CHAPTER 39.4Danger“IBALIK MO SA ‘kin ang trono at ang buong kaharian ng Izquierdo kung gusto mo ring bumalik si Lucas sa inyo, Selene Griego,” alok ni Morfran Demelza.Selene sweatdropped after finally knowing what was the cost of Lucas’ life and honestly, she expected this much. Kaso tulad ng sinabi niya, hindi niya pwedeng isuko ang kaharian ng Izquierdo para sa haring hindi naman marunong mag-alaga ng teritoryo. The Izquierdo Kingdom she came back to was destroyed, full of discrepancies, discrimination, and prejudice.Lives were destroyed and poverty was a problem the Kingdom and its government neglected. Only the rich were able to enjoy life full of luxury and most of them are even abusing that power, hence why Selene wanted her next move as purging them one by one. She wanted balance although it’ll be a difficult thing to attain.Napalunok siya’t nagbaba ng tingin kay Lucas na noo’y mukhang wala pa rin sa sarili. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. Gusto niya itong bu
CHAPTER 39.5Raging StormTHIS ISN’T WHAT they needed to see. As the previous Grand Magus formed a huge tornado which caught Lucas in the middle as if encaging the man within it so that they wouldn’t be able to do a thing to save him and at the same time, force them to give into their desires, Selene couldn’t help it but to panic even more.Of course she wanted to do something! She wanted to stop this madness and save Lucas! Just like she said, all of this – he doesn’t deserve. Maybe, just maybe, if she didn’t let Lucas leave that day, things would have been different for both of them. She... Underestimated Morfran Demelza and this Grand Magus’ capabilities because she thought that they wouldn’t lay a finger even on a single strand of his hair.“What should we do...?” she whispered to herself until she caught a glimpse of Merlin and King Alexander who seemed to discuss something in a hurry. “Merlin...? Haring Alexander?”Pinasadahan siya ng tingin ng mahiko bago ito ngumiti. Then, he
CHAPTER 40Towards the LightWHO WOULD HAVE thought that there could be a place darker than black? A place of emptiness and void, where not even the light could shine, a single sound would do nothing but echo until he’s exhausted hearing the very same sound, and his sharp eyes couldn’t see even a glimpse of his own hand.No matter how Lucas turned around to see his surroundings, he could see and hear nothing. It was as though he has been thrown into a place where a single soul wouldn’t be able to survive without going insane. He felt as though he’s castigated and forsaken — hope was just an illusion and there might be no escape to this hellish emptiness.How did he end up here?Sa pagkakaalala ni Lucas, nakikipagtalo siya noon kay Morfran Demelza.Nasa kalagitnaan siya noon ng pang-iinis. Pilit niyang ipinapamukha rito na wala itong kwenta, na gahaman lamang ito’t makasarili, hindi ito magtatagumpay laban kay Selene, at mas lalo lamang itong magiging miserable. It was a heated argumen
CHAPTER 40.2Trapped in a CageMERLIN HAD ALWAYS thought that dealing with a black magic user would be difficult but never had he ever thought that a mere human could wield such dangerous type of magic. And the fact that the man he’s currently fighting against used to be the Grand Magus of the Magic Tower after he had left the Kingdom? Well, that’s damned. It just proves how much influence and power the Demelza family had over the entire Izquierdo Kingdom.Mukhang hindi rin neutral ang Magic Tower sa pagkakataong ito dahil base pa lamang sa mga naunang kwento nina Prinsesa Selene at Prinsipe Lucas sa kanya, dinipensahan ng buong hukbo ng mga mahiko si Morfran Demelza. Itinakbo rin ng Grand Magus ang dating hari kaya hirap na hirap din silang hanapin ito.Fortunately, there were enough traces for them to find these two. But still... It’s a pain in the ass to go head to head against a mere human who seemed powerful than him because of some cheat.Ha. All of these powerful men and all Mo
CHAPTER 40.3Into the LightGUSTO NIYANG MAKITA ulit si Selene. Gusto niyang punasan ang luha sa mga mata nito at patahanin ito sa pag-iyak. Ayaw niyang makita at marinig na humahagulhol ito tapos siya, walang magawa. Ayaw man niyang aminin pero nasisiphayo siyang hindi niya maikilos ang katawan para sabihin ditong ayos lang ang kalagayan niya’t babalik siya kahit na anong mangyari.She doesn’t need to cry. He’s still here. Naghahanap lang siya ng paraan kung paanong makakabalik sa tabi nito.This feeling is similar to being comatosed but at the same time, it was different. He could see Selene and he could hear every word that she said. He hears and knows everything that was happening around them. Maging ang pagkataranta ng sarili niyang ama at ang pakikipaglaban ni Merlin sa Grand Magus na naglagay sa kanya sa ganitong sitwasyon.Lucas wanted to clench his knuckles but he couldn’t. Hindi niya alam na mas nakakainis na paralisado ang buo niyang katawan kaysa sa makulong sa kawalan.“L
CHAPTER 40.4Luck and KarmaMATAPOS NG MGA kabalahubasang lumabas mula sa bibig ng Grand Magus, ang mga pagbabanta nitong kailanma'y hindi na nila ulit makikita si Prinsipe Lucas sapagkat nasa kalagitnaan ng kawalan ang kaluluwa nito't tanging pisikal na katawan na lamang nito ang mababawi nila, tuluyang nawalan ng kontrol sa sarili si Haring Alexander.Mabilis pa sa ala singko nitong binitawan si Morfran Demelza at dali-dali itong sumugod sa Grand Magus. His speed was something not even a word of mouth can compete against. At sa isang kisapmata lamang ay nasa sahig na ang Grand Magus at hawak na ni Haring Alexander ang ulo nito."Alexander!" tawag ni Merlin sa kaibigan at dali-dali itong nilapitan para sana pigilan pero bago pa man niya iyon magawa ay nagbabanta ang mga tinging itinapon sa kanya ng Hari.'Hawakan mo ako o mayroong hindi magandang mangyayari.' Ito ang mga salitang parang pilit sinasabi sa kanya ni Haring Alexander kaya natigilan din si Merlin mula sa paglapit dito at
CHAPTER 40.5One More TimeNOONG UNTI-UNTING umayos ang kapaligiran at kumalma ang lahat, ‘tsaka pa lamang kumilos ang mga kawal para siguruhing maayos na ang buong paligid at wala na silang makakasalubong na panibagong problema. Merlin and King Alexander lost their strength since the last encounter with the Grand Magus too, so they were both supported back to the makeshift tent that their men created. Ang pinakamagandang nangyari rito e nawala na sa daan nila ang dating Grand Magus at nasa kamay na ulit nila si Morfran Demelza.“Please make sure that they all rest well,” utos ni Selene sa mga kawal na noo’y tumango. “Keep an eye on Lucas too, please. Baka mamaya, may after-effect pa rin ang mahika ng dating Grand Magus sa katawan niya.”What she fears was that the aftermath might be strong to the point that it would take Lucas away from her. Halos kababalik lamang ng binata sa huwisyo. Noong nawala ang Grand Magus, ‘tsaka lang din bumalik ang binata sa sarili nito. Base rin sa sinasa
CHAPTER 41.1Returning to PlacesONLY WHEN SELENE assured that Lucas was full that she only went to where they kept Morfran Demelza. Ilang beses siyang pinigilan ni Lucas dahil hindi naman na raw kailangang puntahan ang lalaki pero para kay Selene, isa ito sa mga magagandang oras para pahirapan ito. In the end, Lucas had let her go and allowed her to do what she wanted but she has to be careful since... There could still be some possible backlash from being associated with the previous Grand Magus.Of course, Selene listened to Lucas. Nag-aalala lang naman ang binata sa kanya. Ang siyang dumaan lang yata sa tenga niya at lumabas sa kabila ay iyong sinabi nitong tawagin ito kung sakaling may hindi umayon sa mga plano niya. That’s impossible. This guy, Morfran Demelza, was now helpless and the only comrade that helped him get out of prison has already passed.When Selene approached the underground basement, she found two knights guarding it. One of which is Sir Guischard who volunteered
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