Side Story #3
The atmosphere of the meeting was generally positive.
Recently, Shamier had been on an upward trajectory. The pirate problem that had been a headache for years was nearly resolved, and maritime trade was getting on track in earnest. Trade agreements with various countries utilizing sea routes were being concluded one by one.
Shamier was growing larger and wealthier, developing and progressing with each passing day. Enrique was at the center, constantly striving to maintain a balance between stability and development. Of course, Anture’s help was significant in this. Anture played a crucial role in connecting, maintaining, and managing various state projects between the Ruben Empire and Shamier.
Even without that, his mere presence provided Enrique with great stability and a strong support. Especially after the passing of the former king, it was Anture who comforted and supported Enrique when he was struggling greatly for a while. If his life partner hadn’t been there to take care of Enrique so attentively, it would have been difficult for Enrique to overcome his sorrow and despair so quickly.
The long meeting finally ended.
Enrique and Anture hurriedly went to find the children. But the children were already gone from the palace.
“That wild colt!”
Enrique, thoroughly irritated, called for his cloak.
“What on earth were the knights and servants doing? Not even stopping two young children from leaving the palace.”
Enrique muttered worriedly. Yes, Bayan had coaxed Ruslan into escaping outside the palace.
Bayan had done this several times before. But they never thought he would take his young brother who had just arrived from Ruben along with him.
“The Crown Prince is just so lively, you see,” Pol said soothingly.
“Not lively, reckless!”
Enrique turned sharply as soon as his cloak pin was fastened. Anture approached Enrique and put an arm around his shoulders.
“The knights must have followed them in droves. They wouldn’t have just let the Crown Prince of Ruben go alone. Besides, they’ve probably just gone to play somewhere in the bustling city center. It will be a good experience for Ruslan too.”
Anture spoke up in Bayan’s defense. Enrique knew he was trying to reassure him, but it still seemed too lenient.
Kidnapping, disappearance, injury, fraud.
Various scenarios that could happen to young children flashed through his mind.
He was worried about the children’s safety, and it also gave him a headache thinking about the strong protests that might come from Ruben if any problems arose.
“Come on, Enrique. Why don’t we go out and play with the children too?” Anture suggested.
“Ruslan needs memories like that too, right? He’s a child who spends every day cooped up in the imperial palace, immersed in successor training. When else would he have the chance to make such memories if not here in Shamier? If we spend some pleasant family time together, it will remain a good memory for him even after he returns. Don’t you think?”
Anture tried to persuade him. Enrique stopped in his tracks.
“…That’s true.”
Enrique mumbled softly and glanced at Anture. Anture smiled brightly. Though he fell for it every time, Enrique felt that Anture was getting better at handling him as time passed.
Heaving a sigh, Enrique gestured for a servant to remove his cloak. The ornate cloak embroidered with the Shamier royal family’s crest was too eye-catching.
“Bring me a black cloak,” Enrique told Pol.
A moment later, Enrique and Anture headed outside the palace, wrapped in black cloaks. Of course, they couldn’t completely abandon safety for the sake of hiding their identities, so they were accompanied by knights.
“The two of them are currently in the downtown area, Your Highness,” reported a knight who had found the children’s whereabouts in the meantime. Enrique started walking, following the knight.
The guided location was right in the middle of a market, the busiest part of the downtown area. Shops and inns lined both sides of the street, and all sorts of stalls were spread out in the center of the road. Enrique and Anture quickly spotted the children. A silver head and a black head were practically glued together, watching someone make sugar candy.
“What shape do you want?” Bayan asked, swallowing hard. The two children, completely absorbed in watching the various shapes being made from sugar, didn’t notice Enrique and Anture standing right behind them.
“I like horses,” Ruslan said.
“Hmm… I like horses too. But it would be a bit odd to get the same thing, so I’ll go with a bear,” Bayan said generously, giving up the horse shape.
“Please make us a horse and a bear,” Bayan ordered from the vendor. Noticing the children’s attire indicating their unusual status, the vendor nodded with a smile.
Enrique and Anture exchanged glances.
“They seem to be playing well together. Why don’t we just watch them a bit longer without catching them now?” Anture whispered softly in Enrique’s ear.
Enrique thought for a moment and then nodded. For the sake of maintaining a strong alliance between the two countries, the brothers needed to become closer. Moreover, it was nice to see Ruslan, who was used to acting mature, looking more relaxed in front of his brother who was closer to his age.
Enrique and Anture moved a little distance away and started observing the children. The children received their differently shaped sugar candies and showed them off to each other with sparkling eyes. They licked them eagerly and then, hand in hand, started walking somewhere. Their curious gazes flitted from one street attraction to another.
“Two gold coins for two sugar candies… When we get back, I’ll have to start with education on financial sense,” Enrique grumbled discontentedly. Anture chuckled softly, watching Enrique connect everything to Bayan’s education.
The children gradually became more innocent in their behavior. They wandered around the market hand in hand, completely carefree. Ruslan’s face was now filled with curiosity, joy, and a sense of freedom. Seeing Ruslan’s faint smile, Enrique was glad they hadn’t immediately caught the children.
As they quietly followed and watched the children, the sun was already setting. Enrique waited for Bayan to finally take Ruslan back to the palace, but the two showed no signs of ending their adventure.
“Have you ever had beer?” Enrique heard Bayan ask.
“I’ve tried wine,” Ruslan answered. Bayan clicked his tongue and boasted.
“A man should try beer. Come on, I’ll buy you some.”
Bayan grabbed Ruslan’s hand and started running off somewhere.
“What the…?” Enrique watched in disbelief.
The two children actually went into a tavern. Enrique and Anture exchanged glances. It was time to end this adventure.
The scene that greeted Enrique and Anture as they entered the tavern was astounding. In that short time, the brothers had joined forces to intimidate the tavern owner.
“Hey! If I say bring it, just bring it! Why so many words?” Bayan shouted with a deliberately stern face. Ruslan, following his brother’s example, also shouted with an equally stern face.
“That’s right. Bring it quickly!”
The tavern owner looked bewildered at the shouts from these little ones, but also seemed perplexed, having noticed the children’s high status from their attire.
“Here, I’ll pay for it, so bring it quickly. I’m going to drink to my heart’s content with my brother today.”
Bayan took out a few gold coins and placed them on the table. The owner’s face immediately brightened at the sight of the shining gold coins.
The owner snatched up the gold coins, put them in his pocket, and quickly brought out two glasses of the ordered drink. The two children sat at the table and started gulping down the contents of the large wooden cups without even taking a breath.
“You wild colts!” Enrique shouted as he strode over. The two children, as if on cue, spat out the liquid they had in their mouths.
Cough, cough!
The two children who had choked continued to cough. Enrique grabbed one ear each of Bayan and Ruslan and pulled hard.
“Ow, owww!”
“It hurts, it hurts…”
Bayan made a big fuss, while Ruslan tried to calmly report his condition.
“You’re still too young to be wandering into places like this on your own. You two should know you’ll get your bottoms spanked when we get back!”
At Enrique’s stern scolding, Bayan’s face crumpled. He knew all too well that his father would do exactly as he said.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
