After what Carmine said the entire atmosphere was filled with silence. No one knew how to counterattack Carmine words and they all became speechless. Finally, Cyanx stood up from his seat and said, "Announce my decree that those soldiers who can abide what General said will work under her and those who cannot are allowed to go back to their old posts. For the vacant position announce for a vacancy for new recruits."
After the announcement, 10% of the soldiers left but other stayed behind because after analysing the situation most of them realised what she had said was true, that their loyalty should be towards the country and not to a person. Furthermore, her actions made them realised that she was a capable General.
After this, all of the soldiers were dismissed to get ready to travel to Shar.
Under the shade, where all of them were seating. Emperor Cyanx turned to Alor, who was standing next to Rulean and asked him in front of everyone, "Do you wish to join Carmine's troops?"
Alor was reluctant. He did want to work with her because he felt that her core values were very similar to his. He also knew that he would love to be in her troop but he feared Rulean would not tolerate it. Therefore, his loyalty to Rulean stopped him to say yes to it.
When there was no reply for a while. Cyanx again rephrased his question," Alor, actually, I wanted you to be aide-de-camp ( a subordinate officer as a confidential assistant to superior)of Carmine. As you can see that with this attitude of hers, she is bound to have more troubles in future with other Generals. So, I would like to instate you to Carmine. Therefore, from today onwards you will be her aide-de-camp."
Carmine was surprised with that, but she knew that Alor was actually Rulean's aide-de-camp. She may not have spent much time with them, but she knew that Rulean valued Alor a lot and he would not tolerate this.
So, Carmine boldly said, "Your Imperial Highness, thank you very much for your kindness but I prefer working alone. I do not think I will be needing anyone."
Emperor Cyanx thundered," It's not a request to take Alor, its a command from me".
Carmine as witty as she was, just turned the table cunningly by saying, "Your Imperial Majesty. If I may say, I do not think it's your place to decide Alor assignment because his master is Rulean and he had been serving him for years as his aide-de-camp. Besides he has been his comrade for a very long time."
Rulean, who hated Carmine to bones and now even his aide-of-camp, his closest comrade was been bestowed to her. Rulean thought to himself," How dare she think that she could prove to the world that how generous she is by defying Emperor's order and not taking Alor for his sake."
So he replied, " Your Imperial Highness, I have no problem. Alor can be bestowed to General Carmine. "
Then he faced to Carmine and said," General Carmine, Alor can have only one master and from today it will be you. General, you should not belittle his loyalty because he is the best, I have got, and now you will have him."
After this everything was settled. Finally, all the officials and Generals could back to their assigned posting in Lapen and Norand.
That evening as Carmine was sitting in her room. Alor came to her room and said, "Emperor Cyanx, wishes you to meet someone."
As he escorted her out, In his mind he remembered what Cyanx had told him, " I did not think she would succeed in this but she has succeeded it, exceptionally. Now, I will have to keep my words. Take her to see her father. What was meant to happen, has happened? We are partly responsible for what happened to him but past is past and we cannot change it."
Carmine was in her Norand's uniform as she entered her father's chamber. She saw him behaving like a lunatic. He was putting a bundle of blankets to sleep and singing a lullaby to it.
When Carmine saw this. She was speechless she almost lost her balance. In a rage, she immediately grabbed hold of Alor and said, "Tell me, who did this?"
Alor held both of her wrists to free himself and said," King Ather was very depressed after being defeated by Norand. And he was kept in house arrest, but he became like this after he saw the dead bodies of Prince and Princess. I shall leave you two for privacy."
Then, Alor left the room for her and the King.
Carmine walked slowly towards her father and sat on the floor in front of him, just beside his bed and said, " Father look at me. Your daughter Carmine is here."
King Ather, who was kneeling beside the bed as he was tucking the blanket to sleep turned to her, put his both hands on her cheeks and said cryingly," My dear daughter Carmine, I had misunderstood you, you were right. We should not trust those Norand people. If only, I had listened to you. I would not have lost both of you." Suddenly his expression changed and he said, "Wait you are not my daughter, she is dead, I saw it with my own eyes theirs dead bodies were covered with blood. Even my little son is also dead. You are a liar. You are a liar."
As Carmine listened to all this, her tears roll down from her eyes. Carmine said again chokingly in tears," No...., I am your daughter. Please look at me."
Then, King Ather replied angrily," You.. are not my daughter. My daughter would never, ever surrender to those Norand people." As he touched her armour, " Isn't this Norand's army uniform? My daughter would never betray her nation. "
As he moved his hand over her armour he picked a knife from her left side of her armour and pointed it to her. "Tell me, Who are you? Who are you? You are not my daughter. She would never wear Norand's uniform."
Carmine who was in tears hold the knife with her both hands and got it right on her neck and said," I am your daughter. Why don't you believe me? If you think I have failed you. You have all the right to kill your daughter because I owe this life to you."
The coldness of the sharp blade of the knife could be felt by Carmine in her neck.
But all of sudden he jerked her hand and turned, kneeled on the ground to bed, to pat the bundle of the blanket and commanded," Sh....my son is crying. Can't you hear him? Do not make any noise. You stupid girl you have woken him up. Get out."
As Carmine dishearteningly stood up, and she slowly dragged her soulless body towards the door.
Then King Ather spoke in a melancholic and low tone," General, I miss my wife, my son and my daughter very much. Do you think they will be happy to see me? Will my wife forgive me for our children's death? My one wrong decision killed them.....
As Carmine who had lost her senses after seeing her father. Hearing the sentences she turned slowly to see her father. But when she turned, her body froze, her eyes were widened with shock because King Ather had committed suicide, by using the knife, to pierce right through his heart.
Carmine screamed," FATHER..." and ran towards him to catch his falling body. Because of the sound, Alor and other soldiers walked in.
When they got in, they saw Carmine was holding her father's lifeless body on the ground.
Carmine frantically demanded," Call the physician."
Carmine tried to stop the bleeding from his heart by trying to press against the bleeding heart. But when Alor checked King Ather pulse, he had already died. Alor put his hand on her shoulder and said," General, King Ather is dead"
Carmine could not even deny it because deep down she too knew that he had died and she was holding his lifeless dead body but she just could not admit it in her own voice.