I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

"How long will you stay like this?"

The city ruler of Ruin and leader of the Dranir family, Richard Dranir, spoke with a heavy tone to his daughter, Rain Dranir.

"......"

Rain, who sat there gazing out of the window in silence, didn't answer her father. Richard's face grew even darker.

Three days.

Already three days.

Rain was discovered alone, unconscious, in the middle of the Black Forest where all creatures had vanished.

The signs of a fierce fight and the disappearance of the team that went with her were evident. But Richard didn't question it.

He couldn't.

"......At least have some food."

Richard sighed, glancing at the pile of untouched food beside Rain, then quietly left the room.

Once again, the room was filled with silence.

After some time,

"......It's my fault."

Rain, who had been gazing out of the window, whispered so softly it was barely heard.

"I'm too weak."

Everyone's gone.

The people who were with her for years, who felt closer than family, all perished that day.

It wasn't because Rain had betrayed them, or because they were outnumbered.

She was too weak.

Rain was simply too weak.

"I need to get stronger."

If she had been brave enough to go into the Black Forest by herself, strong enough to strike down the witch.

Maybe then, people wouldn't have died.

"No matter what it takes."

Flash!

A spark ignited in Rain's empty eyes.

She knew.

The witch was still alive.

Rain made a promise to herself that one day she would rip the witch apart with her own hands.

And one man came to mind at that thought.

'Zion Harness.'

The last person she saw before passing out was Zion Harness.

A man with an unknown background and mysterious powers.

What happened afterward?

He was probably gone, but Rain felt that he might still be alive.

'If that's the case, we might meet again.'

With that thought, Rain slowly started to rise from her seat.

---

---

Moonlight Feast, a hidden branch of 'Moon's Eye,' an intelligence guild situated in the capital of the Agnes Empire.

Aileen, its branch manager, tapped the report lying before her.

"Is this... for real?"

"Yes, it is."

The man with a mustache standing behind her, Allen, confirmed Aileen's question with a nod.

The report she was reading was about a nameless royal who had recently visited this branch.

It outlined the paths the royal took over the last few days and gave an exact account of his actions.

"...... The Black Forest is gone."

Among these details, the claim that the Black Forest was gone caught Aileen off guard.

To be accurate, it stated that the creatures that filled the Black Forest had vanished as if washed away.

Initially, she and Moon's Eye didn't know much about the Black Forest, but they had learned quite a bit during this investigation.

Through this, they also had a rough idea about the identity of the 'Evil' that the Dranir hero had sealed in the past.

"So, does that mean the witch inside is also dead?"

"We couldn't check it for sure since our informants couldn't get into the forest, but it seems likely given that the surrounding monsters have vanished."

"Hmm......"

Aileen was aware of who the Thousand-Year Witch was.

She was one of the formidable foes of mankind who had spilled blood across the world two hundred years ago and one of the remarkably powerful beings.

Her demise would certainly be a major event.

"So, he stepped in......"

By piecing together the collected information so far and the additional requests that Nari received, it was easy to guess that the royal's targets were the Purification Church and the Black Forest mentioned in the report.

"......Could it be that royal?"

No, he might not just have stepped in, but could also be the main reason for the Thousand-Year Witch's demise.

Regardless of her weakened state due to the seal, and even if he had the Seven Knights' help, how much power would one need to extinguish a being as powerful as the Thousand-Year Witch?

Normally, she would have dismissed the idea as impossible, but Aileen thought it might be feasible this time.

The direct descendants of the Agnes family that governs the world.

Each of them was a formidable figure with unknown limits.

However, another question popped up in Aileen's mind.

"But why would he do something like this?"

She couldn't even speculate about the reason.

To understand this, she believed she needed to know this royal's identity.

"Do we have any leads on who he is?"

"We checked the royal palace later, and confirmed that all the direct royal family members, except for one, were in the palace."

"Who is that one person?"

Aileen's eyes gleamed at Allen's words.

If someone has such an overpowering presence and thick gray hair, they couldn't be an ordinary person.

It was very likely that the remaining person was him.

However, Aileen's expression turned odd as she heard Allen's next words.

"It's Prince Zion Agnes, the Abandoned Prince."

---

---

"Are you hard of hearing?"

At the entrance of the Chimseong Palace, situated on the outskirts of the Agnes royal palace, Knight Fredo was facing off with a middle-aged man possessing a large fist-like nose who had been storming the palace since the break of dawn.

Fernando Fringham.

One of the leaders of the Icarus 4th team, a member of the royal magician corps, and a key figure involved in conducting the 'succession ceremony' scheduled to take place.

Rumors circulated that he had already solidified his position in the third prince's primary line of succession.

"After meeting with Prince Zion, get his signature."

Fernando, holding out a piece of paper, jabbed at Fredo's shoulder.

"I said he needs to sign this."

Atop the document was written 'Succession Ceremony Participation Consent Form'.

Fredo's eyes flickered at this.

Only he knew that Prince Zion hadn't returned yet.

'Prince Zion...'

Nearly a week had passed.

Fredo was finding it harder and harder to conceal that Zion was not in the royal palace.

No, he was more concerned about what could have happened to him beyond the palace walls.

"Do you realize that today is the last day to apply for participation in the succession ceremony? If Prince Zion doesn't sign this by today, he won't be able to take part in the succession ceremony."

Fernando's tone grew irritated towards the still silent Fredo.

In truth, it didn't matter if the other direct royal family members didn't show their faces as long as they expressed their intention to participate in the succession ceremony.

However, for Prince Zion, the rules were applied with rigor.

Due to this, Fernando had been making daily trips to the Chimseong Palace for several days.

But behind his vexed eyes was a glimmer of anticipation.

'It's almost certain.'

Three days had passed.

Since he started frequenting this palace.

Since then, not a glimpse of Prince Zion's face had been seen.

Despite various excuses like, 'He's unwell today', 'He hasn't come out of the underground training room yet', Fernando was certain.

'Prince Zion is not in the Chimseong Palace right now. No, he's not in the royal palace.'

Given the whispers of those around him who said they hadn't seen him for some time and various other circumstantial evidence, it was all too clear.

Royals who haven't yet held the succession ceremony are forbidden from leaving the castle without permission.

With this, he might even be able to block the succession ceremony itself.

This was a golden opportunity to please the third prince, who was irked with Prince Zion holding the succession ceremony.

"Where is Prince Zion now?"

"He's unwell and resting in his bedroom..."

"I must see him today, without fail!"

Thud!

With that declaration, Fernando brushed past Fredo and began his brisk ascent of the palace stairs.

No guide was required.

He already knew the location of Prince Zion's chambers.

"Captain Fernando, please wait... hold on!"

The elderly knight trailed behind him with a look of urgency, but was unable to stop Fernando.

Thud!

As he approached the bedroom, Fernando's eyes shimmered with anticipation.

Conversely, confusion grew in Fredo's eyes.

'Prince, where on earth have you vanished to!'

The old knight inwardly pleaded for Zion.

"Your Highness! Due to urgent matters, I must enter without formalities!"

Finally reaching the bedroom door, Fernando swung it open with a buoyant flourish.

And in the next moment...

"Huh...?"

The anticipation in Fernando's eyes evaporated.

What he saw was Prince Zion, seated at a small table beside a large bed, focused in a book.

Snap!

At Fernando's abrupt entrance, Zion closed the book he was browsing and regarded him.

Fernando felt an involuntary shrinking sensation as Prince Zion's languid gaze settled on him.

"If you were aware of its rudeness, should you not have refrained from doing so?"

"I... I apologize, Your Highness!"

This was different.

Everything was unlike the Zion Agnes he had known till now.

The natural air of condescension and the powerful aura emanating from him.

Was this truly the isolated Prince?

He seemed less like a reclusive prince and more like...

Then, Zion extended his hand towards the bowing Fernando.

"...?"

"The consent form. You mentioned I needed to sign it."

"Ah, yes!"

Finally comprehending, Fernando quickly moved towards Zion and proffered the consent form.

"You see, I take exception to others meddling with my belongings."

Zion's voice was a faint whisper as he signed the succession ceremony participation consent form.

He was alluding to Fernando's earlier discourteous treatment of Fredo.

"Be careful."

This was a warning.

A warning that there won't be a second chance.

Cold sweat trickled down Fernando's neck as he bowed his head, unnerved by the ominous undertone of that voice.

"Your Highness, where have you been? I, Fredo, was on the brink of panic! I searched for you multiple times daily..."

After Fernando, now in possession of the signed consent form, made a hasty exit from the Chimseong Palace, Zion sat before Fredo, half-listening to his grumbling and mentally organizing recent events.

'That was a close shave.'

Zion had returned to the palace just prior to Fernando's forceful intrusion into Chimseong Palace.

Had he been a touch late, participation in the succession ceremony would have been impossible.

'Liushina must have reached the capital by now.'

Since emerging from the Black Forest, Zion had not been traveling alongside Liushina.

After all, the only ones authorized to escort an outsider, who had not been officially selected, into the palace were the direct royal family members eligible to enter the Baeksung Palace.

So, Zion had issued a singular order for Liushina.

By the time she executed the order and gained entry to the palace, Zion would have passed the succession ceremony and secured his credentials.

'Before that...'

Zion's gaze shifted to Fredo.

"Has that been accomplished?"

"If you mean... Ah, are you referring to the heart of the Millennium Ogre? Indeed. I followed your instructions."

Before leaving the palace, Zion had given Fredo one specific order.

It involved the processing of the heart of the Millennium Ogre.

In order to wholly absorb the power inherent in the heart of the Millennium Ogre, specific preparations were necessary, and since these preparations were time-consuming, he had refrained from consuming it till now.

'I will harness the power of the heart to mitigate the penalties of this accursed body as much as possible. And...'

Zion slowly clenched and unclenched his hand.

'I will flawlessly elevate the Black Star to the second star before the succession ceremony.'

In Zion's eyes, the second star faintly spun and vanished.

***

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