Prince of Lies

Chapter 24

"A son?"

Those were the first words uttered at the child's birth. The first words the new, tiny ears heard from their mother.

A son will be more valued if his parentage is proven. A daughter would be seen as useless anyway.

Iseul, perhaps even more so than Jerym, suffered because of the politics of ruling. It was almost impossible to enjoy her last pregnancy- instead it was overshadowed by fear and worry for the child she carried. But Haruto, her sweet little boy, would place his head to where his sibling was, and smile when he could feel them move, and moments like that made it all worthwhile. All for this moment-

Jerym gripped her hand as Ilya shook his head. "A daughter."

It was horror, relief, and happiness all at once.

A son would belong to the kingdom, Iseul reminded herself as Ilya laid the baby on her chest. But this daughter belongs to herself.

Like she did with all her children, Iseul marveled at the tiny features that made this baby unique.

Jerym's nose. Her own full lips.

The babe's eyes were what threw her off. They weren't small and almond shaped like Iseul's and the rest of her children. They were large, bright and beautiful like Jerym's, presently onyx but already different from what she had seen before.

"What's her name?" Jerym whispered, resting a large hand on the baby's back, smiling with that smile he always reserved just for Iseul and his children.

Iseul was, for once, stumped. She'd had months to think of one, but somehow the job escaped her. Haruto's name was the most unique in their family because it had roots in her language. Or, she could follow the trend started by the twins and start the name with a vowel, but something stopped her.

It was then that Iseul thought of the perfect name. She wasn't sure why it was perfect, but the words of her language came flowing through her and she cupped the child's head and whispered:

Hanan.

Hanan shook their shaggy head of red-brown hair and crossed his arms.

The welcoming committee was small, but still overwhelming. And, it was missing the best part.

Haruto.

The young librarian said that Haruto was gone at the moment, but would be back soon. He was looking Hanan up and down nervously as he said this, and then sizing up Hanan's guard, Eaan.

Maybe it was that the kingdom was expecting a daughter, but got Hanan instead.

I don't mind what this new castle thinks of me.

After more of a standoff, the librarian, "Chaol", pointed out a guard that looked a lot like him- father, perhaps- and the man directed them towards where Hanan's new quarters were.

Once there, Hanan inspected them with scrutiny. It was nice to know that he and his brother were neighbors, but the room had so much wrong with it.

"This bed is much too tall," Hanan told Eaan.

"Agreed," said the taller teenager, walking over to it and pounding his fists into it like he could simply force it to become smaller with his own willpower.

The door opened and some servants filed in, carrying chests that had come with Hanan  from Corvia. After them was Jerym himself.

"What do you think?" He asked Hanan.