#109
Perhaps due to the structural need to constantly move trade goods, the road leading to the port was very wide and well-maintained. As they approached the port, large merchant ships could be seen docked along the coast. It seemed they were unable to set sail due to the fleet encamped along the shore.
Enrique surveyed the vast expanse of sea, the large port, the enormous merchant ships, and the seabirds flying overhead with eyes full of wonder. It felt like he had entered a completely different world. In the future, this place would serve as the outpost for Shamier to expand across the entire continent. The thought filled his chest with pride.
The salty smell of the sea and the pungent odor of fish simultaneously invaded his nostrils. Thankfully, his stomach, hardened by war, did its job. Enrique maintained a calm expression as he slowly rode Casto, taking in the scenery of the port. Surrounded by knights, Enrique arrived at the dock and gazed at the distant coastline.
“Those small dots over there seem to be the Monta fleet,” one of the escort knights said, pointing towards a part of the coastline. Focusing his gaze there, Enrique could see ships floating in a line on the sea. They looked tiny from here, but up close, they were likely quite large.
“To think they’re just holding out there on the sea…” Enrique muttered softly, clicking his tongue.
The King of Monta was certainly guarding his lifeline well. No one would dare touch him while he was aboard such a fleet. Even after losing his capital, castle, and all his territory, he was still the King of Monta. Now, that sea was his territory.
Enrique made a slight gesture, and an escort knight moved close.
“Find someone to gather information about the port area. See if there are any small boats that go back and forth to that fleet late at night, or if there’s anyone who can take us there. The fact that the King of Monta was able to join that fleet means there must be a route to contact them.”
As Enrique whispered, the knight’s eyes hardened. Seeing this expression, Enrique smiled slightly and patted his shoulder, whispering, “Don’t worry. I’m not planning to go myself. I’m aware enough for that.”
The knight’s face relaxed at Enrique’s whisper. Seeing the knight nod, Enrique turned his gaze back to the Monta fleet floating far off the coastline. If they could just destroy that, even that vast sea would belong to Shamier. Enrique’s golden eyes reflected the sunlight, sparkling with an enchanting light.
After returning to the castle, Enrique waited for the knight who had secretly left to return and report. In a port city with all kinds of people mixed together, there would surely be someone willing to sell information about the king if offered enough money.
Enrique’s purpose in gathering information was, of course, to track Anture’s whereabouts. However, it was dangerous to inquire about him directly. There would certainly be spies working for the King of Monta in this city. If Anture was hiding somewhere in the city waiting for an opportunity, or if he had already snuck onto the fleet, information about someone looking for him could be a fatal blow to Anture. So, Enrique was first looking for possible routes Anture might use to approach the King of Monta.
The knight returned late at night. Dressed as an ordinary citizen, he reeked of cheap beer, suggesting he had drunk quite a bit while seeking out informants.
“The information?” Enrique asked directly, having anxiously waited for his return.
“No specific names came up, but there are indeed small boats that occasionally go back and forth to the fleet, using the cover of dark nights or early dawn. The citizens all seem to know about it but are keeping quiet.”
“Duke Duvain must know about this.”
“Yes. It seems the allied forces are already aware of this fact. However, with so many citizens living in the port and their small fishing boats, and with the Monta citizens feigning ignorance, they haven’t been able to identify specific individuals. Instead, I heard that the number of people patrolling the port at night has increased significantly.”
“So, as long as we can find a definite route, there are people who can transport us to the Monta fleet.”
“That’s correct.”
Enrique thought for a moment, then thanked the knight for his hard work and told him to rest.
After the knight left, Pol entered and rummaged through the wardrobe to pull out nightclothes. Enrique stood up from the chair and changed his clothes.
“You must be very tired from the journey, Your Highness. Please rest now,” Pol said as he tucked Enrique into bed and covered him with the sheet. Enrique gestured for Pol to leave and tossed and turned in bed. He certainly felt fatigue washing over him, but whether due to thoughts of Anture or the Monta fleet, he just couldn’t fall asleep.
After tossing and turning for a long time, he was just about to drift off when a familiar scent brushed his nose. It wasn’t a pleasant smell. It was the stench of rotting fish that made his brow furrow involuntarily… the smell of the port.
The moment he realized this, he became wide awake. Along with the smell, he felt the cold night breeze on the tip of his nose. The window must have been opened. Pol had definitely closed it. An intruder must have opened the window and entered.
The salty sea smell and the fishy odor he had encountered at the port grew stronger. Enrique kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep while his mind raced. If he shouted and rolled under the bed, he might have a lower chance of being harmed by the intruder. Or he could grab the dagger under his pillow, a habit from the battlefield, and swing it. No, both might be good.
“Mmm…” Enrique pretended to stir slightly while slipping his hand under the pillow. He firmly grasped the cold handle of the dagger. Having quietly prepared to swing the dagger, Enrique waited for the intruder to come a bit closer. The nauseating smell grew closer and stronger…
‘Now!’
Enrique’s eyes flew open as he swung the dagger sharply in the direction of the likely intruder. He immediately tried to roll his body to the opposite side of the bed. But the situation didn’t unfold as planned. His wrist, wielding the dagger, was painfully gripped, and a hand reeking of fish firmly covered his mouth.
“Mmph…! Mmph!”
Enrique gasped behind the hand covering his mouth, inwardly regretting his actions. He should have shouted first; he hadn’t expected the opponent to be so agile. The man emitting the fishy smell pinned Enrique’s struggling body firmly to the bed. The man had coarse brown shaggy hair. He reeked of a foul odor. Enrique frantically hit and kicked the man’s body with his free hand and feet. He just needed to create a very brief moment, a split second to call out to the knight waiting outside the door.
“…rique. Enrique.”
The man whispered in a hoarse voice. Enrique kicked the man’s stomach hard as he whispered his name.
“Ugh.”
A faint groan escaped the man’s lips.
“It hurts, Enrique.”
The man whispered in a very hoarse voice. Enrique stopped resisting at the familiar tone. Only then did he see the black eyes shining through the coarse brown shaggy hair. The moment their eyes met, he knew. It was Anture!
“An…!”
Just as Enrique was about to call out his name, Anture covered his mouth again. Then he put a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. Enrique nodded. Only then did the hand covering his mouth move away.
“Anture.”
Enrique whispered the name so softly that it could only be heard if his mouth was right next to Anture’s ear. Anture’s eyes crinkled as he smiled.
“Good heavens, what happened to you?”
“I’m sorry. But there’s no time for a long explanation. I’ve found a way to approach the King of Monta. I’ll be moving to the fleet soon. But I came because I heard rumors that you were looking for a way to approach the Monta fleet. Don’t even think about getting on that fleet.”
Anture whispered in a hoarse voice. It was so quiet that Enrique had to concentrate to hear it.
“Why such a dangerous act…!”
Enrique shook his head, clutching Anture’s clothes. But Anture’s gaze was firm.
“Enrique, Enrique. Listen to me carefully.”
Anture whispered, cupping Enrique’s cheeks.
“Tomorrow morning. By tomorrow morning, I’ll gift you the head of the King of Monta. I’ll be safe too. And I’ll explain everything. So wait for me, okay?”
Anture stared at Enrique with determined and confident eyes. Enrique realized once again that he was a born alpha by nature. He could forcibly hold him back here. But that would prevent him from spreading his wings or flapping them as he pleased.
“Come back safely.”
Enrique whispered quietly. Anture silently smiled with his eyes and pressed his lips to Enrique’s forehead. The hand that smelled of fish gently closed Enrique’s eyes. When he docilely closed his eyes and opened them again a moment later, Anture had vanished without a trace from the bedroom.
“Anture…”
Enrique muttered Anture’s name and clenched his fist.
Tomorrow morning. By tomorrow morning, either Anture or the King of Monta would be dead.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
