Regiphobia

The Guest

Another day slipped by like wind through chimes. The awoke just after dawn. There was bustling and muttering, because today was big.

Goda stayed sleeping for a while longer than normal. When he woke up, he looked for Gabe. Gone. He sat up, wincing slightly. After hobbling his way to getting ready, he grabbed his crutches. He sat down for a few minutes before mustering the strength to get himself out of the room.

Goda stepped outside, crutches tapping under him. He kept an eye out for Juan.

Juan, meanwhile, was patrolling the halls, worries about Goda running through his head. He passed by his brother, giving him a wide smile and a wave. José just nodded in response.

José kept walking down the hall. He had a destination in mind. He was meant to guard their important guest for the weekend. The queen of some country across the sea. He didn't bother to ask which. He went down the stairs, walking out the front doors of the palace and meeting up with Officer Pastor and a few other guards.

"Cazado, right on time," Léo said, "You're the last one we were waiting for. Now, you all need to understand exactly how important this guest is. Her mother was the first in their line to attempt to ally her country with Monaco. Not only do they have an extremely impressive military, they also have a close relationship with the biggest military power in the entire world, America."

That gave José enough context clues. The new Queen of Canada. He'd heard that she was coronated just a few months ago.

"If we lose her as an ally, it could completely ruin us. Do you understand?" Officer Pastor said, harsh eyes scanning the small crowd. They all nodded. "Good. So, treat her better than you would your own king."

Léo walked off, leaving the group to walk to the waiting cars. They were heading to the small airport she'd be landing at. José and one man he'd never met before would be joining the queen in her limo, along with two other guards for King Gabriel, while the others would be in armored trucks in front of and behind them. It seemed like overkill for one woman to him, but he wasn't a monarch.

José took his seat, eyes trained straight ahead of him. The drive faded by, shadows tickling the edge of his vision, and before he knew, they were there. The other guy, his badge said Officer Auger, got out with him. They fell in line behind the king, being lead out to the runway. A jet was just landing. Perfect timing.

When it came to a complete stop, there were a few minutes of silence. Then, the door opened. A guard walked out, followed by a thin, brown-haired man that looked like an advisor, followed by...

She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Golden blond hair, warm blue eyes, immaculate makeup, and a dress that accentuated every one of her features. He shoved down all the feelings that bubbled up in him before they could cause any problems. A woman followed after her, then another guard.

The king smiled, "Queen Arial. It's a pleasure to see you."

Arial. That was her name.

She smiled. She lifted her hands and signed to the woman beside her, who watched before saying, "She says, 'King Gabriel, always a pleasure.'" José watched her hands too. So she was mute. He hadn't understood that, he assumed it was either ASL or LSQ, American or French, seeing as they were most common in Canada. A gentle pang ran through José's heart. His father was the only reason he knew any sign language at all. He tried not to let the swelling of memories destroy him.

King Gabriel looked to José and Officer Auger, then back to her, "Your advisor and guards can join the others, we have our best officers here to join us in the limo."

Queen Arial then motioned to her translator. The king looked to the four guards around him, "Do any of you happen to know sign?" His voice was hushed and sound rushed, maybe even tinged with annoyance. He spoke as if they should have known his question before he even thought it.

The other three shook their heads. José said, "Only Spanish, Your Majesty."

He saw Arial's face light up in his peripheral vision. She then signed, directly to José, in SSL, 'A pleasant coincidence.' José blinked in surprise. Arial signed something to her translator, then started to walk towards the limo. King Gabriel followed her, prompting the four guards to do the same. The two royals stepped into the limo, and each of their seats was flanked by guards.

Arial looked out the window for a moment before signing to José. He watched her hands move before turning to the king, "She wants to know how your fiancé is, Your Majesty."

King Gabe sighed, looking sadder now than José had ever seen him over this topic, "How he's doing... I feel it would be best for him to tell you himself. But he's alright enough. That's what matters."

Arial nodded, worry obvious in her eyes. Of course she wouldn't know. The king had been sure to keep this all as low as possible. The drive continued in mostly silence. Especially from the queen. Everything about her seemed... eerily quiet to José, even with his extraordinary hearing. Her heartbeat seemed too quiet, every rustle of her dress completely undetectable.

As soon as they pulled up to the front door, the king stepped out to hold the car door for Arial. She got out, immediately earning the stares of some of the less disciplined guards. She didn't seem to notice. The king offered her an arm and they walked inside, followed by three completely forgettable guards and José Cazado.

The king looked to Arial, "Follow this officer to the room you're staying in. If you want to see him, my fiancé will be at dinner. I have business to attend to." The king walked off, taking the other three guards with him. José was left with Arial, her advisor, and her translator. She smiled at him, a warm smile that entranced him for just a moment. 

"This way, Your Majesty," José said, leading the queen to her room, the guest room on the king's side. Just across the floor from where a man had been arrested just three days prior. Just across from a room where a boy's leg had been broken and his rib bruised. Just a few meters away from where Juan must have hid from that man so he could save that boy.

His brother was always too reckless.

José held the door open for Arial. Before she walked in, she signed, 'May I have your name?'

"Officer José Cazado," he replied, face completely blank. It was a mask, but one he kept on quite well.

'Thank you, José,' Arial smiled at him before walking into the room, followed by the translator, but not the advisor, who had broken off from the group to go to his own room. Jose closed the door and stood guard in front of it. He ignored his pounding heart.

Arial sat on the edge of her bed, smiling at her sister as she took a seat beside her.

"Did I tell you that you look gorgeous in your dress?" Angelica beamed at her little sister. The queen. She never thought this day would come.

'Only around 18 times,' Arial signed, making a motion that looked like a laugh. Angelica stood up, her red dress moving behind her.

"I forgot how amazing this place was! I mean, I only came here a couple times with Mom and Dad, but still!" she enthused. Arial stood as well, looking much more regal and put together. It wasn't a surprise to anyone when Angelica abdicated the throne after the death of their mother and the disappearance of their older brother.

'What did you think of that guard?' Arial asked her. She blinked in surprise before actually responding.

"José? Well, he was hot, I had to give him that," Angelica grinned and laughed lightly. Arial joined the actions, albeit silently. She loved her sister, but she was ridiculous when she was excited.

Today, however, she couldn't get her mind off that officer. It was something about the way he'd looked at her. When she had just gotten off the jet, when she had first signed to him, and when she'd smiled at him in the entrance hall. There was a spark she hadn't ever seen before. Something about his golden eyes had her thoughts on him and him alone. Being the hopeless romantic she was, she assumed she'd finally found what she'd been looking for her entire life.

Love at first sight.

Could that guard stuck in her mind be her soulmate? Or was it her overactive imagination running rampant?