#73
“Aren’t you happy? We’ve created an heir who will brighten Shamier’s future. You should be rejoicing.”
Enrique said, gently caressing his lower abdomen. Pol, slightly choked up, couldn’t say a word. Enrique reached out and stroked Pol’s head.
“It’s alright. Everything is going according to plan.”
At these comforting words, Pol nodded, forcibly holding back tears and tightly closing his mouth.
“This joyous news… We must quickly inform the King and everyone else.”
Pol said, wiping his wet eyes with the back of his hand.
“Yes. But let’s announce it after I finish bathing. I can’t receive congratulations looking like this.”
Enrique said lightly as he got up from the bed. Pol supported Enrique as if he were a heavily pregnant woman, carefully walking him to the bathtub. Enrique didn’t refuse this treatment. A child conceived between the bloodline of the Ruben Emperor and Enrique, a superior omega – it couldn’t be cherished enough.
*
After leisurely finishing his bath and a light breakfast, Enrique finally allowed his pregnancy news to be announced externally. Though there were no signs yet, Enrique was certain of the pregnancy. His heat had been triggered by Anture’s pheromones, and with knotting during that time, pregnancy was assured.
Naturally, the first to rush over was the King of Shamier. He appeared at Enrique’s quarters, almost running despite his old age.
“Enrique!”
The King’s voice, as he embraced Enrique sitting in a chair, trembled with emotion and joy. Though other complex emotions were mixed in, Enrique accepted only the positive ones.
“To think you’re already with child…”
The King murmured in an overwhelmed voice, repeatedly stroking Enrique’s hand.
“Well, if things had gone differently, I might have had a child 5 years ago. If anything, this is rather late.”
Enrique said nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders. The King reached out to caress Enrique’s still-flat stomach, chuckling.
“From now on, step back from work. Don’t soak in hot water when bathing, be careful not to slip or fall, and be selective with your food. You shouldn’t be without servants and guard knights for even a moment. And also…”
“Father.”
Enrique cut off the King’s endless list of precautions. Grasping his father’s hand that was stroking his own, he spoke in a firm voice.
“Father, please appoint me as Crown Prince.”
At Enrique’s strong request, the King’s expression became complex.
“Enrique, of course you will succeed me. But right now, you’re pregnant and also…”
The King’s words trailed off. Enrique narrowed his eyes.
“Do you think I don’t know why you’ve been delaying the appointment of Crown Prince while saying such things? Isn’t it because you thought I might maintain my marriage to the Ruben Prince and eventually leave for Ruben?”
“…That’s, Enrique.”
“Such a thing will never happen, so there’s no need to delay anymore. Look, Father. An heir who will continue our Shamier’s lineage has been conceived in my womb. I want to give birth to this child as Crown Prince. Then this superior child, mixed with the blood of the Ruben Emperor, will become Shamier’s Crown Prince’s child from birth.”
Enrique spoke, his eyes shining as if imagining Shamier’s brilliant future. The King stared at Enrique for a while, then nodded.
“Alright. Let’s do that. I’ll instruct the ministers to prepare your Crown Prince appointment ceremony.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Enrique smiled brightly and embraced the King.
The news of Enrique’s pregnancy spread through Shamier’s royal palace and capital in an instant. Even while resting in bed, Enrique could feel the entire palace buzzing with excitement.
“So it ended up like this after all.”
Kisha, sitting in a chair next to the bed, said with a relieved yet somewhat worried expression. Enrique silently smiled, stroking his lower abdomen.
“I heard you’re going to have a Crown Prince appointment ceremony.”
Julian, also sitting beside the bed, said. Enrique nodded.
“Father is getting on in years. It’s time I received the Crown Prince appointment. That way, this child will become the Crown Prince’s child as soon as it’s born.”
“Yes. Anyway, it seems to have gone well according to plan… Congratulations.”
Julian said with a smile.
A moment of silence passed. Kisha and Julian exchanged glances.
“Just say it. Don’t be hesitant. Since when have we been the type to mind such things?”
Enrique said calmly. Then Kisha carefully opened her mouth.
“I heard the Prince left for Ruben… Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? This marriage was just a procedure to give the child a legitimate status anyway. Now that I’m pregnant, I don’t need the Prince until it’s time for a second child.”
“You know that’s not what I mean.”
Kisha’s expression turned bitter.
“What about you? Why aren’t you following your husband and staying at the palace instead?”
Enrique immediately changed the subject. Realizing Enrique didn’t want to talk about Anture anymore, Kisha shrugged.
“Well, since you’re pregnant, I’m planning to stay with the child at the palace for a while. After all, I’m the only one among us with experience in childbirth. Who knows? I might be of help. And you’ll be bored having to stay put for a while. I should be here to keep you company.”
“Oh? You’re choosing me over your husband?”
“You’re always my choice. But that’s a secret from my husband.”
When Enrique joked, Kisha winked and whispered.
“By the way, you won’t be able to ride or do much until you enter the stable period… Casto will be bored. Should I ride and run with him instead?”
Julian said, his eyes sparkling.
“Hey! That’s unfair. Me too! I want to ride Casto too!”
Kisha exclaimed, raising her hand high. Soon, Julian and Kisha started bickering over who should go first.
After squabbling for a while, they finally quieted down after deciding the order by flipping a coin. Enrique looked at the two with disbelief, as they had decided the order without even getting his permission. But certainly, leaving Casto unattended for months wasn’t a good idea. It would be nice to have someone ride and run with him to their heart’s content.
“By the way, will the child be an alpha or an omega?”
Kisha muttered, staring intently at Enrique’s flat lower abdomen.
“Shall we bet on who can guess correctly?”
Julian immediately suggested. After thinking for a moment, Kisha nodded, her eyes sparkling.
“I’m betting on a superior omega. With the blood of the Ruben Emperor mixed with Enrique’s superior omega blood, the chances of it being superior are high. And it would be nice if a precious omega is born.”
“Hmm. An omega would be nice, but since this child will continue Shamier’s lineage, I’d prefer an alpha. They’ll have the duty to truly prosper the country that Enrique has laid a solid foundation for. A somewhat aggressive alpha would be suitable.”
Julian said, crossing his arms and speaking quite seriously.
“What’s wrong with an omega? Look at Enrique. An omega is more than capable of making a name as an excellent ruler.”
Kisha countered. Julian shook his head.
“No, no. We’re not talking about capacity as a ruler. In my opinion, while Enrique rules, Shamier will surely expand its national power and become more prosperous. What should the heir who inherits such an energetic country do? Naturally, they should expand the territory based on that. That’s why I think an alpha would be better.”
Julian’s argument was quite serious. Kisha thought for a moment, then pouted and nodded.
“Well, there’s some logic to that. But I’m still betting on omega anyway.”
“Suit yourself. I’m betting on alpha.”
After concluding their conversation, both of them fixed their gazes on Enrique simultaneously.
“What do you think? Does it feel like an alpha or an omega?”
Julian asked.
Enrique looked down at his flat lower abdomen for a moment. The dream he had on the night Anture knotted him was vivid. The pretty child with black hair and black eyes that he had wished for… The child had grown up to become a splendid man who was the spitting image of Anture.
“Well, there are advantages to either. Whether alpha or omega, we’ll just have to raise them well according to their characteristics.”
Instead of talking about his dream, Enrique gave a vague answer. Meanwhile, he secretly hoped for the dream to become reality. A child who was the spitting image of Anture. That was precisely the child Enrique had wished for.
Knock knock-
There was a knock, and Pol entered.
“Your Highness. An envoy from Ruben has come to offer congratulations.”
“I thought the Ruben envoy group left early this morning?”
“It seems they turned back upon hearing Your Highness’s news.”
At Pol’s words, Enrique narrowed his eyes. He didn’t want to meet anyone from Ruben right now. But the child in his womb had Ruben blood mixed in. It was right to at least accept their congratulations.
