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35.3: Crushing Dreams
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Kaugnay na kabanata
Blood and Roses 35.4: End of War
CHAPTER 35.4 End of War AND JUST LIKE THAT, the war has finally come to an end and everyone can rest. Selene, although she didn’t appear in front of the mass and allowed Merlin to take over, was introduced to be someone who has helped free Izquierdo Kingdom from the wicked. It was frightening too since most nobles seemed to have rooted for King Morfran’s victory but seeing as to who might betray them later on, Selene asked Merlin to look after the list of nobles who swore loyalty on the previous King. Meanwhile, there were still some neutral and remaining vampire nobles. And fortunately, these nobles just pretended to be neutral but they were only discreetly supporting the Griego family, the lost and fallen royalties. So, upon hearing Selene’s existence, most of them wanted to meet Selene since she’s the last Griego and they’ve been hoping for her return. Even the commoners who hoped for salvation wanted to thank her, and the rebels too. But she’s just too shy and didn’t want to r
Blood and Roses 35.5: Marriage Proposal
CHAPTER 35.5 Marriage Proposal BEING ROYALTY ISN’T JUST about luxury and wealth. It isn’t about owning a huge land and living in a huge castle with servants. It’s not about waking up late in the morning and having your breakfast served on the bed nor is it about waltzing in the garden before having tea later on. The day doesn’t end on meeting some people for gossip and it isn’t about living a lax life without any responsibilities — it’s far from ideal. Being born as royalty also meant a huge responsibility. Selene knew this. It’s far from the life that she once had with her adoptive mother, Helen. So, even though she hasn’t taken any step yet, she knew that she’ll be lacking. She knows that she isn’t fit to stand as the ruler of Izquierdo Kingdom. That’s why she’s scared. Selene knew that once she stepped into Izquierdo Kingdom and present herself out in public, she would have to shoulder the burden of owning a huge land with citizens and workers in it. She has to deal with the p
Blood and Roses 36.1: Bounded by Responsibilities
CHAPTER 36.1Bounded by ResponsibilitiesAH! HINDI KINAYA NI Selene ang tensyon noong tanungin siya ni Lucas kung pwede raw bang maging sila. She panicked! Maybe her brain even short-circuited! Natulala siya sa harap ni Lucas at kahit subukan niyang ipunin ang tindig para isalba ang sitwasyon, wala siyang nasabi na kahit ano. But she doesn’t want to reject Lucas because she knew that she likes him, too.... But then again, will it work? Will their relationship last if they have different interests?They’re living two different worlds and have different aspirations. Lucas wanted to rule Vintress Kingdom because it’s his responsibility and he wanted to serve their country. While all Selene wanted was to live quietly without being bounded by the responsibilities of bearing the Griego name or the royal blood. Sure, they have the same interests but there’s a huge conflict in dreams— still, Selene wanted to go out with Lucas. She just had no courage to respond when he asked and it was too s
Blood and Roses 36.2: Clearing Misunderstandings
Chapter 36.2Clearing MisunderstandingsSELENE DOESN’T LIKE how Lucas had been glaring at her. Gusto niya itong awayin at pagsabihan dahil hindi maganda ang pakiramdam niya sa pagtitig nito lalo na’t wala naman siyang ginawa sa binata. Noong nag-usap sila kahapon, ito mismo ang maayos na nag-dismiss ng tungkol sa pag-amin nito. Ang sabi ni Lucas, kahit daw pag-isipan muna niya. Then, what’s with the long face?Ayos lang din sana kung sa hapagkainan lamang pero dahil natali si Selene kay Lucas—pinasasama siya sa mga klase nito at bilang kuryoso rin siya’t gustong matuto dahil hindi naman siya naka-graduate sa eskwelahang pinapasukan noon—sumama siya sa binata. Pero buong oras na naglalakad sila, wala itong ginawa kung hindi ang pasadahan siya ng tingin, pangunutan ng noo, ‘tsaka ito bubuntong hininga. Kung umasta si Lucas, para nitong karga ang buong mundo.And after two subjects... After two subjects, she finally mustered the courage to confront Lucas.“May problema ba tayo?” medyo pa
Blood and Roses 36.3: Eyes of Judgment
CHAPTER 36.3Eyes of JudgmentMAYBE SELENE SHOULD’VE listened to Lucas when he told her that she should’ve refused King Alexander’s suggestion to hang out and have a vacation to accompany Lucas so that he could donate and help people in need and stuck after a typhoon struck them. If only she had listened to him, then they wouldn’t be stuck in a situation where a child pulled her cape down and accidentally revealed her identity.Hence the start of another rumor whereas Lucas Sutcliffe would be engaging into another political marriage but this time, with Izquierdo Kingdom’s long lost princess. Her, Selene Griego.Malalim ang buntong hininga na pinakawalan ni Selene noong oras na makabalik siya sa tent para magpahinga. Hindi niya kinaya ang kaganapan sa labas lalo na ay samu’t saring tingin ang natanggap niya mula sa mga mamamayan. Maraming aprubado at suporta sa posibleng kasal daw nila ni Lucas pero mayroon din namang may ayaw dahil hindi na raw siya Prinsesa at paniguradong wala siyan
Blood and Roses 36.4: Sunset Proposal
CHAPTER 36.4Sunset ProposalDESPITE THE PROBLEMS that they encountered after donating to the evacuees, Lucas and Selene moved on and decided on where should they go during their vacation. Naisip ni Lucas na pumunta sila sa kalapit probinsya dahil kahit na tinamaan din iyon ng bagyo, hindi naman malala ang naging pagkasira roon. Magdu-donate lang din sila sandali pero pagkatapos noon ay mamamasyal sila ni Selene. That province is a lot quieter too, so Lucas would like to assume that they’ll enjoy a peaceful and harmonious vacation.Habang nasa kotse sila, hindi maiwasan ni Lucas na mapatitig kay Selene habang nakamasid ito sa labas ng sasakyan at pinagmamasdan ang maganda’t maaliwalas na senaryo sa labas nila. Dahil iba ang atmospera sa probinsya kung ikukumpara sa siyudad, mas preskong tignan ang kapaligiran dito. Selene looked relaxed while staring out the window, too. Ang sarap pagmasdan ng dalaga—but that’s not the reason why Lucas was watching her intently!May kung ano sa mga ma
Blood and Roses 36.5: Courtship, if Possible
CHAPTER 36.5Courtship, if possibleHINDI NAIWASAN NI Lucas ang bumuntong hininga noong oras na mapagtanto niyang ang bilis talaga lumipas ng panahon at wala siyang laban dito. Gusto pa sana niyang makasama nang matagal si Selene ngunit habang iyon din ang ginagawa niya, pakiramdam ni Lucas ay mas lalo lamang bumibilis lumipad ang oras. Siguro dahil natutuwa siya t’wing kasama niya si Selene? Narinig kasi ni Lucas na t’wing gusto niya raw ang taong kasama ay mas hindi niya mapapansing tapos na pala ang oras na dapat silang magkasama.Proven and tested din dahil pagkatapos nilang enjoy-in ni Selene ang bakasyon nila sa probinsya’y namulat na lamang si Lucas na nakabalik na sila sa kastilyo ng kaharian. It made him gulp. Nabitin siya na kasama ang dalaga. Parang hindi niya naramdamang may ginawa nga sila habang bakasyon nila.Then, he sweat dropped. Mayroon siyang vivid images sa utak niya kung ano ang mga paborito niyang senaryo na magkasama sila ni Selene pero wala siyang nakuhang lit
Blood and Roses 37.1: What Isn't Planned
CHAPTER 37.1What Isn’t PlannedNAKANGIWING NAKAMASID SI Lucas kay Selene noong masaya nitong batiin si Merlin na noo’y hinihintay pala ang pagdating nila. Pinakinggan ni Lucas ang usapan ng mga ito at ang ibang narinig niya ay kung kumusta ang bakasyon nito sa kaharian ng Vintress. Mabilis namang sinabi ni Selene na nagbakasyon ito na kasama siya kaya... Noong biglang lumingon sa kanya si Merlin at tapunan siya ng masamang tingin, mabilis siyang nag-iwas ng tingin.And it didn’t even help that Selene also looked his way but unlike the mage, she looked clueless. Confusion danced in her beautiful eyes and all Lucas could do then was to exchange smiles with her, to somehow ease her ‘worries’, if there is anything.“Ngayong nabanggit mo ‘yan, Mahal na Prinsesa, ngayon ko lang napansin na kasama mo ang Prinsipe Lucas. Maraming salamat sa paghatid kay Prinsesa Selene,” sarkastiko at tila ba nanggigigil na sabi ni Merlin.Pilit ding napangiti si Lucas noong makitang parang ang hostile pakin
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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
