The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 204: Plans Set Into Motion

Chapter 204: Plans Set Into Motion

Benedict nodded, relieved that Cassian was taking the matter seriously. "Agreed. I’ll make sure she’s not left vulnerable, but you should be aware of Lucas’s larger plans. He’s not just looking for allies—he’s preparing for the succession battle."

Cassian’s eyes darkened. "And his grandfather?"

"The old man supports Lucas for now," Benedict said. "He thinks Lucas is easy to control because of his weak powers. But I suspect Lucas knows this and is playing along to bide his time. He’s clever enough to let others think they have the upper hand while he works toward his own goals."

Cassian’s lips pressed into a thin line. "If Lucas becomes a threat, we’ll deal with him. But for now, our focus is Adeline. She can’t know we’re watching over her. She’ll see it as interference."

Cassian wondered why she did not come to him... Surely she was not that angry with him. He could get her into the library and get her the books that she needed. But... He shook his head. He will not overthink this. What he needed to do was to secure the throne...

Benedict smirked faintly. "She’s stubborn, that’s for sure. But she’s not reckless. If we handle this carefully, she won’t even realise we’re involved."

Cassian gave a curt nod. "Good. Keep me updated on her progress and anything Lucas does. I’ll make sure our preparations for the hunt are thorough."

As Benedict left Cassian’s quarters, he felt a sense of grim satisfaction. He had chosen his side in the battle for the throne long ago, and it wasn’t with Lucas. While Lucas might claim to be gathering allies for his younger brother, Benedict knew better. Lucas’s ambitions were entirely his own, and his plans would only lead to chaos if left unchecked.

Benedict had no intention of letting that happen. His loyalty was to Cassian, the rightful heir to the throne, and he would do whatever it took to ensure Cassian’s success.

Why did he support Cassian? It was not a hard question. The answer was simple. It was because he was indebted to him. Suddenly, the Northern Duchy faced a crisis... The lands... They were deemed unsuitable for cultivation, this was their main source of income, the lifeblood of their people...

Cassian intervened and managed the situation. He lent his help and Benedict was able to establish himself using this crisis. He chipped away at his father’s powers. Anna was still restless as ever but she could do nothing.

She had no real power. She was so close... So close to the power she always wanted but will never get it. Benedict made sure her suffering would last a long time.

Cassian also made sure that no one would ever know of this. Thus, even Adeline did not know.

Meanwhile, Lucas sat in his dormitory, a rare moment of solitude allowing his thoughts to wander. He was aware of the rumours surrounding him, of course.

People whispered about his weak ice powers and dismissed him as insignificant in the grand scheme of the succession. His grandfather, in particular, viewed him as little more than a pawn—a malleable tool to be used. A perfect little puppet that would do as he says...

Hah... He was not reborn for no reason.

The Goddess always stayed with Adeline, she grew more quiet and stopped interrupting Adeline too much. They have bonded, they have been in life-or-death situations together... She was still working hard to figure out who that anomaly was.

She looked lovingly at Adeline who was preparing hard for the hunt.

Adeline sat at her desk, her expression one of quiet determination. The hunt was still months away, but she knew that preparation was key if she wanted to have any chance of winning. With a blank sheet of parchment before her, she began to sketch out a timetable, carefully balancing her training, studies, and time for rest.

Her first priority was honing her lightning powers. Control was still a challenge, but the elemental class sessions, coupled with Lucas’s tips, had given her some ideas.

She planned to dedicate early mornings to practising precision strikes, starting with smaller targets and gradually increasing the difficulty. In the afternoons, she would focus on physical conditioning. Speed and agility were just as important as raw power in a hunt.

Next, she allocated time for studying monster behaviour and habitats. The academy’s library had books detailing the creatures they were likely to face, and though she lacked access to the restricted sections, the basics would be enough to start with.

The Goddess was certain that there was a person was unaccounted for. She knew who came to this world... And who came back. But one person was brought back that was out of her control. She had years to figure out who it was but she did not know. Her efforts have been in vain...

But she was also in a weakened state, she didn’t have enough powers or energy to properly search for them. She could only wait for something to happen... Something that would tip her off, but until now nothing happened.

She should be relieved right? But no, the knowledge of someone out there that could threaten her planning... That could only bring her more stress.

None of this was known by Adeline. She could not tell her... At least not yet.

Meanwhile, Lucas was stressed. The coming operation was important.

He clenched his fists, his mind drifting to the hunt. Adeline had proven more receptive than he’d expected. Her eagerness to participate was both surprising and convenient. He needed her for his plans, though he hadn’t yet decided whether she would be an ally or a sacrificial piece on his chessboard.

As for his grandfather, Lucas felt nothing but contempt for the old man. The esteemed patriarch of their family might believe himself to be in control, but Lucas had no intention of being anyone’s pawn. Whether his grandfather realized it or not, Lucas was playing his own game, one that would end with him seizing the throne.

His lips curved into a cold smile. Let them think he was weak. Let them think he was unimportant. By the time they realised the truth, it would be too late.

He was simply using a play for Cassian’s book. Act weak and then strike when they least expect it.

But first, he had to deal with Cassian. His half-brother had always been a thorn in his side, and Lucas knew that as long as Cassian stood in his way, the throne would remain out of reach.

And then there was Benedict. The Northern Duke’s son had aligned himself with Cassian early on, and Lucas hated the way the two worked together seamlessly. They were an unshakable pair, each bolstering the other’s strengths. Lucas knew that taking on Cassian meant taking on Benedict as well.

Adeline was kept in the dark about the calamity that struck the Northern Duchy but he was not. He did his own investigation... He knew it would take place and wanted to bring over Benedict to his side, but Cassian already struck.

It was annoying but not unexpected. He knew how they were close... Or at least appeared close since their childhood. It was always those three, Adeline, Benedict and Cassian...

He leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with strategies. The hunt would be an excellent opportunity to test the waters. Adeline’s participation added an interesting variable, one he intended to exploit to the fullest.

For now, he would play the role of the dutiful second prince, gathering allies and biding his time. But when the moment came, Lucas would strike, and neither Cassian nor Benedict would stand in his way.

Lucas sat at his desk, his expression impassive as he dipped his quill into the inkwell. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the room, illuminating his sharp features and the slight curve of his lips. The letter before him was brief but meticulously worded. He couldn’t afford even the slightest misstep; this correspondence would set the wheels of his plan in motion.

Lucas read over the letter, his lips pressing into a thin line. It was perfect—direct yet veiled enough that even if it were intercepted, the true intent could not be discerned without context. He folded the parchment neatly and sealed it with a secretive crest, something outsiders would never know.

He leaned back in his chair, letting out a slow breath.

Cassian had always been the obstacle, the one person standing between him and the throne. The knowledge of the future, the strength he had gained, it was all going to work for him and this time... He will be the winner.

The men he had chosen were mercenaries, desperate individuals with no ties to the Empire. Their lives were expendable, a fact they had accepted when they struck the deal. Lucas had made it clear—once their task was complete, their lives were forfeit.

He smirked, rising to deliver the letter to his trusted messenger. "By the time the hunt begins," he murmured to himself, "it will already be over—for Cassian."