Mischievous (adj.) - causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way.
Chapter 10: The Mischievous Emperor
Kiruna, West Border
"How did you do that?" Andrew asked me habang naglalakad kami papunta sa malaking castle na nasa gitna ng Kiruna kingdom. Emperor Axel remained silent ahead of us.
"Do what?" Nagtatakang tanong ko kay Andrew.
Every person stopped what they are doing para lumuhod kay Axel ng makita nila ang kanilang Emperor. They made a path for the Emperor habang iniiwasan ang tumingin sakanya. Nakayuko silang lahat at nakatingin sa sahig, trying their best not to look at Axel. I noticed some of them took a curious glance at me. Nang mapansin nila ang kumikinang na korona sa ulo ko, their eyes widen in surprise bago tumingin agad sa sahig.
"The way you fought those wolves, as if sanay ka ng lumaban. Nag-aral ka ba ng self-defense?" Andrew asked with his coal eyes piercing at me.
Now that he mentioned it, naalala ko ang pangyayari kanina. He was right, how the fuck did I fought those wolves? Pano ako bigla nagkaroon ng skills? Anong sumanib sakin at nakasurvive ako? Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyare sakin, para bang may kumontrol sa katawan ko. Maybe Lucy knows how to fight? But that's impossible, not even once humawak sya ng isang spada, let alone a bow and arrow. So, the question is, how did I know how to fight? I was silent for a minute, pinagiisipan ng maigi kung ano ang isasagot ko kay Andrew.
The only thing I remembered was the feeling of familiarity, like I did those before. Baka marunong naman talaga lumaban si lucy hindi lang sinabi sa novel? For now, at least I can protect myself, this is a good thing and useful in the future.
"To be honest, I don't know. My body moved on its own. Maybe dahil sa instinct? Adrenaline rush? I am not sure." Mahinang bulong ko. Nanatiling nakatingin sakin si Andrew ng ilang minuto bago ibinalik ang kanyang paningin sakanyang harapan.
"Empress Blair!" I stopped my horse ng biglang may sumigaw sa pangalan ko. Andrew along with the Emperor stopped their horses as well para tumingin sa taong papalapit sakin.
Oh, it was the guy we saved earlier.
"Imperial Empress Blair, I am the first ranked noble William Nilsson of Kiruna Kingdom. I would like to personally give my sincerely gratitude for saving our lives. I would like to invite the Imperial Empress to have some tea with us at para bigyan ka rin ng isang munting regalo for saving ou----"
Ibubuka ko sana ang bibig ko para sabihin na hindi lang ako ang nagligtas sakanila kundi si Andrew rin, pero hinarangan ako ni Axel bago pa man makalabas ang mga salitang gustong lumabas sa bibig ko.
"There's no need Sir Nilsson. I wil handle it from here. Your offer is not needed." Axel said with a smile, but his eyes is telling other wise. William frowned at the emeperor's words, clearly displeased, but wala syang magagawa against the Emperor kahit man sya ay itinuring na First ranked noble.
"As you wish, your majesty." He said through his gritted teeth.
Tumingin uli sya sa direksyon ko bago tumalikod samin at umalis. People turned their head to follow the noble. I have a bad feeling about this noble. Namention si william sa novel maybe twice pero yun lang yun. Sinabi lang na isang syang ranked noble and that's it. Walang sinabi kung ano ang ginawa nya or anything.
Tumahimik lang kaming dalawa ni andrew habang patuloy kami naglakad papunta sa malaking gate ng palace. I can see the color yellow armour of the knights guarding the gate. Yellow, the symbolic color of Kiruna Kingdom. Sa pagkakatanda ko, Kiruna is a place from Sweden.
"Ah ah ah, Andrew Andrew, what makes you think you can enter my castle again? The deal is done. Dinala mo si Empress Blair sakin and ibinigay ko ang bayad ko. You have no business here." Napatingin ako bigla kay andrew ng harangan sya ng mga guards ng palace. Emperor Axel is smirking at him.
Something flashed in Andrew's eyes before landing his gaze on me. 'Becareful' he mouthed at walang sabing umalis ng palace. Humigpit ang kapit ko sa dagger na ibinigay ni Andrew kanina at itinago sa hita ko. I am sure as hell na alam ni Axel na may nakatagong dagger sa hita ko. Axel was pleased with Andrew's choice bago ibinaling ang kanyang atensyon sakin.
"I hope my surprise made you happy Empress." He said with a grin. Binigyan ko sya ng masamang tingin. He laughs at me matapos nyang sumenyas sa mga maids.
"Welcome to the Kiruna Kingdom, Empress Blair." Butlers and Maids greeted me habang naglalakad kami ni Axel papunta sakanyang garden.
Isang table with two chairs under a big tree ang sumalubong samin sa garden. Axel, pretending to be a gentleman, hinila nya ang upuan para sakin. I rolled my eyes at him while he chuckled at my reaction bago umupo sa harapan ko. Agad lumapit ang mga maid saming dalawa para bigyan kami ng tea at tig isang slice of cake. Since maaga pa naman, almusal muna ang inihanda nila para sa amin.
"Look at them, the empress and the emperor! Oh heavens, bagay na bagay sila."
"Shhhh, you wag ka maingay baka marinig ka ng Emperor."
"Waah can you imagine being a Empress for such a young age?! Imagine mo lahat ng lalaking lumuluhod sayo!" My ears picked up the whispers between the maids. Emperor Axel noticed this as well and dismissed all of them immediately.
Bigla ako kinabahan the moment iniwan kami ng mga maid. Isang nakakabinging katahimikan ang pumalibot sa aming dalawa.
"Ah, women don't know how to use their mouth properly." Axel said with a chuckle before drinking his tea. I give him a look of confusion.
"Then what should we do with our mouth then?"
"Soon Empress, soon." Binigyan ko lang sya ng tingin na parang may sira sya sa ulo. After a minute biglang namula ang buong mukha ko ng marealize ko ang ibig nyang sabihin. Humalakhak naman ang emperor sa tabi ko ng napakalakas.
"Y-you! H-how dare you say those words to t-this Empress!" Sabi ko habang tinuturo ang daliri ko sakanya. Using my position against him, bigla ko tuloy naalala si Andrew. Napatahimik ako agad ng maalala ko sya. Damn, somehow I grow attached to that a-hole, itinuring ko syang isang kaibigan kaya medyo na miss ko sya agad.
"Jokes aside. You and I know why I am here Emperor Axel. I would like to have an alliance with Kiruna Kingdom. Pwede natin mapatibay ang transportation ng ating kingdom lalo na kilala ang Kiruna kingdom for it's tradi----" Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita ng ilagay nya ang kanyang daliri sa labi ko.
His finger brushing along with my lips. Namula ang buong mukha ko ng mapansin ko ag icing sa daliri nya at walang sabing inilagay nya ito sa bunganga nya. Napalunok ako ng sunod sunod while he gave me a seductive look. This fuckin Empero---
"Why don't we enjoy the moment? Hindi ka naman aalis agad. So, why in the rush with political stuffs? But kung gusto mo talaga magkaroon ng matibay na alliance ang kingdom natin..." Nanigas ako sa kinauupuan ko ng tumayo sya sa kinauupuan nya at pumanta sa likod ko, just like what he did at the ball and starts to play with my hair.
I can feel the heavy feeling inside my chest, like I am suffocating just being closer to him. Hindi ko gusto ang sobrang lapit ng katawan namin sa isa't isa, I prefer to have my own personal space. I can feel his hot breath, his hair brushing agaisnt my own.
"Marry me, Empress Blair." He whispered.
My eyes widen in surprise and found my strength to go away from him, my mind screaming danger. Tumayo ako malayo sakanya while trying to catch my breath. My mind searching for any reasons to avoid this possible marriage. Napangiti ako sa saya ng biglang may naalala ako.
"W-we can't. You have a fiance!" I said almost happily, but thankfully, I composed myself. Pero biglang nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko ng makita ko ang ngisi sa labi nya.
"That won't be a problem." He responded.
Nagtatakang tumingin ako sakanya, demanding for some answer. As if to prove his point, a butler is running towards us in a frantic manner. Ang gulo ng kanyang suot pati na rin ng kanyang itsura.
"Your majesty! Y-y-your fiance was found dead last night!"
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Author's note: Woah sorry kung hindi ako araw araw naguupdate. I think yung kakapuyat ko ang umaapekto sa pagiisip ko pati na rin sa schedule ng gising ko. Yup, wag kayo magpuyat kids, it's nt good with your health.
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