Scars of Chaos

Chapter 25 | While in the Palace

Third Person’s Point Of View
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“What are your thoughts, your Majesty?” the commander of the guards asked the Phantom Queen but instead of replying, pinagmasdan niya lamang ang kaniyang mga maiitim na kuko.

‘Why should I listen to their plans when I am now the queen of the world? They should listen to me or they will die,’ she thought. Sunod siyang napairap dahil sa may bigla siyang naalala. ‘I already had a plan and I told them about it! Did they just forgot it and just came out with a new plan?! How dare them!’ 

“Your Majesty?” he called the Phantom Queen again and this time, she finally raised her head to see him with her right brow raised as well. She saw him gulped but he remained calm and composed. She didn’t utter a word so he spoke again with his face full of fear, “W-What are your thoughts, Your Highness?”

“Die.”

His eyes then widen in fear. “W-Wha—“ and before he can finish his sentence, his body suddenly became an ash, leaving the armor behind. The sight of the armor pissed the Phantom Queen, dahil ayaw niyang may naiiwan na dumi pag may nililinisan siya.

“Clean this mess!” she shouted at the maids, making them go panic and rush around.

She then stared at the marbled floor where the armor is before looking at the high ranked persons and the nobles sitting on their seats. Kasalukuyan sila ngayong nasa isang silid na kung saan sila nagpupulong. Hindi niya alam kung bakit ba kailangan pa nilang magpulong ulit dahil napag-usapan na naman nila ang tungkol sa paparating na digmaan. They had a plan and the Phantom Queen will not change her mind.

“I’ve already told you, we will strike the day before that bitch’s birthday, any problem?” Mas tinaasan niya pa ng kilay ang mga tauhan niya kaya naman ay napababa na lamang ang mga ito ng ulo at saka tumango. “It’s all settled, then. We will strike first, a surprise attack to be exact. You know how I love surprises, yes?”

Wala ng nagawa ang mga maharlika kundi ang sumunod sa kaniya, dahil bukod sa ayaw nilang mamatay ay ayaw nila rin na hahamakin nito ang mga mamamayan ng sanlibutan. They kept their balance in all things, kahit na kumampi sila sa Phantom Queen ay hindi nila pa rin hinahayaang tuluyan na magdusa ang mga mamamayan. They did all of this to protect their people. Sure, they love King Stephan and Queen Nathalie as the rulers of the world, but they should be loyal to the throne, kahit sino pa ang umupo sa trono ay dapat nila itong galangin.

The Phantom Queen once glanced at the map of the said place where the war will be held. “No change of plans, that’s an order,” she said before leaving them on the meeting room.

Kalmang naglakad ang Phantom Queen sa malaking hallway ng palasyo. She walked with authority and with darkness following her. Mabilis siyang nagtungo sa throne room upang magpahinga roon, pero napatigil siya noong may naramdaman siyang may mga matang nakatingin sa kaniya mula sa isang madilim na hallway.

Nilingon niya iyon saka siya naglakad palapit doon. Those dark eyes were familiar to her, she can never forget the person who helped her when she was still inside of a dark trance made by the Queen. The person who also helped her poisoned Queen Nathalie and taking the throne.

Nang makalapit at makapasok sa hallway na iyon ay napahalukipkip siya bago siya sumandal sa pader upang makaharap ang taong iyon. She didn’t bothered to look at it, kasi hindi rin naman niya makita ang katawan at mukha nito, she can only see his eyes.

“How are you, my queen?”

“What do you want, Al?” she immediately asked, bored.

“I just came here to see you,” the man then chuckled. “Anyway, how is it being a queen?”

She smirked devilishly. “Good.”

“Hmmm... I see.”

Ilang segundo ang nakalipas ay bumuntong-hininga ang Phantom Queen at kasabay no’n ay ang pag-angat niya ng kaniyang ulo upang salubungin ang tingin ng kaharap. “I’ll ask again, what do you want from me?”

“I want nothing from you, I’m just here to tell you something.”

She rolled her eyes after hearing that. “Spill it already.”

“The Titans are making their move. Are you sure you don’t want my help?”

Napakunot ang kaniyang nuo matapos nitong magsalita. Matagal niya ng pinapatunton ang mga Titans ngunit sadyang maingat lang ang mga iyon kumilos kaya nakakatakas ito sa kaniya. She did need his help but she’s just thinking that this man in front of her had a plan. Something that’ll trigger her.

“Why should I trust you?”

Hindi niya alam kung makakapagkatiwalaan ba talaga ang nasa harapan niya, yes, tinulungan siya nito ngunit alam niya namang may kapalit ang mga tulong na ibinigay nito pagkatapos. At isa pa ay hindi niya ito kilala ng buong-buong, she didn’t even saw his face or body once, so why should she trust him?

“Because I helped you get to the top,” simpleng sagot nito na siyang nakapagpairap sa kaniya.

“Where are the Titans?” she asked once again.

“Hmmm… that’s a secret,” the man said before he chuckled.

Napabuntong-hininga naman ang Phantom Queen dahil doon. Kung hindi nito sasabihin kung nasaan ang Titans ngayon ay hindi niya na lamang ito pipilitin, ayaw niyang mapagod kakapilit dito kaya sinalubong niya muli ang mga maiitim nitong mata bago nagsalita, “Kill them.”

Iyon ang huli niyang sinabi bago niya nilisan ang pasilyong iyon.

Ngunit hindi pa siya tuluyang nakakalayo ay narinig niya na naman ang tinig ng misteryosong lalaking iyon, “Papatayin ko ba pati ang anak mo?”

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad pero hindi niya ito hinarap. Her tongue poked her right inner cheek before she speak as her jaw is moving because of irritation, “I don’t care. I just want you to kill them all.”

“Geez, I’m not one of your slaves so ask politely,” the man tsked.

She scoffed and massaged her nose bridge. “It’s not my thing. Now, go and kill them before I kill you.”

Pagkatapos niya iyong sabihin ay narinig niya lang ang malakas na tawa ng lalaki, dahilan ng pagsalubong ng kilay niya. Wala namang nakakatawa sa sinabi niya, seryoso siya sa mga sinabi niya kaya bakit ba pagtatawanan siya ng misteryosong lalaking iyon? Hindi niya rin naman mapatay ng basta-basta ang lalaking ito dahil kakailanganin niya pa ng tulong nito, saka na pag napatay na nito ang mga sagabal sa mga plano niya.

Bigla namang tumigil ang lalaki sa pagtawa at nagsalita, “How would a slave say it? Hmmm… is it, ‘Yes, your highness’ or ‘Yes, my queen’.”

Imbes na magsalita ay nanatili na lamang siyang tahimik at dahan-dahang naglakad palayo sa lalaking iyon. But then stopped again when the man spoke again, “Should I kill the prince as well?”

Her face suddenly filled with fear when she heard what the man just said. Mas lalong nanlamig ang kaniyang malalamig na kamay, ang kaniyang mata ay unti-unting namilog at nanlaki nang maalala niya ang mukha ng prinsepe. She gulped and tried to speak but failed afterwards. She can’t just order this man to kill their prince, because their king will be furious.

“I see…” the man chuckled darkly as he walked closer to the Phantom Queen. The shadows and the black magic that is covering his entire body filled the place. The energy that is running through the place bothered the Phantom Queen. It’s too powerful to handle.

Seconds later, she felt chills when the man touched her both shoulders from behind before speaking…

“You still fear his son.”