The Wolf King and I
Chapter 17
Maybe I'm finally getting used to Zhang Wei's presence, or maybe I'm becoming too relaxed while staying in this manhwa that I've forgotten something very important: Emperor Zhang Wei is a dark man.
He's incapable of mercy.
He's incapable of love.
A simple mistake in his eyes would cause you hell.
Right now, all I can see is hell while the demon is standing right beside me.
Naramdaman kong tumayo siya sa likuran ko at bahagya pa akong napasinghap nang maramdaman ko ang dalawang kamay niya na humawak sa magkabilang braso ko.
I started trembling, and I don't even know why.
"Look at him." He spoke while using that soft and demonic voice in my ears. "He dared to hurt you. That's why he's here to bear the consequences. Don't you find it amusing?"
I can finally understand why he's smiling the whole time. He's excited. He's excited for me to see this evil masterpiece that he has created.
He just tortured a human being!
Napakuyom ako ng mga kamay para pigilan ang sarili ko sa panginginig. Pakiramdam ko ay gusto kong masuka nang dahil sa hindi ko kinakaya ang matinding eksena na mayroon sa harapan naming dalawa pero pinigil ko ang sarili ko.
"Now, now," he whispered into my ears like a demon commanding his captured prey. "Why don't you grab this opportunity to use that sword that I gave you? This man is a soldier of Han and he almost killed you. I will give you this honor of punishing him as a gift."
Akala ko ay okay na kaming dalawa.
Akala ko ay kakayanin ko ng makasama siya kahit na hindi parin kami gaano ka-close.
But I was wrong.
A mad man will not change just because you chose to befriend him.
Now, I just want to run away from here. Away from him.
I'm angry and I can't even understand why. At hindi ko na nga napigilan pa ang sarili ko.
"Nagpapatawa ka ba?" iyon ang unang lumabas sa bibig ko bago ko siya nilingon.
Nakita kong natigilan siya nang makita ang sobrang lamig na alam kong nakabahid ngayon sa mukha ko.
But I can't hide it anymore.
This man makes me sick!
"Ito lang ba ang klase ng regalo na kaya mong ibigay sa taong nagligtas ng buhay mo?" I said, with sarcasm and hate in my voice. "Wow, the most powerful Emperor of Qin is not as great as I think he is."
At matapos ko ngang sabihin iyon ay nakita ko kung paano unti-unting lumukob sa mukha niya ang galit.
Great, now we're back to zero again.
Kung kailan akala ko ay magkakasundo na kami ay saka naman masisira ang lahat.
"You——"
"You could have just given me flowers, precious jewelry, or simple dishes." Galit na wika ko. "But what can I expect from someone like you? You're incapable of love. You're incapable of mercy. You're a mad man and you make me sick!"
Hindi ko na nga napigilan pa at nasabi ko na ang lahat ng bagay na kanina ko pa pinipigilang sabihin.
He could have just killed the man who hurt me in the forest. I can't understand why there's a need to torture him. Why do I have to kill him with my own hands?
Is he expecting me to become a murderer like him?
He will kill me, I know.
He will kill me for disrespecting him like this. For questioning his sick ways. But I can't take it anymore. Hindi ko kayang manahimik nalang ng dahil sa ginawa niya.
Nagtaas ako ng mukha para makita kung ano ang naging reaksyon niya. Pero hindi ko inaasahan ang sumunod kong nakita.
His cold silver eyes suddenly soften, and there's a hint of shock in his face. It was like he was not expecting that kind of reaction from me.
Is he expecting me to thank him?
Mabilis akong tumalikod sa kanya at nilingon ang sundalong nakatali parin sa harapan naming dalawa.
"What's your name?" I asked him.
Nagtaas naman siya ng mukha at nanghihinang sumagot.
"Y-Yaoran..." he whispered.
"Do you have any children from Han?" tanong ko pa.
At nang itanong ko iyon sa kanya ay bigla nalang siyang sumambulat ng iyak. Atsaka siya mabilis na tumango.
"Forgive me, your highness!" he cried. "I was only taking orders from the Emperor of Han! Please, have mercy! I have children waiting for me to come home! "
Kaya nilingon ko ang nakatulala paring si Zhang Wei at galit na nagsalita.
"All of the men you're torturing inside this dungeon have families of their own. Someone out there is waiting for them to come home. Someone out there calls them "father," "brother," and "uncle." They are all humans. "
Wika ko. "Why can't you understand that?"
Nakita kong unti-unting bumalik ang lamig sa mukha niya bago siya sumagot.
"You're the one who can't understand this whole situation." He answered through gritted teeth. "You want to live in a fantasy that everything can be dealt with kindness. You said that you can't turn a blind eye to those who need you, but you're a fool. How can you feel sympathy for the man who almost killed you?"
"This is not sympathy." I answered back, and now we're both angry. "This is humanity!"
A smirk twitched into his lips, and I couldn't believe that he just did that.
Then his cold silver eyes looked intently into my face before speaking again.
"I guess I made a mistake of bringing a simple, naive, and stupid princess like you into this dungeon." He said with sarcasm. "I forgot that you haven't gone out of your perfect and rainbow-filled four-cornered room for you to understand what I was trying to say."
He just added fuel to my raging anger. Now I'm mad.
So, gusto niya talagang mag-away kami?
Okay, fine.
"And I almost forgot that you're nothing but a cold-hearted and selfish man who can't feel even an ounce of humanity in his heart." I said while trying to control my rage. "I also made a big mistake of staying in the palace with you."
That hit him hard.
I saw how those words slowly softened his cold face. Pero kaagad ding nawala iyon at napalitan ng galit.
At nagulat nalang ako nang bigla niyang marahas na hinila ang braso ko. Sa sobrang gulat ko ay nahintatakutan akong napatingin sa mukha niya.
"You're not thinking of leaving me, are you?" He asked through gritted teeth.
He's like a mad man.
Kitang-kita ko sa mga nanlalaking mga mata niya ang pinaghalong galit at...pagsusumamo?
"And why can't I?" sagot ko gamit ang nang-uuyam na ngiting iyon. "I'd rather die outside of the palace than stay with someone like you!"
Galit kong iwinaksi ang kamay niya na nakahawak sa braso ko at mabilis na tumalikod sa kanya. Atsaka ako naglakad paalis.
While he followed me with his eyes and called for me.
"Chin!" he roared. "Come back here, right this instant!"
Nilingon ko naman siya at galit na sinigawan.
"Gago! Hindi mo ako katulong!" I screamed with rage. "Mamatay ka na!"
"You—-!"
Pero mabilis na akong tumalikod at naglakad ulit paalis.
"Chin!" He roared, calling my name. "I command you to come back here! This is an order from your Emperor! Chin! "
"Magdusa ka!" sigaw ko pabalik.
At doon ay tuluyan na akong nakaalis.
To be continued...