"WHAT now?" hinihingal na tanong ko sa 'king sarili habang dahan-dahang umuupo sa ilaim ng puno para magpahinga dahil sa layo ng nilakad ko.

Sumandal ako sa puno't inilabas ang tinapay at tubig mula sa naka-separate na pouch na nakasabit sa tagiliran ko. "Hmm...siguradong nagkakagulo na sila sa palasyo." Bulong ko sabay kagat sa tinapay. More than eight hours had passed when I escaped from the palace, so my disappearance must have spread throughout the Astaria Empire, especially since a visitor had arrived earlier.

Matapos kong maubos ang tinapay at uminom ng tubig ay umayos ako ng upo 'tsaka tumingin sa kalangitan dahil medyo pagabi na rin at nasa daan patungong Molongue at Zacraise pa lang ako kaya malabong makarating ako sa ibang kaharian. Tumayo ako at nag desisyong magpatuloy sa paglalakad ngunit natigilan ako nang makitang mahulog ang susing nakuha ko sa Underground dome. Pinulot ko ito at itinapat sa palubog na araw, nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mapansin ang insignia ng Gwavynette family sa susi. Hindi ito mapapansin agad dahil kapag naitatapat lang sa liwanag saka nagiging visible ang insignia.

"Tama! Alam ko na kung saan ako pwedeng magpalipas ng gabi."

And knowing the Emperor, hindi niya iisiping sa Gwavynette's Territory ako pupunta dahil alam niyang iiwasan ko ang lugar na iyon dahil madali lamang akong matutuntun doon.

I smirked as I put the key in the pocket of my slacks and continued walking with my belongings.

༻༺ ༻✧༺ ༻༺

After seven hours, I finally arrived in Molongue, where Gwavynette's Territory is located at the far end. I haven't seen it yet, but according to what I read in the book, Gwavynette's Territory is an abandoned and isolated area, with Gwavynette's mansion remaining despite neglect.

Sa paghakbang ko ay nagulat ako't mabilis na nag tago sa mga puno dahil mula sa itaas ay kitang-kita ko ang mga kawal na may hawak na lampara sakay ng mga dragon na pagmamay-ari ng Imperial Family.

"Looks like I underestimated the Emperor." Bulong ko sabay buntong-hininga.

Hindi ko inaasahan na iisipin ng Emperor na sa Gwavynette's Territory ako pupunta mukhang desperado talaga siyang matagpuan ako kaya marahil nag padala na siya ng mga kawal sa bawat sulok ng capital.

Where am I going now?

Tanging Gwavynette's Territory lang ang alam kong lugar na maari kong tuluyan ngayong gabi at masyado na ring malalim ang gabi para mag tungo sa Carson El Centre.

"Bahala na nga." Matapos kong sabihin iyon ay muli kong ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad patungo sa Gwavynette's Territory ngunit malapit na ako nang makitang pabalik na ng daan ang mga kawal. "Looks like they gave up?" nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil doon kaya kampante kong tinahak ang daan sa Gwavynette's Territory.

My smile was wide until I came upon the front of Gwavynette's Manor and observed its aspect. The ominous sight of the mansion caused all of the hairs on my body to stand on edge. "W-what the hell?" I'm having second thoughts about stepping inside because the place seems to be haunted.

Damn! Pull yourself together, Harmony!

"Wait-what?! Am I losing my mind? Did I really call myself Harmony?" gulat na tanong ko sa 'king sarili 'tsaka umiling-iling at hindi na binigyang pansin ang sinabi.

I approached the mansion's main door and took out the key to unlock it, but the key didn't fit, so I scowled. "Eh? Does not fit? Did I make a mistake with this key? But this key has the insignia of the Gwavynette family...hmm, maybe this key is for another door?" After that, sinubukan ko sa mga pintong nakita ko ang susi ngunit wala ni isa sa mga ito ang nabuksan ng susing ito hanggang sa makarating ako sa likod at pagod na umupo sa bench na na rito.

What is this door for?

Sumandal ako sa bench pero tumaas ang isa kong kilay ng mahagip ng mga mata ko ang isang simple wooden shed na may kalumaan na dahil sa rupok ng kahoy nito. Lumapit ako rito at napansing nakakadena ngunit sira na ang kandado nito. Inalis ko ang kadena na lumikha ng tunog kaya dinahan-dahan ko dahil baka may mga kawal na lihim na umaaligid-ligid sa paligid.

Nang matanggal ay pumasok ako, bumungad naman sa akin ang mga lumang garden tools at nababalot na ng kalawang ang shovel maging ang garden trowel.

"Talaga ngang pinabayaan na ang lugar na ito..."

Laylay ang balikat na umatras ako ngunit sa pagtapak ng sapatos na suot ko ay kakaiba ang naapakan ko kumpara sa wooden floor. Lumuhod ako at kinatok ang kakaibang sahig.

Gawa sa bakal ang sahig sa bandang gilid ng shed na ito kaya naman sinuri kong mabuti hanggang sa makita ko ang keyway sa bandang ibaba. Bigla kong naisip ang susi na nakuha ko kaya naman wala na akong sinayang na oras at agad na kinuha ito sa bulsa ng pants ko at ipinasok sa keyway.

When it fit, my eyes widened, so I turned the key to the right until the steel floor opened slightly. I stepped forward and lifted the small steel door, which was square but could only fit one person. Pagkabukas ko ay bumungad sa akin ang hagdan pababa na gawa sa bato, dahan-dahan akong bumaba rito kasabay ng pagkaroon ng apoy sa mga torch na nasa gilid pero bago iyon ay kinuha ko muli ang susi.

"A tunnel?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa sarili habang tinatahak ang underground tunnel. Medyo malawak ito at sa tingin ko'y mahaba.

Para saan kaya ang underground tunnel na ito?

Ni hindi nga na-mention sa IOTT ang tungkol dito na talagang ipinagtataka ko ng husto.

When I got to the end, I noticed a door that was closed but not locked. When I opened it, confusion was written all over my face because of what I saw, a room that undoubtedly belonged to Melody Gwavynette because of the painting hanging above the head of the bed. Not only that, but entering Melody's room from the tunnel requires passing through the closet. Sino ba naman ang mag-aakala na may ganito pa lang passage palabas sa kwarto o mansion na ito?

But what's most surprising is why Melody has this secret route. What's this for? For a noble lady, having this kind of room is not normal. Does she go out without anyone knowing?

"If so, where does she go?"

Habang puno ng mga katanungan sa isip ay nakuha ng atensyon ko ang isang plain wooden box sa ilalim ng kama. Agad akong lumapit at hinila ito. Napansin ko namang may keyway din sa gitna nito kaya sinubukan kong gamitin ang susi na ginamit ko kanina surprisingly it opened, good thing I thought to bring the key with me.

Pagbukas ko ng box ay napakaraming papel ang aking nakita ngunit isang nakarolyong light brown wove paper ang pumukaw sa atensyon ko. Binuka ko iyon at gano'n na lang ang pangungunot ng noo ko dahil sa nakapinta rito.

"Me? No...this is Melody?" Para akong nananalamin habang nakatingin sa drawing. Kamukhang-kamukha siya ni Harmony, ang kaibahan lang ay puno ng kapayapaan at kasiyahan ang babaeng nakapinta.

Mukhang ipininta ito sa malapit na anggulo. Binaliktad ko ang papel at may nakasulat dito.

I hope this painting is to your liking. I can't wait to meet you again because I want to paint the world's brightest smile through you.

- V.I.D.C.

"V.I.DC? Who is this? Hindi naman ito ang initial ng Emperor." Dahil curious ako kung sino ang nasa initial ay kinuha ko ang mga letter na laman ng box at hindi ko inaasahan ang aking nabasa at nadiskubre.

Melody, seeing you sleeping blissfully amid the most gorgeous flower blossoms, while I can't sleep at all. I'm afraid of falling asleep and waking up to find you gone, of finding myself alone.

You are the only person in this world who trusts me despite who I am, despite the darkness that is being screamed into my existence. You are the one who taught me how to write, control myself, smile, laugh, care about others...and above all, you taught me how to love.

You have my whole heart, my mind, and my soul.

Eternally yours,

‡‡‡‡‡‡‡ ‡‡ghael ‡‡ ‡‡‡‡‡‡‡

"Ghael?" Tanging "ghael" lang ang nakita ko dahil masyado ng luma ang sulat to the point na burado na ito. Inisa-isa ko naman ang iba pang letter pero lahat ay V.I.D.C ang nakasulat sa pinanggalingan ng mga sulat.

Argh! Iisa na nga lang ang may full name ng pinanggalingan ng mga letters na ito, sira pa! Who exactly is it from? Is it the first love of Harmony's mother? However, it was stated in IOTT that Melody's first and last love until her death was the Emperor. So, what does all of this mean?

Hinimas ko ang aking sentido dahil sa pananakit nito at ibinalik na sa kahon ang mga letter. Humiga ako sa kama para sana matulog ngunit hindi pa ako dinadalaw ng antok kaya naman naisipan ko na lang planuhin kung saang kaharian ako maaring mag tungo. Pero bago iyon kumuha ako ng papel at panulat upang i-summarize ang Inheritors of the Throne.

The fifth installment in the Astaria Series is under the category of the Fantasy-Adventure genre with romance actually. Ito ay isinulat in the third point of view. The story follows the female lead, Philomella Entrelle, the daughter of Marquess Entrelle. Because the Entrelle family is about to fall apart, Philomella needs to marry, but she is opposed to the idea because she wants to marry the man she loves, even if the marriage of convenience is common in society; this is why she flees and decides to become a Mercenary. The mercenaries she belongs to are the so-called Monster's Slayers, who go to the Dungeon/Danjon, also known as the Labyrinth, to kill monsters with diamonds inside their bodies. The Monster's Slayers take the diamonds in exchange for money. Ito ang paraan ni Philomella para iligtas ang house of Entrelle at maiwasan ang sarili na magpakasal sa hindi niya kilala. Habang ang male lead naman ay ang Crown Prince ng Astaria Empire, ang pangalawang anak ng Emperor sa kasalukuyang Empress. The Crown Prince and his eldest sister's carriage was ambushed one night, causing his sister to die. As a result, he tried everything he could to find the perpetrator of his sister's death, and while seeking justice, he encountered Philomella. Dinukot niya ang female lead sa pag-aakalang isa ito sa mga mersenaryo na pumatay sa kanyang kapatid at dahil doon ay nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na makilala si Philomella at doon nagsimula ang kanilang pagkakamabutihan.

When Philomella saved enough money to save the house of Entrelle, she stopped being a Monster's Slayer and started a business, but when the Crown Prince returned to Astaria Palace, he wanted to make Philomella his wife but didn't know her true identity, so he asked his loyal servant to find her, but fate seems to be on their side because they met again on the street and that's when he discovered Philomella's true identity. While visiting her comrades, Philomella unintentionally discovers who is responsible for the death of the Crown Prince's sister: it was none other than her father. She was surprised and couldn't believe her father could do such a thing, so she confronted him and discovered that the Dark King threatened her father by informing the Emperor of its illegal activities, child trafficking ngunit ang hindi alam ng Marquess ay ginamit lamang ito ng villain na isang Dark King, ang namumuno sa Danjon para lituhin ang mga tao habang naghahanda sa pag-atake dahil ubos na ang kaniyang pasensya. He is tired of humans killing his kind for money, so he plans to kill everyone, starting with the ruler of the empire and proceeding to everyone else after killing the Imperial family.

Hindi matanggap ni Philomella na gumagawa ng kawalang-katarungan ang kanyang ama, lalo na sa mga inosenteng bata kaya naman nang imbitahan siya ni Zeferino bilang partner sa kaarawan nito ay agad siyang pumayag and then told the Crown Prince what his father had done at the same time as the monsters and the Dark King's abrupt invasion, ang gabi ng kaarawan ng Crown Prince ang sa tingin nitong tamang pagkakataon para patayin ang Imperial family, but the Crown Prince stopped it, so the two fought, and Philomella joined the Crown Prince in fighting the Dark King. It was also there that Philomella discovered she had the sacred sword inside her, which could only be used to kill the Dark King--according to the oracle--and with that, the Dark King's life ended there, as did the second male lead, because it blocked itself from the attack that should have been for fl.

At matapos mahatulan ang mga may sala't gumagawa ng ilegal ay nakoronahang bagong Emperor si Zeferino. Zeferino and Philomella got married which leads to happily ever after.

"Now that I think about it, the Villain is the one who causes Harmony's death. At kung gusto kong maka-survive...I need to target the Villain."

Well, napaka-imposibleng ma-assassinate ko ang Villain sa kwentong ito knowing how powerful he is. But if I can't kill him why can't I change him? I mean, I need to have him by my side. Hindi ko pa alam kung paano ko gagawin pero...

If I want to survive and live in peace, I must tame the cause of my downfall which is none other than the Villain, Velther Idghael De Cronus.

TO BE CONTINUED...