The Fall of Alexander

"Alexander Viturin IV! Are you out of your mind?" Gulat na gulat ang itsura na sigaw ni Reyna Adara.

She is the wife of the late king and the mother of Alexander Viturin IV; the reigning king of the Kingdom of Spain.

They are in the throne room where 'his majesty' the king preside over official ceremonies, hold council, grant audiences, receive homage, award high honors and offices and to perform other official functions.

"If you can't give what I want, I will be the first reigning king who doesn't have a queen." Deklara ni Alexander.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Reyna Adara. Hindi makapaniwala sa sinambit ng hari.

"Y-your Majesty, you can't do that. You knew the rules. You need to bear an heir for the future of the next generation."

Huminga ng malalim si Alexander at deretsong tinitigan ang kanyang ina.

"But I want her to be the mother of my children." Lumamlam ang kanyang mga mata. "Please, I am begging not as a king, but as your son; allow me to marry her and be my queen." Nagmamakaawang sabi nito.

Hindi agad nakasagot si Reyna Adara. Napatulala siya sa nakitang determinasiyon ng kanyang anak. Sinapo niya ang dibdib dahil bigla itong kumirot. Nasasaktan siya hindi para sa anak niya kundi para sa babaeng katabi niya ngayon na kanina pa tahimik. May pag-aalalang sinulyapan niya ito. Marahan niyang pinisil ang kamay nito para kahit papaano ay palakasin ang loob nito bago niya sinalubong ang nangungusap na mga mata ng kanyang anak. 

"A-alexander, anak." Bumaba ang tono ng boses ni Reyna Adara. "Listen to me carefully, I already told you that it will not gonna happen. The king doesn't have the right to choose his queen. And besides, Luna Amaranthine passed all the qualifications to be your queen."

Napakuyom ang mga kamao ni Alexander ng marinig ang sagot ng kanyang ina.

Sinulyapan niya ang babaeng tinutukoy nito. Hindi niya alam kong ano ang iniisip nito. Blangko kasi ang mukha nito habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

Sinuri niya ang kabuuan nito. Her beauty is outstanding. Even with her full make-up's, he can see that she is beautiful without it. But unfortunately, he can't force his self to like her. He only like one woman and that is his beloved.

"Kung gano'n, walang kasalan na magaganap." May pinalidad na sagot niya.

"Your Majesty." Galit na saway ng kanyang ina." Don't make the situation more complicated. Just do what you are supposed to do. You are the king of this nation, your people should be your top priority."

Alexander laughed sarcastically. "Your highness, are you saying that marrying the woman I love means abandoning my people? Can't you see that I draw strength in her to lead this nation?Without her by my side, I would be good as dead. If you want me to be an incompetent king then, go on, take me away from the woman I love."

Napaawang ang mga labi ni Reyna Adara. Nanghihinang napasandal siya sa upuan. She was speechless. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng takot. Not even Alexander's father; the late king acted desperately inlove in a woman before. She knew that the late king didn't love her. He loves someone else, but he choose her for the sake of this country. And seeing his son depending his life in a woman worry her. She doesn't know what to do. If the marriage will not pursue, the honor of the family preserved by the past generations will be tainted. Their family will put into shame and she will not let it gonna happen.

"Sacrificing; that is the first thing a king does once he sits on his throne." Simula niya. Iniwas niya ang tingin para hindi makita ang paghihirap ng kanyang nag-iisang anak.

"If you need to give up one just to gain ten, do it without hesitations. Not everyone will agree with you, some will oppose to your decisions, so don't give them a reason to doubt your consistency and sincerity as their king. Once a decision is made, not even you can change it."

Nanghihinang napasandig sa kanyang trono si Alexander. Mahigpit niyang kinuyom ang mga nanginginig na kamao. Napaluha siya sa isinagot ng kanyang ina. Wala na talagang pag-asa pa para mapakasalan ang babaeng tunay na mahal niya.

Alexander harshly wiped away his tears. His grey eyes turned dark when his gaze darted at Luna.

"Your highness, I need to talk to the future queen....alone." Buong diin na sambit nito.

Lumarawan agad ang pagkabahala sa mukha ni Luna. Nakaramdam siya ng takot sa itsura ni Alexander.

"Y-your highness." Natatakot na sambit ni Luna kay Reyna Adara.

Queen Adara smiled with assurance to Luna.

"It's okay Luna. You two should really need to talk."

Natatakot man wala na siyang nagawa nang tumalikod at naglakad papalabas si Reyna Adara.

Napalunok na lang siya ng tumayo si Alexander at dahan dahan na naglakad papalapit sa kanya. Gusto niyang umatras at tumakbo pero hindi niya maigalaw ang kanyang katawan sa takot.

Napasinghap siya ng marahas nitong hinaklit ang kanyang kaliwang braso dahilan para magkalapit ang kanilang mga katawan.

"Ito ang tatandaan mo, magiging asawa lang kita sa mga mata ng aking mga nasasakupan. Do your duty as a queen for the good of my people, but don't ever expect me to be close to you and treat you like a queen." Buong diin na bulong nito sa kanyang tainga bago siya marahas na itinulak.

Nanginginig ang katawan na napaluhod sa sahig si Luna nang siya na lang ang maiwan sa silid. Marahas niyang pinunasan ang tumulong luha sa kanyang pisngi.

Maya maya pa ay tumalim ang kanyang mga mata.

"I swear, I will let you remember this day and regret everything you said." Nanginginig na bulong niya sa hangin.