lady as he took off his outerwear that was now touched with blood— luckily none of his.

"His highness' wife? Prince Hendery was married?" The young lady who walked up to Illia asked the few beside her. She was completely shocked, seeking confirmation from all the other men from Hwei. Several of them simply nodded their heads. "Are you aware, your highness, that the prince is also the prince of Maha'ali?"

Taeha, who has yet to settle down, simply looked at the young lady and nodded her head. "I have known of it even before we were married."

The young lady was not a noble, or she would have recognized her— or maybe she was and her head needed some time to recover from what she had just witnessed. Her head was still swirling about the husband— that they were talking about— stuck in the middle of all that chaos.

"This is the lady Aisha of the house of Brixton of Maha'ali, your highness." Illia pops up by her side. "Her lady's baron sits close to Farox, just beside the area protected by the viscount, and was one of the first to have been affected by the war." Illia stands between the two of them.

"It is my honor to become acquainted with you, however, my thoughts are not in the right place for all too well pleasantries—"

"Before your marriage, what was your family's background?" Oh, lady Aisha was a straightforward individual. Nobles, who knew much better, would not directly ask such a question.

"Lady Aisha!" A few men from Maha'ali called out the attention of the noble, but her eyes were not leaving Taeha and was eagerly waiting for her answer.

"She was a princess." Illia answers her for the princess.

"A princess? Like, his highnesses' sibling?"

Illia coughs, while Taeha couldn't help but open her mouth. She blinks a couple of times trying her best to compose herself, but with her husband left alone in the middle of the warzone allowing his wife and companion to live— composing herself was the least of her worries.

"Lady Aisha, we are in a warzone and you much more knowledgeable than I— However, as I mentioned, I would still appreciate concern and sympathy for the distress of the several men who came and seeked shelter here knowing that several of their friends are risking their lives for the peace that our continent is so proud of." Taeha stands tall and takes a deep breath. "I shall make sure to entertain your questions when the time and place is fit for such."

The young lady stands there in silence and even looks away from her.

"Illia." Taeha calls the attention of the shocked count who stood between the two. "Arrange a meeting for all those who lead, we must restrategize and ensure that Hendery's efforts shall not go to waste."

Taeha sighs and moves into a deeper part of the shared cave. She takes off the layer she had hastily placed on her shoulders upon hearing the chaos. As the feeling of Hendery's shaking hands still haunts her shoulders. The moment she looked down, in a similar manner, her hands were also shaking. There was no guarantee that the prince would make it out alive from that chaos.

Yet she knew the moment she loses her cool— the moment she shows this lack of composure, all hell would break lose for all who made it out alive. Even if in the morning she finds his dead body she cannot cry and gauge her eyes out, she needs to pick herself up and ensure nothing would go to waste. That all the efforts that were made and lives that they had to sacrifice—

"Your highness, may I have a word." Illia approaches her as she recomposes herself.

"What is it that you need?" She doesn't stand up— afraid she couldn't carry her weight with her legs.

The count looks over his shoulder. The princess needed space and situated herself away from everyone else into a corner where the light of the fire barely lit.

"His highness, Prince Hendery, had this all planned out."

"What are you—" this alone made her stand up. The fear that has been whispering in her ear since earlier only seems to shout at this moment.

"It was originally my position to be left there during the battle, but just as it was inside that tent, he insisted that I do not put my life on the line when I had children waiting for my return."

Taeha, if she was being honest, could not fathom the idea that the crowned prince of Hwei— and pseudo crowned prince of Maha'ali— chose and was allowed to sacrifice himself all because his right hand man had a family— had children?

"You shall tell me of the plan in absolute detail." Taeha looked Illia straight in the eye.

In the times that they have shared eye contact not once did it ever make Illia feel as though he needed to hide in a den and never show his face to her again— until this very moment.