Shin Buyong was cleaned by the midwife and afterwards covered with a quilt. On the other hand the newborn baby was also cleaned up by the maids. She was wrapped in a pink blanket and put inside a cot. The cot was placed beside her mother.
The next moment the mid-wife march over to the door and announced "Congratulations Your Majesty, it's a little princess"
As soon as her voice trails off, the door snapped open and Kim Byeon In rushed in.
The midwife and the maids bow to him and scurry over to a corner of the room.
Kim Byeon In moved closer to Shin Buyong who was laying ashen-face on the bed, so weak and drained that she couldn't lift a finger. All she could do was to watch as Kim Byeon In figure sauntered toward her.
Coming to a stop in front of her, Kim Byeon In stumped on the chair in front of her "it must be hard on you. You've done well my queen"
Shin Buyong could only manage a light smile in response. Kim Byeon's eyes stray away from her toward the cot that held the baby and he picks up the tiny baby from it. A big grin appeared on his face as he held the little being in his arms.
The overwhelming joy that hits a person when they are confronted with happiness is something you can't really understand unless you experience it. It affects people in a strange way and that feeling of joy is exactly what he is feeling at the moment as he grinned from ear to ear.
The baby stirred up in his arm making some whiny sound and Kim Byeon In cooed at her gently until she settled down, falling back into her peace.
Her little right arm slid out of the blanket and Kim Byeon In eyes quivered when he saw her small birthmark, shade darker and shaped like a butterfly who doesn't have the ability to take off yet. Kim Byeon In took a finger to the birthmark and touched it. The little baby whined loudly again as if she was protesting against what her father just did and Kim Byeon In instantly took back his finger and coo her soothingly.
'it was just a birthmark' He concluded discarding the strange feeling he felt on seeing the birthmark.
Noticing the little princess settling down Kim Byeon In gently laid her back in her cot and turned his attention back to Shin Buyong.
Her long black hair slid over one of her shoulders and Kim Byeon In hand found it way to it tugging them back to the rest.
"Thank you very much my queen, for giving us this little bundle of joy" He expressed while stroking her hair.
Shin Buyong's reply whispered from her mouth like a moth rustling dry leaves. "It was all Your majesty immeasurable grace"
The door sliding open distracted their attention and young Kim Sohyun walked in.
"Mother" he called smiling, displaying a perfect set of pearly white baby teeth.
Shin Buyong's eyes lit up and she tried sitting up from the bed. "it's my little prince" She beamed but didn't make it far because a wave of dizziness hit her and she stumped back to the bed groaning along the way.
Kim Byeon In gasped and a hot sense of urgency ran down his spine. "Don't move yet. You haven't regained your strength" He whispered, tucking Shin Buyong inside the quilt.
Then he turned to face his son "Sohyun"
"Yes Father," Kim Sohyun replied drearily. His face changed drastically to an angry expression. It was cleared he was unhappy about his father stopping his mother from hugging him.
Noticing his moody face Kim Byeon In released a soft sigh before saying "Your mother is still weak. She doesn't have the strength to move freely for now. Try to understand her"
Kim Sohyun forced a smile and nodded, then his eyes shifted to the little princess inside the cot. Not hearing his son respond,Kim Byeon In traced his gaze and it landed on the princess sleeping peacefully.
He cheerfully announced "Sohyun you now have a little sister"
Kim Sohyun's expression melted into softness after hearing his father's words. He jabbed a finger toward the princess and asked "little sister?"
Kim Byeon In nodded "Yes, you are her elder brother. You must always protect her"
There was a childish gleam in his dark brown eyes as he stared at the princess like he was accessing her. A wisp of proudness and self confidence emerged in Kim Sohyun's eyes. "Mother I now have a little sister to protect"
Shin Buyong released a short chuckle in response as she watched their son smiled brightly with his eyes still glued on the cute being in the cot.
Meanwhile Kim so hyun noticed that the baby wasn't moving or making any sound. Is she sleeping?. The next moment he concluded with his speculation and said. "She is sleeping already. Wow so beautiful"
Kim Byeon observe the baby for a second and said, "I don't think she is sleeping"
"But her eyes are closed" probe Kim Sohyun as he wasn't convinced. It was clear the baby isn't showing any reaction so the only logical reason for that is that she might be sleeping.
Kim Sohyun's gaze was icy as he awaited his father's explanation.
Kim Byeon In reply was "All baby are born blind"
Placing his hand on his chin, there was a short silence as Kim Sohyun wondered about that fact. Shin Buyong managed to lift her body from the bed, she ogled at the baby and the little being moved his tiny finger a bit then her eyes then moved back to Kim Sohyun "it's true Sohyun, your little sister isn't sleeping yet"
"Okay" Kim Sohyun shrugged his shoulders. He lifted a finger to the princess's pink lip and touched it. it was so soft and tiny.
His finger proceeded further touching the tip of the princess nose "Father is right, the prettier your child will be, the more pain you will feel. Now look at how beautiful she is"
Kim Byeon In and Shin Buyong exchange a glance smiling, warmth surge through their eyes as they stare at their son in gentle gratitude
Kim Sohyun eyes stare dreamily inside the cot at the cute being and he added " I can't wait to see how pretty you will be once you grew up"
Everyone chuckled including the maids and the royal midwife that were standing at a corner of the room. The young prince is just too cute to be ignored.
Shin Buyong yawned loudly from tiredness. She could feel her eyelids getting heavier but she didn't want to give in to sleep. She want to enjoy this joyful moment with her family and cannot allow her sleepiness to ruin it.
"Your Highness, the chief generals, requests an audience with you!"
An announcement from the eunuch at the door boomed loudly and they all turned to the direction of the voice.
"Let him in," Kim Byeon answered and almost immediately the door opened as the time when he came to his feet.
Knowing it's was unwise of him to come in such a hurry and manner as when the queen just gave birth, General Heukchi, a man in his thirties, was aware that it was only proper that he gave an apology first before stating the reason that brought him there.
He stood a reach arm away from Kim Byeon In and bow courteously. "Your Highness, please forgive my imprudence. It's an urgent matter"
Kim Byeon waves a hand in understanding "It's alright. What's is it about"
General Heukchi was quiet for the next moment as he looked at the queen back to the maids in the room. When Shin Buyong realised General Heukchi was holding back because of her presence, she furrowed her brow, then wondered what the matter was about that he was being reluctant to say it infront of her.
Kim Byeon In, also realizing the reason for his silence and seeing his wife's displeased face, chuckled softly and said. "Don't worry General Heukchi, you can talk. She is your queen after all"
It took a second for General Heukchi to know that Shin Buyong was following up on his reluctant behavior and seemed to grimace about it. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I was just being cautious."
There was a short silence from Shin Buyong, as it practically took nearly a minute before she finally spoke. "It's okay." She then turned to the maids and order "Leave the room and take the crown prince with you"
Shin Buyong figured out General Heukchi might lose his tight guard a bit if the maids and the midwife are excused.
Hearing her order the maids and royal midwife bow and walk out of the room, taking the young prince with them. When the room was cleared General Heukchi Inhale a deep air and revealed. "Your Majesty, I have found Heo Young hye and his wife"
General Heukchi knew he didn't have to elaborate his words, knowing Kim Byeon In would have gotten the message already and blindsiding Kim Byeon's eyes widened upon hearing the name and the name easily spell up anger in his eyes
A frown marred his forehead as he look at the man standing in front him, then he called the name for confirmation "Heo Young Hye, you say"
"Yes Your Majesty"
Heo Yeong hye was once Kim Byeon In best friend and loyal subordinate when he was still the crown prince of Bu Yeo. Their friendship was so deep that they shared every secret with each other and took confidence in themselves. But as fate would have it, during a war against Han Nation, one of the many Kingdom trying to take over BuYeo Kingdom, Heo Yeong hye betrayed Kim Byeon In by spying on them, and revealed the plan of Bu Yeo army to the Han Nation. Heo Yeong hye betrayal led to Bu Yeo defeat and Kim Yoon Jung, father of Kim Byeon In and the King of Buyeo at that time sustained an injury from the war which led to his death.
With Kim Byeon In father's death and feeling betrayed by his best friend, the friendship between Kim Byeon In and Heo Yeong hye crumbled and the whim to take revenge took over Kim Byeon In.
Aware that Kim Byeon had harbour hatred for him, Heo Yeong hye had to go into hiding but not only that he as well took another precious thing of Kim Byeon In with him.…..The woman he loved.
Ever since then he had been loathed and wanted dead by Kim Byeon In.
"I just got a report that they are at Hangang River,'' General Heukchi revealed further.
Shin Buyong was totally in the dark as she didn't understand what the two men were talking about but the name mentioned caught her attention. Who wouldn't know Heo Yeong Hye. He is known as the best and top swordsman of Bu Yeo kingdom and he was also a dear friend of her husband. But it's been a long time since Heo Yeong Hye disappeared into thin air and the reason for his disappearance wasn't known to anyone.
Presently she couldn't care, because the dizziness she had been battling with had overpowered her and left with no choice she surrendered to sleep, closing her eyes.
"What should we do?" General Heukchi asked.
Kim Byeon bit his lip and glanced sideways but as his eyes sighted Shin Buyong sleeping, he sighed in relief. He was planning on leaving his wife to go and attend to the urgent bone crushing matter that his General brought but felt like it was disrespectful of him to leave his wife when she just gave birth.
How can he possibly leave his wife and his newborn daughter alone at the moment. But it seemed like heaven was on his side and his eyes tightened in relief when he turned back and saw Shin Buyong sleeping soundly.
'All for the best' he thought overwhelmed and stood up. He then said in his dominating tone "Let's go"
With General Heukchi trailing behind him, Kim Byeon In glance at his wife and daughter for one last time before getting out of the room.