The Adventures of Charls, the Veretian Cloth Merchant

Captive Prince Short Stories #3

by C.S. Pacat

The Adventures of Charls follows the dealings of a humble cloth merchant in the days before the royal Ascension.

Set after the events of Kings Rising and The Summer Palace.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Short Stories, LGBT, M M Romance, Queer, Fiction

26 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2017

About the author

C.S. Pacat is the USA-Today best-selling author of Dark Rise, the Captive Prince trilogy, and the GLAAD-nominated graphic novels Fence.

Born in Australia and educated at the University of Melbourne, C.S. Pacat has lived in a number of cities, including Tokyo and Perugia, and currently resides and writes in Melbourne.

Reviews

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

No greater quality of comedy has ever been achieved

____

Hi I can't function :)

I’m all for seeing things from Damen’s (or Laurent’s) PoV, but there’s just something about seeing things from a different perspective. And Charls is an incredibly clueless and adorable narrator.

With the notion that this is by no means a review, here are some Things that everyone needs to know ( S P O I L E R S for the whole thing ahead):

• Charls is a man who loves his food let me tell you
• The new capital at Delpha :)
• The two kingdoms are slowly merging in small things like fashion and that’s all I’m here for (clothing à la Achelos yes please)
• Also please note that despites this, the Akielos still regard sleeves as evil things and Won’t. Wear. Clothes. With. Sleeves.
• I dare you to find a man who is purer than Charls
• If you ever find yourself in doubt, ask yourself “What would Charls the renowned Veretian cloth merchant do?”
• Charls, who loves his country and his Prince so much he puts them above all else
• Also Charls’ face is forever solidified in my brain as the face of Bob Ross
• I hope Jazar and Dord are doing well
• The word Charls is repeated 181 times
• Damen canonically has a dimple in his left cheek can you fucking believe it
• That’s just one of the tiny details we learn from a different PoV than the one(s) we’re used to
• The humor throughout this whole story is incredible
• Laurent’s love for horses is only second to Laurent’s love for Damen
• If brought to a tavern brawl, Laurent will hit Akielons with a piece of lamb and throw olives at people from a safe distance and honestly? That’s just one of the endless traits Laurent and I share
• Both Damen and Laurent are absolutely useless when it comes to making dinner
• We get one more Canon Moment of Laurent laughing so hard he even cries from it
• “Do you think they’re doing it”
• Basically everyone in both Akielos and Vere has their headcanons about how Damen and Laurent met and whether or not they’re (I’m quoting) “doing it” and they don’t shy away from telling what is basically fanfiction about them
• SEVEN HOURS please Damen calm the fuck down
• “We’ll make another kind of empire”
• Slavery: abolished ✓
• Cute Charls & LDamen moment
• “I’d work my whole life to be worthy of him”
• “I’ll stay by Laurent as long as he wants me”
• These kings are best thing that will ever happen to those two countries
• LONG LIVE THE KING! LONG LIVE KING LAURENT OF VERE!
• LAMEN WHY ARE YOU DRESSED UP LIKE THE KING

I might come back with proper quotes when it's not 3am but this was honestly incredible. I thought nothing could ever come close to The Summer Palace but I was wrong.
They're two very different short stories but they both manage to give us glimpses into the new world Damen and Laurent are creating. While TSP is more focused on their personal relationship, Charls is more focused on the (new) world building and the kind of kings they will be (and in case you weren't convinced by the end of Kings Rising yet, it solidifies the fact that these dorks princes were born to rule), but it's also very lighthearted and honestly I was laughing so hard. Pacat managed to create all kinds of hilarious situations that Charls isn't even fully aware of. At some point it felt like I was reading an ancient Greek comedy like the ones by Aristophanes and I thought it fits so well because of the "Greek" setting (Akielos).

I'm honestly in awe of Pacat's skills and I'm already highly anticipating every step of getting to the next story (title reveal, excerpt and finally reading it! Also lowkey trying not to think about the fact that it will be the last one)

Buddy-read with rin aka the only one who understands my Captive Prince obsession ♡
____
Excerpt reveal:

"How to fuck up an entire fandom with less than 300 words," a guide by C.S. Pacat

Do we all want to take a really wild guess who
✓ stayed up all night just to scream about the date announcement & most of all the excerpt
✓ literally just woke up after finally getting a handful of hours of sleep just to scream some more when this got a goodreads page
You guessed it, this girl right here.

So let's talk about release date first shall we? May 3rd. I'm pretty sure there's about a thousand books releasing on that day, but I hereby declare that this 26-pages story is my absolute priority. Sue me :)

Then: title. When it was announced shortly after TSP, I'm not going to lie, I kind of just...deflated? I was still so high on damenlaurent from that last short story that the idea of reading about Charls, no matter how funny and interesting I found him, was just a big meh floating in my head. But I trust Pacat like I trust very few human beings, and yet she completely exceeded my expectations in the excerpt.

BECAUSE LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EXCERPT NOW OKAY I'M SO IN FOR THIS. I'M LITERALLY JUST HERE FOR THIS.

Let's count the number of times I threw myself on the floor with my fist in my mouth so that my screams wouldn't wake up the neighbors.

1)

...those men he faintly remembered from the Prince's Guard, Jazar or Dord.

JAZAR OR DORD. JAZAR OR DORT. HE'S LITERALLY THE SMUDGED WRITING ON THE HAND MEME

2)

But there was one happily familiar face,

Okay listen I don't know what it is but I just reread this and all I wanted to point out was the fact that the face Charls is seeing is happy and that means that Damen, oh, pardon, Lamen is happy, ok? But then I got this image of Bob Ross saying happy little accidents and now Charls is forever Bob Ross in my brain. I thought I had to share.

3)

...a man stepped out from the last of the the wagons, unfolding himself as he emerged from a space that was meant for much smaller men.

LOOK SHE'S NOT EVEN TRYING TO BE SUBTLE HERE OKAY. WE KNOW DAMEN IS BIG AND SHE WON'T LET US FORGET IT, LIKE EVER. DON'T WORRY, CS, I THINK WE GOT IT.

4)

The first time Charls had met Lamen, he had been pretending to be a merchant from Patras, not very successfully. Charls had noticed the holes in Lamen's knowledge of silk right away. Now, Charls thought fondly, it was obvious why: Lamen was not a merchant. He was merely a merchant's assistant.

Can you believe Charls is so pure, like, I'm a little bit in love with him actually. Baby. Puppy. Why u so oblivious. Also he thinks of Lamen fondly?? I'm so emo why is this making me cry.

ALSO I'M SCREAMING HE STILL DOESN'T KNOW

5)

"I see you are once again assisting—" Charls leaned in conspiratorially, "cousin Charls on his travels."

:") I'm not even pretending not to find this man adorkable, like how clueless can you be Charls my dude? You're so conspiratorial and yet you still don't know who Lamen is.

6)

"Cousin Charls wants to keep his identity hidden. I hope you understand. The Veretian Council think he's hunting at Acquitart."

So here's the first clue of where they're not. So, no Acquitart.

7)

Across the inn courtyard, Cousin Charls's bobbing hat feather was visible as he haggled with the innsman over the cost of a wagon-train's lodging.

Laurent Cousin Charls is so extra™ I'm living :') CAN YOU IMAGINE HIM WITH A FLASHY (BLUE) HAT AND A FEATHER AND HIS EMPHASIZED VERETIAN ACCENT BEING ALL EXTRA AND BOSSY AND FINALLY DISPLAYING EVERYTHING HE KNOWS ABOUT FASHION

8)

"Is not the Ascension in five weeks?" said Charls.
"Four weeks," said Lamen.

Excuse me while I bang my head against the wall. ARE YOU KIDDING ME WHAT ARE YOU TWO DORKS DOING, WHAT SHENANIGANS ARE YOU PLANNING SO CLOSE TO ASCENSION??? PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS NOT A SEXCAPADE YOU TWO INCREDIBLE DORKS, BUT WHO AM I KIDDING I'D BE DOWN WITH IT IF IT'S JUST A SEXCAPADE LMAO THEY DESERVE IT

ALSO THE ASCENSION!!! THE ASCENSION Y'ALL LAURENT GONNA BE KING I'M LIVING AND YOU KNOW WHAT TWO KINGS CAN DO LITERALLY EVERYTHING LIKE GET MARRIED AND UNIFY THE KINGDOMS YES PLEASE

9)

He said it with a steady expression, standing in front of a very orange wagon.

????????????
WHY IS THE WAGON VERY ORANGE AND WHY DOES IT SEEM TO BE RELEVANT?????

10)

"It's lucky King Damianos is at Delpha," said Charls,

Do I have to repeat myself, Charls, WHY U SO INNOCENT

11)

"There's no need to worry that the Prince is away so close to the Ascension."

Right?? But??? Wait?? What does this mean????? Idk???

12)

"Yes, this would be a terrible idea otherwise," said Lamen.

Ok this is too funny I'm dead bye


COME SCREAM AT ME I NEED MORE PEOPLE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

what i expected from this:
• smiles :) :) :)
• a little laurent and damen
• fun!!!!

what i did NOT expect from this:
• T E A R S
• A LOTTLE LAURENT AND DAMEN
• HILARIOUS

This ""review"" is going to be me endlessly screaming about Lamen don't even expect anything remotely sensible to come out of this.

_______________________________


I don't ever laugh out loud while reading books. I just don't. It doesn't happen. Well....guess I found my kryptonite, because let me tell you, this short story had me wheezing so hard, there were actual real life tears coming out of my eyes.

"He met the six soldiers, though he did not recognise any of those men he faintly remembered from the Pince's Guard, Jazar or Dord"

©

pls Charls

in fact, i made a

LIST OF ICONIC CHARLS MOMENTS
• he calls Damen "Lamen" throughout the whole short story idk why this is so funny to me
•"'This is all a misunderstanding,' said Charls, faced with eight dripping Akielons." damn what would i have to do to get myself into that situation
• "Lamen....is the king holding a dead chicken?"
• the fatherly talk with damen:

charls: "he is the prince of vere. he will marry the king of akielos i'm sure he will love you forever though."
damen: ok.....thanks....

• "'Lamen', said Charls, in a shocked voice. 'Why are you dressed up like the King?'"

MORE THINGS TO SCREAM ABOUT:
• CAN WE PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT DAMEN!! HAS!! A!! DIMPLE!! THIS IS CANON SOMEBODY HOLD ME
• LAURENT IN A FEATHER HAT PLS HAVE SOME MERCY @ C S PACAT
• "[...]the joined court of the akielon king and the veretian prince was creating a burgeoning market for new styles"
idk why it makes me so happy that damen and laurents alliance opens the door for new fashion styles but i just,,
• Laurent hit an Akielon with a LAMB pls i love this royal asshole so much
also,

"From that vantage, the Prince started throwing olives. They plinged off the heads of the struggling Akielons and caused no real harm, but contributed to the general confusion."

listed under 'things i will never get over'
• LAURENT AND DAMEN ARE SO HAPPY
• "They were both speaking with obvious affection"
• "You're not going to sit in my lap this time?" shameless flirting, served on a silver platter
bonus:

Laurent: Nice eyes. Not as nice as mine.
Damen: You do have nice eyes

get a room
• "The Prince was wiping his eyes, laughing."
^^^^^^^^^^^ that's all i needed. all i wanted. thank you.
• Damen being a sap

"I'd work my whole life to be worthy of him."
"I'll stay by Laurent for as long as he wants me."

Your Laurent obsession is showing, mister.

I can't believe this is what a 28-page short story did to me. I still have the biggest smile on my face. I'm just so happy that C S Pacat gave these two the ending that they deserve.

this is literally what i imagine them to be like now 24/7, save and warm and happy



and ruling their kingdom together

"We'll make another kind of empire."

[Claudia Lomelí · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a joy to read <3.

[rin · Rating 5 out of 5]

IF THIS ISN'T THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME IN 2017 THEN WHAT IS

i read this story six? more? times but it's kind of cheating to mark it as reread several times isnt it
ANYWAY
our fandom is fucking blessed to have C.S. Pacat, Comedy Genius, as our mother, who keeps us well fed and owns our asses

these short stories are a blessing and i dread the moment the fourth story comes out, because it'll mean the captive prince universe oficially ending and this is the worst thing that could happen to me
(honestly i would let pacat access my bank account at any time if it means more short stories or smth to come)

ok, i got a little carried away, back to the story
how do you write a review for something so perfect? right, you don't. so i'll just dump all the notes i wrote while reading it
warning: spoilers, no punctuation, what is grammar, emotions, i can't english, endless yelling and crying, what is it like to be mature

also you can visit my twitter livetweet where i dumped all my feelings

ok, let's get started:
*i will never be able to look at olives the same way
*"the joined court of the Akielon King and the Veretian Prince" did you mean the music to my humble ears
*also idk i find it hilarious that akielons resent sleeves so hard
*laurent is such a fashionista smh wide brimmed har with a feather where are my the devil wears prada!au fic i've only seen one or two
*it's been a month but im still snorting @ jazar and dord
*

Not everyone could have the blissful equanimity of Lamen, who seemed to pay the Prince no deference of rank, a piece of very good acting.

ikr? such a good actor this lamen

*i will fight any person who dares to say ill of charls (charls is innocent and pure and must be protected at all costs)
*

‘There are two Veretian cloth merchants named Charls,’ said the guard. ‘It’s a common name in Vere,’ said Young Charls. ‘More common with every day,’ said Lamen.

i hate damen and his sass (i dont pls continue you're doing amazing sweetie)

*okay, very important info: damen, the perfect human being he is, canonically! has curls and a dimple in his left cheek CURLS AND A DIMPLE CURLSD ADN A DIMEPEL CCCCCUERLS AND AD IMP;E i cant function
*damen is so bad at being discreet he needs acting lessons
*

‘Nice eyes. Not as nice as mine.’
‘You do have nice eyes,’ said Lamen.
‘Did you miss me? I brought you something.’ The Prince tossed a sweetmeat to Lamen, who caught it with a hint of amusement.

where should i even START? laurent casually throwing in "not as nice as mine" remark? (this boy doesnt lie tho he has loveliest blue eyes you can not fight me on this). damen and laurent obviously and shamelessly FLIRTING in the middle of the undercover mission? A SWEETME A T?

*

‘Dear Charls. Whatever will you do with your own Kemptian silk? It will spoil on the road.’
‘We aren’t carrying any Kemptian silk,’ said the Prince.
It took a moment for those words to be understood, and then Makon’s expression changed.
‘Oh, did you think we were? I’m afraid you undercut yourself for no reason.’ A look of fury had appeared on Makon’s face. The Prince said, ‘A little healthy competition.’

Laurent The Scammer RISE

*laurent sitting on his knees with a dying horse,,,, damen touching his shoulder providing support??? my heart can handle this shit
*laurent is such a good person i would nakedly scale any castle to proclaim my undying love for him
*you know that he's my most favorite fiction character ever, right?
*

‘You’re not going to sit in my lap this time?’ Lamen settled comfortably on the bench.
The Prince said, ‘Charls will faint.’

i love how they have their own inside jokes so fuckimg MUCH also: no shAME WHATSOEVER

*tag yourself im laurent hiding behind the table in the middle of the fight throwing olives at people just for the sake of doing it while his boyfriend IS FIGHTING WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY DARED TO TALK SHIT ABOUT VERETIANS
*well damen's holding his own anyway
*

From that vantage, the Prince started throwing olives. They plinged off the heads of the struggling Akielons and caused no real harm, but contributed to the general confusion.

i mean seriously he's so extra

*charls is so scandalized seeing laurent holding a dead rabbit im
*also charls lecturing damen because of "heart-stopping breach of etiquette" bless his innocent naive soul
(also lemme scream about damen's BUT CHARLS)
*

Lamen and the Prince were together at the tree edge. The rabbits were on the ground, except for the one that Lamen was holding by the leg, gingerly. The Prince was wiping his eyes, laughing.
‘If we just knew which end to start with,’ Lamen said.

laurent laughed so hard.............................he cried,,,,,,,,what did i do to deserve this? pls record the sound and play it at my funeral

*"Charls saw that Lamen was not a cloth merchant’s assistant. He was the prince’s private companion, and had no real skills whatsoever."
damianos, the king of akeilos, leading armies at seventeen and winning wars ar nineteen, CAN'T FUCKIGN SKIN A RABBIT i agree with charls
*ARLES THE VIPER PIT
*"i came to know one of them" im having war flashbacks of damen's speech in kings rising during laurent's trial
*"do you think they're doing it" kek
*

‘My cousin told me,’ said Alexon, proudly, ‘he met a man who had once been a famous gladiator from Isthima. He lasted only minutes in the arena with Damianos. But afterwards Damianos had him in his chambers for six hours.’
‘You see? How could a man like that resist a beauty like the Prince?’ Guilliame sat back triumphantly.
‘Seven hours,’ said Lamen, frowning slightly.

DAMEN IS SO OFFENDED THIS IS SUCH A BLOW TO HIS HUGE EGO I HATE HIM SO FUCKING MUCH
(sometimes i really think they decided to join countries because one couldn't fit his huge ass ego)

*"Charls saw Lamen lift his cup and incline it towards the Prince, who echoed his gesture, the two of them smiling a little."
this is so,.........soft
*WE'LL MAKE ANOTHER KIND OF EMPIRE
*WE'LL MAKE ANOTHER KIND OF EMPIRE
*WE'LL MAKE ANOTHER KIND OF EMPIRE
*WE'LL MAKE ANOTHER KIND OF EMPIRE
* WE'LL MAKE ANOTHER KIND OF EMPIRE
*laurent and damen destroying slavery right here before our eyes, going undercover to stop the trade, imagine thinking captive prince romantisizes slavery?
*

There was just enough light to make out the two figures there. Lamen stood before the Prince, their heads very close as they spoke softly. Charls saw Lamen tilt the Prince’s chin up. Then, with the simple confidence of long familiarity, Lamen leaned in, and kissed the Prince on the mouth.
(...)
The Prince’s arms slid around Lamen’s neck, drawing him closer, and the kiss deepened, Lamen pulling their bodies together.
When the Prince drew back, smiling and murmuring something to Lamen, Lamen’s head dropped to the Prince’s neck. They were both speaking with obvious affection.

they're so soft??? and gentle??? and in love???? why am i so blessed to witness this with my own two eyeballs????????

*IS IT SO OBVIOUS YOU BET YOUR ASS IT IS DAMEN
*can you believe that laurent is cheating on damen with damen
*"I’d work my whole life to be worthy of him."
*"I'd Work My Whole Life To Be Worthy Of Him"
*"I'D WORK MY WHOLE LIFE TO BE WORTHY OF HIM"
*btw damen you already are, you're both worthy of each other, it is i, your peasant, who's absolutely Not Worthy
*"I’ll stay by Laurent for as long as he wants me" forever it is
*

‘Long live the King! Long live King Laurent of Vere!’

brb gonna scale mount everest to shout it from the top

*K I N G L A U R E N T O F V E R E
*listen, laurent thought he would be dead before he reach twenty-one, he thought he would be dead before the ascension, AND NOW HE IS THE RIGHTFUL KIN G OF VERE I'M SO EMO
*not for long tho they're going to be mf emperors
*"King Laurent was dressed in gold, his head crowned in gold, his clothes of ivory silk and gold, a young king resplendent, so bright that the eyes overbrimmed just to look at him." he's so royal,,,,,,,and bright,, and golden,,,,, my SON IM THE PROUDEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD
*LAMEN WHY ARE YOU DRESSED UP LIKE THE KING?????????


holy fuck i have more notes than i had on The Summer Palace but this story is so hilarious and good for my health

ok, in conclusion:
- we should all protect charls
- imagine not being a captive prince trash? can't relate
- damen and laurent invented flirting, romance, softness, healthy and balanced relationship,
- i love outsider pov so much because you can see how soft they are with each other, how in love they are, how smitten they're (it's so precious to witness all of this through different eyes)
- i love how laurent can finally be himself when he's with people he trust. he's out of the viper pit, he's extra and flirty and soft and affectionate (just remember laurent from captive prince vol 1), he and damen have come such a long way
- the next story will probably be the last, so i hope it's either about the wedding or the heir
- (i wouldn't mind both)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

first read:
IM WHEEZING AND CACKLING THIS STORY IS PURE GOLD
idk how does c.s. pacat do it but dAMN SHE'S THE QUEEN and im going to worship her forever

im going to scream in this review couple of hours later BUT THIS WAS SO GOOD AND HILARIOUS AND WE NEED TO PROTECT CHARLS 24/7 AND DAMEN CAN'T BE DISCREET DUDE PLEASE CALM YOUR EGO AND LAURENT IS SO FUCKING EXTRA I WOULD DIE FOR HIM

also buddy read (if you can call it such) with Silvia my fellow capri and laurent stan we nearly died waiting

~~~~~~~~~~~

pre-review:
im not saying it's going to be the best release of may but it's going to be the best release of may

can you believe that it took about 300 words for capri fandom to explode thanks to C.S. Pacat (god bless her soul) newsletter excerpt

anyway,

JAZAR AND DORD

LAURENT IN A FEATHER HAT BECAUSE MY SON IS EXTRA AND DRAMATIC AND I LOVE HIM AND I WILL DIE FOR HIM i bet this feather is extra large and extra flashy and laurent chose it himself 100% just to show off how extra he is


ROYAL ASCENSION IN FOUR WEEKS LAURENT IS GOING TO BECOME THE KING

KING LAURENT OF VERE and akielos

WHAT THE FUCK DAMEN AND LAURENT ARE UP TO AGAIN these morons i love them i will throw myself off a cliff for them

"Lamen!" said Charls.
The first time Charls had met Lamen, he had been pretending to be a merchant from Patras, not very successfully. Charls had noticed the holes in Lamen's knowledge of silk right away. Now, Charls thought fondly, it was obvious why: Lamen was not a merchant. He was merely a merchant's assistant.

bless him

"It's lucky King Damianos is at Delpha," said Charls, uncertainly. "There's no need to worry that the Prince is away so close to the Ascension."
"Yes, this would be a terrible idea otherwise," said Lamen.

*looks at a camera like in The Office*


why is the wagon very orange tho huh

king damianos is at delpha <33333 ded did they move to that palace already


can you imagine how hilarious it would be i cant wait for may
also can the short story #4 be about very exasperated nikandros who's done with damen and laurent's shenanigans thank u

[Shin Mon Thway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread: 26th June 2018

As delicious as ever! 😍



Original review: Revised edition

I don't want CP to end .. EVER .. this is such a great addition to the CP trilogy and short stories. The event is set after summer palace and Laurent is about to ascend his throne in Marlas, the new capital of Akielos and Vere empire. 😌



And our lovely heroes D&L are yet again lying to their courts and on a secret mission in southern Akielos. Charls the cloth merchant yet again met with his prince and they are traveling together without him knowing that his prince is on a mission. And our gullible Charls still doesn't have an idea about the true identity of Lamen. 😂 And Laurent is as mischievous ever and having tons of fun disguising himself as the young Charls the Veretian merchant once again.



This was such an interesting short story since we can see the lives and the love story of Damen and Laurent from a different perspective from Charl's PoV. We can also see the loyalty and concern of Charls for his prince and him trying to lecture Lamen/Damen how to take care of the prince is hilarious. 😂 Poor man really has no idea what's going on. 😁

Such a great little short story. I hope we'd at least get more short stories in the future. 😉



Favorite excerpts from the novella: 💗💜💗

Not everyone could have the blissful equanimity of Lamen, who seemed to pay the Prince no deference of rank, a piece of very good acting.

‘You do have nice eyes,’ said Lamen. ‘Did you miss me? I brought you something.’ The Prince tossed a sweetmeat to Lamen, who caught it with a hint of amusement.

‘You’re not going to sit in my lap this time?’ Lamen settled comfortably on the bench. The Prince said, ‘Charls will faint.’ ‘I don’t think it’s quite the mode for a young cloth merchant,’ said Charls.

It was suddenly obvious that Lamen had no idea what to do. With a clear moment of insight, Charls saw that Lamen was not a cloth merchant’s assistant. He was the prince’s private companion, and had no real skills whatsoever.

‘Charls met the Prince of Vere once. He said he was so beautiful that if he were a pet he’d spark a bidding war the likes of which no one had ever seen.’

‘My cousin told me,’ said Alexon, proudly, ‘he met a man who had once been a famous gladiator from Isthima. He lasted only minutes in the arena with Damianos. But afterwards Damianos had him in his chambers for six hours.’

‘You don’t drink wine,’ said Lamen, a shoulder leaned against the wall. ‘It was a special occasion,’ said the Prince. ‘Should I be glad you aren’t cornering a trade empire?’ said Lamen. ‘We’ll make another kind of empire,’ said the Prince.

‘You’ve chosen a difficult path. He is the Prince of Vere, tied in alliance to the Akielon King.’ ‘Charls,’ said Lamen, ‘I’d work my whole life to be worthy of him.’

‘I am glad he’ll have you with him. He needs an unswerving companion. And . . . many great men in Vere stay loyal to their companions for a lifetime, when their feelings are true.’ ‘In Akielos too,’ said Lamen.

‘I’ll stay by Laurent for as long as he wants me,’ said Lamen.



5 We kissed passionately under the moonlight stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



Charls finally opening his dream textile shop in the new capital Marlas

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 5 out of 5]

-This book is hilarious., full of gossip and the best adventures ever.

-Charls, young Charls and Lamen should get more books.

‘My cousin told me,’ said Alexon, proudly, ‘he met a man who had once been a famous gladiator from Isthima. He lasted only minutes in the arena with Damianos. But afterwards Damianos had him in his chambers for six hours.’

[Lucía]

Sorprendentemente me gustó más que The Summer Palace. Fue super cute y me morí de la risa en varias partes. Charls, eres demasiado bueno para este mundo <3333.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 'Very orange' stars

If you read The Adventures of Charls, the Veretian Cloth Merchant, then you probably get a very orange joke. I don’t know why I found this so funny. Anyway, don’t mind me here laughing by myself like crazy 🤪

Once again, don’t expect a coherent review. This is me gushing about our precious kingly babies, sharing fan art, and quoting Charls' undying wisdom 🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙

The joined court of the Akielon King and the Veretian Prince was creating a burgeoning market for new styles. In Vere, the addition of short capes pinned to the shoulder à la Achelos had meant a rise in demand for silks and heavy velvets. And while in Akielos there was still very little desire for sleeves, there was a new interest in patterned borders, colored cloaks, and techniques of Veretian dyeing.

Our kingly babies have become new fashion icons 🤩 this makes me so happy!! Honestly, I think Laurent would make a damn fine fashion designer. And it's so funny that Akielons still avoid sleeves like plague 😂

He could see the merchant sitting on the spring seat of the nearest wagon, wearing the latest Veretian brocade with weft patterning, and a wide-brimmed hat with a feather that bobbed over his neat hair.

Yes, that's true, Laurent is wearing a hat with a feather. A feather! Can you imagine? As I said, my snakey baby is totally a fashion ikon. I'm so proud of him 💙⭐💙

He met the six soldiers, though he did not recognize any of those men he faintly remembered from the Prince’s Guard, Jazar or Dord.
But there was one happily familiar face, as a man stepped out from the last of the wagons, unfolding himself as he emerged from a space that was meant for much smaller men.
‘Lamen!’ said Charls.

There are three important facts here. 1.) Charls is bad with names. Seriously, Jazar and Dord?? 😆 But I feel you, dear. 2.) Charls still doesn't know who Damen truly is. If that's not pure innocence, I don't know what it is. Therefore, Charls is super special and should be protected at all costs. 3.) We are absolutely forbidden to forget how very tall Damen is. Just in case someone would dare to not know this.

The guard turned towards the Akielon voice, and Lamen smiled at him, an easy smile full of his good nature, his tousled curls, and the relaxed temperament of his southern Akielon birth. He had a dimple in his left cheek.

Attention! Damen has a dimple. I'm blaming the dimple for Laurent falling in love with him 😁

'You’re not going to sit in my lap this time?’ Lamen settled comfortably on the bench.
The Prince said, ‘Charls will faint.’
‘I don’t think it’s quite the mode for a young cloth merchant,’ said Charls.

They are just flirting with each other in front of everyone and I'm so happy that I'm gonna probably faint. 💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡

‘Lamen,’ he said, when they were a few steps away. ‘Is the Prince of Vere holding a dead rabbit?’
‘Yes, but—’
‘He is a prince. That is a rabbit. Do you think he has ever skinned a rabbit in his life?’

Can we take a moment to appreciate how shocked Charls is? I mean, he's like a dowager countess in desperate need of smelling salts because some lady showed a little ankle. Ok, let's take another moment to think about what Charls would do if he ever sees Laurent's ankles 🤣🤣🤣

Lamen and the Prince were together at the tree edge. The rabbits were on the ground, except for the one that Lamen was holding by the leg, gingerly. The Prince was wiping his eyes, laughing.
‘If we just knew which end to start with,’ Lamen said.

The once 'ice-cold frigid' Prince of Vere is LOLing. *doing a happy dance* My baby deserves all the happiness in this world!
However... do they really don't know how to skin a rabbit? Oh, my kingly babies 🙄🙄

It was suddenly obvious that Lamen had no idea what to do. With a clear moment of insight, Charls saw that Lamen was not a cloth merchant’s assistant. He was the prince’s private companion, and had no real skills whatsoever.

Charls really is precious. He just "accused" a man, who led an army at 17, to be useless 🤣

'Do you think they’re doing it?’ said Alexon.
Charls coughed on his wine. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘The King and Prince Laurent. Do you think they’re doing it?’
‘I think they are,’ volunteered Guilliame. ‘Charls met the Prince of Vere once. He said he was so beautiful that if he were a pet he’d spark a bidding war the likes of which no one had ever seen.’
‘I meant, in an honorable way,’ Charls said, quickly.

Isn't it great how everyone is just shamelessly discussing Damen and Laurent's sexual life in public 😆😆😆 and to think that Damen was shy when Pallas walked in on them 😂😂 I guess, he's not so shy anymore 😄😄

‘My cousin told me,’ said Alexon, proudly, ‘he met a man who had once been a famous gladiator from Isthima. He lasted only minutes in the arena with Damianos. But afterward, Damianos had him in his chambers for six hours.’
‘You see? How could a man like that resist a beauty like the Prince?’ Guilliame sat back triumphantly.
‘Seven hours,’ said Lamen, frowning slightly.
‘Here in Aegina, they say Damianos takes the Prince every night, but that it’s not seemly for a king to renounce his slaves and limit his appetites, denying himself all but one person.’
‘I think it’s romantic,’ said Guilliame.

Seven hours!! Let's not forget that! God forbid that someone would question Damen's stamina 😏😏 And, awww, Guilliame, my romantic soulmate... Hi! 😊👋

‘We’ll make another kind of empire,’ said the Prince.

Does that mean my kingly babies are gonna be emperors?? 😯 OMG!! 👑👑

Lamen stood before the Prince, their heads very close as they spoke softly. Charls saw Lamen tilt the Prince’s chin up.
Then, with the simple confidence of long familiarity, Lamen leaned in and kissed the Prince on the mouth.

Somebody hug me! I can't handle all this cuteness 😍😍

The Prince’s arms slid around Lamen’s neck, drawing him closer, and the kiss deepened, Lamen pulling their bodies together.
When the Prince drew back, smiling and murmuring something to Lamen, Lamen’s head dropped to the Prince’s neck. They were both speaking with obvious affection.

‘I’ve seen the way you are with him.’
A small, rueful smile as Lamen turned his warm eyes on Charls. ‘Is it so obvious?’
‘You’ve chosen a difficult path. He is the Prince of Vere, tied in alliance to the Akielon King.’
‘Charls,’ said Lamen, ‘I’d work my whole life to be worthy of him.’

'Tied in alliance' - can we all agree this is a secret code for married? Just saying 😊
And Damen 💖💖 he's just the sweetest 💗💗

‘I’ll stay by Laurent for as long as he wants me,’ said Lamen.

Le sigh again! 💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡

‘Your Majesty,’ Charls said, bowing low.
‘Charls,’ said his King. ‘There is someone I want you to meet.’
As Charls rose from his bow, another very great figure was coming towards him, and Charls had the impression initial impression only of kingship: flowing Akielon robes, power, laurel-crowned.
‘Damianos of Akielos,’ said Laurent.
Charls looked up—and up, and up—at the familiar face, warmly handsome, at the smile and the eyes that he knew so well.
‘Lamen,’ said Charls, in a shocked voice. ‘Why are you dressed up like the King?’

Yeah, Charls all innocent and clueless 'till the very end 🤭🤭

Now that I read everything from this series, what I'm gonna do with my life??? 😱😱
*starts making plans for a re-read*

[Simona B · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Why are you dressed up like the King?”

I think, very simply, that C. S. Pacat is a virtuoso.

The novella is way too amusing for its own good. Pacat employs a dry, polished humour that is all hers, and it's delightful and exemplary. And extraordinarily, she played a narrative card which I think must be new for her and her works, namely a skilful change of perspective. This move, paired with her precise yet breezy use of humour, makes for a true piece of work. Plus, Charls is such an impossibly endearing character.

The Adventures of Charls is a lovely stylistic experiment and a real treat for the fans of the series, and though I haven't yet read Green but for a Season and hopefully more stories (or only one, I think?) are to come, I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up being the true jewel of this series of short stories

And now some quotes because I love you.

“Not everyone could have the blissful equanimity of Lamen, who seemed to pay the Prince no deference of rank, a piece of very good acting.”

“I thought highborn Veretian men weren't allowed to be alone with women,” [...]
“Kaenas's household is present,” said Charls, reassuringly and with some approval. Lamen's concern for the Prince was very proper.”

“You're not going to sit in my lap this time?” Lamen settled comfortably on the bench.
The Prince said, “Charls will faint.”
“I don't think it's quite the mode for a young cloth merchant,” said Charls.”

“The Prince pulled the man in the blue cloak to safety behind the biggest overturned table. From that vantage, the Prince started throwing olives. They plinged off the heads of the struggling Akielons and caused no real harm, but contributed to the general confusion.”

“I heard Damianos disguised himself as a slave to uncover the secret of his brother's treachery, and the Prince of Vere fell in love with him not knowing who he was.”
“I heard that they allied themselves in secret months before,” said Alexon. “And that the Prince hid Damianos from Kastor, pretending he was a slave, while they courted privately.”

“You don't drink wine,” said Lamen, a shoulder leaned against the wall.
“It was a special occasion,” said the Prince.
“Should I be glad you aren't cornering a trade empire?” said Lamen.
“We'll make another kind of empire,” said the Prince.”

[nark · Rating 5 out of 5]

that was hilarious I actually couldn’t stop laughing

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason I forgot to mark this as read, which is honestly an abominable oversight, because... Well, you know. Come on. I'm a needy little bitch for this series and I'm not even sorry. It's pathetic how much I love it.

This was of course excellent, of course five stars, and blah, blah, blah, I won't waste your time or mine on rehashing all of the reasons why I'm still #trash for this series and always will be. Take it or leave it. I have no guilt, only pleasures.

[☆ Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite line: "Why are you dressed up like the King?"

*SNORT* Okay, I kind of love this one.

Charls was so proper, a cultured merchant of Vere, and absolutely innocent as to whom he was keeping company, which was down right adorable, when you heard his thoughts, but knew the entire picture.

I'd rate this one 4 solid stars and highly recommend it.

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** NOTE: For anyone interested, I found a truly incredible fan art site dedicated to the Captive Prince trilogy, so if you're a fan, do check it out. It's all kinds of amazing. : )

--> https://kyroi.tumblr.com

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Book 1 Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Book 2 Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Book 3 Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)

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[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nos encontramos con otra historia corta, esta vez del mercader de telas que los ha ayudado en mas de una oportunidad. Ahora a modo de epilogo, vemos Charls ayudar a Damen y Laurent de nuevo, todavía desconociendo la identidad de Damen.
Pero nos muestra otro lado de las provincias, de como viven el resto del pueblo y como Laurent es capaz de manejar cualquier situación a su conveniencia.
En fin, fue una bonita trilogía, seguro que leeré otras cosas de este autor mas adelante.

[Hamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVE Charls <3 and Lamen :')
This is really the final book in this series :((
I have officially read everything by Pacat now :D

[Moony Eliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

PERFECT end to the most amazing series. The only thing that could possibly be better... would be for it to never end at all.

My mourning shall now commence.

[Briar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread: April 2018
Reread: November 2017
Read: May 2017
______________
THIS IS A PSA TO INFORM EVERYONE THAT DAMEN HAS A DIMPLE IN HIS LEFT CHEEK


“We’ll make another kind of empire.”

(Some spoilers)

I’m dead, I’ve died, I’ve gone to heaven – the third short story in the collection of Captive Prince short stories was a tiny little masterpiece that I will remember forever.

This is less of a review, and more of a general freaking-out over the perfection of this story.

So when I found out that the third CP story was set from the perspective of Charls, I was a quite irked. I didn’t really see the point of it and, to be honest, I really just wanted to read more about Damen and Laurent being in love. But, I still pre-ordered the story and set my alarm for 2 am so I could read it the second it downloaded on my kindle.

And I loved it.

There’s just something so surreal reading about Damen and Laurent from someone else’s eyes: in Charls we find out that Damen has a dimple in his left cheek.

I DON’T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ME PROPERLY BUT DAMIANOS KING OF AKIELOS HAS A DIMPLE IN HIS LEFT CHEEK AND THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

He also has tousled curls and smiles so sweetly that a loyal guard is swayed and does as Damen asks.

We also see the three sides of Laurent: the vicious Ice Prince facade he presents to his enemies; the fair, kind-hearted friend he reserves for those loyal to him; and the soft, loving, romantic side that only Damen sees. I love watching the complex characterisation of Laurent grow as he becomes more and more like the person he was also meant to be, thanks to Damen.

The plot was intriguing but I was too caught up in smiling over Damen and Laurent that I didn’t see what it really was about, although I was wondering, but trusted in Pacat.



All in all, The Adventures of Charls, the Veretian Cloth Merchant was fantastic and far, far better than I thought it would be. I’m so glad I read it. I seriously can’t wait for the last story now. (But it better be from Damen’s POV again or I’ll scream).

Best scenes:

Laurent’s feathered hat
DAMEN’S BEAUTIFUL DIMPLE
Damen worrying that Laurent is spending too much time alone with the mistress of the house
“You do have nice eyes.”
“Healthy competition.” – fkn savage Laurent dropping the price of the silk to be a bitch
Damen putting a hand on Laurent’s shoulder when the horse was put down
Damen defending Laurent’s honour in the inn
Laurent throwing olives and hitting someone with a piece of lamb during the fight
Damen single-handedly taking on eight men and then roaring – like did we expect anything else
Just everything about the fight at the inn
DAMEN AND LAURENT TRYING TO SKIN A RABBIT AND MAKE DINNER AND UTTERLY FAILING
CHARLS LECTURING DAMEN THAT “A PRINCE’S HANDS ARE NOT MADE TO TOUCH A DEAD RABBIT” BUT NOT REALISING THAT DAMEN’S A FREAKING KING
Damen and Laurent laughing so much that Laurent has to wipe tears from his eyes
Everyone talking about whether or not Damen and Laurent are “DOING IT”
Damen getting annoyed that everyone thinks he slept with someone for 6 hours when it was really 7
Everyone guessing how Damen and Laurent fell in love ❤
Saving the slaves
DAMEN AND LAURENT KISSING – be still my beating heart
LAURENT’S ASCENSION — I have waited YEARS and YEARS to read the words KING LAURENT OF VERE on the page
Finding out he’s actually Laurent VI of Vere
Laurent wearing all gold and looking fabulous
And Charls is still so dense he doesn’t understand who Damen really is

Best quotes:

Not everyone could have the blissful equanimity of Lamen, who seemed to pay the Prince no deference of rank, a piece of very good acting.

“That is very good of you to say, Lamen. But your word sadly counts for very little against that of a renowned merchant.”

“You do have nice eyes.”
“Did you miss me?”

Charls sat across from [Laurent], uncomfortably close to the man in the blue cloak, which on closer inspection was of untreated wool, obviously home woven. They had now been brought very low, Charls thought.

“You’re not going to sit in my lap this time?” Lamen settled comfortably on the bench.
The Prince said, “Charls will faint.”

From that vantage, the Prince started throwing olives. They pinged off the heads of the struggling Akielons and caused no real harm, but contributed to the general confusion.

“And how is it you now fight for Veretians?” said Alexon.
Charls found himself curious to hear his answer, but Lamen said only, “I came to know one of them.”

Charls saw Lamen lift his cup and incline it towards the Prince, who echoed his gesture, the two of them smiling a little.

“You don’t drink wine,” said Lamen, a shoulder leaned against the wall.
“It was a special occasion,” said the Prince.
“Should I be glad you aren’t cornering a trade empire?”
“We’ll make another kind of empire,” said the Prince.

The Prince’s arms slid around Lamen’s neck, drawing him closer, and the kiss deepened, Lamen pulling their bodies together.
When the Prince drew back, smiling and murmuring something to Lamen, Lamen’s head dropped to the Prince’s neck. They were both speaking with obvious affection.

“Charls,” said Lamen, “I’d work my whole life to be worthy of him.” […]
“I’ll stay by Laurent for as long as he wants me,” said Lamen.

“Long live the King! Long live King Laurent of Vere!”

“Lamen,” said Charls, in a shocked voice. “Why are you dressed up like the King?”

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING LIKE ALL OF THE BOOKS OF THIS TRILOGY.
MY FAVORITE COUPLE OF ALL TIME. I’m in love with them. HOLY SHIT, I’m seriously dead.

This was so much fun!
I can’t believe that I went through an entire trilogy without the knowledge that Damien had a dimple, LIKE WHAT? That’s earth-shattering important knowledge!!!! That’s what reading from a different perspective does.
❤️❤️
I only read the short stories so I could have more of my OTfuckingP!!!!
Sorry, not sorry.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I CAN'T BREATHE. ANY VOLUNTEERS TO DIG MY GRAVE FOR ME??

So, I honestly need a short story like this to be released at least every month. Because how will I live without it? It's always so sweet, so good, so refreshing. And it's so beautiful to see the snipets of Damen and Laurent being so wonderfully happy and at ease. I just... need!! this!! in!! my!! life!!

I'm reading and writing during a lecture, so I have to be brief, but when I get home, I will flood this review with so many feelings...

...well, fuck the lecture, say I, it's boring anyway. Let's go.

• The different POV showing everything in a completely different light. The softest, purest, sweetest, most beautiful magical light.
• The cultures mixing through cloth among many other things. Amazing.
• Charls being the purest cinnamon bun to ever cinnamon bun. Even more oblivious than Damen.
• Laurent's love for horses that just gets me every time. It's so soft and pure and why do all the horses around him have to die?? Let my son have healthy non-poisoned horses!
• Damen's cheek dimple that will haunt my dreams forever.
• Also Damen's beautiful curls and warm smile and just about everything about him.
• "We'll make another kind of empire."
• The humor. So much of it. It makes me so happy because it completely difuses the leftover darkness from the series. Life is good.
• Laurent throwing olives from behind a turnedover table. He's having the time of his life and no one will convince me otherwise.
• "Nice eyes. Not as nice as mine."
• "You do have nice eyes."
• Damen being concerned about Akielons accepting Laurent's rule and their conjoined kingdom and Damen making sure Akielons respect Laurent.
• "The Prince was wiping his eyes, laughing." This dork holding a dead rabbit and trying to figure out how to skin it. Damen not being any help whatsoever and Charls scolding him for it. Just... let me live.
• Seven hours?! Fucking maybe chill, Damianos??
• I like Alexon and everyone's obssession with the cloth business.
• Laurent and Damen going undercover to dissolve the last remains of the slave trade together.
• The softest, purest kiss in dim light in the gardens. Please.
• "I'd work my whole life to be worthy of him."
• "I'll stay by Laurent for as long as he wants me."
• Laurent wearing the most beautiful piece of clothing I've ever had the chance to read about.
• Laurent being happy and giddy.
• Laurent being crowned.
• Laurent being loved and treasured.
• Laurent being so beautiful and so glowing that eyes overbrimm just by looking at him.
• Laurent. Laurent. Laurent.

Now I want a story from Laurent's POV. Please. Just one! Water my crops, Pacat, I beg you!

[Teal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course it only makes sense in the context of the series, but within that context? Absolutely delightful.
____
Almost a year later, I’m bumping this up to 5 stars, because it’s not merely delightful, it’s perfect. A perfect epilogue/coda to the series. If you loved the series and haven’t read this, why are you depriving yourself? Seriously, stop what you’re doing and read it now. Simply reminiscing about this story is enough to cheer me up and make the world seem like a better place.

[Lucie V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Charls.
He sucks at names.
He is hilarious.
He is pure, and innocent (and oblivious at times).

We also got to see more of Damen and Laurent, and that's all I ever wanted. More of them. Always more.


1. Captive Prince ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. Prince's Gambit ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Kings Rising ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5 #1 Green but for a Season ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5 #2 The Summer Palace ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


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[Isa Cantos (Crónicas de una Merodeadora) · Rating 3 out of 5]

”You’re not going to sit in my lap this time?”

Este relato es de las cosas más graciosas que he leído en mi vida y todo porque Charls es un personaje demasiado puro. Aquí seguimos una nueva aventura de Charls, que es un mercader de telas de Vere, quien debe viajar con el príncipe Laurent, pretendiendo ser otra persona, y su asistente personal “Lamen”. A lo largo del viaje, hay mil momentos de confusión y de ingenuidad por parte de Charls y todo es absolutamente adorable. Además, en este relato, C. S. Pacat por fin nos da más contenido de pareja de Damen y Laurent, así que vivo por eso.

[The Girl Murdered by Her TBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

That is it! I can’t explain how I am totally addicted with this series!!! I poved this one so much! Charls is totally the father figure Damen and Laurent totally deserve. My babies! So sweet with each other... gaaaaahhhh!!! Assdfhgfnhklfld!!!

Kill me now! Again and again and again! I don’t fucking care!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guys I adored every part of this because I will forever be in love with these characters. I ended up highlighting like half this short story because of all the humor in it, with Charls still thinking Damen was a merchant's assistant named Lamen (which I'll never get over the fact that Laurent basically just fused he and Damen's names together to form that). I really want to throw my better judgement to the wind and reread the CP trilogy even though I have like nine million other things to read.

[Meags · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

I'm giving all the stars to this one because it just made me feel so damn good.

This shorty follows Charls, the Veretian Cloth Merchant, as he goes on another brief adventure with an undercover Prince Laurent (posing again as "cousin Charls") and his "personal assistant," Lamen (hahahaha).

Charls' loyalty is commendable and his cluelessness is beyond amusing, providing the story with a lot of laughs and even more heart.

I could happily read about this world forever.

[J. Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

My boys are back in their disguise and they're meeting up with Charl's again! The last time that happened, it was hilarious. And now it's happening again. And they're taking a stroll down memory lane, with laughs, and hotness, and kisses, and starting fights, and disguises, Charls as clueless as ever in the most endearing way, and love, and Laurent taunting, plotting and always one step ahead. Also featuring two of the most iconic moments of Damen and Laurents story.

Guaranteed heart stopping swooning, humor abound,

Best sentence - We'll make another kind of empire.

Most epic line - Long live King Laurent of Vere.



I love this the most out of the short stories. It ranks above Summer Palace, frankly because of Laurent. In the summer palace, it was showing his sweet, romance side but in this novella, it was Laurent back to his old tricks which is my fave version of the guy. I love every piece of him but this side to him is my favorite. When he's being that wanker you love so freaking much. When it seems that all is lost and then Laurent just turns it all around and is just like, that was my plan all along. When he starts a fight, lets others dish it out while he throws olives from safety, like olives??? And that actually encourages the fighting and is just like, so Lamen is holding his own. And then saves a leg of lamb that he whacked a guy with while Damen not just fighting but making away with rabbits that he doesn't even know which end to start with to skin it, oh these guys.
Every scene with them, every goddamn moment, is just life. They are my ultimate otp of all time and I am not ashamed.

Charls. Clueless Charls that made me laugh so much. Who whacks a guy over the head with a pitcher of wine and then feels guilty over the cost of broken ceramic. Who handles keeping the princes identity with being proper towards him so badly and yet no one is none the wiser. Who is horrified when his prince is about to skim a rabbit and unknowingly tells a king to do it for him. Who is determined Laurent will be etiquette while on the road under another identity. When he pulls Damien in for a man to man talk over Laurent. Who has so much pride and appreciation and a love for what he does and it makes my heart happy to see him achieving his dreams.

That conversation where the group of men are gossiping about the Prince of Vere and King of Akielos, right in front of their faces was everything, I swear.

[Ellen Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'd work my whole life to be worthy of him."

I don't typically get very mushy about fictional couples. But these two?

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

DAMEN HAS A DIMPLE



In other news, I was dead but now I am reborn.

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

A roundabout way showcasing perfectly the smarts and cunning of Laurent and Damen as they work together to further solidify their newfound alliance.

Throw in some great fun factor as humble merchant Charls aids them unknowingly, never faltering in his devotion to his Prince.

This totally brought a smile to my face!

[Sue✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and hilarious 😂

[Ditte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, utterly delightful story set after The Summer Palace and shortly before Laurent's Ascension.

Charls the Veretian cloth merchant continues to be amazing and I was crying laughing reading this! So happy to get more of Damen and Laurent, too, this time from an outsider's POV.