The king was instantly overcome with anxiety the moment he read the letter. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Even if he had thought about it for 40 years, the idea that someone can escape from Haxar have never crossed in his mind.
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"Call Hafzsa at once!" he shouted. His voice, filled with anger and tension, echoed throughout the hall.
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A few minutes later, Hafzsa entered the presence of His Majesty.
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"At your command, my king," she said.
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"Everyone except Exar and Hafzsa, leave the room," the king ordered. As he spoke, he handed the letter to Exar, signaling for him to give it to Hafzsa.
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With curiosity, Hafzsa took the letter and began reading. Her initial intrigue and urgency quickly transformed into rage and shock.
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"Impossible!" she shouted. Her voice, usually calm, was now cold and sharp.
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"How could this happen?" she kept firing off questions, not even waiting for answers before moving on to the next one. Her anger had blinded her so much that she didn’t even notice her sword’s tip cracking the floor beneath her.
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"Take as many men as you need," Shousen commanded. "Find out who is behind this. Find Rouma and bring me his head."
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Hafzsa stormed out without even bothering to say "As you command."
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Exar hesitated for a moment before asking, "My king, do you truly believe Rouma would be reckless enough to come here?"
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The king’s eyes burned with fury and unease. "For decade, he has been consumed by the fire of revenge. And now, he has powerful allies who are strong enough to free him from Haxar. Even if it costs him his life, he will not give up."
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"Increase the number of guards. The queen and the children will not take a single step without their guards. I do not intend to wait, but make sure all necessary precautions are in place and summon Noaiya immediately."
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"As you command, Your Majesty," Exar said and he turned to leave.
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Hafzsa stormed away from the presence of king with such fury that everyone around turned to look at her. The only thought in her mind was to find the one who broke Rouma’s seal and who had taken him away from Haxar, with her head in chaos, she stepped out of the palace. "Gather your ten most trusted men, but make sure they are not from the palace. Be by Upside Down in an hour we’re leaving," Hafzsa ordered. "As you command, Princess," Nouwen replied and quickly departed from her side. After standing alone for a few minutes to collect her thoughts, Hafzsa prepared herself and set off toward the harbor.
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"You summoned me, Your Majesty?" Noaiya said, his usual audacity evident in his voice. "We need you for a secret mission," the king replied. "I am at your service, my king," Noaiya answered. "What I am about to tell you must remain strictly between us. That bastard Rouma was taken away from Haxar by someone." The smug grin on Noaiya’s face instantly disappeared, and his eyes widened in shock. "I have personally assigned the princess to this task, and I am assigning you to her protection. However, my daughter must not know that you will follow her in shadows," the king concluded, still unable to shake his astonishment, Noaiya responded, "As you command, my king," before leaving the room, the bold and arrogant air he usually carried was now gone.
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After Noaiya left, Exar stepped forward and respectful said, "Forgive me, my king, but can we truly trust Noaiya with such a mission?"
"The princess’s safety comes above all else, Exar. They may have history, but Noaiya must face this situation sooner rather than later," Shousen interjected. The king was certain of his decision, but Exar remained unconvinced.
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Meanwhile, Noaiya was drenched in sweat, still clutching his neck with one hand and rubbing his face with the other. He still couldn’t believe what he had just heard. Instead of fading, his shock only grew stronger. The thought of seeing Rouma again sent a mixture of anxiety and excitement coursing through him, he splashed cold water on his face, took a deep breath and muttered to himself, "I need to calm down and find the princess before she leaves." Quickly gathering a small supply pack, he hurried toward the harbor to track down Hafzsa.
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