I Reincarnated as a Prince Who Revolutionized the Kingdom Chapter 143 143: The Last Tranquil Moments

The following morning in the Kingdom of Elysea began in a soft hush, as light filtered gently through the tall, arched windows of the royal palace. The air was cool and fresh, carrying the distant sounds of birdsong from the gardens below. It was a quiet day—no ceremonies, no urgent court matters. Just calm.

Queen Alie stood by the window of her private sitting room, swaying gently with Prince Louis in her arms. He was bundled in a soft cotton wrap, his tiny head nestled against her shoulder. His eyes were wide and curious this morning, calmly taking in the sights around him. Alie smiled, rocking slowly as she humd a quiet lody—sothing her own mother had once sung to her.

King Bruno entered monts later, a book in one hand and a warm expression on his face. "He's wide awake already?" he asked, walking over to press a kiss to Alie's cheek and then brushing his fingers through Louis's soft curls.

"He didn't want to sleep in," Alie said with a soft chuckle. "He's too curious for his own good."

Bruno offered her the book. "I thought we could spend the morning in the library. Sothing quiet. I found a few children's books tucked away on the upper shelves—might as well start reading to him early."

Alie's eyes lit up. "I'd love that."

Soon after, the royal couple made their way through the palace halls. The staff bowed as they passed, but none interfered. Everyone in the palace knew that when the king and queen walked with their son like this, it was ti to step back and let the family enjoy their monts.

The royal library was one of the most treasured parts of the palace. Located in the eastern wing, it featured high ceilings supported by polished wooden beams, rows upon rows of bookshelves, and tall windows that filled the space with natural light. A fireplace in the corner offered warmth in colder months, and the scent of old parchnt and binding glue gave the room a comforting, lived-in feel.

Bruno opened the large double doors for Alie and followed her inside, their footsteps muted on the thick red carpet. "It's quieter than I rember," he remarked, lowering his voice automatically.

"That's the charm of it," Alie whispered, settling into a high-backed reading chair near the windows. She gently repositioned Louis in her lap, his small hands waving lazily in the air.

Bruno joined her in a matching chair beside hers, setting a small stack of books on the table between them. "I picked a few things," he said. "Simple stories. Legends, nursery rhys, a fable or two."

He picked up the first book—its cover bore an illustration of a lion and a mouse—and began to read aloud in a calm, steady tone. Louis blinked slowly, eyes shifting between his father's face and the colors on the page. He couldn't understand the words, of course, but the sound of his father's voice seed to soothe him.

Alie smiled, resting her head against Bruno's shoulder as he read. "You have a good storyteller's voice," she said.

"Do I?" Bruno chuckled softly. "I suppose that's one way to keep an audience."

"For now," she murmured, "your audience is a six-month-old who's drooling on my sleeve."

Bruno looked over and grinned. "He's very focused, though. That's promising."

They spent the morning reading, occasionally swapping books and stories. Alie read an old Elysean folk tale about a clever fox who tricked a greedy rchant, while Bruno followed it with a poem about the stars that sailors used to navigate the southern seas. Every so often, Louis would babble or giggle, kicking his little feet in approval.

By midmorning, they had moved to the cushioned window nook, where Alie sat with Louis nestled against her chest. Bruno brought over a small tray of tea and scones, freshly delivered by one of the palace maids.

"You'd think we were still dating," Alie teased, accepting a cup from him.

"Well," Bruno said, settling beside her and taking a bite of scone, "I'd say we've upgraded to the 'reading fairy tales in a library with a baby' stage of romance."

"I like this stage," she replied, sipping slowly.

So did he. There was sothing deeply comforting in the stillness of the morning, in the closeness of their little family, in knowing that—even for just a day—the weight of the world could wait.

Later, Bruno pointed toward one of the high shelves. "Do you rember that book?" he asked.

Alie squinted. "The one with the red spine?"

He nodded. "We used to sneak in here during our engagent. You'd pretend to read it to avoid being spotted by the advisors."

She laughed quietly. "It worked. Barely."

"Now we don't have to sneak around anymore," Bruno said, reaching for her hand. "We can be together openly, happily, with our son. I don't think I'll ever take that for granted."

Louis stirred again in Alie's arms, letting out a sleepy sigh as he nestled deeper into her embrace. She looked down at him, brushing his cheek with her thumb. "He's going to grow up in this library. I can already tell."

"Then we'll fill it with stories he'll love. Teach him about kings, and heroes, and kindness."

"And mischief," Alie added with a playful grin. "Let's not forget about the fox and the rchant."

Bruno chuckled. "He'll have your cleverness, I'm sure."

They remained in the window seat for another hour, exchanging stories and softly singing lullabies as Louis drifted off to sleep. Ti passed unnoticed as the sun climbed higher, casting golden rays through the windows and illuminating the dust motes floating gently in the air.

Eventually, one of the maids appeared at the doorway, bowing respectfully. "Your Majesties, shall I prepare the nursery?"

Bruno waved her off gently. "Let him sleep here a little longer."

Alie nodded in agreent. "This is a good spot."

The maid smiled and retreated, leaving the family once again to the stillness of the library.

As the noon bells chid faintly in the distance, Bruno stood and carefully lifted Louis into his arms. The baby stirred, yawned, and blinked slowly, but didn't cry. Alie smoothed the blanket over his chest, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

"Back to the nursery?" Bruno asked.

Alie rose and stretched. "Yes. Then perhaps a walk in the garden before supper."

They walked slowly through the quiet halls of the palace, passing portraits and tapestries that depicted generations of Elysean monarchs. But today, it wasn't the past that mattered. It was the present—the peaceful rhythm of a young family enjoying the calm of everyday life.

As they returned to the nursery and tucked Louis into his cradle, Alie turned to Bruno and smiled.

"This morning was perfect."

Bruno took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Let's do it again tomorrow."