Andry felt more than relieved when they managed to leave the Camer Army camp without any problem. However, just a while after they left, he indeed noticed how the two men they took the uniforms from returned to the camp.
It seemed like the two soldiers reported what happened and the whole camp was immediately in turmoil!
Nevertheless, when Andry looked at Crown Prince Hemeri, the latter didn't even seem to care about it. He didn't even look like he notice as all he did was maintain his pace with a small victorious smile on his face!
Why was the Crown Prince so hard to understand? He insisted to go to Aritish because of General Eloria but... it seemed like he was hellbent on playing around!
* * *
"Intruders," Eloria Camer muttered when she heard a report from General Ivo, one of the Generals of the Camer Army. "Find them."
"I'm afraid they had already left, Deputy Commander," General Ivo replied with his gaze lowered. "Thinking of how they don't kill our two soldiers, there is a high chance for them to calculate -"
"I don't need your assumptions, General Ivo," Eloria Camer snapped as she rose from her seat. "Be it they are still here or they had left, your task right now is to prove. Even if they left, do anything to find them unless you want the reputation of our army to be harmed. Is that clear?"
With thousands of soldiers residing inside the camp, the task was a very challenging one and the expression on the General's face also proved it. Nevertheless, he was in no position to defy the order of the Deputy Commander who would soon be appointed as the Commander.
"Yes," was all General Ivo managed to mutter before leaving the camp.
The moment the General left, Eloria promptly shifted her gaze to Vicus who was standing a few steps away on her right. "Carry out the punishment of the two soldiers as per the rule of the Camer army," she ordered. "Know this too, Vicus. If words get out that we have intruders in our camp, we will be the laughingstock of other armies."
"I understand." Vicus bowed and hurriedly left the chamber yet Eloria Camer was still fuming with anger.
She might care little about the kingdom and the people but the same couldn't be said for the Camer Army. As such, she was very meticulous and also tough whenever it concerned the army.
Just who was daring enough to intrude on her camp?!
* * *
The whole Camer Army camp was practically turned upside down due to something he only did for fun yet Crown Prince Hemeri Van Hale was already back at the palace, meeting his three cousins as if nothing happened.
"Why don't you tell us, Hemeri? What trouble did you cause this time?"
Hemeri Van Hale simply smiled as his gaze briefly swept the ground. "You are talking as if I create trouble all the time, Saerus," he responded to his Third Cousin who sighed.
"But I'm telling the truth," Saerus Varence insisted. "Whenever your whereabouts are unknown, you are always busy somewhere creating trouble."
Crown Prince Owine and Second Prince Alanus laughed while Hemeri Van Hale shook his head and clicked his tongue.
"As if you are any different," the Emerido Crown Prince pointed out with a victorious smile. "Alan always told me that all you do is enjoy yourself."
Third Prince Saerus looked at his older brother with disappointment written all over his face while Alanus Varence blinked. "When have I ever said that?" He looked at his younger brother and frowned. "Don't listen to Hemeri. You know how cunningly intelligent he is."
Hemeri Van Hale let out a chuckle and ignoring his two displeased cousins, he turned his attention to his First Cousin, the Crown Prince of Aritish. "How are you, Owine?" He asked. "It's been so long."
"You say that now?" Owine Varence leaned back on the couch and fold his arms, looking more than disappointed. "Why didn't you greet me last night or in the morning? All you care about is playing around."
Hemeri Van Hale looked at Alanus as if asking for his help but when the latter simply smiled at him as if he enjoyed seeing him stuck in such a situation, he let out a sigh. "It was late when I arrived last night and it was still too early when I left in the morning," he said despite knowing he sounded absurd. "I don't want to disturb you."
"Do you think that's good enough of an excuse?" Owine Varence promptly asked, sounding like a stern older brother which he was at some point. "Besides, I think Saerus is right. You left so early in the morning and it would be a miracle if you don't go around creating trouble."
Hemeri Van Hale wanted to argue but when he thought of what he did just a while ago, he couldn't bring himself to do so. Then Owine Varence let out a sigh.
"You are the Crown Prince of Emerido now, Hemeri," the Aritish Crown Prince said in a surprisingly calm voice. "You should now think before you act even in the smallest matter."
Owine Varence was well aware of how intelligent and capable his younger cousin was. However, he also knew how much Hemeri loved to play around. He agreed that it wasn't a bad idea for Hemeri to relieve himself from time to time but... it was just that his cousin often went a bit too far!
He knew how cruel Hemeri could be due to the atmosphere he was brought up in, but at times, even his games were too cruel.
"I will remember that," Crown Prince Hemeri Van Hale responded to his First Cousin after a brief silence. At the moment, not a hint of someone who was even feared by his rivals wasn't seen in him.
Families, especially the ones from his late aunt and his mother's side were the biggest and wide-known weakness of the powerful Emerido Crown Prince. He could be the cruelest but towards the people he loved and cared for, he could become the most considerate and a good listener too.
Owine Varence might be the Crown Prince of Aritish but Emerido was much more powerful than Aritish and Hemeri Van Hale was the Crown Prince of such an empire. However, he still respected Owine as his older cousin and also listened to him in many ways possible.
"As if you mean it," Owine Varence remarked at his younger cousin's response. "You and Alanus are so similar. You two always said yes but never really comply." He slightly shook his head before he let out another sigh and asked, "How long do you plan to stay this time? Can you even afford to come here while you are just appointed as the Crown Prince?"