Acting According To The Plan

Just because he had changed his mind didn’t mean he would act immediately. Any task had its phases, and that meant carefully observing the situation and proceeding with a solid plan.

‘Who should I start with?’

The pinnacle of this country was, of course, the King. In truth, if the King were subdued, everything would be easier. But because he was also Ian’s father—and potentially protected by special means—he had to be left for later.

‘In the end, I’ll have to start from the bottom.’

He had to devise a good plan. The targets of his Mental Manipulation were already decided, and executing it came with complicated conditions. Because of that, he needed to change his lifestyle somewhat.

Until now, he had never attended noble family parties, even when invited. But now, he felt the need to go. By mingling with nobles and selecting suitable individuals, he planned to frequently execute Mental Manipulation. It would likely be a long-term endeavor.

With this mindset, Ian’s movements became a topic of interest among the nobles. He frequently visited noble parties and blended into conversations, slowly becoming one of them. He wasn’t exactly eloquent, but being present was what mattered.

Many were curious about this change in behavior, but some thought it was natural. Ian was a prince—one with low succession priority. Naturally, he needed to solidify his standing before a new king emerged.

The other princes had long since been building connections at noble family parties. So Prince Ian’s behavior wasn’t all that strange. Of course, as he continued, the wariness from other princes only grew.

Ian was no ordinary prince. He was already known as a war hero. He’d also distinguished himself in suppressing rebellions and forcing the Nubea Kingdom into submission. His continued achievements made his recent behavior all the more noteworthy.

Ian was aware of this but didn’t care. He simply did what needed to be done, step by step. Despite everything, no new assignments had come down. It was possible someone had intentionally blocked him from receiving one.

It was highly likely that one of the prince factions had intervened. From their perspective, if Ian took on a new mission and succeeded, even his fame would become a threat. And so, time passed—and before he knew it, three months had gone by since he returned.

It was now August.

「The Bomer-class battleship purchased from the Moria Empire has finally arrived in our country. It will be outfitted with new cannons at the Liberia Shipyard, one of the five major shipyards in the capital, and is scheduled to be officially commissioned into naval service early next year.」

「The Doicheun Empire is reportedly continuing to amass troops near the Leman Federation border. In response, the Moria and Noma Empires have sent forces to the border and issued condemnations. This could potentially escalate into a war between major powers.」

「A string of serial murders in the capital now claims 33 victims under similar circumstances. Despite police efforts, the culprit remains at large. What is the killer’s goal and identity?」

「The capital’s nights are shrouded in dread. Afraid of the murderer ‘Jack,’ no one dares venture outside once darkness falls.」

「Prince Jedic of the Magnia Empire, who recently visited our country, has now held an engagement ceremony with our noblewoman Michelle von Nudelria. With this union, relations between our country and the Magnia Empire are expected to deepen further.」

Having breakfast followed by tea while reading the paper had become part of Ian’s daily routine. His eyes settled on the article announcing the engagement ceremony between Prince Jedic of the Magnia Empire and Miss Michelle. He couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened in the meantime.

‘Holding the ceremony itself must’ve been difficult. For them to proceed within a year means the Third Prince’s feelings must’ve been genuine.’

Thinking that it was now unrelated to him, his eyes moved to the serial killer article. It was a case that had been ongoing for months now—and the killer still hadn’t been caught. He couldn’t help but wonder if this was sheer incompetence.

‘Well, it’s not like they have fingerprint or DNA testing. No CCTV in the city either. All they can rely on are witness testimonies and instincts—it’s no wonder they’re struggling.’

Catching the culprit seemed nearly impossible, and Ian figured there wasn’t much that could be done. Of course, he didn’t feel the need to intervene. Compared to this, carrying out his current plans was far more pressing.

‘The plan is progressing step by step—that’s good enough. Now, which party should I attend today?’

He had dozens of invitations and just needed to pick one. In truth, the same people tended to show up at these gatherings. So he didn’t need to overthink it—he just had to choose whichever caught his eye.

‘Still no new mission?’

Three months had passed, and he found himself yearning to return to sea. But no matter how long he waited, no assignment came. Someone was definitely blocking him from receiving orders. As a result, the battleship Mythos had been limited to training exercises only.

The deputy captain and officers had been taking it out to sea, conducting sailing and gunnery drills. Even that only happened because Ian had pushed hard on the 1st Fleet admiral. He argued that leaving the battleship idle was unacceptable.

‘They’re becoming more blatant in checking me. Not that it bothers me much.’

Just then, he heard approaching footsteps. Looking up, he saw the butler, who explained the reason for his visit.

“Princess Charlotte is on the phone for you.”

“She’s calling at this hour?”

“Yes, she’s waiting on the line.”

“Ah, I’ll take it.”

Hearing it was Charlotte, Ian leapt up from the couch. He quickly moved to the phone table, picked up the receiver, and brought it to his ear.

“Yes, I’ve answered the call.”

[Brother, did you enjoy your breakfast?]

“Of course, I had a great meal. Did you eat well, Charlotte?”

[Absolutely! I had bread with butter, bacon, and eggs with salad.]

“Ooh, sounds delicious. But calling at this time—do you have something in mind today?”

[Hehehe. I was wondering if I could visit your estate today?]

“Today?”

[I want to introduce you to my friends. They all want to meet you.]

“Oh, is that so?”

It seemed Ian wouldn’t be attending a noble party today. His sister’s request felt far more important. He promptly replied,

“Alright, I’ll be ready. Come by when you’re done.”

[Okay! See you in the afternoon. Brother, go ahead and hang up.]

Hearing her cheerful voice brought a smile to Ian’s lips. Following her cue, he hung up the receiver, then turned to the watching butler and said,

“Charlotte will be visiting today with her friends. Please make sure the food is well prepared.”
“Understood. I’ll notify the kitchen to prepare accordingly.”

Nodding at the butler’s reply, Ian felt today might be a special day. After all, it was the first time his sister would be bringing friends over. Given the restrictions around the concubines’ quarters in the royal palace, she’d never been able to invite anyone before.

‘I should make this a day she’ll never forget.’

For some reason, he felt excited. It had been a long time since he moved for the sake of family.

Around 4 p.m., Charlotte arrived at Ian’s estate with three friends in tow. As he stood waiting at the entrance, four vehicles came to a stop. Charlotte and her friends had all arrived in family carriages.

Soon, the butler stepped forward to open the door, and Charlotte stepped out. As her car pulled forward, the next one stopped, and another charming young lady stepped out through the opened door. One by one, they disembarked, and soon four lovely girls were standing before him.

“Thank you for inviting us, Prince Ian.”

“It’s an honor to meet you like this.”

“Hello. It’s our first time meeting in person, isn’t it?”

Each one of them displayed impeccable manners. It was perhaps to be expected from noble daughters. Amid this, Charlotte resisted the urge to run and hug him, and instead smiled as she spoke.

“Brother, thank you so much for accepting our visit.”

“Welcome. I’m so glad you all came. Hahaha.”

As he welcomed them with a smile, all their eyes sparkled. Apparently, his fame hadn’t faded yet. Of course, he’d stood out with the greatest achievements in the war against the empire—his reputation wasn’t something that would vanish so easily.

In any case, Ian led Charlotte and the three noble ladies into the mansion, and they all admired the beautifully decorated interior. Some might live in even grander homes, but they still seemed genuinely impressed and offered generous compliments.

“Wow, you’ve prepared so much.”

“These are cookies and cakes from the shop in Montblie!”

“They look delicious.”

They were all impressed by the selection of treats laid out on the table. These were purchased from a well-known dessert shop—thankfully, their turn in line came up in time to secure them. If they’d missed it, they would’ve had to serve alternatives.

‘This should help boost my sister’s social standing, right? I’ll have to give the maid who got them a bonus.’

The table was full of pink-toned desserts and a variety of uniquely shaped cookies. As the girls chatted and laughed, their topics were typically girlish—like a store that sold cute dolls or a very entertaining romance novel. Ian thought they were wonderfully chatty.

As the host, he sat with them and joined in. Most of their curiosity was about the war with the Doicheun Empire. Since they were girls, he didn’t go into graphic detail, instead telling the stories in a more entertaining fashion.

“Oh my. So that’s how you managed to seize the battleship?”

“That’s right. Everyone worked together, and in the end, I was able to take command.”

“Wow, I’d love to ride a battleship just once.”

“Same here. I’ve seen one from afar before, but I’ve heard they’re even bigger up close.”

“Would you like to see one? Then I’ll take you all aboard next time.”

“Really? Wow—!”

“I want to go too!”

“Me too!”

Hearing that he’d take them aboard made them visibly excited. Ian figured he’d find an opportunity to make good on that promise soon. After all, it was well within his authority. Occasionally, even in other countries, acquaintances were invited onto warships.

Charlotte, sitting off to the side, was thrilled by her brother’s words. For the first time in front of her friends, she felt truly proud. Seeing this, Ian glanced sideways so the others wouldn’t notice, winked at her with one eye, and Charlotte beamed even brighter.

They continued chatting about various things, and by the time evening approached, they had dinner together. The kitchen staff had done a fantastic job, preparing an array of fine dishes.

Knowing the guests were all young girls with small appetites, they served elegant dishes using premium ingredients. After finishing the delicious dinner, they moved into tea time—and before long, it was already 7 p.m.

Any later, and it would be inconsiderate to the girls’ families, so they decided to wrap up. Each one smiled and thanked him for the meal. Ian told them they were welcome back anytime, helping to further elevate Charlotte’s standing.

One by one, they boarded their vehicles and left. Finally, it was Charlotte’s turn to get into the car. But just before stepping in, she paused, turned back toward Ian, and expressed her gratitude.

“Brother, thank you so much. For doing all this for me.”
“No, thank you. I’m really glad you asked. Don’t hesitate to come again, anytime.”

“Yes! I’ll be going now.”

“Alright. See you next time.”

He waved, and she waved back as she climbed into the car. He watched as it drove away and only lowered his hand once the vehicle had disappeared from view. He thought to himself that tonight had been time well spent.

‘Much better than attending a noble’s party.’

Either way, the day had come to a good end. Ian returned inside, spent some quiet time, and waited for sleep to come. He thought, “So this day ends like this too.” But that was a mistake.

Tap tap tap!

Urgent footsteps and a loud knock knock knock! came with the sudden opening of the door. The butler rushed in. Ian, leaning in bed reading a book, looked at him questioningly—and the butler, his voice stiff with tension, said:

“Princess Charlotte… has gone missing.”

“What!?”

News arrived that Charlotte, who had departed safely in a car, had disappeared.