#118
Whether he sensed Enrique’s feelings, or was trying to compose himself, Anture stopped calling for Enrique and simply held him tightly. They spent time quietly like that, savoring and imprinting each other’s presence.
Night came before they knew it.
For the first time, Enrique and Anture had the children brought to their bedroom, and the family of four slept in one bed. Though neither said it out loud, they had tacitly agreed that this would be the last night.
Enrique held Ruslan, and Anture held Bayan. They spent most of the long night awake, stroking the heads of the children who resembled them so much and showering them with endless kisses. And then… morning finally arrived.
“Pol,” Enrique called to Pol, who was busy drawing the curtains that had been closed all night. He could feel Anture’s gaze on him, but Enrique pretended not to notice and continued speaking.
“Prepare to return to the royal castle immediately. The luggage can follow later. We’ll have a quick breakfast and depart right away.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Pol answered and immediately turned to leave the bedroom.
Once again, only the four family members remained in the bedroom. Enrique finally turned to look at Anture.
Anture wore a subtle expression. His black eyes, which always gazed at Enrique with passion, now held a light of pain and suffering. Enrique smiled faintly and cupped Anture’s cheek. Then he kissed his cheek gently.
“This time, you’re not the one leaving. I’m the one sending you away, Anture. So don’t make that face. Keep smiling beautifully until the end.”
At Enrique’s gentle words, Anture’s eyes crinkled as if he might cry. Enrique smiled, his eyes curving, and lightly tapped Anture’s eyes. Anture took a deep breath and forced a smile. It was an incredibly awkward smile.
Enrique kissed Anture, who was forcing a smile with a solemn heart. It was a farewell kiss.
As always, the kiss with Anture was sweet. A sweetness he would never taste again. They maintained a quiet silence. As if they had promised to bear their burdens themselves, they just held hands, endlessly caressing each other’s hands.
Finally, the carriage arrived at the royal castle.
Anture, who got out first, extended his hand to support Enrique. Enrique stepped down from the carriage and looked up at Anture. After staring intently into his black eyes for a moment, he reached out to cup Anture’s cheek and gave him a short, intense kiss.
Their tightly sealed lips parted, and the hand cupping Anture’s cheek fell away. Enrique smiled at Anture with the same haughty and dignified smile as when they first met in his boyhood. Then he said softly,
“Goodbye, my little groom.”
At Enrique’s brief farewell, Anture’s black eyes trembled slightly. Enrique turned and approached Ruslan, who was in the nurse’s arms. He gave a long kiss to the silver head that looked just like his own and whispered in Ruslan’s ear,
“Goodbye, my baby.”
Ruslan’s golden eyes stared fixedly at Enrique. His tiny hand touched Enrique’s cheek lightly, as if saying farewell. Enrique took Ruslan’s small hand and kissed it briefly. Then he turned away resolutely, as if shaking off lingering attachment.
“Give him to me,” Enrique extended his hands to the nurse holding Bayan. Holding Bayan tightly in his arms, Enrique turned his head and took one last, deep look at Anture standing still and Ruslan in the nurse’s arms.
“Let’s go in, Pol,” Enrique said, turning to walk while holding Bayan. Fortunately, Ruslan didn’t cry, and Anture didn’t call out to stop Enrique.
Enrique entered the bedroom carrying Bayan, his steps unwavering. He dismissed Pol and sank deep into an armchair. Only then did he let the smile on his face crumble.
His eyes felt hot, as if burned. The hot tears he had been holding back burst forth. Enrique sobbed silently while holding Bayan. The fact that he alone was to blame for this separation was both maddening and heartbreakingly painful.
“Aa. Abu,” Bayan babbled, touching Enrique’s cheek, which was soaked with hot tears. His small hand became wet with tears too. Enrique forced the corners of his mouth up as he looked at Bayan’s black hair and black eyes through his tear-filled vision. But the falling tears wouldn’t stop.
After handing Bayan to Pol to be taken to the nurse, Enrique secluded himself in his room, refusing any visitors. He didn’t even allow Pol to enter. He just alternated between shedding hot tears and staring blankly out the window. After spending the entire day alone like this, darkness fell outside the window.
Knock knock-
A cautious knock sounded. Enrique didn’t answer. But the door opened, and Pol slipped in quietly. Fortunately, the tears had already dried up.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
When Enrique answered briefly, a look of relief flashed across Pol’s face. After hesitating for a moment, Pol finally spoke.
“The Prince and Young Master Ruslan have departed with the Ruben embassy.”
Pol’s voice trembled slightly as he delivered the news.
“I see,” Enrique replied calmly. Then he said,
“I should change into my nightclothes. And bring me some wine.”
“…Yes.”
Pol, answering a beat late, helped Enrique change his clothes. Meanwhile, a servant who had received the order entered pushing a trolley. A light meal and a single glass of wine were set before Enrique. It was Pol’s subtle suggestion to drink just one glass, as Enrique’s postpartum recovery wasn’t complete yet.
Instead of complaining, Enrique slowly savored the food and wine. Although he couldn’t taste the food or wine due to the dryness in his mouth, he ate and drank as if enjoying something delicious. Just as he finished the food and wine cleanly, pretending to be fine, and wiped his mouth with a napkin, he suddenly felt nauseous. Pol, standing right behind him, quickly held a flower vase in front of his mouth.
Uweeek-!
With violent retching that shook his whole body, everything he had just eaten came out of his mouth.
“Your Highness,” Pol called worriedly, patting Enrique’s back. Enrique continued retching, throwing up everything he had eaten. The retching only stopped after he had emptied everything from his stomach.
“This must not leak out anywhere,” Enrique said sternly, wiping his mouth with the napkin Pol handed him. Pol, who had hesitated for a moment, nodded with a pained expression. Enrique rinsed his mouth with water and crawled into bed. As all the candles in the bedroom were extinguished and darkness fell, hot tears began to fall again. Enrique writhed in despair quietly in the bedroom, alone.
Whether he had fallen asleep exhausted from crying, when he opened his eyes, it was morning. Enrique received a cold cloth from Pol and massaged his swollen eyes sufficiently. Then he had a light meal and changed clothes. Fortunately, there was no nausea like the night before. Enrique was inwardly relieved.
After finishing his meal, Enrique called for Bayan and played with him, shaking toys. Bayan, who had been shaking toys and playing energetically, suddenly started looking around Enrique’s side curiously. Enrique quickly realized that Bayan was looking for Anture, who was always by his side. Bayan’s black eyes were full of puzzlement.
Knock knock-
Pol entered with a knock.
“Your Highness, Lord Julian has arrived.”
“Ah, show him to the reception room.”
Enrique, speaking cheerfully, picked up Bayan and headed to the reception room. He had been anxious that Bayan might burst into tears due to Anture’s sudden absence. Julian’s appearance was very timely.
“Enrique!” Julian walked quickly to sit beside him. He was about to say something, but upon seeing Bayan in Enrique’s arms, he quickly changed his expression and smiled brightly. Since having a child, Julian had become fond of children. It was a big change.
“Hello, Your Highness Bayan,” Julian greeted, tapping Bayan’s white, chubby cheeks. Bayan stared at Julian with wide, black eyes. Enrique gestured to call the nurse and handed Bayan over. The nurse carrying Bayan disappeared outside the reception room.
As soon as Bayan was gone, Julian’s expression changed again.
“Enrique.”
“What?”
“Is it true that the Prince and Ruslan left?”
His tone was urgent. Enrique calmly nodded. Julian’s face contorted.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
