The Vindication Gents

Chapter 1.9

Aaron Remes’ POV

I was just finishing my time in the painting room when I felt like I had to go to the bathroom. I was saying to my sister, Tara, that I was determined to get Kathleen to get married as quickly as possible.

“Are you sure that would be a wise move?” She asked as she looked at me. I was smiling as I was listening to the opera singer that Mr. Lore has been brought in for tonight’s entertainment.

“Tara, since when did my calculation wrong?” I asked her as I was clapping at the singer.

“Since that accident. You didn’t even know about that until the police caught your daughter, the Crown Princess of Finland, which caused chaos in public,” she hissed as I was looking briefly at her,

“Nonsense, you’re being melodramatic now, Tara,” I said, as my stomach was making a weird sound after all. I grunted as I knew that I had to go to the restroom.

“Excuse me, Tara. Nature’s call,” I said as I got up before Inari was looking at me.

“Where are you going, beloved?” She asked as she was looking at my uncomfortable face.

“I have to go. Nature’s call,” I said before I ran out of the room. It was embarrassing, as I knew that people were looking at me, but I didn’t give a damn about it.

After my little trip to the loo, I felt a whole lot better. When I was on the way back to the room, I heard someone grunting and hitting the wall. I went to take a look and I was surprised to see that Kathleen and Kai were kissing in public. I mean, I'm not against it, but come on, those guys practically ate each other’s mouths out. I stood in silence as I could hear Kathleen moaning at the contact Kai was making with her.

“Kai,” she moaned as Kai was kissing her neck and jaw. Not that I don’t approve of my daughter being naughty in my sight, but I have to stop before it goes too far. I cleared my throat as I was passing by them. Kai was the one that heard it as he looked at me, surprised at his handsome face as he looked at me. Kathleen was still high on endometriosis as she was oblivious to her surroundings.

“Your Majesty,” Kai said as he bowed to me. Kathleen just came to her sane mind as she looked at Kai and me. I raised my eyebrows at her as she just rolled her eyes at me as I was passing through them. I could see that she was mumbling about me being at the wrong time and the wrong place.

“I see that you have acquainted yourself with my daughter,” I said with authority that made my daughter roll her eyes again at me.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be? I mean, your favorite daughter is performing after all,” she said as she looked at me while crossing her arms in front of me. I cleared my throat again before I stood in front of them.

“Yes, why, of course. Don’t you guys want to join us?” I asked them, as I knew it would just tick Kathleen off.

“I don’t think—” she said before Kai cut her off.

“That would be splendid, Your Majesty,” he said as he took her hand into his.

“We will be there, right away,” he said as he practically dragged Kathleen to the painting room. I just watched from afar their never-ending spat at each other before I chuckled and left for the room myself.

Kathleen Remes’ POV

Oh no, he did not just do that! I thought I could escape tonight with him, but no, he had to be so polite to my father that he agreed to watch my twin singing in front of the others. I just want to gag myself now.

“Oh come on, Kathleen, it would be fun. Besides, I cannot defy your father. He’s the king,” he said as he dragged me to the painting room.

“And I am the princess, Her Royal Highness of this country. I don’t need to follow his orders,” I said as I was straining myself from following him. Man, for a guy that was lean and muscular, he was particularly strong.

“Come on Kathleen, don’t make me carry you inside like a potato sack. I would if I had to,” he said as he was threatening me.

Unbelievable! He just threatened me, didn’t he?

“How dare you are such a commoner to treat me? You think I am afraid. I have Viking blood running through my veins and I will never—” was the last thing I said before I was rudely cut off.

“Never back down from a fight. Yeah, yeah, we ain’t got all day, princess,” he said before he was about to carry me like a potato sack.

“Okay, okay, I’ll go. Just don’t carry me like that,” I said as I tried to make my appearance look good, as I knew that my twin would be watching when I entered the room. I have to go in with Kai so that we will look like we were a happy couple, just like how he kissed me and claimed my first kiss.

“Shall we?” He asked as he looked at me and offered his hand.

“Don’t mind if I do. Let’s wreck this boring party,” I said as I took his hand. The servants opened up the door and we walked inside. Everyone was there, even my father. I cannot believe that he arrived earlier than us. Where did he come from?

“Now that everyone’s here, let us begin,” Katherine said as she took the pieces and played the piano. She played it immaculately before she surprised us. She sang.

“We were both young when I first saw you,

I closed my eyes and the flashback started.

and you’re standing there,

on the balcony, in the summer air,”

She sang as if she was playing the piano as well. I crossed my arms in front of my chest as I knew that she was showing off her skills in front of everyone because she was the perfect daughter. The goody-two-shoes. I hated it when I knew that my father would adore her like no other.

“Can she sing like that?” Kai asked me as he was nudging me on the elbow.

“The evidence was in front of you, why do you need to ask for more and rub it in my face?” I hissed at him.

“Sorry,” he said before he went to look at her. I just rolled my eyes as I knew that I could see the admiration in his sea-green eyes. I don’t need to look to know that. But, the real question was that my heart ached when I knew that he was admiring her.

What the hell?!

“Bravo, my dear, bravo,” my father’s voice was echoing in the room as I saw everyone standing to congratulate her. I just stood my ground and clapped while sitting on the chair.

“Thank you, everyone, thank you. You’re so kind,” Katherine said as she was looking at me. She smirked at me as I just rolled my eyes before I crossed my arms again.

“Splendid. Well, that will be the end of our dinner tonight, and I thank you all for coming. Have a safe trip home,” my father said. Everyone was saying goodbye and kissing each other's cheeks. I was included as well. I kissed my Aunt Tara and her sons and daughters, who joined us for the night.

“Have a safe trip, Aunt Tara,” I said as they went through the door and I was taking my things as well. I was about to leave before my father stopped me for my action.

“Kathleen, may I have a moment?” He said as he took my arm and led me to the next empty room and out of public range.

“What is it, father?” I asked, bored.

“I need your help,” he said as he was looking at me after he had been looking outside the window for a while after we were left alone.

“What? Do you need my help? That’s unusual,” I said as I crossed my arms again.

“Yes, that’s right. I don’t know how you will react to this but your mother… she’s sick,” my father said that making my heartbeat stop for a moment after hearing this shocking announcement.

“What do you mean she’s sick? She was happy and up and running earlier this evening. I just saw her smiling at the guests,” I said. I didn’t know why my father was making this up.

“Kathleen, you know how we royals need to keep our guards up. We cannot let our enemies know that we have a weakness. Isn’t that Etiquette 101 for Royalty?” My father said as he was looking at me. I sighed as I was rubbing my temples.

“So, what do you need help from me?” I asked as I was leaning on the wall after I learned my beloved mother was having a sickness that I didn’t know about.

“She wanted you to hurry up your wedding date. It will be held in 2 days,” my father said as he was looking all seriousness in his demeanor. Knowing that I cannot argue with him then, I know that I will agree to marry Kai Virtanen, the most notorious player in Finland, as my husband in 2 days.

But not without a fight just to get at him for abandoning me for 5 years in that prison.