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It was a stormy night as large tree swayed in the wind as well as making a creaking sound against the windows. On the same day, at the same hour, two newborn babies let out their first cries. One was born in the queen’s chamber, while the other was born in the concubine’s quarters.
Both babies were boys. One had golden hair and fair skin, while the other had black hair and a hideous birthmark on his body.
In this country, children born with birthmarks were considered unfortunate. It was believed that they carried heavy sins from their past lives. Especially those born into the royal family were said to bring destruction to the country.
“Please give up on this child. It is the tradition of our royal family. We will dispose of him at dawn. Until then, please…”
The mother, who had just given birth, was delivered these cruel words. Time was scarce– By daybreak, this child would be separated from her. Moreover, the baby’s very life would be taken away.
“Please leave me be. I wish to spend what little time remains alone with this child.” She said in a firm tone as she dismissed everyone in the room.
After uttering those words, she dragged her feeble body, she swiftly wrote a letter and entrusted it to one of her trusted servants, instructing them to secretly deliver it to a specific person.
Even this act alone was difficult on her postpartum body. Nevertheless, she ensured the newborn baby nursed to its heart’s content. Finally, she cradled the infant in her arms and made her way through a secret passage leading to the underground waterway beneath the castle. Within this castle, a small boat was moored in the underground waterway, ready to be used to escape into the river in times of emergency.
She had rowed this boat on several occasions before, so she was confident in her ability. Without hesitation, the mother embraced the baby to her chest and boarded the boat and started rowing to the surface of the river.
She would seek refuge with the queen of a neighboring country whom she was close to; perhaps entrusting this child to her would bring a sense of security and the neighboring country was just on the opposite bank of the river.
However, the current of the river turned out to be stronger than she had anticipated. The storm had passed, but the water surface was still turbulent, and the boat was tossed around like a leaf. Instead of reaching the opposite bank, they were being carried further and further towards the sea.
Then, as debris from an upstream tree collided with the boat, the impact caused the mother to fall overboard, swallowed by the river’s depths.
The baby was left alone in the small boat, drifting away into the raging open sea.
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