Genesis' Point of View

"Ikaw."

The little maid flinched when my point finger directs in her direction. Her cute round face paled as if she'd seen a ghost.

I'm offended by being leveled with those entities. Sa ganda kong 'to? Multo?

"M-Milady?" At bakit siya nauutal?

Takot ba siya sa akin? Wala naman akong ginawa na ikakatakot niya ah?

O, kay Cressida siya takot?

Afterall nasa katawan ako ni ate girl. Pero sa pagkakaalam ko, Cressida's not a wicked woman who harassed her maid, their family's people. Or was my understanding about her wrong?

Lumihis lang naman kay Cressida ang kuwento pagkatapos ng event kung saan bumisita sa Lotus Kingdom ang Prinsipe ng dalawang kaharian. And there, on that scene, Cressida is already having dark clouds around her. But the story mentioned she was once a sweet girl. So, what happened in between?

Based on the dates, malayo pa ang event na iyon. The party three days ago was the first event na dinaluhan ni Cressida. Ibig sabihin ay nasa sweet girl era pa si ate girl at wala pa iyong dark clouds.

Hmm... There's basically a reason that pushed Cressida to dramatically change. What? I have no idea. But someday, I will figure it out.

Today I've only one goal.

"Do you know where the library is?"

"Y-yes, Milady."

"Can you lead me there?"

"..."

I frowned. May nasabi ba akong mali? Bakit bigla siya-no, sila- natahimik?

"What is it?" I probed.

The little maid in front of me blinked her dainty eyes. "Y-You disliked company, Milady..." her voice faded.

Oh.

Nagbuntong-hininga ako.

Oo nga pala.

Kung nababaguhan ako sa nangyayari, syempre higit na ang mga taong ito- lahat ng nasa palasyo- na kasama ni Cressida sa buong buhay niya. The people who knew her too well.

Hindi na nakakagulat na ganito ang reaction nila. Sino nga ba ang hindi magugulat o malilito kung iyong taong buong buhay na pinagsilbihan nila ay bigla-bigla na lang magbabago?

Iyon din siguro ang dahilan kung bakit sa sunod na araw after the party ay dinala ako ni Franklin sa Family's Doctor. Maybe he wasn't kidding when he thought I got food poisoning.

Muli, nagbuntong-hininga ako.

"That was then. Right now, I want you to accompany me to the library," pirming sabi ko. "While the rest of you, do your job and you can retire to your room after. If Maid Lia pesters you, tell her I was the one who asked you to rest."

"Yes, Milady."

Lia is the Head Maid of the Palace according to my memory of The White Lotus Princess novel. The moment she got introduced to the story, I disliked her. Because she likes to harass the other maids to do their jobs when the only thing she does is lazing around and passing her supposedly job to the others.

At saka binabawasan din niya iyong salary payment ng ibang maids. So if I remove some characters, she is likely the number one I'm going to eliminate.

"Tara na..." I looked at her.

"J-Jane. My name is Jane, Milady."

I nodded. "Let's go Jane."

"After you, Milady."

Lumabas na ako ng kuwarto nang nakasunod sa akin si Jane. Hindi na ako nalula sa tumambad sa akin sa labas 'di gaya noong unang araw ko rito.

The palace is a modern stylish that has little touch of ancient time. Its grand intricate architecture, elegant chandeliers, and ornate furnishings exude an air of sophistication that will always leave visitors in awe.

And adding to that is an entrance with its sweeping staircase, high ceilings, and intricate details that gave sense of majesty and splendor that was fit for royalty.

Sobra akong nalula noong unang dating ko rito from the party. At halos malaglag ang panga ko nang tuluyan kong makita ang kabuohan nito kinaumagahan.

Kung sa gabi ay parang nagniningning na tala sa kadiliman ang palasyo, sa araw ay parang bulaklak ito na namumukadkad sa kaparangan.

Nasa ibang mundo na nga talaga ako.

Tahimik ang hallway. Paminsan-minsan ay may nadadaanan kaming kawal na agad na yumuyuko pagkakita sa akin. Lahat sila nakasuot ng armor at may hawak na long spear.

Sa isang hallway ay napahinto ako sa harap ng malaking painting ng mapa ng Magnolia Continent. Namangha ako sa ganda at saktong details nito.

Habang sa isang hallway naman ay mga mamahaling antigo ang naka-display. Sinubukan ko pang sinuri ang isa sa mga ito kung totoo nga ito, and sure it is.

Ilang hallways pa ang tinahak namin at ilang nakasaradong pinto pa ang nadaanan namin bago lumitaw ang entrada ng library sa paningin ko.

"We arrived, Milady."

Tumango ako at malawak na ngumiti.

My first plan was to familiarize the whole Magnolia Continent and most especially the Lotus Kingdom.

Magagawa ko lamang ito rito sa library, dahil nandito ang aklat na naglalaman ng information tungkol sa kontinente.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go in."