#117
“Shall I go hunt a deer or something?”
Anture asked. Enrique shook his head without hesitation.
“Just stay here. I like being together.”
Anture’s eyes filled with a deep smile at Enrique’s honest words. Anture put down his fork and took Enrique’s hand. He slowly pulled the hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of it.
As he kissed Enrique’s hand while staring at him intently, Anture’s black eyes flickered with deep affection and burning passion.
“…The doctor said to wait two months,” Enrique said softly. Anture’s eyes widened slightly.
“Do you take me for some beast? I wouldn’t pounce on you when you’ve only given birth a month ago.”
Anture made an aggrieved expression.
“For someone who says that, your eyes look too hot,” Enrique retorted calmly, narrowing his eyes as he asked,
“Really? You didn’t have even the tiniest thought about it?”
Anture hesitated slightly before answering the question.
“Of course I have thoughts. I’m in a state of constant desire for you, every day, every hour. But feeling desire and acting on it are completely different matters.”
“So you do want to, after all,” Enrique said teasingly. Anture suddenly stood up, came around the table, and lifted Enrique into his arms. He walked to the bed, laid Enrique down, and positioned himself over him.
“Surely the doctor didn’t forbid kissing too?”
“Of course not.”
Enrique answered willingly, wrapping his arms around Anture’s neck.
Anture kissed him gently. Sweet and tender kisses followed.
Anture and two children… At this moment, Enrique felt completely fulfilled and content. And he wished that this time at the winter villa could just stop like this.
*
“Ah. Ow.”
Bayan toddled with clumsy steps. Enrique watched the cute sight intently while leaning against Anture. After about seven steps, the small body wobbled and then fell forward. Although there was a soft carpet, so there was no risk of injury, the wet nurse still looked worried and unsure of what to do. Enrique briefly glanced at Anture, who flinched when Bayan fell.
“Leave him be,” Enrique said to the wet nurse who was looking to support Bayan. The wet nurse nodded and stepped back again. Bayan crawled on all fours for a moment, then grunted and stood up again. This time, he started toddling towards Enrique and Anture, stretching out his cute little hands.
“Making him unable to get support even when he falls, you’re too strict,” Anture grumbled.
“He’s the child who will rule Shamier after me. He needs to learn to overcome such minor crises on his own,” Enrique said firmly, waving a toy in his hand to tempt Bayan. Willingly succumbing to the temptation, Bayan began to toddle more carefully towards them. He fell twice more before reaching Enrique. But Enrique didn’t allow the wet nurse to help.
Finally, Bayan reached Enrique’s knees and leaned against them. He reached for the toy. Enrique willingly bestowed the toy upon the victor. Bayan smiled brightly and shook the toy. Watching this, a smile naturally spread across their faces.
“You really are a wise yet strict father,” Anture said, stroking Bayan’s black hair.
“This is how to speed up development. Usually, nobles and royals carry their children around all the time, coddling them, which delays their walking and talking. From now on, we need to make it clear that they must overcome crises on their own and actively move to achieve what they want.”
Certainly, when it came to child education, Enrique had strict standards. It was because he had high expectations for Bayan.
“Since you’re so strict, I guess I should be the kind and gentle father,” Anture said, pressing his lips to the top of Enrique’s head.
“If you coddle him too much, you’ll be punished along with him,” Enrique said, lightly pinching Anture’s thigh. Anture chuckled.
It had already been about a week since they came to the winter villa.
Although he had focused solely on recovery at the palace too, it was much better to rest in the quiet villa. First of all, he didn’t have to worry about the various news that reached his ears. Time passed well just eating, sleeping, resting, and watching the children play while in Anture’s arms.
Perhaps already bored, Bayan threw the toy on the ground. Then he started whining, reaching out towards the wet nurse. He seemed hungry. When Enrique finally nodded, the wet nurse who had been waiting for a sign quickly picked up Bayan and took him to the room.
At last, the reception room became quiet. While it was fun to watch the children play, it was also very nice to spend time just the two of them. Enrique, almost nestled in Anture’s arms, admired the winter landscape that was now coming to an end. The forest scenery with its white cap never got boring no matter how much he looked at it.
Anture silently caressed and fondled Enrique’s nape and shoulders. Enrique also enjoyed the feeling of Anture’s firm thighs with his hands.
“You’ve just turned twenty now,” Enrique said suddenly. Then he thought.
Goodness. Only just twenty.
Perhaps because of the five-year age difference, he was always surprised anew whenever he was reminded of Anture’s age.
Anture laughed lightly. He didn’t show signs of disliking talk about age, but he didn’t seem to welcome it either. Though he didn’t say it, Enrique could tell that he disliked being reminded of the five years he had waited.
“Anture,” Enrique called quietly, looking at the snow-covered forest outside the window.
“Tell me,” Anture replied.
Enrique’s lips moved silently for a moment before he finally gathered his courage and spoke in a calm voice.
“So… when are you leaving?”
At the quiet question, Enrique felt Anture’s breath stop. Enrique patted Anture’s thigh gently with his hand as if to say it was okay.
“The Ruben envoys must have insisted on taking Ruslan to the empire as soon as possible… And seeing how you suddenly suggested spending quality family time, you probably agreed to it.”
“…Enrique.”
“When did you decide to leave?”
Enrique asked in a calm and composed voice.
Silence fell over the reception room for a moment. Seeing how Anture struggled to speak, Enrique sensed that the remaining time would be shorter than expected.
“When we return to the palace from the winter villa, everything will probably be ready for departure to Ruben,” Anture said softly. Then he added,
“Originally, I had said we would return around today.”
Enrique closed his eyes in despair. He thought he had sufficiently anticipated this and prepared himself mentally. But the moment he heard Anture’s words, he felt choked up.
“Enrique, I…”
Enrique gently covered Anture’s mouth with his hand. Then he nestled deeper into Anture’s arms.
“I understand. That’s enough. Let’s just… spend the rest of our time as if we hadn’t had this conversation.”
Anture silently hugged Enrique tightly.
Enrique hugged Anture back. And he tried his best to savor the sensation of the strong body embracing him, Anture’s body heat, and his scent.
It was all part of Enrique’s plan from the beginning.
He refused to be born as a dominant omega in a small kingdom, have a political marriage with someone, bear their children, and live a quiet life. He decided to succeed his father and ascend to the throne of Shamier, and was prepared to endure any sacrifice for it.
Of course, not everything went according to Enrique’s plan. He fell in love with Anture, and came to love Ruslan too. Two out of three marriages ended up being nullified. But in the end, he was able to bring much greater benefits to Shamier than planned.
Yes. It was all the result of Enrique’s own choices. Now the time had come to pay the price. Enrique had been constantly and fiercely preparing himself mentally to humbly accept this outcome. But when the moment actually arrived, it wasn’t as easy as he had thought.
His eyes burned as if on fire. Enrique desperately held back tears, keeping his eyes tightly shut. He had gained benefits, so he had to pay a commensurate price. He couldn’t avoid it, nor should he try to.
“Enrique?” Anture called quietly. Enrique hugged Anture even tighter and leaned deeply into his embrace. He didn’t want to show Anture his tears, nor did he want to show him that he was struggling. He just wanted to remain in Anture’s memory as someone who accepted the end with dignity and composure.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
