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Chapter 17
The neatly organized and tidy office reflected its owner’s personality.
In the heavy, quiet atmosphere, the aide Hames stood before Diego holding some documents.
His neatly cut dark blue hair and the sharp gaze behind his monocle exuded a cold aura.
Zakart, standing behind Diego, wore a bored expression, but subtly straightened his posture at Hames’ sharp glance.
“Compared to last year, the number of missing children has increased by about 500. Still, it’s relatively low compared to other countries.”
Reports often came in about children who went out and didn’t return.
If the reported figures were around this number, the actual number might be even higher. It wasn’t negligible, but not enough to warrant focusing solely on this issue.
In fact, other countries often ignored numbers this small because they were insignificant.
However, Diego, as someone aspiring to be emperor of this country, believed he had a duty to protect his citizens. He was a man with a strong sense of responsibility and obligation.
“Is there a possibility this is related to human trafficking?”
Rather than focusing solely on the number of missing children, it was more efficient to find and stop the cause.
“The number isn’t very high, but we cannot rule out that possibility.”
“Inform the peacekeeping forces and increase security. Have the domestic child protection division investigate the detailed circumstances.”
For now, increasing security was essential. Ideally, he wanted to investigate and record the number of children in the country, the number of orphanages, and how many children were being cared for in each. But that was not easy.
There were not enough personnel to investigate everything, and many children were born without being reported.
‘I need to think about a way to make this more efficient this time.’
There was a mountain of work to do. Although his father, the current emperor, held real power, he didn’t know when his father would step down and pass the throne to him.
Therefore, Diego wanted to stabilize everything he could as crown prince, leaving no small matter overlooked before ascending the throne.
Originally, such minor matters didn’t even reach the crown prince’s office.
Separate departments handled them, and missing persons cases were dealt with by the peacekeeping force.
However, Diego was very interested in the affairs of the empire, enough to personally investigate when he became crown prince.
Most importantly, checking in occasionally ensured that each official didn’t slack off.
Even though they were busy, receiving reports on minor matters kept each divided department on edge, improving efficiency.
At the same time, the crown prince treated them well and increased their salaries, suppressing dissatisfaction.
“What information do we have on the missing children?”
“If you look at these documents, the personal information of the reported children is recorded.”
Hames placed the report before him, and Diego quickly skimmed through it.
“There must be many children not listed here as well?”
“That’s why the domestic division plans to hire people to visit orphanages and households to check the numbers.”
“Good work.”
After reviewing the last page, Diego finally spoke.
“The age range is generally from infants to around thirteen. At most, fourteen.”
“That’s what the current statistics indicate.”
“It feels like they only targeted children who can’t resist.”
He knew well that children in this age group could not defy adults.
If it was human trafficking, there had to be a purpose. That purpose could be inferred from the commonalities among the missing children. However, there were no photos or drawings of the children’s faces to preserve for reference.
There were some descriptions of appearances and distinguishing features left by parents, but it felt insufficient.
“Investigate whether any children have exceptional appearances compared to others and submit a report.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Normally, this would have been sufficient, and he would have made further decisions after reviewing the reports. But Diego suspected this incident wasn’t merely coincidental.
The sudden increase in missing children, and the fact that even children old enough to find their way home disappeared, was highly suspicious.
If a child simply got lost, someone might report or find them. But none of the missing children had been seen or returned.
“This needs continuous monitoring.”
“Any adult disappearances?”
“After we discovered the hideout and resolved the case previously, it’s been quiet. We increased night security just in case.”
“Good. Ah, and….”
Bang!
Diego, pressing his tired eyes, let out a deep sigh as he saw the protagonist barging in.
There was only one person bold enough to enter the crown prince’s office without knocking.
“You were warned not to enter without permission.”
Ignoring that warning, the princess Adeline strode in.
The striking beauty with long limbs and a sharp expression plopped onto the sofa.
Her black hair flowed down to her waist. With pink eyes brimming with curiosity, she asked Diego:
“You and Miss RoseRussell are… involved, right?”
“You’ve said countless times to fix that vulgar way of speaking, haven’t I?”
Despite Diego’s sharp and annoyed tone, Adeline smirked and retorted.
“You’ve also told me countless times not to waste energy on nonsense.”
Hames and Zakart subtly stepped aside. The person no one dared to confront in the imperial palace was not the emperor, empress, or even Diego—it was the mad princess.
She acted recklessly without care for her own reputation.
Perhaps because the emperor and empress favored her, no one could stop her.
Listing all her outrageous deeds would take more than a day; she was wilder than a stallion in the fields.
“So it’s true? You’re involved with Miss RoseRussell…”
Diego decided it wasn’t worth hearing more. He cut her off sharply.
“No. It’s not true. Such rumors have circulated before. Did you really believe it?”
“It seems quite credible. I checked the circulating rumors.”
Immersed in work, he didn’t pay attention to such trivial rumors, especially those about himself.
Unless the rumors directly damaged his reputation or honor, he ignored them. Hames and Zakart didn’t feel the need to report them.
Among royalty or nobles, various rumors were inevitable. It was part of the privileges and burdens they bore.
Diego lifted his gaze from the documents and looked at Adeline. Only then did she reveal the origin of the rumor.
“Miss RoseRussell saved you from a dangerous situation with delinquents, right? And it happened the same day you went on your solo mission. Jeffrey also got lost that day.”
Diego hadn’t known Jeffrey got lost that same day. It was common, as he was notoriously directionally challenged, so he didn’t pay attention.
Being cousins and having grown up together, Diego and Jeffrey were close, though neither would admit it. Diego spoke his name without hesitation.
“And? Why is Jeffrey involved here?”
“Rumor has it he also had an encounter with Miss RoseRussell. She found him when he got lost. That fool is still wandering around, apparently.”
Adeline mocked him without filter, saying she had never seen someone so foolish.
Her usual coarse speech didn’t faze Diego, Hames, or Zakart.
But Diego furrowed his brows. Not only him, but Jeffrey had also had contact that day. Coincidence or deliberate?
Zakart glanced at Diego cautiously and asked Adeline.
“So the rumor is about a love triangle?”
Knowing it wasn’t the case, Zakart was baffled. Adeline shook her head nonchalantly, holding up four fingers.
“No, it’s a love square, actually. There’s a beautiful genius priest at the temple. Miss RoseRussell comforted him when he cried and even handed him a handkerchief. He’s extremely grateful. What happened that day?”
Diego clicked his tongue at such a trivial rumor.
“Ridiculous. Who started this? The people involved?”
“Wrong. It was Miss RoseRussell’s maid.”
Zakart couldn’t hide his shock.
“Eh?! The maid?”
Hames elbowed him sharply, glaring. Zakart avoided his gaze. Adeline, the person involved, didn’t care at all.
“Yes, the maid. Maids are all connected. Once a rumor spreads, it easily reaches the ears of the nobility.”
Even if no maid was present, RoseRussell was known for being friendly with everyone regardless of rank. So the story might have come from her.
The maid had carelessly spread the word.
Or perhaps…
“Was it intentional?”
“Dunno. At the last tea party, Miss RoseRussell seemed completely unaware.”
“Even to you?”
Adeline shrugged with a meaningful smile.
From the moment she told the maid, the secret was bound to leak. That it had spread this far suggested RoseRussell might have deliberately observed the rumor spreading.
“Sounds unbelievable.”
Hames and Zakart, listening quietly, quickly dismissed any doubts about whether someone could be sincere in the princess’s eyes.
Diego silently watched Adeline. He knew Coco’s story would leave her unable to stay quiet, but she didn’t know the rest.
‘Then there’s no need to mention it.’
“It’s a rumor that will die down anyway. Don’t worry about it. Now, leave.”
But Adeline didn’t move from the sofa. Her eyes sparkled like a child spotting a toy she wanted.
“It’s a love square. I was bored, so why leave this alone? Should I play along a bit?”
“Don’t you intend to explain the rumors about your brother?”
“Still hoping for your affection, huh?”
Even if she said that, everyone knew the two were close.
Self-centered as Adeline was, if the rumor truly harmed Diego, she wouldn’t have let it slide.
She would have pursued him relentlessly. That’s why Diego didn’t ignore her.
“Now leave. I’m busy.”
“Understood.”
Having talked enough and confirmed the rumor was false, Adeline left the office with a meaningful expression.
Zakart and Hames shivered at her face. Zakart, knowing the full background, quickly moved closer to Diego.
“Shouldn’t we correct it? A scandal might arise.”
“If we correct it, another rumor will follow.”
Judging by his reaction, there might be more to it.
But even without correction, such scandals often followed high-ranking nobles like Diego and Jeffrey. If ignored, they would naturally die down.
