Prince Chulalongkorn, now King of Siam stared out at his kingdom. His father had been dead for twelve years. In that time he had grown immeasurably, ruling over his people, including his four wives and three sons. Siam had changed too. People no longer dropped to their knees whenever they saw the king, but bowed. Slavery was illegal, servants were paid proper wages for their work. Women were not considered second class citizens.

Prince Chulalongkorn's wife, well, first wife, was in labor now, which was why he was now standing out on the balcony, surveying his kingdom. He could not bear to hear her cries of pain, never had been, even though he knew that the best doctors in Siam were taking care of her. It had been four hours now and although everything was going smoothly, he was still nervous. He wondered if his father was ever nervous, and then laughed. He was sure his father had been, with her. Anna, Miss Anna, his school teacher. He would never forget her. She had made him the man he was today.

A loud scream pierced the bright blue sky, and then the unmistakable wails of an infant. He spun around, trying not to run, and made his way past all the guards and midwives into his wife's rooms. There, he was greeted by a beautiful sight, his darling wife holding a newborn infant in her arms. With a snap of his fingers he dismissed the midwives, instructing his advisors to give them their pay and joined his wife on the bed.

"Are you well, my love?" He crooned to his wife.

She smiled at him, a glorious but tired smile, and he kissed her forehead.

"My king, my love, you have a daughter."

He smiled widely, and kissed his wife on the cheek. "Sleep my love. Is there anything that you need?"

"No, my king." She closed her eyes and fell asleep almost immediately, the exhaustion apparent in her face. Chulalongkorn left the birthing chamber and went to the nursery where the infant girl was asleep. He dismissed the guards and picked up his child. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. At that moment, staring down at his first-born daughter, all of his troubles left him. The girl shut her eyes, peacefully asleep again.

"Anna." He said decisively. "I will call you Anna."

The End