- Warning! Mild depictions of PTSD -

(Italics are for flashbacks.)

.·。.·゜·༺♥༻ ·゜·。.

CAL LEROY SR.

Cal's whole body shook as he escaped from the scene. As his heartbeat raced he felt a churn in his stomach and his mouth became dry.

He finally found an empty corner and gulped down some air, trying to get rid of the agonizing pain in his chest.

He couldn't stay there to witness it. It was too similar, too vivid, as clear as it was seven years ago. The bully, the damsel in distress, and the chivalrous stranger who saved her; him.

"Be a nice lil' lass and show a gentleman some gratitude!"

"Anyone who lays a hand on a lady has no right to call himself a gentleman!"

"If ya seen some heinous thin's she did, ya'll agree that this freak deserves some poundin'!"

"...Are you okay?"

"You saved me..."

"...Sire!" He saw Gigi running in her heels, trying to catch up to him. "Sire, what happened?" She pressed a gentle hand to his temple, wiping his sweat. "...You're shaking."

Usually, he would try to shield her from his problems; lie and pretend that he was okay.

"No..." He panted, pain and distress visible in his eyes. "No, I am not alright..."

She looked up to him with concern, stroking his cheek with her thumb. "Is there anything that I can do?"

He swallowed. "If you don't mind, I would like to return home early... right now."

Cal could not express enough gratitude, seeing Gigi go through all of the trouble of excusing them from the event, even citing her own injury as a reason. She even held him close during the car ride, whispering words of reassurance to soothe him.

It had been a while since somebody did that for him.

By the time they reached the palace, he had mostly calmed down. Gigi brought him back to her room and allowed him to rest on her bed; their shared bed now.

A faint smile was tugging at his lips as he remembered their wedding night, which happened right here in this bed. At least there was a small memory of his to cherish amongst all these nightmares.

Still, he was guilt-ridden seeing her making all the arrangements for him with an arm still wrapped tightly in a cast.

"I should have been the one to look after you."

"Please, I'll make sure that you repay me three times over when you get better and I've recovered." She gave him an earnest smile, smoothening the covers to get him comfortable. At that moment he was sure he'd never seen a more sincere gesture.

"I'll handle the rest of your appointments for today. Nothing involving Seol-il, right? Should I call for the doctor?"

"No," he insisted, not wanting Dr. Jaeyr to hear and blame it on his attempts of getting intimate to Gigi. "...But if you could, please ask someone to fetch me my pills, and— bring Junior, if he's not otherwise occupied."

Gigi hurried out to do as he asked, returning moments later with the children.

"So if my sister's your fairy godmother, then... do I get to be Prince Charming?" Aravin tilted his head at Junior with one of his coquettish smiles.

"As if! You're the evil step-uncle!" Junior made a scrunched up face before jumping into bed, circling his arm around Senior's neck. "Keep dreaming Aravin, but Prince Charming is my father."

"Come now, Vin. Cal has to rest with his father, let's play downstairs," coaxed Gigi in Prajan, dragging Aravin away.

"But I've almost convinced him to make me the Prince!" the other prince could be heard protesting.

"Almost," Gigi noted playfully.

Junior rubbed his tiny palm on Senior's temple. "You sick, Papa?"

"I have a headache, dear." Senior let out a weak smile. He knew he could never tell him about his condition. There might come a day when he must tell Junior everything, but not now. Not when he just almost reached seven.

"I told you not to stay under the sun. It gives you a headache, which is why I prefer to stay inside," advised Junior, as if he was preaching his father on wise, well-thought proverbs.

Senior laughed crisply. "I'll make sure to remember it next time. Want to take a nap with me?"

Junior slipped into the blanket and tucked himself under his arm. As he did, Senior clutched onto his son as if his life depended on him. His son might not remember now, but he used to hold onto him whenever he was going through these critical periods.

"Are you sure we're going to sleep in separate rooms? Looks like you can't survive a day without me."

Senior blinked his tears away, trying to hide the emotion in his voice. "It's going to be hard. But I will make do."

As he nuzzled into Junior's soft, baby hair, he found himself wrestling against the question he'd been trying to quash eight years ago. Junior was his comfort, his personal antidote against his wounds. And yet... there was no denying that he was a product of the terrible occurrence that happened to him eight years ago.

If it never happened... If he hadn't decided to go on a ride with his horse that day. If he'd never met her... If he somehow managed to escape that atrocious night... Would he still be here, holding his son? Would he still have Junior?

Of course, he would! His conscience reminded him.

Junior would always be his—he was his father! Of course, he might've been born a couple of years late. He might've been born to a different mother—to Gigi even. And there was never a single thing that could justify everything that happened to him seven years ago.

Because that was what Isleen would like him to believe. That he deserved it. That everything she did was out of love for him, and Cal was done allowing her reigning over his mind.

Not when he finally had a genuine, loving marriage. Not when Junior finally found a mother that he deserved.

To make her lose that power, he must demystify her. Let her be known for the perverted wretch she really was. He no longer had to bear this alone, and he knew just how to do it.

He would start opening up to Gigi about his past.

That night, he waited until all the staff were dismissed and the children had gone to bed. If he was going to unveil the details about his past, he needed to feel safe and comfortable.

As Gigi climbed up to his side in that sheer, lacy white negligee, he carefully held her against his chest, allowing her to rest her face in the crook of his neck.

"I cannot wait till our new bedroom's finished redecorating," She pressed her warm, petite body against his. She never failed to amuse him, all of her doctor's orders and she tried to seduce him still.

"Gi, I have been thinking. Due to your understanding and support, I have gained a lot of strength and confidence. I believe that you'll never forsake me for my past, so I'm ready to tell you everything."

"...Everything?" Gigi's hand rose up to his mouth as she understood what he's saying. "Sire, I'll be honoured to have you confide in me, as long as you feel comfortable with it."

"I trust you," He brought her hand to his lips. "But perhaps, I will not be able to do it all in one night. I'll start with some bits and pieces."

"I don't mind at all, Sire. Just go at your own pace."

Closing his eyes, Cal entwined her hand with his before taking a few deep breaths. It was now or never.

"It all happened not a year after I turned twenty."

***

A series of giggles and muffled waves of laughter could be heard in the remnants of the old pavilion; a contrasting image against the sight of two horses grazing in silence. It was a small deserted corner of the palace's complex near the stables where the staff would store unused furniture or decoration.

Normally, no one visited this part of the palace; except two.

"You are so out of this world," praised Cal breathlessly to the blonde woman in his arms, voice thick with passion. "Olivia, darling, you are magnificent."

"You're one to talk." Olivia blinked dreamily at him, trailing a finger over his lips that were now smeared with her lipstick. Cal found himself lost in her blue gaze.

Clinging to his shoulders, she allowed him to press their bodies closer together as he pinned her against a pillar. She moaned as he sucked on her bottom lip, gasping as it soon moved onto her neck. His warm hands that were placed securely on her waist now moved upwards, getting a feel of her body.

"Aren't we getting ahead of ourselves?" she panted, trying to keep her balance by clutching onto his shoulders. "What if someone sees us?"

"Darling," Cal sighed. "We're getting married in three months. So what if people see anything? By that time, if anything does happen..." He breathed on her lips. "You'll be mine."

"Oh, I still can't believe that I'm going to be the Princess." Olivia sighed wistfully. "But what if something happens?"

Cal tugged lightly at the silver chains around her necklace. His fingers soon reached a huge diamond pendant with a couple of ornate snakes coiling around it. "See this? This is a Leroy crest. Nothing can keep us apart now, because you're mine."

She laughed as he kissed her again, but kept her distance this time. "But we're in broad daylight?"

Cal let out a deep sigh. "Fine. If you're so worried, meet me later in the evening. I'll take you somewhere when we can... see the moonlight." He breathed, eyes flickering with desire.

"Didn't your father say that there'll be a banquet tonight?"

"The only banquet that will matter... is our reception."

.·。.·゜·༺♥༻ ·゜·。.