Chapter 9

Halos higit mag dadalawang linggo na akong naninilbihan sa palasyo at may iilang bagay na akong nakasanayan. Nasasanay na rin ako sa sistema at mga trabahong ibinibigay sa akin ni Miss Marga. Most were always the same as the previous duties that were given to me for the past two weeks. Karaniwan ay halos umiikot talaga sa paglilinis at pagtulong sa mga pag-aasikaso. Well, maybe my duty in the Rose Garden can be considered as an exception. Halos sa akin na naiatas ang gawain doon.

“Quickly! Quickly! All must be kept and clean!”

We were already rushing our works dahil sa masungit na mga puna ng Head. If there is one thing that I cannot really fully adapt as of this moment, iyon na siguro ‘yung pagmamadaling trabaho.

“Elize! Stop daydreaming!”

“Y-Yes, Ma’am!”

I carefully yet in an obvious quick pace pulled the cart of dishes that must be put to the line of servants na dishwashing ang duty ngayon. I sighed. Some servants who are already friends with me noticed my silent plea.

“Oh, Elize? Dito mo na ilagay ‘yan. Madali!”

Siena, my co-worker, quickly asked for the dishes. She looks so cute with her additional headband strip that matches the color of our uniform. She is few years older than me, at ahead sa akin ng tatlong taon dito sa pagtatrabaho. She’s also the same servant na hinayaan akong kunin ang mga gamit na dapat itatapon na nila noong nakaraan.

“Siena, ano ba! Huwag ka ngang makipag-usap diyan. Madadamay kaming nandito kapag nahuli ka ni Miss Marga! Elize, iwan mo na lang ‘yan dito sa amin at bumalik ka na roon,” one of the servants in dishwashing duty dismissed us. She’s just the same as our position at mas matagal lang naninilbihan dito. She looks rather friendly with others, pero tagilid ang pakikitungo sa akin. Her hair is in bun at halata mong mas may edad na kumpara sa amin.

I nodded and carefully arranged piles of plates in the small area for unwashed dishes. Paalis na sana ako nang binulungan pa ako ni Siena, “Hayaan mo na. Palibhasa patandang dalaga na rin.”

I smiled a little at her return. There are still workers who are still wary of me. Hindi madaling mamatay ang mga issue at history ng bawat tao rito. I suddenly remembered few people in the Black Market where lies and rumors are common daily parts of other people’s lives. Hindi ko rin naman masisisi ang mga kasamahan ko rito. I am working here to pay for my crime – a crime that is far serious than any stealing crimes before.

I am still sick of this kind of treatment from others, but definitely better than having Roshan to endure these wrong impressions. My brother is way more innocent to receive such treatments. Mas maganda na ring siya ang kasama ni Mama doon as he really has this unconditional love for our her.

Time came and everything was now clean and neat just like how we were instructed. We were asked to assemble shortly pagkatapos matapos lahat ng mga gawain.

Miss Marga, along with her striking arch brows, gazed sharply at us. I felt a little intimidated pero halos sa araw-araw kong nararanasan ang mga titig niya, I felt like it’s a little normal. Umubo siyang kaunti to get everyone’s attention nang mapansin niyang may mga nagsisitsitan sa likod.

Katabi ko si Theo na tahimik lang at diretso ang titig sa Head. She’s cheerful outside work pero kapag assembly, she really has this obedient attitude.

“Grandmasters will return today at 16:00, based on the message from Sir Henry, the Captain of White Knights. Everyone is expected to assemble at the Grand Lobby to welcome their returns. Magmadali kayo sa pagpunta kapag narinig niyo ang tunog ng Grand Bell. Dismissed! Go to your next duties!”

“Understood,” we said in unison.

Hindi ko kilala kung sino ang tinatawag na Grandmasters. I’ve never heard of them kahit na nasa Black Market ako. Sumama ako agad kay Theo na papunta ngayon sa Lobby para maglinis. Almost everyone was assigned for cleaning duties today. Sa tingin ko ay parte na iyon ng paghahanda ng palasyo para sa pagsalubong sa tinutukoy nilang Grandmasters.

“Ah, ang Grandmasters?” Theo said when I asked her about them.

“Sila ang nobles na kabilang sa Royal Court. They are the 16 families who are considered as the richest nobles in the entire kingdom. The Queen and her royal family are the 17^th one. Siyempre, sila ang pinakamayaman at pinakamakapangyarihan sa Court. Siya ang pumuputol sa mga tablang desisyon kung sakaling mayroon.” I gulped when I learned the answer.

So we are about to meet and welcome those people?

“Ah! Pero alam mo, nitong nakaraan ay hindi na ang Reyna ang sumasama sa mga assembly nila lalo na sa mga pagbibigay hatol,” she casually continued.

My face slightly twisted in confusion. “Hindi ang Reyna? Sino ang pumapalit na representative for the Royal family?” I asked.

Theo stopped in her tracks at parang nagpipigil ng kilig. “The Prince himself! Prince Dale!” Oh, I see. He’s the next king of the kingdom, after all. Halatang kinikilig si Theo nang sabihin niya iyon. She looks like someone who has admiration for the Prince.

Pilit kong inaalala ang mukha ng nag-iisang tagapagmana. Hindi ako masyadong pamilyar sa itsura niya dahil puro nakayuko ang tungo ko sa pakikipag-usap. Any member from the Royal family is not allowed to see a criminal’s face. But I certainly know his voice. That deep timbre, and authoritative voice of his, and his overwhelming, deep, gray eyes.

“Sa Royal’s Guard ka ngayon, hindi ba?” she asked. Tumango ako. Naatasan ako ngayong maglinis sa vicinity ng mga Knights.

Agad na akong nagtungo sa quarters nila at nagpaalam na ako ang naatasan sa paglilinis ng quarters nila ngayon. Their place is slightly bigger compared to our quarter. They immediately recognized me, pero hinayaan naman nila akong pumasok dahil nakita nila ang mga bitbit kong panglinis.

Only few guards are stationed here. Sa tingin ko ay nakadeploy ang halos bilang escort ng Grandmasters. Miss Marga mentioned Sir Henry’s name a while back. As the captain of the knights, he is surely with them as escorts and guard.

Hindi nagkakalayo ang interior ng quarter namin sa kanila. Halos pareho lang na may hagdan sa gitna papunta sa mga susunod pang palapag. Though, the guard’s vicinity is more spacious at may hiwalay pang kwarto. It has a board sign above the door. Assembly Room.

“Sir!” A low-ranking knight came into the hall. Knights’ orders in position are indicated by their number of medallions in their right chest. This Knight has two in him.

“An order from above has laid upon us. We were ordered to gather in the Grand Lobby and Entrance to join Captain Henry and the Grandmasters.” The knight showed a slight panic in his voice despite his calm demeanor and salute. Tinignan ko ang oras sa maliit na orasan na nakalagay sa itaas ng hagdan. 11 o’ clock.

Akala ko ba bandang alas-kwatro pa ang dating ng Grandmasters?

“You heard the order! Deploy yourselves!”

Mayroong hinilang kurdon ang knight na pinagbigyan ng saludo. Nataranta ako nang biglang tumunog ang isang bell. Several Knights gathered in their hall vicinity at saka nagmartsa palabas. The acting Head Knight ordered me to continue my work. Nasa isang sulok lang ako at tumigil panandalian sa paglilinis nang mangyari ang lahat. I immediately did a curtsy and affirmed the order.

Hindi nagtagal ay nablangko ang buong vicinity. I did not expect na mababakante ang buong house dahil lang sa paghahanda ng pagsalubong sa mga miyembro ng Royal Court. I sighed. Maybe this is a little better for me to work. Ako lang ang naatasan mag-isa dahil ang utos ay ang unang palapag lang naman ang kailangan kong malinis. Miss Marga said that I am enough to clean the whole floor.

-

Lumipas din ang oras at natapos ko na rin ang duty ko. I was tidying everything up nang biglang bumukas dahan-dahan ang pinto. I’m about to offer a welcoming curtsy for the Knights nang mapatigil ako sa taong pumasok ng quarter.

“Y-Your Highness,” I muttered and curtsied as respect. Labis na naman ang pagpintig ng dibdib ko dahil sa gulat at kaba. Why is the Prince here? Akala ko ba may utos mula sa itaas?

“Lift your head,” the same baritone voice commanded. Hindi ko alam kung susundin ko ba dahil makikita niya ako. I inhaled deeply and chose to follow his command.

“It’s the braided woman again,” bulong niya. He looked at me and then to the cart that I brought along. He landed his eyes after the hall. Mabuti na lang at natapos na ako sa paglilinis nang dumating siya, at kahit papaano ay nadatnan niyang malinis ang pupuntahan niya.

“I see. You were on duty. I apologize for the sudden intrusion, lady,” he casually said. I blinked when I realized what he said. I immediately bowed at him deeply.

“There’s no intrusion, Your Highness,” I replied. Sa tingin ko ay mas lalo akong napatanga nang bigla siyang tumawa nang mahina. This Prince looks so casual and cheerful. Ibang-iba sa nakaharap ko nitong nakaraan lang sa garden at sa Throne hall. He is wearing a white polo-sleeved na may linings sa gilid paired with black slacks to complete his outfit. Quite a prince vibe to say.

“I thought that I would pay the guard’s vicinity a visit while everyone’s away. I didn’t expect that I would see you here,” he said. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong humingi ng tawad dahil mukhang hindi niya talaga inaasahang may tao pa rito. I chose to do so. I curtsied and offered an apology, but he casually dismissed it. Naguguluhan ko siyang tinignan. Is this really the same Prince?

“No need for that. I’m not planning to stay for long. Her Majesty suddenly ordered the Knights for assembly for the Court. Naisipan ko lang talagang bumisita rito habang walang tao.”

Why would he do that? He can do it while they are around though. I doubt that there’s a need for an effort to sneak in if he is the very sole heir of the kingdom. Magsasalita na sana ako nang biglang umugong ang Grand Bell na tinutukoy ni Miss Marga kanina.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko nang maalala ang ibig sabihin ng pagtunog ng bell ngayon. The arrival of the Grandmasters is way earlier than the expected time. Natataranta kong hinila ang cart na dala-dala ko. The Prince has already stepped outside the quarter. Nagulat pa ako nang makitang hinihintay niya akong makalabas at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto.

The loud rang of the Grand bell echoed inside the whole place. Sa tingin ko ay hindi ako aabot sa tinakdang lugar kung ibabalik ko pa sa quarter namin ang cart na dala ko. I am already contemplating inside whether I would bring this with me, pero siguradong mapapagalitan ako ni Miss Marga.

“You’ll not make it in time kung ibabalik mo pa ‘yan.” My eyes widened when he snatched the cart away from my hands at itinabi iyon sa sulok. Medyo basa ang handle ng cart na iyon dahil sa paglilinis, and he just held it with his very hands.

“Y-Your Highness..”

“Come with me. Let’s head this way.” He held my arm with his another hand. Iyong kamay na hindi niya pinanghawak ng cart kanina. What the hell is he thinking? Hindi niya lang hinawakan ang maduming hawak ko kanina. He even held his servant. Alam ba niyang haharap siya sa Grandmasters mamaya-maya lang?

Dumaan kami sa isang maliit na hallway. Hindi ko alam ang daan na ito na sa palagay ko ay matagal nang hindi dinaraanan. I’m also worried that someone might see us running in the hall, or rather, see me running with the sole prince of the kingdom. Hindi ko alam ang kahihinatnan ko kung sakaling makita kami nang ganito.

Mas mabilis kaysa sa inaasahan kaming nakarating sa Grand Lobby. Inihatid niya ako papunta sa back door na hindi namin madalas ginagamit. Ang pintong nakakonekta papunta sa Dine hall ang lagi naming dinadaanan. This one, on other hand, is rarely opened dahil walang kahit na isang lugar o kwarto sa palasyo ito nakadugtog.

“Quickly go to your place. The nobles are arriving,” his same deep voice said. Nakatingin lang ako sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa braso ko nang bigla niya itong bitawan. He, too, realized his actions and swiftly put both of his arms behind his back.

“Sir, your hands…”

“This is fine. Go to your place!” Napapitlag ako nang marinig ko na ang maawtoridad niyang tono. I quickly offered a curtsy for my leave nang bigla niya akong patigilin na parang biglang may naalala.

“Braided girl, you’re the same servant at the Rose Garden, aren’t you?”

I nodded and bowed my head as a response. “Yes, Sir.”

“I see. Before your leave, you are called Elize, right?”

Wala sa sariling napaangat ako nang tingin sa narinig ko. He remembered my name when I met him at the garden. My gaze met his overwhelming gray eyes for the second time. Hindi ko namalayang napatitig na pala ako sa kanyang mga mata. Naalala ko na lang ulit sumagot nang bahagyang tinagilid niya ang ulo niya na para bang hinihintay ang sagot ko.

“A-Affirmative, Sir. My name’s Elize. I was the newest servant here in your castle.” Tumango ito sa akin. I took that as a signal for my leave nang bigla ulit siyang maglahad ng bagong utos sa akin.

“Meet me tomorrow at the Rose Garden. Same place. Same time,” he commanded. I blinked unconsciously at his order and looked at him. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin habang may kaunting ngiti sa labi. I honestly thought that the time stopped for a moment kahit na rinig na rinig ko ang ugong ng tunong ng Grand bell at ng ilang malalapit na yabag ng Knights papunta sa loob ng lobby. Saka na lang ako tuluyang muling humarap sa kanya at nagbow nang bumalik ako sa diwa at mapagtanto ang sinabi niya sa akin.

“Understood, Your Highness,” I said and went inside the Grand Lobby to welcome the noble families of the Royal Court.