Choosing Their Own Fates II

As someone who knows his way around a disadvantageous life, Clement managed to get the three of them going even without any adult looking after them.

Ranging from sustaining their basic needs such as food and water to guiding them to where Helios is staying at, he continued to help them out. He did expect that they would find this kind of life so frustratingly grueling that they would keep complaining. But much to his surprise, they were faring better than he imagined.

A sheltered prince and an inexperienced orphan - since Eric and Seraphine are those respectively, Clement thought that they would struggle like how much he did during the first time he went through the cruelty of the outside world, but he thought wrong.

Even when they can only sleep and spend their nights in any alley that they find - just like now, they never utter a single complaint.

"Here, Eric. Wrap this cloth around you. It'll be really cold tonight," Seraphine said as she sat down on the concrete and offered the spare cloth that she got from a nearby fabric store.

"This is kind of too small for both of us. What about you?" Eric asked after he touched the material, hesitating to take it.

"I-I... I have one too!"

She tried to lie to him, but he was able to say so after he hugged her to feel for himself - she has nothing but some thin clothing. While she only blushed from being busted out, he pouted and sighed before giving the cloth back to her.

"It's fine, Eric! You're much skinnier than me. The wind will feel colder for you!" Seraphine insisted, pushing the fabric back to him.

"I'll be alright. Despite how I look, I don't get sick that easily," Eric protested and wrapped it around her despite her will.

"Well, you might if you don't use it!"

"Come on, Seraphine. What kind of guy would let a girl freeze?"

With him using both his gentlemanliness and stubbornness against her, she was the one who ended up giving in.

But then, Seraphine can be as cunning as Eric sometimes. So, as soon as she knows that he has dozed off, she decided to take the cloth off of her and put it on him. And with a proud smile, she fell back to sleep and went to rest.

"These two... How did they get so close in only a matter of days?" Clement wondered out loud with a look of annoyance.

For the entire time, he has been quietly watching them from the opposite side of that alleyway.

He felt bitter knowing that he tried to be that close to her for a good portion of his childhood. But then, he knew his place, and he had no right to be envious after everything he did to her. However, it would not probably be bad to try and start over again.

With that in mind, Clement moved and settled down beside Seraphine before taking off the fabric he was using to stay warm. He then wrapped it around her ever so carefully - not wanting to disturb and wake her up.

"It is just as little His Highness over there said..." Clement whispered while staring at Seraphine with a small and gentle smile.

"What kind of guy would let a girl freeze?"

---

"My lord, these children are?"

While the three of them continue sleeping and huddling together to keep themselves warm, two tall figures tower over them without them knowing. They remain unaware of the attention even when one of them draws nearer and bends on his knees to take a closer look at them.

For a moment, there is nothing but silence. That is until the man gives out his order to his attendant.

"Bring the carriage here. We're taking them to the castle."

Unbeknownst to the three, a certain Baron had happened to pass by and find them on that cold, silent night.