I wake up with pounding head, two arms fully bandaged. Beside me, Anne is sleeping with her whole body facing me, while Uncle Isaac is curled up on the sofa on the far end of my chamber.

The nurse tending to my leg wound stops to look at me. “You’re awake, princess? Let me get you Sir Raph—”

I catch her hand. “Prince Napoleon ...?”

“He’s in the guest chamber, Your Royal Highness. Sir Raphael is checking on him as we speak.”

I sigh, watching as her go. Before long, Raphael appears with big smile but tired eyes.

“Did you sleep, Raph?”

“It’s okay, I’m fine. Are you?”

“The palace doctor would’ve happily taken over you. Just rest for a bit, okay?”

Raphael grimaces. “Uh, about that ... Your uncle was close to losing it last night. It’s safe to say he no longer trusts anybody until their loyalty is proven. He practically begged me to take care of you and your knight, Jenny.” He chuckles weakly as he sits beside me. “So, tell me, how are feeling?”

“I’m fine, truly! Just exhausted, and a bit numb, probably from the shock. I’ll heal in no time.”

Raphael smiles softly. “I’m sure.”

“What about Ra—Nap? Is he okay?”

“Raul’s fine, overall. His left arm’s tendon’s cut, though, so he needs to wear a shoulder splint until it heals.” He stops, then continues cheekily, “No dancing for you for the time being.”

I laugh weakly. “You tease.”

“Come now, what else do you want to know? Any messages to relay? You cheeky kids should really rate me five stars for my messenger service.”

“Just tell him I miss him.” I can’t help but smile, imagining Raul lie in his bed, surprised and blushing.

“Not subtle at all, aren’t we?” Beside me, Anne jumps in.

“Good morning, love.” Raphael reaches past me to give her a peck.

“Morning, fiancé.” Anne sighs shamelessly.

Our gaze meet and I roll my eyes. “You were saying?”

“Hehe.” Suddenly, Anne sit up straighter. “But that means Raul is your Raphael. Am I right? Do I win?”

I gasp in disbelief. “Did you bet on ... of course you bet on me!”

“Hehe. It’s just a harmless bet—the winner get full-body kisses.”

I groan. “You lovebirds are embarrassing me.”

“Oh, I’m sure you wouldn’t care if Raul’s here.”

“Don’t you lot go calling him Raul as you please!”

“Yes, Anne, show some respect. Call him brother-in-law.”

“Uncle ...! And since when do you favour Raul over Timmy?”

Uncle Isaac chuckles, makes his wobbly way to us. “I’m glad you’re alright, Jenny. I’m so, so glad.” He chokes on tears, instantly making the mood somber. “I’m forever indebted in your knight.”

“Oh, Uncle ....” I move to hug him, feeling his shoulders tremble vulnerably. “I’m fine, okay? The world’s not getting rid of me that easily.”

Anne joins us in our hug, her eyes wet of tears. “If Raul wasn’t around, if he didn’t think fast, if ... if he’s not willing to take the risk .... We could’ve lost you, baby.”

“I know ... Hell, I knew I wouldn’t make it before he grabbed me.”

“Oh, baby ....”

We continue to bawl our eyes out until Raphael clears his throat awkwardly. “Um, guys? We have companies.”

Still in tears, we let go of each other. Two lads stand in front of my chamber’s door, each with a get-well-soon bouquet.

Me: “Ross?”

Uncle Isaac: “Brandon?”

Anne: “Um, who?”

Lastly, a girl comes in, closing the door behind her.

All three of us: “Paige!”

^^^

“So, let me get this straight. Brandon is King Isaac’s long lost illegitimate child.”

“Claims to be.” I correct Ross, watching from my bed as he tries to cut an apple for me.

“Okay. All this time, he’s been raised in Bobby’s former orphanage, which he visited recently with his runaway bride, your best friend, Princess Paige of Orinh.”

“Lover.” I correct him again.

“Uh-huh. And now, he’s trying to claim his birth right as the rightful heir apparent to King Isaac. The council and your uncle is holding a meeting regarding this issue as they wait for the DNA test result. Do you feel threatened by Brandon?”

“Not at all. Even better if the test result proves him Uncle Isaac’s son. That’s basically a dream come true to me!” And Raul wouldn’t have to care at all about my huge responsibility. Joy!

“I don’t understand. You will not be crowned.”

“I don’t care. Do you?”

“Not at all.”

I smile. “Good. And I’m surprised you’re here after our last conversation.” I basically scared the crap out of him by being, uh, painfully aggressive. I mean, my mind might be preoccupied then, but even so it’s still quite obvious that he has no interest to me, and only tries to match me in Heaven purposely to ruin his dad and my uncle’s relationship. He’s still in high school, for heaven’s sake! No sane boys his age looking for marriage, with a twenty years old lady no less.

Prince Ross of Tomborne, ladies and gentlemen. Only child of Prince Gareth. No one announced him, my bad.

“I like you ... bold.”

“Ha! And I like you naive.”

“On that note. All this life-and-death situation made me realize that I don’t want to waste another second not being with you. Princess Jenny! Will you marry me?” He gets down on one knee and opens his ring box with the most amusing expression. Eyes closed, nose crunched, one could easily mistake him bracing for impact. It takes everything in me to not burst into laughter.

Lookit, Raul, some kid just went and stole your thunder while you’re hanging on your shoulder splint.

“How is that relevant? You weren’t even there!”

“But now I know how it feels to almost lose you!”

“You weren’t even here last night! Just what kind of fairy tale world are you living in?”

He stands, face flushing. “It’s called love!”

I laugh sourly. “What does a seventeen-years-old know about love? You’ve known me since, like, three days ago.”

He looks down, taking his time before answering quietly. “Love is when you put someone else’s happiness before yours.”

“Well don’t you love your dad, kid?”

“Don’t call me kid! You don’t know how it feels to lose your mum. You don’t know how it feels to see your dad betrays you and your mum!”

I snort. “Someone’s not doing his homework. First of all, I lost both my mum and dad. They both betrayed me when they chose to dedicate their lives to a cause they’d been fighting for and died in the process. But still, my uncle threw away his life and took me under him. He raises me and loves me just like his own, never looking back. Dare I say, that is love.”

I sigh, then speak more gently. “Don’t you love your dad, Ross? Don’t you see how much happier he’s become, with my uncle? Don’t answer me, because these are the questions you need to ask yourself. What would your mum want? Your dad being happy, or mourning her death forever? You sacrificing your life to ‘avenge’ her, or living your best life?”

Before I realized, he has fallen into sobs. “Can I hug you?”

I hand him a tissue. “After you clean up that snot, sure.”

^^^

Later that night after I excused everyone, Raul video calls me.

“Hey beautiful.”

“I haven’t showered in a whole day. I wouldn’t call myself beautiful.”

Raul laughs softly. “Sure, dork.” He looks around before asking, “You alone?”

“Uh huh.”

“Can I come?”

“What, right now? Technically—wait, no, are you even allowed to walk?”

“Too late.” He smirks, as he cuts off the connection at the same time I hear a soft knock on my chamber door.

I gasp. “You’ve been there the whole time??” I sit up straight, but then look at my bandaged right leg. “Um, I can’t ... Raph said ....”

“Can I come, princess?” asks him again behind closed door.

Oh! Oh. “Sure! Come in.”

Raul saunters across my chamber and sits in a chair beside my bed, a broad smile in his face. He has his head bandaged and left arm rested in shoulder splint, but seems quite fine anywhere else. His eyes a little puffy, though.

“Couldn’t sleep?” I ask, pouring him cold tea from my nightstand.

“Yeah. I guess I’m not used to sleeping in a beautiful princess’ guest chamber.”

“Do you prefer us send you home drenched in blood? Magnemt might wage another war.”

“Huh. Never mind then.” Raul shifts, then asks, “How’s your day?”

I shrug. “Not much. A prince proposed to me. A long lost cousin came back home. Oh! And,” I pause for dramatic measure, “My doctor inappropriately flirted with his fiancée right in front of my face.”

Raul nods. “Just another day in paradise. You off the market yet?”

I grin. “We settled with being step cousins instead.” I think for a second before adding, “Kind of.”

Raul mouths an ‘ah’. “Prince Ross of Tomborne?”

I laugh. “Dork.”

“So ... A little bird told me you missed me.” Raul raises his eyebrow.

“What if I did?”

“Well, here I am now, princess. At your disposal.”

“Hey.” I wait until his eyes find mine. “Thank you for saving my life.”

He sighs. “I regret it already.”

“What?” I feel my blood drained from my face.

“Gratitude isn’t exactly what I want you to feel about me.”

“Oh ....” I let go of breath I didn’t know I held, beyond relieved. “Don’t scare me like that, Raul. I thought it did permanent damage to you. I’d be forever guilty.”

“No, not that either.”

I chuckle. “Raul, you dork.”

“Can I kiss you?” He asks abruptly, his words take me by surprise.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

“I don’t ... usually kiss girls after one and a half dates. I know I should take it slowly because I’d hate to mess this up, but, uh .... I can’t help it. This, right now, feels right. Me, falling dangerously fast for you, feels right. Please, please tell me if I’m moving too fast, J.”

I chuckle as I pull him close, his lips as desperate as his speech as they find their way to mine. The kiss is so soft yet so passionate, so slow yet so hot, and like Raul, oh so dangerously addictive.

I let go of him and rest my forehead in his. “You do speeches before you kiss?”

Raul chuckles softly, steadying his breath. “Just for a lucky few.”

“Cheeky!” I move to lie down. “Lie down with me?”

“J!” Raul jumps away from me. “I can’t possibly ... What if anyone ....” He catches my puppy eyes and sighs. “Oh, you. You’re going to be the death of me, I’m sure.”

Eventually, he makes his way to the other side of bed.

Staring at the ceiling, I whisper, “Raul, what ... didn’t you tell me?”

“I’d say a lot.” He chuckles.

“You look like you’d been crying.”

He grows quiet in a second. “Oh. I did, yeah.”

“Yeah?” I turn to him.

He keeps staring at the ceiling. “My mum, she ... I lost her at a ball. The shot was aimed at Cornelius, but she ... she ....” He fights back a sob.

“Oh, Raul ....” You’re not good with crowd, huh?

“What hurts the most was no one seemed to care. The world just ... moved on, like nothing’s happened.” He lets out a bitter laugh. “I guess being a busybody runs in the family.”

“Heroes, Raul.” He turns to look at me. “Heroes is what you and your mum are.”

He blinks, and a tear falls down his face. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”

I wipe the tear with my finger. “Will you escort me again, Raul? Even if it might cost your life?”

He nods. “Without a doubt.”

I let out a little sob. “Your mum would be so proud.”

He smiles, his right hand pulls me into a hug. “Don’t cry, princess.”