“Your Majesty,” one of the guards called, his tone apologetic but resolute. “You cannot pass.”
Frustration flared in Kasser’s chest, but he knew there was no point in arguing. In the end, he was confined to the tower—the place farthest from the queen’s bedchamber.
It wasn’t so much a matter of imprisonment as it was the king’s own voluntary withdrawal. Tradition dictated that no king should approach a laboring queen, and it wasn’t a custom unique to the Kingdom of Hashi. It was a rule followed across all the kingdoms.
Kasser’s jaw clenched as he stared at the walls that now separated him from Eugene. The birth of a prince meant the arrival of a new Praz—an extension of the king’s own power.
In the kingdom, the true owner of a Praz was the king alone. A prince’s Praz wasn’t officially recognized until it could be controlled. Unchecked power was dangerous, and its potential for destruction was immense.
As it had always been explained to him, just as two predators cannot coexist on the same peak, the king’s Praz and a prince’s Praz would inevitably clash. History had shown that only after the death of a reigning king did a prince’s Praz fully strengthen and come under control.
Kasser’s thoughts darkened as he recalled the details. In the moment of birth, a prince’s Praz would be at its most unstable. The king’s own Praz might perceive the infant as a threat and lash out.
There had never been a recorded incident of such a tragedy, but the tradition of keeping the king away during childbirth had not arisen without reason. The prince’s life was at stake. No one, not even the king himself, would dare to break the custom.
The tower, once a watchtower, was narrow and cramped, spanning only five paces from one end to the other. Inside, Kasser paced relentlessly, his steps echoing off the stone walls. Despite the steward having brought a chair for him, Kasser couldn’t bring himself to sit, not even for a moment. Round and round he went, until the dizziness made his head spin, yet he couldn’t stop. His anxiety was a relentless force, propelling him forward.
He halted abruptly when he sensed footsteps ascending the tower. It was the steward again—this time undeterred, even under the king’s intense, piercing gaze.
“What news?” Kasser demanded, his voice sharp with impatience.
“The queen is still in labor, Your Majesty,” the steward replied, his tone strained.
“Why is it taking so long? Nothing’s wrong, is there?” Kasser’s eyes narrowed as he studied the steward, his fists clenched at his sides.
“Please, do not worry. They say the birth is progressing smoothly.”
“Who says that?”
“The midwives…”
“You’ve been repeating the same thing over and over!”
The steward bowed his head, silent. He had several younger siblings and recalled how his mother had delivered his youngest sibling in just three hours. But for a first birth, such a swift delivery was unheard of. It had not even been three hours since the queen had gone into labor, and there was still a long road ahead.
Realizing that Kasser’s anxiety was clouding his thoughts, the steward remained quiet, unwilling to repeat what he had already said multiple times. He understood that it wasn’t a matter of the king not understanding—it was simply that his worry kept making him forget.
And strangely, the steward found it somewhat awe-inspiring to witness the king, usually so composed and unshakable, now restless like any other man.
“Go quickly and check on the situation,” Kasser commanded.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The attendant bowed deeply, his face solemn. Without another word, he turned and hurried down the tower steps. Though he doubted anything could have changed in such a short span, he silently descended without complaint, his thoughts consumed by the king’s palpable anxiety.
The labor that had begun in the early afternoon stretched on relentlessly, persisting as twilight faded into the depths of night. Kasser could feel every passing minute drag on like an eternity. He came to understand what it truly meant to feel as though one’s insides were burning. His mouth was parched, yet he couldn’t force himself to drink a single sip of water.
The attendant climbed the tower again, and each time he reported the same thing. In Kasser’s mind, he had already seized the man by the collar and shaken him countless times. The endless repetition was driving him to the edge.
He was desperate to run to Eugene’s side himself, to hold her hand and be there when the child was born. But he remained confined to the tower, his fear a constant weight on his chest. He was terrified that his presence might somehow endanger the child—or worse, Eugene herself. The helplessness gnawed at him, maddening in its intensity.
As he paced with a grim expression, Kasser suddenly froze. Footsteps were racing up the stairs—faster than before, urgent and frantic.
Please, he prayed silently, his hands clenched in desperate hope. Let it be good news. Let Eugene be safe. Let nothing have gone wrong.
The door flew open, and the attendant burst through, his face flushed but bright with a wide smile. Kasser’s heart leaped in his chest.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty!” the attendant exclaimed, his voice full of joy. “A prince has been born!”
Kasser felt a wave of relief crash over him, but his voice was hoarse as he asked, “And the queen?”
The attendant’s smile only widened. “She is safe and well.”
Only then did Kasser collapse into the chair that had been placed for him earlier. His legs, drained of all strength, could no longer hold him. Burying his face in his hands, he exhaled a long, trembling breath. The weight of the fear, the waiting, the endless uncertainty, all seemed to lift in that moment.
It felt as though a single beam of light had pierced the suffocating darkness surrounding him. The prince was safe. Eugene was safe. And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Kasser allowed himself to breathe again.
An hour later, after receiving word that it was now safe for him to approach, Kasser descended the tower steps with a heavy heart. Standing outside the queen’s chambers, Marianne greeted him with a radiant smile and a respectful bow.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty,” she said, her voice full of warmth.
The courtiers nearby also joined in, offering their felicitations in unison.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
Kasser gave a terse nod, his expression still grave. He acknowledged them, but his mind was elsewhere—focused entirely on Eugene. He knew he would not feel at ease until he saw her with his own eyes.
As he entered the bedchamber, Dana, who had been seated by the bed, rose to greet him. Kasser bowed slightly in acknowledgment.
“You have done well,” Kasser said.
“I hardly did anything, Your Majesty,” Dana replied, her voice thick with emotion. “It is this child who endured it all.”
Dana’s gaze lingered on her sleeping daughter, her eyes misty with tears. Pride and gratitude swelled within her as she marveled at Eugene’s safe delivery and newfound motherhood.
But Kasser’s attention was already fixed on the bed. From the moment his gaze fell upon it, he saw nothing else. He heard nothing else. He approached slowly, as if entranced.
Nestled against Eugene’s chest, their newborn son slept soundly, his tiny breaths soft and steady. His downy hair, a beautiful shade of blue, mirrored Kasser’s own. For a long moment, Kasser stood frozen, gazing at the child who had been cradled in Eugene’s womb only hours before. Then, his focus shifted to Eugene. His heart swelled, and he sank into the chair beside the bed, his gaze never leaving her.
His hand reached hesitantly for the strands of hair clinging to her sweat-dampened forehead. But just before his fingers brushed her skin, he halted. What if I wake her? The thought of disturbing her peace was unbearable. His hand hovered, trembling slightly, before he withdrew it, unable to bring himself to touch her.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to quell the sudden heat stinging behind them. Gratitude, guilt, joy—an overwhelming tide of emotions surged within him, and he found no words to contain them. All he could do was sit in silence and watch her, his heart full.
Several hours later, when the court ladies came to take the baby to nurse, Kasser still remained by Eugene’s side. The hours passed, the passage of dawn marking the start of a new day, yet he never once left her.
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