King Eudon sat on his armchair in his study room at Scarletstone Castle, he pressed his fingers against his forehead with a grim expression and thought hard. Before him, General Ferand stood waiting for his command. It has been three days since a new revolt occurred in Zephyrus and this revolt is worse than before. Troops have been deployed, but the rebel forces are very slippery, strong and trained like military forces. Now their situation is exacerbated by the rebel's position that keep closer to the capital, they even have attacked Slyhelm Town.
"Whoever trains them is someone who has good military skills... Who is the culprit behind all this?"

Shortly a knocking sound accompanied by the sound of the door being opened broke the silence in the room. His aide entered the room and bowed to him.
"Your Majesty, Prince Ilex of Asteria came and requested to see you. He was waiting for you in the parlor room."

King Eudon immediately turned his gaze to his aide as a frown started to appear on his forehead.
"Prince Ilex? Why would he come at a time like this? Is it to meet Rose? Maybe he can help me to solve this problem."
"Call Princess Rose to meet him with me." he ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty." he answered as he gave him a quick bow and left the room.

King Eudon turned his gaze to General Ferand before him.
"We will continue it later." he said as he raised up from his chair and walked out the room.

*

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*

Rose got off from her horse and entered the castle, she was wearing her military blazer with her whip tucked on her belt, she had just returned with her army after taking care of a rebellion at Steelburgh Town, a town at the south of Ironwall City. Actually, King Eudon had forbidden her to come out of the castle during the revolt, but she didn't want just do nothing while watching her people suffer from the revolt. So she drugged her two knights with the sleeping drug, escaped from the castle and joined the troops that ordered to settle the rebels at Steelburgh Town, she even said that she was sent by her uncle to help them. She no longer wants the Heart family to be demeaned as a royal family that can only fight in the back line. Even if she had to die to defend the honor of her family, so be it!

She knew that right now her uncle's position was on the edge, the nobles who wanted to take him down are increasing, even one of the dukes who had the most influence, continued to oppose him in the court.

She had only entered the castle when she saw General Ferand walking down the corridor, without hesitation she immediately approached him.
"General Ferand, how's Slyhelm Town situation?" she said straight to the point, didn't even give him a greeting.

General Ferand shook his head.
"The rebels near Slyhelm Town are different, they are well trained. It seems like they have been preparing it for a long time."

"Ivetta's Residence is in that town and she can't fight, I'm really worried about her."
"What about the town and the civilians condition?" she asked again.

"We already closed the town gates and prevent them from entering, for the time being the town and the civilians are still safe." he answered.

Suddenly a guard approached her in hurry and bowed.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting for you at the parlor room."

"Parlor room? Do we have a guests?"
"I'll be there soon." she answered shortly then she turned her gaze to General Ferand.
"General Ferand, I'll take my leave."

She walked to the parlor room and found King Eudon was standing in front of the room with anxious face, but his face brightened after saw her.
"Rose! Where have you been?" he said worriedly.

"I'm just go out for a short walk." she replied with an innocent smile.

King Eudon let out a heavy sigh quietly, of course he knew she won't be go out just to take a walk, from her clothes he could already guess she had just joined the troops to settle the rebels. But he will put that aside, for him as long as she could back home safely without any injuries that was more than enough.
"We have an important guest waiting for us today." he said while giving gestures to follow him to the room.

King Eudon knocked the door before him and opened it, followed by Rose who was still guessing who was the guest who came to meet them at this crucial time.

Her eyes widened when she saw Ilex already sitting on the sofa in the parlor room.
"Ilex Ferris, why is he here?"

Ilex quickly stood up from his seat and bowed as soon as they entered.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty. Forgive my sudden arrival."

King Eudon approached him.
"Prince Ilex, what brings you all the way from Asteria here?" he said while sitting on the sofa followed by Rose and Ilex.

Ilex cleared his throat as he pointed his eyes at the servants around him, as a request to speak privately.

King Eudon noticed his request.
"Leave us." he ordered the servants.

The servants immediately gave him a quick bow and left.

"Your Majesty, I was sent by my father to ask for your help to make poison for us." said Ilex, starting their conversation.

"Poison? For what?" King Eudon asked.

"We just received a news that there's a kingdom that wants to bring down Asteria and they're ready to attack us. Therefore we need your poison to win this war."

"No." answered King Eudon without hesitation. "The Heart family will not make poisons for another kingdom especially for war purposes, we don't want our poisons to be abused."

"As I thought, uncle will reject it... War is the last thing we want. Our state is on emergency, giving poison to another kingdom will only complicate things." she thought.

"Your Majesty, please think again. If anything happens to Asteria, then the peace alliance will falling apart, it will certainly add to your difficulties." said Ilex tried to convince him

King Eudon was silent as he deep in thought.
"Right now all the nobles are eyeing my position in Zephyrus. If the peace alliance falling apart, I will have difficulty establishing cooperation with other kingdoms."He took a glance at Rose.
"At least... Before I can no longer hold my position, I want to marry Rose to another royal family. She will be safer living in another kingdom than in Zephyrus."

He almost agreed to Ilex's request but he recalled how terrible the poison effects is.
"I can't... Giving poison to another kingdom for war is the same as waging the war itself..."
"Forgive me, Prince Ilex. I really can't help you. Zephyrus doesn't want to interfere with other kingdom's wars."

Ilex sighed in disappointment.
"Well, it's a pity you can't help us. Then I hope you can keep today's conversation as a secret." he said as he raised up from his seat.
"Then I'll take-"

Suddenly, a guard rushed in to the room.
"Your Majesty, there's a bad news! Slyhelm Town has fallen into the rebels hands and making the entire town as their hostage."

King Eudon stood up in shock.
"What?!" he shouted angrily. 

While Rose gasped."Ivetta!"

"Deliver my command to General Ferand to bring our elite troops and retake the town." King Eudon ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty." said the guard then he quickly carried out his order.

She raised up from her seat.
"Uncle, I will lead our elite troops to settle the revolt at Slyhelm Town." then she quickly moved out of the room.

A slight evil smirk began to develop on Ilex's face when he saw Rose ran out the room.

"Rose!" shouted King Eudon while tried to chase her, but he stopped after few steps and turned to face Ilex.
"Prince Ilex, forgive me I can't accompany you any longer. As long as Slyhelm Town is in rebel hands, your route to return to Asteria will be closed. I will ask the head housekeeper to take care of you while staying here. I'll take my leave." then he returned to chase her.

Ilex answered him with a quick bow, then he stared at King Eudon who walking in hurry to left the room.
"Princess Rose, you will be very disappointed if you know that the person you want to save is actually your enemy."