Chapter 325: An Early Precaution
Caddel met his crimson eyes for a brief clarification, his jaw clenching, and he could still remember how they had forged this plan.
Ivan had set him free from his entrapment, to his greatest surprise. The guards had fetched him out and helped him look more presentable before taking him to Ivan in the throne room. That would be his first time stepping into the King’s throne room, but he dared not survey, cause one thing was for sure, he wasn’t brought here to have a look at the throne’s magnificent grandeur.
Coming to a stop at the heart of the throne room, he lowered his head in a bow, but Ivan remained seated on his throne, his leg overlapping the other as he studied Caddel. The sight of his eyes were piercing back then, even with the fact he wasn’t staring directly at it. Caddel cleared his throat and lifted his head, but his eyes were still fixed on the red carpeted floor.
"Surprised?" Ivan’s voice held a slight tinge of humor, but Caddel refused to show any reaction. Regardless of what he might have presumed when the guards came for him, he knew he wasn’t freed to be set free.
"Why did you release me?"
"I told you your personality intrigues me," Ivan propped his hand on the armrest, lazily resting his head on it. "Today, I want to believe in second chances. Redemption is a powerful force, and you might find it if you choose wisely."
In the blink of an eye, Caddel could sense Ivan’s presence just three feets away from him. He had learned about the delicate imbalance of Ivan’s mood after his wife’s disappearance from the Palace, and he knew better than to act against his wishes.
"I have a task for you," he dropped, "one I’m sure you’re not capable of refusing, that is if you wish to see your sister again." At this point, Ivan circled the young man who’s interest had been piqued at the mention of his sister. Using his trick card carefully, Ivan laid out his plan to Caddel.
"You will go to the Southern horizon and infiltrate the kingdom your sister is in, find out about the missing children, where they are and what she does to them. Don’t worry about the assets, I shall provide you with enough resources to accomplish your journey safely to their borders. Now your presence there is more of a precaution, a plan B. In case my initial approach to invade their Palace fails, and I somehow get captured, you’ll be my escape route."
Ivan’s orders hung heavily in the air, and Caddel hesitated, uncertainty reflecting in his gaze as he asked, "what if I get caught?"