"I will let your father tell you himself," he said, "I also brought you a lot of health supplements. So, even if it is true that I came for some other purpose, I sincerely wanted to see you," he chuckled, "Take care of yourself. I am calling it a day."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," they both said flustered.
After the Emperor left, Aziza rushed in.
"I just saw His Majesty leaving the room. What did he say?" she said as she looked at Conall.
Abiri stayed silent and waited for her father to tell her what was going on.
Conall sighed.
"I just wanted to delay this for as long as I could," he said, "The emperor named me his Successor. He brought the Royal Edict himself."
"What?" was all Abiri could say. She was shocked. She thought of many possibilities but never this. This was bigger than anything she had imagined.
"Yes. The news spread in the Royal Court before it came to us. Someone doesn't want me to become the Successor, this whole plan of attacking the city and attempted assassination were all because of that," he said.
"But that means, there can be other attempts as well," she said.
"Don't worry, we have trusted soldiers all around us. Because His Majesty is also here, we have doubled the security," he said.
"But, why you? Also, what does that have to do with you sending us away?" she asked.
"The Emperor doesn't have children. So, I am supposed to be the next of kin or something," he said, "The Emperor said there was no one else he trusted the throne with. The palace is nothing like here. There are cunning courtiers and people with malicious intents all around. There are so many dangers there, even the Emperor-" he stopped, "Anyways, it is dangerous and I don't want any of you to suffer."
Abiri didn't say anything. She was deep in thought, "Father didn't say there might be dangers. He spoke as if he knew there is danger. He even stopped himself from talking about it. But if it involves the Emperor, then father must have a good reason to hide it. So, I can't ask about it."
"Is this why you insisted on getting us married?" said Aziza.
"So, you want to send us all away and suffer alone?" Abiri said, "I'll never agree to that. No matter what, I have to stay beside you."
"Father, I understand your concern, but sending us away is not the solution. How can we live happily knowing that you might be in danger all the time?" Aziza said.
"Yes father, Aziza is right. There is only one solution. Let me follow you, I will remove the dangers and protect you," Abiri said.
"Not you, us," Aziza emphasised.
"But it is not a battlefield, it is the royal palace. People there are not as they seem. You can never be sure of what might happen next!" Conall said.
"If that's the case, then that's more reason for me to be by your side. Let's do this. Let me go with you first and after we think it is safe we can let Aziza and Adeer join us," Abiri said.
"Don't you even think I will let my father and my little sister, go to a dangerous place by themselves!" Aziza said sternly, "Whatever it is, we will face it together!"
Conall and Abiri sighed.
"The actual scary Arlo is definitely Aziza," they both thought.
"And Abiri, you just woke up. Did you take the medicine?" she nagged, "I told you-"
Abiri quickly cut her off, "Ohh! The wound really is stinging. I am so tired. I'll go to sleep now." She quickly pulled her blanket and pretended to sleep.
Aziza looked at Conall.
"Father, look how tired she is. Did you really have to talk to her right after she woke up? Couldn't you-"
Her father got up before she could finish, "Yes you are right. She is so tired. We shouldn't disturb her anymore. I have to go see Hernan off."
Aziza said, "They already left." But Conall pretended to not hear and hurriedly escaped.
The next morning, Hernan was waiting for him at his study. Conall sat down in his chair dejectedly.
"Lev went to meet Abiri," Hernan said, "Judging from your expression, Aziza and Abiri refused to get married, right? They must've figured out that you were trying to send them away too?"
Conall sighed, "You really do know my daughters well."
"I know you well. And they take after you so it is obvious," he said.
"I'm genuinely concerned for them. I thought Abiri liked Lev so she might agree to it. And if she agreed then Aziza would naturally follow through," he said, "How can she reject someone she likes?"
"I understand her decision. Abiri has always been more of a soldier, she thinks like one too. She would rather face any danger herself than run away leaving others in peril," Hernan said.
"That is exactly what I am worried about. She always tries to protect everyone around her but not herself. You have also seen, just how many times had she been hurt till now. She keeps saying that she will protect me, the Chief Commander. Moreover, she is the daughter and I am the father. I am the one who should and will be protecting her!" he said.
"Actually, I heard from Serene that Abiri promised her mother that she will protect you and the Arlos. Apparently, that was the last time she spoke to her mother. You know how close she was to her. So, she will never break that promise no matter what," Hernan said.
"How come I never knew about it?" Conall asked, "When was this?"
"It was right before your last meeting with Lady Arlo. While you were returning from the battlefield, we all heard news that Lady Arlo's condition worsened. Serene and your kids stayed by her side. Serene told me that Lady Arlo knew Abiri's interest in joining the army and allowed her to do so. It was then she told her to protect you and the family," he said.
"I never knew. Abiri never told me", He said sadly, "I only knew Aziza got into medicine because of her mother, but even that is just my assumption. Even Aziza doesn't talk to me about her mother."
"It was only Serene and Aziza who knew about it. Adeer was too young to understand. Serene only told me by chance when she was too sad from Lady Arlo's demise. I don't think Abiri ever talked about it. Not even to Lev," he tried to comfort his friend, "They were very close to their mother, maybe this is still too painful for them to speak about. Or maybe they don't want you to be too sad."
He quickly added, "I didn't mean to make you sad. I just wanted you to understand their decisions. They already experienced losing a parent; they just don't want it to happen again. They might want to stick around you for the same reason. After all, they are just kids."
Conall was silent for a while.
"I understand," he said slowly.
Meanwhile, Lev visited Abiri.
"I brought these for you," he said as he gave her the sweets she liked.
Abiri immediately took them.
"I was craving for these! Aziza keeps giving me the bitter medicines and bland food, I just couldn't take it anymore," she said as she stuffed her mouth with sweets.
"Eat slowly; no one is going to steal them from you," he said smiling.
Abiri stopped eating and looked at Lev.
"Lev, I refused the marriage," she said seriously, "I-"
"After seeing your reaction yesterday, I expected as much," he said.
Although he smiled at her, Abiri could feel his disappointment.
"Lev, I like you. I really do," she said, "But I can't send my father to the palace alone."
"But he is the Chief Commander. He can hold his own even in the battlefield; I don't understand why you feel the need to protect him. Moreover, he is going to the palace, not to war. He would be surrounded by guards all the time, why would he need you to protect him there?" he sounded frustrated.
"It was understandable", thought Abiri "From yesterday's conversation and the assassination attempt, I know the palace is dangerous and someone wants to kill my father. But I can't tell him that. The more he knows the more dangerous it would be for him. Moreover, if I tell him about what I know, he will abandon his studies and insist on following me to the capital. I can't let all his efforts go to waste and put his life at risk. So, I really can't tell him anything. He is disappointed."
As Abiri was lost in thought, Lev sighed.
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to question you like that. I just thought you would-" he said.
"No, I am sorry Lev. I do like you. The Palace is a new place, and you know my father, he is more suitable for battlefield. I think he will have a hard time adjusting there so Aziza and I want to be there to support him," she said.
"I really don't want to lie to you Lev, but the less you know, the better it is for you," she thought sadly, "How I wish I could travel the world with you."
"But, once you go to Yuj and I will go abroad, I don't know when we can meet again," he said sadly, "Moreover you would be royal princess and I am just a Governor's son."
"Hey, don't you know me? Be 'Little Chief' or the princess, you and I will never change. I will wait for you in Yuj. Once you are done with your studies, come visit me," she said.
"It would take a few years for that. By that time, I would have already caught the culprit behind father's assassination attempt. Then I can marry Lev without worrying," she thought.
Lev smiled again, "Then you have to promise me that you'll wait for me."
"I'll think about it," she said playfully.