Third Person

Xiovenn closed the memorial he's holding. It's flat foldable piece of wooden booklet filled with written reports about the recent crimes in the region. Ipinatong niya ito sa mesa at nagsalin ng tsaa sa maliit na basong gawa sa marmol. 

He closed his eyes as he savored its taste. It was calming and refreshing. Somehow, it made his headache fade for a moment. Handling the affairs in the region is the last thing he wanted to think about, not when his sister is out there meeting those bastards. 

As much as he wanted to disagree, he can't do anything about it when his sister already said a word. At the end of the day, she gets to decide. That's why he just sent someone secretly to observe them. 

"Your highness," Xiovenn opened his eyes when he heard Noe's voice, his regional deputy. 

"Any news?" Tumango naman si Noe. 

"The people who abducted the Glacial Archon was from the Faction of Serpents who formerly served the Westerian Czar." Naikuyom ng binata ang kamao sa narinig. 

"Are you sure about this?" Paninigurado niya pa. Noe nodded his head in response. 

Umiling si Xiovenn. He can't find any reason why the Westerian Czar would try to abduct his sister. Maiintindihan niya pa siguro kung nangyari iyon matapos siyang insultuhin ng kapatid niya, pero hindi. It happened before the engagement banquet. 

So, why would the Westerian Czar abduct her? 

"I could not find the reason why she was abducted because you killed every member of that faction, your highness." Napabuga na lang ng malalim na hininga si Xiovenn. 

He lost control that time. He spared no one and kill everyone in the scene. Ang sino mang magtatangkang ilagay sa panganib ang buhay ng kapatid niya'y hinding-hindi niya mapapatawad. She's his only family, that's why he will protect her with his life. He will eliminate those who threatens her life. 

"I am sure I haven't wipe them all out, tract every hidden member of that faction and do whatever methods you can to get answers from them. . ." Nang makita ni Xiovenn ang pagkunot ng noo ni Noe ay kaagad niyang dinugtungan ang sinabi niya. 

"You can have a day-off after that." Hindi naman natinag si Noe. 

"Three days?" Umling si Xiovenn. Hindi puwede 'yon. As his deputy, he had lots of works to take care of. Three days is too long. 

"Isang araw lang." Bumusangot naman ang mukha ni Noe. Hindi niya matatanggap ang isang araw na pahinga sa loob ng ilang linggo niyang pagtungo sa mga rehiyon upang kumalap ng impormasyon. 

"Two days." 

"Fine." Pagsuko ni Xiovenn na siyang ikinangisi ni Noe. Mabilis itong lumabas ng silid na may ngiti sa labi. 

Iiling-iling naman na napasandal na lang sa upuan si Xiovenn. That Regional Deputy of his is really demanding. Well, he can't really say no to him when he works efficiently. As the Ruler of Ozlevine, he needs someone who moves in shadows. One who can take care of investigations and tricks. 

Ngayon ay katanungang nasa isip niya ay kung bakit nila naisipang dukutin ang kaniyang kapatid. It's impossible the faction would move on its own without taking orders from its superior. Hindi naman ganoon kalakas ang loob nila para dukutin ang Arkon lalo na't alam nilang kamatayan ang naghihintay sa kanila. 

What are you up to, Cosette?  

*♛♚♛༊*·˚

𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐋'𝐒 face turned red when he tasted the liquor. Ang alak na iniinom niya ay ang kaparehong alak na ininom niya kasama si Xiomara. Kagat labi niyang inilapag ang baso na hawak niya sabay takip ng mukha niya dahil sa hiya. 

Remembering what happened that day only makes him flustered with embarrassment. He didn't expect the Glacial Archon to be that bold and tactless in front of him. Hindi niya alam kung dulot lang ba 'yon ng alak pero walang kahit sino mang naglakas loob na sabihin iyon sa kaniya. 

"Magagalit ba ang may-ari ng Tea House kung tea-tea mo ang gusto ko?" 

He didn't know what to answer then, ang alam niya lang ay natameme siya sa sinabi nito. He was too shock to even utter a word. Good thing she passed out, or else she would see his face ripen like a tomato.

Every time he would drink a Rose flavored alcohol, it would make him think of her. He smiled unknowingly and instructed his household maids to fill his wine cellar with Rose flavored alcohol. 

It would be his favorite from now on.

Sa kabilang banda naman ay naglalaro mag-isa ng chess si Reed. He moved his black rook near the king and he blocked it using the white bishop. He often play chess alone, he is the master of both black and white pieces. He does it to improve his techniques. 

Unlike before, his techniques started to change. Every moves he make was careful not to get his queen in danger. He learnt not to sacrifice his queen hastily. 

He glance at the two queens just in the corner of the chess board. He can only have one queen. He had to choose wisely. Those were the words of the woman who almost won over him if it wasn't because of the limited time. 

As a dominant man, he hates it when a woman is overbearing. Gusto niya siya lagi ang nasusunod. He wanted to be relied on by a woman. Because that's what a man should do, be capable and reliable of protecting a woman. 

"But you. . ." I click his tongue and took the white queen and played it using his fingers. 

She's surely a queen who doesn't need a king. She's independent. She proves him that women can do what men can do. She made him feel that women can stand on their own and be the best at anything. 

After spending a day with her, he didn't know his preference in woman would change. Before, he'd prefer those who are well- behaved, modest, and submissive. He likes those who are vulnerable around him, those who depends on him. 

Ibinagsak niya ang kulay itim na reyna sa board sabay tayo hawak-hawak ang puting reyna ng chess piece. He placed it on his table as if it was an important token from her. 

He'd like to be reminded that being saved by a queen is not that bad.

Samantalang sa rehiyon naman ng Ashfell, matamang nakatingin sa kalooban ng pamamahay niya si Kane. Inutos niya kay Haran at Leo na alisin ang mga nakasabit na mga disenyo ng hayop sa pader. Pinalitan niya ito ng paintings ng mga kapaligiran. There are few flowering plants inside and those  mat made of wolves fur was gone. 

He redesign the Eastern Manor after that small argument with the Glacial Archon. Well, it's not because he thinks she's right. Pinalitan niya lang kasi hindi nakakaaya tingnan. He just don't want to admit to his pride that he was wrong.

"How was it?" Agad na tanong ni Kane sa kakapasok lang na si Leo. 

"The Ministry of Law and Affairs approved it." Tumango-tango ito bilang reaksyon. 

He proposed a law to imprison people who would try to practice violence against domestic animals. Anyone in the region who would be caught doing it will be imprisoned for five years and needs to pay 10 gold leaves to be freed. 

Kumunot naman ang noo ni Leo nang makita ang biglaang pag ngisi ng Arkon sa harap niya. It's weird seeing him smirking out of nowhere as if he just remembered something really amusing. Imbis magtanong ay mas minabuti na lang lumabas ni Leo. 

When he left, Kane's grin widened. He remembered what happened yesterday, and he just can't help but to be astonished at the thought. Bumangga ang paa niya sa sulok ng pinto kaya napaigtad siya sa sakit. 

"Kayasa's utok sa buang oy." 

He could not understand her words but it felt like she just cursed at him. Malakas niya pang tinadyakan ang paa nito para lang lumayo siya sa kaniya. Until now, his left foot still hurts. Ang liit niyang babae pero ang laki ng paa. 

Isang halakhak ang kumawala sa labi niya nang maalala ang hiya at pamumula ng pisngi nito. He caught her off guard, alright. Her reaction was priceless. 

Now all he had to do is to wait for her decision sa kung sino man ang papakasalanan niya. Isa pa, kahit hindi man siya ang piliin nito, he would still continue to hang around her. 

*♛♚♛༊*·˚

𝐍𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆 nakatingin sa kawalan si Xiomara habang kadong-kandong ang kulay itim na pusa at pinaglalaruan ang itlog nito. Natapos na ang tatlong araw na pakikipagsama niya sa mga Arkon. She did her best to play the type of woman they won't find attractive. Naghihintay na lang siya ng mensahe para umatras ang mga ito. 

But into her disappointment, matatapos na lang ang araw ay wala pa rin siyang natatanggap na kahit na anong balita sa mga ito. Halos buong araw lang din siya sa kuwarto niya habang sinusubukang makipaglaro sa pusang pinangalanan niyang Coal dahil sa charcoal na kulay nito.

Xiomara put him on her bead. She gave him a ball of yarn to play. Hindi ito pinansin ng pusa kaya ngumiwi siya. Hinanap niya ang itlog nito saka mahinang pinitik, dahilan upang mapapiksi ang pusa. He scrawled at her. 

"Puro ka higa sa kandungan ko maghapon! Go and play, or else wala kang snacks sakin!" Nakita niyang tinatamad na tumayo ang pusa. The poor cat pushed the ball of yarn down the table. Tumalon ito pababa at sinundan ang yarn na pagulong-gulong. 

Xiomara remained on her bed, watching Coal playing under her bed. Tumatakbo-takbo ito paikot sa poste ng kama niya. Maya maya ay nakahiga na ito sa sahig habang tamad na tamad na kinakagat-kagat ang yarn. 

She never seen such a lazy and unenergetic cat before. Kumuha siya ng maliit na kapiraso ng isda sa platito bago dumapa sa kama niya. Tinutok niya ang kamay niya sa pusa na nakatingin lang sa pagkain na nasa kamay niya. 

"Kumain ka na." Iginayak ni Xiomara ang kamay niya sa bibig nito. She saw how the small cat's nose opened for a bit and he move his head sideways as if he was so disgusted over the food. 

What the hell is up with this cat? I've never seen him eat anything.

 Xiomara went down her bead and decided to change her clothes. Pinulot niya si Coal sa sahig at siniksik ang mukha nito sa dibdib niya habang karga-karga niya. Hinalik-halikan niya ito sa mukha bago ipatong sa mesa na malapit sa cabinet na pagkukuhanan niya ng damit. 

She then started to look what to wear. Nang makapili na siya ng damit na susuotin ay sinara niya ang bintana ng kaniyang kuwarto at nagsimulang tanggalin ang kasuotan niya. 

She threw her upper upper clothing on the floor, and she was about to disrobe the lower part of her clothing when she heard Coal's dramatic meow. Napalingon siya sa pusa na ngayon ay nakatalikod sa kaniya. She laughed and made him face her. 

"Sus, iiwas-iwas pa ng tingin akala mo naman tao. Pfft!" Xiomara started to burst out laughing whenever she would try to change in front of the animal but would always turn his head on the opposite direction. 

Lumabi na lang ang dalaga at tinapos ang pagbibihis niya. It was a thin white fabric for sleeping. Kinarga niya muli si Coal. Nakatalikod ito sa kaniya at nakadiin na naman ang likuran ng ulo nito sa kaniyang dibdib. 

Marahan niyang binagsak sa kama ang pusa habang nakatihaya. She saw something on Tiktok before, and she wanted to try it. She held Coal's two hands and pinned it against the bed. Nakita niya ang panlalaki ng mata ng pusa pero hindi niya pinansin iyon. Dahan-dahan niyang nilapit ang mukha niya sa pusa. 

"Meo-" 

"Rawr dapat Coal." She interupted. Natahimik naman ang pusa. 

She laughed and kissed Coal's neck left and right with its hands still pinned on the bed. Binitawan na lang niya ito dahil para niyang pinagsasamantalahan ang kawawang pusa. 

Xiomara shook her head and just took Coal in her arms and cuddled him to sleep. She was tired of thinking what to do to those Archons. She needs a good sleep because she will have a long day tomorrow. 

At midnight, where the twined full moon was prevalent in the sky, the cat beside her suddenly turned into a human. He was looking at her intently with his deep grey eyes. The man raised his left hand, ready to pierce her heart with his dagger. 

He's an assassin sent by the Westerian Czar to end her life.

G O L U C K Y C H A R M