Love Amidst Wars

twenty-three

Juliette went downstairs and saw her father pushing towards the entrance door, all dressed in his uniform. She glowered at the sight, scurrying towards him before pulling his wheelchair to halt him.

"Where do you think you're going?"

He tilted his head to face her with a bright smile, "Today is the day the soldiers come back!"

"Father, I thought you were gonna quit with all these military things."

"Come on, Juliette. You can come with me if you wanna make sure I'm safe and all." 

She chuckled at her father's enthusiasm and followed him from behind, heading towards the car. She made sure the butlers carried him safely into the vehicle before getting in herself.

After a few minutes' drive, she slowly entered the military site, seeing many families waiting for their sons to return. Her hand reached into her satchel and took out the Duke's watch, caressing it continuously.

Suddenly, her eyes caught a familiar figure walking towards her with his guards. Her expression immediately turned into a grimace as she watched Jay approaching her.

"Your Highness," Viscount William greeted politely. She followed after, bowing at him.

"It's nice to see you here, Your Highness. The soldiers will be very grateful to see the prince supporting them," the Viscount cheerfully remarked, oblivious to the secret intentions the prince had.

Jay glanced at the daughter and smiled a little, only to receive a frown from her.

"You shouldn't be here, Lord Anderson. You should get enough rest after the accident."

"I'm a soldier, Your Highness. This is just a small problem for me," the old man replied with a grin. Juliette frowned and averted her attention away from them, waiting for the military vehicle to arrive.

Her eyes widened when she saw the military vehicles arrive at the site. People were beginning to crowd the area, calling for their loved ones.

She slowly approached the crowd and stood at the back, seeing how soldiers came out, one by one with at least one injury. Some had bandages around their arms and heads. Some even had to use walking canes.

Her heart started to feel heavy when there were no signs of the Duke walking out. She tightened her grip around the watch and sighed sadly before turning away.

"I believe that belongs to me."

Her heart finally dropped as her eyes widened. She slowly turned around and saw Jake towering over her, blocking the sunlight. He flashed her a kind grin before taking a few steps closer to her.

Her feet were plastered to the ground as she did not know how to react or where to move. He silently tied her hair back with the ribbon he took from her.

"There. I kept my promise," he chuckled and arched a brow, "Aren't you going to return my watch?"

"Oh," she finally snapped out of her trance and shoved the watch at him. "Are you hurt? Do you have any injuries?"

"I'm fine. Thanks to my teammates, they saved me. And your letters saved me."

Her cheeks reddened as she looked away with a frown, "Stop with that nonsense."

He was amused by her reaction and wanted to continue talking until a familiar figure caught his attention. Jay approached them with a wide smirk before saying, "Jake! You're alive! As expected."

Jake's expression instantly turned blank as he tried to show his professionalism in front of everyone else, "Yes, Your Highness."

"You know you're very good at this. I should send you to more wars and expeditions. I know you can help the kingdom expand its power even more."

Jake only sighed before bowing, "Yes, Your Highness."

Juliette could not help but scoff, "Are you kidding me?"

Jay was surprised by her reaction. "What do you mean?"

"This expedition almost killed him and my father. Are you sure your intentions are just to expand the kingdom's power, Your Highness?"

"Is that a way to speak to the Crown Prince?" One of the guards snapped. Jake stood in front of her before sighing, "She is just voicing out her opinions. Please spare her."

He turned to face her, looking at her with a straight expression before saying, "You should go to your father. I'm gonna have a small conversation with His Highness."

She obeyed and looked at him for one last time before leaving.

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"Are you still in pain, Jake?" Jay asked as they both took a stroll around the site.

"Well, I was shot in the waist and shoulder. It hurt for a short while only. It's nothing."

The prince scoffed before looking around the site, seeing younger soldiers happily speaking to their loved ones. Jake halted and glowered at him before taking a deep breath, "I wish for you to stop calling for me whenever there's an expedition, Jay."

"What?"

"If there's an invasion in the kingdom, or maybe another country has called for war, then I'll go and defend this kingdom. But I think it was absurd of you to hold an expedition at that place when you knew it was dangerous and terrorists lurk everywhere there."

"You dare to disobey the royal orders?"

"I can't be doing everything you want. As you know, I'm at the age where I'm supposed to marry someone and have a family. You too as well," Jake smirked before stepping closer to him.

"I chose you because you are a worthy soldier."

"You chose me because you want me to die so that you can have Juliette all to yourself," the Duke argued back. "But it looks to me that she had already held a resentment towards you. I'm sure many things happened during my absence."

"Oh, so you know," Jay sighed before running his fingers through his hair, "It's easier now since I don't have to act like a good friend to you. Yes, I want you dead, Jake."

"I apologise in advance, Your Highness, but I won't die that easily."