After Seraphine's meeting with Iris, she returned with Anna and began executing the plan alongside Damian. She also discussed the details with Damian's father, Adrian.
Damian's initial surprise was quickly replaced by trust and acceptance, as he recognized Seraphine's competence and relied on her judgment. Having already met Iris, Adrian was partially informed about the plan even before Seraphine and Damian arrived.
Iris's current strategy involved preparing a contingent of knights and mercenaries to be on standby for any potential ambush by the chaos order. She also coordinated with the remaining members of the coven who were available. While the resources were limited, it was the best plan they could put into action at the moment.
To maintain secrecy, the entire plan was kept confidential, not shared with any noble family, including the royal family who were hosting the upcoming hunting ceremony. Iris strongly suspected that there were moles among the nobles who were collaborating with the chaos order.
A few days before the start of the hunting ceremony, Iris and Seraphine arranged a discreet meeting. Present were Damian, Adrian, and key figures like Henry, a knight leader who had previously worked with Seraphine during the dungeon incident.
"Is everyone present?" Iris inquired as she took her place at the center of the table. Despite her youthful appearance and elegant attire, her age surpassed ten thousand years. Her blonde hair cascaded gracefully, giving her the appearance of a young maiden, though her wisdom and experience were far beyond her exterior.
All participants in the meeting nodded in agreement, signaling the commencement of their discussions.
The group was divided into three teams: the red team would secure and protect the crowned prince and nobles in the waiting area, the blue team was tasked with rescuing and neutralizing threats on the hunting field, and the yellow team's primary role was to offer support and eliminate chaos order members.
Damian and Adrian opted to join the red team since Damian would not be directly participating in the hunting field. In the context of the hunting ceremony, a noble could appoint a representative to participate on their behalf. This decision might attract criticism or mockery, but it was essential for the plan's success, ensuring Damian could safeguard the nobles in case of a dire situation.
Seraphine and Henry were assigned to the blue team, which operated on the hunting field. Damian initially displayed reluctance, but Iris reassured him of Seraphine's capabilities and convinced him of her ability to safeguard herself.
Consequently, Damian nominated Seraphine and Henry as representatives to partake in the competition. A select group of knights and mercenaries would covertly stand by on both teams, ready to intervene if needed.
Lastly, there was the green team, composed of the three witches and Anna who would provide additional support for the overall operation. Iris mentioned that the other two witches were preoccupied with the plan's preparation and were unable to attend.
As the meeting concluded, each individual departed to fulfill their designated roles. Damian began to rise from his seat, intending to proceed with his responsibilities, when Iris slowly approached him with a mischievous smile.
"So, you're the infamous young master from the story, aren't you? Quite good-looking, I must say," she remarked with a playful glint in her eyes.
Damian was taken aback by Iris' comment, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. He cleared his throat and tried to regain his composure. "Well, thank you, I suppose. But let's not get sidetracked by my looks. We have a serious situation at hand."
Normally, he would not be tempted by a woman's advances; however, Iris' appearance and aura seem so alluring that Damian cannot help but feel drawn to her.
Iris chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Of course, young master. Your dedication to the task is commendable."
As Damian and Iris continued their banter, Seraphine approached the duo with a grin. "Seems like you two are getting along quite well."
Iris turned to Seraphine and nodded with a friendly smile. "Indeed, we are. The young master is quite interesting in looks and personality, isn't he?"
Seraphine and Iris happily converse as Damian attempts to shift the attention to the main topic. He feels uncomfortable with the conversation and raises his hand, exclaiming, "Shouldn't we move on to the matter at hand?"
Iris takes notice of his attempt to ease the awkward mood and gestures to the chairs around the table. "Why don't we all have a seat and continue the discussion?"
As they settled into their seats, Iris adopted a more serious tone. "The chaos order's intentions remain unclear, but we must be prepared for any eventuality during the hunting ceremony. Their sudden move suggests they're well aware of our actions."
Damian nodded in agreement. "Yes, and their involvement in our estate in the past raises even more concerns."
Seraphine interjected, her brows furrowing. "But why target the hunting ceremony? What could they possibly gain from disrupting such an event?"
Iris leaned forward, her gaze focused. "The chaos order seeks instability. Disrupting a prestigious event like the hunting ceremony, which involves nobles and influential figures, can sow seeds of discord and distrust."
Damian added, "It would create a power vacuum and weaken the empire's unity."
Seraphine nodded, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "So, we need to ensure the safety of the participants and prevent chaos order's interference."
Iris agreed. "Exactly. And we must also consider that there might be insiders among the nobles collaborating with the chaos order."
"By the way, Miss Iris, could you share your experience or offer advice on how we should handle the chaos order?" Seraphine suddenly asked the question, noticing a change in Iris' expression. It was clear that the question had triggered a memory or emotion within her.
"It was not a pleasant experience at all. While I believe the current chaos order is weaker than the demon sect of the past, we still must exercise caution. Their tactics and intentions are unpredictable," Iris responded with a serious expression, the question seemingly bringing forth difficult memories.
Iris had encountered the chaos order remnants in the past, remnants of the demon sect that were significantly weaker compared to the historical conflict. However, the memories of those encounters seemed to affect Iris deeply. She could only hope that the anomaly would not appear during the hunting ceremony after all her efforts to search for him over the centuries.
With the meeting concluded, everyone dispersed to attend to their respective tasks. Seraphine walked along the hallway, lost in her thoughts, when she decided to communicate with Alice once again.
"Alice, do you think we can really do this?" Seraphine sought reassurance from her companion, her voice echoing in her mind.
Alice's response was playful and slightly sarcastic. "Oh, look who finally remembers me. I thought you had forgotten about your trusty companion."
Seraphine quickly tried to make amends. "No, Alice, I didn't mean to ignore you. I've just been incredibly busy."
Alice softened her tone, sensing Seraphine's sincerity. "It's alright, Seraphine. I know you're swamped. And to answer your question, of course, you can do it. Remember all the intense training we've been through together? You're stronger now."
Seraphine nodded internally, recalling the grueling training sessions she had endured under Alice's guidance. Those sessions had pushed her to her limits, but they had also made her more resilient and capable.
As the time for the hunting ceremony drew near, the final preparations were in place. Seraphine, Damian, and the others involved in the plan hoped for a successful outcome, praying that their efforts would keep chaos at bay and ensure the safety of everyone involved.