Royals of Illéa

Chapter 28-A Plan

-Josie-

Two days pass in the same manner. Kaden goes off to take notes in meetings while I work in laundry with the women. In just two days of working here I've mastered the art of folding clothes in the most time-efficient way possible. This has greatly pleased the women who work with me and they no longer see me as a nuisance.

I'm eating dinner with Kaden on our third day here when Vivienne saunters into the cafeteria and walks up to our table.

"Luca needs you both. Come with me." She commands and I glance at Kaden to gives me a subtle nod. I explained everything to him and we have been waiting ever since for Vivienne to approach us again.

She leads us out of the residential area and into her room, just like last time.

I open my mouth to speak but she beats me to it, "Before we start our discussion, I want you to have this." She hands us a folded newspaper.

I take it from her and gasp when I see the picture on the front page. It's a posed picture of Eadlyn and Eikko with Kerttu and Eadlyn's holding a baby wearing a white jumper, wrapped in a blue blanket in her arms.

"She had the baby." I hear Kaden whisper from beside me.

I let him take the newspaper from me as I kiss his cheek and say, "Congratulations, Uncle Kaden."

"Same to you, Aunty Josephine." He replies, leaving us both smiling.

We look at Vivienne when she asks, "If you don't mind me asking, how are they so happy while you both are missing?"

"Our family thinks we're on a retreat to recover from the initial shocks of what we experienced in France." Kaden replies shortly.

Vivienne nods in understanding before she sits down in an armchair while Kaden and I do the same.

"Josie explained everything about the money and how the two are parties are in the dark about the truth. I can tell you that you are right when you say that it would be suicidal to openly state the truth. Almost all the lower ranking personnel and members are hotheaded and hasty. They won't tolerate anything that goes against their beliefs."

"But the senior leaders are different in that aspect. Their morals and vision holds strong even after all the violence. They simply want justice and once you share this information with them, they will no doubt change their strategies. And that's where you need my help?"

"Yes." I nod.

"I have a big hand in the preparations for the New Year's party. But even with that, the Headquarters will be heavily guarded that night because all the leaders will be here so it will be difficult to gather them all without raising suspicion." Vivienne sighs.

"What do you suggest?" I ask her.

She looks at us as she says, "I have a plan."

That night I step out of the room to take a shower and when I return I find Kaden sitting on his head looking at the newspaper Vivienne gave us today.

"I wonder if we'll even get to meet him." Kaden murmurs as I sit down next to him.

"We have a plan now." I remind him.

"Even the best of plans can fall apart." He sighs, running a hand through his hair.

I place a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at me as I say, "Then we'll have to make sure this one doesn't."

He holds my gaze for a second before he presses his lips to him and gently pushes me back onto the bed without breaking the kiss.