AUTHOR: Kamisato Yula / Ame Kiten
GENRE: Romance (mainly), Historical Fiction (Medieval)
WATTY: kittsun_07
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CHAPTER 1:
Paroo’t parito ang tingin ko sa tilaan ng nilalaman ng tatlong aklat na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng lamesa. Marahan ko agad na minasahe ang noo sapagkat unti-unti na itong sumasakit. Pilit ko itong binasa ng maigi at napabuntong-hininga na lamang na puno ng dismaya.
Isahan kong isinara ang mga aklat.
“Fate… must not be with me today.” I mumbled.
“I crave your pardon,” asked Lady Dean.
I shook my head and forced my lips to arch upwards. “‘Tis of no importance.” Tugon ko sa kaniya.
This is the third house we have been to and still no signs of the one I am looking for. Shall I take my leave for the day? Should the crowned prince find out how I am able to stealthily travel from one house to another and he might get rid of the ladies. Anything but that.
“Halika na’t bumalik na tayo.” Palihim kong alok sa kasama at sumang-ayon naman ito.
Tanging siya lamang ang dapat na makarinig sa aking nakapagsasalita ng ganitong wika.
May kalakihan ang bahay na ito kung kaya’y matatagalan pa bago kami tuluyang makalalabas. Pagkatapos ng ilang ‘di nabibilang liko, matatanaw na mula sa aming kinatatayuan ang makukulay na mga halaman. Masasabing napakadedikado ng may bahay kung gawing basehan ang munting harding ito.
Bago kami makarating sa entrada ay may nagsimulang magsalita.
“Has her royal highness been here? You may prevaricate as you like. Consequences await the fool.” Pagmando ng pamilyar na boses.
Ganoon ba kadaling matukoy na nawala ang presensya ko sa palasyo? Kung gayon ay wala nang rason para magtago pa.
“Forgive me, your highness.” Said Lady Dean before grabbing me by the hand. Then, dragging me behind her.
“Ah–” Hindi pa nakapagsasalita ang alalay at pinutol na ito.
It took the lady a second before deciding to finally reveal herself from behind the pillar. She stood firm and held her chin high.
“Pardon my rudeness, but allow me to ask. What has happened that it led the prince’s pet to the house of a mere countess?” Raising a brow as she brazenly uttered those words.
The prince’s “pet,” as she had called him, let out a scoff and grinned.
“A mere countess, you say?” He reiterated. “‘Twas but the wrong question. What does the princess’ lady-in-waiting have in her plate for her to come back to the household this early in the morning?”
Walang kahahantungan ang usapang ito. Sa sandaling magpalitan ang dalawa ay pawang walang kwentang mga salita lamang ang lalabas sa kanilang mga bibig.
Kinakailangan ko na atang ipakita ang sarili bago lumala ang sitwasyon. But that would be too clichéd even for a royal like myself. I would like to steer out of trouble, at most.
‘Ah, how lucky.’
Nakaharap sa direksiyon ko ang alalay na kakausap sana sa guwardiyang kararating. Sinenyasan ko ito at pilit niyang hindi ipinahahalatang nakatingin sa direksiyon ko. Itinuro ko ang sarili at ang likuran, ipinapahiwatig na dadaan ako sa likod.
How I hope she understood what I have intended to say.
“Rapacious woman, just tell me where you hid her highness!” Bulyaw ng guwardiya.
“Where did that come from? Oh, the conventional image you oafs have of our job being having to collect money from people. How ironic for someone as miserly as you are! You better stay out of my sight the soonest you leave!”
Nagsisigawan na ang dalawa. Ngayon ang tamang oras upang makalayo.
Malawak man ang mansyon subalit pamilyado ako sa lugar. Dati pa man ay malapit ko nang kaibigan si Kondesa Dean, ang ngayo’y nagmamay-ari ng lupa. Ngayong alam ko ang direksiyong patutunguhan, ang natitirang problema na lamang ay ang hitsura ko.
Sa kahariang ito, tanging ang mga nasa angkan ng maharlikang dugo ang may karapatang sumuot ng asul na tela sa baywang. Sila lang din ang mayroong ganitong uri ng itim na buhok, lahat ng mga mamamayan naman ay may iba’t ibang kulay.
The hair color thing, as unreal as it sounds, does not only apply to this kingdom but has happened across the globe. Only we, who are part of the royal bloodline of Ignosi Kingdom have this shade of black. That is why sneaking out is not easy a job.
Ang kapang ginamit ko papunta rito ay nakahandusay sa kabilang dako ng mansyon. Kung nanaisin ko itong makuha ay mapipilitan akong dumaan sa iniiwasang pasilyong nasa harap ng entrada.
Wala na akong oras pang isa-isahin ang mga kwarto para humanap ng pantabon.
My mind was already in a rush. I couldn’t help but want to escape from the grasp of the crowned prince for he might forbid me from getting out. Worse, he can force it by royal decree the moment he becomes King.
No, he isn’t usually like this. He is only… shall I say, over-protective.
Tuluyan akong nakalabas sa lugar na iyon. Mabuti naman at walang katao-tao rito ngayong madaling araw.
“Now, shall I go home in secret or should I contact Lady Giselle?” I muttered to myself.
What can I say, it becomes a habit once you get used to having nobody listen to one’s ramblings.
“Neither. You will get caught in the process of either. However, I shall be able to give you a hand with the former.”
A voice out of nowhere answered. Forcing me to look to my right. He isn’t wearing his metal armor but he was obviously one.
A knight.
Rather, it looks to me that he is another of the prince’s men. He must have went...

here with General Meyer, the man Countess Dean was last seen to be arguing with.
He took out a coat he seemed to have already prepared in advance and wrapped it around me. There is also a hat that goes along with it. Was he waiting for my appearance?
No, before that… What is he doing to the princess? This is no way to speak and act in front of a noble you are not acquainted to. Moreover, a royalty.
“Forgive my speaking unmannerly. Yes, I was waiting for her royal highness.” Saad niyang muli.
Maaari bang… naririnig niya ang aking isipan?
Sa kaalaman ko ay hindi iyan magkatotoo. Nahubog na ba ang kakayahan ng mga taong mag-isip? Kung mayroon siyang kapangyarihan, dapat ay parte siya ng pamilya ng hari sa kadahilanang nakalalamang siya sa lahat.
He stopped midway from doing my cape. Trying to contain one’s own laughter, he grinned. Until he could not any longer.
“Ha… Pardon… my being… unconventional.” Catching his breath at every break.
So he is aware.
“Woo! That was the best I have had since starting this job.” Exclaimed the weird man as he continued wiping his tears.
Whoever cries when they are laughing? What a strange fellow.
I pushed him away and took the cap from his left arm. I tucked the coat myself and wore the hat. Shaking off the places this unknown man has touched.
I looked at him whilst raising a brow. Showing no plans of removing him from my suspicion list.
“You are not supposed to touch someone who sees you a complete stranger.”
“Oh, right. I am called Jay, one of the prince’s most trusted. Your highness might wonder why I am standing before you whilst the general being at the front door. This is a story only the prince can help you understand. Will you come with me?” He lowered his head and reached out his hand as he asked.
Hm… Still suspicious.
“What if I refuse and throw a fit?”
“You would not. I was told that her royal highness is highly intelligent. It is only right to assume that once you have been caught, there is no more reason to hide. Throwing a fit is out of the question for you are not the type to do so.”
This sire is surprisingly clever although not looking like it. He even figured what I had wanted to tell earlier. What stunned me most is the fact that he is bold enough to clap back to me so casually.
Ni hindi ko maunawaan kung bakit wala akong nararamdamang inis sa ugali niyang iyan. Sa halip… Hindi ko na lamang babanggitin. Epekto kaya ito ng parating pagkatutok sa trabaho kung saan pare-parehong tao ang aking nakakasalamuha?
I reached for his fingers.
“Hold your head high. I am not used to having someone bow down to me.” I demanded.
“How humble of her highness. As expected of the prince’s sibling. But is it not the part of the daily life of a royalty to be bowed down upon?” He asked one more time, tone filled with genuinity.
“Exactly why I found it so taxing.” I mumbled.
Marahan itong tumawa bago tumigil sa harap ng pulang karwahe. Nauna akong sumakay rito at isinara niya naman ang pinto. Mukhang siya ang magmamaneho nito.
Come to think of it, how should I address him? It is rude to call him by his name. The same applies to using pronouns. He is a knight, should I just call him “Sir”?
Oh, then if he is a general of some sort, he might find it offending. I should read the latest record of the country’s knights.
Nakabibinging katahimikan ang nakapalibot sa buong biyahe. Binabawi ko ang pagkagalak na naramdaman kanina. Napakaaga na ba nang alas-singko at wala pa ring nag-iingay sa daan?
Hindi nagtagal at nakarating na kami sa palasyo. Sa harap ng palasyo, bakit ba kami nasa entrada ng palasyo? Akala ko ba ay napagkasunduan naming patago akong ipapapasok papunta ng aking silid?
Pagbukas ng pinto ay bumati sa akin ang nakangiting ekspresyon sa mukha ng guwardiya. Isang sinungaling. Napairap ang tingin ko rito.
“Sir Jay, must you feel the need to lie in exchange for your loyalty to the prince? In case you have forgotten, I am the princess of this palace. With this you might have commi–” Napalalim ang boses ko sa sobrang inis.
Still having not wiped off that cheeky grin on his face. “Oh, but there is no one waiting for her royal highness’ sudden arrival. Is that not enough a secret?” Walang hiyang tugon nito.
Hindi ko lubos na maunawaan. Saan ba nanggaling ang lakas ng loob niya para putulin ako habang nagsasalita? Nagsinungaling pa ito sa harap ko.
“At the very least, have the strength to rid of that annoying smirk written on your face.” The words escaped from my mouth. The knight chuckled in return.
Originally, I was not supposed to say that aloud. Nevertheless, there is no need to reject it. What was said is said. I cannot turn back time nor do I have plans of undoing so even if I could.
He escorted me until the moment we reached the prince’s room. Unnecesarry escorting, I must say. I know of the ins-and-outs of the palace. There is no need for someone to stand beside me. Oh, the ladies-in-waiting are an exception.
Na tila ba ay alam ng kamahalang narito kami sa labas ng kaniyang silid, bago pa man kumatok ay sumagot na ito…
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May part 2 pa to
Next or delete…? O.O