CHAPTER 27.3
Lurking Danger“SIGURADO KA na bang ito ang gagawin natin?” paniniguro ni Lucas habang marahang wini-withdraw ni Selene ang tangkay ng mga rosas na nagsisilbing panangga nila mula kay Fausto.
Nang humimig ang dalaga, hindi niya naiwasang humigop nang malalim na hininga. Sige, mukhang wala na siyang ibang pagpipilian kung hindi ang mag-take risk. As long as ligtas si Selene, ayos lang kay Lucas kahit na anong outcome ang mangyayari sa plano nito.
“Tanda mo pa ba lahat ng sinabi kong outcome, Lucas?” tanong ni Selene.
Napahalakhak siya. “There’s so many, you should’ve written me a book about it.”
“Mukha ba ‘kong may oras para magsulat ng libro? Nasa gitna tayo ng giyera!”
“Yeah but... How do you even expect me to memorize all outcomes, Selene? I&rsquo
CHAPTER 27.4A Gruesome Discovery THIS IS TROUBLESOME. Napahinga nang marahas si Merlin nang ibalita sa kanya na hindi nila makakausap sina Prinsesa Selene at Prinsipe Lucas dahil mayroong dire na nangyari. Nag-aalala siya para sa kalagayan ni Prinsesa Selene lalo na’t bilang guardian niya, wala siya sa tabi nito ngayong mga oras na ito. Kaya niyang magpadala ng suporta tulad ng ginawa niya kina Prinsipe Lucas noon pero nasa harap na niya sina Haring Alexander, Chief Knight Lyte, at Chief Knight Fernandez. Kaya nag-mental note na lang siya na mamaya gumawa ng kilos para matulungan ang Prinsesa. “Anong nangyayari sa kampo nina Lucas?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Haring Alexander. Katatapos lamang nitong muling suyurin lahat ng mga kabalyerong nagboluntaryo na sumanib sa digmaan at bagamat mukha itong pagod, nagbigay oras pa rin ito para sa mabilis na pagpupulong. “Bakit hindi sinasagot nina Lucas at Selene ang comm
CHAPTER 27.5Suspended Retribution FAUSTO’S ATTACKS were unpredictable and the amount of force he uses in every swing of his sword and every swerve of his body always made Lucas feel nervous as one shot could break a bone or two. Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ni Lucas na delikado! Kaya nagdadalawang isip siyang makiayon kanina sa sinasabi ni Selene e dahil nag-aalala siya na baka maging ganito kalala ang course ng pagkilos ng kalaban. Mabilis niyang pinasadahan ng tingin si Sir Fernandez at napaismid nang makitang walang kahirap-hirap itong nakikipagsabayan sa lakas ni Fausto. Hindi ito gaanong nag-e-exert ng effort sa pag-iwas ngunit matigas at mariin ang pagdipensa nito sa sarili nang hindi masaktan. He’s all alert and focused. Ngayon nagsi-sink in kay Lucas kung bakit tila ba inggit na inggit si Fausto sa lakas ni Sir Fernandez. It may be even not his strength that he’s envious of, but of how Sir Fernan
CHAPTER 28.1Moving Forward WHEN MERLIN heard what happened to Selene, he was neither angry nor agitated at Lucas. He didn’t even reprimand him for taking blood on the Princess, rather; he was relieved to know that nothing more serious happened to her – which is, in the first place, Lucas would never allow to happen. After all, he dedicated all of his training to Selene and he made sure that he’s stronger to protect her. Although of course, his weaknesses would show every now and then but... He’s getting there. He can still protect Selene. “Nalaman ko mula kina Jonas na tumatawag ka kanina at may pagpupulong. Pasensya na. Inatake kami ng mga kawal mula sa kaharian ng Westmount,” paliwanag niya. Gusto niyang banggitin ang tungkol kay Fausto at kung ilang beses na itong muntik makalusot sa kanila ni Sir Fernandez kanina’t mapaslang si Selene pero hindi na siya nagsabi. “We we
CHAPTER 28.2Temporary Peace IT WASN’T long when Selene woke up from her sleep and found Lucas sleeping at the edge of her bed with his face buried in between his arms. Iniisip niya kung ilang oras ba siyang natutulog ngunit wala rin naman siyang mapagtatanungan. That being said, Selene pushed herself up from the mattress and sat. She used the headrest of her bed so that she could lean on it then she tried to take a peek of what’s outside even though it’s impossible to see through the thick material of her tent. Bringing her gaze back to Lucas’ sleeping figure, Selene couldn’t help it but to smile for how peaceful he looked like while he dozed off. Mahina siyang humagikhik, siniguro niyang hindi magigising si Lucas, ‘tsaka niya inabot ang ulo nito para paglaruan ang buhok ng binata. She can’t help it. Even though there is only little time for them to bathe and all, his hair still looked soft
CHAPTER 28.3Perilous Condition MERLIN HAD NEVER expected for this black aura to be manifesting in the deeper part of the forest strongly. He didn’t expect it to be protective of its vessel to the point that it’d surround the woodlands with thick black fog. The mere fact that it grows stronger in every step they take and as near they are to the dark mage, Merlin could assume that this black fog has a mind of its own. It’s acting like a protective dog who’d bite their heads off if they proceed into the depths of the forest they are in. Halos wala nang makita sina Merlin at sa t’wing susubukan nilang huminga, parang mas lalo lamang silang kinakapos sa hangin. Lihim siyang napamura’t umismid. Hindi sila makakapagpatuloy kung ganito kakapal ang usok na hatid ng itim na mahika. Hindi lang siya ang apektado rito kung hindi maging ang mga kasama niyang pinaghihilakbutan sa t’wing ii-imply ni Merlin
CHAPTER 28.4Something Odd NO MATTER HOW strong an aura is and no matter how slim the chance of getting past through it may be, ten percent will always be better than zero itself. Nakaismid na tinitignan ni Merlin ang maliit na butas sa gilid ng awrang nakapalibot sa buong gubat kung nasaan naroroon ang kampo ng kalaban. Staring at this hole, Merlin assumed that this is what the clones used to exit the camp so that the aura wouldn’t eat them again. Ang problema lamang ni Merlin dito e masyadong maliit ang butas na nakikita niya at kailangan nilang gumapang, pero sigurado siyang kaya nitong i-accommodate ang hanggang sa size ng katawan ni Kapitan Favian. But still, it’s better to do something than nothing. “Hindi ba tayo mahahawakan ng itim na awrang ‘yan kung diyan tayo dadaan?” nag-aalalang pag-uusisa ni Kapitan Favian na siyang ikinaismid at dahilan ng pagngisi niya.
CHAPTER 28.5Unforeseen Variable EVER SINCE THE deafening silence ensued, Selene just can't find it to herself to enjoy the peace and harmony. There were new soldiers sent to them and even after Sir Fernandez and Sir Theo came back from checking the entirety of their camp, they were told that the two found nothing suspicious. The day before yesterday was nothing but an ordinary day, and it's been going for three days now. She can't believe this solitude. It feels like something is lurking in the shadows and are just waiting for them to lower their guards down so that they'd be easier to take on. "Selene, why so tense?" Although mischief was hinted in Lucas' voice, she knew better— he was just trying to make her feel good but deep inside, he's probably way more bothered than him. "We've been resting for three days now, can't you at least enjoy days like this before we dive back to war?" "Pero 'di ka ba nawiwirduhan?
CHAPTER 29.1Made of SkinMERLIN SWEATDROPPED as he stared and observed the humanoid in front of him created by an entity. He still has a smirk on his face but it’s also undeniable that he fears what this creature had created.After all, the humanoid was made supposedly to become human or at least, resemble a human. But the way it has a grotesque appearance, he can't help it but to point out how fucked up this thing looked like. It was just all skin and bones that peeked through the parts that weren't stitched properly. It has no eyeballs nor a proper mouth. It looked nothing but a being created to haunt for eternity. It’s disgusting.Merlin may appreciate the effort of creating something that would resemble a proper human but... Instead of this, the demon could have just possessed the person who summoned it.“You... You’re strong. I want you... Your
CelebrationNANG dumating ang araw ng debut ni Selene, marami ang um-attend. Mula kina Reyna Sara at Prinsipe Eustace, sina Haring Alexander at Prinsipe Lucas, pati na rin ang ngayo’y si Haring Zeno.Nagtataka nga si Selene dahil nagkaroon ito ng lakas ng loob na um-attend sa debut ball niya pero ayos lang dahil personal itong humingi ng tawad sa kanya para sa nagawa ng ama nito. The thing was, King Zeno kept mum about his father’s greed until he lost ‘someone’. Palagay niya, si Sir Clyde iyon dahil kalat na kalat ang tsismis.But as long as he apologized, she’s good with it.“Are you good?”Natigilan si Selene nang marinig ang boses ni Merlin. Nang lumingon siya, ‘tsaka niya natagpuan ang mahiko na naglalakad patungo sa kanya. May ngiti sa mga labi nito pero hindi rin naman maikakailang nag-aalala ito.“Nakita mo ba si Lucas?” tanong niya.Ipinilig ng mahiko ang ulo. “Ah... Kailangan mo ba talaga siyang kausapin tungkol doon ngayon?”“Yes. I promised him, remember?”Humigop nang mala
CHAPTER 43.5Troublesome PreparationsLAST WEEK, inanunsyo ni Merlin sa publiko na dalawang buwan mula ngayon ay magaganap ang debut ni Selene sa High Society at sa parehong araw ay kokoronahan ang dalaga bilang ang Crown Princess ng kaharian ng Izquierdo. Nakakagulat dahil mukhang marami ang naghihintay sa kanya at ang selebrasyong inanunsyo ng mahiko ang nagtulak sa lahat na mag-throw ng festival para sa darating na debut niya’t koronasyon.But announcing an important thing comes with a huge responsibility: she and Merlin will be busy planning her debut out and the entire preparation.Mayroon naman silang mga katulong. Tulad na lamang ng pamilyang Valderas na bukod sa pagtuturo sa kanya ng etiquette ay tinuturuan din siya kung paano ba siya magbi-behave habang nagaganap ang selebrasyon. She was also taught how to dance and after thirty minutes, she realized that that was not her strongest asset. Kaya extra-ng atensyon ang ibinubuhos sa kanya dahil bilang Prinsesa ng kaharian, kailan
CHAPTER 43.4Debut PreparationBAGAMAT HINDI INTERESADO si Selene na magpakilala sa lahat lalo na’t noong una ay wala naman talaga siyang plano na mag-ascend sa trono at pamahalaan ang buong kaharian ng Izquierdo, ngayong nagbago ang desisyon ni Selene sa buhay ay hindi na maiiwasan ang pag-de-debut at pagpapakilala sa publiko.“I don’t like the idea of pleasing the noble faction,” was what she told Merlin while they were busy discussing her debut which will happen within two months. “Kung pupwede lang natin silang i-out ay iyon ang iri-request ko sa ‘yo.”Napailing-iling si Merlin sa sinabi niya ngunit mayroong naglalarong ngiti sa mga labi nito. “Alam kong sasabihin mo ‘yan at pinag-iisipan ko na ring i-filter ang mga imbitasyon pero sinabihan akong ‘di pwede. We’re not persuading them that you’re much worthy than the previous royalties that they wanted to pursue. You just needed to let the entire Kingdom know that you’re no fiction.”“Do they still think that I’m fake?”“Some of th
CHAPTER 43.3BusyIT WAS ONLY a week after when Selene received a letter from Lucas. Ang sabi sa liham na natanggap niya, nakauwi raw ito ng ligtas sa kaharian nito ngunit kasabay naman noon ay ang tambak-tambak na gawain at mga dokumento. Natatawa si Selene dahil kalahati yata ng nilalaman ng sulat nito ay puro rants at reklamo tungkol sa trabaho nitong kailangang tapusin sa lalong madaling panahon, pero naaawa rin siya sa binata dahil ang dami nitong dinanas at hindi man lang nito masulit ang bakasyon nito.Then again... His duties would not be this delayed if Morfran Demelza didn’t interfere with their homecoming and abducted the Prince of Vintress Kingdom.Mabuti na lang talaga at mabilis ding naresolba ang problema at wala ring masamang nangyari kay Lucas dahil kung hindi, patuloy niyang pahihirapan si Morfran Demelza. But then recently, she has been receiving reports that Luan Demelza had frequently visited the front gates of Izquierdo Kingdom and demanded to talk to her. There
CHAPTER 43.2Nonsensical“MERLIN, ALAM MO ba kung anong dahilan kung ba’t nadi-delay ang pagdating ng sulat ko patungo sa kaharian ng Westmount and vice-versa? Natatakot kasi akong baka may bumubukas pa ng liham ko para sa mga kaibigan ko,” tanong ni Selene kay Merlin noong nasa hapagkainan silang dalawa.Parehong ginabi sina Merlin at Selene sa pagtatapos ng mga gawain nila. Merlin had finished his duties and approved some projects to further improve Izquierdo Kingdom’s situation such as budgeting and passing a law beneficial for everyone. Meanwhile, the reason why Selene had finished her duties as soon as the sun had finally set and the nightsky had dominated across the atmosphere was because she enjoyed reading the comparison between the eras of both Demelza family and Griego family. Gumawa pa siya noon ng maiksing summary ng mga nabasa niya.And while it’s true that her parents weren’t perfect as King and Queen, one of the sole reasons was because their deaths didn’t happen until
CHAPTER 43.1NOONG MALAMAN NI Selene na nakatanggap siya ng sulat mula sa kaharian ng Westmount, na siyang lugar na kinalakhan niya’t mayroon siyang koneksyon, hindi naiwasan ni Selene ang mapangiti. She remembered that she had just recently sent a letter to one of her friends – kaso hindi siya kaagad na nakatanggap ng sagot mula sa mga ito. The thought that she was waiting and a lot has already happened since then makes her feel relieved.Siguro matagal lang talagang dumating ang sulat dahil malayo ang ibiniyahe ng inutusan niyang magdala noon o mayroon ding naging conflict sa kaharian ng Westmount. That’s just her estimation, honestly. Ayaw mag-isip ni Selene nang kung anu-ano.After she thought of how long it took to receive a letter from her friends, Selene opened it. She was extra careful because the letter had a dried rose inside it, and she assumed that her friends sent her this to use as a bookmark, perhaps? And that’s what she’ll do if she ever starts reading another book.As
CHAPTER 42.5FamilyAFTER DISCUSSING MERLIN’S relationship with her parents and understanding that they had such a complicated and rough time hiding their romantic feelings toward each other, Selene remembered that one thing that Count Valderas told her about her mother’s roots.“Merlin, nabanggit pala sa ‘kin ni Konde Valderas na tagakaharian ng Vintress pala si Mama?” pag-uusisa niya habang nasa kalagitnaan sila ng paghahapunan.Matapos nilang mag-usap ni Merlin, nagpahinga sandali si Selene para balikan ang mga dokumentong iniwanan niya. Nawala na sa isipan niya si Lucas at ang pag-alis nito pero sa tuwing mababakante ang isip niya, ito ang una niyang hinahanap kaya minabuti ni Selene na abalahin ang sarili. Mahirap na, baka hindi pa niya maituon ang atensyon sa mga dapat niyang inaasikaso.Susulat din naman si Lucas. Magkakaroon din sila ng contact sa isa’t isa.Anyway, pagkatapos ng isang oras ay tinawag si Selene ng isa sa mga personal maids niya para maghapunan. Naghihintay na
CHAPTER 42.4Not An Ordinary RelationshipFROM THE WINDOW, Selene could witness the sun set and of how the beautiful orange hue was slowly turning into a dark bluish nightsky. Hindi alam ni Selene kung anong oras nang natapos ang klase niya pero base sa kalangitan ay mukhang late na niyang na-settle lahat. It must be because she enjoyed her previous classes or maybe... She was scared to find out the truth about Merlin’s relationship with her parents.Hindi napansin ni Selene na matamang pinagmamasdan pala siya ni Merlin. Napangiti ito noong mapansing parang kabado siya bagamat wala pa naman itong sinasabing katotohanan. But then again, she can’t help it! Anong mararamdaman niya sa oras na marinig niyang niloloko pala ng mahiko ang isa sa mga bayolohikal niyang magulang?“Did you seriously think that I’d have the courage to hurt King Arthur or Queen Erina?” naaaliw nitong tanong. Even amusement danced on his purple eyes which made Selene flinch and pause.Selene pressed her lips togeth
CHAPTER 42.3RelationshipDAHIL KAY MERLIN, maraming nalaman si Selene tungkol sa mga magulang niya na hindi nakalagay sa mga libro at dyaryo noon. Nalaman niya kung anong ugali ng mga magulang niya at kung anu-anong kaugalian ba iyong namana niya mula rito.It turned out that Selene looks like her father but mostly behaves like his mother. But the way she deals with things is very much like her father. So, baga sa percentage, mas dominant ang naiwan sa kanya ng tatay niya kaysa sa nanay niya. Bukod kasi sa mata at ugali, mas malapit daw siya sa tatay niya. Parang resulta raw si Selene ng halos perpektong scan pero nagkaiba raw sa kasarian.“Anong relasyon mo kina Mama?” pagtatanong niya sa mahiko kalaunan at para linawin ang tinutukoy ay itinuro niya ang litrato ng bayolohikal niyang ina, si Reyna Erina.Natigilan si Merlin noong marinig ang tanong niya at tila ba naubusan ito bigla ng mga salitang dapat isasagot sa kanya. But she’s curious. Gusto niyang malaman kung ano ba ang relas