2. Wake Up Queen Malie!

At the courtyard of the Anonia Palace, the King's men and the Executives were outside, and each of them was holding a wish lantern waiting for the arrival of the King.

At the sight of King Lippana and the guards entering the courtyard, they all bowed their heads to them. King Lippana on his side was very furious, he jumped down from his horse, and his body could not withstand a delay from his executives. Immediately, he rushed inside his Quarter with the baby who was drooling to and fro from the hold on the sac.

What surprised the Executives most was the child in his hand but all acted as if they saw none, whereas the guards were surprised to see the child quiet. How could it not cry over the horrific face of King Lippana with the heavy ride on the horse?

Instead, the child was calmed.

"Your Majesty, you forgot to throw the wish lantern," Apel Miyam reminded.

King Lippana glared back at him fiercely, Apel Miyam of all his guards should know the moment he was that it was not for him to throw a wish Lantern, his beloved wife was covered by the mat!

His eyes turned milky towards him, Apel Miyam bowed in respect while King Lippana entered his Quarter.

The Crown Prince stepped forward to meet the Head of Executive, Chief Alloy Wherlark, "I will throw it on behalf of the King."

Chief Alloy nodded with a smile instead, "Yes you can, Your Majesty! This wish lantern represents our future victory in wars and battles! Everyone's prayer is engraved into it."

He handed the wish lantern to him.

They all raised it in their hands and released it at the same time, the wish lantern went up to the starry sky swaying alternatively with the snow.

Just after it was done, the falling of snow become denser, and they all wailed in happiness. Obviously, It would be the best year for them!

The snow was the first of the year and it fell when their kingdom won the battle! They rejoiced as they see the numerous wish lantern flying in the sky,

"Long live our King!"

"Long live our Kingdom!"

"Long live the Anonias!"

They all rejoiced and hugged one another, likewise, the numerous lanterns filled the sky, and one after the other, the wish lantern sparked into fireworks. By now the noble packs would be joyous as well, as it was a message to them that the King has returned with victory from the battle.

King Lippana could not hold himself to stamina, his uptight grew bigger, he gripped the maid who first welcome him by her shoulders, and glared ardently into her eyes

 The maid trembled, her lips fastened together tightly, fidgeting to greet the King. Whereas King Lippana pushed her aside. There is no use to ask her about his Queen when he knew where his beloved wife would be.

Which side of her was waiting for him? Her corpse or her alive?

He must see it!

"Malie!"

"Malie!"

"Malie!"

He called until he reached his chamber,

The head of Maids, Nurret was astonished to see His Majesty terrifying. With concern, she rushed away from the entrance to meet him,

"Your Majesty! The Queen..."

King Lippana wearily tore apart, his head shook with dismay. This maid should not give him any information when he could see it all, his Malie has gone! He pushed her from his way and rushed inside,

"At last! It is true, she is dead!" He squelched on his knees before the bed, the curtain by the bed was all dropped, and he could see through its transparency that his Queen was lying on the bed.

"Your Majesty! The Medical Head has arrived." Nurret announced to him.

King Lippana was unmoved by Nurret message, with what was before his eyes, he tore apart the more, mourning in grief, his head bowed continuously while he rested his full weight upon his hands.

"She should have waited for me!"

"She should have waited for me!"

"She should have waited for me!

"Wake up Queen Malie!"

Whereas, as the Medical Head saw King Lippana torn apart, it shuddered him to see his mighty King crying in such a horrifying state, he dismissed to examine the laying Queen; after she delivered the baby, she was unconscious but breathing through her nostrils was the only indicator that she was alive.

The Medical Head reached to her side and saw that Queen Malie was half awake, her gaze was watching the Medical head faintly.

King Lippana continued with his mourning, however, the medical head interrupts him vibrantly, "Her Majesty Is alive!!!"

King Lippana lifted his gaze to see his Queen. It was like a miracle to him. He glanced at the baby on the floor, it was swinging both legs and hands in the air.

His once-deadened face springs a smile.

Indeed the child found in the woods brought him a good Omen, this child made his wife alive and he is ready to make it his child. This was his inner promise to the baby.

No matter how tough it would be, he is ready to go through the hurdles, hell, and heaven to keep the child safe with him.

At the court hall of the palace, the Executives were all waiting for the King since no news was heard yet about the Queen and her second son. However, the hall was held in place in the presence of the Crown Prince.

They raised with bowing heads immediately after the King entered, "Longlife Our King!"

They seated, and the hall went into silence to hear him address them, most importantly, about the Queen and her child.

"Today, the first snow fell through the cozy night, I shall name my son Nickdrah!"

The Executes all raised and bowed their heads to show their respect for the child, "Longlife Prince Nickdrah, the Son of King Lippana!"

After their homepage respect, The King already sensed what was in their mind, he was also in that situation some minutes ago,

"I know you are curious about the Queen's state of health. Yes, she Is alive with my son! However, this was possible because I brought a good Omen from the war!"

The silent hall filled with their murmurings, "The king had always been bringing Good Omen, this should not be exceptional."

King Lippana raised on his feet, his voice carrying a heavyweight that stopped them from murmuring, "The good omen was the child I brought home!"

"Uhm!" The hall filled up in no seconds.

They saw him with the child but who dare to question him about it? This way, their eyes were blinded to it completely.

"The child is a human!" He added but his voice sounded like a whisper.

"Uhm!" The uprise murmurings filled up the hall again.

It lessened when King Lippana resumed addressing them, "Since you can see what fortune the child has brought to us, I want to rise her and keep his existence from the other three kingdoms, I will protect her in my Province!"

"This way our kingdom will experience more fortune than the time past... Do you all agree to this?"

One other thing the executives liked about their king was that he ardor their opinions. He cares much about what they say, wanted, and how they will go about it.

 "It is very risky to keep humans with us." Chief Alloy protested on behalf of the other Executives.

 "Your Majesty! As you have known, it is just 500 years since we cut ties with humans and they have been banned from living in our kingdoms. How will Our Lordship feel if this gets to him?" 

"We are not ready to lose you as our King." He lamented and the other executives bowed.

They made the same statement with Chief Alloy, "We are not ready to lose you, our King!!!"

King Lippana glared at them grievously from his throne before sputtering heinously, "Enough!!!"

"What are you afraid of? Me leaving this throne? Or you, living with a human?"

On hearing him, the hall was in silence, they were not certain of their fear but the two options are rigid reasons to spark up fear in them.