"I already told you that my patience has a limit," Felix spoke up, urging Cayden after a minute of silence.

The latter hung his low, his eyes glued to the floor while pressure was making quite a stir inside his body. He heard the Prince but he didn't talk. He wanted to but the answer won't please the Prince. He was very sure of that.

​​

"This will be the last time that I repeat myself, Cayden. Who is he?" Felix asked, enunciating every single syllable of the question.

"I don't know." Cayden bit his lip and closed his eyes. He was overwhelmed with guilt and was ashamed of himself yet he was telling the truth.

"You don't know?" Felix recited the response, disbelief and doubt were evident in his face. He gave in to the pressure and betrayed him but... he didn't know who was the mastermind?! "That's nonsense," Felix muttered.

Cayden lifted his head and saw a hint of disappointment in his former master's eyes. Fear rush through his body like adrenaline. "Please believe me, Your Highness. I'm telling the truth! I have no reason to lie to you!" He pleaded but the Prince remained calm, too calm that it scared Cayden more!

"I only know the face of the man with a scorpion tattoo. I only saw him twice. That's all. He was the one who threatened me." Cayden added. He talked very fast, afraid that the Prince wouldn't believe him. He was lucky enough to get a chance to explain himself. If not... it's scary to even imagine!

"So, you said that the scorpion tattoo man is not the mastermind. He works for someone else." Felix asserted, focusing all his attention on Cayden's words.

"Yes, Your Highness." Cayden repeatedly nodded. "I have never seen the face of the real mastermind. I met the tattoed man twice and all other orders were given through a phone call or a message."

"Tell me at least one reason why I should trust you," Felix uttered. He wasn't even sure of what to believe and what to not believe. The betrayal shook him to the core!

Looking at the Prince with a slightly flustered face for a few seconds, Cayden kneeled. "I know I betrayed you but Your Highness, I never have any ill intentions towards you. All I wanted was to keep my family safe." He paused and then lifted his eyes that were once glued to the floor.

"You saved my family and that's enough for me. You can use me however you want in catching the enemy, I won't complain or protest. And after I had no use to you, you can punish me for my sins. Whatever punishment you decided, I will gladly accept it. Even if you want me to be in jail, I will not complain. But please, ensure the safety of my family until the end." Cayden pleaded as he submitted himself.

Felix stared at Cayden for a few seconds. In the past, he used to trust him in everything, wholeheartedly. But now, just a single word he said was hard to believe for him. He knew that he had no reason to lie now but still, it's hard. His mind was busy, wondering what to do and believe.

"Matthew." He called the guard who was standing just a few steps behind him.

Walking forward, Matthew stood next to the Prince who was sitting on the couch. "Your Highness." He responded, waiting for the Prince's instruction.

Still staring at Cayden who was still kneeling a few feet opposite to him anxiously, he decided to follow his conscience.

"Call an artist and let him draw the face of the tattoed man." The order was directed to Matthew. "You will be able to tell his features, right?" He asked Cayden.

"Yes. I remember his face." Cayden replied and the Prince nodded to Matthew. Then the guard left to comply with the order.

As soon as Matthew left, Felix stood up and glanced at his watch. "You refuse to eat your dinner last night. If you want to be of use to me, you should be alive." He narrowed his eyes at the man who was still on the floors. "I will tell them to bring your breakfast. Wait here until the artist arrived." Without waiting for a response, he turned his back on him and walked out of the room.

* * *

Yelena walked out of an airport, pulling a small rolling luggage. Whenever she left for missions or was dispatched to some faraway place, she always brought minimum items that only consisted of necessary things. That's how all the soldiers did and maybe she had grown accustomed to it.

She never packed too much whenever she travelled. If she needs more, she would just buy them. That's how she always did.

First thing, she took a cab and then she checked in at a hotel where she made a reservation. She didn't even tell Felix the name of the hotel. Besides, they were both busy in the past days. She then took a quick shower and left the hotel again. It's only 11 a.m. and she was more than excited to wander around.

Even before she came here, she wondered how fun would it be to roam around the city with Felix, just like they did in Belden. But this was not Belden or Silveren. It's his country, Edeladon where even small children would recognize him.

She thought how restricted would his life be, how he would long for a simple life and more. The more she thought about it, the more it made her feel bad for him.

Edeladon was quite different from Silveren in terms of geography and nature. They had more mountains and terrains than Silveren which was mostly flat. The weather was also a bit cold compared to Silveren.

Keeping in mind that she might not be able to wander here freely again, she decided to spend a great afternoon without anything bothering her.

Meanwhile, in the royal family villa, Felix glanced at the drawing in his hands. The artist had finished drawing the face of the tattooed man as described by Cayden. No matter how much he looked at the face, he didn't know him at all. He ordered to make copies and circulate them to the men who did the searching.

Matthew also reported to him that Yelena had already arrived in Edeladon. That alone instantly made him smiled. The past days were horrible. With his mother being sick and Cayden's betrayal, he was never at ease for even a single day ever since he returned from Silveren. Now that she was here, he finally had something to be happy with.

"Where is she right now?" Felix asked. Reminding himself of his promise, he barely controlled himself so that he won't run to her right away.

Glancing at his phone, Matthew replied, "The Rinc Streets of the capital."

They were able to track her through her phone and she also consented to it. But she asked not to follow her. It would be uncomfortable and awkward.

The old Yelena was getting used to this kind of protection as the successor of TR Group but the current Yelena was not. She loved a normal life and she was capable enough to protect herself.

"Keep a track of her location and inform me if there is anything unusual," Felix instructed Matthew.

After hearing out Cayden, he couldn't be at ease. The enemy might also be dangerous for Yelena! That's why he felt so anxious and uneasy. But the stubborn woman loved a simple life so much and he couldn't bear to force her. It even made him wondered if she would be able to adjust to a royal life.

What if she finds it suffocating? What if she was unhappy? The normal life which she greatly cherished will be gone the moment she became a royal! What if it becomes so tormenting for her who love freedom? Just the thought made Felix anxious.

For the next few hours, he inquired Matthew of the Captain's location once in a while. She was never in one place for long which even made him chuckled. She seemed to be enjoying herself and... without him. If only this was not his country! He clenched his teeth in annoyance.

At 3 in the evening, he was informed that she was at a coffee shop named 'Joey's Cafe. He was busy working but he never failed to ask her location once in a while. He could keep a track of her location himself but he had so many works to do. Being distracted for a few days left him with a pile of unfinished work. He was afraid that he might not be alert enough.

Even after half an hour, she was still there and that made him feel a bit uneasy. Why would she need half an hour just to have a cup of coffee, alone on top of that? Telling himself to brush away the negative thoughts, he decided to wait.

One hour passed and still, she was at Joey's Cafe. He was feeling so anxious now. Did something happen to her?!

Two hours and he lost his patience. Many possibilities crossed his mind. Maybe she forgot her phone there. Maybe she only rests there to enjoy the view as the place where the cafe was located had a great view of the city but... wasn't 2 hours a bit too much? She didn't even call him.

Feeling worried, he called but she didn't pick up. After failing for the third time, one thing crossed his mind. What if she was abducted and her phone was left there?! All at once, anxiety swept his whole body!

He tried to rushed there but Matthew stopped him. The sun hadn't set yet and as such, everything was clearly visible in the outdoors. The Prince would only draw attention if he landed his foot in public places where there were countless citizens and tourists.

Listening to Matthew's words, the Prince thought for a while before he ordered, "Rush there and check her situation. No matter what, you must escort her back here."