Chapter 24: Children, and Fake Children

It wasn’t until Ciel almost healed that he was notified that Dominic had sent summons for him. And so, he dragged himself out of bed at sunrise.

The sky was dyed red and pink, and the royal palace glittered under the rising sun’s light. Encrusted with crystals and diamonds, the palace shone as brightly as the sun.

Thankfully, Ciel didn’t need to see any of that blinding light after he obtained his commission from Taq, which had not been canceled in his absence. His new blindfold was heavier, but it completely immersed Ciel’s eyes in comfortable darkness no matter how bright the light was.

Fatalite wasn’t ready to be shown to the outside world yet, so along with Erin, Ciel was brought in through the back door.

“Ciel and Erin! I’m glad to see that you two responded to my letter!” For some reason, Dominic gave off a friendly feeling around him today.

Ciel looked beside him. Cedric, as always, was sitting next to him.

Maybe it was Cedric’s aura that rubbed off of Dominic.

Ciel gave a small bow in his wheelchair, “Hello, little highness, Cedric. You both seem well.”

Erin completed a formal bow as he thought, ‘Of course we’re all well except for you, this trouble-seeking guy.’

Cedric piped up, “My parents said that after going through a life and death, we are all now comrades. So although I can’t make any decisions for Dominic, you two can treat me like you treat each other.”

The other three boys looked at each other and for a moment, their thoughts synchronized.

‘‘‘Such a pure sunshine child.’’’

Dominic smiled softly as he patted Cedric’s soft brown curls. “I’m glad that your cute way of thinking hasn’t changed.”

“With you and my parents around, I don’t have the need to change yet.” Cedric gave a silly grin.

Meanwhile, Erin nudged Ciel. Miraculously, Ciel got his meaning.

-See? This is how siblings interact with each other. What do you think of our exchanges?-

Ciel shrugged.

-Friends, not siblings.-

Slightly irritated, Erin ruffled Ciel’s dyed hair. He didn’t know how Ciel had dyed it, but even until now, none of Ciel’s original hair color was showing.

-Then are we friends?-

-What do you think?-

Ciel smiled as he watched Dominic change his expression when he turned back to them, ending their silent conversation.

Dominic looked at Erin, “Erin, since Ciel has no need for formalities, you don’t need to either. Of course, both of you have to be proper in front of outsiders.”

“Little crown prince, I dislike talking in circles, and I’m sure you do too. What do you want from us?”

Dominic crossed his legs, and Cedric sat upright, showing the proper etiquette of a noble for the first time.

Dominic’s voice had a faint tremble embedded in it as he gave his offer,

“Instead of being an ally, how about we start as friends?”

“And?” Ciel knew things weren’t that simple. ‘Also, why is this guy nervous now?’

Taking a deep breath, Dominic continued,

“Us becoming companions now from a young age will create a stronger connection in the future.”

“You admit that you’re young now?” Ciel grabbed at the wrong point.

Dominic was speechless.

Ciel smiled and stopped playing around, “So you want to tie us outsiders down with a rope called friendship? Isn’t Fatalite enough?”

“You’re not wrong. But Jadiel already told me that both of  you two can leave anytime.” Dominic flinched, after all, he was trying to scheme against the person who had recently saved him.

The more Ciel looked at him, the more he deviated from his future self Ciel had read about in the novel.

His first impression of a mature, competent crown prince was also falling apart.

‘He is still a child after all. ’

Ciel didn’t mind, and neither did Erin. As fake children, they were both open-minded.

On the other hand, Ciel had just randomly sprouted some bullsh*t about Dominic trying to tie them down. He was a bit dense, but he wasn’t dumb. 

It was obvious Dominic was too prideful to directly ask to be friends with them.

Ciel looked at Erin and received a nod before he looked back.

“This rope will only tie us to you, not to Anatol.”

Cedric smiled cheerily as he patted Dominic’s back, congratulating this childhood friend who only had him as a companion in their earlier years.

You are reading story The Youngest Prince Has Left at novel35.com

Dominic shifted uncomfortably, Cedric’s gaze on him reminded of that time when he had seen a mother bird looking at her chick who had just learned to fly.

“I thought you disliked me.”

“How could I? As the third prince who was suppressed by both your older brothers, I admire you for being able to turn the situation around.”

‘When did this child get that idea? He was the one who disliked me at the beginning. Sure enough, helping him raised the third fish’s favor.’

Just as he thought that, Dominic proudly raised his chin, saying one of his key quotes in ‘The First Saintess’.

“Well, falling down is an accident, but staying down is a choice. Besides…”

He momentarily shifted his eyes at Cedric.

Ciel understood.

In the novel, the first and second princes were born from a concubine from a high noble family. It wasn’t until later that the king met his true love—the queen, and gave birth to the third prince. Shortly after Dominic’s birth, the queen died. The official reason was due to her weak body, but the real reason was unknown.

The Norama dukedom had always been a steadfast ally of the queen’s family, making them the most trustworthy ally of Dominic. Although Anatol was known for its beauty, the higher echelons were ruthless. If Dominic didn’t become the king, the Norama dukedom would fall along with his other lowkey supporters.

The Anatol kingdom was a prime example of the quote, “when you play the game of thrones, you win or you die, there is no middle ground.”

‘Harem members always seem to have circumstances that shape them into cheats for the protagonist.’

Ciel smiled and shook Dominic's extended hand, feeling some pity for the two children in front of him.

 “Then, you can’t execute me for being disrespectful in the future.”

He smilingly watched Dominic shake hands with Erin.

In his black-and-white vision, Dominic’s eyes became a lighter shade—a sign that he was in a better mood.

 “Then, my new friends, can you tell me about what you saw in the cells?”

However, Ciel didn’t want to get down to business yet. Since he said that they were friends, Ciel became casual.

“As friends, aren’t you treating us too perfunctorily?”

If Dominic didn’t get Ciel’s implications, then he wasn’t a royal member anymore, “I already sent compensation to you. Was a blank check not enough?”

‘No matter how mature he acts now, he’s not the character he is in the future. Doesn’t he know money hurts feelings?’

“There’s no need for compensation between friends.”

“Then I’ll take back…”

“But more money can never hurt anyone.” Ciel didn’t let Dominic finish his sentence. Dominic barely veiled his anger at this irritating guy. But thinking that as the older friend here, he should be tolerant, he calmed down.

“Then what do you want?”

“I want cookies, high-class ones made by the royal chef.” Ciel hadn’t forgotten how he had lost several coins to the green-eyed man for eating some cookies. He was planning to visit that guy after this meeting and show off a little.

Hehe.

Dominic blinked, he thought Ciel would ask for something more.

“That’s all?”

“You want to give me more? That’s fine....”

“Do you want anything?” Dominic ignored Ciel and continued on to Erin, who shook his head.

Dominic beamed. The winged serpent boy–no, Erin, was much better than Ciel.

“Then can we get frank with each other now?”

“Sure, you wanted to know about what we saw right? Did you know there was a cult worshiping someone named Natas?”

Hearing that, Dominic’s smile reeked of depression, “Now I know.”

“Should Erin and I compile…”

At that moment, Dominic flinched as a bright shade of gray flashed between his eyes.

*Boom*

Both Cedric and Dominic leapt up and rushed to the window. Curious, Ciel motioned for Erin to push him towards them.

Looking out the window to see fumes rise from the city plaza, the four were shocked.

Well, except for Ciel, who had read the first half of ‘The First Saintess’. He excitedly watched the capital city’s bustling atmosphere collapse as screams resounded through the city.

‘It’s here. It’s here!’

You can find story with these keywords: The Youngest Prince Has Left, Read The Youngest Prince Has Left, The Youngest Prince Has Left novel, The Youngest Prince Has Left book, The Youngest Prince Has Left story, The Youngest Prince Has Left full, The Youngest Prince Has Left Latest Chapter