The Useless 8th Prince

The interests of the Family or the Empire?

“Heh .. it turns out our little girl is following back to being her sister's little follower.”

The voice made Lilia who was drowning in Ciel's embrace instantly push her brother away. Looking towards the source of the voice, he saw the figure of his older sister, Julia Dawnbringer.

“You were wrong, Sister Julia! I-”

“Pending to call you.” Julia said with a gentle expression.

After a short silence, Lilia nodded. “Good.”

After seeing Lilia leave, Julia looked towards her sister who was two years younger than her. Recalling how the young man before him had always made trouble in the past as well as the present, he let out a short sigh. A gentle smile was seen on his face.

“What's up, Sister Julia?” ciel asked while tilting his head.

“It's okay. I feel like you've changed a lot, Ciel. You are even taller than me now.” Julia smiled politely before nodding. “Then I return.”

“...”

Looking at her brother's back that was away, Ciel's eyes narrowed. The indifferent expression on his face turned even colder.

Each of Queen Lilith's children has its own characteristics. The eldest son, Alexander was a disciplined figure. Although his talent was not as good as the first prince or the second prince, he was able to overshadow both of them due to his hard work. He is a combination of serious, kind, and heroic attitude.

As for the second child, Julia, since childhood she has an attitude that likes to organize and discipline. He always scolded Ciel for many things. Of course, it was because the girl cared about her sister.

The third child, Luciel Dawnbringer. If summed up in its entirety, he was a lazy prince who made a lot of trouble. While the youngest child, Lilia, yes .. she is a cute little girl who is submissive. Maybe the word good but cold girl is a suitable picture for her.

Although always scolded as a child, Ciel did not hate Julia at all. Seeing the pale face behind the thin makeup on the girl's face, she couldn't help but suspect. Not to mention my glare and her thinner body compared to usual. Ciel knew that Julia was depressed and depressed, but tried to cover it well.

Returning to his room, Ciel decided to rest for a while before finding out what had happened in the Imperial Palace.

At the dinner table.

Ciel sat quietly while occasionally looking at the four people sitting at the table. In addition to his mother and two sisters, Alexander also returned. He now lived in the manor belonging to Duke Flamehart who was in the Royal Capital.

Although his wife, Leona Flamehart, was also considered part of the family, she understood that this time her husband returned to discuss something very important. In addition, the meeting between the princes will also be held the day after tomorrow. It is better to wait at home and not disturb him.

At the time of eating, everyone seemed calm and did not speak. Talking or chatting while eating, even in ordinary etiquette is considered impolite. Not to mention within the more restrictive Imperial Palace.

After eating, they all headed to the family meeting room. The usual place their families discuss important matters.

While sitting in their seats, everyone was silent. Ciel could feel a heavy and depressed atmosphere within the meeting room. Looking towards the gloomy looking Julia and Alexander, he became even more curious.

In his vision, Alexander looked a little hostile towards Julia. They both seem to be involved in the same problem. As for Lilia, the girl wore a cold expression as if she knew nothing and did not care about the circumstances around her.

“Can you get started, Mom? If not, I want to go back to the room and lie down.”

Ciel's voice that sounded indifferent and bored somehow made the tense atmosphere slightly subside. Queen Lilith stared at Ciel with a gentle expression before pretending to be angry.

“Small ciel, in the etiquette of nobility, the behavior of the interrupting younger generation is not good. Don't repeat.” Queen Lilith said coldly.

“Understanding.” Ciel did not even look towards her mother when she answered casually.

“Then let's start the meeting. First of all, I will tell Ciel about the state of the Northern Palace.”

“The situation of the Northern Palace now is not good and unstable. For his problem, it was due to the shaky relationship between the Northern Palace faction and North Duchy.”

North Duchy's? With Alex's sister-in-law's relationship as a daughter-in-law, how could it possibly get worse?

Ciel looked towards Queen Lilith with an astonished expression. Of course, the mother explained everything.

“You know that your sister Julia has broken off the engagement with the prince of the Blood Diamond Kingdom, right?”

“Of course. Hasn't that been resolved long ago, Mother?”

“It should be. But who would have thought, the people within the Blood Diamond Kingdom were really narrow-hearted and making trouble. They sent someone to create a problem, and the target was .. Zack Flamehart.”

“Zack?” muttered Ciel with a serious expression.

“True. Zack who went to the border line to practice actually had an ambush.”

Hearing that, Ciel's expression became even colder. Don't talk about how silly or stubborn his best friend is. Although often disturbed, Ciel has considered Zack as one of his friends who means important to him.

“The person ... he is not dead, right?” Ciel said in a cold tone.

“No. Despite dying and nearing death, Zack was saved. He was also the only survivor among all the troops that went with him.

Sure oes. There was no specific evidence that the invaders were troops from the Diamond Blood Kingdom. They strongly denied this and said that the attacker might have been a bandit. However, based on location and combat strength alone ..”

Ciel nodded with a cold expression. “There is no way a trivial bandit could subvert that person.”

“Therefore, Duke Flamehart who almost lost the son as well as the genius in the family was really angry and wanted to send an army to attack the Blood Iron Kingdom.

However, the war would definitely harm the Black Sun Empire that had recently been troubled by the Curses of Shadow organization. Coupled with pressure from East Duchy and West Duchy, Duke Flamehart could not do it.

You yourself must know the temperament of the Flamehart Family. They want to retaliate and seek my approval. However, due to the many risks that might mess up the power order within the Imperial Palace, I can only refuse. Can't give Duke Flamehart permission to carry out an attack.

Unable to retaliate, the Flamehart Family became enraged. Their relationship with the Northern Palace faction had become shaky. Not to mention, they blame Julia because it all started with her. Of course, as a son-in-law, Alex also gets more pressure.”

Hearing that Zack was fine, Ciel felt somewhat relieved. But hearing how West Duchy and East Duchy took advantage of the situation to suppress Queen Lilith's faction and make the relationship with the Flamehart Family falter, he couldn't help but sigh deeply.

For the sake of the Crown Prince's seat, they …

Ciel complained in his heart. But he is also aware of the situation. The other two Queen factions must have been afraid because he had made many miracles in South Duchy and was touted as the best candidate for Crown Prince. If South Duchy is supportive, coupled with the early support of North Duchy .. Ciel is sure to rise to the position of Crown Prince smoothly.

It's just that, Ciel actually didn't think too much about it and tried not to interfere. Still, he was dragged by the current around. Out of fear, the other two factions used the opportunity to suppress Queen Lilith's faction.

What Ciel was thinking now was not a matter of fraction or anything like that. But inside his head, he thought of his family and friends. Rather than the throne or something, the young man preferred his family.

Even after evacuating to the remote southern corner, I still have to get involved?

Ciel smiled bitterly. Seeing Alexander and Julia's depressed expressions, he let out a long sigh. He suddenly said something that shocked everyone in the room.

“After the meeting of the princes .. I will go to North Duchy and meet Duke Flamehart.”

>> Connect.