The Royal Spare (COMPLETED)

54-Of Surprises And Choices

When I woke up, I was already in my room. It was quiet. It seemed that I was alone in the room and I felt inexplicably empty. I tried to think of what happened. I remembered that I seemed to have fainted. Aside from a sluggish feeling, I was fine. I didn't feel sick. I was probably just too stressed and exhausted.

I slowly opened my eyes and as I lifted my hands to rub them, my left hand hit something. It was then that I realized that I wasn't alone in the room. I looked to my side and found a handsome head of short and shiny black hair resting beside me. An open palm was above it and it seemed that was were I lifted my hand from. The corners of my lips lifted to a smile. Of course he would be there. He has always been by my side.

My fingers gently touched the rich locks as I watched their owner's sleeping face. He must've been as exhausted as I was. I frowned when I saw the stitches behind his ear. They haven't completely healed. I felt a pang in my chest as guilt hit me. My brave Knight should still be recuperating from his injury but he chose to stand beside me this whole time.

The tightness in my heart could only be released in a sigh. Gali has been with me through the years. He never lets me be lost or lonely. He stayed by my side like a fortress made of the solid rock on the outside and warm fluffy pillows inside that protected, assured and comforted me no matter what. He shared everything with me-- happiness and sadness, ups and downs, best and worst.

I froze at that thought. Going through the best and worst together... Wasn't that a part of a very special vow?

I suddenly remembered my little crush on him when I was nine. I was just a little princess and he was already a fully-pledged young Knight who has been guarding me for over a year. At that time, my father was always busy with state affairs and my brother was always training and studying to be the future King but Gali was there for me. Whenever I missed my mother, whenever I was frustrated with Lady Marian's strict lessons, whenever I had a fight with Cora, whatever I was feeling or thinking, he was always there to listen and care. His constant doting attention and the security he gave me led to my dependence on him then slowly developed into a young girl's secret puppy love. During those days of my infatuation with Gali, I doodled our names opposite each other and drew hearts. My childish heart wished to be married to him when I grew up so he could always be by my side.

As years went by, I understood that my little infatuation was just the fleeting affections of youthful innocence and the dreams I held in my little heart slowly faded when I realized that the comfort of having Gali around gave me the same comfort as having Nikolai around. He gave me the warmth of being loved and protected by family which I missed because I never had to spend as much time with my own brother.

I was probably still dazed in my thoughts when Gali woke up. The next thing I knew, two warm hands gently scooped my face and a pair of tender eyes stared at me with deep concern. I smiled up at him and said, "I'm okay. Stop worrying. Go back to sleep."

He frowned and shook his head to refuse my suggestion then removed his warm hands from my cheeks to sign, "How do you feel? Is there any pain anywhere?"

I shook my head. "Just a little tired." I reassured him. "How long was I unconscious?" I asked.

He signed, "Two hours."

"Two hours?!" I gasped. I was alarmed. How could I have fainted and slept for two hours when the country was in chaos?

As if he read my mind like he always did, Gali gave me a disapproving look and signed, "Don't worry about anything for now. Your health is more important."

I smiled and reached for his furrowed eyebrows to straighten them. "I know," I said but I still asked. "What did the doctor say? Where's your father?"