The Ancient Imperial Calendar Year 1822
A year had passed since Ricardo and Marilin's marriage.
The first months of their marriage had become fodder for gossip.
It is normal for newlywed couples to not leave their homes for the first few weeks, but Ricardo and Marilin had spent most of their time in their bedroom for several months after their wedding.
Finally, the long-awaited news had arrived: Marilin was pregnant.
And now, nine months later, the first fruit of Ricardo and Marilin's legendary love was about to be born.
The expected cries from the delivery room were not rising, which was causing concern.
Ricardo was naturally at the head of the worried crowd.
"Is there a problem?"
Marco was equally anxious, but due to his role within the Dynasty, he needed to support the Dynasty Lord's morale.
"Do not worry, Dynasty Lord. Perhaps the birth is proceeding easily."
Ricardo was not satisfied with this explanation.
"Even if so... Ahhh, I'm going to lose my mind!"
"Calm down, Dynasty Lord. This attitude of yours is against palace protocol."
Heinricht's words infuriated Ricardo.
"Are you mocking me, Heinricht? My wife is inside, her condition unknown, I'm on the verge of losing my mind here, and you're talking to me about protocols?"
Though fearful of Ricardo's anger, Heinricht had to insist due to his duty.
"You, as the Kislavein Dynasty Lord, are the symbol of absolute authority, power, and fear. It is already wrong for you to be waiting outside the delivery room; showing this degree of fear will make you a laughingstock. Please compose yourself, Dynasty Lord, I beg you."
With these words, Ricardo forced himself to calm down.
"You're right, Heinricht. But I can't help it. After everything I put her through, now that I can finally make her happy, the terrifying scenarios running through my mind freeze my blood."
The fear-filled wait for Ricardo and his friends had finally ended. The doors of the delivery room opened wide.
A delivery room nurse came out smiling, bowed her head, and knelt.
"Congratulations, Dynasty Lord. You have a son."
Ricardo had learned he had a son. His first son, and perhaps his Heir. But he was curious about something else much more: his one and only love.
"Is Marilin well?" he asked with a worried voice.
"Yes, even exceptionally well, Dynasty Lord. The birth went much more smoothly than expected. Lady Marilin will be able to get up after a very short rest."
Ricardo relaxed and entered the delivery room.
Marilin was holding their son in her arms.
For years, she had wanted to have a child. It didn't matter to her if it was a boy or a girl.
Her only wish was to marry Ricardo and have his child.
When Marilin saw Ricardo, she felt all the fatigue of childbirth leave her body.
"Ricardo," said Marilin with a huge, brilliant smile.
Ricardo kissed Marilin's temple and lovingly stroked her hair.
"You're well, aren't you?"
"Yes."
Ricardo looked at Marilin for a long time. The birth had felt like an eternity for both of them.
Ricardo was having a hard time convincing himself that Marilin was truly fine.
Noticing this, Marilin kissed Ricardo's lip.
"Calm down, my love. I'm fine."
Ricardo wasn't expecting this kiss, but it worked; he calmed down.
He shifted his eyes from his beloved wife to his son.
"My first son, and perhaps my Heir."
"You can't be sure of that. The firstborn has never had a guarantee of ascending the throne. You are a living, bloody testament to that, Ricardo."
Ricardo took a deep breath. A thought had been gnawing at him since the birth of his first child.
The Heirs' War.
The fight to the death between heir candidates for the throne.
This bloody tradition, continued for 54 generations, would continue in the 55th as well.
This was certain.
Ricardo rested his head on Marilin's head.
"You're right, my love. But at least on this happy day of ours, let's not think about it. Let's just enjoy this moment."
"I can't."
When Ricardo raised his head, he saw that Marilin was crying.
"I cannot bear my children being killed. I cannot endure this pain, Ricardo."
Ricardo took Marilin in his arms, hugged her tightly, and did everything he could to calm her down.
"Don't be afraid. Our son will definitely survive. I will protect him and all our other children."
Marilin didn't understand these words.
"How? You will surely take other wives eventually. Even if you don't, I could surely give birth to other sons in the future, and most boys fight for the throne."
"But there are also those who don't fight."
"But that's rare. Thinking about this is foolish. What am I going to do?"
Ricardo stroked and kissed Marilin's head.
"When I married you, I knew how things would end, but my heart didn't care."
"Do you regret it?"
"Never. I am just afraid. I am so afraid of my son and my future sons being killed for the sake of the throne."
Ricardo rested Marilin against his chest.
"Don't be afraid. I will change this bloody system."
Marilin looked at him with astonished eyes.
"How?" she asked.
"I will change the system. It won't be easy, but no more children and infants will be slaughtered for the throne. Brothers won't kill each other. People won't take sides in the brothers' throne wars and get killed at a young age. I will establish such a system. Do you believe me?"
Marilin threw herself at Ricardo's lips.
"I believe you."
The two kissed for a long time.
Marilin calmed down. Her trust in Ricardo, her one and only love, was complete.
"Aren't you going to hold your son, my love? Aren't you going to tell him his name?"
Ricardo held his son for the first time. He breathed in his scent, placed a small kiss on his cheek, leaned close to his ear, and whispered his son's name.
"Your name is Richard, my one and only son."
Marilin and Ricardo had decided on the names the moment she became pregnant.
If it was a boy, they would give him the name Richard, after his great-grandfather who died protecting Ricardo.
"All those years of waiting were worth it."
These words stabbed Ricardo's heart like a dagger.
"I'm sorry."
Marilin panicked.
"No! Don't apologize! I didn't say it for that reason. I'm just overly emotional right now."
Ricardo gently hugged and kissed Marilin.
"I will make up for everything. I promise."
Marilin returned the hug and the kisses.
"I believe you, my love."q