When giving His Highness the title of 'first' prince, the Queen's hand shook silently beneath the table. The blatant disrespect to the true first prince was evident by the King's announcement. With just one word, he had erased the real firstborn and replaced him with a child whose mother was a commoner.
For more than ten years they have been married. She was a noble princess from Terran. She was given to the King for political ties to help strengthen Besirique. Her worth was worth more than all the gold in the treasury while he was barely a shell of a King, still a guppie floundering in the political arena. Thus, no one expected for such arbitrary things like love.
Though the beginning was filled with unwillingness from both parties, the feelings of the heart slowly warmed up after experiencing many trials together.
For what reason does she have to bear his cold back again when he was the first to fail her?
The Queen looked at the infant swaddled in all the finest materials. The design was similar to the blanket she had personal maids embroider for her own child. Her thoughts began to twist and turn just like the stitches on the piece of cloth.
Then before any true emotions could show on her face, the babe opened his eyes to look back at her. The color was still the gray of a newborn. A blank slate color that did not know how disgusting his existence was. And before anyone else noticed, the Queen turned away, a gentle smile gracing her features.
On the side, Concubine Leena watched her son with heartfelt sighs. She had been on bed rest since her delivery. Because she had lost too much blood, there was no way for her to take care of her child. Of course, it seemed the King didn't have any intention of letting her do so in the first place. Instead, he kept her son at his side, even going as far as having him stay in the King's Chambers.
Who didn't know that the King never allows his concubines to stay in his room at night? If he wished for company, he would only have to visit the courtyard of his choosing. Concubine Leena had been in the Imperial Palace for almost two years and despite being of low-birth, the King visited her palace many times before she became pregnant. She prided herself on having a beautiful face and body.
Other concubines, especially those who have not been showered in rain and dew, were quick to show their jealousy as she passed them, but Leena did not pay them mind as their jealousy only brought her pleasure.
With this said, she was quite satisfied with the outcome. Her son is loved by the King and no one dared to slight her, not even the Queen. Unfortunately, she only held her child a handful of times, each one being briefer than the next. They said it is because she was still weak and the Prince mustn't interrupt her rest. But when the other women in the palace had given birth, no one had such worries after a few weeks. The concubine had suspicions, but still hoped that the future did not follow this trend so her son could at least recognize his mother.
~
The feast had continued, but Prince Ulfstead was quickly returned to the West Wing. It wasn't as if he could really eat and enjoy anything anyways. Ulfstead pretended to dream as his nanny changed him out of the stuffy clothes. He didn't see the point of having him dress up when his outfit was covered by a blanket the entire time. He was also glad to take off the damnable jade peak cap they placed on him. He wasn't an expert about East Asian culture or any history in his old world, but at the very least, he knew that the Chinese considered wearing a green hat meant he was being cuckolded.
He found it disappointing that his debut as a Prince was with a stupid, green hat on. He really hoped that no such adages were believed in this world else he might just have to 'accidentally' pee on someone.
Seriously. Since he did not have any weapons at his disposal, let alone the strength to kill a fly, he might as well use his natural advantage spit and piss.
When the little Prince's diaper was changed and changed again, Nanny Antonia then rocked His Highness with a lulling hum. Ulfstead had been pretending to sleep since they left the banquet hall. But now, the nanny's actions really hypnotized him into slumber.
When he really was about to fall back to bed, the nanny laid him in his cot and with a low whisper, she said, "Sleep well, Your Highness. I wish you only the sweetest of dreams."
That night, the little Prince dreamed of his old world. In the dream, he was no longer John Smith, son of no one. Instead...