Confused

CHAPTER 6.2

Confused

ACCORDING to the folder that Duke Louwes handed him during his discussion with his father, the Demelza family is not as perfect as how the newspapers portrayed them—which was something he figured out while reading the articles about them. The folder also contained several issues regarding the neglected citizens of Izquierdo kingdom and the missing properties, sold land, of the entire kingdom right after the reign of Demelza family rose up.

Lucas heaved a deep sigh as he read the book about the forbidden spells. He can’t focus in reading, to be honest. He’s trying to learn more about the Hymn of the Moon and the librarian told him that he could only get the book at the Magic Tower. He paid them a visit of course, only to see the head magician who agitated Lucas by saying that he couldn’t borrow the book.

“Prince Lucas, reading the book of forbidden spells is a taboo!” was what the elder told him but he reasoned out that he’s studying the spells in order to be aware of how it works, he’s not planning to do anything rash!

Since the royal family really has no authority against the Magic Tower since it’s ruled by the head magician, Lucas had to fight his way to get the book he’s been asking for. Damn it.

Was it a hassle? Yes. But was it worth it? Of course. Only that, he was given three days to return the book—but it’s okay! Then again, Lucas can’t focus with what he’s reading because the information from the folder he read last night has been bothering him. How awful.

Itinabi ni Lucas ang librong binabasa bago siya umubob sa lamesa niya. He can’t count the times he cursed under his breathe but he’s been ranting everything he learned from the file he was given. Sakto namang ganito ang pwesto niya e bumukas ang pinto ng opisina niya’t iniluwa ng pinto si Jonas kasama ang isa sa mga kasambahay na dala-dala ang tsaa’t miryenda niya.

Nang makita siya ng mga ito, awtomatikong napatigil si Jonas.

“Mahal na prinsipe?” nag-aalalang tawag nito sa kanya.

Lucas huffed as soon as he heard the knight’s voice before he raised his head to throw an exhausted look—one that looked like he’s done with life—at them.

“Hi. Don’t mind me, I’m just stressing myself over some...” Lucas trailed off, unable to pinpoint the term he was about to blurt out, “trivial matters.”

Was it trivial? Shit. He’s been too occupied by shit that he can’t even remember if he’s using his words correctly.

Moreover, despite acting weirdly, Jonas and the maid proceeded to approach him in order to serve him snacks and tea. Lucas didn’t complain, instead; he let them do their jobs as he sat properly on his chair and dragged his gaze back to the book he’s reading.

True to Merlin’s words, Vintress kingdom’s Magic Tower doesn’t explain the entirety of the three forbidden spells but there are still bits that he could take and ask the former head magician later. Moreover, according to the book, Hymn of the Moon used to transport the object to other dimensions or parallel universe—it’s just that, Xeofarea was once destroyed and upon its second creation, the possibilities for alternate realities has been torn down which also caused an alteration to the forbidden spells.

Instead of sending the object to another universe by casting the Hymn of the Moon, the object would be transported to another place. Of where, however, was something that will remain as a mystery since no one seemed to know where do the objects transported end up on. Nevertheless, there is still one characteristic of Hymn of the Moon that’s mentioned in the book—it does suppress someone’s vampiric abilities and presumably, erasing any memories of youth which makes the object clueless of their past!

Well of course, the matter about memories only apply if the object is already an adult or capable of remembering things.

“Inaaral mo pa rin ang Hymn of the Moon, prinsipe Lucas? ‘Di ba ipinaliwanag na ni Merlin kung pa’nong tumatabo ang mahikang ‘yan?” pag-uusisa ni Jonas nang makatayo na ito sa likuran niya upang bantayan siya’t posibleng ma-assist kung kinakailangan.

Mahina lamang na humimig si Lucas. “I’m just looking for some information that Merlin forgot to mention.”

“May nakita ka ba?”

“Meron naman kahit pa’no.” Bumuntong hininga si Lucas bago minuwestrahan ang binata na ikuha siya ng papel at panulat, “Jonas, pakiabot sa ‘kin ang papel at panulat ko. Magsusulat ako ng mensahe para kay Prinsesa Luan.”

Kasabay ng paglapag ng tasa ng tsaa sa lamesa ni Lucas ay ang pagkatanga ni Jonas, tila ba hindi inaasahan ang bigla niyang kagustuhan na sumulat ng mensahe kay Prinsesa Luan. Ilang sandali rin ang inabot bago nahimasmasan ang binata at ginawa ang utos niya ngunit base sa pagkilos nito, mukhang nag-aalangan itong iabot sa kanya ang papel at panulat.

Moreover, Jonas’ reaction isn’t something that he should confuse himself for. After all, ever since his and Princess Luan’s marriage has been declared, he had never wrote the maiden a letter, instead; it had always been Princess Luan who proactively approaches Lucas. The one who invites him to their kingdom, may it be for tea—or just some ocassion where she demands his presence.

“Prinsipe Lucas, ‘wag mong mamasamain ‘tong sasabihin ko pero sa tamang pwesto ka ba sa kama nagising kaninang umaga?” tanong ni Jonas,

Lucas only scoffed at the remark. “Really. I think I’m still acting the same. Heidi, you may leave the room. Thanks for the snacks.”

“Sige po, Prinsipe Lucas,” sagot ng kasambahay bago ito nag-ayos para lumabas mula sa opisina niya.

Noong makalabas na ang kasambahay, isinara ni Lucas ang libro tungkol sa mga ipinagbabawal na mahika at inilipat ang atensyon sa papel at panulat na iniaabot sa kanya ni Jonas. He immediately set himself to write but at the same time, all he wrote was ‘to my dearest princess’ and nothing else. Bakit ang cringe ng opening niya? Nakakarindi.

At anong isusunod niya riyan? Hindi naman niya pwedeng ilantad ang agenda niya’t siguradong magkakagulo.

“Pwede ba ‘kong... magtanong?” kalauna’y sabi ni Jonas na siyang pumukaw sa atensyon niya.

Sinipat niya ng tingin ang binata at inangatan ng kilay. “O, may problema ba, Jonas?”

“Wala naman. Napapaisip lang ako kung ba’t bigla mong gustong bisitahin si Prinsesa Luan. Bilang politika lang din naman ang dahilan ng pagpapakasal niyo, sa pagkakaalala ko e ‘di ka interesado sa kanya?”

Well, he’s not wrong? The only reason why Lucas decided to stick with Princess Luan was only because he’s her fiancé and he thinks that their marriage is beneficial. However, that doesn’t mean that he’d act lovey-dovey with her—heck, he’s not even interested in her! Also, as rude as he may sound, the only reason why he’s here, writing her a letter is because he wants to meet the Demelza family beyond how the public and the media introduces them.

He’s also curious if everything he read in the file he’s given during his discussion with his father was... true.

“I’m only doing this because my father told me so,” was his response after a few seconds of silence before he went back to focus on writing.

According to the documents that Duke Louwes handed him the day before yesterday, the vampire citizens that reside within Izquierdo kingdom mysteriously disappeared after the Demelza family ascended the throne. There were several hypotheses as to why they disappeared, though.

The first reason was that the vampires were faithful to the Griego family and refused to follow the Demelza family, thus; when the former royal family was dethroned, there was another revolution that occurred which resulted into the destruction of several towns and cities while the palace itself suffered from some repercussions.

Second, it’s because the Demelza family hated vampires. They believe that the Griegos are oppressive, the entire race of vampires are an obstacle to achieve power. They also believe that only humans shall reign within Izquierdo kingdom. That was why they immediately wiped out their race. Nevertheless, those are just drawn hypotheses—their reasons for throwing out the former royal family remains as a mystery but as for Lucas... it’s greed.

Well, what good reason is there aside from the humans’ insatiable appetite for power and influence? It never occured to him before—or maybe it did, but it only registered in his mind right now.

When Lucas read those articles, he was unsure of how he’d feel in regards to his marriage with Princess Luan. Before he slept, he even recalled what his father told him.

“The Demelza family can’t be trusted. They’re snakes and you can’t trust snakes. Once you married Princess Luan, you’ll be throwing out the entire kingdom to its demise,” was what King Alexander told him.

Letting out a sharp breathe, Lucas shook his head and read the letter he wrote—proofreading just in case he misspelled something.

“Tapos ka na ba, Prinsipe Lucas?” pag-uusisa ni Jonas nang iangat niya ang hawak na mensahe para kay Prinsesa Luan.

“Ah. Oo, katatapos lang.” Lucas let out a hum as he folded the letter and searched for a befitting envelope for it. As he was about to melt the waxes he’ll use to seal the letter, he paused and looked at Jonas. “By the way, pwede ka bang pumunta sa hardin para ikuha ako ng pulang rosas?”

“Ha?”

Nahulog ang panga ni Jonas sa sinabi niya pero hindi niya na pinuna ang itsura nito at sa halip, minuwestrahan itong gawin ang sinabi niya.

“Tell the gardener to pick me the most fresh rose available in the garden. It’s for Princess Luan,” he told him again.

Ilang beses pang napakurap si Jonas sa kanya bago niya ito tinapunan ng masamang tingin. Ano? Kailan ba ito kikilos? Namangha na lang talaga sa kanya, ganoon? Nang makita niyang nakatulala ang binata sa kanya, pinitik niya ang mga daliri nang muli itong mahila pabalik sa realidad.

And it seemed like it worked because Jonas stood properly.

“Si—sige, mahal na prinsipe!” kalauna’y malakas nitong sabi bago nagmamartsang lumabas ng opisina niya.

‘What the fuck is wrong with him and why is he walking like that?’ was the initial question that popped inside his head as he watched the knight exit from his office. Anyway, he better not think about it. Jonas will get over whatever took him aback. Malaki na siya.

Nang maiwanan si Lucas sa opisina niya, isinandal niya ang likuran sa kinauupuan at ibinaba sa lamesa ang mga kasangkapan na gagamitin sana para tunawin ang wax na pang-seal sa sulat na inihanda niya para kay Prinsesa Luan.

Binalikan din siya ng alaala tungkol sa orihinal na prinsesa ng kaharian ng Izquierdo.

Hindi niya ito nabanggit kanina pero ayon sa isang intel na nabasa ni Lucas sa dokumentong ibinigay sa kanya, malaki ang posibilidad na hindi ‘nawala’ ang mga bampira sa Izquierdo. Sa halip, ikinulong o itinago—at posible ring isa-isang ipinapapatay. Mayroon daw lugar sa kaharian ng Izquierdo na nakabukod ang mga residenteng tapat sa mga Griego. Abandonado ang lugar at posibleng pinapahirapan ang mga ito—pinagtatrabaho ng mahirap at itinuturing na mga alipin.

Lucas felt bad after reading that some of those individuals used to belong from powerful noble families during the reign of Griegos. They were stripped off of their titles and their properties were stolen from them before they were bestowed an eternal punishment if they won’t turn their backs against the late Griego family.

If those information were true then... he really almost threw himself in a pit of vipers.

“Still... I don’t get why my father took interest with Princess Selene and wanted me to help her recuperate what was originally hers.”

Lucas huffed at the thought. She’s just someone who was stripped off of her title, identity, and race as a form of protection when war broke out within Izquierdo kingdom. It’s not like she could really help them! He admits that he enjoyed studying the conspiracies that surrounded her entire identity but he’ll never cross out the line!

“Ni ‘di ko nga alam kung sa’n ka napunta ta’s gusto pa ni Papa na tulungan ka? Ha, awit,” pagdadabog niya.

Saktong abala si Lucas sa pagrereklamo, binuksan ni Jonas ang pinto ng opisina niya na dahilan para mapapitlag siya sa gulat—hindi niya inaasahang makakabalik kaagad ang binata! And he probably looked stupid but he’s not gonna lie when he almost slipped off from his seat if only he wasn’t able to hold onto the edge of his table.

“Mahal na prinsipe—anong ginagawa mo?” nagtatakang tanong ni Jonas nang makita siya.

Tinapunan niya ng masamang tingin ang binata at mabilis umayos ng upo bago pinagpag ang sarili saka pinagbantaan si Jonas. “Wala kang sasabihin sa iba kung anong nakita mo ngayon, Jonas.”