MISSING ROYALTY

Chapter 20 : The Capture

08/21/347

It wasn't easy. I was nervous the whole time we were together last night. I prayed time will move fast so I can proceed to my next plan. Beatrixe was beautiful last night. She always was. With her black hair that reaches to her waist. It was rare seeing her hair like that because usually, it's either in a tight ponytail or a bun. Last night, she let her hair down and she was the most beautiful. Her skin was flawless and her eyes were a brighter shade of brown as it reflected the moon. After walking, we sat on a bench just behind the palace. The fountain was decorated just for that moment. She even asked me what's the occasion and that's when I pulled the ring and kneeled in front of her. She got the idea and she cried. I don't know why. She cupped my face and tears were streaming down her eyes. And my world shattered right in front of me as she shook her head. She said no. She can't marry me. According to her she's just my bodyguard. I was furious. So what!? I am a soldier. I proposed to her as a soldier and not as a bloody prince! But she already said no and I have to accept it. I respect her but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop pursuing her.

Lucas

So the prince fell inlove with his bodyguard but her bodyguard named Baetrixe turned down the marriage. I can't help but feel pity to the Prince.

I flipped to the next page and read a passage again. I flipped the pages for I don't know how many hanggang sa umabot ako sa taong 350. I eagerly read the passage and Beatrixe finally said yes into marrying the Prince. Ayon sa kanya, marami ang tutol because he is a crown prince and he should marry another royalty to make alliance ngunit hindi iyon tinupad ni Lucas. He married Beatrixe.

Napatingin ako sa pinto ng kwarto ko when someone knocked. Agad kong tinago ang notebook sa ilalim ng unan, turned off the lamp and covered myself with the blanket.

Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto at ang pagsara nito. Base sa magagaang yapak ng paa, sina Vera at Dena. They opened the blinds on my window.

Bumangon ako sa kama and rubbed my eyes as if I just woke up kahit kaninang madaling araw lang akong nagising.

"Your Highness." They greeted in unison. Sanay na ako sa ganitong set up naming tatlo. After their greeting, babangon ako, they will prepare my bath, take off my nightgown, comb my hair and leave me alone for my bath. Nung una, they insisted on bathing me but I refused. I needed some time alone.

Pumasok na ako sa banyo and as usual, the scent of roses and vanilla spread like wildfire. I immersed myself in the water and let it touched my skin. I looked at the glass wall reflecting the morning sun. It must be 7 am in the morning.

Naalala ko na naman ang nangyari kagabi. This is why I both hated and loved having some time alone. It gives you time to think of things. Both pleasant or not.

Ares was here last night. He said there's five of them already in Sicily. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti nang marinig ko ang pangalan ni Cross. Cross is here. Cross searched for me.

Hindi ko alam pero part of me is worried about something. Maybe because of what Ares said last night? A plan? Sa pagkakaalam ko, sa kanilang tatlo, si Exene ang tactician so he must have been the one who devised the plan. Exene has been trained since he was a get to be a soldier. Silang dalawa ni Ares. But I can't help but get worried over the fact that Exene is Exene. And that most of his strategies are half assed. If you give him only two highly skilled men, hindi siya magdadalawang isip na lusubin ang isang buong hukbo ng sandatahan. It's all about tactics and being resourceful, not about numbers. Iyan ang palagi niyang sinasabi if anyone would question him of his plans.

Narinig ko ang mahinang katok sa pinto ng banyo kaya aga na rin akong tumayo. They probably heard the splash of water kaya pumasok sina Vera and Dena and put the robes on me. Agad nila akong inayusan. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko ngayong araw. Vena and Dena only walks here kapag may dadaluhan akong importanteng pagtitipon. The rest, I do everything by myself.

At hindi nga ako nagkamali dahil maya maya pa ay may narinig akong mahinang katok. Binuksan ko ito and prepared myself to greet Kriven ngunit si Flux ang kaharap ko.

"Flux?"

"Yes."

"What are you doing here?"

"I hated this thought at first but after seeing you I might as well do this everyday." He said and eyed me from head to foot.

"Shut up, Flux." Narinig ko siyang tumawa and offered his arms for mine to incline.

"Where's the Curtizan?" I asked as we walked down the quiet hallway. Tanging mga paintings lang ang naroon at ang tanging maririnig ay ang among mga yabag.

"I don't know. He sent someone to my room and asked me to escort you."

"Saan tayo pupunta?" I muttered nang mapansin kong hindi papunta sa dining hall ang binabagtas namin.

"The dungeons." Tipid niyang sagot kaya napatigil ako.

"Dungeons?"

"Yes. He asked me to get you to the dungeons. He's there, I think. The Curtizan."

Now my heart started racing. Dungeons. I can't stop thinking that maybe Ares and the rest are captured. Damn. I can't think straight. What if they're tortured? They infiltrated this kingdom, for goodness' sake!

"You look pale, Muriel." Napatingin ako kay Flux nang magsalita siya. Nasa harap kami ng isang pintong gawa sa matibay na kahoy. There are torches on both sides para magbigay liwanag kahit papaano. There are two guards guarding the door. The ambiance in this particular place reminds me so much of the secret passages back in the palace. And I shook the thought aside dahil alam kong mamimiss ko lang iyon.

The two guards opened the door for us and Flux led me inside the room. This time, mas marami na ang mga torches na nakasabit sa pader kaya mas nakikita ko ang kabuuang ng kwarto. I never got the chance to see my grandpa's base but base sa mga kinukwento ni Samantha sa'kin, Grandpa's base had dungeons too and I pictured out it looked like this.

There are many cells aligned on both sides of an aisle. I squinted my eyes to  to see what's inside the cells and I regretted doing so. On each cell, there at least two people imprisoned. There are prisoners who are too old. Whether they were imprisoned while at that age or they were imprisoned young hanggang sa tumanda, I don't know. But Kriven must have a very good reason kung bakit ikinulong niya ang mga tao dito. Kriven is kind.

Natigil ako sa paglalakad nang maaninag ko si Kriven na nakatayo just meters away from us. Nakasuot lang siya ng simpleng damit niya kapag lumalabas. Nakatalikod siya sa amin kaya hindi ko alam kung anong ginagawa niya. Until I heard a groan. A man's groan. My heart started racing as I saw knees bended on the floor. I gather my courage to walk closer behind Kriven and my gasp fileld the whole room nang makilala ko kung sino ang nakaluhod sa harapan ni Kriven.

"Cross!" Agad akong tumakbo papunta sa kanya and knelt in front of him. I cupped his face and I almost shouted nang makitang duguan iyon. Binawi ko ang kamay ko sa mukha niya thinking it could hurt his wounds more ngunit hindi ko mapigilang hawakan din ito.

"Oh God." I muttered and faced Kriven. Shock was written all over his face pati na rin sa mukha ni Flux.

"What is this, Kriven!?" I demanded dahilan para mapatingin siya sa'kin.

"You knew him." It was not a question but a statement. He wants to hear my answer to confirm his thoughts.

"Yes." Sagot ko habang nakipagsukatan ng tingin sa kanya.

"Just as I thought." He only said and looked at Cross again.

"If he is your friend, I am sorry Muriel but I have to punish him." 

Hinarang ko ang sarili ko sa harapan ni Cross.

"What did he do?"

"He infiltrated the palace, Princess. And he should be punished for that."

"What!?" Napatingin ako kay Cross and I saw his annoying smirk again. He spit blood and looked at Flux na nakatulala habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"I noticed you weren't in the island, Flux. You disappeared the same day Muriel disappeared. It's easy to find you." Narinig kong saad ni Cross. I bit my lip as I fought the urge to smile. Damn, Muriel. This is not a situation for you to be blushing like a highschool teenager. Humarap ako kay Kriven.

"You kidnapped me in the first place, Curtizan and the punishment for that is certain death. Surely you can spare someone who just infiltrated the palace and did not even punched random people on their stomachs." I stood my guard and made my voice stern just like what I had in every lessons and the experience I had with public speaking. Nakipagsukatan siya ng tingin sa'kin I certainly won't back down.

I heard Kriven sighed and looked at me. I almost staggered when he looked at me strangely. The warmth and kindness I always see in his eyes are gone giving more room to coldness.

"Certainly." He muttered and looked at Flux.

"Tell the maids to prepare a chamber for our visitor. The one in front of mine." Tanging tango lang ang sinagot ni Flux and Kriven made his way out of the room. Agad kong dinaluhan si Cross and I heard him laugh.

"What on earth are you laughing at?" I hissed dahilan para mapatingin siya sa'kin.

"You look.." napatingin ako sa kaya and his wounded face twitch dahil sa sakit but he still managed to smile.

"Damn beautiful." He muttered before he closed his eyes and fell his weight on me.

Hindi ko alam but I found myself smiling like an idiot. I even forgot Kriven's change of mood. He called me beautiful. Oh God, if I have known, I should've wore this kind of clothes back in the island. I didn't know those simple words can make my insides flip.

Beautiful. Bakit ang sarap pakinggan?

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