The Vindication Gents

Chapter 1.16

Kathleen Remes’ POV

I have had nightmares about what happened 5 years ago. It kept me awake most of the night and I didn’t want Kai to know about it. I hated being dependent on someone. One night I had a terrible nightmare when I writhed in bed, waking Kai in the process. I was crying and crying until Kai held me calmly in his arms.

“Kathleen, Kathleen, wake up, my love!” He said as he was shaking me. I was still writhing in my sleep when I suddenly opened my eyes, it was only Kai’s handsome face that was in front of me.

“What happened?” I asked him as I looked at our position. I blushed at our intimacy, but I didn’t care. He was my husband after all.

“You were crying in your sleep. Is everything okay? Do you have something to tell me?” He asked me as he was caressing my cheeks. I leaned into his touch, bringing fire to my body onto a whole new level. I sighed when Kai looked at me. With hunger in his eyes.

“Kai,” I whispered.

“Don’t talk, my love,” he said before dipping his mouth and claiming my mouth. It was sweet and tender but I loved it every moment that we shared. It was always that way since, whenever I had a nightmare, he would wake me up and kiss me until I slept again. Until one night when I couldn't control my frustration and I refused to kiss him.

“Kathleen, what’s wrong?” Kai asked as he was trying to dip his mouth and claim mine. I avoided it. I have to tell him. It was the only way that I could feel safe in his arms and also the secret that I had been holding for so many years.

“Hmm?” He asked me as he looked at me after I looked into his eyes deeply. I sighed before I closed my eyes, trying to make sure that my memory was still intact of that fateful night.

*~*~*~*~*

I was playing with Katherine as it was her turn to go hide and seek. She has to count until 50 because that’s what we agreed on. Now, I went to hide at the usual spot where she had trouble finding me. I always loved it there, not because it was the library, my favorite sanctuary, but because my father would come there sometimes.

I was hiding behind one of the bookshelves that held our ancestry and history of the kingdom. It was an enormous collection of books, journals, and encyclopedias that scholars loved to explore for their history thesis.

I was trying to surpass my giggles as I heard someone was coming into the library and getting closer to the bookshelves. I thought it was my sister that finally knew my hiding spot. When I dug underneath the bookshelves, I found familiar footings that were brushing against each other.

Some grunting, panting and moaning could be heard in my 15-year-old ears. My heartbeat quickened. I knew about make-out sessions and I hoped that I would get to the clearing before I disturbed them.

When I moved toward the other bookshelves, I pushed a book that dropped to the floor. I instantly looked up to see 2 pairs of eyes were set on me. I was looking at them as if they were about to do it again and they were panting.

I scurried away before he, my first crush, could call after me. It was the only person that I would die for but he betrayed me. It was Chris Virtanen and my sister that were going down to each other's throats.

I was running for my life until I stumbled across the garden. It was midnight when I had gone into the garden and I saw something moving in the distance. I tried not to look, but their suspicious behavior had made my curiosity get the best of me.

I sneaked around to see in the shadows that there were men that were talking hushed with each other. I don’t know what they were saying as they were talking in a foreign language that I don’t yet understand.

I was trying to get closer and closer to the edge of the conversation of those men before something came from behind. A grunt before I was being blinded by a sack over my head. I tried to scream but everything died inside my throat.

*~*~*~*~*

I tried to squeeze my eyes shut but the feeling of that night still lingered in my mind. I felt protective arms around my waist before I was pulled into Kai’s warmth. I stood still there as I just surpassed my sob and just held tight on his arms, curling my hand into a fist on his chest. He took it and kissed my knuckles.

“Shh, it’s alright. You don’t have to tell me yet. But I hope someday I will be the one that subdues all the feelings that you have now,” he whispered into my ear. I just continued to sob quietly.

Because of that accident. Because of my mother’s death. Because I was not powerful enough to beat my sister. I have endured it for so long that tonight, I have come to my limits. I just curled against Kai as he laid me back on the bed and held me close to him until I closed my eyes and sleep claimed over my tired body.

The next morning, we had to go to the Royal Castle as my father instructed us to go. He has something important to tell us. I rolled my eyes at Kai as he was trying to impress my father, but rather, I felt some pang of jealousy as Kai would choose my father over me.

“We will be arriving shortly, milady, master,” John told us as he was looking at us through the rearview mirror. I was in Kai’s arms as I looked out at the scenery around me and I was not thinking at all at that time. I was trying to surpass the feeling that I had from the night before.

“We have arrived, Your Highnesses,” John said to us as I was looking at the gloomy castle as my mother had gone. She was dead. I tried to surpass the grief that came over me and what I felt the night before and everything was about to come crashing down. But, I would not let my sister have the ultimate win. When she saw me, I was like a weakling.

“Thank you, John,” I said as Kai got off and went to my side to open the door for me. I was trying not to look weak in front of everyone in the Royal Castle. I must put a brave front.

“Ready, my love?” Kai asked me as I was nodding at him, linking my arms with his.

“As I would ever be. Now, let’s get this over with,” I said firmly as I was trying to walk right into the trap of my sister, the Crown Princess. But the only difference that I have with her is that I am already married and she is just an engaged Crown Princess.

“I hope father will tell us good news about this,” I muttered, looking at Kai. He raised his eyebrows before his sea-green eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Whatever you say, my love,” he whispered to my left ear as I was trying to overcome the blushing that was trying to get out of my face. We were standing in front of the big door in my father’s study. I took a deep breath and sighed.

“Here goes nothing,” I said as the door opened and we walked inside it.

Aaron Remes’ POV

I was looking at the car that was stopping in front of the foyer of the Royal Castle. I smiled as my favorite daughter and her husband came out of the car and walked into the castle. I sighed as the thought of my very own marriage with Inari was having its vivid moment right now.

The feeling of being anxious and excited. But I know Kathleen, she would just be pissed off because I called them early in the morning. I cannot bear the news any longer. I have to tell them now and make them do the things that they need to do.

The door of my study opened as I turned to look at Kathleen and Kai. They were walking into my office like a perfect match that was made by heaven. Jesus, I think I just saw Kai and Kathleen snuggled against each other. It made me smile inwardly.

“Ah, Kathleen, Kai, come in. Please, take a seat,” I said as I gestured to the seat in front of me. Kai bowed to me.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” he said. Kathleen just rolled her eyes at me before taking the seat and did not gracefully sit on it.

“Okay, enough with the formality. Can we just get to the point already?” she said as her maroon eyes were lingering on my eyes. The same color as Inari’s eyes. I smiled gracefully as I took my seat before Kai took his own. He tried to tell Kathleen to sit properly but she ignored him. I cleared my throat.

“You must be wondering why I called you early in the morning,” I started. Kathleen just rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, whatever. You disturbed our privacy,” Kathleen said. She was practically throwing daggers with her eyes. I sighed before I stood and I looked at them.

“I need you guys to act as King and Queen,” I said, gaining a priceless expression from them.