CLEA

How many days has it been since the Annual Blessing Purification? I lost count. I just found myself drifting away over time. All I could think of was the Archduke. Wala naman akong planong maging kabit dito, pero sa tingin ko'y hindi ko yun maiiwasan. I guess the Archduke was thinking of breaking off his engagement with the princess since he discovered I could cure his Venom of Karma. 

However, it's not that easy. It was a promise from the late Archduke and the Emperor he needed to honor the commitment of his deceased father. As for me, I need to hide the fact that the Archduke is having a secret escapade with me because I need to consume his Venom of Karma. Until then, Felecity must not know what's happening between her fiancée and me. 

"Your Holiness, these are the herbs you ask for me in the apothecary." Tumango naman ako sa kakarating na si Fifteen. May dala-dala itong basket na puno ng mga herbal medicines na pinakuha ko sa kanya. 

Some of them that I could recognize were sunflower seeds, blue ganoderma, ginseng, forest tea, and milk thistle extract. Those were the medicines I needed to lessen the mini-seizures I had whenever the dark mana from the Karmic Venom started to collide with my holy mana. 

My immune system recognizes the dark mana as foreign magic. Therefore, it prevents the dark mana from entering my spiritual veins. However, I have taken a quarter of the Archduke's dark mana. That's why I am slowly having side effects from consuming his venom. 

"What shall I do with this, Your Holiness?" Aniya matapos niyang ipatong sa mesa ang basket na dala niya upang buksan ang bintana sa likuran ko. 

"Mix them in a boiling cauldron and transfer them to a small vial. Store them away from the knowledge of the Head Priest's dogs." She immediately understood my words and took the medicines to put them in small jars. 

I look at myself in the mirror as I sit before my vanity. The Saintess, so holy and pure. Who would've thought she would harbor grudges towards the nobles of the Khehan Empire? Who would've thought that behind her innocent façade hides a vengeful woman who aspires to bring chaos upon the Empire? 

Dumapo naman ang tingin ko sa mga vintage na sobreng mula kay Carnel. There was a thick package from him wrapped in an old kraft paper and string ties. The other one was a small envelope with red wax seal. Inuna ko namang buksan yung package na may kakapalan at bumungad sa akin ang isang ledger. 

It was full of Count Briargiss transactions from multiple business owners and trading when I opened it. And, of course, even his illegal negotiations were also there. I flipped the pages, and a smile crept on my face when I found the data and information I needed. It turned out the Southern and Northern Border suffered a significant loss in the war because Count Briargiss traded the weapons to the Vrotia Empire's Marquis. 

Kasama sa pahinang iyon ang kontrata na nilagdaan pa ng dalawa. It had the House of Briargiss stamp and the House of Nephilim's signature. Hindi ko maiwasang mapangisi dahil paniguradong hindi niya alam na mismong anak niya ang bubulgar sa katiwalian niya. I never thought Carnel could actually betray his family for my sake. 

But I guess blood is no longer thicker than water. 

Binuksan ko naman ang sobre na sa tingin ko ay sulat naman mula kay Carnel. In the message, he told me to be patient and wait for the documents he was about to send once he had gotten a more profound and thorough investigation. And he was asking to see me by next week. 

I took a stationary paper from my drawer and started to write him a reply using a black inked plume pen. Matapos ko siyang sulatan ay kinumpas ko ang kamay ko upang lagyan ito spell na tanging siya lang ang makakakita ng mga letrang nakasulat doon. I then put it inside a black envelope with a silver wax stamp and white ribbon. 

"Fifteen?" 

"Yes, Your Holiness?" Magiliw nitong wika habang nag-aayos pa rin ng mga herbal medicines sa jar. Nakita kong patapos na siya sa ginagawa niya. 

"Can you deliver this message to Carnel Briargiss? The eldest son of Count Briargiss. I want you to personally give it to him within this day." She walked towards me. Binigay ko naman sa kanya ang sobre na kaagad niyang itinago sa loob ng bulsa niya. 

"Consider it done, Your Holiness!" 

I was about to fix my hair in front of the mirror when a violent knock was heard on my door. Dali dali namang tumakbo si Fifteen upang buksan ito. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko dahil wagas ito kung makakatok.  If it was an acolyte and a young nun, I was ready to show them my impatient side, which was about to shine bright like a diamond. However, it was none other than the bald Head Priest. 

Bumungad sa akin ang balisa niyang hitsura at ang ekspresyon niyang nakakaputangina. Wala ng mas nakakasira pa sa araw ko bukod sa pagkikita naming dalawa sa umaga. I examined his chaotic face and I noticed there were more wrinkles underneath his eyes. May balahibo pa ito sa ilong na lumalampas sa butas ng ilong niya. He looks goofy as fuck. 

"Y-your Holiness!" Napataas ang kilay ko nang mabahiran ko ng kaba ang boses niya. 

What has gotten him this jittery and nervous? 

"What happened?" I asked, looking at him with his sweat dripping down his forehead. 

"H-his Majesty the Emperor wanted to have an audience with you." I tilt my head in confusion. The Emperor wanted to see me? What for? Kaya ba siya kinakabahan? 

"Is there a specific reason why he wanted to see me?" Umiling naman ito. 

"A letter came this morning along with a carriage. There was no explanation, but your presence is highly anticipated in the palace." Tumango-tango na lang ako. 

I've already dressed up since may morning prayer sana na gaganapin ngayon dahil linggo. Every Sunday, they have this weird ceremony of thanking their God for giving them life. I mean, kung ang buhay ay hiram sa Diyos, bakit hindi na lang nila isauli? Tutal wala naman silang ambag sa mundong 'to kun'di puro panghuhusga. 

Inabot sa akin ni Fifteen ang kulay puting balabal na kaagad ko naman sinuot at basta-basta na lang nilampasan si panot palabas ng silid ko. I was already two meters away from him when he suddenly spoke. "You must remember to always keep the Temple's pride and glory, Your Holiness. Never spoke ill of God's retainer." I did not answer him and just continued to walk. 

Kinakabahan siya kasi akala niya pinapapunta ako sa palasyo para tanungin kung kamusta ang pamamalakad sa templo? Or maybe he was afraid that the Emperor found out about his scheme with the nobilities and aristocrats? 

"Greetings to the moon of the Empire, Your Holiness, The Saintess of Khehan Empire." Bati sa akin ng isang makisig na lalaki na sa tingin ko ay ka-edad ko lang. 

"I am Dauin Albereich, the Knight Commander of the crown prince's knightage." He humbly introduced himself, bowing his head as a sign of respect. 

Albereich?

I remember him. He was the crown prince's childhood friend. To honor his loyalty towards the crown prince, he was appointed as the Knight Commander—the head of the knightage that protects the prince. 

"Please, Your Holiness." Aniya habang minumwestra ang kamay niya sa pagbukas ng pinto ng karuwahe. 

He extended his left hand to assist me in climbing up the carriage, and I accepted his assistance. Pag-upo ko naman ay nakita ko si Fifteen na kumakaway sa labas ng bintana. She mouthed the words 'take care' with a smile. With Fifteen around, I don't have to worry about my room being ransacked by the Head Priest's spies. 

I crossed my legs and composed myself as I felt the carriage had already moved. Here I am, leaving the temple without breakfast, dehydrated with only three hours of sleep. Sounds typical to you, right? I just hope I won't mess up in front of the Emperor, or I could get my head chopped off from my body. 

My eyes suddenly diverted to the coachman who was driving the carriage. Dauin Albereich, as I said, was the crown prince's most trusted aid. I thought it was the Emperor who wanted an audience with me. So I was expecting his knight to pick me up. 

My forehead ceased when I noticed Dauin's facial expression. For some unknown reason, he looks worried and tensed up. He was even driving the carriage pretty fast, as if he wanted me to be in the palace as soon as possible. 

What type of emergency is the Emperor facing for them to need my help desperately? 

After a few minutes, we were able to reach the capital. Hindi ko na rin namalayan ang bilis dahil maya-maya ay nakita ko na lang ang sarili kong papasok sa matayog na palasyo habang inaalalayan ni Dauin na umakyat ng hagdan patungong Throne Room. 

"Your Majesty, the Holy Saintess has arrived!" pagpapaalam ni Dauin na siyang nakaharap sa nakasarang pinto ng Throne Room. 

"You may enter." Rinig kong sagot nito. 

When the vast door opened, I was welcomed by two palace guards saluting their swords as if giving me a royal entourage to walk on a red carpet. I positioned both hands at the level of my navel; chin held high with glory and pride as I walked gracefully towards them. 

Emperor Felix Rhinedottir. He's probably around his mid-40s with his ash-brown hair and jaded eyes. He was wearing a gold mantle like that of an Emperor and a crown on top of his head. Beside her was the Empress, Flamarra Rhinedottir, who looked strict and grim. Her ash white hair and deep blue eyes complemented her stunning skin complexion. She looks pretty, but don't be fooled. 

She was the one who killed the mother of the Emperor's illegitimate child. She was the psychotic bitch who stabbed Zeev's mother thirty times and had her knights defile his mother's body before throwing it into the sea. The murderer, who everyone did not know. 

"Glory to the light of the empire, greetings, Your Majesties." Iniyuko ko ang ulo ko upang magbigay galang sa mga ito.

"You may rise." I lift my head only to notice the Empress scorning at me. I almost laughed in my head. 

Inggit ba siya kasi may mas maganda sa kanya? Hah! 

"You may be wondering why I requested an audience with you, I apologize for the urgency." Pormal nitong pahayag. 

"I summoned you in the palace to request for your help." Itinago ko ang pagtaas ng kilay ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Kailangan niya ng tulong? He's the Emperor who have everything, be it man power or gold. What can I help him for? 

Gusto niya ba ipagdasal ko siya para sumalangit ang kaluluwa niya at ng impaktang katabi niya? 

"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty." Bumuntong hininga naman ang hari. 

"My son had been bedridden for days due to an unknown illness he obtained from his experiments. I had no intention of letting the public know about this matter, and I thought he was suffering from a mild fever. However, the royal physicians could not identify his disease, and the symptoms were none of those already existed." I pursed my lips. 

The crown prince obtained an unknown illness. 

I rolled my eyes when I remembered it happening in the novel. He was constantly exposed to chemicals and different kinds of potions and hazards since he was a mad doctor, but isn't it too early for him to catch that disease? He was supposed to get sick after the Emperor's birthday. What the hell happened?

"May I know the symptoms, Your Majesty?" Nakita ko naman ang pag-irap ng katabi nitong impakta dahil sa naging tanong ko. 

"What for? You can just cure him right away." She scoffed. 

I forced a smile with my gritted teeth. Naturingang empress pero walang class. Parang mga tumatakbong SK na walang ambag sa inuman tapos biglang mag-aambag sa lipunan. Pinanatili ko na lang kalmado ang mukha ko kahit na gustong-gusto ko siyang irapan. 

"His symptoms include severe headache, hallucinations, cough, and moon-like rashes all over his body. He is not able to swallow food if it is not liquidized." Tumango ako. Now that he mentioned his symptoms, I remembered what it was called. 

The Moon Drip Disease. 

"I would like to seek help from you as the Saintess to please cure my son of his disease, and you shall be rewarded with whatever you'd like. Knight Commander Dauin Albereich will bring you to Arventon Palace, where the crown prince resides." I took three steps backward before bowing my head and bid my farewell to both of them. 

Muli ay iginayak ako ni Dauin palabas ng palasyo at tinulungan akong makaakyat ng karuwahe bago muling umalis patungo sa Arventon Palace. Napatingin ako sa mapayapang kalangitan. Hindi ko maiwasang isipin kung ano ba ang iniisip ng Diyosang yun at masyado niyang minamadali ang pangyayari. 

Excited na ba siyang bawian ako ng buhay?

Walang gana akong napalabi. Ito ba ang ganti niya dahil sa ginawa naming kababalaghan sa harap ng estatwa niya? She should've blaimed the Archduke with it not me. I had no choice back then! 

Nakagat ko na lang ang ibabang bahagi ng labi ko nang mapadaan kami sa Caestshire Palace kung saan ginanap ang Triump Welcoming Party noong nakaraan. We went passed the Pavillion Garden, and that's when I noticed the colorful flowers by the corners. Nang dumako ang paningin ko sa lagoon kung saan may pavillion sa gitna ay nawala ang ngiti ko sa labi. 

Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay si Felecity ang naroon, at kung hindi rin ako namamalikmata ay ang Archduke ang nakikita kong kahalikan niya. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanila ng nakatagis bagang. I felt an emotion stirred inside me. Nagulat pa ako dahil sa kung anong nararamdaman ko.

Just who the fuck authorized this shit? 

Mabilis na rumolyo ang mata ko nang maalala ang mga katagang binitawan niya sa akin. He said that I belong to him because he marked me as his? Hah! Newsflash! I am nobody's property! I just need to act like a submissive woman to covet his Karmic Venom! 

"We have arrived, Your Holiness." Nabalik ako sa realidad nang magsalita si Dauin. 

Pagbaba ko ng karuwahe ay kaagad akong binati ng knightage ng crown prince. They make way for me as I entered the palace doors. Sa pagpasok ko naman ay bumungad sa akin ang naglilinyahan nitong mga katulong na ngayon ay nakayuko rin upang magbigay ng galang sa akin. 

"Dauin," Linga ko rito. Kaagad naman siyang tumabi sa akin at inilapit ang ulo niya upang makinig sa sasabihin ko. 

"Where is the crown prince's room?" Diretso kong tanong dito. 

"Oh, yes." He instructed the maids to rise to go back to doing their chores. "Right this way, Your Holiness." As he led the way, I couldn't help but admire how simple the interior designs looked. 

It looks like Ferocious is not that extravagant when spending his gold, but that's a good trait for the next Emperor. Sa ganoong paraan ay hindi siya masisilaw sa salapi at ginto. Or maybe he doesn't care much about his palace because he spends more time in his laboratory? 

Who knows? I know a little about the prince's backstory since it wasn't mentioned in the novel. He's one of the most mysterious characters you can encounter in the story.

"Here we are, Your Holiness." Hinawakan niya ang door knob at muling nagsalita bago ito pihitin upang makapasok ako sa loob. 

"Please cure him, Your Holiness. Tatanawin ko itong isang malaking utang na loob. I will promise to return the favor." I smiled at him. His eyes looked sad but hopeful that I could cure and save his best friend. 

"I will try my best." When he opened the door, I went inside. 

I was welcomed with smoke coming from the incense inside his room. Nanuot sa ilong ko ang mahalimuyak na amoy ng lavender flower. The royal physicians must have put it to calm his nerves and prevent him from hallucinating. 

Nang makalapit ako sa higaan ng prinsipe ay kaagad na umawang ang bibig ko nang makita ang nakahubad nitong katawan na nakahilata sa kama. I took a step closer, and I saw his skin etched with crescent moon like rashes all over his body. Ang noo nito ay medyo nakakunot at halatang may iniinda itong sakit. 

His room was dim and dark but I was able to see his well toned body na para bang nagpapapansin sa akin. I lick my lower lip. Dumako ang paningin ko matipuno nitong dibdib patungo sa nagmamalaki at naghuhumindig nitong pagkalalaki. 

Bakit galit na galit ang bebe na yan?

Oh, God. Ano ba ang ginawa ko noong past life ko at puro ratbu nakikita ko rito? Grabe ka na talaga Charm! Mahina kong sinampal ang sarili ko. Tangina mo, Debina umayos ka.

I cleared my throat and sat beside him. I leaned in to touch his forehead. Narinig ko naman ang mahina nitong pag-ungol nang magtama ang balat naming dalawa. He felt so hot, at kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay siguro nasa 39 degrees ang body temperature niya. 

"Hmm. . ." I was about to remove my left hand from his forehead when he caught my wrist and pinned me against the bed. 

Napasinghap ako nang makita siyang nakaibabaw sa akin habang nanlilisik ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin. The fury in his jade eyes looks agitated like he was ready to kill whoever it was that disturbed him. 

"Who are you?" Tila ba'y galit na galit nitong tanong.

Using my free hand, I touched his face to calm him down. "I am Clea Vaisravana, Your Highness." I traced my fingers in his jawline while my eyes were fixated on his. 

"I am the Saintess." Para naman itong natauhan. Mabilis niyang binitawan ang pulsuhan ko. His dilated pupil contracted when he finally recognized me. Ang galit nitong mukha ay naglaho na parang bula.

"Your Holiness?" Tumango ako bilang tugon kahit na medyo naco-conscious ako sa matigas na bagay na nakadikit sa kaliwang bahagi ng hita ko. 

Gosh, mas dakog bunal kesa kay Carnel! 

"W-what are you doing here?" Kandautal nitong tanong nang nakatingin sa akin. I saw how his Adam's apple bobbed up and down upon looking at me underneath him. 

"I am here to cure your disease, Your Highness." Umiwas naman ito ng tingin sa akin habang kagat-kagat ang ibabang bahagi ng labi niya. 

He honestly looks cute when he's acting shy. Akmang aalis na siya sa ibabaw ko nang higitin ko ang batok niya upang mapalapit siya lalo sa akin. His breathings hitched when our faces were only inches apart.

"Why don't you look at me, Your Highness?" Narinig ko ang pag buntong hininga nito na para bang sumusuko na sa kung ano man ang pinipigilan niya. 

"I don't want to disrespect you," He whispered. "I should at least get dressed up before you cure me." Nakokonsensya nitong wika habang nakatitig sa mga mata ko. 

"It's okay, it's more effective this way." Nakita ko ang pagkasalubong ng mga kilay niya na tila ba hindi niya naiintindihan kung ano ang ibig ko ipahiwatig sa mga katagang binitawan ko. 

He sighs once again, trapping me in between his arms. "But can you do me a favor, Your Holiness?" He softly asked. 

"Can you please stop looking that attractive?" I clung my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. 

"The amount of unholy thoughts I have about you is getting dangerous," he continued. 

Napangisi naman ako bago siya tuluyang hilahin upang mahalikan. As he began kissing me slowly, I started to cure him by passing my energy in between our mouths. Ang mga mata ko'y nakamulat habang masuyo akong hinahalikan ng prinsipe. His kisses were soft and passionate. The way he kissed me was full of respect and passion. 

Ano ikaw lang pwede makipaghalikan sa iba, Dimir? Tangina mo, Archduke! 

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