The Royal Spare (COMPLETED)

58-Of Ever Afters

"How about going on a safari this time?" Mama asked Papa as we sat under the shade of a temporary canopy setup for our afternoon picnic on the hill. My parents decided to spend the day in the rose hill garden that Papa gave Mama as a gift for their 10th wedding anniversary. He spent months secretly working with landscapers to cover the entire hill in the suburbs with rose plants of different colors and varieties from around the world. It was a statement of his undying love and devotion for her. 

"I think Santino likes the idea." Mama smiled brightly as she playfully pinched my nose. "What do you think, my love?" She blinked her beautiful brown eyes at my father who was of course powerless to my mother's charm. 

We just got back from our tropical island trip but the Crown Princess of Reidonia consumed by wanderlust was already planning our family's next adventure. 

Yes. Mother has been officially named as Crown Princess and my father as Prince Consort of Reidonia. Ever since grandfather stepped down from the throne to live a blissful life of retirement spent with his grandchildren, Uncle Nikolai has been ruling over the country for five years as an unwed King. No one has questioned his choice since the task of providing heirs to the throne of Reidonia for generations to come now rests on the shoulders of my willing parents. So far, with four healthy children, two daughters and two sons, things are looking up. 

Papa with all the love in his heart sparkling in his eyes as he smiled at my Mama was about to express his agreement to her proposal but before he could respond, the shrill cry of my eldest sister was heard. 

My parents were immediately alarmed and hurriedly got up from their seats, with me in Mama's arms and my twin sister in Papa's.

"Dada!" She yelled as she ran directly into the arms of the ever-valiant Sir Gali who lifted her up and carried her to where we stood. 

He carefully brushed her sweaty curly fringes from her forehead and as his eyes questioned her about what got the 9-year old little princess worked up again. 

I leaned my head on Mama's shoulder and lazily sucked on my thumb as I watched my big sister's drama. How could that crybaby be the next in line to the throne after Mom? My twin sister Sancia and I were barely two years old but we didn't cry as much as our eldest sister did. 

"It's Niccolo, Dada. He pushed me. Look! My dress is all muddy now." She pouted as she glared at my 5-year old older brother. 

"I did not!" My brother fumed as he marched up to where we were. "She tripped on her own because she wasn't looking where she was going." He reasoned. "Nonno saw it!" He declared as he looked behind him to the former King of Reidonia who has been teaching them fencing for the past hour. 

"I…" The great King Father Thaddeus who used to give lengthy inspirational speeches to his people, moved nations with his eloquence and always knew exactly what to say at any given occasion was at a loss for words in the face of his quarrelling grandchildren who he equally and wholeheartedly adored.

Mama sighed and furrowed his eyebrows. "Anna Rigina…" She called sternly with her velvety voice. My sister immediately stopped sobbing as her still red eyes widened and turned to the Crown Princess. "Niccolo Dante…" She turned her regal stare to my brother who looked down at his shoes and shrinked behind our grandfather. "Is this how a future Queen and a future King should be acting? Don't you ever listen to what your Papa and I have been teaching you?"

Uncle Gali turned to face her at the same time Papa and Nonno were about to say something to intervene but one sharp glare from Mama shut them all up. Who said she's just the Crown Princess? In this family, she is the Queen. 

Oh! Yes. Uncle Gali. Our family happened to have a complicated history. My uncle was once engaged to my Mama but three days before their wedding, something spectacular happened and they ended up not getting married at all.