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30.4: Spark of Misunderstanding
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2024-10-29 19:42:56CHAPTER 30.4
Spark of Misunderstanding“SINASABI KO NA NGA ba’t mahal mo talaga ako, Lucas! Hindi ba, sinamahan mo lang naman talaga si Selene Griego para paasahin siyang mababawi niya ang kaharian niya? In the first place, wala naman talaga siyang mapapala dahil totoo namang ang pamilya niya mismo ang sumira sa sarili nila. And, hindi mo naman talaga ako inaaway, ‘di ba? You just made it seem like you don’t like me,” diri-diretsong sabi ni Prinsesa Luan.Her voice sounded alluring like it’s tempting Lucas to listen to her and sure, she has a nice voice— it’s just that the magic she’s trying to cast on him won’t work. Not in front of Selene and not in front of anybody else. She’s not that convincing, after all. She didn’t even do a proper research about Izquierdo Kingdom’s history and assumed that they’re the heroes although in reality, her family foKaugnay na kabanata
Blood and Roses 31.1: Mix-Up
CHAPTER 31.1Mix-Up IT’S BEEN A DAY and they haven’t talked yet. Noong mag-usap sila ni Prinsesa Luan, ang buong akala ni Lucas ay makakapag-usap kaagad sila ni Selene tungkol sa gagawin sa dalaga ngunit umiwas ito sa kanya. Nakailang beses din siyang naghanap ng oportunidad na pag-usapan ang gagawin sa dalaga nang sabihin nitong siya ang bahala dahil siya ang fiancée nito at naiintindihan daw ni Selene na malaki ang galit ni Prinsesa Luan sa dalaga dahil hindi naman talaga masisira ang relasyon nilang dalawa kung hindi dahil sa pagdating nito. Lucas wanted to retort that that’s not the case since in the first place, he never harbored any feelings toward Princess Luan and if ever that their marriage continued, it’d be nothing but a loveless relationship. A one-sided set-up between the two of them, but Selene only told him off and said that she’ll be busy ‘cause they’ll be infiltrating
Blood and Roses 31.2: Argument
CHAPTER 31.2Argument BEFORE THEY COULD reach the city, a war immediately began and they were out here defending themselves while also paving a way for themselves. They can’t lower their guards for the fear of ending up acting carelessly since even though they’re faced with weaker opponents, that doesn’t mean that they could rest easy and wallow in the feeling of relaxation and confidence. If they don’t pay attention, they could be killed and it can’t be called ‘luck’ if their guards weren’t raised in the first place. It’ll be their own fault if they die in the midst of battle. In the midst of paving their way to the castle, they regrouped. Sa ikalawang pagkakataon, magkasama na naman sina Selene at Lucas sa iisang grupo ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, kasama rin nila si Merlin at Sir Fernandez. The other groups are led by Captain Favian, Chief Knight Fernandez, and Chief Knight Lyte
Blood and Roses 31.3: Like a Neglected Puppy
CHAPTER 31.3Like a Neglected Puppy “YOU WON’T SPARE me a bit of your attention, would you?” Lucas asked as he was following Selene around. She was on her way to her own tent to rest for a bit but since Merlin and he had a conversation, he decided to confront her. Unfortunately for him, things weren’t looking good and Selene has been ignoring him. Muntik pa itong magmal-ninja ulit kung hindi lang siya alerto’t nabantayan niya ang pagkilos ng dalaga. That’s why it became easy for him to tail her around like he’s her dog or something—minus that he isn’t her dog, of course. “Nag-usap lang kami ni Prinsesa Luan pero kung umasta ka, parang mayroong nangyari sa ‘ming dalawa!” aniya. Lucas almost face palmed but when he realized that he can’t do anything to give Selene the opportunity to disappear from his sight, he stopp
Blood and Roses 31.4: Pissed Off
CHAPTER 31.4Pissed Off LUCAS HAD BEEN into the Izquierdo Kingdom’s palace before but it had never been this... different. The palace he had been into prior the war was that albeit it looked majestic, huge, artistic, and beautiful; there’s a looming aura of danger and it looked intimidating, like a haunted castle pulled out from a story book. It didn’t even help that the skies were unusually dark even though it’s already evening and the booming sound of thunder made the entire atmosphere intense. Sa hindi malamang dahilan, pakiramdam niya ay nakikiayon ang panahon sa kanila’t alam nitong magiging malagim ang tadhana nila sa oras na salakayin na nila ang loob ng palasyo. But still, whatever lies to once they entered the palace has to wait. Their troupe has an entire army of Izquierdo knights waiting for them at the front gate and they’re all prepared for the war— to defend their K
Blood and Roses 31.5: Tricked
CHAPTER 31.5Tricked THEY KNEW THAT IT’D be difficult to go past through all the traps that King Morfran prepared. Sure, there were no puzzles but the fact that each trap were intricately placed so that they won’t notice them immediately is uncanny. It’s unlikely that King Morfran would be this cautious to the point that everything was prepared with excellent precision. All traps were made to either decrease their numbers or kill Selene for good and fortunately, none of these traps had succeeded. “Walang susuko! Ito pa lamang ang simula at sigurado akong sinusubok lamang tayo ni Haring Morfran!” sigaw ni Merlin noong oras na tila ba pagod na pagod na silang magmatyag sa paligid at maging alerto. Hindi naman normal na agad mapagod sina Lucas pero sa mga oras na ito, parang isang malaking parusa na tignan ang buong paligid bago sila gumawa ng kilos. Not only that the traps are holding them bac
Blood and Roses 32.1: Fall and Make Up
CHAPTER 32.1 Fall and Make Up NOONG ORAS NA magising si Selene, awtomatikong rumehistro sa kanya ang pananakit ng ulo mula sa pagbagsak. Mahina siyang napamura dahil hindi niya inaasahang dahil kinabahan siya sa paglapit ni Lucas sa kanya kanina’y may mangyayari sa kanyang hindi maganda. Sa kasamaang palad, huli na noong napagtanto niyang nahulog siya sa patibong na sinet-up ni Haring Morfran at hindi siya agad na maililigtas. At first, she thought that she’s done for. She’ll fall to a place she’s unfamiliar of and she might meet her doom since she’ll be out here alone. Hindi niya lubos maisip kung anong posibleng gawin sa kanya ni Haring Morfran sa oras na malaman nitong nahulog siya sa patibong nito. Paano kung pahirapan pala siya at i-torture hanggang sa katawan mismo niya ang bumigay? It scares her to die miserably. But then, she has a vague recollection that someone jumped from the sam
Blood and Roses 32.2: Unanswered Questions
CHAPTER 32.2Unanswered Questions NATATARANTANG PABALIK-BALIK ng lakad sina Sir Lyte at Sir Sephare magmula nang mawala’t mahulog sa dug trap sina Prinsesa Selene at Prinsipe Lucas samantalang si Merlin, pagod namang pinanonood ang mga ito. Halos sampung minuto na nang mawala sa mga paningin nila ang dalawa at kahit na lihim ding natataranta si Merlin lalo na’t alam niyang dalawa lamang ang mga ito sa kung saan tapos hindi nila alam kung sino ang posibleng makaharap ng mga ito, pinipilit niyang pakalmahin ang sarili. ‘They’re not weak. They can protect and defend themselves just fine.’ This was the thought that kept on spiraling inside his head. It’s like a broken tape, playing over and over in his mind. He kept on persuading himself that even though Princess Selene isn’t fully trained about using magic. Prince Lucas is also a skilled swordsman although he lacked experience, they would be ju
Blood and Roses 32.3: Three Doors
CHAPTER 32.3Three Doors HE SHOULDN’T HAVE opened the wardrobe in the first place. So that he’d still somehow be able to squeeze answers from Selene, of why she’s acting strange and has been desperately avoiding him like he’s a virus. Of why she has been eluding every question that he’d throw where she’s forced to answer what might be bothering her or what makes her uncomfortable around him. He shouldn’t have been curious of that wardrobe. Now, he can’t help it but to curse that motherfucking thing. “Nakalabas na tayo sa wakas!” masiglang anunsyo ni Selene noong oras na makalabas sila mula sa pasilyong dinaanan nila. “Ang dilim do’n. I can’t believe I have to waste five minutes of my mana just so we could get here without patting uncertain things. Pa’no kung ahas na pala ang nakapa natin?” Mabigat ang pagbuntong hininga ni Lucas at
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Blood and Roses Celebration
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
Blood and Roses Troublesome Preparations
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
Blood and Roses 43.4: Debut Preparation
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
Blood and Roses 43.3: Busy
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
Blood and Roses 43.2: Nonsensical
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
Blood and Roses 43.1
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
Blood and Roses 42.5: Family
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
Blood and Roses 42.4: Not an Ordinary Relationship
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
Blood and Roses 42.3: Relationship
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
