Seeing Meera covered in blood, a small insignificant memory flashes before my eyes.

"Yeollie, why is this little bunny covered in red flowers?" The youngest child of the King and Queen asked. Her large brown eyes innocently looked up at her brother.

Startled, the older boy quickly runs to the little girl's side and covers her eyes from behind. Tears roll down her pale cheeks as she wimpers. "Why isn't he moving, Oppa? Was it something that I did?"

With a heavy sigh, the brother leans his head on the top of her curly dark hair and whispers a small message.

An insignificant message.

Something not worth remembering.

"Close your eyes. Respect the life but never regret it." I said out loud as I looked down at my adopted little sister. Shaking my head from such thoughts, the soldier inside me kicks in.

She isn't dead yet. Not if I can help it...

Pressing two fingers on the side of her neck, I'm relieved to feel a slight pulse. Before I could continue, my Leader and Hoya rushed in with guns in hand.

"Clear!" Hoya yells before assessing the situation before him. "We're going to need a doctor immediantly!" He yells into the intercom before kneeling next to me.

"I expect a detailed report after this." Sung-kyu harshly demanded from me as he felt for a pulse. Satisfied that she was stil alive, he gets back up and scans the area while we wait for the doctor.

The crunching of glass beneath his feet filled the air.

"What in the world are you doing here unprepared? A soldier is never caught off guard!" Sungkyu barked down at me. "What did I try to drill into you new recruits during training for 2 years?!"

"Sir! An unprepared soldier is a dead soldier, Sir!" I yelled as I saluted my leader.

With a disgruntled growl, Sungkyu takes out an extra gun from inside his vest and tosses it down to me.

"Hoya, can you see clearly?" Sung-kyu questioned as Hoya got up to investigate.

When Hoya shook his head, Sungkyu throws a small flashlight at him.

Catching it with his free hand, Hoya turns the flashlight on while still holding his gun steady.

"Do you know where origin of this explosion is located?"Hoya asked as he kicked an empty black container with his feet. Picking it up, he closely inspects it.

"The window. Someone shot the through the window with an assassin's gun and then threw that grenade inside."

"Well, thankfully this one is a fake. These models are only used for shocking the opponent and paralizing them. They emit smoke and bright lights. Harmless but still...." Hoya said as he shook his head in disbelief.

"Was this the first threat that she's encountered?" I asked.

"You tell me, Sungyeol. Is it not normal for people from the royal line to receive threats?" Sung-kyu asked with a patronizing tone.

Hanging my head, I nod in silent aggreement. "I use to receive a lot of threats while I was still living here, but I never imagined little Meera to receive them as well..."

"Your little sister is the Queen over our whole nation. Of course she will receive death threats. You need to wake up from your selfish world before something else chooses to wake you up." Sung-kyu frowned as the sound of the doctor's appearance brought our conversation to an abrupt halt.

"How long has she been like this?" The palace doctor asked as he felt for her pulse while checking his watch. Nodding his head at the pace, he begins to search for the source of the blood.

"Ten minutes at max." I nervously answered. "Will she be okay?"

"The source is from a slight graze on her forehead from the glass shards. Nothing serious. Can one of you help me carry her into my office for further examination?"

Relieved, I quickly picked up her limp body in my arms and followed the doctor to his office. Sensing Sung-kyu following behind me, I figured that something bad was about to happen.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °

"What?!"

"Queen Meera has been receiving death threats ever since she returned to the throne. We've been having difficulty tracking the culprits."

"Why didn't you tell me?!" I yelled. We were outside of the doctor's office discussing over what just happened.

"I thought you weren't interested in the affairs of Royalty?" Sung-kyu sneered down at me. Knowing that I deserved it, I struggled to swallow my pride.

"Let me give you some helpful advice." Sung-kyu patted my shoulder before leaving. "If you don't fight for what you want, don't cry for what you'll lose."

Widening my eyes, I clench my fist in anger. When Sung-kyu leaves, I punched the nearby wall in frustration.

Why did my sister have to be heir to the throne? How can I hate my own sister? But...what if she becomes just like the late King?

Hearing the door open, I'm disappointed when I see the doctor. "She's asking for you."

Nodding my head, I walk inside and sit in the chair that was beside the recovery bed.

"Are you feeling better, your Highness?"

"Meera."

What?

"Call me Meera."

I stubbornly shake my head. "I could lose my job if I did."

With a wicked smile, she motions for me to lean closer. Her lips barely graze against my left ear as she whispers, "I know."

Frowning, I kept silent as I waited for her to explain herself. "You will always be Sungyeol to me and I will always be your little Meera to you. Am I right?"

Shocked, I cover my mouth and look away as a slight blush creeped up into my cheeks.

Coughing, I try to change the subject. "I got reassigned by my Leader today." Raising her eyebrows at me in surprise, she waits for me to continue. "I am now your new bodyguard. At least until we find whoever is threatening you."

Smiling, she sighs in relief. "In order to do my job, I need to know when your first threat came and what it was." I said as I seriously looked down at her.

"Ever since I moved back into the castle, I have always felt like someone has been watching me. I didn't say anything because I figured it was post traumatic stress disorder from what I had been through. I feel like something evil is hidden within these walls and....it scares me.

Hesitating, I looked down at her small figure and tried to reject the feelings that poured through me. Now is not the time to be nice. She will only hurt you in the end...

Staring off into the distance, I heard Meera move her arm towards me. She's still not asleep?

"Sungyeol, back when you saved me, do you remember what you promised me when I asked if I was free or not?"

Tilting my head so I could recall what she meant, I bite my lower lip in frustration. Oh, I remember now.

"You will be as long as I'm alive." I whispered.

Smiling cynically, she looks away and stares off into the distance. Neither looking nor ignoring. "Promises are big words, they either mean something or they break everything.

I heard that your promises are legendary. But since I am a Royal, does that mean your promise doesn't apply to me?"

With a heavy sigh, I realized that she had me on that one. "When I make a promise, I always keep them....and that also includes Royalty."

Smiling, she nods her head. "I understand how hard this is for you, but I am grateful." Closing her eyes, Meera slowly falls into a peaceful sleep that she has never expereinced since coming back to the palace.

Why is it so easy to drop my guard when I am around you?