THIRD PERSON

"You look breathtaking, my love." Ferocious praised as he guided her to enter the carriage. Isang ngiti lang ang iginawad ng santa sa pagpupuri sa kanya kahit na ang totoo ay naalibadbaran na siya sa suot niya.

She was adorned in a light cream flowy gown, a masterpiece of sparkling tulle and chiffon fabric. The long-sleeved dress with a high neckline was a canvas for her elegance, and a delicate cape attached to the shoulders added a touch of grace. She was a vision, her beauty akin to a bride's wedding day.

"You look handsome, Ferocious." Pagbabalik puri niya rito nang makaupo na sila sa loob ng karuwahe. At dahil magkaharap lang sila ay pinasidhan ito ng tingin ni Clea.

He was dressed in the regal attire of a prince, a perfect match to her gown. The golden brooch on his chest and the golden tassels on his shoulders added a majestic touch to his appearance, leaving no doubt about his royal lineage.

"Why are you looking at me in such a way?" Ferocious asked, his jade eyes filled with deep love and concern, waiting for her response.

"I just couldn't believe I would marry the empire's ruler. I am not sure if I am worthy of you." The moment when those words escaped her lips, he humbled himself in front of her. Iniluhod nito ang kaliwang paa sa sahig bago abutin ang kaliwang kamay niya.

"My love, you lack nothing. Everything about you is perfection." He assured, kissing the back of her palm. She tapped his shoulders, urging him to lift his gaze at her.

Those words would've been nice to hear if only he were a sane man with no obsessive tendencies.

"What of those people who thought of me as a vile criminal deserving of execution? They will not accept a treasonist as their empress." May lungkot nitong wika. Ferocious raised his left hand to reach out for her cheek.

"Anyone who dares to reject you as an empress is unworthy of their lives." He uttered in a voice full of conviction. He then gave her a warm smile. "You don't need to worry about such trivial matters, alright?" Tumango naman ang santa.

Ferocious returned to his seat and stared at the carriage window, where he could see the empire's people raising their flags to support their marriage; some were throwing flower petals as they passed them. Seemingly so, they look happy with their engagement.

However, from Dimir's point of view, who was sitting on the second carriage behind them—the overwhelming support appears fake. He can see through their facade. Their eyes hold disgust and judgment as if this double wedding is a whole different level of dumb fuckery.

"After years of engagement, we are finally getting married tomorrow." Hindi pinansin ng binata ang sinabi ni Felecity na siyang nakasandal sa balikat niya habang nakalingkis ang magkabilang kamay sa braso niya.

"Yeah, I am also looking forward to it." He replied dryly, eyes still fixated on the window to look at the people's expression. "They look happy, are they not?" Anang pa ng prinsesa. The people outside shouted how the empire was blessed for having two royal weddings.

Is she fucking blind? Nais niya sanang isatinig iyon pero mas minabuti niyang manahimik na lang.

The temple is a sacred place where people come and go to wish for good fortune, good harvest, fertility, and happy marriage. The belief in God and their commandments exists in their hearts, and Clea Vaisravana, the messenger of God whom they worshiped, will be married to the empire's ruler—it was exceedingly immoral and sinful. They could only pray that they wouldn't receive the wrath of the divine.

The other reason he could find for their evident objection is that the House of Rognvaldur is accused of rebellion, and the saintess was supposed to get executed for treason for tricking the people into believing a fake prophecy. Their names were never cleared out to the public, and the said illegitimate son of the former emperor is still lurking around the shadows.

Marriage is the last thing they must pay attention to, but look at them promenading in the daylight, expecting the crowd to honor them and send their warmest welcome and blessing as new partners.

Felecity's grip on his arm tightened, urging him to look at her. Like an actor, his expressionless face looked at her with love. It has become bearable for him, but he still feels the ick whenever she's around. Minsan ay para bang gusto niya na lang itong itulak at sampalin upang magising siya sa pagiging ilusyunada niya.

She accepted his proposal without a whim, didn't even bother to ask him anything, and embraced him as if he were her long-time dream. Days with her felt like a nightmare.

Imbis itanong kung ano ang dahilan kung bakit niya tinigil ang engagement nila ay nagtatanong ito kung saan sila magbabakasyon sa honeymoon nila, ilang anak ang gusto niya, at ano ang ipapangalan nila kung sakali maging babae or lalaki ito—mga tanong na hangga't maaari ay iniiwasan niya dahil hindi niya alam kung paano ito sasagutin.

It's not actually about the question. It's about the person who asks it. Because right from the beginning, he couldn't find any traits to be attracted to her—even her character is out of the question. Even if others praised her as the most desirable woman in the empire, he disagreed.

Everyone knows about their engagement since childhood, and he refuses to marry someone who was taught to like things he loved. He loves painting and writing literary texts, so they taught her to enjoy them. His favorite color is red, and she claims red was her favorite color, too, as if her existence was only made for him—and he hates that.

He wanted a woman who knew who she truly was, someone who had her sense of self and lives not for the sake of other people. A woman brave enough to stand by himself and face adversaries together. A morally gray woman who is neither good nor bad. He longed for someone honest and appreciated him despite his shortcomings—not someone who viewed him as a perfect man.

"Ang haba yata ng araw ngayon 'no? I can't wait for tomorrow any longer. I cannot wait to be addressed as the Archduchess of Alcanta and become your wife." She softly whispered while leaning in, meeting his eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.

Akmang sasagot na si Dimir nang biglang umalog ang karuwahe dahil sa sapilitang pagtigil ng kabayo. Kaagad na nagkasalubong ang kilay ni Felecity. "What's going on? Who dares to stop my wedding promenade?" Iritado nitong tanong sa coachman.

"Your Highness, someone is trying to stop his majesty's carriage!" Sagot nito sa kanya.

"What?!" She hissed. She wanted everything to be perfect, and yet someone managed to spoil it? They must have been tired of living.

Dali-daling lumabas ng karuwahe si Felecity upang silipin kung ano ang kaganapang nangyayari.

Sa kabilang banda ay halos mangalay na rin kakangiti ang santa sa mga taong kumakaway-kaway sa bintana ng karuwahe. She also felt awkward lalo na't napapansin niya na kanina pa titig na titig sa kanya si Ferocious. His stares were just so intense that she feels uncomfortable.

"It would be better if all our kids were to be born as girls who look the same as you." Makahulugan na wika ni Ferocious. Just thinking about it makes him happy.

He wanted their children to be girls so that they would have the same face and power as the saintess. He will have unlimited divine essence to use in his experiments and to feed on his clones. How brilliant would that be?

"Girls? Most emperors would desire a baby boy for their firstborn, Ferocious." Komento ng santa bago sumandal sa upuan ng karuwahe. She was tired of smiling and waving.

"Well? I want to see mini-you's running around in the palace." He chuckled and smiled at her. "Isn't that cute?" He added. Clea's eyebrows raised momentarily when she saw a glint of dark obsession in his eyes.

"You flatter me too much." Iyon na lang ang nasabi niya rito. Habang patagal nang patagal ang pagparada nila ay naiinip na ang santa.

She was waiting for a commotion. Alam niya sa sarili niya na gagawa sila ng paraan para makita siya ngayong may pagkakataon na siyang makalabas ng palasyo, but where the fuck are they and what's taking them so long?

Gusto niya magpapadyak sa inis pero pinigilan niya ang sarili niya para hindi na agawin pa ang atensyon ni Ferocious. Staying with him inside the carriage for a few minutes with silence between them is soffucating already! She wanted to breathe.

"This marriage is blasphemous! This cannot be done! O God of Light, may you forgive this heretical act! Please, have mercy on us!" Rinig nilang sigaw ng isang lalaki. The carriage's horse started neighing violently—the carriage stopped with force.

Kaagad na tumiim ang bagang ni Ferocious sa narinig. "Seems like someone's aiming to star in a Headless Horror Show today." Pabiro pa nitong wika sa kabila ng pagkadisgusto sa mukha niya. Napahinga naman nang maluwag ang santa.

Finally, the commotion I'm waiting for.

"What's going on?" Tila nag-aalalang tanong ng santa.

"Stay here. I'll fix things right away." Paalam nito sa kanya bago lumabas ng karuwahe.

"Whichever do you mean by a heretical act? Do you dare question the decision of your ruler?" Walang emosyong tanong ni Ferocious matapos madatnan ang grupo ng mga tao na nakahrang sa gitna ng daan.

Kung bibilangin ay anim ang mga ito. Ang lima sa kanila ay nakaluhod na para bang nagdadasal at ang isa sa kanila ay nakatayo habang kaharap si Ferocious. Kung titingnan ay parang isa lamang itong normal na mamamayan na walang kahit na anong yaman at titulo, subalit makikita ang determinasyon sa mga mata nito. Mga matang hindi kayang magbulag-bulagan sa kamalian na nakikita.

"You, the ruler of the empire? What ruler puts his subjects in danger?" Pang-iinsulto nito habang dinuduro ang binata. "What ruler puts himself first before the safety of his people?" Panunuya pa nito.

Ang mga taong kanina'y nagdidiwang sa pagpaparada nila ay natahimik. They were all looking at them. Sa totoo lang ay sumasangayon sila sa sinabi nito, wala lang silang lakas ng loob na isatinig iyon sa takot na baka hindi na sikatan ng araw. Sa mata ng pinakamakapangyarihang tao sa imperyo, ay para lamang silang isang maliit na insekto na walang halaga sa kanyang paningin.

"You announced the House of Rognvaldur is guilty of harboring the person who killed the late emperor!" Napatingin ang mga ito sa kakarating lang na si Felecity. "She declared the saintess is a traitor for colluding with the enemy, stating she gave a fake prophecy!" Matalas nitong wika habang nakaturo ang daliri kay Felecity. "Lives were taken in the temple, and no one batted an eye!" Puno ng hinanakit nitong pahayag.

"And yet what? Are both of you marrying them for your gain?" He scoffed.

"It looks like after the late emperor took his last breath, his legacy went down the drain—ending up with a son and daughter who think their royal power is just a free pass for their selfish desires! How regal!" He continued to mock.

Ferocious released an aura of energy on his left fist, ready to give him a blow of punch to send him to hell when Felecity grabbed his arm to stop him. Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya rito na animo'y ayaw niya pakawalan.

"Brother, stop. You can't kill him in front of these many people. Spilling blood before a joyous occasion like a wedding is considered bad luck. You must remain calm." She reminded.

Nakikita niya ang galit sa mata ng kapatid niya. She can see how he badly wants to rip that man's head off his neck and butcher his body for tarnishing their names. Kahit siya ay hindi niya alam kung ano ang kayang gawin nito kapag tuluyang nasagad ang pagtitimping mayroon siya.

Hindi pa man nakakabawi ang mga ito sa tensyon na namumuo sa pagitan nila ay aligagang sumigaw ang coachman ng karuwahe. "Your Majesty!" Halata ang pagkabalisa sa mukha nito.

"Her Holiness is missing!"

Doon ay natigilan si Ferocious. Ang kaninang galit sa mukha ay lalong nadagdagan. Marahas itong napalingon sa mga grupo ng kalalakihan na may gawa ng kumosyon na ito.

With his dark jade eyes, he looked at them, livid. "Grovel and pray for her safe return. If not, I will ensure you meet the God you dearly adored." Madiin nitong pambabanta.

The bride went missing just a day before the wedding. Maisip lang ni Ferocious na may masamang nangyari rito ay naaaning na siya. Isang araw na lang. Isang araw na lang sana ay makakamit na niya ang matagal na niyang pinapangarap.

I will set this empire ablaze if she does not return by sunset!

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