Danger Zone

Back to the stable where Aiden had just done with the fifth and last stable. He sighs when he looks back at the clean stable where horses will be put later on.

The sudden thought of horses made him remember the first time that he and Cassie rode horses back at the Matautia mansion. 

He could remember that this is also when they first knew about Aries's plan against his family. He chuckles to himself when he starts to reminisce the past that changes his future.

***

Aiden is walking around the vineyard with Cassie. She is still as enthusiastic as the first time that they met in the early morning at the mansion while everyone is eating their breakfast.

But she is not that frisky as before. 

Since the incident that morning, Master Evon had asked his people to train Cassie more but Aiden refuses to give her away. In the end, Master Evon asked his people to train both of them.

Aiden is for self-defense and Cassie is for discipline and self-defense. But after seeing how Cassie fights on her first day in training, one of the Master's people says that she will just train for discipline.

Cassie does not know why because her self-defense is a must and should be trained by rookies like her. Aiden looks precious enough to be protected, so she insists that she needs it.

They did not do anything more but train her, which she aced every single training combat. Leaving her opponents bleeding and close to dying. 

Master Evon is satisfied with the result of the training and asked to witness how Cassie fights. But upon seeing it, his smile widens from ear to ear, and even claps his hands at the performance that Cassie showed.

The other butlers and watchdogs on that scene were amazed by Cassie's strength and named her the "Heir's Maiden". That has the meaning of Aiden's superior sword. 

Her mission is to protect Aiden all the way through. Through tough times and through death, Cassie will be there to protect her master at all costs. 

Aiden sighs as he listens to the gardener's request for more plants for the newest land that is added at the back of the mansion. Aiden nods one at a time as he tries to memorize every request as possible.

Cassie takes everything down in her notebook in case he would forget something later when he will report it to his father. After their talk with the gardener, they went back to the mansion by taking a shortcut through the forestry.

The path is a bit shorter but Aiden wants to walk around a little bit more so he walks slowly in front of Cassie while Cassie reviews the things that they need to report.

While they are walking, Cassie holds Aiden's arm and stops him from pursuing when she heard a noise coming from a distance. 

Getting ready to ambush the perpetrator before it could attack, Cassie slowly went to the bushes and looks at the source of the noise.

Cassie's eyes widen in surprise when she sees the butler in his uniform and a maid in her respective uniform. She draws closer, signaling Aiden to come beside her.

"It's your old butler and the kitchen maid. They are talking about something and I would like to draw closer so I can hear their conversation. Hide anywhere here until I get back, okay?" 

Aiden is quite not sure if he would follow or not. But Cassie's tone is domineering over Aiden's, making the boy submit and then hide in the bushes.

Once Aiden is hidden, Cassie went to the nearest bush to hide and listen to their conversation, recording it as well in case Master Evon wants some proof with whatever they are talking.

"I am telling you. You need to surpass the watchdog and kidnap Aiden! Through that, the Santoro would be happy and they might release my parents from slavery." 

The maid in blue said as she insists to her lover the plan that she was given. It is Cassie's first time to hear about the Santoros. She never knew who they were and would not want to know.

Now, her main priority is to tell Master Evon about this plan and protect Aiden from it as well. She continues to record the conversation while the butler insists on not taking the plan because Aiden's watchdog is too dangerous.

"You said you love me! Please do this for my sake!"

The butler sighs in his position as he starts to pace around the space. He looks around, making sure that no one is there listening to them. 

He looks through the bushes and through the trees, accidentally passing the bush where Cassie is hidden, before leaning towards the maid and accepts the plan.

With this evidence, Cassie quietly went away from the scene and towards Aiden's hiding spot. The boy looks up to Cassie with a confused face.

"Who is it?"

Cassie only smiles and tells him to come with her to his father's study to know. Aiden follows quietly towards the path of the mansion while thinking of what could be the conversation is about.

His curiosity is killing him and he wants to know about it now.

The moment that they step on the land of the mansion, a delivery is reached in Cassie's direction. The latter accepts with a smile and looks at the back of the envelope.

For the Matautia Family, from the Santoros.

Cassie frowns and looks at Aiden, who is looking at her confusedly. Cassie is about to ask Aiden if he knows anything about the Santoros but Aiden looks like he doesn't know anything as well.

Cassie thinks that it is much better to tell Master Evon about this instead of the boy beside her. She huffs a breath before dragging Aiden to his father's study.

Cassie knocks at the door until a voice tells them to enter from the inside. Cassie nods even if Master Evon won't see her; it is a sign of respect to those who might see her in front of the Master's study.

Aiden enters first before Cassie. Master Evon turns around and finds Aiden waiting for Cassie to close the door.

[They look really close now. Cassie is a God-sent, I suppose.]

"Is there a problem, Cassie?"

Cassie walks quietly and places the recordings of the conversation that she heard from earlier. Aiden and Master Evon listen to it and are shocked about the topic of the conversation.

Eventually, Cassie puts the invitation letter at the table beside the recordings. The back of the letter is facing the front, showing where the letter came from. 

Master Evon smiles from ear to ear as he opens the letter while listening to the recording. The letter is designed with golden floral and swirls, the background is black and the letterings look like handwritten.

They are written as neat and as sophisticated as possible.

[You are invited to the Wedding of Miss Sandra Santoro and Mr. Alexander Luvisnovinchi.

Saturday, March 21, 2000.

Schilthorn Summit, Switzerland]

***

"Now thinking about it, did Primo mention to me where his brother lives? I want to see him."