Valen's voice trembled as he watched Caelum step forward with reckless confidence.
"Cae! What are you doing?!" he asked, his hands shaking.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJES9zQFDGz
Caelum grinned, throwing a playful glance over his shoulder. "What else? I'm going to slay the monster inside that palace!" he said, his tone light, almost teasing.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhrWgqKpq9
Valen's face paled. "M-monster?!" His knees buckled slightly, the fear creeping into his chest as he trembled, nearly on the verge of tears.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9UkExG5f8
Without a care in the world, Caelum laughed and darted towards the grand palace, his footsteps echoing on the ground. "Catch up if you can!" he called back, not bothering to wait for his trembling companion.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBJ8QAeBrP
"Cae!!! Don't leave me here!!!" Valen’s voice cracked as he shouted after him, his fear rising while he stood frozen.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNLwCSIpdQ
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqogR2XwwgJ
---
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcxclNfAzW
Meanwhile, deep within Ashengil Castle, young Leth lay on her bed, her tiny hands clutching the blanket. Her caretaker dozed off nearby, sprawled on the sofa, loosely holding an empty milk bottle.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGhJPCd0vr
Inwardly, Leth fumed. These people! How could they let a baby starve in this forsaken place?
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zU44RsI5i
Suddenly, the caretaker stirred awake, rubbing his eyes. "Huh? Did you say something?"
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinJJfpPbXk
Leth furrowed her brow and puffed out her cheeks. "Ware ish my pood?!" she demanded, though her baby mouth muddled the words.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTX2YQbrDR
The caretaker blinked, confused. "Your what?" Then he snickered. "Wait... do you want to poop?" He burst into laughter.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUTMd7qCH6
Leth’s face flushed with embarrassment. Ugh, this baby mouth! she thought in frustration.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYhqhCPWFW
After regaining his composure, the caretaker tossed the milk bottle to her. "Here. That’s all you’re getting."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA66S4rBxD
Leth glared at him, clutching the bottle. "Tish? Only tish? I need poods!"
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x9NYuR1iH
The caretaker waved a dismissive hand. "You’re broke! Even your maids are starving! Now let me sleep." He turned his back, snoring a moment later.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBshorVkuK
Leth scowled, her tiny fists clenched around the bottle. This heartless place! How dare they starve a baby! She could feel the sting of tears threatening to fall, but she quickly wiped her eyes.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM46qONjpd
Determined, Leth climbed out of bed and wandered down to the kitchen. Her hopes sank when she found nothing but a single raw potato sitting on the counter. She looked around no maids, no food, just silence.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sPqngpQ43
With a sigh, Leth grabbed the potato and dragged a chair over to the oven. I may only be a princess in name, but even I can cook this sad excuse for a meal, she thought, preparing to boil the potato.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WgqWPfiNF
"Tish ishtupid bish!! Makin' da baby dow tyer job!" the kitchen maid muttered under her breath, frustration thick in her tone as she finished wrapping a hot potato and a bottle in a cloth, turning it into a makeshift bundle. Glancing around to make sure no one saw her, she slipped out the back of the kitchen and carefully made her way toward a small, hidden hole in the wall—a shortcut leading to the main palace garden.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSFtsIUbO2
Meanwhile, in the garden, Prince Caelum was exploring the area near the boundary of the Forgotten Palace. He had always been curious about the old castle and its mysterious reputation, and today, he felt particularly bold. Just as he was about to reach the castle gates, something odd caught his eye.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8wiyyXi3I
“Huh… what’s that?” Caelum mumbled to himself as he noticed a small, oddly shaped rock near the garden wall. Curiosity piqued, he walked closer and was surprised to find a little gap behind it. Pushing the rock aside, he discovered a narrow hole in the wall—just big enough for a child to crawl through.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZd1k7wPmx
Without hesitation, Caelum ducked down and wriggled his way inside, curiosity leading him onward. As he made his way through the hidden passage, he finally emerged on the other side and froze.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqRqfwLzoB
There, standing in front of him, was a young girl he had never seen before—pale and slender, her eyes wide with surprise as they met his. She clutched a small bundle to her chest, her expression a mixture of shock and fear.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgK9PSzZFb
“Who... are you?” Caelum asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqkgxPRHIN
