Novels by Salvia Avery

I let out a blood-curdling scream.“It’s alright, my princess,” Clifford tried to reassure me with a soothing voice as he approached me, but his actions had the opposite effect on me. “Do not be afraid, it’s–”Before he could finish speaking, a shadow leaped in front of me and tackled the butler to the ground with a growl. It was Jasper. They fought over the knife before the duke knocked Clifford out with a punch to the face, dislocating his jaw.“Freddy!” Bridgette screamed. Everyone rushed towards the prince, and they pushed me out of the way. I landed on my behind, the grass cushioning the fall, still too stunned to care.“Are you okay?” I heard Jasper ask. He knelt in front of me. I gazed at him and the hand he offered, still wide-eyed. “Selina, are you hurt?”I shook my head no. I was trembling like a leaf in the wind. I didn't even realize I was crying until the duke put an arm around me, pulling me close to his chest. “It’s alright. It’s over now.”It was strange. Even though h

Someone was standing by the window.The drawing room was dark, but I could see their silhouette thanks to the moonlight shining through the mesh curtains. They appeared to be looking out of the window, their back turned towards me. My heart thumping in my chest, I stepped back in an attempt to escape, only to be stopped by a familiar male voice.“You’re here…” The person finally looked at me. They were wearing a turquoise and gold suit. A royal butler.“Clifford?” I squinted to see the man properly, my eyes adjusting in the dark. He was… smiling. It was unusual, but not unwelcome. “It’s late. What are you still doing here?”“I noticed you were not here after His Majesty’s visit. Where were you?”I closed the door behind me and walked towards my bedroom. “I just went out for a walk. You can go back now.”“Oh, alright. Good night, my princess,” he said, a soft lilt in his voice. “Sweet dreams.”I raised my eyebrows at that. He never smiles or croons. The butler was always professional a

Thank the Rozen Maiden, Jasper was already hard. I don't know what I'd do if he wasn't.He smelled like mint soap and tasted nothing in particular. Like clean skin.“What are you doing?” the Lycan exclaimed, horrified. He shoved me, causing me to fall off the bed. I assumed he didn't intend to do that, as he quickly rushed to my side, visibly concerned. “I'm sorry!”I didn't move from my spot. I hurt my back when I hit the floor, but my pride and dignity hurt even worse.He was right. What was I doing, coming to his room and pouncing on him like that? I have no shame left in me. I couldn’t believe I’d stooped so low.“Hey, are you okay?” the duke asked, and I turned away from him, ignoring him completely. “Don't just lie in there. The floor's cold.”“Leave me alone.”“Selina...”I breathed deeply before opening my mouth and screaming at the top of my lungs.“Alright! Fine! Fine!” Jasper yelled through my screams, stepping back and covering his ears. “Fine, I'll leave you alone, jeez.”

I ran upstairs to the third floor of the Lyall Palace, where the guests’ bedchambers were located. As soon as I reached the door at the end of the halfway, I pounded my fist on the sturdy wood. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night; I need to speak with the occupant of the room.“Princess Selina?” a voice came from behind me. I turned to see Jasper peeking out from an open door across the hall. He looked dumbfounded to see me. “What are you doing here?”I could ask him the same thing because I know that’s not his assigned bedchamber. I walked towards him and his expression turned into a deep concern. The duke stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.He looked ridiculous in his silk pajamas and nightcap.“You can't be here,” he said, his eyes combing the dimly lit hallway for signs of life. “What if other people–”I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down to crash my lips into his.When Henry said I could not have a lover while he had one, he failed to co

“Your Royal Highness,” Clifford's voice called from outside my door. I scowled and turned towards it. What was it this time? “His Majesty is here to see you.”“The king?”“Yes, miss.”My eyes almost popped open in shock. Henry never visited me in my room, especially at night, because he was wary of the rumors it might create. What does he want?“Shall I tell His Majesty that you’re indisposed?”“No, let him…” I glanced at the table and noticed the vial of period blood was still there.In my panic, I grabbed it so that I could hide it on the couch again. However, it slipped from my hand and rolled under the table.“Argh!” I tried to reach it, but it was so far away from my hand.“Your Royal Highness?”“Just a minute!” I tried to use my foot, but the vial rolled under the other couch and near the fireplace. Spilling small amounts of thick liquid in its wake. I forgot to put its lid on.The door swung open, and I dived to snatch the vial and, before I could decide against it, threw it in

“I’ve seen the written accord; I have studied it ever since they displayed it in the Museum for all to see. It doesn’t say anything about that.”I narrowed my eyes at the glasses girl, “Are you saying my father lied?” “N-no! I’m saying he’s mistaken, Your Royal Highness.” Nervously, she passed around folders containing graphs, charts, and pictures showcasing ancient texts alongside their modern translations. “I mean, I can’t blame His Majesty, the accord is very old. But… as you can see in your copies, the translation clearly says ‘a child sired by Wilhelm’s blood’ … so, it could be anyone of them, not just the king.”“You mean the spare?” Julian interjected, eyebrows furrowing.“It doesn't matter who is sitting on the throne now,” the girl said, adjusting her glasses that were slipping down her nose. “Even if he has just a drop of the first emperor's blood, he will still be considered eligible. The person Princess Selina decides to marry will inherit both the throne and the title al

“Naku, tito, ako na po d’yan!” narinig kong malakas at gulat na sabi ni Mai mula sa kusina kaya kahit inaantok pa ay mabilis akong nagpunta roon para tingnan kung ano ang nangyayari. “Magpahinga na lang kayo sa kwarto n’yo, tito.” “Nahihiya na kasi ako sa iyo, Mai.” Natigilan ako nang marinig kong sinabi iyon ni papa. Hindi ako pumasok sa kusina at nanatili na lang na nakasandal sa pader. “Mag-iisang linggo na mula nang patuluyin mo kami rito, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring trabaho si Cha. Kung totoo na pina-blocklist siya ni Ien, baka maging malabo pa na magkaroon siya nu’n.” Natahimik si Mai. Sa totoo lang, iyon din ang inaalala ko. Paubos na ang sampung libong compensation sa amin dahil sa pagkaka-demolish ng bahay namin. Buti na nga lang ay nahukay ko pa iyong box ko ng gamit kaya naisalba ko ang natira sa separation pay ko. “Nahihiya ako dahil wala man lang akong magawa para sa inyo ni Charity,” sabi na naman ni papa. “Ako na ang bahala sa pagluluto at paglilinis mula

Lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko nang makita ang matabang babae sa harap ko.“Ano na, Charity?” mataray na sabi nito nang makahuma sa pagkagulat. “Nasaan na bayad n’yo ng upa? Hindi pwedeng palagi ko na lang kayo iintindihin. Nangangailangan din ako.”Nakuyom ko ang mga kamao ko. Sa isang iglap ay tuluyang nagbago ang tingin ko sa babae. Biglang bigla, hindi na siya ang dating kasera namin na mapagbigay at mabait. Dahil kay Ien, sa impluwensya at pera niya kaya kami ginaganito ni Manang.Napilig ko ang ulo ko. Hindi rin. Kung talagang mabait itong babaeng ito, hindi ito magpapasilaw sa pera, hindi ito aasta nang ganito sa amin ngayon.Gusto kong maawa sa amin ng papa ko, sa kalagayan namin. Napatingin ako sa paligid. Ang daming tao sa labas—mga kapwa namin nangungupahan kay Manang, mga kapit-bahay, mga bagong salta, mga delivery drivers… lahat sila ay nakatingin sa amin, may napapailing na lang, nagbubulungan, may nagtatawanan. Nakaramdam ako ng pagkapahiya at panibagong ngitngit.

“Where have you been?” At siya pa ang may ganang mainis! “I’ve been waiting here for fifteen minutes—”“Wow, ha,” asar na putol ko sa kanya sabay balibag ng bag ko sa mesa kaya nagtinginan ang mga tao sa amin. Wala akong pakels. Padabog din na umupo ako. “Hindi makatulog sa fifteen minutes? Ako nga kanina pa antay nang antay sa `yo rito, nagreklamo ba ako? Kapal ng mukha nito.”“Watch your tongue, woman.” Parang diring diri ang lalaki na hindi mawari. “God! You’re so loud. I can’t imagine living with you at all.”“H’wag mo nga akong ini-english.” Humalukipkip ako sabay irap sa kanya.“Bakit, hindi mo ba naiintindihan?” nang-uuyam na sabi ni Ien, nakakaloko ang ngisi.Nakuyom ko ang mga kamao ko para pigilin ang galit. Ito ang gusto ng lalaking ito, ang magwala at ipahiya ako. Pwes, hindi ko siya bibigyan ng pagkakataon.“Wala ka ba talagang magawang matino?” mahina pero buong diin na sabi ko.“Whatever do you mean?” patay-malisya naman na sabi nito. “I took the liberty of placing your

“Sir?” Parang alam ko na ang ibig sabihin nito, pero ayaw kong maniwala. Hindi pwede!“May bago nang nagmamay-ari sa XYZ Foods, in-absorb nila lahat ng dating empleyado...” Bumuntong hininga si Boss tapos ay tumingin sa labas ng bintana. “Maliban sa `yo.”“Ano?!” buong diin na anas ko. “Unfair! Bakit ako lang? Ako lang talaga?”“I’m sorry. Separation pay mo `yan. Sorry talaga.”“Pero, sir, wait lang—”“Kung kailangan mo ng COE, alam mo na kung saan ka pupunta.”Ang pangit n'yo ka-bonding!Mangiyak-ngiyak ako sa sobrang galit at panghihinayang habang palabas ng factory dala ang box na kinalalagyan ng mga gamit ko. Nang hindi ko na nakayanan ay umupo ako sa ilalim ng isang puno malapit sa factory namin at doon tuluyan nang umiyak sa harap ng picture ni Park Seo Hyun.“Matteo Do!” atungal ko na panay ang agos ng luha sa mga mata. “Wala na `kong trabaho...”Ten thousand din ang perang nakalagay sa cheke dagdag pa ang walong libong sahod ko para sa kinsenas na iyon. Sa mahal ng bilihin nga

“Talaga, mars? Grabe naman `yun!” nanlalaki ang mga mata sa gulat na sabi ni Mai. Tuluyan na niyang nakalimutan ang kinakain niyang pancake dahil absorbed na absorbed siya sa kinukwento ko. Palipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa akin at sa cellphone. Sinearch niya kanina ang lalaking kidnapper ko, at kahit ‘Ien’ lang ang alam ko sa pangalan nito ay lumabas ang mukha ng demonyo. Paano kasi ay bukod sa unique ang pangalan nito, isa pala ito sa most searched sa Pilipinas dahil sa angking kagwapuhan at kayamanan. “Juan Ireneo Carreon… this Ien kidnapped you?”Kasalukuyan kaming nasa sa isang fastfood restaurant, masyado pang maaga para pumasok kami sa kanya-kanya naming trabaho kaya matapos ang katakut-takot na paghingi ng tawad ay ikinuwento ko na sa kanya ang nangyari sa akin noong araw ng convention, tatlong araw na ang nakalilipas.Tatlong araw…Tatlong araw akong hindi kinausap ni Mai dahil sa hinayupak na lalaki na iyon. Kung hindi ako nito kinidnap, eh `di sana hindi nagtampo sa akin si

"Ha?" parang tanga na sabi ko. Napanganga na lang ako sa sobrang kabiglaan. Nabitiwan ako ang papa saka tiningnan ang mga mukha ng tatlo. Seryoso silang lahat. Lumipas ang ilang segundo pero wala pa ring sumisigaw sa kanila ng 'April Fools!' Kungsabagay ay hindi rin naman April ngayon. "S-seryoso kayo?" Awkward akong natawa. Walang tumawa. Hindi sinasadya na napatingin ako kay Ien at lumaban naman ito ng titigan. Nang hindi ko kinaya ang paraan ng pagtitig nito kaya si Estrella naman ang napasadahan ko ng tingin. Napansin ko na parehas sila ng ilong ni Ien, pati na mga mata, mag-ina nga talaga sila. "Napag-usapan na namin ito ng iyong ama," sabi na naman ng matandang babae. "Marriage for convenience lang ang mamamagitan sa inyo ng aking anak. Think of it as a job—a very high paying job. Kapag na-accomplish na ang nakasulat sa last will and testament byenan ko, pwede na kayong maghiwalay and you can have what is due to you. Aw, don't look so shocked, alam kong deep inside ay gustong