22: Loyalty

Because of that explosion, the classes in Grey Academy for a week was cancelled again. But there was another reason for it. The Emperor feared that because of the happenings in the Academy, their treasures hidden in there would be lost.

And so, secretly, the emperor had commanded to close the campus for a while. They took their time to visit the treasures there.

However, matagal ng wala ang mga ito doon. It was taken by Sebastian. At dahil hindi naman alam ng Emperor iyon, he thought that it was taken by the White Mask person. But it wasn’t just simply concluded by the Emperor himself. Prince Vio was the responsible one for this.

"What are you going to do?" Serafina asked Sebastian once na nakauwi na sila. Kagagaling lang nila sa Throne Room dahil ipinatawag silang lahat ng Emperor. He announced there about the lost family treasures and it might have been taken by the White Mask person.

Of course, alam ni Serafina that the treasures were being kept by Sebastian at alam din niya kung sino yung White Mask person na yun. Somehow, she was conflicted too.

Matagal bago sumagot ang anak niya. Well, it was not something that could be easily answered. Sino ba naman kasing mag-aakala na magiging ganito ang sitwasyon?

"Take your time to think, son. I don't want to encourage you to use that lady as your escapegoat, but I don't want you too to hurt yourself. Just remember that there's always a way out. You just have to be quick-witted."

Yun lang at nagpunta na siya sa kwarto niya.

Si Sebastian naman ay napaisip ng husto. Prince Vio was wise to use the situation to blame the White Mask person. For him, it would be like hitting two birds with one stone. He was really a formidable enemy.

***

Prince Vio, on the other hand, immediately went to Diana's house. Dahil bantay sarado na ng mga tao ni Sebastian ang Black Council Head Quarters, wala pa silang tagong lugar na mapagmmeetingan. Kaya pinuntahan na lang muna niya ang dalaga sa kanila.

Diana was still angry about what had happened to the HQ. It was her very own Throne Room. She was already the Queen sa lugar na iyon but it was gone now.

Vio hugged Diana from behind.

"I have good news."

Hindi nagsalita ang dalaga.

"My father secretly decreed sa mga officials niya to catch the White Mask person kapag muli itong lumabas."

Diana immediately looked at him.

"Why?"

"The royal treasures in the Grey Academy were missing. We are not sure kung sino ang kumuha noon. It could be Sebastian. Who knows kung alam niya ba ang tungkol sa mga iyon? But I made sure to put the blame on the White Mask person. We have to take that person first bago ang lahat."

Diana smiled at him.

"Thank you."

"You finally smiled again."

"I can't help it. The HQ has long been there in Grey Academy and that cursed person blew it up just like that. Isa pa, dinamay niya pa ang mga members ko na naroroon leaving few of my people alive."

"It's okay. We can just recruit more. For now, we need to look for a new HQ so that we can operate again."

She nodded at him happily then hugged him.

***

Hindi naman nakaligtas kay Samantha ang secret decree na iyon ng Emperor. She figured that it was done by Vio. He must have done that for Diana.

Well, it was not like it would make her afraid or what. Totoong seryoso ang secret decree ng Emperor, but she was not gonna stop now just because of it.

There was always a way out. She just have to be quick witted.

Nabasa niya iyon sa Journal ni Emy. It was like a mantra that she had received from her mentor.

Samantha thought it was a good one. Kaya naman she had been thinking about it whenever she needed to plan something.

But for now, Samantha had to talk to her maidservants. She would be more vicious this time. She wanted to make sure that these four would be mentally and emotionally prepared.

She faced the four of them.

"These past few weeks, I have been busy plotting against the people who are indebted to me. You should know by now kung gaano ko sila kagustong magdusa because of what they have done to my loved ones before.

"Ngayon palang I want to tell you already that my plans will get more vicious. You might even end up hating me because of it. So now, I'd like to know if you still want to remain by my side and do my commands."

Emy told them directly.

Nagkatinginan silang apat. Hindi nila ineexpect na tatanungin sila ng ganito ng dalaga.

Lately, they are also thinking about the things na ginagawa ni Emy. But they understand her.

"Please, think carefully. Once na nasabi niyo na sa akin ang desisyon niyo kung gusto niyo pa bang magstay or hindi na, wala ng bawian yun.

"Don't worry though. Kapag pinili niyo na ayaw niyo ng magstay, I will make sure that you will be settled in Royal City so that you can have your new life there.

"That's the least I can do. Hindi ko kayang maging kagaya ng iba na puputulan kayo ng dila or ipapapatay para lang masigurado na matatahimik kayo. I could simply just send you to a very far place para makasigurado.

"After all, you have never been a bad maidservant to me. It's just that I am a terrible person for seeking revenge."

After niyang sabihin iyon ay dinismiss na niya ang mga ito. She gave them until tomorrow to decide.

***

It was Lia who approached her first.

"Miss, gusto ko pong magstay sa tabi ninyo."

"Are you sure?"

Tumango ito. "Miss, my life is already under your mercy since you saved me and Veronica from the merchant. I can't speak for her but I am certain of what I want.

"Isa pa po, I also want to seek justice for my previous Miss. She died too early. I want to make sure that whoever killed her will be punished thoroughly."

"I am going to put justice in my hands, though. And most of the preparation of them will be done by yours."

"It doesn't matter, Miss. I'll be happy to do things for you."

Napangiti si Emy sa kanya. She knew that Lia would stay. She just had to probe more so that in the end, kung sakali mang magsisi ito, masasabi niya na hindi niya ito pinilit para magstay.

Aside from Lia, Veronica and Anika vowed their loyalty too and decided to stay. They were just like Lia na may malalim din na dahilan kung bakit gusto nilang magstay.

Veronica would stay dahil alam niyang magsstay si Lia. They were just like blood sisters. Matagal na silang magkasama at hindi niya gustong malayo dito.

"Isa pa po, I've been into different masters and mistresses at masasabi ko na kayong dalawa lang po ni Miss Samantha ang trumato sa amin ni Lia ng mabuti."

Somehow, that saddened Emy's heart. Some people were cruel to the servants just because they were in lower status than them.

Napahinga na lang siya ng malalim dahil doon at saka tinanggap ulit ang dalaga bilang maidservants niya.

Kung may pinaka ikinagulat siya na dahilan ng pagsstay, iyon ay kay Anika. Kumpara kanila Lia at Veronica, Anika was older than the two. Maging sa kanya ay matanda ito ng pitong taon.

"Miss, you will need me. Hindi man ako kasing galing ni Grace pero sa panahon na nakasama ko siya I have learned some things from her.

"Isa pa, sooner or later, you will need to face off with the people na hindi lang miyembro ng Black Council. Young Lady Diana is after all a socialite. Bukod pa roon ay nobya din siya ni Prince Vio. And surely, you will need to encounter them in some of the social gatherings, I can help you with that."

"For what purpose?”

Matagal bago sumagot si Anika.

"As a servant, wala akong karapatan upang mag-asawa not unless I will be freed. Kung magiging malaya man ako, wala na rin namang pipili sa akin upang maging asawa nila.

"I was violated when I was young. Hindi lang iyon, sinaksak pa ako sa may tyan ng gumawa non. Akala ko nga ay katapusan ko na noon. But I was able to live.

"Ang kaso, hindi na raw ako pwedeng magkaanak. Because the injury I had received damaged my ovaries.

"Before you, I was serving a young lady named Shereen. She was just 10 years old. A very young, funny lady.

"Napalapit ng husto ang loob ko sa batang iyon. To the point na para ko na rin siyang anak. I treated her as one. Wala na rin naman siyang nanay eh.

"But she also died in the explosion."

Anika's expression was not angry but Samantha could feel how sad she was. Hindi niya inaasahan na ganito pala ang trato niya kay Shereen.

Mahalaga sa kanya si Shereen dahil kapatid niya siya. Gaya ng sabi ni Anika, wala na silang nanay at busy naman palagi ang tatay nila bilang Prime Minister. Kaya naman all her life, she tried to protect Shereen.

When she heard about Anika's story, she couldn't help but to feel grateful towards her.

***

Lastly, Grace entered her room ng pagabi. Her face was solemn. Nahuhulaan na ni Samantha ang desisyon nito. But she dared not say it first.

"Miss, I have also decided."

"Say it."

"I'd like to start anew, Miss. All my life, I was living as a servant. Iilan na rin ang mga naging Masters at Mistresses ko. And I could say na what you are doing is still righteous compared to some of them. You only want revenge for the people you have lost.

"But you see, I am tired of living like this already. Totoong maginhawa ang buhay namin sa puder ninyo. It will be too much for me if I am going to ask for more. But as much as I can, ayoko ng mabuhay ng puro labanan. If I can avoid it, I'll do it."

"I understand."

"Alam kong pagsisisihan ko ang gagawin kong ito. I am escaping my responsibilities matapos kong mangako ng loyalty sa iyo noon. But..."

"You don't have to regret it in the future, Grace. Alam ko, sa inyong apat, you are the most soft hearted. But you still have given me great service sa maikling panahon na magkasama tayo kahit pa nga sabihin na hindi mo gusto ang ipinagagawa ko sayo.

"You already did well. And I am willing to grant you freedom as you wish."

Grace started to sob. Ngayon pa lang ay pinagsisisihan na niya ang desisyon niya. She knew Emy would need her. But she was not strong like the others.

"Ahh... it's been a long day. Do you mind helping me clean up?"

Tumango siya saka dali daling tinulungan na maghubad si Emy. She bathed her and cleaned her up properly.

Napadako ang mga mata niya sa sugat ng dalaga sa likuran. She could still remember noong unang beses na makita niya iyon. Halos panghinaan siya ng tuhod.

For her, a lady's body was sacred. Kaya naman, it pained her to watch Emy sacrificed herself for a revenge.

She was not judging. She was just concern for her Miss.

If only she could just convince her to live normally too.

Sa ngayon ay pawala na ang peklat nito. Thanks to that ointment na binigay ng nagligtas sa kanya. But how much more injuries and wounds would she need to suffer in the future?

That was what Grace couldn’t imagine seeing at all.

***