Only Death Awaits

Chapter 4

FOUR

Tuwing ipinagdiriwang ng mga taong-bayan ang kaarawan ni Emperor Luciano, pumupunta siya sa tuktok ng Clock Tower upang pagmasdan ang kasiyahan at pagdiriwang ng kaniyang mga tauhan. Nang sa gayon, makita niya nang maigi ang ginawa sa kaniya ng taong-bayan. Lalong-lalo na ng bayang Ergo.

"Ikaw? Ano ang pangalan mo?"

Cliodhna snapped and went back to her senses. After realizing that she was talking to the Emperor, her inner self was celebrating in joy. Dahil para sa kaniya, ito na ang oppurtunity para mas makilala pa nang maigi ang Emperedor.

Sa "Where Flower Bloomed", si Luciano ay ang tinuturing second male lead ng nobela. Dahil naghihirap siya sa sakit, ang female lead na si Rose ang nag-aalaga sa kaniya sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng kaniyang divine power.

Her power were powerful enough to heal any wounds or scars. It can also help an individual's mind to be at peace, due to its purity. But there's one thing that it cannot heal—trauma.

Iyon ang pagsubok na palaging kinakaharap ng Emperedor. Even though he appeared fine in public, he was actually suffering in secret. He didn't show his weakness, because he believed that he shouldn't show it, as it would be a burden for his empire, for his people.

Dahil sa kabaitan na tinataglay ni Rose, nagawa niyang maging solusyon para maging maayos ang kalagayan ng pagdudusa ni Luciano. Yes. It wasn't because of her divine power. It was because of her heart. She healed him with her kindness. Luciano was able to recover with Rose's warmth.

And that's why he fell for her.

Ang pagmamahal niya'y nagsimulang lumalim. Ang atensyon niya'y palaging na kay Rose. Kahit ano, gagawin niya para sa babaeng minamahal niya, kahit alam niyang hindi siya magagawang mahalin nito, as he was aware of Rose's feelings for Izach.

Luciano didn't force himself with her. Instead, he decided to let her go. Because Luciano knew that she only sees him as a friend and for him, he felt relieved. Since he'd rather see her love someone else, than love him. For he knew what burden the throne carries, and he didn't want her to suffer as much as he did.

He let his feelings go, because he knew that it was for the best.

"Yona po." Tugon ni Cliodhna sa tanong ni Luciano.

"Yona... Bagay sa 'yo."

His voice sounded like a whisper. Ang gaan pakinggan ng kaniyang boses.

'Just like how he was described in the novel, he's so soft-spoken.'

"Maaari ba akong magtanong sa iyo ng ilang katanungan?"

Tumango si Cliodhna.

He smiled at her, softly. Ang kaniyang dilaw na buhok ay umaayon sa pagsayaw ng hangin. Ang liwanag ng buwan at ng mga bituin ay nagbigay daan para mas makita ang kagandahan ng kaniyang mapulang mata. It was like his eyes were made out of ruby.

"Anong tingin mo sa ating Emperedor?"

Nagulat si Cliodhna sa naging tanong.

'Is he concerned of what people think about him? Is that why he's asking a commoner, like me, that question? Well, sasagutin ko na lang base sa pagkakabasa ko sa kaniya sa nobela.'

"Sa tingin ko po ay nakatadhana sa kaniya ang maupo sa trono."

"Anong dahilan?" His eyes were shaking. He's nervous to hear what she's about to say.

"Sa murang edad, nagawa niyang pasunurin ang kaniyang mga tauhan. Kahit pa hindi gaano kalawak ang kaniyang kaalaman sa larangan ng politika, ginawa niya ang lahat para maiwasan na ang tingin sa kaniya ng mga mahaharlika'y hindi marunong mamuno sa sarili niyang imperyo." Pagsisimula ni Cliodhna.