All heads were on me because of what the Empress said while pointing towards me.
"Oh my gosh!""Isn't she the mother of the crown prince?""So Feronia really has connections with the crown prince."I heard some whispers from my coworkers.Saglit na nilingon ng Empress ang mga narinig na nagbubulungan pero agad din namang binalik ang tuon sa akin."I'm sorry but–" The head maid was cut off again."No buts. I want her right now."Saglit na katahimikan ang nangyari bago nagpasiya ang head maid na ibigay ako sa Empress.Dinala niya ako sa palasyo kung saan siya naninirahan. Malaki rin iyon katulad ng main palace pero mas mukhang elegante at mabulaklak ang palasyong ito. Hindi rin magpapatalo sa dami ng mamahalin at babasaging muwebles sa paligid.Kaming dalawa lang ang naglalakad papunta sa palasyong ito nang may nakasalubong kaming isang babaeng kasing tanda rin ng Empress ngunit may tatlong paranWhat?"What?" The Empress voiced out the question inside my head."She got here under my orders, I put her under the head maid so you have nothing to do with her."The Empress sighed in relief after the crown prince's answer, napa-buntong-hininga rin ako dahil doon."Well, isn't this a favor for her?" She then asked him."It is not." He sternly answered."It is!""It is not!""It is! Don't you think so too, Feronia?" They both turn their heads at me which leaves me to stutter in nervousness because of the pressure they're giving me."U-Uh, I think we should ask the head maid's opinion about this.""Deal." They both immediately agreed to my suggestion.Taas-noo silang mabilis at mukhang nagpapaunahan pang pumunta sa kung nasaan ang head maid at ito naman ang i-pressure sa pagtatalo. Ngunit kahit na ganoon, kita pa rin ang pagiging elegante at maawtoridad nilang dalawa sa kanilag paligid.They stopped when it seemed like they noticed something and looked back."Feronia! What are you sti
The fall of dry leaves touching my skin as it passes, while the wind whispers sweet nothings from time to time, feels like my fleeting memories of the past.The time when we were at Casa Lupin, the green scenery of the town mixed with the fiery color of the sun. Our people, may they be young or old, are filled with laughter and smiles. When a simple illness can be treated abruptly by the fresh air the Tree of Life gives us.I tiptoed, stretching my arms and body up high, trying to win against the giant trees surrounding me. Thinking maybe if I pass all these humongous barriers, I will be able to see my homeland again. But every time I do that, I always fail, and to add up, Casa Lupin will never be the same as before. The west part of the Missarati is the only place that reminds me of those times. The only difference is that this place is darker than the old Casa Lupin. I exhaled deeply, lowering my arms and flattening down my heels.Bakit ang tagal yata ni Niko?Lumabas ako rito para
The loud thud from somewhere woke me up. I'm dreaming about what happened that night again, and whenever I wake up from those dreams, I always feel empty inside.Kung nakinig lang sana 'ko kay mama noon, buhay pa kaya sana siya ngayon?Nicholo...my dreams always stop the moment I hear my mother's cries, but this time, it lasted until my best friend Niko showed up to save us from getting caught. Is there a connection to that, of why he's late today?My thoughts were disrupted when I heard the familiar sound of clashing armors."Lola?" Hinanap ko agad si lola pagbangon ko.Nakatayo siya sa harap ng mga naglalakihang katawan ng mga kabalyero. Her frail body looks so small that they can easily end her life in just a snap of their finger. I quickly stood up in front of her and placed her behind my back."Anong...anong meron? Bakit? Anong ginagawa niyo rito?" Tanong ko sa kanila, sinusubukan ayusin ang pagbigkas sa takot.A man who's in the middle grinned sarcastically at the sight of me. "
We stood still, staring at the full carriage in front of us."Dinala niyo ba buong bahay niyo?" The crown prince asked with his eyebrows meeting together.I became more ashamed every second that pass. Mahalaga ang bawat gamit namin sa bahay kaya naman wala kaming iniwan na kahit isa, hindi naman kami makakabili ng pamalit na gamit sa kabisera.Si lola ang unang pumasok sa karwahe, sakto na ang loob sa isang tao kasama ang mga gamit namin. Sinubukang itabi ni lola ang ibang gamit pero mas lalo lang sumikip.She smiled awkwardly at me. "Kandong na lang kita.""Sasabit na lang po ako." Suhestyon ko.The people around my grandma and I stared ridiculously at us."Tama, buksan na lang ang bintana para makakapit ka nang maayos." Suhestyon pa ng isa sa mga kabalyero habang pilit pinipigilan ang pagtawa."Hindi! Kasya pa rito." Pilit ni lola kahit na kitang-kita na kung gaano kasikip ang looban.Hinawakan ko ang pinto ng karwahe at sinara ito. Habang hinahanap ko kung saan ako tatapak, nagsali
"Do you have any plans on murdering my horse?" His voice immediately stopped me from glaring.The crown prince heads directly at Van who seems to be in relief now that Prince Castellan comes to his rescue.I took my time to fix my expression with my head bowed down."Sa tingin ko nakapagpahinga na kayo. Nakakalahati na natin ang distansya patungo sa kabisera kaya tuloy-tuloy na tayo." Anunsyo niya sa mga kabalyerong inaasikaso ang kanilang mga kabayo. "Okay ka na?""Ah-uhm..." I stuttered and raised my head to answer but he's not even looking at me."...Van?" Tuloy niya sa tanong na para bang alam niyang inakala kong ako ang tinatanong niya.I cleared my throat and continued to raise my head higher as if looking at the blinding sky while scratching my neck.Saglit niya pang inasikaso si Van bago nagdesisyong pasakayin muli ako. Natakot pa ko ng saglit kanina dahil baka hindi na niya ako pasakayin sa titig ko sa kabayo niya.He also lent me a black hooded cloak to wear.The rest of the
Nang magtama ang mata namin nang natatarantang lola, agad siyang lumapit sa'kin. Pero nang mapagtanto niyang kalmado lang akong nakatayo sa harap ng pinto ng isang hindi kilalang bahay, bumagal ang paglakad niya papunta sa akin at kinunot ang noo."Anong ginagawa mo riyan?" Pinanlakihan niya ako ng mata."Dito tayo maninirahan mula ngayon, Lola." I showed her the key I'm holding."Dito?" Her eyes became wider whilst her neck started to stretch to peek inside.Sabay kaming pumasok sa loob, ang mga kumpulan naming gamit ay nakatabi na nang maayos sa may gilid.Nang nagsilabasan na ang mga kabalyero, tsaka ko lamang napagtantong paalis na rin sila."The papers of this house are still in my keep, I'll give it once you fully pay your debt." Prince Castellan told me while he's busy fixing his horse."Kailan ang due date?" Sana naman nakahanap na ko ng trabaho't nakapag-ipon na ng panahon na iyon para kung ilang daming ginto man ang babayaran ko, may pangdown payment naman ako kahit papaano.
The palace.The palace is the only place where I can find the answers to my questions, he says. It's possible that they're locking Niko there. The palace is huge enough to have a hidden torture room.He seems to know who I am too but he didn't show any signs of fear. I think he also knows some things but he wants me to know them by myself.Just who is he? What are his connections? He's suspicious.Curiosity kills the cat. It's a phrase that's been used enough to warn other people. What danger could be there at the palace more than them knowing my true identity?Bigo ang paghahanap ko ng trabaho dahil ani nila'y kulang ang kanilang pera para tumanggap pa ng trabahanteng suswelduhan. Ang iba naman ay kumpleto na ang mga trabahante at wala ng bakante para sa kahit anong posisyon.Pero napuno naman ang utak ko sa dami ng dapat kong isipin."Kumusta?" Salubong agad sa akin ni lola pagpasok ko sa bahay."Nagpahinga po ba kayo?" Parang kanina pa siya palakad-lakad dito."Paano ako makakapagp
"Nasisiraan ka na ba ng ulo?!" Tayo ni lola sa harap ko.Ang kaninang tuwa ay kumpleto nang hindi makita."La, iyon na lang ang tanging pag-asa natin para mabuhay pa nang matagal sa lugar na 'to." Paliwanag ko naman."Mabuhay? Kaya ilalagay mo sarili mo sa peligro?" She said like she can't understand the logic behind my reason."Hindi 'yon magiging peligro kung mag-iingat ako. Kaya ko naman, e. At isa pa, baka naroon din nila kinukulong si Niko."Mas lalo siyang nagpanic sa narinig."At kung mali ka?""May nagsabi sa aking nandoon ang mga kasagutan sa tanong ko, nalaman niyang hinahanap ko si Niko at mukhang alam niya rin kung ano ako pero hindi naging mapanganib ang tingin niya!"Maybe some people are still not blind by their prejudices and I want her to know that too."Sino ang nagsabi sa'yo non?" Imbis na matuwa sa balita kong may ibang tao na hindi mapanganib para sa amin, mas nagdilim lang ang eksp
What?"What?" The Empress voiced out the question inside my head."She got here under my orders, I put her under the head maid so you have nothing to do with her."The Empress sighed in relief after the crown prince's answer, napa-buntong-hininga rin ako dahil doon."Well, isn't this a favor for her?" She then asked him."It is not." He sternly answered."It is!""It is not!""It is! Don't you think so too, Feronia?" They both turn their heads at me which leaves me to stutter in nervousness because of the pressure they're giving me."U-Uh, I think we should ask the head maid's opinion about this.""Deal." They both immediately agreed to my suggestion.Taas-noo silang mabilis at mukhang nagpapaunahan pang pumunta sa kung nasaan ang head maid at ito naman ang i-pressure sa pagtatalo. Ngunit kahit na ganoon, kita pa rin ang pagiging elegante at maawtoridad nilang dalawa sa kanilag paligid.They stopped when it seemed like they noticed something and looked back."Feronia! What are you sti
All heads were on me because of what the Empress said while pointing towards me."Oh my gosh!""Isn't she the mother of the crown prince?""So Feronia really has connections with the crown prince."I heard some whispers from my coworkers.Saglit na nilingon ng Empress ang mga narinig na nagbubulungan pero agad din namang binalik ang tuon sa akin."I'm sorry but–" The head maid was cut off again."No buts. I want her right now."Saglit na katahimikan ang nangyari bago nagpasiya ang head maid na ibigay ako sa Empress.Dinala niya ako sa palasyo kung saan siya naninirahan. Malaki rin iyon katulad ng main palace pero mas mukhang elegante at mabulaklak ang palasyong ito. Hindi rin magpapatalo sa dami ng mamahalin at babasaging muwebles sa paligid.Kaming dalawa lang ang naglalakad papunta sa palasyong ito nang may nakasalubong kaming isang babaeng kasing tanda rin ng Empress ngunit may tatlong paran
"Wait!"I stopped him because it seems like he's so ready to create a commotion.Hinarap niya ko gamit ang naiiritang mga mata."Ano? Nagbago na ba isip mo? Gusto mo na rito kasama ang Emperador? Gusto mo rin maging Empress?" Sa bawat tanong niya palapit siya nang palapit.Okay naman siguro 'to kasi napigilan ko siya 'no?"Hindi naman ganoon.""E, ano?" He's now right at my side, left hand on the table, trying to level down his body to face me while I'm raising my head to face him."Katulong ako rito, okay? Nandito ko para magtrabaho bilang katulong."Kinunot niya ang kanyang noo sa narinig."Bakit 'di mo sinabi agad?""Pinatapos mo ba ko sa sasabihin ko?"At my question, he cleared his throat."May itatanong din pala ko." Tatanungin ko na siya ngayon bago pa mawala sa isip ko."Ano 'yon?" He asked immediately."Uh, pwede ba maupo ka muna ulit doon? Mahirap m
"Stop messing around with me, your highness." I'm surprised I even managed to say that calmly despite my loud and fast-beating heart."You're the one who's messing around with me." He said that with a serious expression plastered on his face."I-I need to go now, your highness. The head maid is waiting for me, excuse me." I bowed down and swiftly turned around to walk away from him.Kahit na nakalayo na, ayaw pa rin ng puso ko kumalma sa nerbyos. I tried to inhale and exhale deeply but it's no use because I'm walking rapidly."You sure take your time for some brushes." Komento ng head maid sa akin pagbalik ko.I bowed my head apologetically.After our routine before resting, they started to chat with each other again."Feronia, earlier, maybe the crown prince just wanted you to focus." Ani nilang bigla sa akin.Tumango-tango sila na para bang iyon nga ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ako pinansin ng prinsipe kanina.
After looking back at the closed door of the conference where her son just entered, the Empress left me alone with the order of doing my job properly.Of course, I did what I was supposed to do.I thought she'll do something terrible to me just by looking at her appearance but she's not that bad. She's just like any troubled mother.But like I've said, I've been wondering since I don't see any resemblance between the two.Nilinis ko nang maigi lalo na ang bawat sulok sa hallway na iyon, hindi ko alam kung hanggang ilang oras na ang tinagal ko hanggang sa bumukas na lang bigla ang pinto sa conference room.I first saw the crown prince from the crowd, nang nasa malapit na siya ay yumuko ako nang bahagya gaya kanina. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang bawat paglakad at kilos niya ngunit kahit saglit na tingin pabalik sa akin bilang pagpansin lang na nandito ako ay wala. Na para bang masyado akong maliit para mapansin niya.Hindi naman sa gus
"...Feronia Ellis." The head maid calls out our names.Sampu kaming tinawag niya at ako ang panghuli, lahat kaming sampu rito ay ang mga bagong katulong sa palasyo.After dropping me off here at the palace, I haven't seen the crown prince since then."All of you here are the chosen people to be a royal maid. It's not just a mere maid but a royal maid, keep that in mind. Out of hundreds of people who want this opportunity, you need to prove that you are worthy of this job. Are my words reaching you?""Yes, madam." Sabay-sabay naming sagot habang naka-yuko.Ngunit unti-unti ring tumaas ang aming mga ulo dahil sa kuryoso sa ingay na pumasok sa palasyo.Tunog iyon ng mga armor ng mga kablayero. The first man I saw was the knight who forced me to become an offering before. Sunod noon ay ang nasa likod niyang dalaga na nakayuko habang tahimik na sinusundan ang direksyong tinuturo sakanya nang walang anumang pag-angal. A bunch of knight
"But...what about my grandmother? Will she be okay here?" I asked because this has been bothering me too.Obviously, she will be alone if leave her here. So I'm worried."I'll assign a knight to guard her."I was surprised because of what he said, nagtatanong lang naman ako kung magiging okay ba siya rito pero sinabi niya na agad na maglalagay siya ng kabalyero para kay lola? This is too much but if this is for my lola's safety then so be it.Nang tumigil ang karwahe, sinubukan kong silipin kung nasa tapat na ba kami ng bahay kung nasaan kami naninirahan ni lola ngunit wala akong nakitang kahit isang bahay sa labas.Nagtaka ako kung bakit pero nang napansin ko ang pamilyar na matandang babaeng naglalakad bitbit ang isang pamilyar na bag, nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat, takot, at pag-aalala sa lola ko."Bababa ako." Paalam ko bago sinubukang buksan ang karwahe."Saglit lang." Aniya pero pinagsawalang bahala ko lang iyon
The cold water that was splashed to me earlier has now dried up but I still find myself quivering in fear, wondering what will happen to me once I face the emperor.I silently wish that this carriage will never stop because once it does, that means we're already there.But all my wishes never came true. I know this too will stop but I never imagined it to be so soon."Greetings to his highness..."My eyes widened. Did the emperor meet us halfway? My heart doesn't seem to want to stop thumping so loudly."Prince Gideon Castellan of Missarati."Agad akong gumalaw para buksan ang kurtina at sumilip sa labas ng karwahe pero ang tanging bumungad lamang sa akin ay ang malapad na likod ng isang kabalyero."Sinong nasa loob?" Dinig ko nang malakas at malinaw ang kanyang boses."A maiden that is bound to offer to the emperor, your highness." Magalang na sagot ng kabalyerong sapilitan akong kinuha."Sino?" Madiin
"Nasisiraan ka na ba ng ulo?!" Tayo ni lola sa harap ko.Ang kaninang tuwa ay kumpleto nang hindi makita."La, iyon na lang ang tanging pag-asa natin para mabuhay pa nang matagal sa lugar na 'to." Paliwanag ko naman."Mabuhay? Kaya ilalagay mo sarili mo sa peligro?" She said like she can't understand the logic behind my reason."Hindi 'yon magiging peligro kung mag-iingat ako. Kaya ko naman, e. At isa pa, baka naroon din nila kinukulong si Niko."Mas lalo siyang nagpanic sa narinig."At kung mali ka?""May nagsabi sa aking nandoon ang mga kasagutan sa tanong ko, nalaman niyang hinahanap ko si Niko at mukhang alam niya rin kung ano ako pero hindi naging mapanganib ang tingin niya!"Maybe some people are still not blind by their prejudices and I want her to know that too."Sino ang nagsabi sa'yo non?" Imbis na matuwa sa balita kong may ibang tao na hindi mapanganib para sa amin, mas nagdilim lang ang eksp