I don’t understand what was going on anymore. Was Ali a part of the trial that my ancestor told me about that’s why only I saw and heard her? And in case that was true, how could I ever accept that when as early as now, I’ve already been missing the kid as if she was my own child? How could I explain the fact that I had been longing for someone else’s daughter? I began feeling restless since yesterday. I feel like there was a very important part of my life that was taken away from me when we parted ways.
Ever since I was born, I felt like standing under the heavy rain without an umbrella. But the kid had it when she came into my life. She graciously shared her umbrella with me. It was a bit small for the two of us. But it was enough to comfort me and to save me from the pouring rain, from the pouring pain in my life.
“Ali was not just some passerby in my life, Theron, whether you believe it or not. She was not just a simple kid to me. That little chatty girl was more like a friend to me. It was like there was this old soul that was put inside her. When I was with her, I feel like she understands me better than I understand myself. And it was amazing.”
Thinking about her automatically put a smile on my face. I leaned on my chair, closed my eyes, and reminisce about her face. One day, for sure, Ali would grow up to be a stunning lady. She was already adorable as a kid and would certainly be more adorable as a lady.
“My King-“
“Ali knew my role in this kingdom. But she never greeted me formally in the days we were together and to think that she needed my help. She preached me instead. When we were together, she would nag at me most of the times and she would trick me to make her do what she wants although I think those things were what made her more fascinating. Every time I talk to her, I feel like she was more of a family to me than my own family. I felt her affection. I felt her warmth.”
My eyes stung with the tears I tried to hold back. I don’t get why thinking about her and the last words she uttered made me emotional. I think I would always remember the first time she called me her ‘Daddy’ and the happiness it brought to my heart.
“I could bravely tell her everything, Theron. Ali won’t always get it because of her extremely young age, but at least she listens. She listens more to me than my parents ever did. She knows my weaknesses, I told her so. Yet, for her, I was still among the strongest people that she had ever met.” I laughed while shaking my head. “It’s crazy. She’s crazy. And I am, too. But I was happy back there with the kid, Theron. I mean, really happy.
“Seventy-five years… and I believe it’s the first time I mention about me being happy. Because it took me that long to figure out what real happiness is. When I met Ali, I realized what I truly needed in my life. I needed freedom and peace, yes. But more than that, I just needed somebody I could talk to about how I’m lacking those things.” I opened my eyes and clenched my hands. “That’s why once I find out that Ali was only a part of the spell and that the ancestors only used her to execute their plans, I don’t think I could forgive them, Theron. The kid has to be real,” I added in a firm voice. “Those days I spent with her had to be real. Otherwise, I would go crazier thinking that the happiness I was bragging to you about was nothing but an illusion.”
Theron was stunned. After a while, he sighed and patted my shoulder. “Do you still remember the day when all the doctors refused to treat my wife? When everybody thought that she was dying and that no magical spells or crystals could save her? You saw how I almost turned the hospital upside down with fury, Alexandros. I hated the world so much at that time. You know that my wife and I had to go through a lot before we could get married. She was a princess and naturally, her family wanted a prince for her husband while I was just a royal assistant. But you helped me. You stood by me and defended me. You were the bridge that helped me and Celestine be together.”
“After our wedding, I heard that you were the one who convinced Celestine’s parents to accept me. You backed me up. You gave her parents gold bars, lands, and businesses. You gave her family a dowry and surpassed what the other princes could offer them. They let me marry Celestine because they were assured of my importance to the future King. And you did all that without telling me, you brat!” Theron clacked his tongue. “You went out of your way to help me so many times even if we are not blood-related. You also allowed all the best physicians to check on my wife when she fell ill.”
“Come on. Why mention that now? I only did that because that was the right thing to do.”
“See? You are different. Knowing the right thing and actually doing the right thing are different things. Other royals who I thought were close to me did not even throw me a glance when I needed their help. Nobody cared except you. When Celestine’s doctors gave up on her, you used your inner force to heal my wife. You almost died, and because of that, you’ve been crippled for weeks. And I wouldn’t have known that you were the reason why she became healthy again if you didn’t fall ill. You were not able to cure her illness, but what you did was more than enough since you were able to prolong her life for ten years.”