"Just drop me off there when we arrive," wika ko habang nakaturo ang kaliwang daliri malapit sa knight's quarter.

Kasalukuyan kaming nakasakay sa kabayo matapos niya akong alalayan hanggang makalabas sa Quewarnds forest.

"Are you sure it's okay to let yourself be alone there?" tumaas ang isa kong kilay dahil sa tanong niyang iyon. Hindi ako mismo sa Knight's Quarter magpapababa dahil kailangan makita ako ng mga knights na walang kasama at tila nanghihina para maging makatotohanan ang false statement na sasabihin ko sa Emperor. Kaya ko rin pinunit ang suot at sinugatan ang sarili ay para makuha ang simpatya ng lahat sa palasyo.

"Do you really think that I need to be protected like a fragile piece of glass?"

"Nah, based on what I witnessed when you simply put your arm in the Leopard's mouth, I don't think I have to worry about you anymore. You're not a glass but a stone one." Matapos niyang sabihin iyon ay mahabang katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan naming dalawa.

Nang makarating na kami sa tinuro kong lugar ay huminto na ang kaniyang kabayo, akmang baba siya upang tulungan akong makababa nang bigla akong tumalon mula sa kabayo kaya nakita ko kung paano namilog ang kaniyang labi.

Umayos ako ng tayo at hinarap siya. "Ahm...I don't often express gratitude, but thank you very much for what you did today.." Napangiti siya kaya napahimas ako sa buhok.

Damn! So awkward!

Yumuko ako't tumalikod na saka humakbang ngunit nakakadalawang hakbang pa lamang ako nang bigla niyang hawakan ang braso ko upang iharap sa kaniya. Nangunot naman ang noo ko dahil sa ginawa niya.

"Y-yong pangalan mo?" tila alangan niya pang tanong kaya hindi ko naiwasang mapangiti.

Wait—he doesn't know me? I mean Harmony?

Come to think of it, he didn't interact with Harmony because his character hadn't yet been introduced when Harmony's character ended in the book, but doesn't he actually know Harmony? The fact that Harmony is the only princess with blood-colored hair is particularly well-known across the Empire. Why, though, did he not recognize this look? Bahala na nga.

"My name? Is it still important for you to know my name even though this is our first and last encounter?" kumunot ang noo niya saka napatingin sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa braso ko nang tinignan ko iyon. Agad naman niyang binawi ang kamay at bahagyang umatras dahil sobrang lapit niya sa akin.

"But I still want to know," hindi ko alam kung maiinis ba ako o hindi dahil ni hindi man lang niya itinanggi na ito na ang huli naming pagkikita.

"Fine!" tumalikod ako at nag umpisa na maglakad, humarap ako sa kaniya habang naglalakad. "I will tell you my name," saglit akong huminto sa pagsasalita at nakita sa mukha niya na inaabangan niyang bigkasin ko ang aking pangalan, "when our paths cross again!" iwinagayway ko ang aking dalawang kamay habang nakataas ang mga ito 'tsaka ngumiti ako na halos naniningkit na ang mga mata.

He had a regretful expression on his face before I turned around, but in the end, he smiled.

Medyo nakakalayo na ako nang huminto ako at humarap muli, saktong nakasakay na siya sa kabayo at tumatakbo na palayo. Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko at naging seryoso ang ekspresyon ng mukha. "How sad that you sacrificed your own life for the main characters' happy ending..."

Flavius is going to die on the day of the Crown Prince's birthday as a result of catching the villain's attack, which ought to have been directed at the female lead.

Napabuntonghininga ako at tumingala sa kalangitan. Matapos ay ipinagpatuloy ko na ang paglalakad.

Foolish Love.

༻༺ ༻✧༺ ༻༺

"Greetings, your Majesty." Yumukod ako matapos batiin ang Emperor at sinalubong ko ang kaniyang mga tingin. Napansin ko ring saglit niyang pinasadahan ng tingin ang bandage sa braso ko.

This is the first time I faced the Emperor, Harmony's father; Zethrius La Evalor.

Anong klaseng tao nga ba ang Emperor? Hmm? For reasons I don't know, I didn't pay much attention to the Emperor when I was reading IOTT, but from what I've heard and read online, he seems to be a decent guy. Vitalia was able to misuse the Emperor's throne because of its benevolence. The Emperor was a stern but good parent, not just to his children but also to his citizens. Pero bakit sa mga ala-ala ni Harmony hindi matatawag na mabuti ang Emperor? Anong nangyari sa mabuting Emperor?

Gaya na lang ngayon, habang tinitingnan ko siya may kung ano akong nararamdaman sa kaniyang presensya na hindi ko magawang ipaliwanag basta mabigat ito. Despite being 55 years old, the Emperor appears to be in his mid-40s due to his eye-catching characteristics. He has royal blue monolid eyes and golden hair. Although his eyebrows are flat, they are incredibly thick, which gives him a frightening appearance. He has a hooked nose that makes him like a bull that puffs smoke out of his nostrils when he's angry. I'm just glad Harmony didn't inherit this type of nose form. And his lips are natural—

"I didn't call you here to just stand there and stare at me; I called you here to explain what occurred in Quewarnds Forest." Kumuyom ang mga palad ko dahil sa sinabi niya at nakita kong napatingin siya sa nakakuyom kong palad kaya itinago ko ito sa likod ko't tumikhim.

Wasn't he even worried? His daughter almost died!

He treats me as though I'm simply a lowly member of society who doesn't appear to be his child and hasn't been put in danger. "Pardon me, your Majesty," tumikhim siya tanda na simulan ko na ang aking sasabihin ukol sa nangyari sa Quewarnds forest. "I thought of going to Carson El Centre after hurting myself in an attempt to forget what I had done, but I hadn't imagined how much I would come to regret that choice for the rest of my life...if...if hindi ako naging padalos-dalos s-sana I still have my Nanny by my side.'And the hard-working coachman who was trying to calm the wild horse died...because of me. Until we arrived at Quewarnds Forest, he had tried everything to do so," lumandas ang mga luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko hanggang sa putak ang mga ito. "T-this is all my fault...I wish I hadn't lived because I didn't deserve it and I brought their deaths upon myself...if...if I hadn't gone to Carson El Centre, this wouldn't have happened....hic...hic."

Luhaan kong sinalubong ang mga mata ng Emperor, nakalagay ang kaniyang palad sa kaniyang baba at seryosong nakatutok ang paningin sa 'kin. Hindi ko magawang mabasa kung ano ang kaniyang iniisip dahil hindi siya nagpapakita ng kahit na anong ekspresyon sa mukha. Hindi ko malaman kung nakuha ko ba ang simpatiya niya o nagdududa siya.

Umupo siya ng maayos.
"You've changed." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya.

"Your Majesty?"

"You don't shiver when you stand before me anymore, and look directly into my eyes." Oh...I forgot that Harmony is afraid of her father.

But still, he doesn't know his daughter well, because he just thought I changed and not someone else.

"Do you know me, your Majesty? When did you even recognize me?" as your daughter.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko nasabi iyon.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga't pinakawalan ito. "Forgive my insolence, your Majesty." Yumuko ako pero nang tumikhim ang Emperor ay nag angat ako ng tingin.

Blanko pa rin ang ekspresyon sa mukha nito. "You can leave now." I quickly bowed and stood up straight after he stated that before leaving.

Habang naglalakad paalis ay kuyom ang aking mga kamay. Sa halip na sabihin niyang rest, leave ang sinabi niya. Damn that old hag! Jerk father ever!

Nang makarating na ako sa kwarto ko ay nahiga agad ako sa kama. Na-agaw naman ng atensyon ko ang pouch na nasa bedside table ko. Inabot ko iyon at sinuring mabuti.
Dahan-dahan kong binuksan at nang tuluyang nabuksan ay isang nakarolyong papel ang laman nito.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko habang binabasa ang nakasulat sa papel.

Celia put an end to that child's suffering. Get that worthless child out of my way now. A coachman will be waiting for you, and he will accompany you as you kill the Princess by driving the two of you to the Queawarnds forest. This will ensure that her death doesn't seem suspicious. Make this commandment of mine successful, Celia. I have high expectations for you, so don't ever return to the palace without killing the Princess.

- M.O

"Not to be suspicious your ass." Bulong ko 'tsaka ibinalik ang papel sa pouch. Isiniksik ko naman sa gilid ng unan ang pouch saka tumayo ako at nag lakad patungo sa salamin.

The princess died on her first trip outside the palace. That has to be suspicious somehow, right? Particularly the Nanny has a dubious identification; its real identity may only be ascertained via thorough investigation. However, given how things came out, there is a greater possibility that there won't be any sort of investigation—especially given that I had no ulterior reason for assassinating the Nanny and the Coachman in front of everyone. Isn't it awful that the Emperor won't waste his time on the humble Nanny and Coachman alone? Unfortunately, the superiors don't care about the inferiors, thus it's a good thing that the two died since they deserved to.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at hinubad ang saplot saka pumasok sa bathroom.

༻༺ ༻✧༺ ༻༺

Kinabukasan ay nagising ako na hindi mapakali. Dahil mamayang gabi na mangyayari ang eksena ng kamatayan ni Harmony.

"Damn! What if I can't change that scene? What if I die a second time?" bulong ko habang naglalakad-pabalik sa tapat ng kama.

Natigilan naman ako nang may biglang kumatok.
"Your Highness?"

"Yes? Come in." Pagkasabi ko n'on ay bumakas ang pinto at iniluwa mula sa pinto ang tatlong katulong. Ang isa ay mayroong suot na salamin at tingin ko'y nasa edad 30 pataas na ito habang ang dalawa ay mukhang mga bata-bata pa.

"We were sent to serve you, Your Highness, by His Majesty the Emperor. From now on, we are the assigned servants to serve you, Princess Harmony."

The Emperor? Just what is he up to?

Ito ang kauna-unahang nag-appoint siya ng mga katulong kay Harmony, usually ang Empress ang gumagawa nito. Well, maybe because today is his birthday? Nevermind.

Yes, today is the Emperor's birthday, at mamayang 8 pm magaganap ang ball. Actually, ito ang unang beses na dadalo si Harmony sa selebrasyong magaganap mamaya at haharap sa publiko dahil kadalasan kapag may ganitong okasyon palaging kinukulong ni Celia si Harmony sa loob ng kwartong ito at sinasabi sa lahat na masama ang pakiramdam which is not true.

Pero ngayon na wala na si Celia, malaya kong magagawa ang gusto ko sa ball—wait, ayon sa Emperor kailangan kong pumunta sa ball, masama man ang pakiramdam ko o hindi. Kaya naman nagtataka ako—oh! Now I remembered the reason why I had to attend, whether I was sick or not, that was because later...

"Your Highness?" natigil ang mga iniisip ko nang mag salita ang tatlong katulong.

"Yes?" After clearing my throat, I saw that a seamstress had already arrived alongside the three maids.

"I'm Hedea Molvua, the Astaria Empire's youngest seamstress. It was a privilege for me to get to meet Your Highness the Princess," wika niya habang nakayuko at hawak ang magkabilang gilid ng kaniyang suot na dress.

She's right, she's the youngest seamstress in the entire Astaria Empire at sa tingin ko'y nasa edad dalawampu pa lamang ito. She is an orphan, but in fact, she was a noblewoman before her parents passed away, making her an orphan. She put forth a lot of effort to move up from being a dukedom maid to a well-known seamstress, and I applaud that. Duchess Gordon had an issue with what she was wearing on the Crown Prince's 18th birthday. Hedea, the maid who was with the Duchess at the time, was able to remedy the Duchess's dilemma by making a remarkable dress made of the palace curtain when the Duchess and the Empress got into a fight that resulted in the Empress spilling wine on Duchess Gordon's dress. Habang binabasa iyon ay hindi ko napigilang matawa dahil sa dinami-dami ng tela na maari niyang gamitin ay kurtina ang kaniyang naisip. Despite this, the nobility were unconcerned about the curtain-made dress since they admired Hedea's creation more. As a result, Hedea gained fame, particularly after the Duchess hired her as a seamstress.

Napatingin ako sa limang tao na pumasok rito sa kwarto at maingat na hawak ang limang dress na may magkakaibang disenyo.

"Should we begin by choosing the perfect outfit for you, Your Highness?"

I looked at Hedea who was now smiling and I also looked at the three maids assigned to me and saw that one of them was holding what I was afraid to wear.

C-Corset?! No way!

TO BE CONTINUED...