So this is the Holy Ground of the Imperial family.
I stood by the entrance while eyeing the scenery. This is not just an ordinary cemetery kung saan nakaratay ang ilang miyembro ng imperial family.
Sa flat ground ay makikita mo ang mga espadang nakatukod at nakatayo sa ibabaw ng puntod o katabi ng lapida. They must be soldiers, knights, or heroes that fight for the Empire back then.
It looks like a sword cemetery. It is too many to count while walking directly to where the imperial family was buried.
Different swords, different stories. Some of it was old, some are new.
Paakyat na sa burol nang magsimulang makita ko ang puntod ng mga taong may kinalaman sa bloodline ng mga Laquerriere. Nakakamanghang isipin na magmula nang mabuo ni Merchant de Lafayette ang Geissen Empire hanggang sa dulo ng Holy War ay nananatiling namumukadkad parin ang kasaysayan nito sa direktang pamumuno ng isang Laquerriere tulad ni Lafayette ay may kapangyarihan ding nagmumula sa isang demonyo. That is Fisk.
Nadaanan ko na ang malaking magkacrus na espadang gawa sa semento, a landmark of the first Emperor Merchant de Lafayette's tomb.
Beside him was Empress Phyfe.
Ilang puntod pa ng Emperors at natagpuan ko din ang nagiisang sadya ko sa lugar na ito.
Hindi namin siya nakita sa palasyo ng ilang araw dahil mukang wala din naman siyang balak na magpakita kaya ipinahanap ko siya kay Leviathan.
Tiningnan ko ang nakatarak na espada sa lupa wari bang nagumpisa pa lamang iyon na masira ng acid rain.
TO THE GLORY OF EMPEROR ODDYSEUS LAQUERRIERE, MAY HIS MAJESTY'S SOUL REST IN PEACE.
That's what was written on his tombstone na siyang tanging visible lang na nasa madamong lupa.
"It was his death anniversary. He was thirty when he died, and we're now of the same age. Time surely flies faster that I felt like it was just yesterday when he proposed to me..."
"Ruth..." Hindi ko alam kung paano palubagin ang loob ng isang taong nagluluksa rather than saying empty words.
Nakaupo lang siya sa lupa habang nakatalikod sa akin. Humakbang ako sa direksyon kung saan ang araw at hinarangan ko iyon gamit ang payong ko.
She finally look up at me.
"Have you not harmed anywhere? Is your body alright? Last time you spilled a secret you vomited blood and you almost die."
Her eyes are red and puffy.
"Your Majesty...I never doubted the things I did. I decided to hide for the sake of my son, natatakot ako na sa oras na malaman ng mga tao na isang commoner ang ina ng Crown Prince ay hihina ang suporta ng mga tao sa kanya, it might not just harm his position to the throne but his life as well. I want him to be safe under the current Emperor's wing, however, all of this was too much for my child. I always wanted to protect him, pero kahit saan ko tingnan ay mukang imposible iyon, cause he's the crown prince after all, the son of his father. A peaceful life would be impossible if enemies exist. So now I chose to fight."
Napangiti ako. It surprised me when I was informed that she is the mother of Odhran whom we all think died after giving birth, bali baliko na ang chismis na nakarating sa akin and I don't know which is which pero hindi na iyon mahalaga.
Ruth said she was totally fine. Before she hired the newspaper company herself, she approached Fisk to undo the spell that forbid her from telling her story, the chancellor did it to her. They must not like Ruth--Rayne Rutherford's background. I thought a commoner doesn't have a surname but it turns out that Ruth's father was once a Baron.
But how did Ruth know that Fisk could undo it? Kinikilabutan ako, nakakatakot na tao si Ruth.
"You cannot do this to me, Your Majesty! I am your wife, the mother of your one and only child!" Sigaw ni Lady Trinity Whitestone sa harapan ni Fisk habang prente lang na nakaupo sa trono niya ang Emperor. Beside him was me.
Nandito din sa loob ng throne hall ang tatlong chancellor, Lord Taylor Feudo, Lord Anthony Voltair, and Madame Aurora Vigante at maging si Ruth.
"Did the three of you bring this woman to neutralize my power?" Malamig na wika ni Fisk. He tilted his head, he looks bored but deadly.
Wow sana pala nagdala ako ng popcorn!
"No, your majesty!" They said in unison.
"W-we are still sane to do that, Your Majesty." The old Lord Feudo said.
The three of them look grand and mighty in front of me but a scarecrow in front of His Majesty.
"Only Duke Lauenstein would try that stupid stunt, Your Majesty." Madame Vigante said. Hindi siya nagpatinag sa nakakatakot na presensya ni Fisk, ito ata ang tinatawag nilang woman power.
"Duke Lauenstein is alive?" Lord Voltair shockingly asked. Iyan din sana ang gusto kong itanong kay Fisk but I'm too afraid to ask.
"Woman." Fisk's face darkened as he calls for Trinity's attention.
Naluluha at hindi makapaniwalang nagangat ng tingin si Trinity. Thumbs up ako sa lakas ng loob niyang tumayo sa harapan naming lahat, kung ako siya ay tumakbo na ako palabas kahit na gapangin ko pa ang pintuan at putulin pa ni Fisk ang paa ko. The atmosphere here is dark.
"You dared to step into this place when I sent you out silently years ago. I hope you enjoyed your time fooling around this time while I let you roam free."
"Your Majesty, I...you cannot do this to me. Sinabi mo sa akin na gagawin mo ulit akong Emp-"
"Pftt-it was fun playing with you. Do you think I'm still that naive and shallow boy you once knew? Now. Tell me who sent you or your head will be cut off in front of my people."
"Then do it." Nakakumos ang mga kamao na anas ni Trinity, she looks straight at us, nawala na ang nagpapaawang facade sa muka niya. Now her face shows arrogance and contempt.
That's a saintess y'all!
"I will tell the whole Empire what kind of demonic Emperor they have! The power of gods will bring your ruins Fisk Laquerriere! This dynasty finally has come to an end. How dare you threaten the messenger of the gods you lowly demon-!"
I gasped when her head exploded. Napatakip ako ng bibig sa sobrang pagkabigla.
"I should never let a cat play in my playground." Pinagpag niya ang kamay niya kahit wala naman siyang hinawakan.
"Have someone dispose of that body now. Or let them serve that in their gods' table." He ordered.
Namutla ang tatlong matatanda na kulang nalang ay himatayin. Maybe this was also Fisk warning not to go against him. Ruth looks like nothing happened but who knows how shocked she must be inside para sinukin siya ng ganun.
Isang kamay ang humawak sa baba ko at iniharap ang muka ko sa kanya.
"Don't be afraid. I will not hurt you as long as you are mine." Ngumiti siya na hindi abot hanggang taenga.
Darn, this psycho!
Maling desisyon na napalapit ako sa kanya. Malalagutan ata ako ng hininga, pakiramdam ko maiihi na ako panloob ko.
Nanlaki ang mata ko nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. Hindi ko iyon mahugot pabalik not because Im afraid that he's gonna kill me but the fact that he seems calm, nagawa pa niyang sumandal sa kinauupuan niya.
"I don't know how you did it but every time you're near like this, everything falls at peace." The back of my hand now is on his cheek as he gently stares at me, pakiramdam ko nagiinit ang pisngi ko ngayon mabilis na nagiwas ako tingin. Ilang beses ko ng narinig sa kanya yan but still I don't understand what he meant by that.
"Aherm! Excuse us your majesty, Emperor and Empress. We know that this ain't the right time to bring this up but we will take this opportunity." Madame Aurora said that made me flinch. Nandyan pa pala sila while we're acting here like a teenage couple.
Servants and a few knights are even helping each other clean the mess caused by lady Trinity Whitestone.
"What is it?" Fisk makes everyone lower than him cower in fear.
"The throne will be passed to the Crown Prince when his highness is ready to rule the empire, however, your majesty also needs to have a child of your own for the sake of the Imperial family's bloodline." Madame Aurora continued.
"And you're saying that?" Fisk's hollowed voice can petrify us but the elders are just strong to counter him.
"We are suggesting you have a concubine because the current Empress could not fully perform her duty as your wife for she is infertile." Lord Taylor said in front of my face without any excuse that he could have hurt my feeling.
Napakuyom ako ng kamao. Kung kailan nakukuha ko na ang loob ni Fisk ay saka naman makikiapid sa relasyon namin ang matatandang ito.
Nagyuko ang ng ulo dahil ayaw kong makita nila kung gaano ako naiinis sa sitwasyong ito. Ramdam ko din ang dugo sa ibabang labi na hindi sinadyang nakagat ko.
Fine. If the Emperor is to agree atleast I still have the chance to be his wife, that's not a bad thing, dahil una palang ay wala akong balak na dalhin ang anak ni Fisk, how lucky could I get when I am infertile? But somehow my heart aches with the thought of knowing that my husband is sleeping with another woman and it is legally allowed so I have no reason to kill his second wife.
Haa... I don't understand Pfeiffer's body anymore. Puwede bang makisama amg nararamdaman siya sa iniisip ko cause right now my body and soul are still fighting kung sino ba ang karapatdapat na mananaig.
"I won't agree to that. Nothing will happen to the crown prince or to the family he plans to build in the future under my roof. Unless someone tries to harm him."
I look up at him. Nabuhayan.
Pinisil niya ang kamay ko saka tipid na ngumiti.
"I'm only yours." Bulong niya. Napahampas ko tuloy ang balikat niya out of embarrassment.
No way.
I think this bastard is really gay.