2. The Crown Prince

Amar stared at the Queen for a moment. The young Queen's face looked so sad. What mother wants to be separated from her child?

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will take care of the Princess. And conversely, consider the baby boy as your son, like a your own child, Your Majesty," said Amar so seriously.

The atmosphere that night was tense. The Sichles court officials are still waiting to see whether the baby born is a boy or not. Because if not, King Muchlas's position would not be substantial. From time to time, there could be rebellion. And King Muchlas was deposed from his throne.

"I promise, Amar. I promise I will be the mother, for the boy," said Queen Avena.

Amar didn't want to wait too long. He immediately covered the baby girl with a red cloth. He went to the King and Queen and paid homage to them.

King Muchlas was seen trying to be strong. He couldn't be weak at a time like this.

"I'm leaving, Your Majesty," said Amar.

Amar immediately left the room. He left the palace where King Muchlas lived through a secret passage. He had prepared a horse in a place no one knew.

Amar takes the baby away on a horse in the middle of the night, leaving the palace as much as possible Muchlas avoids crowds. He didn't want anyone to know that he was carrying a baby.

Currently, the attention people's of Sichles Kingdom is so significant to waiting for the birth of a successor to the throne. Some people's hope that King Muchlas's child will be a woman. Of course, they were the ones who supported his father, King France Franklin.

Amar passes through a very dark forest. He could barely see ahead because there was no light but moonlight. But because of Amar's fighter instinct, and could get past it. After all, he was very used to this kind of situation.

Meanwhile, King Muchlas looked confused. He is not ready to announce her baby yet. The baby boy is still in Queen Avena's hands, and King Muchlas trembled. This young King didn't know how to deal with the current confusing situation.

"Your Majesty!" A dashing man, wearing a general's attire, faced King Muchlas.

King Muchlas looked at the man wearing the clothes of a high-ranking warrior. "You?" King Muchlas still doesn't understand the current situation.

"I will replace Amar as your bodyguard and the Queen," said The Man.

"Why should Amar be replaced by you, David? What happened to Amar?" shouted King Muchlas. He didn't understand what was going on.

"Amar cannot return to the palace any time soon. He handed over his duties to me while he was gone," said The Man called David.

"Wait, why wasn't I told about this? Are you ignoring me like a king? Is that what you guys do?" shouted King Muchlas. He believed that Amar would return. Amid the precarious state of the palace at this time. Why did Amar delegate his duties to someone else?

"Don't you believe me, Your Majesty?" asked David.

"I don't trust anyone in this palace… Except…." King Muchlas's voice suddenly weakened. "Amar."

David was a little disappointed to hear the King's answer. However, that was nothing new in the royal palace of Sichles. Ever since King Muchlas took the throne in place of the King of France, too many people wanted to overthrow him. Especially from the cabinet members under the command of the Prime Minister.

"What are you going to do here?" asked King Muchlas. His attitude showed that he could not accept David as Amar's replacement.

"You must come out immediately with the Crown Prince. Everyone is waiting, Your Majesty," replied Daud.

King Muchlas turned to Queen Avena and the baby in her arms. "My Queen, we have no choice. We have to do this," said King Muchlas.

Queen Avena glanced at the baby. She saw the baby's face that she did not know anything about. But to be involved in a significant tempest like this. She held the baby's day. Queen Avena then smiled gently at the baby. "I will be your mother. You don't have to worry. You will be fine in this palace," said Queen Avena.

David, who did not understand the meaning of the Queen's words, could only be silent and amazed. He immediately urged the King to get out of the place of delivery.

"Your Majesty, I beg you. They will be upset if they don't know the results immediately," said Daud.

"Let this child have a name first," said Queen Avena. "As the Crown Prince, he must have a name."

King Muchlas looked at the baby as he stood up. His eyes could not be separated from the baby's eyes and did not fully open. "Edward," said King Muchlas. "His name is Edward Benedict Franklin."

****

King Muchlas came out of the delivery room accompanied by Margoth, who was carrying the baby and David. King Muchlas's new bodyguard.

Prime Minister Gilbert Jones smiled as King Muchlas had just left.

"Your Majesty," said the Prime Minister as he bowed his head to pay homage to King Muchlas.

"My wife gave birth to a son, Prime Minister. I'm very proud," said King Muchlas with a forced smile.

Of course, both King Muchlas and the Prime Minister gave fake smiles. The two of them never really respected each other. Secretly, the Prime Minister hated King Muchlas.

King Muchlas finally announced to the cabinet in his palace the birth of the Crown Prince. Some people seem unhappy about this. Of course, they were from the camp who did not like King Muchlas. However, there are still King Muchlas sympathizers who also encourage. However, the direct descendants of the Franklin clan remained victorious and would continue to rule the Kingdom of Sichles.

***

Amar had already crossed the city limits. He still chose the road around the forest using his horse. Since the sun had already risen, Amar decided to rest by the river.

Very carefully, Amar put the baby girl on the grass. He made sure that no animals or insects would disturb the baby.

"You are wonderful, Princess," said Amar, smiling at the baby.

For a moment, Amar relaxes from riding all night long. He had deliberately not stopped since last night to get out of Sunzh city this morning.

"Aaah!" Amar breathed a sigh of relief. At least he can do his job well. And the baby hasn't cried since last night. Wait! How can a baby not cry? Moreover, there is no milk for her.

Amar immediately opened the cover of the baby's body. He was afraid that the baby was dead. So all night's work was in vain.

****