"Thank you, Rex. This will make things much easier."
Leaning in, she kissed him gently on the cheek. Her mind had been drifting to the betrayal of Burton and the growing realization of how deep the rot had spread in her business empire. Managing over 65% of the entire county's businesses was no small feat, and she had always prided herself on her ability to maintain control. But this… this was a wake-up call. Thinking of Burton, she remembered something about him.
"I wasn't able to get anything out of Burton"
"Mom, you don't need to worry," Rex replied, his voice calm and steady.
"I've already read his memories"
Her eyes widened slightly, but she remained silent, letting him continue.
"He was a spy sent by a secret organization, though he doesn't even know its name. His loyalty isn't natural, it's likely tied to something"
"He doesn't remember anything before being sent here, he's just a pawn" Rex explained.
"And Ramos?" she asked
"Ramos seems to rank higher within their hierarchy"
Rex said, his tone darkening.
"But don't expose this yet. They think I'm just a crippled mortal, unable to act. Let's use that misconception to our advantage"
__ __ __
Isabella looked at the ceiling from her bed, wearing her blue night gown. The warm glow of a vintage lamp casting a golden hue over the room. Its soft fabric shimmering faintly in the light as it clung to her graceful form. Barefoot, with the hem of her gown just brushing the tops of her feet.
'I've underestimated how bad things have become'
'Even in my own capital city, these parasites are lurking everywhere'
She took out the book which was given by Rex. She had a smile on her face as she looked at the picture frame on the table beside her bed. The frame held a picture of Rex as a child and Isabella. Even though she hated that man whom she had been forced to marry, Rex had always been the light in her world.
No matter what she faced, he always jumped in to shield her, even when he was just a small child. She thought to the time of when he had been no more than five, running through the garden. Isabella had been seated nearby, reading a report when she noticed him freeze, his small face going pale. A snake had slithered onto the path before him, harmless but startling. Rex, however, had turned to her with fierce determination in his eyes.
"Stay back, Mama!"
He shouted, holding his tiny arms wide as though his small frame could shield her. She remembered watching him with a mix of amusement and tenderness, not the least bit worried. Not only was the snake not poisonous, she could easily have summoned a spell to dispose of the creature if it had been dangerous, but instead, she called calmly for a servant to remove the snake not wanting her son to see the scene of bloodshed.
"Mama, I protected you"
Isabella laughed, a rare and genuine sound to people who knew from the business side. She scooped him up into her arms.
"Yes, my little brave protector"
She said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. Even now, she could still feel the warmth of his small arms wrapping around her neck as he hugged her tightly.
The memory brought a bittersweet ache to her heart. She thought back to yesterday, to the moment Rex exposed Burton. The memory replayed in her mind vividly, the mix of tension and emotion lingering like a shadow.
"Mom, do you trust me?" Rex had asked, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of something deeper.
Isabella had been momentarily startled by the question but quickly softened, reaching out to cup his cheek.
"Why would you ask that? Of course, Mommy trusts you" She said, rubbing her face affectionately against his, the way she had when he was a child.
Rex hesitated for a moment, then asked,
"What about Burton? How much do you trust him?"
Isabella straightened slightly, her expression turning thoughtful.
"He is one of my confidantes. He's been here since my birth" she said firmly.
"He looks old only because of the use of a secret technique so he could gain that level of strength."
Rex's gaze didn't waver. "What if I tell you that he's a mole?"
Her heart skipped a beat, but she kept her composure.
"A mole? Are you sure about that, Rex?"
"Let me show it to you, Mom."
His calm demeaner was unnerving, yet reassuring. Looking at his confident demeanour, she trusted him. Even if it turned out to be wrong, she wouldn't reduce her trust in him one bit.
"Mom, do you have anyone else besides Burton that you can trust?" Rex asked.
She paused for a moment, her thoughts racing. Then, with a slight nod, she called out, "Shadows."
In an instant, a group of five appeared, their presence silent but imposing.
"Are they as strong as Burton?"
"Each one of them is stronger than Burton."
Continuing on, the scene of Rex questioning Burton might have seemed murderous and terrifying to anyone else. But for Isabella, it brought her back to a memory of her young son standing between her and a garden snake, his small frame shielding her as though nothing else mattered.
She saw the same fierce determination in him now, the same unwavering need to protect her, no matter the stakes. To others, Rex might have seemed like a cold and domineering person, but to Isabella, he was still her little boy, her light in the darkness. That little boy who had once tried to guard her from a garden snake had grown into a man capable of shielding her from far more dangerous threats.
But she herself has been not that great as a mother, not even knowing that her own people was the reason for her son's condition worsening. She traced a finger along the edge of the frame, tears shed from her eye.
'Thank you, Rex. For being my son, my light'
__ __ __
The next day, Rex found himself in a spacious meeting room, with plush leather sofas and a polished wooden floor. He sat calmly on one of the sofas, his posture relaxed yet exuding an air of authority. Afterall, he needed to at least show a certain amount of authority and coolness in front of this group of figures. However, his mind was filled with thoughts,
'Why are they here'
In front of him, a group of figures knelt on one knee in a formal salute. These were no ordinary people, they had battle-hardened faces and disciplined movements. Despite more than enough seats being present for them, they chose to bow in front of Rex.
"Commander"
Said the man at the forefront, his voice steady and respectful. His name was Callan, a tall figure with sharp features and steel grey eyes that seemed sharp enough to pierce through the air. His military uniform was fit and neat without a speck of dust.
"We are glad that you are safe" Callan continued.
"We wanted to rush to your side as soon as we heard you were injured, but we couldn't locate you until now, Comm..."
Rex raised a hand to silence him, his voice calm but firm.
"No need to call me that anymore. I'm retired."
Callan's expression faltered for a moment, his lips parting as though the words had caught him off guard.
"Retired, sir…"