Once Upon The Life of The Wise King

The Baby Prince Was Out

ONCE UPON THE LIFE OF THE WISE KING

Volume 2

The Fall of The Royal Family

Chapter 27 - The Baby Prince Was Out

After spending two months in the incubator, the Third Prince, Luciel, was finally released. By that time, Queen Cielisse was already out of the Medical Ward. The whole Royal family was present when the Royal nurses were preparing the third Prince to be discharged. One by one, they gently took off the apparatuses from the baby and cleaned him up. Once ready, a nurse gave the baby to the Queen. "Your Majesty. His Highness is ready," the nurse said.

Queen Cielisse took the baby from the nurse. She gazed at her cooing baby with loving eyes and reached out her finger, which was grasped by the baby. "Look at you. You are so adorable," the Queen said.

"Wanna see! Wanna see!" Prince Alphonse, who stood beside his brother, jumped up as he wanted to look at the baby as well. King Wenhart picked him up and together, they all looked at the baby. "So Pretty! So white!"

Prince Luciel was born with a tuff of white hair which was unlike the rest of the family who had light blonde hair. His eye color was not known yet since he was not able to open his eyes yet. However, Queen Cielisse hoped to see green eyes just like the King's.

"Why is his hair white?" Prince Colin asked to which the King replied, "You and your brother had very light blonde hair when you were just born. It was almost white. But as you grew, it changed into light blonde."

Looking at his father, the First Prince summarized, "So it will become blonde when he grows up?"

"Most likely."

"His hair seems different," the Queen spoke. "His hair is as white as snow. It will probably remain white for the rest of his life."

"We are all blonde here. If what you said is right, then he must have inherited his white hair from our ancestor," King Wenhart said.

After hearing the words from his father, Prince Colin remembered his previous lesson in history. Based on what he had learned, the First King of their Kingdom used to have dark hair until he found the black firestone. Due to his overexposure to the black firestone, his hair turned white. Thinking about the piece of black firestone he gave to his mother from the witch, he believed that the baby was overexposed to the black firestone which made his hair as white as snow.

As the Royal family walked away from the nursery, Prince Alphonse in his father's arms and Prince Luciel in his mother's embrace, Prince Colin spoke out his thoughts about the reason why the youngest's hair is white. He said, "I remember the First King had white hair due to his exposure to the black firestone. Maybe the reason why baby's hair is white is because of that as well?"

The Royal couple shared a look. King Wenhart called a maid and handed her the Second Prince, who protested as he wanted to stay with his younger brother. The maid coax him with toys, asking him to select some of the toys he owned that he wanted to give to the baby.

"Let us go to my study." King Wenhart lead his family to the study. Once they arrived, the King made sure that they won't be heard by anyone that was passing by the room. He sat on the couch. To his right, his wife settled with the baby, and opposite them was their eldest son, Prince Colin.

"We have been thinking these past two months," the King began. "When your mother was pregnant with the baby, Priestess Bhavisha checked on her. Then, she said that this baby here," he said as he looked at the sleeping boy, "is the heir that we have been waiting for."

Prince Colin's eyes widened. He was having conflicting emotions at the news he was told. Because of his status as the First Prince, he often heard the people from the town talked about him, not being a qualified heir. He often wished that his parents would have an heir because he did not want to see his mother's sadness. And now that he learned that the baby was the heir, he was both happy and disappointed. He was happy because finally, the Kingdom has an heir now. But at the same time, he was disappointed in himself.

Queen Cielisse had been looking at her son. She knew her son well. Knowing his conflicting emotions, she prompted, "How do you feel now that you learned your brother is the heir?"

"Honestly, I feel conflicted. I am happy that we have an heir now. But also, I feel so disappointed in myself."

"Why are you disappointed?"

"Because... Because I am the First Prince..."

The Queen knew what he meant. "That is true," she said. "But please. don't be disappointed in yourself. Throughout history, there is only one heir. No matter how many children the King will have, the heir is only one of them. It just so happens that this is the first time that the firstborn is not the heir. It doesn't matter if you are firstborn or not. If the heir is ready to appear in this world, then he will appear regardless of his rank. What's more, it did not say in the books that the heir must be the firstborn."

Prince Colin was quiet. He was looking down at his shoes.

"Maybe, this thing that happened to us will become a reference to the next generation who would not have a firstborn heir."

"I understand what you are trying to say, mother," Prince Colin said. His mind was now at peace.

"About your brother being the heir," King Wenhart said, "you must keep it a secret. There will be people after him if words come out. As the First Prince and his older brother, it is your duty to protect him well and teach him how to defend himself. Do you understand?"

"Yes, father. I will protect him with all my heart!"