Me and Galina (2nd Edition)

VII

“Thirty-three years ago, the parliament rose against the Crown. They want to change the government into democracy, but I took an idea of dividing the UK back into four independent parts.”

He continued.

“England ruled by my eldest Albion II, Scotland by Mary Caledonia, Ireland by Eire, and Wales by Camry. Each of my children will rule as independent monarchs in democratic Britannia. I founded this kind of government called as ‘Demonarchy’.”

The king swallowed. He remembered the tragic situations in his family. Images now showed in his mind. The queen noticed her husband’s expression and placed her hand on his shoulder, as it was her comfort to him. Galina nipped the cookie and ate it.

And Nikolas sipped the tea formally and spoke after licking his lips. “What happened to your son?”

“Albion married to the Spanish princess a month after the war broke off. He claimed the English throne right then and made himself a king. He had a son, but everything went upside down when it was Sunday night.” A tear ran down his cheeks and he wiped it with his hand. The king sighed and looked at the young people who were listening to him. “He was stabbed and, his three-year-old son was kidnapped.”

“Oh, dear.” Galina slightly gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

How Jazmin could survive sadness through all her life in the palace? Nikolas wrapped his arm around Galina’s shoulder to comfort her, but his stomach fluttered with butterflies. His jaw clenched at this uneasy feeling. He hadn’t felt this way since his break-up with Phoebe, to his engagement with Silica.

“I hope the good news will come. But I doubt about this investigation.”

“Let us investigate for your lost grandson!” Galina retorted with optimism, standing up with her hands reached towards the king for a shake. The royal couple exchanged glances.

Nikolas gripped Galina’s wrist. He felt shame at her clumsy idea. “Sorry Your Highness, Galina is quite optimistic about taking this investigation regarding the “

“I won’t give up, Santa Claus.” Galina glared at him and faced back to the king. “The kingdom may fail if everyone will not help each other.”

The king — amazed at her aura — stood up and clutched her hand. Albion never met a foreign woman with such great faith. Pauline smiled with tears rolling and got up, pulling Galina for a hug. Nikolas smiled and nodded at the king. But he’s still gripping Galina’s wrist gently. Galina sat down and stare at his hand. “You’re still holding me, Santa Claus.” She whispered. His grip was not that strong but like a feather, so light to feel it.

“I wish it will be forever, but…” he lowered his voice before someone screamed outside. His voice shrilled like the peak of Mt. Everest. “BARBIE!”

“Barbie’s in trouble again.” The queen rolled her eyes at her husband. Albion has just widened his eyes and shrugged. The four of them raced towards the window and looked. Justin was bringing a tree branch, shooing an animal that was growling at him.

A Belgian Shepherd dog

“Barbie should be in the cage, Albee!” Pauline folded her arms on her chest, glaring at her husband. Galina chuckled but was nudged by Nikolas. Albion raised his eyebrows, turning around, and walked off. Pauline excused herself and followed Albion while yelling rapidly with her anger. They left Nikolas and Galina behind the Drawing Room.

“So Barbie is a dog?” Galina asked, lifting her head to see Nikolas. Nikolas also looked down at her. “Yes, I guess.”

“I thought she’s the next Chuckie doll here in this palace.”

Nikolas stared at her for a bit, then tore his gaze from Galina to the grand piano. The piano was painted with gold, surely enough to say that was brought at a high price. “Do you know how to play that piano?” he pointed at the instrument.

“No, how about you?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know. Because I was young back, then when I have my Piano Lessons.” He shoved his hands into the side pockets and strode over to the piano. Galina was mesmerized by his image. The way he ran his fingers on the piano tiles creating no sounds from that instrument.

The book laid on the music rack was Frédéric Chopin’s Waltzes. But he couldn’t remember the way how to play the song.

Nikolas dragged the stool and positioned himself like a pianist in most orchestras. Galina walked over and stood behind him. His fingers pressed the keys, making a soft melody in contrast to Justin’s drunk song.

Let me say before I leave, dance with me until you stay.

Let this song be my voice, let this dance be remembered.

The way how I feel for you.

Nikolas sang while gliding his fingers on the keys. Galina observed his voice. Why he didn’t have the courage to showcase his talents whilst he was young?

It’s only you and me, traveling without fear, against all odds.

Galina walked to his side, her eyes locked on the view of her friend. He’s like the e-version of Leonardo DiCaprio, playing the instrument while singing with a song she never heard before. After he pressed the last note, someone clapped. They both shifted their gaze to find a woman smiling. She’s in her suit dress, looking like in her forties. “That’s great!”

Nikolas stood up, took a slight bow to the woman, and smiled shyly. “Thank you, your-“

“Just call me Jazmin.” The woman caught Galina’s attention and walked towards her. “Are you a Filipina?”

“Yes, ma’am- uh Jazmin.” Galina’s eyes bored into hers, where she felt something that she hadn’t for years.

“I humbly pardon and ask for forgiveness on the behalf of my Spanish folks for treating the Filipinos harshly beyond these three centuries. I hope that history may bring good things to your beloved country and any curse released by my people shall be broken.” Jazmin held Galina’s hands and gently pressed them. Galina glanced at Nikolas, then shrugged at the princess.

“Past is past. Let us move forward to reach our destiny, Ma’am Jazmin.” Galina smiled. Jazmin turned to Nikolas, studying his physical features. From his eyes down to his feet, guessing what genetic race he had.

“Are you Spanish?”

“Perhaps, but no one told me about the descent race I have since childhood.”

Galina eyed him in confusion while Jazmin’s face shoves into a crestfallen expression. Nikolas saw her face. “Are you alright ma’am?”

Her face lightened up and shook her head. “Yes, are you Nikolas right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And you’re Galina.” Galina nodded when Jazmin faced her again. “Tomorrow, you’ll do your own responsibilities and tonight, we’ll have our dinner at the Dining Room.”

As the princess left, the two stood there thinking about Jazmin’s experiences. “She’s a stronger woman,” Galina spoke, breaking the silence in the room. She felt sorry for Jazmin that she’d experienced hills and oceans in her season. Nikolas looked at Galina and placed his hand on her shoulder. She shivered a bit at his touch but didn’t break her gaze on the floor. “Ma’am survived suffering loneliness for almost years.”

“But we can’t stop finding until he is found.” Galina lifted her head to look at Nikolas. “But we need to find more details about the incident.”

“We may discover them while working on our jobs.” Nikolas sighed, scratching his head. “Because they didn’t tell us enough details, milady.”

“You’re calling me that! Flirting, huh?” Galina s*****d his shoulders and Nikolas chuckled.

“I supposed to, but I declined.”

“You, what? Declined?”

“Yeah, because I’m tired of flirting and ended up regrets.”

“Ah… You regretted it because you have STDs.”

Nikolas widened his eyes. To his surprise, he accidentally barked, his voice echoed throughout the room. “No! I don’t have any!”

Galina raised her eyebrows and shook her head. She walked to the door and turned around. “Are we going to our bedrooms?”

“I think we should walk around the palace for a while.” Nikolas pushed his hands into his pockets.

Nikolas and Galina strode through the Public Gallery. Paintings were exhibited along the walls, with sofas living on each side of the hallway. Their eyes darted at the portrait of Rembrandt’s The Shipbuilder and his wife. “That painting I heard is approximately the most expensive paintings in this gallery.” Nikolas pointed out the painting.” Galina was overwhelmed by the painting.

“It looks like that woman knows how to build a ship.”

“Shh Galina.” He tried to shut her mouth up. Nikolas stopped in his tracks, leaving Galina, and studied the Italian painting. And Galina continued walking through the hallway. Her eyes caught the face of the painting. His eyes were cool as the sky, but his posture was elegantly bold as a leader. He is wearing a red military uniform with a crown on his head and a cape over his shoulders.

That person’s name was engraved on the gold-plated frame with the date on it.

Albion George James Harold of England. 1988

Galina looked up at the painting. The late King’s face strikes a similar resemblance under the black veil. It wasn’t clear through but the abstract image made her goosebumps. Her skin tightened, and she skipped when Nikolas called her. “You’re scaring me, Santa Claus.”

“It’s not that horrible to look at the painting, Milady.”

Nikolas drifted his track to look at another painting. Galina took a last glance at the painting, then walked to him. “Some people build massive properties through selling paintings.”

“How much is the worth of each painting?” Galina placed her hands on her back while looking at the painting.

“It depends on the artist’s signature and its fame.” His eyes diverted on Galina, a perfect-face-shaped beauty that could be admired and drawn in artistic media. “But frankly, you can a masterpiece to admire.”

“Nikolas. I’m tired of hearing those poetry lines from other suitors.” She rolled her eyes and walked off, leaving Nikolas behind. Nikolas shook his head in frustration. “I’m just telling her the truth.” He mumbled. His eyes caught off the attention of the painting of Albion II, its cool blue orbs stared at him with nothing yet a fatherly figure.

He must be a good father…

Nikolas gave it a last look before going through the exit. The eyes of the man in the painting would not escape from his mind. He pressed his eyelids close to remove the image. His legs wobbled, and he leaned his back on the wall. Galina came out of the enormous door, seeing him sighed and looked at her. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m alright.” He lied. Was he a truth-teller or somewhat a liar?

Galina was bringing a muffin and peeled the bottom paper off. He raised his eyebrows with a where-did-you-get-that expression. She bit the muffin and felt the savory in her mouth and the tongue. Smiling, she chuckled when she caught Nikolas looking at her.

“I got this from the chef. He said that this is supposed to be Thea’s.” Galina munched the muffin and swallowed. “The first one was heated with a hairdryer.”

Nikolas gave her a shocked look.

“What?”

“And I brought the hairdryer together with the screwdrivers and nails in the luggage.”

“That’s why your luggage, miss, is so heavy.” Justin came into their conversation. Nikolas saluted at him as a hello greetings. “What’s wrong with that dog?”

“Ah, Barbie… she’s His Majesty’s personal dog.” He lowered his head. Barbie could chase after him fifty times in a year. Justin bit his lip and smiled weakly. Galina scratched her head. Her mind was cluttered with curiosity about him. “Did she bite you?”

“Almost, but I’m wearing a stainless steel leg and arm supporter to protect myself from Barbie.” Justin lifted his head and looked at her.

Galina came closer to Nikolas and draped her arm on his shoulder. Her eyes didn’t take a blink while staring at Justin. “That’s why you’re like a street post been chased by a doggie. Very stiff.”

“Unless I’m a knight in shining armor.” Justin lifted his arm and kissed his biceps.

Galina and Nikolas exchanged looks, then she retorted. “A knight chased by the undefeated Barbie.”

Nikolas nudged Galina’s hips and glared at her, mentally scolding her to shut her mouth up. But Galina didn’t care. These men’s stomachs were made to leave their bodies as she asks.

“Can I cuddle Barbie?”