#58
By the way, to covet the dominant heir so blatantly even before the wedding ceremony….
If by chance the first child is born dominant, the Ruben side will try to take that child away by any means necessary. Even with the agreement in place, what couldn’t the powerful Ruben Empire do if they wanted to?
Of course, the second child promised to Ruben could be born dominant. If that happens, Enrique would consider it luck and hand the child over. But if they try to take away the first child…
A cold glint appeared in Enrique’s eyes as he glared into the darkness.
If such a thing really happens, even if it means forming an alliance and going to war with Ruben, he would make them pay for deceiving him.
Tap tap tap-.
A familiar sound reached Enrique’s ears as he was swallowing his emotions. It was the sound of someone knocking on the window.
Hmph.
With his feelings already hurt because of Ruben, there was no way he wanted to see the face of Anture, the Ruben Prince. Enrique snorted and ignored the sound. But Anture was persistent as always.
Tap tap-. Tap tap tap-. Tap tap tap tap-.
The sound of fingertips tapping on the window continued incessantly. The sound was saying that it would keep knocking until he opened.
“Damn it!”
Enrique finally got up from the bed irritably. Walking over with big strides, he pulled back the curtain to see Anture crouching by the window.
“Why are you here? I don’t want to see your face right now.”
“Enrique, please open the window.”
“Get lost.”
“Enrique, please.”
Enrique, who was about to close the curtain and turn away, hesitated at the word ‘please.’ Although Anture acted weak in front of Enrique, he rarely used such pleading words.
Tap tap tap-.
“Enrique, please open the window.”
Anture pleaded again.
Enrique took a deep breath and finally unlocked the window.
As soon as the window opened, Anture hugged Enrique tightly. His scent enveloped Enrique.
“I’m sorry for upsetting you. I didn’t know they would talk about that there.”
“Even if they hadn’t talked about it there, you already knew, didn’t you? The Ruben side must have already made up their mind and had plenty of discussions about it, right? You knew all along and didn’t even give me a hint.”
“……”
Instead of lying, Anture chose silence.
The word “disappointed” almost slipped out. Enrique swallowed the word that was trying to escape his throat with difficulty. If there were no expectations to begin with, could there be disappointment? Yes, there shouldn’t be any expectations between them.
“You’re probably making up your mind to distance yourself from me again.”
Anture said as if he had seen through Enrique’s thoughts.
“No matter what intentions they have, I have absolutely no intention of doing that. I will do exactly as I promised you, as you wish. Even if His Majesty the Emperor orders me directly, I will refuse. Our first child, whether dominant or not, will be the heir of Shamier, your heir. I swear I’ll make it so. So please, don’t be angry.”
“No matter how much you’re the heir of Ruben, you’re not the Emperor yet. When the Emperor makes a decision, you’ll have no choice but to obey. So don’t make such promises lightly.”
Enrique pointed out in a cold voice. He was furious at the situation of his country, which couldn’t help but be diminished in front of a great power.
No matter what, by any means necessary, he would make Shamier grow into a great power no less than Ruben.
Enrique gritted his teeth and made this vow.
“I have it all figured out. You just need to trust me. I won’t disappoint you. So, Enrique. Don’t think about pushing me away.”
“……”
“I know you care for and love your country more than me. If you had to choose between me and Shamier, you would choose Shamier without hesitation. Because I know that about you, I won’t create such a situation in the first place. I’ll make sure you never have to choose between me and Shamier. Enrique, you need to trust me. I’ll really make it happen.”
Anture’s husky baritone was laden with intense appeal. Listening to him repeat this over and over, Enrique felt the anger in his heart subsiding a little. But inwardly, Enrique thought that he couldn’t stake the future of his country on the sweet promises of a man in love. However, he could at least pretend to believe.
“Alright. I got it, so stop now and go back.”
When Enrique patted his back and spoke, Anture released his arms. Holding Enrique’s shoulders with both hands, Anture met his gaze. His black eyes intently observed Enrique’s expression.
“Do you really trust me?”
Anture asked.
“I trust you.”
Enrique answered, looking directly into Anture’s black eyes.
A smile spread across Anture’s face as he read sincerity in Enrique’s eyes and answer. He pressed his lips to Enrique’s with joyful eyes. Enrique responded to the passionate kiss willingly while inwardly muttering:
‘Yes, I trust you. At least you in this moment. But no one knows the future.’
*
Dong-. Dong-. Dong-.
After a very long time, the bells rang in the Shamier royal palace. It was the first time they had rung since Enrique’s birth.
The capital of Shamier and the royal palace were engulfed in a festive atmosphere. All the nobles of Shamier flocked to the royal palace to attend this grand wedding, and the common people also held celebrations surrounding the palace.
“Your Highness, you look so handsome.”
Pol said in an emotional voice as he looked at the fully dressed Enrique.
Instead of a white wedding outfit, Enrique wore the deep blue royal formal uniform of Shamier. This was to firmly establish that although he was marrying the Ruben Prince, this marriage did not mean belonging to Ruben.
“Now…”
Pol, who had spoken this far, cleared his throat as if choked up.
“It’s time to go to the wedding venue.”
Pol said in a slightly hoarse voice. While Enrique, the actual person getting married, was calm, Pol was the one who couldn’t sit still.
“It’s not like I’m going to a battlefield, so try to calm down.”
Enrique said, patting Pol’s shoulder. Pol scratched his cheek, looking embarrassed. Then he took a deep breath and nodded.
Enrique stopped for a moment as he was walking to leave his quarters. Turning back, he saw his bedroom where he had lived since the moment he was born. Although he would continue to live in the Shamier royal palace, he wouldn’t be using this bedroom for a few years.
After briefly looking around the bedroom, Enrique turned his head without lingering and left the room.
The wedding was held in the central hall of the royal palace.
Upon arriving at a small waiting room, Pol and other servants fussed over Enrique, meticulously adjusting his already impeccable attire.
Servants busily came and went, reporting on the situation in the central hall.
All the nobles of Shamier had entered, and all the people from the Ruben side had also completed their entrance.
The King of Shamier, who was officiating the wedding, had also taken his place.
Once everyone was in their place, it was finally time to enter. Enrique cast his gaze through the waiting room door that the servants were opening wide.
The door of the waiting room directly opposite opened almost simultaneously. Anture could be seen standing beyond the wide-open door. He was wearing the black formal uniform of the Ruben imperial family, elaborately embroidered with gold thread. The only thing identical to Enrique’s attire was the golden sash draped over his shoulder.
Their eyes met. Anture’s black eyes stared intently at Enrique as if he would devour him. The image of the young Anture he had met years ago flashed through Enrique’s mind. That child with pretty and innocent eyes had now grown into a fine adult, standing before him to become his husband.
As if by agreement, they both took a step towards each other at the same time. With each step closer, Enrique felt his heartbeat quickening slightly. He tried to maintain his composure and calm. But when Anture came right in front of him and held out his hand, Enrique’s heart began to pound heavily.
Enrique couldn’t easily take Anture’s hand. He had a vague feeling that the moment he took that hand, many things would change. From the moment he took Anture’s hand and entered the central hall to make their vows, Enrique would begin an intense battle. This wedding ceremony was the prelude to a bloody war between Enrique’s emotions and reason.
“Enrique.”
Anture called quietly. Enrique raised his eyes to meet Anture’s gaze.
“You have nothing to worry about. Just take my hand.”
With those words, Anture quietly held out his hand, waiting for Enrique.
In those black eyes calmly gazing at Enrique, only Enrique was deeply engraved. When he looked at him with such eyes, Enrique unknowingly wanted to believe him. That’s why, each time, Enrique had to resist the trust that naturally arose.
‘For the glory of Shamier.’
Enrique muttered inwardly as if he were a knight going into battle, and raised his hand to place it on Anture’s. Anture grasped Enrique’s hand tightly and gave a gentle eye-smile.
“Enter!”
The thick, ornate doors opened wide.
Hand in hand, Anture and Enrique walked into the central hall filled with people.
