Chapter 14

IT HAS BEEN a day and the woman who claimed Sebastian's fiancee was still in the palace. Sebastian hasn't come back from his trip yet and the woman was making ruckus around the castle.

“I told you to properly cook this! How the hell do you expect me to eat that?!”

Kai shook his head in disbelief. They were in the dining room. Ayaw mang makisabay kumain ni Kai sa babae ay mapilit ito at talagang pinatawag pa siya at pinilit para magkasabay silang kumain, Kai was hesitant at first but he agreed in the end.

But looking at the scene in front of him, he couldn't stop himself but to regret his decision. Hindi niya kilala ang babae and the only thing he know was her name, Kaycee. Nothing more. There is no point of asking the royal maids either. Everytime he asks who Kaycee was, the maids would just lower their heads and wouldn't even talk for one bit. It was frustrating him. Hindi niya kilala ang babae and the way she acted inside the palace is making him irritated.

“Will you stop doing that?”

Bigla ay natigilan si Kaycee matapos ang pagkasambit niyon ni Kai saka tumaas ang kilay.

“Stop doing what?” Kaycee answered with the most bitchiest voice she could ever say.

“That. Acting like a spoiled and unmannered brat. It's annoying.”

Mas tumaas ang kilay ni Kaycee matapos iyong sabihin ng binata. It took her seconds to finally recover and processed what he meant by those words.

“Me? A spoiled and unmannered brat? What the hell?”

Hindi umimik si Kai habang nakatingin pa rin sa kanya. Kaycee was glaring at her then she calmed herself saka ngumiti kay Kai. She placed her elbows on the table with her palm clasped together under her chin.

“Look. The maids weren't doing their job properly and I am just telling them to do what I think is proper.” Kaycee grinned at him, “Besides, who the hell cares if I'm acting like a spoiled unmannered brat? This whole palace bows down when I'm around.”

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Kai sa asal ng babae. Brat.

“Who the hell are you?” Kai asked.

Now Kaycee's brows lit up saka matamang ngumisi sa kanyang harapan. “I told you, I'm Sebastian's bride.”

“And so am I.”

“I know. But a prince cannot be king if the bride cannot bear him a child. He needs a successor, after all.” Malapad na ngumisi sa kanya ang babae saka itinuro ang sarili, “Basically, he needs me. A woman like me can give him both pleasures and child unlike a man like you who can give him none.”

Kai was taken a back from what Kaycee said. It was true. It was the greatest realization that hit him. He cannot give him a child for him to be Sebastian's bride meanwhile the woman in front of him can. It was as if Kai just noticed their differences and how Kaycee was lucky to have the advantages right in front of her enough to marry the crown prince.

“So what if I can't give him a child?” Right. Kai didn't know why his body starts trembling and his hands were cold. Pinagsiklop niya ang dalawang kamay saka iyon inilagay sa kanyang hita, “After all, my stay here wouldn't be long. Babalik din naman ako sa pinanggalingan ko, so what's the point of marrying the prince? Besides, it wasn't my intention in the very beginning to marry the prince.”

Tumaas ang kilay ni Kaycee, “Well, that's a great news.”

Tumango si Kai sa kanya saka tumayo. 

“You can have the prince all you want. I don't care. You can marry him, bear him a child or whatever because I literally don't give a damn.” Nginitian niya ito, “I'm done. I'll get going first, Kaycee.”

With that he left the woman alone in the dinning table. Halos nanginig ang buong kalamnan niya matapos niya iyong sabihin. No, his whole body is trembling. 

“Ofcourse, I shouldn't give a damn. Aalis din naman ako dito. Whoever Sebastian marries is not my concern.”

Wala sa sariling napahiga siya sa kanyang kama. His body suddenly became weak and he doesn't know why. He doesn't give a damn whoever Sebastian marries but why was he taken aback a while ago? And his hands...

Wala sa sariling tiningnan niya ang kanyang kamay na ngayon ay nanginginig pa rin.

“Why the hell am I still trembling?”

Does Kaycee's words affect him that much? Eh, bakit naman siya maaapektuhan?

He let out a huge sigh. 

“Your Highness? Your highness?” 

Kai flinched when one of the servants was calling him.

“Spacing out, are we?”

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Kai nang magsalita si Kaycee. She invited him over for tea and threatened him that if ever he wouldn't agree, one of the royal servants will be slaughtered. Crazy woman.

“I'm just tired. You may continue.”

Matagal siyang tinitigan ni Kaycee bago tumikhim at nagpatuloy.

“As I was saying, Sebastian's birthday is coming up and we need to plan something to surprise him. Won't you agree?”

“Yeah. I think that isn't so bad.”

Kaycee clapped her hands then smiled at him, plastically.

“As his soon-to-be-wife, I'll make a surprise that he cannot forget and would highly satisfy him.” Kaycee muttered in her very own seductive voice.

Napairap na lamang si Kai. 

“Whatever. Based on how I see the prince, he isn't the type who gets picky on things given to him.”

“I know. That is one of the things I love about him.” 

Kaycee stared at Kai, trying to read his expression. But the man's face were unreadable. She couldn't read anything from those expression which is making her annoyed.

“Miss, here's your te—”

“No!” Kaycee looked away and shoved her hands against the tea cups kung kaya't ganun na lamang kabilis ang pangyayari at malakas na nahulog ang tasa and some of the hot water was spilled on her tighs.

North almost covered her ears when Kaycee's shrieking voice entered his auditory senses. Dali-dali siyang tumayo saka maingat na inalalayan ang babae para makatayo.The maids were panicking at kung ano-ano na lamang ang pinunas sa hita ng dalaga. 

“Let's cool down the burn first.”

But Kaycee shoved his hands away, “No, don't! I won't let you touch me! Call my doctor! And you!” Naiinis na tinuro niya ang maid kanina na ngayon ay nagpapanic at mangiyak-ngiyak ng nakayuko.

“I swear I'm gonna kill yo—”

“Bring me something to cool down the burn, please.” Kai inserted while glancing at one of the royal servants.

“I'll bring an ice immediately, Your Highness.” One of the maids said.

“No, just bring me a lukewarm water.” Aniya and the maid instantly nodded saka mabilis na naglakad papalayo sa kanila.

Kai moved closer near the woman and she instantly points one of her fingers infront of him.

“I told you don't touch me!”

Kai raised his brows then folded his arms. He tsk. Sakto namang dumating ang tagapaglingkod na inutusan ni Kai kanina.

“Here's the lukewarm water you asked, Your Highness.”

Tiningnan ni Kai ang bitbit nito saka muling binalik ang kanyang paningin sa babae. He looked at her hanggang sa nagtama ang kanilang paningin.

“Look woman, don't get ahold of yourself. I won't touch you or anything if that's what you're thinking, 'cause I really won't.” He then pointed at the basin the servant was holding. “There's the water, go aid yourself. Stop assuming that I'll help you, 'cause I won't. Besides, do I look like a doctor and your servant? I'm not, right? So go help yourself, Kaycee.”

With that agad na naglakad patalikod si Kai without noticing the sudden reaction of Kaycee na ngayon ay naiinis na kinuha ang isa sa mga tea cups saka iyon mabilis na itinapon sa kanyang direksyon.

Everyone gasped nang tumama iyon sa kanang braso ni Kai and when blood dripped all over his arms ay ganun na lamang kabilis ang naging aksyon ng mga tagapagsilbi but everyone stopped what they were doing when Sebastian arrived.

Mabilis na iniiwas ni Kai ang kanyang kanang braso saka pinaalis ang mga tagapagsilbing lumapit sa kanya. Maitim ang suot niyang polo kung kaya't hindi nito madaling mapansin ang sugat sa kanang braso ng lalaki.

“Sebastian! That man! He hurt me! Look!” Kaycee squeak and showed her burnt thighs to the prince. 

Gulat na tiningnan iyon ni Sebastian then he looked at the people in front of him, including Kai. 

“What the hell happened here?”

Sebastian's eyes moved to the basin and inside was the lukewarm water then to the shattered tea cup near Kai and the other shattered cup near Kaycee.

Mabilis na nilapitan ni Sebastian si Kai. “What happened?”

Kai moved his blooded arms on his back so Sebastian won't notice. Napansin iyon ng prinsipe and was about to ask him when Kaycee squelled.

“Sebastian! I'm hurt! I feel like my skin's about to rip off!”

“Didn't you put cold water on it already?”

Kaycee shook her head, “No, still haven't! I won't let anyone touch me except my doctor! And you!”

Sebastian sighed saka naglakad papalapit sa babae.

“Alright, then.” Tiningnan niya ang mga tagapagsilbing naroroon, “Call her doctor.” Matapos niyon ay walang sabi-sabing kinarga siya nito ng prinsipe. Sebastian carried her in a bridal style, he continued carrying her hanggang sa makalagpas ito kay Kai. He didn't even glanced at him.

Kai was looking at the both of them. Seeing Sebastian carrying Kaycee in a very romantic way, anyone would think of them as lovers and are romantically attracted to each other. Oh, right. She was his fiancee too, after all. And she's a woman, she can bear a child for him, the kingdom will certainly rejoice. The world will see them fine and perfect.

“Things that I can never do...” Kai silently muttered. Wait, why is he thinking about those things? He told himself to not give a damn, right?

Nasapo na lamang niya ang kanyang noo, “Right.”

“Dear God! Your Highness! Your arms, they're bleeding!”

Malayo na sa kanyang paningin ang dalawa. Kai moved his arms saka iyon matamang tiningnan. The blood were running down to his fingers. Halos nakalimutan niya na meron nga palang sugat ang kanyang braso. 

He smiled at the royal servant, “I'm alright. I can treat this myself.”

“But—”

“You really don't have to worry. I can treat myself.”

“You can call me or anyone of us if you need anything, Your Highness,” the servant said worriedly.

Nginitian lamang ito ni Kai saka siya matamlay na nagtungo pabalik sa kanyang silid. He took a bandage from the cabinet saka wala sa sariling ipinalibot iyon sa kanyang braso. He sighed and stared at himself on the mirror. Ngunit mas nairita lamang siya kung kaya't agad niya itong nilisan saka nagtungo sa kanyang kama saka doon humiga.

SEBASTIAN WAS staring at the woman in front of him. She was continually complaining how her skin was damaged because of the servant's stupidity. Not his words but Kaycee.

“You hear me right, Sebastian? That woman! You should fire her immediately! Look at what she did to my skin!” 

Naipikit na lamang ni Sebastian ang kanyang mata dahil sa tinis ng boses ng babae. The burnt wasn't that bad, according to the doctor. He also said that after two to three days, Kaycee's skin will heal. So there was actually nothing to worry about yet here she is, acting like a woman as if her skin was chopped off her thighs. Goodness.

“It was her fault! Now my thighs look horrible! Because of her! Fire her, Sebastian! I'm telling you! You should fire her.”

Tumaas ang kilay ng prinsipe.

“And you said a moment ago that it was Kai who hurt you. Were you lying about that, Kaycee?”

Gulat na napatingin ang babae sa kanya.

“W-What? No! O-Ofcourse, not! He r-really did hurt me!” Kaycee looked away, thinking of ways to make him believe, “He... He was the one who told the servant to spill the water on my skin, intentionally! Yes! That's it! And I heard it clearly!”

Sebastian looked at her then sighed. Tumayo siya sa kanyang kinauupuan saka ginulo ang buhok ng babae.

“Fine, then.”

“Where are you going?” Kapagkuwa'y tanong ni Kaycee matapos mapansin ang biglaang pagtayo at paglakad papalapit nito sa may pintuan.

Sebastian looked back at her saka ngumiti, “I'll ask him myself.”

“Who? Kai? Y-You really don't have to! I bet he won't even tell you what really happened honestly b-because he'll be afraid of your punishment for hurting me!”

“We'll see about that.” Sebastian muttered before leaving her room.

He immediately took the route which leads him to Kai's room. Tahimik niyang nilakad ang pasilyo hanggang sa makarating siya sa silid nito.

“Kai?” 

Sebastian knocked three times and when no one answered, he slowly turned the knob revealing the door open. He walked inside and there he saw him laying on his bed, sleeping. When he got near him, that was the moment he noticed the red stains on the bed sheets and the bloods dripping from his hands.

Mabilis pero maingat na hinila ni Sebastian ang maitim na polong suot ni Kai paitaas and there he saw the uncleaned wrapped bandage and underneath it was the wound na hindi manlang nilinis.

“Where the hell did you get these wounds?” He muttered while he was undressing Kai's upper body.

Kai was still sleeping and Sebastian carefully cleaned his wounds, enough to not wake him up. He placed a new bandage around his arm saka tinakluban ng kumot ang binata. He then stood up, hands on his waist while he stared at the man slepping.

“Looks like somebody needs some scolding.” Sebastian said saka mabilis na umalis at nilisan ang silid ng binata.