After The Attack

Rainier was really furious, heartbroken and felt desperate with Gwen's condition. He loved her to the point of obsession, yet, as his queen, she got hurt. If only he never kidnapped her and brought her to Galsbourg, she would be safe. She wouldn't be poisoned, vomited blood and became critical like this.

Guilt washed him away like bile, as he sat beside her at the VVIP Room of Broadstower Royal Hospital. Her life was dangerous as a detective, in the other parallel world where she lived in, at Republic of Kilare. But her life was not really dangerous. She was much safer there. Meanwhile, Rainier knew there were some people who'd rejoice if they could kill him.

But then what's the alternative? Living there in Galsbourg alone without Gwen? Visiting Kilare when he could, only watching her from afar, and let her marry another man, mother his children and live with him?

Never!!! He could never agree to a life like that. It's either live with her at Galsbourg, or leave everything, his kingdom, his responsibility as a king, and live with her in Kilare.

He couldn't do either of that. Perhaps he's a devil that had ruined her life, but he needed her, as his woman, his wife and his queen.

Gwen stirred, and woke up.

She blinked several times, disoriented, before remembering everything all over again.

Two IV drips were attached to her through thin plastic lines, she realized, and there's a beeping machine. Was it to control her heartbeat? Was she that bad?

But when she looked to the right and saw how Rainier looked at her, she knew she's in a bad situation. He looked worried sick, as if all the blood was drained from his face. There were black circles under his eyes, and his touch on her hand felt far too gentle.

Yup, the situation isn't good, Gwen thought.

"How are you feeling?" Rainier asked in a hoarse voice, as if he had a sore throat.

"How long.....was I...out?" Gwen asked, struggling to speak under the influence of all her medicine.

"It's been a day, Darling."

"You're not working?"

He smiled bitterly, "You're so sick. I can't focus."

"I'm gonna be.....ok..."

He sighed, and caressed her cheek, "I knew you'd say that."

"Aunt Yelena.....what did she..."

"She said you'll be alright. You just need to rest for a week here."

"Rainier.....who did it?"

"I'm still waiting for Jake's report."

"Tell me...when you..."

Gwen fell asleep again before she finished the sentence, and Rainier pulled her blanket to the chin, making sure she's warm enough.

One of the things that made him fell for her was because she was a blend of so many things. She's beautiful, with a super model figure that bordered to skinny, but she held a black belt in taekwondo. She had a soft spot for children, but instead of becoming a pre-school teacher, she chose to be a homicide detective in Kilare. And she's someone who fought him ferociously at the beginning, but then she did her job as a queen so seriously.

There were many things about Gwen Hamilton. Yet, there's one thing Rainier knew and believed. She's strong. She's strong inside out. That's why she'd be able to be with someone so messed up as him.

However, that day, she laid there like a little girl. Pale and weak, unlike the Gwen he knew.

Whoever poisoned her had to pay the price, Rainier decided. And it would be high. It would be that person's life.

*******************************************

Rainier listened to Jake's report in the VVIP room next to Gwen's.

"We interrogated everyone who worked at the cafeteria. Everyone passed the lie detectors and the psychologically draining interrogation. No one was proven to put the poison in the queen's glass. We checked the CCTV. Nothing could be used as evidence. The students that were sitting on the same table with her was naturally out of suspicion, they were only kids. No one else touched her glass except the woman that gave the tray to her, and she touched everyone's tray."

"No else got poisoned. So we suspect that the poison could be put in the glass before it entered the dining hall, or the queen already got the poison in her hand without knowing it from touching something."

"We brought everything she was wearing to the lab. The result was disturbing. The poison was first put on the sling of her handbag."

"Her bag???" Rainier asked incredulously.

"Yes, from the sling of her handbag, to her hand, and finally to the glass she used. The queen unknowingly delivered the poison to herself."

"There had to be someone who put it there first!"

"She took pictures with different classes right before lunch. There were the teachers and the school officials. We have interrogated all of them, background checked them and checked the CCTV. No one had the poison in their possession or carried it anywhere. We have raided their houses. We found no poison at their house."

"Are you telling me," Rainier began dangerously, "that the royal guards AND the NSA cannot find who poisoned my wife???"

"I apologize, Sir, but yes, we have failed to find any suspects."

Rainier rushed forward and grabbed the collar of Jake's shirt.

"Someone tried to kill her. And you're telling me you don't know who did it???"

"I'm very sorry," Jake rasped, despite being half strangled.

"I could kill you for failing your duties!!!"

"But who else--would be this loyal--to you--Sir?"

"Why shouldn't I kill you?"

"If I die--no one will--sincerely--protect you."

"I don't care if they kill me!" Rainier roared, shoving Jake away.

He gasped for breath, but didn't complain with his king's violent behavior.

"Please, let's not go there again."

"They can kill me, but not Gwen!"

"Your Majesty," Jake argued angrily and warily, like he had done many times in the past when Rainier spoke like that, "You're our king. Your life matters most in this kingdom!"

"NOT IF SHE DIES!!! I DON'T WANT IT IF SHE DIES!!!"

Jake took a deep breath.

"I swear to you, Sir, I will find who did it. I will tighten the security around her. So please live responsibly. Don't do anything stupid like suddenly attacking Mr. Dominique's son abroad or something."

Dominique was his uncle, the murdered of the late king. His son and his family still lived abroad.

"Do you think it's him? Could it be--Raphael?"

Raphael was Dominique's son.

"Mr. Raphael and his family are all still in Spain. The NSA follows them all on the clock. They have never left Spain. Whoever the suspect is, he or she must be closer. Definitely from this city."

"Find that person."

"Yes, Sir."

Rainier left the room angrily, as Jake massaged his neck, which hurt a little bit. Still, he thought the king's anger made perfect sense.

The queen was the first woman that mattered to him, and from all the signs, she seemed to be the last as well. Jake was even grateful he hadn't executed all the guards that accompanied Gwen yesterday, for failing their duties. It was already a generosity from Rainier.

************************************************

Meanwhile, the person who planned and ordered to poison Gwen was really happy with the result. Although she didn't die, this person could see Rainier suffering so much. It's so satisfying. He considered the mission as a huge success.