The Royal Spare (COMPLETED)

22-Of First Dances And Second Thoughts

The night was turning to be terrible. She was already on her fifth glass of wine and she barely ate. The waiter attending to her already kept a bottle of wine nearby for when she raised her glass for another. I unwittingly developed a strong dislike to him.

Everybody else was done with dinner and were engaged in different conversations while the chamber orchestra continued to play softly in the background. I myself was about to answer my father's question, which I didn't quite hear as I was watching the Princess beside me down half a glass of wine in one gulp in my periphery, when she stood up.

Conversations immediately stopped and everyone's attention turned to her. She looked around the room in a dignified manner although it was clear by the blush on her cheek and the slight laziness of her eyes that she was tipsy. When she spoke, her voice was clear but lacked the hint of graceful mischief that was Princess Maiena's.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty, Your Highness." She curtsied slightly to hee father and brother. "Lord Gerardo." She smiled timidly at my father. "Lords and Ladies." She glanced around the room except in my direction. "Pardon me for having to take leave so early. You must understand that my health is currently not a hundred percent."

A unified affirmative response followed her statement.

"I would love to stay and join you all in the festivities but I'm afraid I'm quite exhausted now." She was lying but with all the wine that she consumed while everyone was busy with talks of politics and an impending war, she definitely looked tired. "Before I leave, let me propose a toast to honor the most valiant Knight in all of Reidonia, who not only saved me from..." She paused as her voice cracked. For a moment, I thought she was going to cry, but she didn't. She would never shed a tear in front of the public. My heart was broken for her but also I couldn't help but admire her strength and courage. She was even more beautiful at that moment. She took a deep breath then continued. "From the vile intentions of the dauphin of Etazuré. He protected me and also protected our nation's honor. To Sir Aidan." She raised her already empty glass as everyone else raised theirs.

"To Sir Aidan!" They all cheered and drank from their glasses.

There were honoring me but I didn't believe I deserved it. My actions has now caused a significant problem for the kingdom. Just this morning, my father confronted me about it.

"You will take the fall for this." He said. "How can you be so irresponsible? And if you killed the dauphin? What then, huh? That would've been unforgivable. Etazuré's forces is ten times our own. They would lay waste to us all! You disappoint me, Aidan." My father told me.

"I see that you're disappointed, Father, but I don't regret what I did. and I will do it again of I have to. If war comes, put me in the front lines. I will take responsibility for my actions."

Fortunately, the King and the Crown Prince had a different opinion and my father eventually changed his mind. There was no better place for him than in the good graces of Reidonia's Sovereign.

When everyone has put down their glasses, Princess Maeina moved to leave. I immediately stood up and pulled her chair back to give her some room.

She looked at me and a breath caught in my chest when I met her gaze. Okay. I knew I was acting weird around her earlier but it was only because I was not sure how to be around her. Our last two encounters haven't been exactly pleasant. First, I blurted out that I have a girlfriend after we kissed which clearly upset her, making her run into the rain that got her sick. Then, I beat a man to an inch of his life in front of her which traumatized her.

I knew I said I would keep away from the Princess but in all honesty, I don't think I can. And it terrifies me to know that she would never want to be around me again. That was a real fear. She was already upset with and scared of me.