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It was unclear how many hours had passed, but as the sun rose over the horizon, they finally heard the long-awaited cry of a newborn baby.
"It's a boy," announced the court physicians, who then meticulously examined and cared for the newborn. Despite his frail condition, the infant showed remarkable respiratory strength, a sign of his robust arrival in the world.
Without taking his eyes off his newborn son, Hugo leans over to his wife's body. Sofia was very tired, tears still on her cheeks and her body drenched in sweat.
"You did very well, my dear." The Prince whispers, kissing and caressing his wife's face.
Sofia manages to smile, tired and lacking the strength to hold Hugo's hand any longer. The princess relaxes on the soft pillows, closing her eyes while her husband strokes her hair.
The door to the room opened wide and a few voices could be heard. Sofia opened her eyes and for a moment Hugo saw a hint of sadness in her beautiful blue eyes. He could not blame her, however, as she was not in the mood to receive guests at the moment. Nevertheless, she stands up with the help of her husband and leans against the headboard.
"Where is my grandchild?" Tsar Garrick enters the room unsteadily, almost stumbling.
"Is it another girl?" Princess Astrid's voice comes from behind, as she is the only one who has chosen to stay in the doorway. From there she gives Sofia an embarrassed smile.
"It's a boy, Your Majesty." The doctor approaches Garrick, who is holding the baby. He says, "The baby is healthy and doing well."
Garrick picks up the baby, unaware that neither Hugo nor Sofia have had a good look at the little one.
"Dad, maybe you should..." Axel tries to interrupt his father, who has begun to suggest names without rhyme or reason.
Hugo shakes his head, almost in defeat. His father is often more childish than his own daughters. Speaking of daughters... Down the hall, two pairs of feet can be heard running towards the room.
"Mom!" the girls call at the same time, coming through the door.
"Girls, don't scream. Your mother is tired." Hugo asks his daughters, helping them onto the mattress.
"I'm glad you're alive, Mommy." Irina says, leaning into her mother's side to kiss her on the cheek.
"Uh... Thanks, honey?" Sofia looks at her daughter with a confused smile on her face, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Where is our brother? Can we see him? Can we choose his name?" Alya asked, looking at her father with excited eyes.
"We'll see, okay?"
"You can call him Viktor! After your great-great-great-grandfather Hugo! He was a brave man who died fighting to protect his people."
"That's nice, Dad, but..."
"Or maybe your great-great-uncle Paul! He could ride a horse like the wind itself."
"Your Majesty, if I may." Astrid finally stepped into the room and grabbed Axel's arm. "I think Sofia and Hugo should have some time with their son before even discussing a name."
It was then that Garrick realized he had been holding the child all along. His whole face turned red as he approached his daughter-in-law and handed her the bundled baby.
"I'm sorry, I was just... full of joy." The Tsar tries to apologize, slapping his son's shoulder a few times.
"We'll take our leave now, but again, congratulations to both of you."
If she could get up, Sofia would kiss Astrid on the face, that girl is always there to help. Hugo led them out of the room, closing the door behind them. He leaned against the wooden surface and looked at his family with a smile on his face, everything he had ever wanted was right in front of him.
"Hugo," Sofia's tired voice was heard between her daughters. "Aren't you coming to see your son?"
The prince nods and walks over to the bed where he leans down to take the baby in his arms. Sofia sets him down gently, trying not to disturb him even though he is sleeping soundly. There was already a little bit of hair on the little boy's head, the same color as his father's. What would his eyes be like...? Well, what did it matter? Hugo already loved the child with all his heart.
"What are we going to call him, Daddy?"
"Well..." Hugo mumbled, glancing sideways at Sofia as he continued to rock the sleeping child. "What do you think?"
"What about... Alexander?"
"Alexander? Yeah, sounds good."
"We can call him Alex when he's older!" Irina exclaims and nods happily at her parents' decision.
"Well, then it's decided. Welcome to the family, Alexander."