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°†° «[𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝟐𝟔]» °†°

"Leave us alone," sambit ko habang nakatingin sa labas ng veranda, kung saan tanaw ang hardin na ngayo'y wala nang kahit isang red tulips.q

"Yes, my lady," Krista respectfully obliged. Nang kami na lang ang natira sa silid, agad itong nabalot ng katahimikan.

"My Knight."

"Yes, my lady. I am... here." I heard Conradd's steady voice behind me-full of quiet resolve. My back remained turned to him.

"I'm giving you your first task as my Knight."

Dahan-dahan ko siyang hinarap at tinitigan sa mga mata. His deep obsidian gaze met mine-unwavering and loyal.

"I will carry out your command, faithfully and without hesitation. Just say the word." He lowered himself on one knee, never breaking eye contact.

I smirked at the familiar sight. In my past life, he was exactly the same. Unti-unti kong inilapit ang mukha ko sa kanya hanggang magpantay ang aming mga mata.

I touched his sculpted face. His jaw tightened. I'm really enjoying how easily he gets flustered.

"Really, having you by my side is... concerning," naiiling na sambit ko. Kita sa gwapo niyang mukha ang pagkalito.

You see, this man supports me no matter what. Even if I do something terrible, in his eyes, I'm always right.

In our previous life, with him at my side, I became the villainess everyone feared.

"Before anything else-don't you want to know why I was hesitant to make you my Knight?" I asked, poking his cheek. His ears turned red, though his face stayed unreadable.

'He's really fun to tease. I missed this.'

"My lady..." His voice faltered with helplessness, then steadied.

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you," sambit ko at umayos ng tayo.

"Teasing me..." he repeated in disbelief. "I thought... you hated me," he added, almost sulking.

Naiiling akong tiningnan siya.

"I already told you-I don't hate you, my stupid Knight," sagot ko habang pinagkrus ang mga braso.

"Now, let's take a seat," dagdag ko pa. Nang magkaharap na kami, sinalinan ko siya ng... hot chocolate. This big man isn't fond of tea, coffee, or milk. This is the only drink he enjoys.

Sa mga taon naming magkasama, kabisado ko na lahat ng gusto at ayaw niya.

Hm.

Come to think of it, it's been a while since we've shared a moment like this-quiet, peaceful. In our past life, we lived surrounded by war and uncertainty.

Inilapag ko ang isang itim na tasa sa harap niya.

"I had this cup made just for you. Your name is engraved at the bottom-just like mine," mahina kong sambit.

He's always been picky. In our past life, I misunderstood him. I thought he was just being difficult when he refused my offers of food or drink.

I sighed. Later on, I learned he declined because he was afraid something might happen to him-something that would stop him from protecting me.

I didn't feel offended when he finally told me.

He suspects everything because he's always thinking of my safety. That alone makes me feel secure with him. We're very close. He's like... a dependable older brother to me.

"...For me," he muttered, as if in disbelief. Pinagmasdan ko siyang kunin ang tasa, na para bang may pag-aalinlangan pa rin.

"Yes, our cups match. See?" Itinaas ko ang tasa ko. "My name's written underneath too. From now on, these are our cups. No one else will use them."

"...Our cup," he echoed softly, clearly touched.

"Yes. Now drink it. Once you finish, you'll see your name at the bottom. I made that hot chocolate myself." Pang-uuto-ahem-encourage ko dito.

Nang maubos niya, tinaob niya ang tasa at nakita ang pangalan niya. I showed him mine as well.

This was my old trick to get him to eat or drink something with me.

"Hm..." Nilagay ko ang kamay ko sa baba habang pinagmamasdan siya. May kislap sa mga mata niya-he liked it.

"Our cup. It releases black smoke if the contents are poisoned or toxic," sambit ko. He stared at me with curiosity, his eyes fixed on mine.

"Wondering where I got it?" I asked, resting my cheek on my hand with a playful grin.

"You're not obligated to say, my lady. I have no right to question you-my master," seryosong sagot niya.

"This... is exactly why I'm reluctant, Conradd Zivilla. I'm already dangerous enough. But you-you're a bad influence too." Umayos ako ng upo at sumandal. Kita sa mga mata niya ang gulo at pag-aalala.

"You won't question me. You'll follow me without thought."

"That is my duty, my lady," he answered firmly, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Pfft. Want me to read your fortune? Give me your hand." Wala siyang pag-aalinlangang inabot ang malaki niyang kamay.

"My lady..."

"Shhh. I'm concentrating."

"...."

"I'm a fortune teller, you see." Narinig ko ang mahinang buntong-hininga niya kaya napaangat ako ng tingin.

He was looking at me with a mix of amusement and helplessness.

"Conradd Zivilla. Age 24. Born August xx, 20xx. The only survivor of his clan, who were massacred-reasons still unknown. At the age of 10, he was taken in by the Lamarca Patriarch, Caleb Lamarca, who discovered his potential in the underground battleground."

Unti-unting naging malamig ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya.

"At 18, he became the youngest Knight Commander in history. And now at 24, he has found his master-standing before him, holding his hand, reading his fate."

"...." Tahimik siyang nakatitig sa akin. Kung ibang tao ito, matagal nang nabasag sa tensyon ng malamig at matalim niyang titig.

"He is a loyal Knight. He doesn't care what's right or wrong. Even if his master commands him to burn the world, he will obey without question. In his eyes, she is never wrong. He will one day die, protecting his evil master." I said, my eyes lifting from his palm to meet his.

"His master is a sinner. But he doesn't mind-he, too, has become a sinner for her."

"They walk toward their destruction. Together."

"And that... is the end." I let go of his hand.

The room fell into deep silence.

I gave him time to process everything I'd just said. I couldn't tell what was running through his head-his brows furrowed, eyes distant, still staring at his hand.

I calmly took a sip of my hot chocolate.

"I want to live without regrets this time, Conradd," I said softly, as he lifted his gaze to meet mine.

"I want a Knight who will keep me grounded. Not a weapon without a will. Not a killing machine," sambit ko ng seryoso.

For the past few months since I returned from the past, I keep thinking-

'Why did I come back from the dead? What is the purpose? Did Akashic, the God of this damn world, do it on a whim?'

'Or did something happen after I was gone in my past life? If something did, the only one left alive... was Kazimir, that weirdo.'

Napabuntong-hininga ako at tiningnan ang Knight kong isa ring matigas ang ulo.

"We have to live a healthy and good life, Conradd. Even if it's hard, I want us to live normally."

"Let's influence each other to be good citizens."

"Can you do that?"

I said while sipping my hot chocolate. Nang hindi ko marinig ang sagot nito, nag-angat ako ng tingin.

"If that's what you want, I will, my lady," he said firmly.

Tumayo ako at may kinuha sa mini library ko. I ordered these books and read them kapag hindi ako tinatamad. Ahem.

"This is for you. Read that daily. That's your first task." Inabot ko sa kanya ang anim na libro.

"..." He looked speechless while reading the titles.

Those books are about how to be a good child. Ahem.

"You will stay by my side while reading that," I said, brushing the tip of my nose. Hehe.

"You're reading this, my lady?" tanong niya na hindi ko inaasahan. Napaiwas ako ng tingin. Hindi ko pa nasisimulan 'yan because I want to sleep...

"I will read this and... tell you what I've learned, then, my lady."

"Oh! Let's do that, then!" Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Kapag sisimulan ko na kasi, inaantok agad ako...

My Knight is really reliable, huh!

Nakarinig kami ng katok.

"Stay seated. Finish that," tukoy ko sa cup niya na may laman ulit na hot chocolate at sa strawberry cake.

"Come in."

Nakita ko si Krista, my personal maid. Sa likod niya ay sina Gillion, Hellion, at Amelia-may gulat sa mga mata habang nakatingin sa amin. Bumaba ang tingin nila sa kasama kong tahimik na umiinom ng hot chocolate at kumakain ng strawberry cake like a... harmless good boy. I wanted to tease him, but I held back.

"Cousin~!" Mabilis na tumabi sa akin si Amelia, sumunod sina Gillion at Hellion at umupo rin sa magkabilang couch.

|Conradd|
|Gillion| |Hellion|
|Me & Amelia|

Ganito ang seating arrangement namin. Hm.

Pinagmasdan ko silang lahat. I smiled without realizing it. I want to protect this.

"You look like you're in a good mood, cousin," may ngiti sa sambit ni Gillion.

"We were worried na hindi kayo magkasundo," ngisi ni Hellion, sinulyapan si Conradd. "We were worried for nothing, huh?"

"Right! This is our first time to see the Knight Commander in a very good mood," nahihiwagaang sambit ni Amelia.

"..." Nanatiling tahimik ito.

"You don't have to force yourself to finish that," tukoy ko sa dessert. Pagkasabi ko non ay hininto na niya ang pagkain.

"I'm giving you permission to decline if you don't like or want something, Conradd," I said calmly. Isa rin ito sa mga bagay na hindi ko nagawa noon. I took for granted his unwavering loyalty and trust, and never cared what he wanted for himself. I realized that in our previous life, he was just always there. He never voiced out what he disliked.

If he hadn't been by my side back then, I would've lost my mind much earlier. I can't help but feel bitter and sad. I'm the only one who remembers what we went through-but I also feel relieved, because those tragic memories aren't meant to be kept.

Most of all, I want to thank him for staying by my side. For loving that villainess.

I want to tell him not to fall in love with me, but...

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya, na hanggang ngayon ay hindi inaalis ang tingin sa akin. Like I'm the only person in his eyes.

"You have the freedom. You deserve that," seryosong sambit ko.

I yawned. Hah, I want to sleep.

"Before that... Krista, prepare tea."

"Yes, my lady."

After she served the tea in a white cup, I reached for a red tulip and peeled the petals.

"What are you doing?" di mapigilang tanong nila.

"..." While Conradd continued to observe the cup-nang makita ang itim na usok...

Dumilim ang mukha nito.

"What's the meaning of this, Ophelia?" seryosong tanong ni Gillion.

"Who knows? You have to investigate that, our Heir," ngisi ko, na lalo lang kinadilim ng gwapo niyang mukha.

I don't want unnecessary attention-and it'll benefit him as the Lamarca Heir to solve this.

"I will take my leave." I looked at our Heir proudly-how reliable and responsible.

"I'll help, brother!" sambit ni Hellion.

Bago sila makalabas-

"Thank you, Ophelia. I promise I'll solve this."

Napangiti ako lalo.

Nang maiwan kami, binalingan ako ng katabi ko, nakatingin sa akin like I'm suspicious.

"You..." -Amelia.

"What?"

"Lazy."

Ahem. Di ko ito pinansin at nagpatay-malisya.

"Hm." Another voice agreed.

...Was that Conradd?

Hmph.

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GoddessNiMaster Note: Yown oh! Surprise update! See you sa next chapters!