#56
Chapter 7
As Enrique enjoyed a simple breakfast at the small table by the bedroom window, he heard a faint sigh. Turning his head, he saw Pol directing other servants while tidying up the bed. As he changed the messy sheets and cleaned up, he wore a somewhat complicated expression.
“Is something wrong at home? Why the sigh?”
Enrique asked, chewing on a piece of bread. Pol glanced at Enrique, looked around at the servants, and shook his head. As the cleanup was nearly finished, he told the servants he’d take care of the rest and sent them all out.
After all the servants had left, Pol closed the door firmly and approached Enrique. He filled a cup with hot tea. While his service was impeccable, Pol himself looked very troubled.
“Why the long face?”
Enrique asked again, sipping the freshly poured warm tea. Pol finally let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“Your Highness, the wedding is just around the corner.”
“Yes, it is. So?”
“Well, what I mean is…”
Pol trailed off, glancing towards the bed. Following his gaze, Enrique saw the golden cord at the head of the bed.
“If you have something to say, just say it.”
Enrique said gruffly. Pol hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Well… There’s a tradition of not seeing each other for a while before the wedding. They say it leads to a long and happy marriage. That’s why I didn’t see my wife for a while before our wedding.”
“What’s your point?”
“I’m saying it would be better if you didn’t meet with the Prince until the wedding day. But forget about just seeing each other, he’s sneaking into your bedroom every night… This completely breaks the wedding tradition. Even if it’s superstition, there must be a reason it became tradition. If you keep doing this, you might not get along well after the marriage.”
Pol, bringing up traditions and superstitions, looked quite serious. Enrique immediately scoffed.
“We’re going to divorce anyway, so what does it matter if we get along well or not? As long as we have a child, that’s all that matters.”
“Your Highness!”
“And he’s not sneaking in, he’s coming openly. Because I called him.”
Enrique said nonchalantly. In fact, it was always Enrique who pulled the cord, and Anture was just responding to the call.
“How old are you to believe in such superstitions and get all serious about it? You already have a child. Tsk.”
Enrique clicked his tongue. Pol made a disgruntled face. He clearly didn’t approve.
“Still, traditions have their reasons…”
Pol started chattering again. Enrique pretended not to hear and sipped his tea.
Since first pulling the cord, Enrique had completely let his guard down. He pulled it when he was bored at night, when he thought of Anture, or when he simply saw the cord. As a result, they spent almost every night together, rolling around in bed.
Of course, as this wasn’t behavior to be shown publicly, Enrique always kicked Anture out mercilessly at dawn. But there was nothing that could be done about the messy bed. And cleaning up that bed was always Pol’s job.
“Even superstitions have reasons for existing, you know.”
Pol kept on chattering. Enrique let most of it slide, but it was hard to ignore completely.
“Alright.”
Enrique said briefly. Pol’s eyes widened.
“Alright? Do you mean you won’t use that cord anymore until the wedding?”
Pol asked, seeking confirmation. Enrique nodded.
“I won’t use it. I won’t, so stop worrying and please stop nagging.”
As Enrique gave a definite answer, Pol’s face immediately brightened.
When Enrique held out his empty teacup, Pol filled it with a broad smile. To be so happy over just that, what was all this fuss about superstitions and traditions? Enrique inwardly clicked his tongue.
It wasn’t just because of Pol’s nagging.
Spring had arrived. The wedding was right around the corner. It seemed like it was time to stop playing at being secret lovers. Both Enrique and Anture needed to prepare themselves mentally for married life.
“What’s the schedule for today?”
Enrique asked, and Pol assumed a dignified posture as he spoke.
“In the morning, you’ll go for a light horseback ride with your friends, and have lunch outdoors with them. Everything is already prepared, of course. Then you’ll return to the castle, take a light bath, and rest. Finally, there’s a dinner meeting with the Ruben side in the evening.”
It was really an unremarkable schedule, just like the past few days. This was the King’s way of being considerate. King Shamier didn’t want his son, who was about to get married, to be tied up with work.
Enrique spent a leisurely morning, got dressed, and headed to the stable. Julian and Kisha had already arrived.
“You’re early?”
Enrique said to his friends who were clinging to his horse, Casto.
“Oh, good morning.”
“Ah, you’re here?”
But they just glanced at Enrique and greeted him briefly before turning their attention back to Casto.
The intelligent Casto knew well that humans fell in love with him as soon as they saw him. And he loved to show off.
Julian and Kisha kept exclaiming in admiration as they stroked, petted, and patted the majestic Casto. It seemed a bit pathetic, but also understandable. Casto was truly a beautiful horse, and even Enrique, who had been with him since he was a foal, couldn’t help but admire him every time he saw him.
“Enrique, when this guy has foals later, can’t you give me just one? No, no. I’ll pay, so please sell one to me.”
Kisha pleaded while stroking Casto’s mane.
“Hey, I called dibs first! I’ve already reserved the prettiest of Casto’s foals.”
“How petty, treating a friend like this? I’m going to beg my husband. He’ll snatch one for me in no time!”
“Oh really? Now you’re bringing up your husband, you petty thing. Are you a child? Are you?”
Julian and Kisha bickered over Casto’s non-existent foals. Enrique clicked his tongue and pulled the two away from Casto.
As Enrique pushed them away, they returned to their own horses with lingering looks of regret. Enrique grabbed the saddle and swiftly jumped onto his horse. Julian, Kisha, and the rest of the group prepared to depart.
Two knights carrying flags took the lead. Enrique, Julian, and Kisha rode their horses side by side behind them. The snow that had piled up on the roadsides had long since melted in the spring warmth. Instead, green buds were sprouting on the dry branches.
“Ah, this reminds me of old times. We used to go out like this all the time.”
Kisha said in a nostalgic voice. Then she added with a gloomy face,
“This will probably end once Enrique gets married. I’ll have to return to the Dubain estate too.”
“If you don’t like that, why don’t you stay at the royal palace with your child for a while?”
Julian suddenly suggested. Hearing this, Kisha fell into deep thought.
Conflict appeared on Kisha’s face. Her feelings were obvious. She wanted to stay and play with her friends, but she didn’t want to be apart from her husband.
“Can’t you be apart from your husband for even a few months? Look at you, eternal love, eternal love.”
Julian, having seen through Kisha’s dilemma, started teasing her. Kisha punched Julian’s shoulder.
“As if you’re any different? You and your wife don’t have to worry about this because you’re staying at the royal palace.”
“Hmph, if you’re envious, you and your husband could stay at the royal palace too. Surely we can spare a room for you two, right, Enrique?”
Julian asked. Enrique shook his head without hesitation.
“Kisha can stay, but Duke Dubain can’t. He’s been tasked with managing the war horses sent from Ruben, so he needs to return to his estate soon.”
“Ah, right, it was Duke Dubain who was managing the war horses.”
Julian nodded as if he had just remembered.
“What will you do? Your husband has to go work, apparently. What about you?”
Julian asked again. His persistence suggested that he too wanted to spend more time with Kisha.
“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”
Kisha postponed her decision. She seemed reluctant to leave, but also worried about staying.
The three of them rode side by side, enjoying the spring scenery along the road.
After riding for a while, when they had gotten some distance from the royal castle, they heard the sound of rapidly approaching hoofbeats from behind. Turning their heads, they saw Anture, who had already ridden up close.
“They were together just last night, and he already can’t stand being apart.”
Julian whispered. Kisha nodded and giggled.
“Enrique!”
Julian and Kisha quietly fell back, and Anture took their place. Matching speed right beside Enrique, Anture reached out and took Enrique’s hand. Then he placed a brief but passionate kiss on the back of Enrique’s hand.
