CLEA

Sometimes, I wondered why that crazy Goddess took pity on me and gave me another chance to live. I could die in peace and suffer no more, but I was also desperate enough to live. So, I guess I had to put up with this life until I fixed everything. But how much can I endure when I'm already in this situation again?  

"This is the face of the wretched woman you all thought was pure and holy! In reality, she was a cunning and conniving wench  in cahoots with the person who killed my father!" Felecity's grip on my jaw tightened. 

Hindi ko magawang pumalag sa kanya sa kadahilanang nakaluhod ako sa isang maliit na entablado habang nakaposas ang dalawang kamay ko sa hugis krus na kahoy. 

"The forbidden fruit had ripened and would rise as a new tree that would withstand the winds and storms?" Bulong niya habang nakalapit ang mukha sa kanang bahagi ng leeg ko. I felt her smirk. "But will you be able to survive this?" Marahas niyang binitawan ang panga ko bago tumingin sa mga tao sa ibaba ng entablado. Hindi na ako nagulat pa sa sinabi niya. 

I bet she was dying to do this, playing with my life in her hands. She is just as greedy as her mother. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, indeed. 

"People of the empire! It was to my dismay that the evil woman who seduced my father gave birth to a bastard! Though half of my blood, I could not forgive the fact that he murdered our father and sought refugee to the Rognvaldur's!" She announced with her hands balled into a fist. And, of course, it gained many different reactions from the people. 

"You mean to say the House of Rognvaldur sheltered the illegitimate son and supported him?" A woman raised her left brow as if she were questioning the truth behind Felecity's words. 

Siniko naman ito ng kasama niya. "I guess it's true? Hindi mo ba nabalitaan ang pagtubo ng Lily of the Valley sa Alcanta? That must've been the God's warning that the House of Rognvaldur is plotting against the royalties." Pangungumbinsi sa kanya ng kasama niya. 

"But he fought against the Vrotia Empire and prevented a war between neighboring empires! He is our hero!" A child exclaimed, lifting his small limbs as if he strongly disagreed. 

"What does a child like you know? Maybe he did that to gain more merit and increase public support!" A young nobleman in his teenage years countered the child's remark. He looks dissatisfied just by hearing a mere kind trying to defend the archduke. 

I get it. Nobilities detest the House of Rognvaldur because none of them could touch it. Alcanta prospers daily and can stand independently without the central capital's help. He kept business as a business and was never seen in friendly relationships with nobilities. No one can take advantage of him or use his name. Many have tried to send their daughters to try and seduce him, but he pays no attention to them as if their parents disgust him. Even when engaged to the crown princess, he still wouldn't glance at her. 

"H-hindi maari! Ang artsidukado ang dahilan kung bakit may nakakain kami sa pangaraw-araw! N-naniniwala akong hindi niya magagawa iyon!" Lakas loob na paninindigan ng isang gusgusing bata. May karungisang ang mukha at ayos ng buhok nito subalit malinis naman ang lumang damit na suot niya. 

"Lakan! Huwag ka m-maingay! Baka parusahan ka ng mga tao k-kapag mangialam ka! Sa antas natin ng pamumuhay rito wala tayong karapatan makisali!" Hila sa kanya ng batang babae na may kadungisan din ang mukha.

Now that I've seen them, I think they were the children I saw across the street. They are from the slums. I'm the one who supported them until this day using the archduke's name. 

"Hindi, Taran! Ang artsidukado ang nagbigay liwanag sa buhay nating mga batang dukha! Kapalit ng mga malilinis na kasuotan na binibigay sa atin, pagbigay ng tulugan at ang karangalan makapag-aral at makakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw ay nararapat na ipagtanggol natin siya!" Wala sa sarili akong napangisi sa kaloob-looban ko. Tinuon ko ang pansin ko kay Felecity na mukhang nauubos na ang pasensya dahil sa mga naririnig. 

"T-tama! Napakarami sa inyo ang mas nakakaangat pero wala ni isa sa inyo ang tumulong sa amin kahit na mamamayan din kami ng imperyo! Hindi kami naniniwala sa inyong paratang hanggang wala itong karampatang ibidensya!" If only my hands aren't tied, I will applaud this kid for his bravery. For an unfortunate orphan defending his benefactor in front of the princess and the nobilities they accused of rebellion, really takes a lot of courage to step out. 

"Kahit na sangkot man siya sa kung ano mang pinaparang niyo ay paniguradong may malalim siya na rason. Dahil kung mayroon mang bukod tangi sa artsidukado, iyon ay ang pagiging bukas ng kanyang mata at tenga sa mga hinaing ng nakakarami! Hindi kagaya ng ilan sa inyo na nanatiling bulag at bingi sa mga katiwaliang nasa paligid niyo!" Natahimik naman ang mga ito habang nag iigtingan ang mga mata dahil sa pagkainsulto. 

"How dare you—" Akmang pagtataasan na siya ng kamay ng isang matanda nang biglang humarang si Carnel. 

"Why are you raising your hand to a child who spoke nothing but the truth?" Somehow, I felt relieved when Carnel protected him. 

I roamed my eyes below the small stage. Knights, noblemen, and the people of the capital surrounded me. Some look confused about why I am being chained in front of them; few look curious, but most stare at me with this. 

"Enough! Those who speak on behalf of the House of Rognvaldur shall get their tongue cut out as an example!" Mariin na wika ni Felecity. 

I wanted to laugh. What the heck is this public display of authority and power? Ano siya power rangers? She must've thought she could do whatever she wanted now that her father is dead and her mother tolerates her being an imbecile. 

Things were getting out of hand because of the Emperor's death, but I was able to plan what to do in case I was put on the execution stage. I had Levine cross over to Alcanta to inform me of their whereabouts while Dominique went straight to the temple after seeing the bloody Grand Canal that connects the river to the temple. I asked Caelus to visit the imperial palace to investigate the emperor's death. 

They were reluctant to let me go at first, but I assured them that I would take things on my own and I would be able to handle it without getting killed. At least, that's what I thought. Because I still know someone who won't let me die at this rate. 

"And why is the saintess involved in the House of Rognvaldur's rebellion?" Tanong ng isang ginang. 

Felecity glanced at me with a distasteful look on her eyes. "Why, you ask? To begin with, the holy saintess of yours conspired with my father's bastard. And to prove that my words were not just some baseless accusations, I will present an evidence."  She opened her left palm. May lumabas doong rolyo ng makapal na papel. Iginalaw niya ang kamay niya at bigla itong bumuklat sa harapan ng maraming tao. 

"Has anyone seen a map as detailed as this one?" Tinitigan nila ito nang mabuti at tunay nga na walang kasing detalyado ang mapa na iyon kumpara sa mapa ng buong imperyo na nakita nila. 

"This is a map given by that bastard. If you look over the map, some knight camps were marked as if they served as their targets. Has anyone heard of the knight camps being ransacked by barbaric men? I guess that was also their work." Binaliktad niya ang mapa at pinakita niya roon ang isang minsahe. 

"Give a fake oracle to sway the public and leave the rest to me. You shall be my Empress, and I will offer you the world." Basa niya rito. 

Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko. Bumunghalit ako ng tawa. Gagawan na nga lang niya ako ng pekeng mensahe puro pa malayo sa katotohanan. Sana naman yung may posibilidad nang sa ganon ay mamangha ako sa galing niya maghabi ng kwento. But then again, I must have overestimated her. 

Nakakabobo pala maging inggitera 'no?

"The princess is more concerned about a traitor like me than the emperor's death. Must you be here orchestrating my execution than investigating the death of your  dear father?" I taunted, raising my chin while looking at her in the eye. 

"My, my. . .I appreciate your utmost effort. The princess is an exceptional leader who spares no time to mourn and proceeds to punish the people involved in a crime she has no full details about." As sarcastic as I may sound like, I still gave her a backhanded compliment to piss her off even more. 

"Your father will proudly clap his hands six feet under the ground for you." I mocked. 

His hand immediately landed on my left cheek. Sa lakas ng sampal niya ay rinig na rinig ang paglagapak ng palad niya sa mukha ko. Well, it stings a lot, but seeing her annoyed face is into my satisfaction. 

"Don't you dare insult my father!" Nginisihan ko lang siya na mas lalong ikinadilim ng timpla ng mukha niya. 

"Ah, your muddled mind could not comprehend my words. I was not insulting the late emperor. I was insulting you." Pagkaklaro ko. 

Since things are already this way and I am near my deathbed anyway, I don't see the reason to hold back my words. I will continue to backfire everything she says and make her mad for as long as I can. Para naman makita ng lahat ng tao kung anong klaseng pag-uugali mayroon siya. 

She gripped my hair down, lifting my face towards her. Her eyes were darting at me as if she wanted to kill me on the spot. Sinuklian ko lang siya ng ngisi. "You still dared to get on my nerves even when your life is on my palm?" Mariin niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa buhok ko. 

"Since you're already on your knees, why don't you beg me for your life? Beg me and I will think of killing you or making you my slave for eternity." Nilikom ko lahat ng laway sa bibig ko at walang pag-aalinlangang dinura ito sa maasim niyang mukha. 

"You bi—" I saw on the side of my eye she took the sword of the nearest knight and was about to slash my neck when a firm hand caught the blade of the sword. 

Pinanood ko lang ang pagdaloy ng dugo mula sa kamay ng kung sino mang pumigil dito. Sunod ay ang pagsinghapan ng mga taong nakasaksi ng pangyayari.

"I told you to capture her alive, didn't I?" Nang matinigan ko ang boses na iyon ay mabilis kong iniyuko ang ulo ko upang takpan ang namumuong ngisi sa mga labi ko. 

I was right, he will come. 

Gamit ang espadang sumugat sa kanya ay sinira niya ang mga kadenang nakaposas sa akin. Sumalampak ako sa sahig. I felt a warm and thick cloak covered my bare back as he gently touch my shoulders. 

"Clea, are you alright?" Nang masiguro kong tutulo na ang peke kong luha ay saka ko inangat ang tingin ko upang salubungin ang mga mata niya. Seeing my tears, his expression softened. At nang makita niya ang namumulang pasa sa pisngi ko ay namataan ko ang pagtiim ng bagang niya. 

Into my surprise, he stood up and slapped Felecity in front of the people. Gusto kong magdiwang at magpamisa dahil sa ginawa niya. She stood there, shocked and teary-eyed in disbelief. 

Poor sister, how does it feel to be slapped by your brother you adored so much? 

"I did not permit you to touch her! Let alone hurt her like that!" Matapos niya singhalan si Felecity ay lumapit siya sa gawi ko. He gathered me in his arms and carried me like a bride. 

Mahigpit akong napalawak sa leeg ni Ferocious bago lumingon sa kanya. I tilted my head and smirked at her, showing her that she may put me in a tough spot, but I would always be the victor. 

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko nang haplusin ni Ferocious ang buhok ko. Pinakiramdaman ko lang ang gagawin niya't sa tingin ko ay nakapasok na kaming dalawa sa karuwahe niya. He made me sit on his lap in a horizontal position, supporting my weight by placing his left arm under my back. 

"No one can stop my love for you now," He murmured while fixing the strands of my hair. 

"I already took care of those who hinder us, Clea. Now you rightfully belong to me, and I belong to yours truly." Nakapikit man ako ay alam ko ang malawak niyang ngisi. Sa lahat ng pinagsasabi niya ay ni isa wala rin akong maintindihan. 

"I will hide your beauty in the eyes of those animals. I will do everything to keep you all to myself, even if I have to imprison you in the depths of the palace ." Doon ay may kung anong pumantig sa tainga ko. 

Imprison me?  What the hell—

It was too late for me to react when I felt a needle stuck in my neck. Ilang segundo ang nagdaan ay nakaramdam ako ng hilo at unti-unting pagkaantok. Sinubukan kong buksan ang mga mata ko upang aninagin si Ferocious, pero tuluyan na nanlabo ang paningin ko. 

I knew then everything would be fuck up the moment I opened my eyes. 

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