179 Planning for the Journey
After hugging for a while, Anastasia pulled away from her husband and asked him, “Shall I ask Tilla to pack my belongings then? How many days will we be traveling for?”
“Mmmm...” Caspian hummed for a while and then answered his wife, “Since we will be traveling via carriage, it will take two days for us to reach the capital of Xanmar from here. So, we will be traveling for around five days.”
“Okay, then.” Anastasia gave a nod and then said with a smile on her face, “I will ask Tilla to pack things accordingly. Oh, by the way, I can bring her along with me, right?”
Caspian shrugged his shoulders and gave a whimsical reply, “If you don’t want to get stuck with me as the only one who can help you get dressed and groomed then you should probably bring her along.”
Anastasia chuckled and replied, “Then I am definitely inviting her as well. You are of no help when it comes to combing my hair.”
Caspian slightly frowned and said in a challenging tone, “Hey, at least I can help you get dressed without accidentally touching your bottom. I openly declare it when I do that.”
Anastasia pressed her lips tightly and closed her eyes in an attempt to hide the smile that was lurking around her lips.
Caspian grinned and kissed his wife on the forehead. He then briefed the traveling plans for this impromptu trip, “If we are going to reach the capital of Xanmar by the coronation day then we will have to begin the journey early in the morning tomorrow. So, prepare accordingly. I will have to plan everything for the journey. So, I better head out now.”
“Sure.” Anastasia smiled and before Caspian left the antechamber, she thanked him one more time, “Caspian, I know that you are only agreeing to go there to Xanmar because of me. Thank you for going out of your way to fulfill my demands. It really means a lot to me.”
.....
Caspian smirked and sarcastically said to her, “Well, I am just being practical. If I don’t fulfill your demands then you will shut yourself in your chambers for another week. It’s better to travel together with you than stay apart from you for a week.”
Anastasia’s whole face turned red in an instant. She shyly turned away from her husband and mumbled, “You made a good choice.”
—
Caspian was in the middle of a meeting with Zenon when Vincent also came knocking on the door of Caspian’s study.
“Vincent! I was waiting for you. Come in,” Caspian said while gesturing for Vincent to get inside and take a seat.
“I came as soon as I received the message.” Vincent was in a happy mood because it was rare for Caspian to call him to his study. When he did call him, it normally meant that they were going somewhere on a small mission or to carry out an investigation. So, he excitedly asked before even taking his seat, “So, are we going somewhere?”
“Yes!” Caspian pursed his lips and answered, “We’re going to Xanmar.”
Vincent knitted his brows together and gave a look of disbelief to Caspian. “Come on! Don’t mess with me. Tell me the truth already!”
Caspian heaved a deep sigh and replied to Vincent while scribbling a few things on the paper that Zenon was holding out for him, “Believe it or not but we are leaving for Xanmar early in the morning tomorrow.”
Vincent rested his back on the backrest of the chair and stared at Caspian and Zenon for a while. It seemed like they were discussing and writing down the itinerary for a long trip.
The first thing that came to Vincent’s mind was that Caspian himself was going to investigate the case related to the spies who had infiltrated Sorvando a few days ago. “Are we going on some kind of secret mission?”
Caspian shifted his gaze from the paper to Vincent and then finally gave him the complete information, “We are going to attend the coronation ceremony of the new King.”
Vincent raised his brows in surprise. “The old King is dead?”
“Yes.” Caspian then gave further details to his friend, “We will travel via carriage to go there. I will send a few soldiers beforehand to make sure that we aren’t being lured into some trap. I still don’t trust that Crown Prince. He is a cunning wolf. I know it. We will only cross our border when the soldiers confirm the news about the previous King’s death.”
Both Vincent and Zenon agreed to Caspian.
Caspian handed out the paper to Zenon and then ordered him, “Why don’t you prepare everything according to this? And make sure that the Kingdom functions smoothly even in my absence. Also, increase the number of guards on patrol duty, especially around and in the castle.”
“I will take care of everything, Your Majesty,” Zenon said while bowing to the King and then left the study immediately to prepare for the King’s journey.
Caspian finally gave his full attention to Vincent. He took a deep breath in and then said to his friend, “You already know what going to Xanmar means. We will be letting ourselves be surrounded by those creatures. So, I need you to stand by my side and be vigilant of the surrounding at all times. If they try to do something stupid, then we have to be ready to retaliate.”
The playfulness on Vincent’s face was already replaced by a rather serious expression. He gave a nod and agreed with Caspian. “I will be ready for anything. You don’t have to worry about that.”
After briefing the route plan and other security details to Vincent, the two of them separated for the day.
Vincent returned back to his mansion while Caspian headed for the Wintertide Mansion along with a few royal guards.
“Cousin!” Hamilton mockingly spread out his arms the moment Caspian stepped inside the mansion like a gust of wind.
However, he was surprised when Caspian actually swooshed to him and gave him a hug.
“Huh!” Hamilton looked like a statue when Caspian pulled away from the hug. “Well, that’s new!”
Caspian feigned ignorance to Hamilton’s comment and asked while catching his breath, “Hey, how are you? And where’s aunt?”
“Mother has gone to some kind of social gathering, I suppose,” Hamilton led his cousin to the main living room and gestured for him to take a seat.
After settling down in front of his cousin, he asked while slightly furrowing his brows, “So, Caspian, what brings you here? You haven’t been spying on me, have you?”
Caspian frowned and grumbled, “And why the hell would I need to spy on you? Are you plotting to take over my throne or something? If you are then you can surrender here and now.”
Hamilton rolled his eyes at Caspian and got up on his feet. He zoomed out of the living room and returned after a few seconds while carrying a huge box.
He placed it in front of Caspian and then said while pointing his brows at the box, “These came in not long ago. Are you perhaps here to see them?”
Caspian had no idea what he was talking about. So he knitted his brows in tune and asked in a confused voice, “What’s inside it? Don’t tell me it is bones and skulls of a random person that lived a thousand years ago.”
Hamilton drooped his shoulders and asked in a monotone, “Seriously?” He opened the box and rummaged while asking, “What did you ask me to get for you? It’s exactly that.”
He then pulled out a weighty pistol from the box and threw it at Caspian. “Check it out. Doesn’t it look amazing?”
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦