Chapter 3

It's been two days since my father went away, I did see him before he departed and he said he'll send a letter from time to time to check on me. Pero para bang labag sa loob niyang iwanan ako kasama ang mga maids at iba pang servants rito. Mukhang ayaw niya akong iwan at gusto niya muna akong aalagaan, pero may trabaho pa siya kaya sinibihan ko na lang siya na magiging ayos lamang ako rito.

Hindi rin siya pwedeng magtagal pa lalo dahil sa pagkakaalam ko, naatras ang lakad na iyon dahil sa aksidenteng nangyari sa akin. Now that I regained my consciousness, he needs to do his job now, hindi na puwede pang ipagpaliban.

"Lady Lacy," tawag sa akin ni Aziz, kaagad ko naman siyang nilingon. "Hmm?" I hummed. "The House of Martinez sent an invitation," I creased my forehead and looked at Aziz.

Did they actually send an invitation to me? "I know you are wondering but I guess it has to do with your recent accident," Aziz explained.

"What do you mean?" I asked. "Since the day you stopped showing yourself in public, rumors started to spread and they eventually found out about the incident that happened," she added. Tumango naman ako sa kaniya at binuksan na ang invitation na ipinadala sa akin.

From: House of Martinez

To: Lady Lacy Cunningham Marquez

Good day to the young lady of Marquez, this is Jona Martinez I heard you had an accident and you recently regained your consciousness; I hope you are doing well. We are deeply worried about you and we would like to know if you are doing well now, thus you can catch up with us. The other ladies, especially our family, want to invite you to a tea party this coming weekend. I hope you accept this humble invitation of ours.

Sincerely yours,

Jona Martinez

Napangisi naman ako nang mabasa ko ang imbitasyon. Nag-aalala raw sila sa akin pero iniimbitahan ako sa isang tea party, kesa na magpahinga o kung ano pa man pero tea party talaga. It is such a useless party.

"Will you send a reply, Miss?" Aziz asked while pouring me tea. I think of it thoroughly before smiling at Aziz.

"Of course, Aziz. It'll be rude to turn down such an invitation," I said and grinned at her.

Jona Martinez, how could I forget such name? Of course, she's friends with Izabel in my previous life, at dahil mayroong back-up si Izabel noon, kagaya na lang ni Jona. Ginagawa niya ang mga gusto niya, kahit na may matapakan pa siyang ibang tao, basta magawa niya lamang ang mga gusto niya sa buhay niya.

Izabel kept on attending tea parties before, that's why she established relationships with the other families, specifically the powerhouse of the kingdom.

The Power House is the one who supported the royal family, the most influential people in the entire kingdom of Faeroe, together with the ministers of the Royal Family. Pero niloloko lamang nila ang king Levi dahil nga sa kanila humihingi ng opinyon ang hari, kaya nagagawa at nasasabi nila ang mga bagay-bagay na meron palang hidden agenda. Kunwari lamang na nag-aalala sila sa kapakanan ng Faeroe pero hindi, gusto lang nila angkinin ang mga kayamanan na meron ito at gusto rin nilang sila ang masusunod kesa magbigay ng mga opinion.

But I'm going to turn the tables now that I already know what will happen in the future. I'll prevent myself from dying and take my revenge.

Kapag natapos kong makuha ang lahat at magawa ang mga plano ko, I'll run away from here and live peacefully. I'm sure that I'll live happily that way, away from danger, away from the Royal Family.

"Aziz, I should prepare a dress right?" Aziz looked so happy when I said that. She delightfully nods her head.

"I should prepare your bath and carriage, my lady," she excitedly said and left hurriedly. ***

"Pickett," the king called me. Yumukod naman ako at niluhod ang isa kong tuhod, bilang tanda ng aking pagrespeto sa kaniya. Kahit na ama ko pa siya, hindi dapat mawala ang pagrespeto sa kaniya.

"Father, you called me," I said. "Yes, my son. I want to ask about the border on the west side,"

"Yes father. I'm handling it well, although they are a bit stubborn but little by little we are able to convince them to move out," I explained. He nodded his head and smiled a little bit.

"Good, but I still want it fast, you're being too slow," striktong saad niya sa akin at siningkit ang mga mata nang tingnan niya ako ng diretso sa mata. I just nodded my head. "You can leave now," he said.

Yumuko ulit ako at tumayo na, pagtalikod at ilang hakbang pa lamang ang nahahakbang ko, tinawag niya akong muli, na siyang dahilan para tignan ko ulit siya. "I heard your fiancé woke up already. You might want to visit her and ask her if she's doing well now," my father said. My heart beats rapidly because of the excitement and made me smirked at the back of my mind.

"Yes, Father."

So you were alive after all, Marquez.

***

The day went by and I already sent my reply to Jona's invitation, of course, pupunta ako. Dahil chance ko rin ‘yon para makipag meet sa mga taong alam kong magbe-benefit ako. Now that I came back with my old self, I think it's time to enjoy things and it's the perfect time to unwind a little bit.

Since I didn't have a chance to enjoy the privileges that I have before, all I know is, full of stressful paperwork, the stress, heartaches which I received from Izaak and a lot of negative memories.

For now, I'll enjoy myself before anything else.

"Lady Lacy, the carriage is ready," the horseman said. I nodded my head and he offered his hand for me to hold, which I gladly accepted.

At the same time, I felt shivers. Nakaramdam naman ako para bang may nakatingin sa akin. I roamed my eyes around but I didn't see anyone, ang guards lamang na na kasunod at nakabantay sa akin.

"Is there a problem, Miss?" the horseman asked. I shook my head and lifted the dress that I am wearing.

I am wearing a tight bright yellow dress, with jewels in it. I also partnered it white glossy gloves. Everything that I am wearing today is yellow. I don't know what's with that. Glenna was the one who picked up what I should wear today.

I'm with Glenda and the four guards that my father and I agreed about. Bawal naman kasi ako lumabas kung wala akong kasamang guards.

Although I felt anxious now, the excitement that I am feeling right now surpassed it. I am so excited to go out again!

When I was in the palace before, I couldn't go out like this, because they forbid us to associate with other people, because it's dangerous for us. Meron din kasing matatapang na mga tao na nagte-threaten sa Royal Family.

"Are there any shops that you want to go to, my lady?" Glenda asked. Now that she mentioned it.

There's actually a commoner who suddenly became famous with his designs and dresses that he sewed. His works became known and a lot of ladies from the higher ups wanted their dresses sewed by him.

But there's a specific person that the sewer only accepts and that's unknown to me. I tried once, but I was turned down so I didn't dare to do it a second time.

"Yes there is," I quickly told the horseman where we should go and he looked unsure but I assured him that it's okay.

Wala na siyang nagawa kundi sundin ang utos ko, na siyang nagpangiti sa akin. Habang nasa byahe kami, I unconsciously look outside and something captured my attention and made my forehead knotted.

I think I spotted someone jumping from tree to tree and someone running on the ground.

Mas lalo ko pa iyon tinignan pero nagulat ako nang biglang lumitaw ang isa sa mga guards na nakasakay sa kabayo. Bigla akong napahawak sa dibdib ko at bahagyang napapikit.

"Are you okay, Miss?" he worriedly asked. I nodded my head and smiled at him. I saw him nod and I think I saw his ears become red.

Tumingin ulit ako sa mga puno pero wala na 'yung nakita ko kanina, baka guni-guni ko lamang 'yon.

Hindi na dapat ako mag-isip pa nang kung ano-ano, dapat ay sarili ko lamang at ang mga bagay na dapat kong gawin. Now that the king of Gods gave me another chance to live my life, might as well enjoy it and live it to the fullest, of course I should also protect my loved ones and avenge those people who sacrificed their lives for me, before.

I hope I'm doing it right. Dahil para sa akin ngayon, ito ang best way para sa akin at ang tamang gawin para maghiganti ko ang sarili ko. I hope this is a clear path for me to walk on.

The king of Gods, I pray for you, to guide me please...