Season 1
Chapter 18
A smile escaping from my lips, a smirk rose. I hummed as I brush my ebony hair in front of the mirror.
I am in a good mood, I noticed. It has been long since I had my share of fun. Sa tingin ko ay unti-unti na ring bumabalik ang aking mga emosyon. I do not know if it is a good thing or not but this feeling is not bad.
“Are you still thinking about it again, my lady?” Blankong tumingin sa akin si Hilda gamit ang salamin.
“Thinking about what?”
“The night from the other day at the palace with the crown prince.” I let out a chuckle.
She has it figured out. I guess I did not have to hide it.
“How did you know?” Sumingkit ang aking mga mata.
“You are in a good mood.” I stopped. I bit my lip.
“It is that obvious?” I put the brush inside the drawer. Bumuntong-hininga ako at napapikit. I leaned on the chair. I glanced at her. “His face was really enjoyable. It was a shame, though. Hindi ko nakita ang mala-bathala niyang mukha na may mga luha.” My fingers traced my lips. Naroroon pa rin ang aking ngisi. I licked my upper lip.
“Do you enjoy pleasure from others’ pain, my lady?” Kuryoso niyang tanong. She tilted her head. I did the same and snorted. Her brows creased.
“Hindi ko alam.” I gave her a meaningful smile. She let out a sigh.
Is she not the same? Hindi ba siya nakararamdam ng saya sa pagpapatay?
Napanguso ako sa naisip.
Am I wrong? I guess I am.
“But that was really entertaining, my lady. A man in shame because of a woman.” She nodded and snorted. Napangisi pa siya.
“Hilda...” I blurted out. My eyes squinted at her. She just gave me an innocent look. Napailing ako. I closed my eyes as I recalled what happened that night.
Agad siyang napatayo. Hindi mawala ang aking ngiti sa kanyang reaksiyon. He covered his reddening face.
It was useless, though.
Halata rin namang nahihiya siya dahil pula rin ang kanyang mga tainga.
I softly chuckled.
“W-Why would I like you? You’re delusional! Hindi kita gusto.” His teary, red eyes avoided my face. “This is ridiculous!” Napasinghal siya. He turned around and was about to walk away.
“Saan ka pupunta, mahal na prinsipe?” Panunuya ko.
“I don’t want to see you. Pupunta ako sa lugar na walang babae.” Sumingkit ang aking mga mata. Kumunot ng kaunti ang aking noo. Napangisi ako. My face rested on my hand.
“Your Highness, if I may ask and not to offend you, do you fancy men instead?” He turned to me with a creasing forehead. I saw how he gritted his teeth. Tinangay ng hangin ang kanyang berdeng buhok. My lips parted.
This image... is adorable.
“W-What? Damn, no!” Asik niya. I mentally snorted. I bit my upper lip.
“Your---”
“Shut up! L-Leave me alone. I don’t want to engage with some nonsense chats.” Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kanyang mga labing kinakagat niya. His lips are so red. How he bit it is seductive. Napapikit ako upang hindi iyon matingnan. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.
“Then, I will see you again, Your Highness.” I stood up and bowed. I clicked the heel of my shoe. Isang sulyap sa akin bago ako tinalikuran.
“Whatever.” He walked out. I decided to stay a bit outside for a little longer. My gaze went up to the moon.
He really is different from the Rionsky I know. Had I wished he stayed for a little longer.
I blinked. Nilunok ko ang sariling laway.
“There may be some other time, though. Pakiramdam ko ay magkikita ulit kami ng unang prinsipe.” Mahina kong sambit.
“Good luck, my lady.” Hilda said before leaving. Humiga ako sa aking kama.
I feel tired and restless at the same time. What is wrong with me?
Hindi ako lumabas ng ilang araw. Pinaligiran ako ng mga libro at nagbasa lamang dahil hindi ako makatulog.
Of course, I did some things to entertain myself. I even added the hours of training regimen for my satisfaction but it was not enough. It felt like something was not right.
I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. Pagod ang aking mga mata.
Who would not? I spent my time from reading books until I got used to it. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bigla na lamang akong mahihilo o mawawalan ng malay.
“My lady, may panauhan ka.” Hindi ko napansin na nakaloob si Hilda. Hindi ko narinig ang katok niya sa pintuan. I think I just slept for a moment there.
“Sino?” I asked, not opening my eyes. I yawned. Water from my eyes came out.
I should sleep after this.
“Gideon from House Filleno.” Kumunot ang aking noo.
“Filleno? Count?” Walang interes kong sagot.
“Yes, my lady.”
“Ano namang sinabi niya kung bakit siya naparito?” I moved my head from the right. Napahawak ako sa aking leeg.
It hurts from all the reading I did.
“He wishes to speak to you. Sa tingin ko ay nais niya lang na gawin kang isa sa kanyang mga babae. He probably wants more admirers. My lady is one of them.” Minasahe ko ang aking noo.
“Mmm? I was sure to reject him back then.” Bumuntong-hininga ako. “He is persistent.”
“Should we let him in or turn him away?” I slowly shook my head.
“The latter. No need to inform me if he do comes again.” Hilda did not inform me of the recent visits of Gideon after my order but I know he still comes almost everyday. Naririnig ko ang mga tsismis ng mga katulong patungkol sa kanya.
It just makes it more annoying. I know he intends to play with me. Alam ko rin ang naitagong rason kung bakit pilit niya akong binibisita.
Marahas akong bumuntong-hininga.
“Lady Arisia!” A voice out of nowhere as soon as I came out of the carriage. It was Gideon with his flirty smile. Tinignan ko siya. I blinked twice.
I should have come with a normal carriage, not the ones with our family crest, two swords and an eagle.
My lips pressed.
“Sir Gideon.” I hid my uninterested tone. He smiled and kissed the back of my hand without a warning. Napapitlag ako ng kaunti.
Again. He is being informal by being touchy.
Binawi ko ang aking kamay.
I do not want any rumors regarding me being one of this womanizer’s toy.
“I am glad to see you here. I went to your estate a few times to hang out with you but you seem busy.” I mentally snorted.
“Indeed. I did not want any disturbances that time.” Ngumiti ako. Sumingkit ang aking mga mata.
Meaning, I hope he will leave me alone.
“I see, but it seems like you have a vacant time this day, lady Arisia. Care to spend your time with me?” He said in a sexy manner. I hid my teeth in gritting.
Is this womanizer testing my patience?
Napabuntong-hininga ako at tinignan siya sa kanyang mga mata.
“Only for an hour. Kailangan kong umuwi agad at may gagawin pa akong importante.”
“An hour is enough. Isang karangalan na makasama ng kahit isang segundo ang isang magandang dalaga.” He complimented, yet again.
“Thank you, Sir.” Hinawi ko ang aking buhok. Sinimulan kong maglakad paloob sa librarya ng sentro. Countless stares were attended at us as I went upstairs again. Gideon is following from beside. I did not let him be my escort.
“Gideon, lady Arisia.”
“Okay, Gideon.” Tinanguan ko na lamang siya at hindi tinuunan ng pansin. I leaned at the large shelf when I pulled a book and opened it. Tinakpan ko ang aking mukha dahil sa titig niya sa akin.
“When we met that night, my lady, you seem to know the crown prince from before.” I bit my lower lip of what he is initiating.
There it is, his motive.
“We met through coincidence a few times.” Simple kong sagot.
“Mmm?” He seemed not to believe it. I can feel his uncertainty. “Do you fancy His Highness, lady?” My eyes glued on the words from the book. Hindi ako makabasa ng husto dahil sa kanya.
“No. Why do you say?” I retorted.
“I see. I thought for sure that you like him.” He softly chuckled. Kumunot ang aking noo.
“I do hold an interest for the crown prince, though.”
“Hindi ba iyon magkaparehas?” I closed the book I am trying to read. His amber eyes met mine.
Alam kong sa loob noon ay mga matatalim na tingin.
I avoided his gaze first.
“It is not. Please do not misunderstand.”
“That is good, then, lady Arisia. If you really like him, it might be difficult for you.” Napangisi ako at kaunting napasinghal sa kanyang mga sinabi.
“Ano ang ibig mong iparating, Gideon?”
“Lady Ruvia from house Estevan got her engagement with the second prince voided. Sikreto pa ito sa publiko ngunit sa ilang mga araw ay malalaman din ito ng lahat.” Napunta ang aking daliri sa aking mga labi. Napaisip ako.
As he says, this might be the right timeline where Heiden speaks of the breaking of engagement with his father. It seems like the story is still in its path, I see.
“You do know that you are claiming such things.”
“Ngunit totoo iyon.” Ngumiti siya. Bumaba ang aking tingin.
He is not lying, I can see that.
“When did it broke?” His smile formed a smirk. It looked seductive.
“It was the second prince, he announced it in front of the royal family. Saktong narinig ko lang mula sa unang prinsipe.” Napatango ako.
As I expected.
“Oh, why did he do it?” Kuryoso kong tanong upang hindi siyang maghalata na alam ko na ang mga nangyari.
“It’s still a mystery. I think he likes another woman. He did not say it, though, so I am not sure.” He shrugged.
“I see. Ang ibig mong iparating sa akin ay may tsansang mapili ako upang maging kabiyak ng pangalawang prinsipe, hindi ba?” I thought it was just something trivial of what he wants to tell me. It seems like he also wants to tell me that. Nais niya bang sabihin na huwag ko nang abalahin pa ang unang prinsipe?
Napangisi.
Honestly, that was the only conclusion. Alam kong iyon ang nais niyang iparating sa akin. Indirect and direct at the same, how versatile.
“Lady Arisia is on point. You are quick-witted.” Tumango siya.
“It was just easy. Even kids can be quick to uptake it.” My brow rosed.
“If you say so, lady. So, what do you think?” He tilted his head.
“Aside from me from the noble faction, there are also a few promising ladies out there. It is not just me. I also just appeared a few months ago but that does not mean that I am exempted. I assume one of us will be announced as the second prince’s betrothed in a few weeks, or even days.” Truthfully, I am confident that I might be chosen as the second prince’s betrothed. The only thing is that I have not showed my face to the queen yet, I did not even showed an ounce of elegancy and intelligence to her. Considering that there are also good ladies out there, mukhang matatagalan pa bago makapili ng bagong mapapangasawa ang reyna para sa pangalawang prinsipe.
“I think lady Arisia is the best, though.” From what I still remember, Heiden did not have a fiancee after Ruvia so it will be impossible that there is a next. Kung mayroon man ay papatayin niya lamang ito.
“We do not know that. Wala pa naman sa aking plano ang maikasal.” Umiling ako. I pursed my lips.
“Is that so? But you should also know it, what you want is not always granted, lady Arisia. Paalam, magandang dilag.” He smiled a meaningful one. My face darkened of what he said. He excused himself after our minute of silence and dark atmosphere. Lumapit sa akin si Hilda at Davidron. They gave me a concerned look.
“Milady, I think you should refrain from getting involved with him.” Davidron said. I nodded and gave him a smile to assure that it is alright.
“Thank you, Davidron. I will do that.” Hindi nawala ang pag-aalala niya. He glared at Davidron who has his back facing at us. Marahan akong napasinghal.
His intuition never fails to impress me.
“It’s not just him. Pinapag-alala mo ako. You are surrounded by dangerous people.” Napapikit ako at bumuntong-hininga.
He also noticed them. I know Hilda did, too.
“If danger arises, I can trust my back on you. You know that.” He nodded and gave me a determined look.
Risk after a warning, my father called me in his office. My heartbeat ran a bit fast.
I am having a bad feeling about it.
Father’s darkened face greeted me as soon as I arrived. He had a more serious expression than before.
Is it that serious?.
Binasa ko ang aking mga labi.
“Your engagement with duke Kallon has gone astray, Arisia. The king has talked to me.” Sumeryoso ako. I sat on the sofa.
It is more serious than I thought. Alam kong may posibilidad na ako ang mapipili pero handa na ako na marinig ito. “You will marry the second Prince soon.” I clenched my jaw. Napangisi ako sa mga nangyayari.
This is getting out of hand. How crazy.