#105
Chapter 12
A guard unit, including two wet nurses, arrived from Shamier. They came fully prepared to safely escort Enrique and the child to Shamier. Enrique’s carriage, who was still in postpartum recovery, was large and sturdy, with a small, comfortable bed inside. The carriage for the child and the wet nurse was equally impressive.
Pol had already perfectly prepared for departure. All of Shamier’s people and the Ruben command came out to see off Enrique and the crown prince.
When Enrique came out with the child to board the carriage, small snowflakes began to fall gently from the sky as if on cue. It finally felt real that they had entered the beginning of winter.
The child was first carried by the wet nurse into their carriage. Enrique stood face to face with Anture in front of the carriage.
“Don’t worry about anything, just focus on recovering,” Anture urged. He stroked Enrique’s pale cheek and winced as if in pain.
“Don’t get hurt either… And…”
Enrique stood on his tiptoes and whispered in Anture’s ear.
“Bring me the head of the King of Monta as a gift.”
Anture suddenly kissed Enrique as he whispered softly. After a short, intense kiss, Anture cupped Enrique’s cheeks and brought their eyes close. Then, as if making a promise, he whispered:
“I will. I’ll gift you the King of Monta’s head.”
They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment before finally parting. Even as Enrique boarded the carriage with Pol’s support, Anture couldn’t easily let go of his hand. They only released their held hands just before the carriage door closed. The guard unit surrounding the two carriages began to move. Enrique quietly gazed at Anture, who stood firmly watching him intently through the window. His figure grew distant and eventually disappeared, but Enrique’s eyes couldn’t easily look away.
“You must be dizzy from moving so much, please lie down now,” Pol suggested, pulling back the sheets of the small bed that occupied most of the carriage’s interior. Enrique finally turned away from the window and obediently lay down on the bed. The carriage’s movement made his dizziness a bit worse, but it wasn’t unbearable.
“Finally returning to Shamier… The time spent in Francia Castle feels like a dream,” Pol said in a voice full of emotion, sitting beside the bed.
“Indeed,” Enrique replied softly. As Pol said, all the time spent here, capturing the castle and defending it, felt like a dream. Surely, upon returning to Shamier, they would be able to enjoy a peaceful life as before. And while Enrique lived like that, Anture would once again wander the bloody battlefields.
“I wonder if the wet nurse is taking good care of the young master,” Pol said with an anxious expression, having never been separated from the child since its birth.
“They’re wet nurses with verified backgrounds. They were sent after thorough investigation, so what’s there to worry about? They’ll probably take better care of the child than you,” Enrique said, reassuring Pol. But Pol was still restless, like a mother dog who had lost her puppy. Although Enrique understood Pol’s feelings, it couldn’t be helped. Enrique was the crown prince, and the child was the crown prince’s heir. As a precaution against potential accidents, it was a principle that they should never ride in the same carriage.
“If you’re that anxious, why don’t you switch to the carriage behind?” Enrique said gruffly to Pol, who couldn’t hide his anxiety. Pol immediately shook his head.
“I can’t do that. I’m Your Highness’s chief attendant!” Pol said, beating his chest with great pride in his position. Enrique chuckled and closed his eyes to try to sleep. Pol carefully covered the carriage windows to block out the sunlight.
The carriage moved for long periods and rested briefly, continuously heading towards Shamier’s royal castle. Finally, as they entered Shamier territory, people who recognized the knights’ flags and the carriage’s emblem cheered and welcomed them along every road they passed. Enrique opened the window and waved to the people whenever they passed through the center of a city. At such times, the city erupted with cheers.
The people’s excited shouts reflected their pride as Shamier citizens. The people who had heard news of the war and its victory must have felt that a bright light had been lit for Shamier’s future. Seeing this made all the hardships and near-death experiences feel worthwhile.
Traveling amidst the people’s cheers, they were soon approaching the royal castle. Enrique, who had slept or rested lying down throughout the carriage journey, gradually regained his strength. The baby, who had been well-fed by the two wet nurses, was now completely chubby, making it a pleasure to squeeze its white cheeks.
“By the way, have you thought about the young master’s name?” Pol suddenly asked. Enrique casually shook his head.
“My father must have been very anxious and stressed during this time, so I should at least give him the joy of naming his grandchild.”
Pol’s eyes sparkled at Enrique’s words.
“That’s right! How happy His Majesty will be when he sees the crown prince’s heir!”
Pol wiggled his bottom as if quite excited. Enrique was secretly relieved that he could easily pass on the troublesome task of naming the child to his father.
Fortunately, the carriage entered the capital safely without a single unpleasant incident.
As soon as they entered the capital, a huge cheer erupted outside the carriage. The sound was so loud it made their ears ring. When the curtains covering the windows were pulled back, the cheers grew even louder. People had crowded along the road leading to the royal castle, cheering with joyful faces. Enrique could hear them shouting his name and that of the crown prince’s heir. Soldiers were lined up to control the crowd.
Enrique took a deep breath as he watched the approaching Shamier royal castle. His heart swelled with relief at having returned alive and excitement at the thought of seeing his father and friends after a long time. Above all, considering the elevated prestige of the Shamier royal family in this situation, having overthrown Baron and facing the conquest of Monta, his feelings were extraordinary.
Finally, the carriage stopped as they arrived at the royal castle. Pol neatly adjusted Enrique’s clothes. As the carriage door opened and Enrique stepped out with support, he saw his father and ministers lined up.
“Enrique!”
The King of Shamier strode over and embraced Enrique tightly. Enrique hugged his father, whose face had gained more wrinkles in the meantime, conveying his joy at the reunion.
“I’m back, Father.”
As Enrique greeted him, his father patted his back. That touch conveyed unmistakable joy and welcome.
“We’ve captured the King of Baron and the crown prince. Soon, I’ll avenge my brothers by killing them and resolve your grudge,” Enrique whispered softly in his father’s ear. His father’s arms tightened around Enrique.
After holding Enrique for a while, seemingly unable to let go, the king’s body suddenly paused. As they released the embrace, Enrique noticed his father’s gaze fixed on one side. Following that gaze, he saw the wet nurse disembarking from the carriage with the baby in her arms.
“It’s the crown prince’s heir, Father,” Enrique whispered softly. He could see overwhelming emotion filling the King of Shamier’s eyes.
“Good heavens, Enrique… To think you gave birth in such a dangerous place.”
The King of Shamier spoke as if lamenting. Enrique gestured for the wet nurse to bring the baby and placed it in his father’s arms. Despite having held his own three children, the King of Shamier seemed at a loss, as if holding a baby for the first time.
“My goodness, so small. So very small,” the King of Shamier kept muttering. Yet, he was busy touching the baby’s cheeks and nose with his fingers.
“But… the crown prince’s heir looks just like… um…” The King of Shamier trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. Enrique couldn’t help but smile. He could guess what his father was trying to say. He was probably about to say that the baby looked exactly like Anture instead of Enrique.
“The child will grow up to be very brave and strong,” Enrique said, poking the baby’s cheek. The baby grabbed Enrique’s finger tightly and blinked its black eyes. At this sight, the King of Shamier burst into laughter.
The baby was indeed popular. The ministers created a fuss, all wanting to hold the baby, even forming a line. Enrique generously allowed them all to hold the crown prince’s heir. The child was not simply Enrique’s offspring. It was the heir who would continue the Shamier lineage and a great asset. The child itself would have to grow up well aware of this.
“You’re not disappointed that it’s not a Superior, are you?” Enrique whispered to his father, watching the baby being passed from arm to arm among the ministers. The King of Shamier immediately shook his head.
“As long as the child is safe and healthy, that’s enough.”
Sincerity was evident in the king’s words. Enrique was inwardly relieved.
In truth, Enrique felt a bit guilty. The first child was destined to be Shamier’s heir. If so, they should have wished for a Superior child with golden eyes. But Enrique had actually wanted a child with black eyes and black hair. And that’s how the baby was born. The thought that maybe it wasn’t born a Superior because he didn’t want it to be lurked in a corner of his heart.
“Let’s go inside now. You must be tired from the long journey, both you and the child need to rest well,” the King of Shamier suggested. Enrique nodded and took his father’s arm as they stepped into the castle. It was a path walked by three generations – the King of Shamier, Enrique, and the baby. He couldn’t feel more reassured.
