#110
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Enrique spent the entire night standing by the window. His sense of time had become vague, and he couldn’t tell if time was passing quickly or dragging on. Only his heart, beating fast and strong, indicated that time was indeed flowing, whether slow or fast.
Enrique was furious at Anture for completely cutting off all communication and news of his survival, even from Enrique himself. At the same time, he felt immense relief. He was also anxious and uneasy about what news he would hear in the morning. Complex emotions violently shook Enrique’s heart, rapidly changing colors with each passing moment. Nevertheless, Enrique could only wait and wait for morning to come.
As time passed, feeling like both an instant and an eternity… finally, dawn began to break. The bedroom door opened carefully, and soon Pol’s surprised voice was heard.
“Your Highness?”
Pol approached with quick steps. He glanced at the dawning sky that Enrique was staring at.
“Why are you up so early? And why are you gazing out the window so intently?”
After greeting Enrique, Pol suddenly wrinkled his face and covered his nose.
“What’s this… such a terrible smell.”
Pol began sniffing around, trying to trace the source of the smell. The search ended quickly. Naturally, the smell was coming from Enrique, whom Anture had touched.
“…Your Highness. You smell.”
Pol said in a bewildered voice.
“Ah… There was a bit of a situation.”
Enrique replied in a somewhat dazed voice. Pol’s expression changed strangely. Enrique, not particularly interested in what Pol was thinking, finally tore his gaze away from the window he had been fixated on all night.
“Prepare bath water for me. Also, fresh clothes and breakfast.”
At Enrique’s order, Pol bowed and left the bedroom.
Enrique glanced at the window once more and then walked to the bed and sat down, as if shaking off lingering thoughts. By now, the winner and loser must have been decided. It was time to humbly wait for the results to reach him.
Enrique took a hot bath and had a light breakfast. By the time he finished dressing neatly, the sky was completely bright.
“Let’s go to the port.”
Enrique said as he left the bedroom. Despite heading to the port so early in the morning, the knights followed without a word.
On the way to the port, riding on Casto’s back, Enrique thought his heart was too calm. Perhaps it was because there was no longer any chance to change the outcome.
Not long after heading to the port with a somewhat clear mind, shouts began to rise from the direction of the dock. His heart leaped in response. Enrique could no longer hold back and rode at full speed towards the dock.
“Your Highness!”
“Your Highness-!”
The knights quickly followed, calling out loudly. People screamed as they dodged the fast-galloping horse. Enrique’s hair tangled wildly in the cold morning sea breeze. He rode at full speed, pushing past the people crowding the streets, and reached the dock.
“…It seems… there’s a fire on the ships, Your Highness.”
One of the pursuing knights said, pointing to the far side of the coastline. Black smoke was rising thickly from several ships in the fleet lined up along the coast. Enrique was certain that the King of Monta and Anture were on one of those ships. And he was also certain that one of them was no longer of this world.
“Call for Duke Duvain.”
Enrique ordered calmly. One knight raced towards the castle to carry out the order. Enrique stared intently at the ships spewing black smoke, listening to the murmuring of the people. The ships continued to belch black smoke for a long time, gradually sinking and hiding their traces. His hand gripping the reins tightened painfully. When the ships were half-sunken, Duke Duvain arrived running.
“Your Highness!”
Duke Duvain called out. Enrique silently pointed to the sinking ships spewing smoke.
“The King of Monta must be on one of those.”
At Enrique’s words, Duke Duvain looked surprised.
“Send soldiers on every available ship over there. Announce the death of the King of Monta and urge them to surrender.”
“But… we’re not sure if the King of Monta is really on one of those ships, and without confirming his life or death, it might be…”
Duke Duvain spoke cautiously. Enrique shook his head firmly.
“He must be dead. I’m certain of it. So launch the ships and urge the remaining fleet to surrender. Those who surrender can continue their daily lives as our Shamier citizens and soldiers without change.”
At Enrique’s strong words, Duke Duvain exchanged glances with other commanders. They were hesitating, fearing the soldiers they sent might die in vain. But Enrique couldn’t find other words to persuade them. He was worried about mentioning Anture, fearing it might endanger him.
Of course, Anture might have been defeated. But for Enrique, there was nothing he could do except firmly believe that Anture had won, and that it was the King of Monta who had been beheaded.
“I’ll send out reconnaissance ships first. Would that be acceptable?”
Duke Duvain, after thinking for a moment, proposed a compromise. Enrique nodded.
Soon, the reconnaissance ships set sail. Enrique watched intently as they advanced towards the Monta fleet.
The five reconnaissance ships quickly headed towards the Monta fleet. Everyone at the port, including the soldiers and Enrique, held their breath as they watched.
After a while, the reconnaissance ships reached the fleet. Due to the great distance, it was impossible to see what was happening. But it was clear that the reconnaissance ships, ridiculously small compared to the warships, were not being attacked.
“Could it be…”
A hopeful voice escaped Duke Duvain’s lips. Indeed, the fact that the reconnaissance ships were not being attacked was a very hopeful sign. After some time passed, the reconnaissance ships were seen turning around and heading back to the dock.
“Your Highness! They’re waving white flags!”
Duke Duvain shouted. Enrique watched as all the returning reconnaissance ships waved white flags simultaneously. It was a pre-arranged signal before departure. The Monta fleet had decided to surrender!
“Good heavens, it seems the King of Monta really did die.”
Someone muttered. Enrique jumped off his horse and started running towards the end of the dock.
“Your Highness!”
The knights followed in surprise. Enrique didn’t stop and ran all the way to the end of the long dock.
Reaching the end of the dock, Enrique stared intently at the approaching reconnaissance ships. After waiting and waiting, drawing on every ounce of patience, finally the details of the reconnaissance ships began to come into view. At the bow of the leading ship, a man in shabby clothes with messy brown hair could be seen standing tall. Enrique smiled broadly at the sight. It was last night’s intruder, Anture.
The reconnaissance ship finally reached the dock. Black eyes visible through the messy brown hair stared at Enrique as if they would devour him. Anture stepped from the ship onto the dock. He walked steadily towards Enrique. The knights, still unaware of his identity, moved to block him. Enrique gestured for them to step back. Then, with all his might, he swung his fist at Anture, who was smiling at him.
Thwack-!
The punch connected squarely with his face. It hurt as if the bones in Enrique’s hand had shattered. Enrique grabbed the collar of Anture, who was holding his struck face with both hands and looking dumbfounded. Then he forcefully headbutted Anture’s forehead with his own.
Thud-!
A sound like bones crushing rang out. The impact was so strong that Enrique’s ears rang and his head spun.
“E-Enrique.”
Anture called out softly, holding his forehead. Enrique, also holding his aching forehead, kicked Anture’s shin hard with the edge of his foot.
“Ugh!”
Anture grabbed his leg and stumbled into an awkward posture.
“I was worried, you bastard!”
Enrique shouted at the top of his lungs, shaking Anture by the collar. Then he threw away the collar he was holding and turned around sharply. People stared blankly at Enrique as he walked away, holding his throbbing forehead.
“Enrique… Enrique?!”
Anture called out in a confused voice from behind, but Enrique didn’t look back and mounted Casto. Then he started galloping towards the castle.
“Your Highness!”
The knights followed in surprise. Anture’s calls grew fainter. As Enrique rode at high speed, he pressed his hot eyes with one hand.
“Fucking bastard.”
Sniffling and cursing, Enrique found himself laughing and crying at the same time.
After Enrique returned from his early morning rush out, Pol made a fuss. It was understandable, as Enrique’s right hand was swollen, and his forehead was red with a visible bump. Pol diligently applied cold compresses to Enrique’s forehead and hand.
“Enrique!”
Kisha came running in. She looked as if she had just woken up and hastily thrown on some clothes.
“I heard there was a fire on the Monta fleet?!”
Kisha asked as she approached. Enrique silently nodded and added:
“The King of Monta is probably dead too.”
“Good heavens!”
Kisha exclaimed, making a sound that could have been either amazement or lamentation, and slumped down opposite Enrique. It seemed the sudden fall of a perfectly fine country and the death of a king had stirred her emotions.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
