And that's how it happened, that's how Asher was able to bribe the woman. He was looking at the woman while they were at the palace hoping she'd keep to what they'd agreed...and she did.

While the woman was searching through Asher's mind, she saw everything, he was the one behind what happened to Ethan's son. But she had been bribed already, so she just moved to the next official and began reading through his mind.

So currently, no one was behind what happened to Aiden according to the woman's statement. The king was still so surprised and so was Ethan as well...but what can they do? The woman has declared already.

The king's voice resounded, "Seems like none of you is behind what happened to Ethan's son. This case has been dismissed, you all can go".

"Before we go, I think we deserve an apology from Ethan for accusing us wrongly back then and even now. He didn't say much in front of us when his son got captured recently, but I'm sure he was still suspecting one of us,

Back then, when his son almost got captured, he accused us right in our front though we are innocent. I think we deserve an apology from him". One of the high-ranked nobles voiced out.

Many of the chiefs and nobles nodded their heads to that utterance, and Ethan was just glancing at them. He was contemplating if he should apologize to them or not.

Many of their gazes were focused on him at that moment, and he knew he'd have to apologize.

"I'm sorry for accusing you guys". That was all Ethan said.

"That's all you have to say?". One of the high-ranked chiefs voiced out.

"Yes, that's all he has to say, he's apologized already, what more do you want? If one of you guys were in his shoes, I'm sure you'll do the same. He's apologized, you all are dismissed now". The king uttered, he had to stand up for Ethan.

..And at that moment, another smirk appeared on Asher's face...his brother apologized when he shouldn't have apologized.

He was able to hide what he's done well, he wasn't exposed. All the officials began standing up and strolling out of the palace, many of them glaring at Ethan as they walked out.

Even Asher was among the people walking out of the palace. And before he began doing that, he gave the woman the look of, 'We'll meet later so I can give you your complete reward'.

As of this moment, it was only Ethan, the king, and the woman remaining in the palace. Ethan didn't stand up from where he was sitting, he just sat there with his head slightly bent. And the king's voice resounded at that moment,

"I'm sorry for that, Ethan".

"It's nothing, my king, you don't have to apologize. They deserve the apology, and even more, I have been accusing them wrongly for something they didn't do". Ethan stated.

"None of their children have gotten captured before, they haven't been in your shoes before, so they don't understand how you're feeling". The king voiced out once again.

"So it happens to be the person behind all these is among the natives of this kingdom? I wonder who the person could be".

"That's something you cannot know. Since the person behind it isn't among the officials, then finding the main person behind it is almost impossible unless the person decides to reveal himself. But as far as the person keeps staying hidden, then it would be almost impossible to discover the person".

..The king had just stated the fact, and Ethan nodded his head to it, that was the complete truth.

"But now, my family has to be secured properly though the knights wouldn't be living with us". Ethan's voice resounded.

"Sure, that would be taken care of". The king stated.

The woman in the white robe just stood there listening to their conversation.

******

The king gave the woman her full reward before she left the palace. She read through all the officials' minds and said none of them was behind what happened to Ethan's son, but she'll still have to be rewarded for doing her job.

Asher then met with her at her house and gave her the complete reward...it was a lot, more money was included. Then Asher reminded her she must never talk about it with someone else. What she knows would remain with her, no one must hear about it.

And she promised to keep it to herself before Asher left her house. He had been able to cover up what he's done even when the truth was close to revealing itself...a snake in the green grass.

And Asher also did well to reward the assassin that did the job of finding out what the king planned on doing...he rewarded him greatly.

That day after the mind reading took place and Ethan arrived home, he told his family everything that took place at the king's palace. How the woman with the mind reading ability read through all the minds of the officials and said it was none of them that was behind Aiden's capture.

And his household was a little surprised, so it was none of them? But not too long after, thoughts like this started running through their heads, 'Well, everything had always been based on probability, it was never a sure thing that it was one of the officials behind it'.

And at that moment, questions like this started flowing out of their mouths, 'So it was one of the natives? Who could that person be? Why is he doing this to us? and so on.

Ethan then told them about the current arrangement. Knights wouldn't be coming to live with them, but for every single place any of his households wants to head to, the person would be escorted by knights...they'd always be available.

The person behind all these could target any of his family next, it wouldn't have to be Aiden again. And Aiden would also be protected by knights as well, they'd put more focus on him 'cause seems like he's the main target.

..All of them just nodded their heads to Ethan's utterances, they definitely needed protection, they love their lives.

Days had passed after the mind reading took place. As known, people were aware Aiden had been found already, so they weren't looking for him anymore. For days, Aiden hadn't been going to school, but he was gonna resume school today.

Ethan was the one that rode him to school as usual, and after Ethan had helped him come down from the horse and handed some copper coins over to him, he uttered to him,

"So which one do you want for today? Do you want me to come pick you up at closing period? Or do you want to come home with your friends and be escorted by knights?".

"I'd choose the latter, dad. I haven't conversed with my friends for some days now, I want to catch up with what has been happening, I want to bond with them. So I'd prefer to come home with my friends and be escorted by knights". Aiden responded.

"Okay, as you wish. The knights would be here before closing hour, they'd escort you home. Please, even when they're escorting you, try to be cautious yourself, alright?". Ethan stated.

"Yes, dad".

And with that, Ethan smiled then rode out of the school compound. And Aiden began walking toward the building where his classroom was situated. As he strolled, he glanced around, and these were the thoughts that ran through his mind at that moment,

'It's been some time, just a few days of not coming here, and this place is already looking somehow to me'.

..The moment Aiden stepped foot into his classroom, lots of students focused their gazes on him.

And do you know what followed next? They began welcoming him. All of them were aware that he went missing, the news had already spread around days ago.

But not everyone in the classroom put much enthusiasm into welcoming him back to school, they weren't that concerned. But some were happy to see him, they were glad that he had resumed school. And he wasn't hurt due to the capture.

And the people that were the happiest to see him were Oliver and Ava, they kept hugging him, and Ava even pecked him on the cheek a few times. Till he reached his seat and sat on it, there were students following him from behind.

But as for Oliver and Ava, they didn't just follow him to his seat, they sat on it, they wanted to converse with him, they wanted to catch up on a lot of things.

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