Chapter 5
Game of Thrones
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University of St. Ambrose
Amalia flinched when someone throw an egg at her on her back. Naririnig naman niya ang mga bulung-bulungan ng mga estudyante sa likod niya. A few seconds later, somebody also threw an opened water bottle at her, making the back of her clothes. She immediately closed her locker and proceeded to walk away. Hindi na niya pinapansin ang mga estudyanteng nakatingin at pinag-uusapan siya ngayon.
She sighed. Since her brother started his dictator ways, students at her university, started also bullying her. Na wala raw siyang pinagkaiba sa kapatid niya—that her family was a bunch of murderers, so what would they expect?
People think she has the same ideals with her older brother—ruthless, tyrant, merciless. Kaya sa tingin din ng iba ay dapat din siyang parusahan dahil sa mga ginagawa ng kapatid niya.
It's like bullying became a norm to her. Whenever she goes to school, people would throw stuff at her, sometimes, worst, they would spit at her face, shouting at her to kill herself and her tyrant king brother.
Nang dumating na siya sa parking lot ng university ay nakita na niya si Atty. Sylas de Luca. When Sylas noticed her apperance, his eyebrows furrowed. Nilapitan siya nito.
"Amalia, what happened?" He asked worriedly.
Amalia shook her head, assuring him. Nauna na siyang pumasok sa kotse. Sylas followed.
"Amalia, did they bully you again?" His voice was obviously pissed.
"Sanay naman ako, Sylas." She gave him a tight smile, tapping his shoulder. "Ano ka ba, wala lang 'to."
Sylas let out a frustrated sigh. "This is all because of your selfish brother. Hindi man lang niya alam na binubully ka na rito sa university niyo. Parang wala na siyang pakialam sa mga tao sa paligid niya. Mismong kapatid niya, pinapabayaan na niya."
"Ang importante nasa atin si Ate Fia. The Queen is on our side. She's the King's weakness." She replied. At least, with the Queen's arrival, it gave them hope that someday, they can change Madrid's tyrant ways into fair and reasonable ones.
"I hope we could really trust her. Mamaya, may meeting tayo together with the senior members of the association—at ipapakilala na natin siya."
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Freedom for Peace Association
Headquarters
"Gonzalo, are you really going to be safe in attending our meeting?" Sofia Elena asked the old man who was walking with her side by side towards the conference room of the headquarters.
"Yes, your grace. Huwag kayong mag-alala. The King is in Mendez de Sotomayor palace, nasa malayo siya." Sagot nito sa kanya.
Kumunot ang noo niya. "Vacationing?"
The Mendez de Sotomayor palace was a vacation house for the royals dahil malapit ito dagat. Before, doon sila pumupunta ni Madrid kapag gusto nilang magpahinga sa responsibilidad bilang royalty. Presko kasi ang simoy ng hangin doon.
Umiling ito. "He is visiting Rafael, his brother, if you remember... and he also said he had important matters to do at the palace."
Natahimik si Fia matapos ang sinabi nito. Of course, she remembers Rafael. Rafael was Madrid's secret younger brother who had down syndrome.
"Alam na ba ng nga tao ang tungkol sa kanya, Gonzalo?" She asked, remembering Madrid's words before that he's going to introduce Rafael to the public once everything became settled.
Gonzalo shook his head in answer.
"He really changed a lot when I was gone, huh?" She commented. Nang nasa pinto na silang dalawa sa conference room ay kaagad silang pumasok sa loob.
Those senior members who were sitting on their own swivel chairs stood up the moment they saw her, including Atty. De Luca and Princess Amalia who immediately bowed their heads and curtsied. The other members seemed confused at what the two just did.
"Everyone," it was Atty. De Luca who talked first. "The Queen."
Lahat ay naging maingay sa loob ng conference room. Everyone was gasping and murmuring that she was alive and everybody thought she was dead. Hindi makapaniwala ang iba matapos ang anunsyo ni Atty. De Luca.
Fia remained her stance, giving all of them a straight face.
"I know it is confusing and I also want to enphasize that the the Queen's identity will be kept in this four walls, nobody in the public should know or he'll be dealt with greater consequences. Kahit gusto man namin sabihin sa inyo ang totoo kung paano, it would take time for us to explain everything." Atty. De Luca explained when the members became silent.
"Now, the Queen will only be known as Jodie Grey, the famous bestselling author of New York. She will be helping us in the association." He added. "We do not trust the King but with the Queen, maybe we could trust again." He added.
"I know some connections," Fia started, now, everyone was intently listening to her, "I've talked to some politicians before, during our tour, if we could gather allies and support from these people then we might have a chance to overthrow my husband. For me, we need a lot of allies and support for this movement and I will be one talking to them one by one. My husband's dictator ways have to stop now... and it would be dangerous but we need a better ruler in this country."
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Nang matapos ang meeting ay kaagad nilapitan ni Gonzalo si Fia. Earlier, in the meeting, they have decided that they'll have to gain the support of the Northern Luzon first. Sasamahan siya ni Atty. De Luca para kausapin ang mga politikong nandoon. If they can persuade most of the politicians in the place, withdrawing their support from the Crown, then they'll have a greater chance in defying the King.
"Ma'am," Gonzalo took a deep breath, looking serious, "I need you to be careful."
Fia smiled, tapping the shoulder of the old man, "Don't worry, I will always be careful, Gonzalo."
"No..." Gonzalo reacted, nervous, "The King, he instructed me to conduct an investigation about Jodie Grey, about you, my Queen. He's planning something."
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Mendez de Sotomayor palace
Madrid Anselmo was smiling when he saw Rafael happily playing on the beach with the woman. It was already two in the afternoon and the weather was good. He was wearing a white sando and a loose beige beach pants partnered with a dark brown flip-flops. When his brother and the woman noticed him, Rafael excitedly ran towards him and immediately hugged him.
"K-Kuya! Bumalik ka rito," Rafael said and Madrid chuckled. Ginulo niya kaagad ang buhok nito matapos siyang yakapin nito.
"Nagpapakabait ka ba rito, Raf?"
"Opo, K-Kuya, hindi po ako pinapabayaan ni M-Ma'am Violetta dito."
Madrid then eyed the woman who also didn't expect his arrival. He reverted back his attention to his younger brother. "Raf, pumasok ka muna sa loob. Mag-uusap lang kami ni Ma'am Violetta."
"S-Sige po, Kuya." Kaagad itong sumunod sa sinabi niya at naiwan silang dalawa sa dagat. Madrid walked towards the woman. The woman curtsied when he was already beside her.
"Your majesty." Lady Violetta of Snowdon greeted.
It has been five years since the people assumed Lady Violetta of Snowdon died due to her death penalty punishment for the involvement of the late King Julian and Princess Tamara's murders. Five years since Lady Violetta became Rafael's caretaker.
"Kamusta kayo rito?" Madrid asked and shoved his hand inside his pocket, getting a cigarette stick, lighting it up with a lighter from his pocket as well.
Lady Violetta exhaled and answered, "Okay lang kami rito. Makulit si Rafael... pero nakakatuwa pa rin naman siya. Parang ko na rin siyang anak."
Madrid didn't say anything and just stared at the vast ocean in front of them. He watched the smoke coming out from his mouth.
It was a long silence when he finally spoke again.
"I think your daughter is alive." He suddenly said, making Lady Violetta's jaw drop.
"Oh god..." The only words she could utter. "But how is that possible? She died at the car accident, she was burned alive. We have a body, her DNA was on it..."
"I don't know either. But a Jodie Grey suddenly bought your residence, the Snowdon House, and I even saw a male kid playing inside. When I saw the boy, parang akong kinabahan. Hindi ko maintindihan 'yung nararamdaman ko."
Lady Violetta didn't say anything and was still internalizing everything he said. Nakayuko lang ito.
"That's why I instructed Gonzalo to investigate this woman named Jodie Grey. She's a writer... and her writing, she has the same writing style with my late wife." Madrid finally finished his cigarette and threw the cigarette butt on the sand. He stomped it to put out the remaining smoke. Tumalikod na kaagad siya at nagsimulang maglakad para pumasok na rin sa loob ng palasyo.
"What if she's still alive, Madrid? What are you going to do?" Lady Violetta suddenly asked. Madrid stopped his feet and looked back. He gave the old woman a tight smile.
"I'll cry," he answered her before walking again towards the palace, leaving his wife's mother confused and dumbfounded.