Ever After

XXXI. Unexpected Move

The easiest way for me to do is to ignore the dark kingdom and finish my mission. But my conscience will never leave me once Everland fell into destruction again.

"Prinsesa Victoria, pinapatawag po kayo sa punong bulwagan."

Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Ariel sa sinabi ng tagapagsilbi. Why would the king call me in the middle of the night?

Nagpaalam ako sa kanya at lumabas na. Nagtungo agad ako s aounong bulwagan.

The night is much magical in Everland than day. You see, here in Winzellia, crystal shining chandeliers light up the dark. Those lights also reflect in golds and silvers.

"A-Ano pong meron?" Tanong ko nang makita silang lahat sa punong bulwagan.

The king is firmly sitting in his throne while the queen is at his side. Sa gilid naman ay nakatayo si Ethan katabi sina Angeline at Primo. Nandito rin si haring Philip ng Avales.

I stared at Ethan with a questioning look but he just avoided my gaze. Wait, are his hands trembling? Tiningnan ko si Primo but he just looked at me emotionless. While Angeline raised her right eyebrow and grinned at me before rolling her eyes.

"Why did you lie?" Mariing tanong ng hari ng Winzellia habang nakatingin sa akin. Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

"Po?"

This time, he stood from his throne and went towards me. Why do I feel some tension.

"What you did is a disgrace to our kingdom. Bakit kailangan niyong magpanggap ni Ethan?"

"A-Ano pong ibig sabihin niyo?"

"Come on, Victoria. Huwag ka nang magmaang-maangan. I've heard you talking to Ethan last day. At narinig ko ang pag-uusap niyo tungkol sa pagpapanggap!"

Gulat naman akong napatingin kay Ethan. Iyon ba 'yung nasa fountain kami? Pero anong ginagawa ni Angeline dito noon.

"Hindi mo ba alam na masama ang pakikinig sa usapan? And what are you doing here? Nagmamanman ka?" Sigaw ko sa kanya. I don't care if I don't act like a princess. This girl is getting into my nerves.

"Victoria!" Umalingawngaw ang sigaw ng hari sa buong bulwagan kaya napahinto ang lahat. Hinila niya ako papalabas at pinapasok sa isang silid.

"Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo? You act so strange lately. At nakuha mo oang magsinungaling sa amin?"

"Your highness, I just did that because--"

"Because of your selfishness, Victoria! Hindi mo man lang inisip ang reputasyon ng kaharian. Nakakahiya sa Avales! You rejected an alliance from them."

"Alliance? You want me to marry Primo, for Pete's sake! Dad, Avales is a dangerous kingdom. They are one of the dark--"

"How many times do I have to tell you that there is no dark organization, Victoria! Wala! Pinapahiya mo lang ang sarili mo at ang kaharian!"

"Bakit hindi mo ako paniwalaan? Don't tell me, you are one of them? Are you? Kaya siguro ayaw niyo akong paniwalaan dahil isa ka sa kanila. You're one of those evils!"

Nagulat ako nang bigla akong sampalin ng hari. His breathing heavily and his fists closed while staring at me.

"Matutuloy ang kasal niyo ni Primo. Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo!" He said and slammed the door.

Tuluyan nang nanghina ang mga tuhod ko at napaupo sa sahig. I really hate this feeling. You shout, you scream, you whisper but still the same. No one's listening.

Is this one of their plans? The dark kingdom have made their first move. And we don't expected it coming.

* * *

They arranged the marriage four days after that night. I don't know what to do. The king don't want to talk to me and he didn't allow Ethan and Ashley to come here.

While Nickolas is nowhere to be found. Since then, hindi na siya bumalik sa Winzellia. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Maybe, he became tired of helping us.

But that's alright. Hindi ko naman siya masisisi. Why would he help someone who looks exactly like his enemy? The one who burnt his city and killed his father?

Pinagmasdan ko ang buong paligid. The royal hall is field with whites and golds. The servants are filling the long table with delicious foods and in the middle, a 10 layers wedding cake is placed. Mamaya bago magdapit-hapon magsisimula ang kasal.

"Your highness, you need to prepare yourself for your upcoming wedding," a servant approached me and I just nodded.

I always read something like this in the books. Minsan ko na ring pinangarap maging prinsesa at makasal nang ganito ka-engrande. But everything is different now.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago pumasok sa kwarto kung saan naghihintay ang mga mag-aayos sa akin. Tama, iisipin ko nalang na hindi totoo ang lahat. Kapag natapos na ang misyon ko, babalik na sa normal ang lahat.

I just stared at the mirror blankly while they are putting my make up. They also braided my hair like a headband and tied it in a bun. They put a golden tiara with emerald gems in my hair.

"Can you leave us for a while?"

Napalingon ako kay Ashley at Ethan na kakapasok pa lang. Yumuko naman ang mga tagapag-silbi at lumabas.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what to do that time. It's all my fault," saad ni Ethan habang nakayuko. Lumapit ako sa kanya at yumakap.

"Walang may kasalanan. We didn't expected it coming. Sadyang tuso lang talaga ang kalaban."

Lumapit naman si Ashley sa akin at hinawakan ang dalawa kong kamay. "Patawad kung wala kaming magawa sa sitwasyon mo," she said as she hugged me and cried.

"Don't cry, Ash. Let's just look at the bright side," saad ko at pilit na ngumiti. "Mas makakalapit ako sa kalaban. That way, malalaman natin ang mga sunod nilang hakbang."

"But what if it turns out the opposite? Paano kung hindi ka na nila payagang makalapit sa amin?"

Napayuko ako sa sinabi ni Ethan. That's probably their plan. Sa ginawa nila, nabawasan ang mga kalaban nila. Kapag magkataon, baka maging kakampi na rin ng dark organization ang Winzellia. And I'm afraid that Wilhem and Serim can't defeat them.

"Oo nga pala, nakausap mo na ba si Nickolas?"

Napalingon ako kay Ashley at umiling. "Since that night, hindi ko na siya nakita sa palasyo."

"Nakapagtataka. Hindi man lang siya nagsabi kung bakit?"

Umiling naman ulit ako kay Ethan. "Hayaan niyo na. Ayaw niya na sigurong madamay sa gulo. This thing is not even his problem after all."

But somehow, I want him to be here. Siya lang ang nakakaalam na hindi ako si Victoria. Siya lang ang nakakaalam kung gaano na ako kapagod sa lahat ng ito.

Nickolas, where have you been?