#83
“I swear I’ll stay hidden safely within Ruben’s large army, just keeping my position.”
“But you’re pregnant!”
“If I can’t endure even that much, I can’t be called the heir who will continue the line of our Shamier. Don’t worry, Father. My child will surely endure. If it’s too weak to withstand even this, it’s not worth giving birth to in the first place.”
Enrique spoke firmly. He meant it. This child has the blood of Anture and himself mixed. It’s the child who will shoulder Shamier’s brilliant future. He firmly believed that the child would be able to endure this much hardship.
The meeting had somehow divided into two opinions: Enrique insisting on participating in the war, and the King and ministers trying to dissuade him. But Enrique had been stubborn since childhood and never backed down once he set his mind to something. Enrique just repeated the same words like a parrot.
In reality, the Crown Prince personally leading the army was the greatest show of sincerity they could show to the alliance. As Enrique repeatedly emphasized this point, eventually the King of Shamier stepped forward, saying he would participate instead. Naturally, everyone was horrified.
Enrique, who had anticipated his father’s move, urged the ministers to choose.
The King’s participation or the Crown Prince’s participation.
Of course, the opinion opposing Enrique’s participation weakened. No matter how important the heir was, he couldn’t be more important than the safety of the current King on the throne.
The King of Shamier, who was always weak against Enrique, strongly opposed this time, but as always, he couldn’t change Enrique’s mind. In the end, Enrique was able to obtain the position of Commander-in-Chief only after swearing oath upon oath that he would stay in the safest place in the rear and only bring back the honor of participation. And Duke Dubain, who had persistently expressed his intention to participate, was decided to be the Deputy Commander to handle the actual command.
That’s how everything was decided.
After long discussions, they finished drafting the agreement. The agreement signed by the King of Shamier would be taken to Ruben by Lord Theovan and Shamier’s envoy. Once the Emperor of Ruben signed the agreement, the two countries would fight the war together as allies.
The night before the agreement was to depart for Ruben, Lord Theovan visited Enrique’s quarters. Tired of Julian and Kisha trying to dissuade him from participating, Enrique greeted Lord Theovan in a somewhat fatigued state of mind.
“You must be having a hard time taking care of the baby.”
Theovan said, watching Enrique drink warm milk with honey. Enrique immediately understood the meaning of those words. He must be referring to the fact that Enrique was drinking sweet milk every day instead of the wine he usually enjoyed.
“It’s the precious heir of Shamier, after all.”
Enrique said with a slight smile. The wrinkles around Theovan’s eyes crinkled with a smile.
“I know you’re leaving early tomorrow, why did you come to see me instead of resting?”
Enrique asked. Instead of answering, Theovan quietly looked at Enrique with searching eyes. Then, when Enrique slightly raised one eyebrow as if to say “what?”, he finally opened his mouth.
“I’m leaving for Ruben tomorrow. If you have… any letters or messages to send to the Crown Prince, I’ll make sure to deliver them well.”
“Why? Did Anture tell you to bring back a letter or something?”
Enrique asked with displeased eyes. Irritation surged up. What right did he have to expect anything when he hadn’t even sent a single letter himself?
“No, that’s not exactly it… I just wanted to check if you might have any messages or letters to send, just in case.”
Theovan shook his head, denying Enrique’s words.
“I have no messages or items to send, so you can just leave now.”
Enrique said somewhat coldly. But instead of getting up, Theovan spoke again.
“I heard you’re participating in the war as Commander-in-Chief.”
“That’s right.”
“The Crown Prince will be very surprised when he hears that news. The battlefield is a place where you never know what dangers lurk. For you to participate in such a place while pregnant… The Crown Prince will definitely not approve.”
Enrique’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Theovan. Perhaps because everyone he met since announcing his intention to participate had tried to dissuade him, he was now sick of just hearing it.
“Are you trying to say that if Anture doesn’t allow it, I can’t participate in the war?”
“That’s not it…”
“Ruben and Shamier are allies. Shamier hasn’t become a vassal state of Ruben. Who we appoint as Commander-in-Chief in our Shamier is entirely our business. I don’t think the Crown Prince of Ruben has the authority to approve or disapprove.”
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, as your husband…”
“Since when has there been a law that you can’t participate in a war without your husband’s permission? I’ve never heard of such a case. I don’t want to hear another word about Anture. If you have no other business, please leave now.”
Enrique snapped in a scathing tone and abruptly stood up. Theovan rose from his seat with a troubled expression.
“It seems I’ve offended you. Please forgive me. Then I’ll take my leave now.”
Theovan quietly withdrew.
“Your Highness.”
Pol approached with a worried face and called out. Enrique let out a big sigh and patted Pol’s shoulder.
“I’m fine, just prepare my bed.”
“Yes.”
Pol answered and called a servant to prepare the bed. Enrique went to the bedroom and changed clothes with Pol’s assistance.
After putting on thin and soft pajamas and lying down on the prepared bed, Pol carefully covered him with a blanket.
“Your Highness.”
Pol called softly.
“Yes.”
When Enrique answered quietly, Pol hesitated for a moment and then asked in a whisper.
“The token you told me to prepare a while ago…”
Pol trailed off. Enrique silently glared at Pol. Pol flinched but didn’t back down.
“You prepared it on purpose, so wouldn’t the Crown Prince be happy if you sent it with Lord Theovan?”
“…”
“Given the situation, the Crown Prince will likely be deployed first, and while he’ll surely be safe, the battlefield is still unpredictable. Wouldn’t it be safer for him to have at least one charm?”
Pol persuaded gently.
Hmph.
Enrique snorted softly. His mind wavered dozens of times in that short moment, wondering whether to tell Pol to give it or not.
“Your Highness… Don’t be so sulky. Please?”
Pol coaxed Enrique. After a moment of silence, Enrique nodded wordlessly. At that permission, Pol’s face immediately brightened.
“Then I’ll go give it to him right away!”
As if worried that Enrique might change his mind, Pol turned around and dashed out of the bedroom. Enrique snorted again watching him leave.
In Shamier, there’s a tradition of cutting a small lock of one’s hair, putting it in a small pouch, and giving it as a charm for safety when a loved one goes to war, participates in a dangerous equestrian competition or duel, or embarks on a long journey. A few days ago, Enrique had suddenly, on some whim, ordered a charm to be made for Anture. He hadn’t yet decided whether to actually send it or not. But hearing Theovan bring it up first made him feel angry and sulky for some reason.
“He didn’t send anything himself.”
Enrique gritted his teeth, feeling somehow resentful. He felt an urge to call Pol back in and retrieve the charm.
Just as he was about to sit up, thinking he couldn’t possibly send it out of frustration, the bedroom door opened and Pol entered with a bright face.
“Bring that back right now!”
Enrique exclaimed softly. But instead of obeying the order, Pol approached the bedside with quick steps. Then he abruptly held out something.
“What’s this?”
“When I gave Lord Theovan the charm saying it was from you to the Crown Prince, he pulled this out from his breast and gave it to me. He said the Crown Prince told him to give this if you sent something.”
“…What?”
Enrique frowned immediately.
So… it wasn’t that he didn’t send anything, but that he sent it conditionally. He’s saying that Anture told Theovan to give this if Enrique sent something to him, and not to give it if Enrique didn’t send anything.
“This petty bastard…”
Enrique gritted his teeth again. He was so upset. In his anger, Enrique snatched what Pol was holding and threw it on the floor. Pol, startled, picked up the fallen object and carefully dusted off any dirt that might have gotten on it. Then he offered it to Enrique again. When Enrique still wouldn’t take it, he quietly placed it next to the pillow, bowed his head in respect, and withdrew from the bedroom.
Left alone in the bedroom, Enrique stewed in his anger for a while. Then, as he slowly turned his eyes, he saw a very small black leather pouch embroidered with gold thread placed next to the pillow. Enrique alternated between glaring at it and glaring elsewhere several times. Then, unable to resist his curiosity, he finally picked up the pouch.
The leather pouch that fit snugly in his hand was a very delicately made item. A leather string of the same material was tied to seal the mouth of the pouch. Somehow, he felt like he knew what this was. Because a few days ago, Enrique had also put a small lock of his own hair into a similar object and tied it.
