"Here." Tumatawang inabot ni Luke sa akin ang dalawang pills at isang basong tubig.

The horse ride made my aching hips worse, that I had to be carried back inside the mansion.

"Stop laughing!" I took the pills. "Now explain!" Inis kong sabi matapos bumuti ang pakiramdam.

"Is it not hurting anymore?" Hinawakan niya ang balakang ko at hinilot iyon.

"No. I feel better." I confirmed. Para mag-umpisa na siyang magpaliwanag.

"Pwede na ulit pasakitin?" Pinisil niya balakang ko na kanina ay hinihilot niya, at malokong ngumiti.

"Your Grace!" Tinapik ko ang kamay ni Luke, at napatingin kay Adellei na nakatayo sa gilid hawak ang tray na pinaglagyan niya ng baso ng tubig.

"Leave us. I'll tend to the Duchess myself." He ordered, na agad namang sinunod ni Adellei.

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Luke ng lumapit siya sa cabinet at kumuha ng damit ko. Bumalik siya sa akin with a dress in his hand, and something else.

Agad na nag-init ang pisngi ko ng makita ang underwear na nakapatong sa damit.

Dali dali ko iyong kinuha sa kamay niya.

"T-Tumalikod ka muna at magbibihis lang ako." I told him.

"Really? Do I have to do that, when I have already seen all of it?" Kaswal niyang sabi.

"Oo, kailangan mong tumalikod! Maya ay kung ano ano nanaman ang maisipan mong gawin sa akin." I pushed him, and made him face the wall.

He laughed but surprisingly, he didn't protest and obediently followed what I said.

Nagmamadali kong hinubad ang kasalukuyang suot at ipinalit ang damit na ibinigay ni Luke.

"I'm done." Pagbibigay pahintulot ko na pwede na siyang humarap.

"Looks good on you." Agad niyang papuri at lumapit sa akin para laruin ang nakalugay kong buhok.

"Pwede na tayong mag-usap?" Tanong ko at hindi binigyang pansin ang paglalandi niya sa akin.

"Yes. Alam ko namang hindi mo ako titigilan eh." He said pouting his lips.

"Then go ahead and start explaining." I crossed my arms.

"Come here." He held my hand and had me seated at the end of the bed.

He grabbed the small chair near my bed and sat in front of me.

I patiently waited for him to talk. Ang dami kong gustong malaman.

"Remember when I told you that the King ordered the assassination of Archduke Cadmus?" Pag-uumpisa niya.

I nodded.

"It's true. Pabalik na siya nun sa Grand Duchy sa hilaga mula sa isang linggong pagbisita sa palasyo ng tambangan ang hukbo nila ng mga hindi kilalang tao." Luke continued. "One of the assassins had successfully injured him, and the Archduke's body fell on a cliff. Rumaragasang ilog ang ibaba ng banging iyon. Our Knights were able to retrieve his body and killed most of the assassins, but his Highness has severe injuries. Ilang buwan din na sinikap naming makahanap ng healer para magamot siya, pero walang nakita sila Ronan dito sa Vehallard. Wala ring nagawa ang mga mapagkakatiwalaan nating mga doktor sa sugat niya na lumala gawa ng impeksyon. Binigyan ko siya ng pills na ibinigay mo sa amin habang nasa digmaan, kaya siya gumaling."

Napasinghap ako sa mga narinig na sinabi niya.

"My pills?" Ulit ko.

Luke nodded.

"Hindi lang kami na nasa digmaan ang natulungan mo kundi pati na rin ang buhay ng Mahal na Prinsipe." Dagdag ni Luke.

"Pero bakit hindi siya bumalik sa palasyo? Alam mo ba kung gano nasaktan ang mahal na Reyna sa balitang namatay ang kaisa isahan niyang anak? At kaninong katawan ang pinaglamayan namin? At kung alam mo naman palang buhay ang mahal na Prinsipe, bakit ka pumayag tungkol sa pagmamana ng trono?" Sunod sunod kong tanong.

"We were trying to find more evidence that it was the King behind the attack." Sagot ni Luke. "The body that was buried is one of the assassins. Isinuot dito ang kasuotan ng mahal na Prinsipe. Ilang araw pa bago nila inilabas ang kunwaring katawan kaya naaagnas na ito ng makita at ang kasuotan lang ang ginawang basihan ng mga nasa palasyo. Ginaya nila ang mga sugat na natamo ng Prinsipe sa katawan ng natagpuang bangkay." Paliwanag niya sa isa sa mga tanong ko.

The coffin was indeed sealed immediately because the body was found in a rotten stage. The state funeral only lasted three days instead of the traditional week long.

"One of the assassins was held captive at the camp, but before we could dig deeper into the case he died of blood lost because he chewed his own tongue." He continued explaining.

Kinilabutan ako sa narinig.

"Kung ganon, pano ninyo nalaman na ang mahal na Hari ang gumawa nito?" I was confused.

"It was his Highness who confirmed it. Before he falls into the cliff, he was able to grab the person trying to kill him, and pull a handkerchief from him. The handkerchief has a seal that belongs to the  Commander of the Royal Knights, who is also the King's personal Knight. Pero hindi iyon sapat bilang ebidensya dahil madali lang naman iyong maitatanggi." Bumuntong hininga si Luke. "And about why his Highness didn't come back after recovering, it's because it would be risky to do so. Sa oras na bumalik siya, he is the Crown Prince, the same position that almost got him killed. Isa pa, makakapagplano ng maayos kung mananatiling lihim na buhay pa siya."

"At ang tungkol sa pagmamana mo ng trono?"

"It's all for the show." Maiksing paliwanag niya.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil hindi ko kailangang maging Reyna, at si Luke na ayaw naman talagang maging Hari.

"But I did intend to take the throne to myself at some point." Seryosong sabi ni Luke.

"Your Grace!" Agad akong saway sa kanya. We'll be in trouble if someone hears that.

"When I first learned about your condition, that you cannot bear children, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. I know that they will use it against me, and that sooner or later, the Queen will tell me to divorce you. But I don't have any intentions to divorce you, wife. So I thought about taking the throne for myself, and kill everyone who dared to defy me or force me to divorce you. Those kind of evil thoughts crossed my mind." He admitted without hesitation and regret.

"Your Grace-" Natigilan ako ng lumapit siya at lumuhod sa harap ko para pumantay sa akin.

"I love you so much that I could do that much." He rested his head on my lap.

Napabuntong hininga ako.

"I'll be fine once the cure is done. So please, wag mo na ulit iisipin ang mga ganyang bagay. I don't want you to do horrible things just because of me." Hinaplos ko ang ulo niya.

Hindi siya sumagot.

"Nagkakaintindihan ba tayo, Your Grace?" Binigyang diin ko ang mga katagang sinabi.

Hindi pa rin siya sumagot.

"Luke!"

Inangat niya ang ulo at tumingin sa akin.

"It depends." Seryosong sagot niya, na agad namang ikinataas ng kilay ko. "Hindi ako magdadalawang isip na gawin ang alam kong tama para lang protektahan ka." He added.

I caressed his face. Ayaw kong mapahamak siya ng dahil sa akin, pero hindi ko maiwasang matuwa kapag naririnig ko ang mga ganoong bagay mula sa bibig niya.

Speaking of protecting me, hindi ko alam kung ito ba ang tamang oras para sabihin ito sa kanya, pero susubukan ko na rin.

"Your Grace-" Hinawakan ko ang dalawa niyang kamay. "There is something I'd like to ask."

"What is it?" His eyes cautiously looked at my hands holding his.

"I want to ask your permission about something." Pag-uumpisa ko.

"What is it?" Ulit niyang tanong sa mas seryosong tono.

"I was just thinking, maybe I should learn some magic and self defense? Para sa susunod ay magawa kong protektahan ng maayos ang sarili ko at hindi maging pabigat sayo." I felt relief ng masabi ko na ang gusto.

"Kahit kailan ay hindi ka naging pabigat sa akin." Kalmadong sagot niya.

"Well, what if the same thing happens again? Hindi ba't mas maganda na makatulong ako sa inyo?"

"It will not happen again." He said in a strict tone. He's obviously against the idea.

"But Your Grace!"

"No buts, wife." His brows twitched.

"Fine. I'm sorry for asking." Dismayado kong sagot.

I let go of his hands at sumampa sa kama saka niyakap ang unan.

I really thought he would allow me, and that he would be proud of my decision.

"It's not that I'm against it. Syempre suportado kita sa lahat ng gusto mong gawin. I'm proud that you wanted to learn magic, and self defense. Ang ayaw ko lang ay yung mapahamak ka. Learning magic isn't easy, and sometimes dangerous." I felt his weight on the bed, as he sat beside me.

"I just wanted to help you. I also want to protect you." Hindi ko siya hinarap.

"That's my job. You're my wife, and I love you." I felt his hand on my back.

"I-I know." Pumiyok ang boses ko dahil sa pagtatampo.

Naging tahimik ang buong silid.

Mas lalong humigpit ang yakap ko sa unan dahil alam kong hindi talaga siya papayag.

"Wife." Hinawakan niya ang balikat ko at sinubukan akong iharap sa kanya, pero hindi ako humarap rito. "I'm not mad that you wanted to protect me. It made me happy. It's the first time that someone wanted to protect me out of will, and not because of duty. All my life I'm the one who's always protecting someone else. This family. The Crown." Bumuntong hininga siya. "I just really don't want you to get hurt."

"Pagbubutihan ko." Hinarap ko siya. "I'll be careful not to get hurt while learning, so please?" Hinawakan ko ulit ang mga kamay niya. "Please, Luke! Please?" I made a pitiful face.

"Bakit parang lugi na ako sa relasyong to? Hindi kita kayang tiisin at tanggihan, pero pag ako-" He pouted.

Umabot ata hanggang tenga ang ngiti ko ng makita ang pag-amo ng mukha niya.

"That's a yes, right?" Napabangon ako. "Pumapayag ka na di ba? Di ba?" I confirmed.

"Good god." He let out a deep sigh.

"I promise that I'll be careful. Gusto ko lang talaga na makatulong sayo kahit sa maliit na bagay lang tulad ng hindi maging pabigat and I-" Natigilan ako.

"What?"

"I want to stand next right to you, protecting the Duchy, and our family." Seryoso kong sabi.

Nakita ko ang pagngiti ni Luke na agad niyang pinigilan.

"Fine. A few spells won't hurt." Sa wakas ay pagpayag niya. "I will tell Evans about it." He added.

"Thank you, Your Grace!" Agad ko siyang niyakap.

He also hugged me back.

"This is really unfair." Bulong niya.

I'm glad it went well. Parang gusto ko na kaagad puntahan si Evans para makapag-umpisa na kami.

"By the way, there is also something I'd like to say." Kumawala siya sa pagyakap sa akin.

"What?" Masayang tanong ko.

His face turned sour for a bit, as if it's something he doesn't want to tell me after all.

"I'm going to meet with Lady Idril, wife." Bumuntong hininga siya.

Agad namang nawala ang mga ngiti ko sa sinabing iyon ni Luke.

        ________CHAPTER 2________

Yung mga nagtatanong kung ano ba yung nasa kamay ni Morrigan, secret para bibo. Hahaha.

Di ba sabi nyo baby? (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

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are highly appreciated.