#113
Several days passed, and finally, the victory celebration banquet was held. The capital had already been hosting numerous large and small banquets for days. The nobles, too, were enjoying parties, circulating among various mansions. Today was the day of the royal parade and the banquet at the royal castle, marking the climax of the festivities.
The King of Shamier, Crown Prince Enrique, and the young prince Bayan were busy preparing from early morning. The royal family had specially ordered three new carriages for today’s parade. They were ornate, open-top parade carriages. The plan was for each of them to ride in a carriage, showing their faces to the people as they made a large circuit of the capital’s main streets.
Enrique, perfectly dressed in his crown prince attire, headed to Bayan’s quarters. Even the young baby Bayan was wearing a uniform that fit him perfectly. He looked so adorable and cute that it was almost unbearable. Enrique couldn’t resist embracing Bayan and gently biting his chubby, white cheeks. He was so cute that Enrique wanted to eat him up.
“Let’s go, Bayan.”
Enrique started walking towards the exit, carrying Bayan. Everyone they met couldn’t take their eyes off Bayan. Enrique couldn’t hide his pleased smile. He even wished this adorable little one wouldn’t grow up.
“Father.”
The King of Shamier had arrived ahead of them. A smile bloomed on the king’s face when he saw Enrique and Bayan in his arms.
“Our young prince looks truly magnificent.”
Enrique smirked as he watched his father take Bayan, almost snatching him away, and plant kisses on his cheeks.
Three carriages of identical design were lined up. The carriages, adorned with large emblems of the Shamier royal family, were extremely ornate. Being open-top, the occupants would be fully visible. The King of Shamier, Enrique, and Bayan each boarded a carriage in turn. Naturally, Bayan was in the arms of his nurse.
For security and safety, soldiers lined the streets, and patrols were stationed among the crowds. Knights on horseback rode ahead of the carriages, proudly waving flags, followed by well-dressed servants constantly scattering flower petals. Armed knights closely guarded the sides of the carriages.
The three carriages set off together. As soon as they passed through the grand gates of the royal castle, the crowd erupted in cheers. The King of Shamier and Enrique smiled brightly and waved to the people who had come to see the parade. Glancing back, Enrique saw the nurse gently waving Bayan’s tiny hand towards the people. When the small baby in uniform waved his hand, joyful laughter and even louder cheers erupted. It seemed that today’s main attraction was neither the King of Shamier nor Enrique, but the little prince Bayan.
Throughout the circuit of the capital, Enrique maintained a bright smile and didn’t stop waving. Today’s parade was not for the royal family, but for the people. Although his cheek muscles twitched from overuse and his arm ached, Enrique did his utmost to maintain his dignity as an approachable and charming crown prince.
The flower petals thrown by the servants at the front had run out, but the petals thrown by the people filled the sky. The people’s cheers were full of joy, elation, and pride. The happiness, elation, and pride in being Shamierian that the people felt filled Enrique’s chest completely.
In the cheers of the people, which could be described as a crucible of joy, Enrique glimpsed the brilliant future of Shamier. He had already taken one step towards what he had been willing to sacrifice everything to achieve.
As they were returning to the royal castle after completing a large circuit of the capital amidst fervent cheers, Enrique spotted a familiar color while alternately waving to both sides of the street.
“…Anture?”
Enrique murmured, seeing a man standing on the second-floor terrace of a building along their route. With his fair and handsome face, sleek black hair, and gentle eye-smile, it was undoubtedly Anture.
“He still hasn’t changed his love for dramatic entrances.”
Enrique muttered grumpily. Then he abruptly stood up and jumped off the slowly moving carriage.
“Your Highness?!”
“Your Highness-!”
The surprised coachman, knights, soldiers, and gathered people called out to him. As Enrique strode forward under the intense gaze of countless people, the crowd lining the streets parted in bewilderment. Enrique headed straight into the building where Anture was.
Perhaps because everyone had poured out onto the streets, the building was empty. His steps on the stairs leading to the second floor unconsciously became hurried and faster. When he reached the top of the stairs at this increasing pace, he saw Anture standing on the terrace, gazing at him.
“You’re not going to hit me again, are you?”
Anture asked with a fox-like eye-smile.
“Why didn’t you come to the royal castle and instead holed up here watching?”
When Enrique asked, Anture glanced back at the crowded street before speaking.
“I wanted to see with my own eyes what you mean to Shamier, among the people.”
It was an unexpected statement.
“One thing is clear. You are Shamier’s future, hope, and light.”
“Why are you suddenly saying such things?”
“To be honest, I thought about taking you away, but after seeing you like this, I absolutely can’t steal you from Shamier.”
Anture continued in a low voice, seeming somewhat disheartened.
Enrique strode towards Anture. Upon reaching the terrace, he could see the people gathered on the street looking up at them. This meant they were completely exposed to their gaze. The murmuring of the crowd was clearly audible. But Enrique, disregarding the numerous stares, reached out with both hands and cupped Anture’s cheeks. Then, enunciating each word clearly and forcefully, he said:
“I love you, Anture Ruben.”
Why here, why now, even Enrique himself didn’t know. He just wanted to say it, felt he had to say it. Anture’s black eyes widened at this first confession of love. Enrique stood on his tiptoes and kissed Anture right there.
The surroundings became as quiet as if a mouse had died. Anture, who had been frozen like a stone for a moment, suddenly wrapped his arms around Enrique’s waist and neck and began to shower him with a storm of kisses. Almost simultaneously, the people erupted in cheers and applause. Thus, the two confirmed their love for each other in front of all the people of Shamier, under a spring shower of fluttering flower petals.
*
Neither could properly remember how they had returned to the castle or how they had made it to the bedroom.
As soon as they entered the bedroom, they hastily began to undress each other. Anture’s ordinary clothes came off relatively easily, but Enrique’s layered crown prince’s uniform was not so simple.
“Enrique… Enrique. Shh, calm down for a moment.”
Anture, half-naked, tried to calm Enrique. Enrique yanked hard on Anture’s hair that he had been gripping. In this situation, at this point, there was no way he could calm down.
“Just tear it off.”
Enrique said, biting Anture’s neck. But for some reason, Anture was adamant. Finally, when Enrique pulled away, Anture let out a deep breath. Then he stood Enrique, who was glaring at him with angry eyes, beside the bed and took a step back.
“What are you trying to do?”
Enrique asked, breathing heavily, his excitement at its peak. His voice was naturally full of discontent.
“You look so handsome right now. It’s too precious to just tear off. I’ll undress you slowly, piece by piece. I want to see you revealed layer by layer.”
Anture whispered with heated eyes. The moment Enrique confirmed that Anture’s desire and excitement hadn’t subsided at all, he had no choice but to nod obediently.
Anture scanned Enrique from head to toe with eyes brimming with desire. Excitement surged wherever his gaze touched, sending shivers through Enrique’s body. Anture reached out and unfastened Enrique’s cape pin. The ornate cape fell to the floor with a soft thud.
Even though only the cape had been removed, it felt as if he had been stripped naked. Anture began to undo the gold buttons of the collar, which were fastened up to the neck, one by one, very slowly. Click, click, click… With each button undone, a tingling sensation ran down Enrique’s spine.
Finally, all the buttons of the outer coat were undone, and it was removed.
Thud.
The coat fell onto the cape. This time, long white fingers began to undo the buttons of the vest. This was not simply an act of undressing. With each button undone, excitement surged to the tips of Enrique’s hair repeatedly. This was almost like foreplay.
The vest, and then the shirt, were removed. As the upper body was revealed, Anture slowly caressed Enrique’s collarbone with his fingertips. It felt electrifying, as if tiny lightning bolts were striking just under the skin where Anture’s fingers moved.
Anture’s fingers glided from the collarbone to the chest, from the chest to the nipples, rubbing them once, and then smoothly down to the lower abdomen. Enrique’s mouth went dry. His lower region throbbed. Deep inside his belly throbbed too. Anture was now exuding pheromones. Enrique, his excitement peaking from Anture’s presence and gestures, was unknowingly emitting thick pheromones as well.
“Now, only this is left.”
Anture said, hooking his fingers on the waistband of Enrique’s trousers.
“Take them off quickly.”
Enrique demanded in a slightly husky voice. But Anture seemed to have no intention of hurrying. He began to undo Enrique’s trousers, his eyes brimming with desire as he gazed directly at Enrique.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
