29: Plans

Diana was not pleased lately sa itinatakbo ng mga pangyayari between the Black Council and that White Queen.

She could not take it. It was like having Samantha back. She remembered back then that it was the lady whom people called first as the White Queen.

The foolish girl opposed the Black Council even during her very own regime. When Diana exposed her, akala niya ay siya agad ang papalit dito. But that Marco got in her way.

She smiled bitterly as she remembered how she killed both of them. Yes. She had once killed a White Queen before. How could she not kill a second one now?

But she couldn’t move freely at the moment. The people were still after them. In Grey Academy, the priority was to caught as many members of the council as they could kahit pa nga may secret decree ang Emperor to catch that White Queen.

Natuto na ring lumaban ang ilang estudyante sa kanila. And as if that was not enough, the White Queen showed up with her own minions.

She could only plan carefully. Wala eh. Hindi siya pwedeng tumigil sa kakaatake. People might have an idea that they were already losing.

And that was what she would never let happen at all.

Diana looked around her people. Totoong kakaunti na lang sila. But these remaining people were her most capable and most trusted. Well.. except for Lucy.

Lately, she was eyeing the lady with an eyesore.

Wala naman itong ginagawang kakaiba. She attended every meeting and participated in every attack. But Diana knew that Lucy was just being loyal to the Black Council and not to her.

She called out Alessandra na agad namang lumapit sa kanya.

"That Lucy... Have you been following her around?"

Napatingin muna si Alessandra kay Lucy bago sumagot.

"I did. The first batch of followers never came back. And so, I asked another people again."

"And?"

Alessandra called out those people na inutusan niya para sundan si Lucy.

"What's the news about that mission I ask you to do?"

"Miss, nothing unusual was done by Miss Lucy. Although lately, she's been hanging quite a lot of times with Emy Hans. She seems to be close with Franco Hans too."

Alessandra flinched secretly when she heard the first name that was uttered.

Diana, however, raised her eyebrow. She knew that Lucy fancied that Franco Hans for quite a while now. Pero hindi niya inaasahan that she would find a way to get closer to him.

"Who is this Emy Hans? How is she related to Franco?"

"They are cousin. And if you could remember, Miss, siya yung nakalaban mo noong Initiation Day sa chess."

Ah, the Initiation Day. It was one of the days na hindi na niya gusto pang balikan. But thinking about it again, naalala niya nga yung babaeng nakalaban niya sa chess noon.

How could she forget her? She was never defeated in chess before. But that unusual play of that girl caught her off guard.

Huli na ng marealize niya that the girl had already checkmated her a long time ago.

Seriously, she had been busy facing off with the White Queen na nawala na sa isip niya ang babaeng yun. But now, she might as well have some fun with her.

It would be hitting two birds with one stone for her. Makakaganti na siya sa pagkatalo niya noon dito, at siguradong maaapektuhan din nito si Lucy.

She smirked.

"Thank you for telling me about this. I will make sure to use your information to have some fun with her."

Alessandra, however, was conflicted.

***

That night in Emy's room...

As usual, andoon na naman si Sebastian. They were playing chess again.

When Emy saw Sebastian entering from her window ay napailing na lang siya. Sanay na siya sa palagiang pagpunta nito ng ganoong oras.

But tonight, she noticed that there was a change in Sebastian, especially with his play. His technique was different than usual.

"What are you doing?"

"Are you talking about my play?" He took a cookie and bit it.

Tumango lang si Emy.

"Well, I have realized your knowledge about the Black Council and its members is way more vast than I have, and I considered it in my play tonight."

Emy waited for him to continue.

"Those pieces that I have let you took down easily are the not-so important Black Council members. However, Diana and Vio are not just contained within the Black Council. They have outer circles too.

"And before you could even touch the rest of their inner circles, you have to deal with this outer circle first."

Napatango si Emy. "I know that. Sooner or later, I have to do it."

"That's where I can I help you the most."

Napataas ang kilay ni Emy. So this was still about it.

"Think about it, Miss Hans. My people are the best in terms of fighting. They exceed even the Royal Guards and Armies.

"Aside from that, when facing the outer circle of both Diana and Vio, you don't really have to expose yourself too much. I can do the work for you."

"I don't understand why do you even have to collaborate with me. Your highness, you can easily do that without my help."

"Yes, but not within the Black Council. I need you in that.

"Your goal is to take down Diana which is the key for the Black Council and my goal is Vio, the key for the throne."

Napatingin si Emy kay Sebastian. She knew na gusto nitong maging Emperor. But she didn’t understand why.

She could tell na hindi naman masamang tao si Sebastian. But his obsession with the throne was kinda scary.

"We can lend our hands to each other in order to achieve our goal." Then Sebastian smirked. "I can even make you my Empress, if you want."

Emy rolled her eyes.

"I have no intention for that. I just want revenge that's all."

"But what if Diana is able to get that? Do you still not want it?"

Napaisip naman si Emy. Of course, it was a no brainer for her to answer. Whatever Diana wanted, she would take it.

Lalong lumawak ang ngiti ni Sebastian when he saw the change in Emy's expression.

"Just take my offer, you know. It will be a win-win for both of us. Isa pa, I swear to protect you with all of my life habang magkakampi tayo."

Emy rolled her eyes again. "Aren't you sounding too chivalrous right now?"

Sebastian chuckled. He was serious but this girl really had a smart mouth.

"You remind me of that Samantha whenever you are running your mouth like that."

Napangisi naman si Emy. Hmmn, Samantha, huh? She couldn't remember that much ng interaction niya with this prince but she was sure it was not like they became nice to each other.

"And who is this Samantha?" She pretended.

"She was my eldest brother's lover. She was beautiful… Elegant and really beautiful. We were in the same year kaya madalas kaming nagkakaharap kapag may mga debate.

"I could easily make other shut up in a debate. But not her. That's because she was smart.

"Not smart enough, though, to save herself from doom. She died together with my brother. Well, Marco was not particularly smart himself. He was always nice and kind. In the end, he caused his and Samantha's death."

Natahimik si Emy. She intended to tease Sebastian when he praised her. But when he finished what he was saying ay natahimik na lang siya.

Maybe he was right. Both she and Marco were not smart enough back then. Maybe that was why they died.

Sebastian saw that she was absorbed. Without thinking, he placed his point and middle fingers on her chin and lifted it up. They stared at each other.

"I won't let that happen to us, especially to you." He said while looking in her eyes.

Emy just removed his fingers on her chin.

"Your highness, when are you planning to go? I am starting to get sleepy now."

***