THIRD PERSON

Princess Felecity has been facing back and forth in front of the Empress. Habang kalamadong umiinom ng tsaa ang ginang ay hindi naman mapakali ang prinsesa. She was biting the tip of her nails as she look at the window where the sun is almost setting.

"Did that bitch come back?" Naiinip nitong tanong sa kanyang ina. Sana hindi na siya bumalik. She hoped the man who kidnapped her did some horrible things to her before killing her.

"Language, Felecity." The Empress reminded her. "You are a princess, not a low-class lady." Wala sa sariling napasinghal ang dalaga. At this point, does her mother still care about grace and elegance?

Isn't she worried she'll become the Empress Dowager and lose her power over that whore? Hindi niya maintindihan kung paano nito magawang kalmado pa rin sa kabila ng katotohanan na sa oras na maging Empress ang babaeng iyon ay magkakandaletche-letche ang lahat sa pamilya nila.

"Your Majesty!" Bumukas bigla ang pinto at iniluwa roon ang personal maid ng empress. Bakas sa mukha nito na may dala itong hindi magandang balita. "Her Holiness has returned!" Dahil sa inis ay kaagad siyang sinampal ng prinsesa.

"She's back?! How can she be this lucky?! Bakit hindi na lang siya mamatay?!" She lashed out. Napaupo ang katulong sa sahig hawak-hawak ang namamaga niyang pisngi.

"How did she return?" Parang wala lang tanong ng Empress. Binaba nito ang tasang hawak bago balingan ng tingin ang katulong.

"I-I heard she barely escaped from her captors. P-pagdating niya puno ng galos at sugat ang katawan niya. She was bleeding, a-and his majesty personally took her to take care of h-her. . ." Nakayukong sagot nito.

"My brother did?" Inis na umupo si Felecity sa couch sa tapat ng kanyang ina. "How can he be such a fool? Isn't he aware he's marrying a wicked woman?" She said through gritted teeth.

"You may go now. Leave us." Ma-awtoridad na utos ng ina nito. Nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip ang Empress habang nakatingin sa hindi maipintang reaksyon ng kanyang anak.

She understands why her daughter despises the saintess. It was a matter of love and insecurity. That's why she wanted her gone. However, as the Empress, the existence of the saintess is a political hindrance. If she gets crowned as the new Empress, knowing how talented she is in scheming, she will easily manipulate her son.

"How unfortunate, she didn't die." Napaangat ng tingin si Felecity nang marinig ang mga katagang iyon mula sa kanyang ina.

"Mother, you can do something about it, right? Please, I don't want her to be a part of the royal family!" Nangungusap nitong wika. The Empress smiled.

"Child, there are many ways to kill a woman and put them to ruin." She smirked as she gracefully rang the table bell to call for her butler. Makalaan ng ilang segundo ay may pumasok sa lalaking nasa kaedaran lang ng Empress.

"I want you too. . ." Napangisi na lang si Felecity nang makita ang ina niyang nakangiti habang may ibinubulong sa butler nito. She knew her mother will never let that bitch off the hook. Now, she just have to wait for the show.

Sa kabilang banda ay nagmamadaling naglakad sa may kadilimang pasilyo si Ferocious buhat-buhat ang lupaypay na katawan ng santa. Ang kanang kamay nito ay nakalaylay na sa ere at may tumutulong dugo roon na nakakalat sa sahig.

"Your Majesty, shouldn't you bring her holiness to her room? I've called the royal healers and—" Isang matalim na tingin ang isinukli ni Ferocious sa humarang sa kanya, dahilan upang mapalunok ito at kinakabahang mapayuko.

"Get away!" Sa pagkakataong ito ay wala siyang pakialam kung masundan siya at malaman kung nasaan ang laboratoryo niya. Seeing her in this critical state, he couldn't help but to worry. He needs to do whatever it takes to save her.

Pagpasok niya sa loob ng laboratory niya ay bumungad sa kanya ang sampung taong bata na clone niya. Dire-diretsong naglakad si Ferocious nang hindi inaalintana ang tinginan ng mga kawangis niya sa paligid. Rumihistro sa utak nilang ang santa ang dilag na buhat nito sa kadahilanang tanging siya lang ang babaeng nakakalapit dito at wala ng iba pa.

Maingat niya itong inilapag sa higaan bago pakiramdaman ang pulsuhan nito. Her pulse is weak, and he can feel an anti-healing substance in her body. Who would dare do such thing?

"Despite being covered with blood and wounds, she still looks pretty. It's no mystery why you're so spellbound by this woman." His eighteen-year-old clone commented while gazing at her almost lifeless body.

"What happened to her?" Clueless na tanong ng pinakabata sa kanila na nasa limang taong gulang lang. Inaantok na nakapatong ang ulo nito sa higaan habag nakatingin sa santa.

"This is the lady our step-sister is serving? She doesn't look that naive to me." Mungkahi ng isa pang kawangis nito habang may hawak na clip board at matamang sinusuri ang dalaga sa higaan.

"Are we finally going to take her divine essence?" Napalingon si Ferocious sa clone niyang isang taon lang na mas nakababata sa kanya. This twenty-two-year-old clone of his was the most devious and impatient of them all.

"Can't you see her state right now?" Mariin na tanong ni Ferocious dito. Nagkibitbalikat naman ito. "Does it matter? You will kill her anyway. What's the point of considering the state of her body?" Giit pa nito sa kanya. "Besides, are you even sure she's a virgin?" Naniningkit matang hinablot ni Ferocious ang collar ng damit nito.

"Do you want to die?" Nanlilisik nitong banta. "She is the saintess born and raised in the temple! Who dares to taint her pureness?" Kapagkuwan ay hinila niya ito papalapit sa kanya nang may madilim na ekspresyon sa mukha. "And I will decide when to take her divine essence! You are not in the position to demand me anything!" Marahas niya itong binitawan, dahilan upang mapaatras ito.

"Give me that dark orb!" Napaangat ng tingin ang anim na clone niya. The dark orb is one of the core ingredients he used to create his clones. It was from the energy source of the monsters of the void outside the empire.

"If you used it, you can no longer create more experiments!" Pigil sa kanya ng bente anyos niyang kawangis. "I don't care, give me the damn orb!" Nagdadalawang-isip na nagkatinginan ang mga ito kaya umigting lalo ang panga ni Ferocious. "Now!" His five year old clone jumped out the bed to get the dark orb.

Matapos itong maibigay sa kanya ay kaagad na kinumpas ni Ferocious ang kamay niya. The stone like orb floating between the saint's body was emitting purple-dark energies. Dumadaloy ito sa buong katawan ng santa at paunti-unting pumapasok ang enerhiya sa sugat niya.

Her eyes flew open, and searing pain started to envelop her body. Saglit na pumula ang kaliwang mata nito. The pain was similar to the Karmic Curse. The only difference is that it's more concentrated, and she feels like her body is being incarcerated. It felt like something had just pierced inside her body, and it branched on her organs—pricking her veins and burning her bloodstream.

Her silver eyes were slowly turning into purple-black. Her hands clutched the sheet of the bed—veins were visible on it. "Hold her!" Mabilis na pumwesto ang mga ito sa paanan at uluhan ng santa upang hawakan ang paa at braso niya upang pigilan ito magwala.

"If you succeeded in fusing the void's energy inside her body to heal her, that would mean she is nothing now but a marionette." Umiling si Ferocious. "I will not inject her with my blood. She will stay as the saintess with her own will and emotions." He replied. He doesn't want her to be his puppet because he likes how unpredictable she is. He likes just how stubborn she is.

"But if you let her just like that, who knows what kind of monster she'll become?" Kontra na naman ng clone niyang isang taon lang ang agwat niya.

"She has the protection of the God and the power of holy mana. She will be fine." Tila ba'y buong tiwala niyang tugon.

Muli ay nagkatinginan ang anim niyang clone. Seeing how their master is reacting towards this woman, they know one thing, he is obsessively in love with her. Whatever they say, it won't be enough to convince him as long as she's around. So, they needed to do something to bring the unhinged Ferocious back to his senses.

Samantalang sa matayog na tore ng Magic Tower, tinanggal ng binata ang piring na nakatakip sa ginintuan niyang mata upang tanawin ang kalasag na unti-unti na namang nalulusaw. Ikinumpas niya ang magkabilang kamay niya't kapagkuwan ay umangat ang katawan niya sa ere. He formed his fingers into a diamond before unleashing his power to fix the barrier.

There are three overlapping magic circles in the magic tower. Ang unang sirkulo ay mula lapag na galing sa mga myembro ng magic tower na nililikom ang kanilang enerhiya. Ang pang gitnang sirkulo naman ay mula sa mga elders ng magic tower, at ang nasa pinakatuktok ng tore ay si Dominique. He was the medium of the array. It means he was the center object of all the powers combined together in the magic tower.

All this effort was to restore the shield that was about to get breached because of the anomaly outside the empire. The beasts of the void have gone restless for the past few days, and it's been causing problems for the magic tower.

Dominique heaved a deep breath before carefully channeling their mana into his body. He motioned his hands and directed them toward the barrier—fixing it slowly.

"On the auspicious time of the wedding ceremony, I want you to destroy the barrier that protects the empire against the beasts of the void." Sa hindi niya malamang dahilan ay bigla niyang narinig ang tinig ng santa sa kanyang isipan.

No matter what he thinks about it, he doesn't know why she wants to do that. That would be a massacre. But would a saintess, a messenger of God, do something that would harm her people? But still, what's this uneasy feeling he had? It was as if something terrible would happen.

Matapos ng ilang minutong pag-aayos ng kalasag ay nawala ang tatlong sirkulo na nakapaligid sa tore. Dominique wore his blindfold to hide his eyes again before meeting with the elders of the Magic Tower to ask about that stabilization of the barrier.

"How is it?" Napailing ang isang elder bago bumuntong-hininga.

"The condition of the barrier has stabilized for now, but it's still under observation. There are irregular patterns of activities of the beasts behind the wall." Kahit si Dominique ay napasapo na lang din ng noo.

At this rate, even if he was doubtful about doing the saintess' favor, he wouldn't have a choice. There is a big possibility that the barrier will break on its own, and her favor will be done at the end of the day.

Wala sa sariling kumuyom ang kamao nang binata nang maalala ang sitwasyon ng santa bago sila basta-basta na lang layasan kanina. Remembering how she just started hurting herself normally—and happily in front of them—makes him think that somehow, she's not the saintess he thought she was.

How can someone change that quickly? What has she gone through to be like that?

"Do you have any emergency requests from the palace for assistance?" He asked the Magic Tower's messenger. Umiling naman kaagad ang mensahero.

Napakagat naman ito ng labi. If the saintess refused to heal herself just to justify their 'play' of the kidnapping incident, it would cause her an enormous loss of blood. She could die, but the palace isn't requesting for healers? What could possibly happen?

Meanwhile, on the busy streets of the empire—where everyone was preparing for the festivous event tomorrow, Dimir calmly sits on the roof of Yesterday's Pastry shop as he paints the beautiful woman of his dreams under the moonlight.

He stopped momentarily, gently spinning the paintbrush between his fingertips as he gazed upon the magnificent masterpiece he had brought to life on the canvas.

"I want to dispose of every man who has their eyes on you and make sure they can never see you again." He hummed. Maya-maya ay may uwak na dumapo sa balikat niya. Ang kulay ng mata ng uwak ay magkasing-kulay ng mata niya. Matapos ibulong ng hayop ang lahat ng impormasyong nakalap nito ay kusa itong lumipad palayo.

Wala sa sarili itong natawa dahil sa kahibangang ginawa ng santa. Really, there's no limit to what she can do. The moment he saw her in front of the palace in that state, he knew she did it to herself. But what amused him was how she could easily use her femininity to make any man fall on their knees for her.

And he was not an exception.

The only difference he had between those men around her was that he knew what she was planning. And he gladly supports her in the shadows even if he wants to dismantle Ferocious' body and pluck out Dominique's feathers.

"Have you heard?" Napatingin sa baba si Dimir nang marinig ang isang babaeng kakalabas lang ng pastry shop.

"The saintess returned to the palace after being kidnapped by the Emperor's step-brother!" Nagsinghapan naman ang mga ito. "And I heard. . .she managed to escape, but the barbarians had already defiled her!" Kaagad na tinakpan ng babae ang bibig ng kaibigan niya matapos ito marinig.

"Tone down your voice! What if someone else heard you? Do you not want your head?" Suway pa nito sa kanya.

"B-but that's what the maid in the palace said!" Depensa pa nito.

"How can that be? She is to be married to the Emperor tomorrow! Such a disg—" Napatigil sa pagsasalita ang mga ito nang mabangga ang matipunong dibdib ng isang binata. Nang umangat ang tingin nila ay mabilis silang napasinghap.

"G-greetings, Y-Your Honor!" Napakurap-kurap ang mga ito nang makita ang masamang timpla ng mukha ni Caelus.

"Can the ladies talk about more appropriate matters within your power? Dishonoring the saintess' dignity and chastity, who is about to become the Empress, aren't you afraid I will take this matter to myself and punish you by confiscating your family's wealth?" Natataranta namang humingi ng tawad ang mga ito bago umalis sa harapan niya.

Caelus crossed his arms before lifting his gaze to the man sitting on the roof of his own building. "What are you doing up there? Hosting a rooftop party for birds?" Sarkastikong tanong nito. Imbis patulan si Caelus ay seryoso niya lang itong tinitigan.

"Is everything ready?" Tumango lang ito. "Can you do something to counter the rumor about the saintess?" Sunod na tanong ni Dimir.

They both heard about it from those women, the rumor that started in the palace. It could only be from the princess or the Empress. "A rumor targeting the empress and the princess?" Aniya ni Caelus na parang nababasa ang nasa utak ni Dimir.

"Yes, you see, I heard something interesting lately." Kinumpas ni Dimir ang kanang kamay niya upang itago ang canvas na ginuhitan niya kanina. "That the Empress had an illegitimate child before marrying the late emperor. She was known to be a promiscuous woman who secretly invited men to her chambers even when married to the late emperor." Nakangisi nitong lintaya.

Saglit na natahimik si Caelus habang nakatingala kay Dimir. His hair danced in the wind as he stood on the rooftop, and a red glow emanated from his right eye. His smiles were filled with menace as he peered down from above.

"You mean to spread this rumor by questioning the lineage of the royalties?" Paninigurado ni Caelus dito.

"That's right, that rumor will be more attractive to the nobles—like a bunch of crows feasting on the flesh and bones of the sheep that they thought was a wolf." Makahulugan nitong wika.

"I will immediately—" Hindi na narinig pa ni Dimir ang kung ano mang sinasabi ni Caelus nang may mga imaheng biglang lumitaw sa kaliwang mata niya.

This vision was from his left eye, which he gave to the saintess to monitor her. Mula sa kinaroroonan ng santa ay may nakikita siyang mga kalalakihan na kamukha ni Ferocious. They were pinning her down, and he could see the emission of black-purple energy in her body as if it was trying to fuse inside her. Hindi niya man naririnig kung ano ang nangyayari rito ay alam niyang labis itong nasasaktan sa kung ano mang nangyayari sa kanya.

"Your Grace? What are you—" Naputol ang sasabihin ni Caelus nang bigla itong mawala sa kawalan. Ang tanging natira lang dito ay ang mga nagliparang kulay itim na balahibo sa paligid.

Rumulyo ang mata ni Caelus bago pumasok sa loob ng Pastry Shop upang magpanggap bilang babae. He will start to spread the rumors. Everything in that moment seemed to be too calm—like everything is going according to their plan.

Without knowing that this would be the last night, the Khehan Empire would live in peace.

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