Elysian Tale: Flare of Frost

Kabanata 16

"Eyes down the paper and continue writing." utos ko. Taranta naman itong nagsulat at lumipat kaagad kay Raiko.

"As I was saying, when you marry someone there should be passion, love, and commitment. You will accompany ech other through sickness and health. So do you really think a one night Palace Ball can make you choose and decide what and which person you're spending your life with?" Natahimik silang tatlo. Even the ladies in front of us nod as an approval.

"So consider yourselves lucky. You have all the time to find the one you truly love." Pumalakpak silang tatlo kaya pinagkunutan ko sila ng noo.

"Wow, Lady Regent, I didn't know you're such an amazing person!" Elric exclaimed, looking so amused.

"Meaning to say, even the Lady Regent do not agree with the king and queen's way of searching for their Princess Consort?" Nakangising tanong ni Val. I just stared at him and was about to say something when he spoke.

"You don't agree because you like one of the princes, yes?" Muntik ko na maihagis sa kaniya ang flower vase sa mesa kung hindi lang ako nakapagpigil. Tumawa silang tatlo kaya sinamaan ko na lang sila ng tingin.

"Don't be too delusional. " I whispered.

"What? Who knows? These past few days, your name is always tangled up with one of them." gatong pa ni Raiko. Magsasalita pa sama ako nang bigla akong lampasan ng isang babae.

"Hey, you haven't written your name just yet." Alanganin ako nitong nginitian at lumapit sa akin. Tumagal ng ilang segundo ay hindi pa rin niya naisusulat ang pangalan niya kaya napakunot ang noo ko.

"Huwag mo sabihing hindi mo alam ang pangalan mo?" Mahina itong tumawa, isang tawa na para bang kinakabahan ito.

"I'm sorry, I'm just tensed up." She look at me, and our eyes instantly met. Sa pagtagpo ng mga mata namin ay may biglang pumasok na pangalan sa isipan ko.

Ebony Agassi...

Umiwas na siya ng tingin sa akin saka nginitian ako bago lumipat kay Raiko. Dumako ang tingin ko sa papel na sinulatan niya't napataas ang kilay ko nang makitang iba ang pangalang nakalagay roon. Ebony Agassi is her name, that's what my mind says. This is one of the newly discovered ability of my sixth sense and I've never been wrong.

But why did she faked her name?

Paglinga ko sa kaniya'y pinapakita na niya ang invitation kay Elric. Bago pa siya tuluyang makapasok ay tumayo ako't tinawag ko ang totoo niyang pangalan, dahioan upang mapatigil siya.

"Ebony Agassi is your real name, but why did you put Maybelle Feyorah instead?" Bakas ang pagkagulat sa mga mata niya matapos ko itong sabihin. Ang tatlong itlog naman ay biglang napatingin sa akin na animo'y nagtataka.

"What are you talking about? I know my name better than anyone else. I am Maybelle Feyorah." she said as if she was sure.

"Then why did you turn around when I called you Ebony Agassi?" Hindi siya nakasagot, at mukhang naghahanap pa siya ng maisasagot kaya inunahan ko na siya.

"Stop playing games with me 'cause I know how to play it better than you do," Nilapitan ko siya habang nakakrus ang mga braso sa dib-dib ko. I felt her tensed up, and she might not know it but I can see through her eyes she's nervous.

"Now answer me before I kick you out of here, what's the reason why you faked your name? This is a Palace Ball, a decree from the kings and queens and you dared to give a fake information. Do still want your head?" Halata ang pagbakas ng pagkagulat sa mga mata niya sa pangalawang pagkakayaon. I saw how her hands tembled, but she hid it immediately.