Chapter 73
After Story – The Cabin in the Palace
Kadan, who had been deep in thought while sitting at the round table, suddenly lifted his head. The nobles, who had been discussing matters around the table, swallowed nervously and simultaneously closed their mouths.
“Is there an issue with this topic…?”
“Alek Tului Khan Kipchak.”
Kadan carefully pronounced the long name. The longer a noble’s name, the higher their status, but the name Kadan had just uttered was as long as his father, the Inut Emperor’s.
Was it the name of a distant Emperor? The nobles exchanged glances at the unfamiliar name.
With a serious expression, Kadan stood up and left the meeting room. Was he planning to wage war with this far-off Emperor? The nobles, left in the empty meeting room after the king’s departure, chatted for a long time, fueling their own speculations.
Kadan marched out of the palace with purposeful steps. As soon as his feet touched the well-kept courtyard, a faint rose scent wafted through the air. Luna was sitting by the fountain surrounded by rose bushes, inviting Washud and Ruth to have tea with her.
Luna’s happy smile, directed at others, stirred up feelings of jealousy in Kadan, but at the same time, he felt a swell of pride just knowing she was happy. He paused, leaning against a tall tree, quietly admiring her smile.
It wasn’t long before a silver teaspoon flew sharply in his direction. Kadan tilted his head slightly to dodge the spoon, which crashed into the tree trunk he was leaning against and bent out of shape. Washud had noticed his presence and attacked.
“Who dares to spy on us here?!”
Washud’s voice rang out loudly through the courtyard.
“Darling, I’m scared.”
Meanwhile, Ruth, hiding behind Washud’s skirts in a feigned panic. This was a stark contrast to Luna, who was gripping her butter knife tightly. Kadan clicked his tongue and walked toward the tea table.
As soon as Washud saw him, her face went pale.
“Ah… Your Highness?”
“Indeed, a Valkyrie is always a Valkyrie.”
Kadan tossed the bent teaspoon back toward Washud and took a seat next to Luna. Luna, who had been gripping the butter knife so tightly her hands had turned pale, relaxed as Kadan approached. He whispered an apology in her ear for startling her and gently rubbed her hand.
“My apologies. I didn’t expect it to be you, Your Highness.”
Washud lowered her head in apology. There had been a brief flash of danger, but it seemed to have been a mistake on her part.
“I was just watching because Luna looked so happy. What were you two talking about?”
“Oh, I was just announcing my wedding with Ruth.”
“Wedding?”
Kadan’s smile deepened as he turned his gaze to Ruth. His thoughts returned to the time when they lived in the forest, and Ruth had given unsolicited advice about love and marriage. He recalled when Ruth had commented on him giving Luna a ring—what had he said back then?
Marriage is a chain that binds you for life. He recalled Ruth’s past advice, urging him to give a ring first and save the proposal for later, just in case Luna tried to run away.
Ruth, quick to notice Kadan’s thoughts, placed his hands together in a prayer-like gesture, as if silently asking for forgiveness for his past actions.
What’s going on, Ruth? Washud called, and Ruth flinched, quickly changing the subject.
“Well, wasn’t Your Highness in a meeting? What brings you here, haha?”
“I remembered something important.”
Kadan turned his gaze to Luna. Luna, her eyes wide like a rabbit’s, waited eagerly for his response. Kadan solemnly recited the long name he had remembered during the meeting.
“Alek Tului Khan Kipchak.”
“That’s a name I’ve never heard before, Kadan. Do you know this person?”
“It’s our baby’s birth name.”
Kadan explained seriously, looking at Luna’s still-flat belly. He explained that it was a name made of Inut heroes. The joy he had felt two days ago when he first learned of Luna’s pregnancy was still vivid in his mind.
A brief silence hung in the air. Luna looked at the table, while Ruth let out a small sigh he couldn’t hold back.
“Your Highness, who gives birth names like that these days?”
“What?”
“When you do your prenatal talks, do you say things like, ‘Alek Tului Khan Kipchak, grow big in your mother’s womb,’ or ‘Alek Tului Khan Kipchak, the weather’s great today’?”
You’ll be saying that all night. Ruth grumbled, and Washud poked him in the ribs. Ruth, claiming to be the only friend the prince had and the only man left alive in the palace, assured her worries.
“So, how are most baby birth names chosen?”
“You should make them easy to say, like ‘Bunny,’ ‘Bean,’ or ‘Ducky.’”
“Hmmm.”
But it was such a precious child of Luna. Kadan furrowed his brow, and Luna gently tapped his hand, which was resting on the table.
“Well, how about the shortest of the names you’ve chosen—‘Khan’?”
“Your child is too precious for such a short name, Luna.”
“It’s our child, yours and mine. And as Ruth said, if it’s too long, it’ll be hard to say.”
Luna guided Kadan’s large hand to rest on her lower belly. His hand was stiff and tense, as if he was nervous.
“Please say it yourself.”
“…Alek Tului Khan Kipchak.”
Kadan, unable to let go of the long name, recited it carefully. As soon as Luna furrowed her brow, he quickly changed it to “Khan” in a soft voice.
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