Alessia's POV

WE FELT cramp inside the carriage because of the overwhelming suitcases of Nicola. Sumunod ito sa amin at basta na lang inilagay sa loob ang mga suitcase na nagpatong patong.

Hindi na kami nagreklamo dahil alam namin na walang mangyayaring matino sa loob lalo na at masikip na ngayon. Hindi naman kami magkakarwahe patungo sa Valencia. Patungo kami kung saan ang sasakyan himpapawid nakalapag. Medyo malayo iyon dito at hindi pwedeng lakarin lalo na at marami kaming dala.

Tahimik kaming lahat sa loob. Tahimik din si Nicola kahit bakas na bakas sa mukha niya ang disgusto sa mga nangyayari. Hindi rin maipinta ang mukha ni Ales at Khleo ngunit ayaw magsalita ng dalawa.

I am also squeezed in here, but I won't complain. It's not like I'm going to die in here. Hindi naman nagtagal ay dumating na kami sa aming destinasyon. Huminto ang karwahe malapit lang sa sasakyang himpapawid.

Agad na bumaba si Nicola at nagsisunuran naman kami dahil gusto na namin makahinga ng maluwag. Naunang bumaba si Ales at Khleo na ngayon ay napahawak pa sa kanilang mga tuhod dahil nananakit ang mga hita ng mga ito.

"Akala ko talaga pupulikatin na ako." Mahinang saad ni Khleo habang nag-iinat ito. Halatang ayaw nitong marinig ni Nicola na nagrereklamo siya.

"Shut it, Khleo. Baka magreklamo na naman yan." Puna naman ni Ales kay Khleo.

Hindi ako nagsalita habang nasa loob pa ako ng karwahe. Hindi kaagad ako bumaba dahil medyo nananakit din ang aking mga binti. Pinagpahinga ko muna ang mga iyon bago ako bababa.

Tiningnan ko naman ang sasakyang himpapawid na nasa harapan namin ngayon. This is not the armageddon, it's different. But I can tell that this is a newer version. Kapansin pansin ang mga ginamit na materyales at mga salamin dito. While the old ships are made of hard wood.

"Isn't this ship...too fancy?" Napalingon naman sa akin si Ales habang tinatanong iyon.

It is indeed, fancier than it used to be. But it's been years. Natural naman na may magbabago.

"Ayaw mong sumakay sa magandang sasakyan?" Simpleng tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pa niya naiisip ang mga ganito. It's just a ship. Either it is fancy or not, it is still a ship.

"Wala akong sinabing ganyan, Alessia." Reklamo naman ni Ales. "It's just weird. We are just commoners."

Tumaas naman ang kilay ko. "We are not just commoners, Ales. We are delegates who will build the colosseum and the greenhouse. It's not weird if they will show some special treatment." Saad ko at tsaka bumaba na ako mula sa karwahe.

"Tama si Alessia. Hindi na iyon nakakapagtataka, lalo na at ang punong ministro mismo ang pumunta sa opisina para dito." Sangayon naman ni Khleo.

"You are all delusional. They are preparing this, because I am here. How can a noble like me ride something not fancy?" Singit naman ni Nicola na ngayon ay inaayos ang sarili.

Hindi ako nagsalita dahil walang katuturan ang sinasabi nito. Paanong dahil sa kanya kaya maganda ang sasakyan namin? Sobrang conceited naman niya para ganoon ang maisip niya. She feels like everything happens is because of her.

Nagkatinginan lang kami nina Ales at Khleo at hindi na nagsalita. Dumating naman ang mga sentinels na hindi ko mamukhaan. It's either, they are new or I haven't met them before.

"Lady Castellar, kami po ang gagabay sa inyo sa biyaheng ito." Bati naman ng sentinel kay Nicola.

Ngumiti naman si Nicola. "I'm glad. Get my things and I wanted to have a smooth trip." Taas noong utos nito sa sentinel.

Mabilis naman na tumalima ang mga sentinel na nasa likuran nito. Pareho kaming walang mga imik. She should have brought her hand maiden instead of using the sentinels as her maid.

"Ako na bahala sa bagahe mo. Sumakay ka na sa sasakyang himpapawid." Turan naman sa akin ni Ales.

Tumango naman ako sa kanya at nagpasalamat. Binati naman ako ng ibang mga sentinel bilang respeto at tinanguan ko naman sila. Naglakad na ako at nauna na kay Nicola na ngayon ay abala sa pakikipag-usap sa sentinel.

Abala naman ang mga sentinel sa pagbubuhat ng mga kagamitan ni Nicola kaya hindi ko na lang sila inabala at pinansin. Sumakay sa ako sa barko. This gives me deja vu. I used to ride this, good and bad memories are within. But it's not enough for me to hate it.

Napatingin ako sa sahig. It is made of hard wood but glossed. Naglakad ako at pumasok sa cabin. The inside looks like a pantry to me. There are few seats there and table. There are food as well on the counter. Tila may catering service na nagaganap. Everything looks like a banquet or a ballroom of the 60's.

Umupo naman ako sa bakanteng silya na tila kasing lambot ng ulap. The place smells sweet like a mix of vanilla and cinnamon. Naalala ko ang bakery malapit sa bahay namin dahil sa amoy na ito.

Hindi pa lumipas ang isang minuto ay lumapit na kaagad sa akin ang isang waitress. Nakangiti ito at yumukod sa akin.

"Maligayang pagdating, binibini. Mayroon ka bang gustong kainin at inumin?" Tanong niya sa akin. Napakurap ako. It felt like I went back to Maria Clara era. Ngunit alam ko na natural lamang ito dito.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. "Anong masarap na pagkain na pwede mong maihandog?" Tanong ko naman sa kanya. I am not even sure if my tagalog grammar is correct.

"Marami po kayong pwedeng piliin." Saad niya sa akin sabay saad. "Katharina."

Narinig ko naman kaagad ang maliliit na ingay ng mga gulong. I know it's a food card, pero hindi ko alam kung ganito pala ang pagsisilbe nila dito. Pwede naman akong lumapit doon sa counter at kumuha ng pagkain.

"Binibini, maaari mong kainin ang ano man dito." Nakangiting saad ni Katharina sa akin. She bowed and opened the lid.

Agad na tumambad sa akin mga mata ang mga masasarap na pagkain na tanging sa palasyo ko lang natikman. They all look fancy, like from a five star hotel. I was about to choose when Ales and Khleo arrived and took the liberty to seat along with me at the table.

"Wow, ang daming pagkain. Libre ba yan?" Biglang tanong ni Khleo na ang mga mata ay nasa food cart.

Ngumiti naman si Katharina kay Khleo. "Maaari niyo pong kainin ang alin man dito, Ginoo." Tugon nito.

Bumakas naman ang galak sa mga mata ni Khleo at Ales kaya hindi na nahiya ang dalawa at kumuha na ito ng pagkain. Kumuha na din ako. Hindi naman ako ganoon kalakas kumain kaya tama lang ang kinuha ko na mabusog ako.

Pagkatapos naman namin kumuha ng pagkain ay nakaabang naman si Katharina sa amin para sa mga kailangan.

Nailang si Ales at Khleo dahil alam ko na hindi sila sanay sa ganito. Para sa akin, matagal ko ng nakalimutan ang pakiramdam na ito, kaya pakiramdam ko ay tila bumalik ako sa nakaraan. Kung saan ay may tagapagsilbe ako. Hindi ako nakaramdam ng pagkailang, dahil kahit matagal na iyon nangyari, hindi ko maiaalis na aking sarili na nasanay na ako sa ganoon.

Kumain kami at minsan ay binibigyan kami ni Katharina ng mga inumin na hindi naman tinatanggihan ni Ales at Khleo. Napapailing na lamang ako. Dahil kung may lalason sa kanila gamit ang pagkain, alam ko na magiging biktima sila.

Napatingin naman ako sa entrada at nakita ko si Nicola na pumasok. Nakataas ang kilay nito habang nakatingin sa amin. Her eyes is filled with disgust and resentment. She really hates us, being a commoner.

Ngunit hindi ito nagsalita. Pumasok siya at umupo sa bakanteng lamesa. May nakasunod naman dito na tagapagsilbe. Hindi ko alam kung saan ito nanggaling dahil hindi namin ito nakita kanina at sa karwahe.

"You, serve me." Biglang utos ni Nicola kay Katharina.

Ngumiti naman si Katharina. "Mga ginoo at binibini, maiiwan ko muna kayo ay pagsisilbihan ko ang panibagong panauhin. Kung kailangan niyo ako, maaari niyo akong tawagin." Paalam naman ni Katharina.

Tumango naman kami dahil parehong may laman ang aming mga bibig. Nag thumbs up naman si Khleo. Umalis na si Katharina at lumapit sa lamesa ni Nicola.

Hindi na namin pinakinggan pa kung ano man ang mga sinabi ni Nicola. Masyado kaming abala sa pagkain kaysa pakinggan siya. Alam ko na maya-maya lang ay may sasabihin na naman itong hindi maganda.

I cannot blame her somehow if she has that kind of upbringing. She was only taught to look over the status of the people. The hierarchy was engrave in her mind. She was taught that nobility is higher than commoner, and commoners should respect and cower over them.

No one was born to be a sinner. A child's mind is blank and the only thing knows is to feed. The sin only started when we, grown up people starting to teach our child and the way we do things. Children are very sensitive with things they see. They don't know yet the right and wrong, not until they were educated. A murderer was not born a murderer. We don't know the very root of the person. We don't know his history and what made him come up on killing someone.

But Aiden's case is different. Maybe, he was like this because of the curse. When he's still in my womb, the sin already fell on him. The sin made his mind opened earlier than it's supposed to be. As the bible said, when the sin fell down to the first pair of human being, it was the start where the consciousness was awakened. Innocence was gone.

"Ang sarap ng mga pagkain. Ngayon lang ako nakakain ng ganitong mga pagkain." Manghang saad ni Khleo nang matapos na kaming kumain.

"Nakakapagtataka lang na ganito ka engrande ang pag-asikaso nila sa atin." Saad naman ni Ales.

Napahigpit naman ang aking mga kamao. Hindi ko mapigilan isipin na konektado ito lahat sa akin. Elijah will never care with others, will not send a very fancy ship for commoners who will build his greenhouse and colosseum.

I am certain that he already knows that I am one of the engineers. Is he doing this because I am one of them? But I cannot see the reason why he has to do this. Is it because I was once his lover? Is this some sort of compensation?

But oddly, I felt nothing. My heart was not moved at all. It felt like, all of this is ordinary that my heart did not feel.

"The king is not selfish. Kaya hindi na nakakapagtataka na ganito karangya ang akomodasyon na ibinigay niya sa atin. Hindi na nga ako magtataka kung may sasalubong sa atin na mga trumpeta at mga confetti." Bungisngis naman na saad ni Khleo.

The king is not selfish? I almost snorted with the remark. Hindi lang nila kilala ang hari kaya nasasabi nila ito. Just because we are having this fancy boat, it already symbolizes him as not selfish. After I learned the truth and what he did to me, selfishness is an understatement. Elijah is greedy.

"I think you need to rethink about that. It was before, but now the king is branded as the mad king. I don't even know if this is a good idea at all coming inside the den of the mad king." Saad ni Ales at pabulong iyon. He can be charge as treason just for bad mouthing the king.

"Sshh... Huwag kang magsalita ng ganyan dito. Hindi mo alam baka may nakikinig. You know that we can be killed just for saying negative to the monarch." Mahinang saway ko kay Ales. I don't want them to be reckless just because we are not in the vicinity yet.

"Do...you think...someone is watching us...right now?" Kinakabahan naman na saad ni Khleo at dahan dahan itong napatingin sa paligid.

There was nothing unordinary, Katharina was serving Nicola, while the other waitress was doing their works. Pero hindi namin sigurado kung wala ngang nakikinig sa amin. This place is full of people under the king who's aware of my existence.

"Who knows? It's better that we are careful than regret in the end." Tugon ko naman at sumandal sa upuan.

Lumipad na ang sinasakyan namin sa himpapawid. Hindi na kami lumabas sa pantry. Maganda sana kung pagmamasdan namin ang magandang lugar ng Valeria ngunit hindi na namin iyon ginawa.

We continued chatting and I acted like nothing will happen once I set my foot inside the palace ground. I just hope that nothing will happen...nothing.

"This must be the first time for all of you experiencing such fancy hospitality. You must savor it every moment, because once I am chosen, you'll return to your old commoner's life." Biglang sabat naman ni Nicola. Hindi namin ito napansin dahil abala kami sa pag-uusap.

Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo nina Ales at Khleo. We did not say anything. Napagdesisyonan namin na ignorahin si Nicola. Walang maidudulot na maganda kung papatulan namin siya.

She wants not to associate with us, but it's her who's approaching us. Saying mean things just to feel satisfaction.

"Hey, what are you planning for the structure? Fire resistive? Non-combustible? Heavy timber? Wood framed? Or ordinary?" Tanong ko kay Ales at Khleo at sadyang hindi binigyan ng pansin si Nicola.

"I'm undecided. It depends with the environment. We need to check first as you said before we decide." Sagot naman ni Ales at ni hindi tiningnan si Nicola.

"I am thinking about non-combustible." Saad naman ni Khleo at uminom ito ng juice.

"For the colosseum, I think the ordinary type works." Saad ko at inisip ko ang colosseum ng Rome. It's perfect fit since it's an open area.

Ngumisi naman si Ales. "That's combustible. It won't be safe."

I smiled. "That depends on your design. If you will design it which is very receptive to fire, then it is very combustible." I answered and drink the juice.

"Do not ignore me!" Biglang sigaw naman ni Nicola at hinampas nito ang lamesa namin gamit ang kanyang dalawang kamay.

Lumikha iyon ng ingay kaya napatingin ang lahat sa kanya. Bumakas naman ang pagkaalarma sa mukha nina Ales at Khleo ngunit hindi sila nagsalita.

"You're rude. We did not ask you to approach us and now, you are seeking some attention and getting mad because we did not pay you the attention you seek." Malamig na saad ko sa kanya at inilagay ko ang baso sa lamesa. "Don't act like you are in your territory, Lady Castellar. This is not your ship to display your...extra-ordinary...behavior."

Nangalit ang kanyang mga panga. "I can't believe that the noble's language can be spoken by a commoner like you. This is treason!" She exclaimed.

I almost laugh by her accusation. How can this be a treason just for merely knowing the language? It's mandatory for the builders to understand all language since we work with everyone. Nobility or commoners.

"Lady Castellar, it is not treason. It's called education. The noble's language...according from history, this is a universal language of the world. Even the king, won't mind if commoners knows this language." Mahinahon na saad ko sa kanya. Language doesn't choose status. Whoever wants to learn can.

"How can you be so sure? You never met the king. How can you say that his majesty won't mind?" Her face is grim but laced with menacing smile.

How can I answer her without telling that I lived with their king before? I know Elijah doesn't mind even a commoner knows their language.

"Because the king is not like you, who's too absorb of the idea of being a noble. Your status is not a privilege for you to act high above others. It's only your luck that you're born in nobility. You breathe the same air, you eat food, you sleep, you feel hunger, you feel tired. The commoners do the same, feel the same. The only difference is, your status and wealth." Saad ko sa kanya. If only human being did not invent that status defines on how you treat people, this will not happen in the first place.

"Well if you do not know, Miss Righteousness, status is created based on wealth so we can be respected. Status is created to separate us from commoners. Status is created for them to know their place." She highly rebutted.

I smiled at her. "You might be right. I cannot erase the fact that this is man-made. But it doesn't mean that you will tramp those people who are below you. Nobility will not exist without the commoners. We are the reason of the existence of your status. You cannot be called noble without the existence of commoners. If you still want to insist, then you can go ahead and drown yourself with your nobleness thoughts." I remarked and I saw how her face faltered like the heaven fell down upon her.

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