#85
Chapter 10
“Your Highness. Are you alright?”
Pol asked worriedly. Enrique glared at him. Since switching from horseback to carriage, Pol had been repeatedly asking the same question at every opportunity.
“I’ll get tired of saying I’m fine.”
At Enrique’s rebuke, Pol scratched his cheek and chuckled. While he understood the concern for the pregnant Enrique, there was a limit to how much he could tolerate.
It had been about ten days since they declared their departure from the royal palace and set out. From the departure ceremony until the moment they left the capital, Enrique led the vanguard on horseback as the Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief. All the people of Shamier came out to watch. Cheers from the people praying for victory and safety echoed loudly enough to shake the capital.
After extensively publicizing the Crown Prince’s departure, Enrique immediately switched to a carriage upon leaving the capital. Although the pace was slow enough that riding a horse would have been sufficient, everyone insisted that he ride in the carriage. Of course, one of the conditions for the King’s consent to his participation was that he must travel by carriage. As a result, Enrique felt like he was going on a picnic rather than to a battlefield.
Meanwhile, the Ruben Empire and the Monta-Baron alliance had already deployed most of their forces to the border area and entered a state of confrontation. They had reportedly engaged in about a dozen local battles to provoke each other. The day Shamier’s forces arrived at Ruben’s camp would likely be the day full-scale battles began.
The cavalry unit led by Enrique was moving slowly, choosing the safest route possible to avoid ambushes. While it was called a cavalry unit, the reality was quite different.
First of all, the number of cavalry troops trained and handed over by Ruben was only about 1,000. However, the armament and destructive power of each individual was tremendous. It was common knowledge that a fully equipped cavalryman could easily handle dozens of infantrymen.
In any case, the equipment for one heavily armed cavalryman was enormous in weight and volume. Since it was unnecessary to maintain heavy armor during travel, these heavy equipment were naturally loaded onto separate wagons. Counting the 1,000 cavalrymen, their attendants, and the soldiers guarding the supply wagons and doing menial tasks, the total number exceeded 3,000. And this was after reducing it as much as possible. Therefore, the travel speed was inevitably much slower.
After ten days of journey, they were now close to their destination. The cavalrymen who had been traveling on horseback with basic equipment were now fully armed from head to toe. Even inside the carriage, the growing tension among the soldiers could be felt. Enrique’s mood was also rising in tandem.
“Your Highness, Francia Castle and Ruben’s camp are coming into view,” said Duke Duvain, approaching the carriage. Enrique stuck his head out of the window. The gray castle standing on a low hill in the distance caught his eye first. Then, the faint outlines of densely packed tents filling the wide plain a little away from the castle came into view. In front of the tents, several large wooden structures stood tall. They were probably catapults.
“Tell them to stop the carriage. I’ll switch to horseback now.”
Enrique gave a short order and put on the cloak he had taken off, with Pol’s assistance. Pol, with a somewhat tense face, used the cloak pin to securely fasten the cloak and adjusted Enrique’s attire.
Pol, who got out of the carriage first, helped support Enrique as he alighted. Casto, who had been following behind the carriage, approached, led by a servant’s hand. Casto was also armored with a large cloth embroidered with Shamier’s emblem and armor made for horses.
Enrique leapt onto the horse without hesitation. Although his belly was somewhat swollen, it wasn’t enough to significantly hinder his movement. Enrique waved away Pol, who was looking up worriedly, and rode alongside Duke Duvain to the front.
“Ruben’s camp is right ahead! Everyone must maintain the dignity of Shamier!”
As Enrique shouted, the soldiers responded by pounding their chests with their fists. After confirming their spirited appearance, Enrique turned his head forward again and began to ride. Shamier’s forces followed behind. In the distance, scouts from Ruben’s camp could be seen approaching, waving Ruben’s flags.
The sharp eyes of the scouts who came right up front scanned the Shamier army led by Enrique. A scout who confirmed Shamier’s emblem gave a light military salute.
“For verification purposes, may I ask if you are indeed the Crown Prince of Shamier?”
“That’s correct.”
“You must have had a difficult journey. We will immediately return to the camp to announce Shamier’s arrival.”
As Enrique nodded, the scouts immediately turned their horses and galloped back to the camp.
“As expected of Ruben’s soldiers. Even though they’re just scouts, their spirit and presence are considerable,” Duke Duvain whispered softly, riding side by side with Enrique. Enrique nodded in agreement.
The camp grew closer. The details of the camp started to come into clear view.
Centered around a large black tent, several large and small tents were arranged systematically. And around the perimeter, wooden palisades for defense encircled the area.
As they approached the camp, armored figures began to gather one by one, preparing to welcome the Shamier army. Enrique spotted a black-haired man in splendid attire standing prominently in their center. He was, of course, Anture, the Crown Prince of Ruben and the Commander-in-Chief of Ruben’s forces for this war.
Enrique’s heart pounded. But he managed to maintain an expressionless face.
As they reached the front, soldiers ran out to hold the horses’ reins. Enrique, about to dismount, hesitated when he saw Anture striding towards him. Anture, now standing right next to the horse, extended his hand. Enrique simultaneously felt the urge to embrace Anture’s neck and to slap him across the face.
Everyone was watching their interaction. They were the representatives of the alliance between Ruben and Shamier. They needed to show a good image.
As Enrique placed his hand on the outstretched hand, a smile spread across Anture’s eyes. Anture respectfully kissed the back of Enrique’s hand. It was a gesture showing respect both as spouses and as representatives of allied nations.
After kissing Enrique’s hand, Anture extended both arms. Enrique, without hesitation, placed his hands on Anture’s firm, broad shoulders. Anture carefully lifted Enrique off the horse. As Enrique’s feet touched the ground, Anture slowly looked him over from head to toe.
Enrique noticed Anture’s gaze lingering on his belly for a while. His heart was still pounding rapidly.
“Ahem. Hmm.”
A fake cough interrupted the silent moment between the two facing each other.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness. Our Crown Prince must be very tired from the long journey while pregnant. It would be best for him to rest immediately,” Pol said. Anture nodded and put his arm around Enrique’s shoulders.
“It would be good for you to rest in my tent while Shamier’s tent is being prepared, Enrique.”
With those words, Anture led Enrique. Instead of refusing, Enrique obediently followed him, walking towards the large central tent. Behind them, the sound of personnel from both countries discussing practical matters could be heard.
Entering the large black tent, Enrique took a look around the interior. Although he had stayed in tents during hunts before, the atmosphere inside this war tent was completely different. Armor and weapons occupied one side, and a large map was spread out on a big desk.
“It might be a bit busy here because we also hold meetings here. Let’s go to the inner part to sit,” Anture said, leading Enrique to one side of the tent. A large cloth was draped over a part of the tent, seemingly dividing the space. Lifting the cloth and entering, a cozy personal space appeared. It was a space with just a cot, a small table, and a chair.
“Sit here.”
Anture seated Enrique on the bed. The bed, covered with clean fur, was soft and comfortable.
After seating Enrique on the bed, Anture pulled up the chair and sat facing him. Then, cupping Enrique’s face with both hands, he met his gaze.
Enrique filled those deep black eyes that gazed at him intently.
“I missed you,” Anture whispered in a sweet voice. Enrique silently stared back at Anture. Countless indescribable emotions swirled in his chest. Happy to see him, yet resentful… Affectionate, yet bitter… So much to say, yet unable to choose what to say… All he could do was take in Anture’s face with his eyes.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
