Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 957 - 562: New Continuation, Old Vows

Chapter 957: Chapter 562: New Continuation, Old Vows

"What! Alisa has given birth to a child, and I have become a father?!"

In the grand hall, Xiulote widened his eyes and stood up abruptly. He was in disbelief, looking at the kneeling envoy of the King, urgently inquiring.

"Have I really become a father?..."

"Indeed, Your Highness!"

The King’s envoy nodded respectfully, smiling in congratulations.

"Witnessed by the Chief Divine! At the end of July, Princess Alisa gave birth to a boy in the Lake Capital City...a distinguished little prince!"

"Ah! This?... Why was there no whisper of this beforehand to inform me?"

"...Your Highness was on campaign with the Southern Army, and the King wished not to affect you with this matter... Moreover, the King was also on campaign outside, and with the shifting political situation of the capital, the circumstances were complex... This was also for the safety of the Princess and the child."

The envoy lowered his head, reporting softly.

"...Over the past ten months, the King specially dispatched personal guards to protect the Princess with utmost secrecy. None of the royal families, great nobility, or great priestly elders in the capital knew of this matter until the child was born..."

"...Hmm."

Upon hearing this, Xiulote nodded slightly, a sense of worry surfacing in his heart. The Alliance was not only advanced in herbalism but also in toxicology. The royal power struggles of past generations were very intense, and the rates of miscarriage and infant mortality were always high... He murmured softly, somewhat dazed and lost, wishing he could immediately grow wings and fly back to the Lake Capital City!

"Alisa, my wife, has just given birth to a boy..."

Born at the end of July... Calculating the time, it should have been late September of last year, after he and Alisa visited the Temple of the Sun on the Holy Mountain and worked diligently day and night by the hot springs, the result of a month’s efforts.

"Ah! My, my child!..."

Xiulote’s mind wandered, lost in thought for a moment, finally accepting the fact. At this moment, he seemed to enter a strange world, his chest filled with mixed emotions, his heart surging!

"...The lost wild geese hover in the distant sky, gently landing at the bow of the ship. The fledgling eagle grew up, wandering for twenty springs and autumns, experiencing life and death and separation... Now, I finally have my own bloodline, a continuation of life!..."

Reflecting briefly, a sudden sense of inexplicable unease emerged in Xiulote’s heart, a fear born of a father’s responsibility.

"Can I always protect my family, always protect my child, and help him grow up smoothly?"

A few breaths later, his chest was filled with genuine joy again. It was the encouragement of becoming a father for the first time, like drinking sweet honey water, and an unprecedented sense of achievement.

"No matter what, now, I am a man, a true father!"

At this moment, fear and encouragement, two completely different emotions, repeatedly intertwined in Xiulote’s heart. It was as if he was in the cool autumn night, facing the cold wind coming towards him, personally lighting a warm bonfire.

"Haha!"

The bonfire blazed fiercely, burning increasingly, making one feel hot all over. Xiulote could no longer hold it, standing in the grand hall of Water Valley City, facing the newly carved statue of the Chief Divine, laughing out loud with joy.

"Hahaha!... The Chief Divine’s blessing, granting me new life!"

In the grand hall, the personal guard warriors all wore bright expressions, nodding repeatedly. From then on, the Kingdom of the Lake had an heir, and the warriors’ hearts were also filled with a sense of stability.

Xiulote looked up at the deity statue, laughing loudly for a while, then two streams of clear tears fell from the corners of his eyes.

"...Grandfather, do you know? I have become a father, have a boy, have an heir!... Our family has continuation, and you have a great-grandson now!..."

"The Chief Divine’s blessing, congratulations to Your Highness! From now on, the Kingdom of the Lake has a noble princely heir!"

Head Warrior Bertade, departing from his usual calmness, was full of joy. He sincerely prayed to the Divines, blessing the birth of the princely heir.

"May the Rain Divine bestow blessings, allowing the princely heir to grow safely!"

In the traditional beliefs of the Alliance, the cries and tears of newborns were all gifts of the Rain Divine. Thus, the Rain Divine, who administered storms, also governed birth and children.

For this new boy, the Head Warrior referred to him as a "Princely Heir," seeing him as the heir to the Kingdom of the Lake. The King’s envoy, however, called him "Little Prince," viewing him as one of the heirs of the Alliance. The subtle distinction was each being loyal to their own, worthy of deep reflection.

"Hmm!... My child, a boy... I must give him a nice name..."

Xiulote smiled and nodded, gradually recovering from his ecstatic emotion. His eyebrows rose, about to ponder carefully, when he heard the envoy lightly clear his throat.

"Ahem! Your Highness... For this boy, the esteemed King deeply favors him... His Majesty has already chosen a name and bestowed part of his own distinguished name!"

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, Xiulote paused. He then realized that although it was his firstborn, he did not have the privilege to name the child.

"What name has my father-in-law bestowed?"

"Little prince is Your Majesty’s first grandson... He is named ’Xo Huawaltecalaquiaztli’, which means ’Conqueror of the Land, Light Spirit Walking the World’! His nickname is ’Xiu Hua’!"

"Xo Huawaltecalaquiaztli!... Xiu Hua?!"

Upon hearing this fascinating and meaningful name, Xiulote’s eyes widened instantly. His expression changed subtly, feeling as if fate had already made arrangements in the unseen.

"What a... wonderful name!..."

"Indeed! Xiu Hua Sotel, truly a noble and revered name!"

Bertade nodded heavily, voicing his admiration. The Alliance has strict constraints and restrictions on noble titles. From titles like ’Conqueror’, ’Light’, ’Spirit’, one could see the princely heir Xiu Hua’s high status... The Head Warrior pondered slightly, beckoned, and retrieved a bag of gemstones from his trusted aide, smiling as he handed it to the envoy.

"Praise be to the Chief Divine, praise be to King! Hearing such joyous news truly brings uncontainable delight!... His Highness will need some time to digest this good news. As for you, noble envoy, having traveled far, night has fallen; please rest in the city. As for other decrees from the King, wait another day, and His Highness shall have a reply!"

"Ha ha. Praise be to the Chief Divine, praise be to King, congratulations to His Highness!"

The envoy tightly gripped the cotton bag, weighing it slightly, then nodded with a smile.

"Since the King’s decree has been delivered, I shall take my leave for now."

"Certainly, I appreciate noble envoy’s efforts!"

With a smile, Bertade summoned two trusted aides, instructing them to escort the King’s envoy to another palace in the city to rest. Only after the envoy’s figure disappeared beyond the palace did the Head Warrior’s expression become solemn, looking at the pondering, silent prince.

"Your Highness, the birth of the princely heir is indeed invigorating news!... However, King Aweit has also brought several other decrees... The King demands the Southern Army to swiftly move north, and hand over a full thousand elite Fire Warriors!"

"Hmm. The Southern Army has fought till now, with few casualties and plentiful spoils. One thousand elite Fire Warriors, divided among three City-State Armies and the Lake army... This should be acceptable to the Legion Commanders!..."

Xiulote smiled slightly, pondering for a moment, his face filled with composed confidence. By this point in the Eastern campaign, his prestige in the Southern Army was unshakable, his commands absolute, each army following as one, daring not to disobey. After capturing the prosperous Cholula Holy City, all armies were laden with plunder. The rich spoils thoroughly satisfied the warriors, enough to appease military morale.

"Father is well, and the Northern Route Army has just captured Tree Snake City! The Telascallans are at their end, with only two besieged Snake Cities remaining!... Next, the King needs to quickly lead the main force of the Northern Route back to oversee the Capital City. The entire Eastern campaign aftermath must be handed over to me to manage."

"Your Highness, the remaining two Snake Cities are fortresses positioned in strategic, rugged terrains. White Snake Hill City lies atop a high hill, while Cloud Serpent Mountain City is nestled within the mountains..."

Speaking of this, Bertade furrowed his brow, showing some concern.

"Capturing these two fortresses will not be easy! And if we lay siege, it will prolong indefinitely. The twenty thousand main force Legion of the Kingdom of the Lake is deeply entangled in the Eastern Trascal Land. Thus, the campaigns against the Northwest Chapala Lake Region, and the expansion into the Southwestern Tekos Mountain Region will come to a halt..."

"The main force trapped in the East, the Kingdom’s expansion..."

Xiulote returned to his seat, looking once more at the global map in his hand, a look of deep contemplation on his face. He remained silent for a long time, initially gazing northward, lingering on the location of Cloud Serpent City. Then, the king’s gaze extended eastward, growing ever brighter.

"The aftermath of the Eastern campaign is entirely in my hands. The East... Bertade, perhaps this is a new opportunity! For me and for you!..."

"Eastern opportunity? Your Highness, do you mean... the distant East?..."

Bertade’s eyes sparkled, memories flooding back like the tide. He raised his head, gazing at the now-matured face of the prince. Xiulote also turned his head, looking at him steadily.

The king and his ministers exchanged a silent gaze, without the need for many words, understanding between them was already clear. Seven years of time surged simultaneously in both their minds, carving a few marks of vicissitude even in the warrior’s heart as steadfast as a reef!

"Indeed! Bertade, it is time! Taking advantage of the great army’s Eastern campaign opportunity... you must prepare..."

Xiulote pressed his lips tightly, eyes full of deep reluctance, yet holding the resolve of a mature man.

"Your Highness! You are forever my supreme Sun!"

Bertade gritted his teeth, lowering his gaze. His heart was filled with countless emotions, surging incessantly. His eyes were like the vast sea, profound and resolute.

"... I will follow you, no matter where!"

"Good! Bertade, my loyal Head Warrior, I trust you!"

Xiulote watched for a long time, promising in a deep, solemn voice.

"I have said before... As the waters of the Lerma River never cease, the friendship between king and minister never ends, offering my heart and soul in this life, never failing one another... Ancestors and Chief Divine bear witness! This oath, no matter how much time passes, regardless of life or death, will never change!"

"Ancestors and Chief Divine bear witness!"

Bertade raised his hand, pressing upon the scar on his cheek that he cut years ago by his own hand. The new beginning in the West is born, bearing life’s hope. The old oath is about to traverse to the East, conforming to the pact of death... The Head Warrior calmly closed his eyes, heavily kneeling at the king’s feet, kowtowing with his entire body.

"I will follow you until my death... My king!"