Steffanie was in the middle of her painting session when her phone rang. She took a glance over the LED and saw the name of Sofia. Bakit kaya ito tumatawag?
Without any second thought, she picked up her phone and answered it. "Steff!!!" sigaw nang nasa kabilang linya.
"Yes, Sofia. Steff here. Bakit ka sumisigaw?" she answered back.
"Mabuti na lang at sinagot mo agad ang tawag ko. I have something to tell you."
Inipit niya ang cellphone sa pagitan ng kanyang tenga at balikat. Itinuloy niya ang ginagawang pagtitimpla ng kulay habang pinakikinggan ang kaibigan.
"Let me guess. New gossips from the grapevine?" she began with a first stroke to the blank canvass in front of her.
Hinayaan nya lang ang kaibigan. Sofia was always like this; hyperactive, talkative, and attention seeker. Often times she would call her randomly. May it be noon, evening or even midnight. Palaging gusto nito ng kausap. So from time to time, she indulged her, agreeing to her petty thoughts, giving her pieces of advices and sometimes reprimanding her for her usual tactlessness.
"Actually I called to check up on you. Nag-aalala lang ako kasi akala ko naapektuhan ka nung tsismis mula sa mga tsismosa ng UP. But since you're as cheerful as ever, mukhang 'di mo na need ang comforting words ko."
Doon natuon ang kanyang atensyon.
"What are you talking about?" she asked this time, she put down her brush to fully listen to her friend.
"Haven't you heard about the latest buzz? The new trending tsismis from the tsismosa circle of UP? Let me guess, nagmomogha ka naman dyan sa studio mo no?"
"No, I am actually in the main house. So what about that tsismis."
Narinig niyang bumuntong hininga ito mula sa kabilang linya, "You see here Steff," here friend began to buckle. "Naalala mo ba last week. You know, when Natalya called you a whore?"
She was still clueless. What was Sofia trying to say?
"Yes I remembered, but what's new? I have been called far worse than that. And what that has got to do with this new gossip from the vine."
"Actually, it has got to do with everything about that gossip. Because that gossip is about you."
"Ano ngang bago? Lagi naman akong laman ng usap-usapan nila. You know how they always pry over me."
The University of Pendragon was the flagship university of the whole kingdom. It offered premium facilities and top-notch education. But this university was only exclusively for the blue bloods. No commoner was allowed to study in this pristine university; that was, until King Rupert bestowed a royal decree ordering the Ministry of Education to open the University of Pendragon to some chosen commoners. Each year, a very strict and intricate series of examinations are separately conducted on the fields of Science, Art, Engineering, Medicine and Finance. The examinations were so difficult that only a handful could pass. There were even years that nobody passed the exams. But here's the catch, not all passers could become a scholar, only the top-notcher from each field would be given the chance to be a scholar in UP. All of the expenses were paid plus a vast amount of allowance per year from the Ministry of Education.
During her time, there were only two people who passed and acquired the title as Scholar; she who excelled in field of arts and the other person who excelled in the field of finance. At first, it was a dream come true to her. She got to enhance and hone the craft she loved the most at the place where most renaissance artists graduated. But she was mistaken. The blue bloods from within the University never liked to King's royal decree to open UP to the public. They took it as an invasion of their private sanctuary. They voiced it out in the House of the Lords but the King remained firm. Since opposing the King means a death sentence, most of the blue bloods just vented out their anger towards the scholars, making their lives miserable in their stay in the university.
They started from a simple means of bullying; threat infested lockers, missing books, spreading highly degrading false rumors, and many other things. They even tried to hurt them physically. But she remained firm. She may be passive at times but she was a tough cookie. She has endured far worse things than this. Other scholars were not so tough. They gave up after a long term of bullying. Some lasted for a semester and some dropped-out at the first sign of bullying.
"Steff! Are you listening to me!" Sofia's shouting voice from the other line snapped her back to reality. She was so drowned in her thoughts that she simply lost track of Sofia's ranting.
"Can you go at it again?"
"You lost me didn't you?"
"Sorry for spacing out on you. Pwede bang pakiulit?"
"Okay Steff, for the second time. Everybody thinks that you are whoring yourself for money."
Napabuntong hininga siya. Where are they getting these offensive gossips? Mukhang may unlimited supply ang mga ito. Patagal nang patagal ay pasama nang pasama ang mga paratang sa kanya.
"Do not worry yourself that much Soffie."
"Nagbibiro ka ba? How can I not worry for you? They all think that you are whoring yourself to Michael Angelo!"
Nagulat siya sa narinig. What! She, giving herself to her own brother? It grossed the hell out of her.
"But that's absurd! How can they think about that!" she shouted.
"Apparently, someone saw both of you enjoying a dinner together in a hotel. They even saw you vacationing in the Duke of Tratchenburg's private resort."
She was lost for words, "But... but..."
"I know Steff. Alam ko namang hindi mo magagawa yun. And you know those creeps. Hindi sila titigil until they brought you down. But you have to really be careful. This time, they might hit the mark."
"Thank you, Soffie. You are such a gem. I know I can entrust my secrets to you."
"I am just being a friend. And tell your kuya not to be overly affectionate. It may be platonic to you but in the eyes of others, it may not."
Her grip from her phone tightened. She must be really careful. This is one thing that she should never reveal – the secret of her true identity. For the sake of her brother, for her father and for herself.
Garreth was sitting in his office at the Orchid Manor within the Arondight Palace when his door burst open. There came the Crown Prince Arthur who was being followed by the royal secretary and his Chevalier, Sir Aglevale.
"Anong masamang hangin ang nagdala sa yo rito, aking kamahalan?" he said never bothering to cover up the sarcasm in his voice. They all stared at him, waiting for his next move. They were probably waiting for him to stand-up and offer his executive seat to his brother. This royal protocol was done if the visitor's rank is higher than that of the owner's. But they caught him at the wrong time. His ill mother was sent on the Northern Kingdom, he was being forced to be tied-down in the palace, his father threatened to have him exiled if he did not continue his studies in the University of Pendragon, and his crotch was still aching because of that Cinderella; he is definitely in a foul mood.
Prince Arthur slouched on one of his couch opposite his executive table. "Deviant like always, but it's what I like about you."
"So what merited your visit to me big brother."
"I was just bored in my manor. Naisip kong magliwaliw muna."
"So I am now a part of your entertainment?" sometimes, his brothers just do not know how to give someone a space. If Arthur knew what is good for him, he should stop bothering him. Or else, crown prince or not, he's gonna maul him. His stressed was so balled-up inside him and he needed to release. Originally, he wanted a woman's pussy to relieve him. But in the mean time, his brothers bloody face would suffice.
His brother noticed his indifference, "Hey! Loosen up bro! You're so serious that you resemble Father."
"Anong tinitingin-tingin mo mahal na prinsipe?" Arthur in his poor imitation of their father's voice.
"I do not resemble your fucking father," he said.
"Hey! He's not only my fucking father. He's also your fucking father. But if my fucking father is also your fucking father, then that means to say, we are also fucking brothers." Arthur tried another punch line.
The mortified look on the Royal Secretary's face lifted-up his mood. The old geezer looked so disgusted and shocked that he probably thought that both he and his brother were a bunch of loonies. Suddenly, the tight environment on his office lightened.
Tumayo siya sa kinauupuan. Prince Arthur also went out of his seat to meet him half way. His brother then gave him a high-five.
"Yep, we are a fucking royal family," Arthur humorously said.
"Cut on the same cloth," he agreed.
"That's better man. You looked a little more refreshed. Geez! You have been living like a monk for almost two weeks. You seriously need a lay."
"Yep, maybe I did. Can you lend me your harem, Crown Prince?"
"Ahahaha! Anything for you brother. Drown yourselves with pussies tonight. I'll give you a tour to our exclusive Red Crown manor."
Arthur was referring to his manor located at the outskirts of Camelot. As per what he had heard from the triplets, the place serves a sex den for all of his brothers. It is beyond the sight of the elders here in the palace and it is beyond the reach of those irritating paparazzi and reporters. It is indeed a haven for horny bastards like them. He smirked a little.
"I saw that, man. The famous Pendragon smirk. The smirk that could bring any women into our bed," siniko pa nito ang tagiliran nito. "I have the same too," his brother attempted another poor impersonation. This time, it was him that he tried to copy.
"Man, don't do that again. It makes you less of a Crown Prince." His brother is still the same. Kenkoy pa rin ito.
"Tama po si Prinsipe Gareth, kamahalan. Hindi po makakatulong sa imahe ninyo kung ipagpapatuloy pa po ninyo ang ganyang asal," the Royal Secretary butted in.
With that smirk still pasted on his face, the crown prince measured the Royal Secretary.
"Ahahaha. For a moment there, I though you suddenly forget your place in the palace. But you are right, as always. But be sure to also know what is right for yourself. It would upset me if any of the elders would know about my dry humor. And definitely, I am one of the last person you want to piss. Right, Royal Secretary?" Arthur's intonation is still the same but somehow, his threatening voice sent shivering bolts down his spine.
"Ipagpatawad niyo po ang aking kapangahasan, aking kamahalan." The Royal Secretary then made a ninety degrees bow.
"Then carry out your duty over here so that me and my brother could fuck the hell out of the finest women in Camelot," Arthur once again sat on the couch.
He stared at the Royal Secretary, waiting for him to say something. It was probably a royal command since the Royal Secretary answered directly to the King.
Hinugot nito mula sa bag ang isang folder saka inabot iyon sa kanya.
"The King wants you to choose your own Chevalier, Prince Gareth."
A chevalier was the body guard of all the member of the royal family. Their primary duty was to protect and be loyal to the member of the royal family assigned to them. Each one of them got to choose any member of the Imperial Knights to become their chevalier. All the Prince choose at the age of 21, while all the Princess choose at the age of 18. Apparently for him, he ran away from Camelot way before he was able to choose a chevalier.
He opened the folder and browsed its contents. It contained various profiles from the imperial knights. He wanted to immediately close it and personally shove the folder down to the King's behind. His father wanted to manipulate him again. But he needed to be practical. His father hated his mother for a reason he did not know. All he knew was that one day, his father stopped visiting the Imperial Concubine Guinevere in her quarters. Hindi na rin ito ipinatatawag sa Rose Manor. He dropped her like a hot potato. And now that she was gravely ill, he can easily depose her. And knowing his power-hungry mother, she would not survive the deposal. His father has damaged his family long-enough. He would not let him damage his family more.
He calmed himself despite his overwhelming anger to his father. Kailangang maisahan niya ito sa kung anong binabalak nito. He needed all the help he can get. He will protect his family no matter what. With that, he sealed his decision.
"Sir Aglevale," he called for Arthur's chevalier.
"Yes, your highness."
"May I? Prince Arthur," he asked his brother.
"Go ahead little brother."
He gave the folder to the chevalier, "Since you are from the same league, who among this group is the best?"
Humugot ito mula sa loob ng isang papel saka inabot sa kanya. He scanned the profile. Sir Clarance Northumberland. Excellent. Now, he has his own pawn.