"Who is that?"
The Emperor asked the Prime Minister habang nakaturo sa isang dalaga na nakablue chinese long dress.
"That, I think, is the niece of General Hans."
Napatingin ang Emperor sa kanya.
"You mean that kidnapped niece of her?"
Tumango ang Prime Minister at tiningnan din ang dalaga. Somehow, she reminds him of his daughter, Samantha.
"No wonder she was kidnapped. Look at that beauty."
When the Second wife heard that ay napasimangot siya. If that girl will be the Emperor's wife, it will be outrageous. However, wala namang reaksyon ang Empress. Ngayon pa ba siya magrereact eh nakaapat na nga na asawa ang Emperor eh.
"Let's go there."
"What are you planning, Your Highness?"
"Masyado ka namang mapagduda, Seigfried. I just want to talk to General Hans and his niece."
Tumayo ang Emperor at sinundan naman siya ng Prime Minister. Hindi masamang tao ang Emperor but he has weakness with beauties.
"Your highness..." Bati sa kanya ni General Hans. The rest of his family gave respect to him too.
"Ease up, Francis."
Saka lang tumayo ng ayos si Francis at hinarap ulit ang Emperor. It surprised him na nilapitan siya nito.
"How are you doing lately, Francis?"
"Never better, Your highness."
"I heard you have finally found your niece."
"Yes, your highness. Utang ng pamilya namin ang pagkakaligtas ng pamangkin ko kay Madam Serafina."
"Serafina?"
Saka naman ikinuwento ni Francis ang nangyari noon.
However, Emy was not feeling good about it.
Tumawa ng malakas ang Emperor. "Serafina has really that kind heart." Then he walked more hanggang sa nasa harapan na siya ni Emy.
Agad namang tumayo ang dalaga at tumungo. "Your highness..."
Ngumiti ang Emperor atsaka sinuri sa malapitan ang dalaga. She was really eyecatching.
Inilahad niya ang palad niya at dahan dahan na inabot ni Emy ang kamay niya dito.
The Emperor caressed her hand.
"What is your name?"
"Your highness, my name is Emerald Hans."
"Your name suited you. Is it true na galing ka ng Royal City?"
Tumango si Emy.
"No wonder you are so regal." Saka tumawa ang Emperor. "Say, Emerald, do you have a boyfriend?"
Umiling ang dalaga.
The Emperor happily tapped her hand. "Good, good... My second son, Vio, is also single. How about you date this son of mine?"
Literal na napanganga lahat ng nakarinig noon.
Then they looked at Diana. Alam ng lahat na nobya siya ni Prince Vio.
But this matchmaking of the Emperor is like a slap for her. And what's more, si Emy pa talaga.
Emy looked at Diana too. As much as she liked to see that look in her face, she can't just let herself be matchmade with Prince Vio.
"Your highness, I am just a mere commoner. I don't deserve your valiant son."
The Emperor laughed again. He could tell that the girl is intelligent.
"Give my son a chance, Emerald. He is not bad himself, you know." Saka tinawag nito si Vio na agad namang lumapit sa kanya. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Diana.
"Emerald, this is my son, Vio. Vio, this is Emerald. I like her. Do your best in winning her heart." The Emperor even transferred her hand on Vio's saka sila iniwan sa ganoong awkward na sitwasyon.
Agad namang binawi ni Emy ang kamay niya.
"Forgive my father. He must have too much to drink already." Vio told her.
She just nodded saka naupo. Tch. These royalties are giving her headache.
***
But that was not just simply an effect of alcohol for the Emperor dahil kinabukasan ay nagpadala ito ng imbitasyon sa kanya para pumunta sa palasyo.
Hindi gusto ni Feng ang nais na mangyari ng Emperor. Para sa kanya ay bata pa ang dalaga para mag-asawa.
"Francis, gawan mo ng paraan ito."
"Sinabi ko na kasi sa inyo eh. Emy should just wear simple clothes." Sabi naman ni Franco.
"Baka naman gusto lang ng Emperor na magkakilala ang dalawa. Malay niyo naman ay compatible pala sila Emy at ang Prinsipe na iyon." Sabi naman ni Shin.
Napailin si Francis. "No, Shin. That place is too difficult to live in. Kahit ako ay hindi ko hahayaang mapunta si Emy sa lugar na iyon."
"Then what should we do?" Tanong ni Shelly na nagpatahimik sa kanila.
Wala silang maisip na solusyon sa problemang ito. Kakatapos lang ng isang problema ni Emy ay may dumating na naman.
Bigla namang pumasok sa great hall si Emy. Nakabihis ito.
"Pupunta ka, Emy?" Alalang tanong ni Feng sa dalaga.
"This is the wisest thing to do, Aunty. I won't let the family to be compromised ng dahil lang sa akin. Don't worry, I will be back as soon as I can."
Nagpaalam na siya sa mga nakakatanda at saka lumabas na. She rode the carriage that brought her to the palace.
Pagdating doon ay sinalubong siya ng Second wife ng Emperor. Siya ang nanay ni Prince Vio at ng youngest prince.
"Oh, I am glad you came." She even tapped her cheeks gently. "The Emperor is ecstatic to have you. Even Vio prepared to meet you today."
She just smiled at her gently. Inakay siya nito sa isang garden kung nasaan ang buong pamilya ng Emperor.
There are four tables there. The first one was occupied by the Empress and the Emperor. Katabi noon ay ang mesang inookupa ng second family. Yung ikatlo ay kung nasaan ang kambal na prinsipe. At ang huling mesa ay mag-isang inookupa ni Serafina.
When they met each other's gaze, agad siya nitong nginitian. Ginantihan naman niya iyon agad.
Nang makita iyong ng Second wife ay agad niyang kinuha ang atensyon ng dalaga. Kinausap siya nito hanggang sa makarating sila mesa ng Emperor.
"Ah, Emerald."
Nagbigay galang naman agad si Emy. Tapos ay inabot ng Emperor ang kamay niya.
"Mabuti at nakapunta ka."
"I won't ignore an invite from your highness."
The Empress was observing her at hindi nito mapigilang mapahanga. The way Emy answered the Emperor is very intelligent. Very careful and yet very intelligent. No wonder the Emperor was fond of her.
"Your highness, please let me give respect to Madam Serafina. I respect all of the Emperor's wife but she has special space in my heart as she saved my life."
"Go on. Serafina must be feeling lonely now, especially that Sebastian is not around."
"Thank you, your highness."
Agad naman niyang nilapitan si Serafina na mukhang nagulat pa. She asked for her hand na agad naman nitong ibinigay sa kanya. She kissed the back of her hand as respect to her.
"Silly girl, you don't have to pay me respect this way. I am feeling old." Then Serafina was laughed. She was happy. Just a simple acknowledgement from Emy will be fine for her. Pero nirequest pa talaga nito sa Emperor na kung maaari siyang magbigay galang sa kanya. That touched her heart.
She pulled Emy close for a hug.
"Thank you, dear. Sayang at wala si Sebastian dito."
Nginitian nya ang dalaga bago ito pinakawalan.
***
Emy and Prince Vio was walking in the garden. The royal family are just behind them and watching them quietly.
"Seigfried..." Tawag ng Emperor sa Prime Minister na agad namang lumapit.
"Yes, your highness?"
"What to do, Seigfried? My son is too stiff. How can he get Emerald's heart this way?"
Napangiti ang Empress. The Emperor was being silly again.
"Your highness, Vio is just being gentleman."
"Yes, yes... Too gentlemanly. That won't work for the likes of her."
Napahinga ng malalim si Seigfried. The Emperor is really impossible sometimes.
Hinayaan niya na lang itong mag-isip.
But it was a wrong move. The Emperor's idea was a bit twisted.
His eyes landed on the dog na hawak ng tauhan niya. Agad niya itong tinawag at saka nila pinakawalan ang aso.
It started to run towards the direction of the two. Napansin naman agad yun ni Vio kaya he grabbed Emy by instinct and got her out of the dog's way.
Nagulat naman si Emy dahil doon. How come there's a dog there?
"Are you okay?" Vio asked her.
Tumango siya dito.
Then they heard a dog's whimpered. Pareho silang napatingin sa unahan nila at doon nila nakita si Sebastian na binalian ng leeg ang aso.
Agad namang tumibok ang puso ni Emy lalo na ng magtapo ang kanilang mga mata.
Pero agad ding nagbawi ang binata saka tumayo.
Agad na lumayo si Emy kay Vio at umayos ng tayo. Sakto namang sa gilid niya dumaan si Sebastian papunta sa kinaroroonan ng Emperor. Pero ni hindi na siya nito ulit tiningnan.
That made Emy irritated. Wow ha? Bakit siya pa ang may ganang magalit?
"Father..." Sabi ni Sebastian saka nagbigay galang sa ama niya.
"You've gone too long. You surely made your mother longed for you."
"My mother knows about my mission, Father."
"Oh well, did you bring me some news?"
"I'll discuss it to you after lunch."
Tumango ang Emperor saka siya umalis at pinuntahan ang Mama niya.
Serafina hugged her son. But she could tell that it wasn't her whom he wants to see.
The Emperor called out the two saka sila nag-umpisa ng kumain.
"Emerald, you seem to be a talented lady. How about playing us a qin after lunch?" Sabi ng Second wife.
"Ah, actually, I don't how to play a qin. Wala po kasing ganun sa Royal City."
"Then what are your talents? How about painting? Or poetry?" Tanong naman ng Empress.
Nakangiting umiling si Emy. "Neither of them, your highness. But I am quite good in chess."
Tumawa naman ng malakas ang Emperor.
"What a fortune. We can test your chess skill later with this Emperor."
***
After lunch ay naglaro nga sila ng chess ng Emperor. Alam ni Emy na maalam din magchess ang Empress kaya nanood ito sa kanila.
The Emperor was quite funny. Hindi nga inaasahan ni Emy yun eh. Kundi lang siya nito minamatchmake kay Prince Vio.
The Empress could tell na hindi lang magaling si Emy sa chess. She was very skilled pa doon. One said that when you are skilled in chess then you are also good in war strategies.
However, Emy was just playing for fun right now.
Nang minsang macorner nya ang piece ng Emperor, imbis na kainin niya iyon ay minove niya ang iba niyang piece.
Parehas na natawa ang Emperor at Empress dahil doon.
"Wise girl..." Puri sa kanya ng Emperor. Dahil doon ay napatawa na rin siya.
Sa dulong mesa naman ay nakabusangot ang mukha ni Sebastian.
"Hay, ang daya. Bakit si Vio lang ang hinanapan ng Emperor ng mapapangasawa? We need wife too." Sabi ni Tirso.
"Kaya nga eh." Sang-ayon naman ng kambal niya na si Zirco. Tapos ay tumingin ito sa kanya. "Say, Sebastian, madamin bang babae sa pinanggalingan mo?"
Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang mga ito.
Napailing na lang si Serafin habang nakangiti sabay sabi na, "A jealous heart is the hardest to control."
***