Pinapanood kong ayusin ni Letty yung mga regalong ipinauwi ng mga taga-Merriole Kingdom saakin. Just because of what happened to me, they went overboard. Naku, kung alam lang nila kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari saakin. Nakipagchikahan lang naman ako sa demon.
"Lady Alexandria, I'm done organizing the gifts. Please call me if you need anything. I'll be outside", paalam ni Letty pagkatapos niyang ayusin yung napakaraming regalo.
"Yes Letty", No! Don't go! Don't leave me with these monsters.
Tumingin ako sa right side ko, si Prim na mukhang kanina pa gustong maki-chika saakin samantalang si Charlotte naman ay parang batang nakangiti lang.
Kahit na hindi ako tumingin sa left side ko ay ramdam ko yung mga black aura na pumapalibot kanila Ash at Chadwick.
Si Daryl? Ewan ko sakaniya. Matapos niya akong iwan sa misunderstanding na ito, ay umalis nalang siya bigla. Pag yun talaga nakita ko ulit, sasapukin ko na.
"So Ria, how's the expedition?", si Ash ang unang bumali ng katahimikan.
"T..the expedition? Hehe.. i..it went well?", why am I stuttering?
"You sounds unsure", rinig kong komento ni Chadwick.
"Haha"
"The expedition went well", tumayo si Ash tsaka siya naglakad-lakad sa harapan ko habang ang isa niyang kamay ay nasa baba niya na akala mo ay nag-iisip siya. "However, we received news about someone who went missing for hours. Who might that be, Ria?", tanong niya sabay tingin niya saakin.
"I wonder, who might that be?", ani ko sabay gaya ko kay Ash.
"Ria!", now he sounds frustrated. Eh kasi naman tatanungin pa kung sino alam naman niyang ako yun.
"You got lost, Alex?", singit ni Charlotte.
"What exactly is the expedition for?", singit naman ni Prim.
"What kind of humiliation you left there?", Chadwick.
"Hahahaha... now, now", isa-isa lang tanong. Paano ko ba sasagutin mga tanong nila? Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo. Ganun din ang ginawa nila, abang na abang sa kwento ko. "Hahahaha", di ko tuloy mapigilan mapatawa.
"You still have the audacity to laugh now?", Chadwick. Kulang nalang pektusan niya ako sa itsura niya.
Kinuwento ko sakanila yung nangyari saakin sa forest. Pero siyempre hindi ko sinabi yung demon stuffs. Sinabi ko lang din kung ano yung sinabi ko sa iba.
Mukha naman silang na-convince maliban kay Chadwick na mukhang ewan pa rin.
"But what exactly is the expedition for?", tanong ulit ni Chadwick. Hindi kasi ipinaalam ni Sir Howard na tungkol sa demon yung expedition. Ang alam lang ay may hinahanap na fossil.
Sinagot ko lang din siya kung ano ang inorient saamin ni Sir Howard. Ang sabi kasi niya, aamin lang kami na about demon yung expedition kapag na prove namin yung existence nila which they failed.
After ng ilang oras na pag-iinterrogate nila saakin ay mukhang wala na silang maitanong. Hahahaha... puro kasinungalingan yung mga sagot ko. I'm so sorry but I have no choice.. well actually I have, but I chose not to.
Ibinigay ko na rin sakanila yung mga ibinili kong pasalubong na made from Merriole talaga. Arte pa sila.
"Then who was that handsome guy you brought home?", pahabol na tanong ni Prim. Akala ko nakalimutan na nila. Ito talagang si Prim.
"But wasn't he look familiar?", dagdag ni Charlotte.
"You're right... Oh! I know, he's that waiter at the restaurant we went to before. But why were you together?", naalala pa yun ni Prim. Iba talaga memorya niya kapag mga gwapo.
Napatingin ako ulit sa dalawa dahil pinapalibutan nanaman sila ng masamang espiritu.
"Did you perhaps bought him?", dagdag pa ni Prim.
"What? No".
"Then, who was that?", Ash.
"What's your relationship with him?", Chadwick.
Bakit na-extend yung interrogation? Tapos naging sermon by Chadwick and Ash, pero mostly na nanermon ay si Chadwick.
Pinaalala pa na engage pa ako sakaniya. Makapang-bwisit naman ito eh.
"But who was that exactly?", hindi talaga matahimik si Prim.
"That was just Daryl....theassassinguildmaster", mabilis na sagot ko.
"WHAT?!", napatakip nalang ako ng tenga dahil sa sigaw nila.
After nun ay pinalayas ko na sila sa room ko dahil sa gabi na rin at gusto ko na magpahinga. Tinulak-tulak ko pa nga sila dahil sa may mga follow-up question pa sila.
Kesyo, bakit daw may kasama or kakilala akong delikadong tao. Paano ko daw siya nakilala. May ipapapatay daw ba ako? Mga bwisit.
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Kinabukasan ay balik school na kaming galing expedition. Hindi man lang kami pinagpahinga ng mas matagal. Agad-agad pasok na.
Kaya naman yung mga morning classes ko ay bangag ako. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung paano ako nakapunta dito sa private dining room ni Ash. (sinundan ko yung amoy ng pagkain)
"Ah! By the way Prim here's the notebook", sabay abot ko nung maliit na notebook kay Prim.
"Goodness! Thank you, Alex!"
"What's in that notebook?", curious na tanong ni Charlotte.
"Lottie, this is a special notebook", masayang sagot ni Prim tsaka binasa yung mga pinagsusu-sulat ko. Nakibasa na rin si Charlotte doon sa notebook.
Hahahaha.. the female lead is interested in such a thing.
"What's so special about it?", dudang tanong ni Chadwick. Kahit kailan talaga.
"This is a list of handsome men of Merriole Kingdom. The description of every man is very detailed", Prim.
"What in the world did you do in Merriole Kingdom?", Chadwick.
"Was the Merriole's crown prince really blinding?", inosenteng tanong ni Charlotte.
"Hmm? He has that entrancing smile. You will literally be blinded by his shining teeth", sagot ko habang inaalala yung nakakabulag na prinsipe.
"Ria?", tumingin ako kay Ash. "Is the expedition really for the fossil you mentioned or for handsome men?"
"Hahaha", pwede bang sabihing both?
"How were you able to list down all of these? Even the likes and dislikes of every man listed here", tanong ni Prim.
Ngumiti nalang ako. Hinding-hindi ko sasabihin na personal ko talaga silang tinanong. Napagkamalan pa nga akong spy, eh nagtatanong lang naman ako. Mostly kasi mga knights yung nalista ko, nagulo ko pa nga sila habang nagte-train sila.
Lumapit saakin si Prim at ipinabasa yung last page. "Merriole Kingdom is a river of handsome faces and perfectly toned bod"."Ria/Alexandria", nakalimutan kong sinulat ko pala yun sa last page. Tumawa nalang kami nila Prim at Charlotte tsaka ako nakibasa doon sa notebook.
Pagkatapos ng afternoon classes ko ay agad na akong nagpuntang room ko para makapagpahinga. Buti nalang at ikinansela ni Sir Howard yung klase namin sa Archaeology.
Pero bago ako makalabas ay tinawag na muna ako ni Sir Howard. Dahil sa hindi ako makausap ng matino ngayon ay napilit kong kausapin nalang ako sa susunod na araw. Napapansin kong hindi talaga naniniwala si Sir Howard saakin and it's very suspicious.
Umupo na muna ako tsaka ininom ang inihandang tsaa ni Letty. Hayy, kamusta na kaya si Zaggy? I'll just summon him when I'm in a pinch. Kaya dapat sulitin niya itong vacation niya.
"My lady, a letter from the Marquis came today"
"From father?", may inabot saakin na letter si Letty na may seal ng Eveque.
"Yes, my lady", may inabot din na letter opener si Letty.
Did the Marquis hear what happened to me during the expedition? Ang alam ko yung emperor lang nakakaalam. Don't tell me chismoso si emperor?
Kaysa naman sa kung anu-ano iniisip ko ay binuksan ko na lang ang sulat at binasa.
To my dearest daughter,
I hope you are doing well. Blah-blah... blah-blah.. your mother and I misses you so much. Blah-blah... blah-blah.. we will be having a welcoming banquet once you come home for your vacation. Blah-blah... blah-blah also we want to talk about your coming of age and 17th birthday which will happen three months from.
Oh my god! Oo nga pala, three months nalang ay birthday ko na.
There's nothing to worry about anything else. Your father will do everything and cover whatever you did. Blah-blah.. blah-blah take care of yourself always... blah-blah..
Sincerely,
Your Father
Damn Alexandria. You really have a loving father. You're so spoiled.
"Wow, I totally forgot about my birthday". Parehas pa kami ng birthday ni book-Alexandria. Hindi man lang iniba, ginaya pa rin yung akin.
"Oh yes, my lady, your birthday and coming of age will be extravagant. Actually, the marchioness is already preparing it", ani ni Letty. I gasped.
I just remember. I think my parents will publicly announce my engagement to Chadwick. That's what happened in the novel and before that happens I need to talk to Chadwick and knocked him some sense.
/knock-knock/
Pumunta si Letty sa may pintuan para tignan kung sino yung kumatok.
"My lady, Lady Kaplan and Lady Devenney wish to see you".
"Let them in"
"Alex! Here it is! Here it is!", sigaw ni Prim. Kung maakto siya parang hindi noble. And I like that about her.
"What is it?", tanong ko sakaniya. Inabot niya saakin yung letter na overly decorated and it says 'Alexandria Eveque'.
"It's your invitation for the banquet that will be held in a week", ay oo nga pala nabanggit niya yung tungkol sa banquet dati. "Kyaahh!", may pahabol pa pala siyang sigaw.
Napatingin ako kay Charlotte pero pilit na ngiti lang ang isinagot niya saakin. "In preparation for the banquet, classes are canceled for a week", Charlotte.
"Really?", so I have a week for myself?
"Alex, where are your accessories and jewels?", tanong ni Prim. Mukhang kinukutuban na ako ha.
"Alex, Lottie, clear your schedule for this week as we have a lot to prepare for the banquet", sinasabi ko na nga ba?!
"Lady Devenney, here is my lady's jewelry box", at naging busy na nga si Prim sa pangangalkal ng mga alahas ko.
Umupo sa tabi ko si Charlotte at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "She also did that earlier to me", kaya pala parang na-stress si Charlotte.
When it comes to fashion and designing, no one can stop Prim.
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"My lady, it's time to prepare", tawag saakin ni Letty. Tatlong oras nalang ay banquet na.
Feeling ko nanlalambot mga muscles ko dahil sa mga pinaggagagawa namin for the whole week. Prim, Charlotte, and I spend our week preparing for the banquet.
Spa, massages, kung anu-anong beauty rituals na pauso ni Prim ang ginawa namin boong linggo. Si Prim na rin ang namili ng lahat ng susuotin namin ni Charlotte. And as expected, yung gold na gown ang ipapasuot niya saakin. Siya na rin ang namili ng mga gagamitin na accessories, ayos ng buhok ko, make-up at pati yung susuotin na heels.
Hindi naman kami maka-hindi ni Charlotte kay Prim tsaka wala naman kaming alam sa mga ganito-ganito so we let her do her thing. (Me na tamad at si Charlotte na lumaki as a commoner)
Prim already told Letty everything she needs to do like the style of my hair and the color of my make-up. Bahala na kung anong mangyare. I trust them.
Buti nalang din hindi required ang may partner doon sa banquet. Hindi na ako mamomoblema ng partner. Also, my goal for the night is to have fun with my friends and eat a lot. No-fuss, no drama.
//A few hours later//
Hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin ako ngayon sa salamin. "Is this really me?"
"Yes, my lady. I followed everything that Lady Devenney told me and it really compliments everything, my lady. You're so beautiful", feeling ko iiyak na si Letty.
"You did a great job, Letty". I look at myself in the mirror again and twirl. Prim really has a style.
The gown leaves my shoulders uncovered, instead, it's supported around my neck and flows down into a delicate halter neckline. It's a relaxed fit that covers up my breasts but does so without making it look awkward or messy.
The dress' waist is thin, but it's a comfortable fit. Ruby jewels were designed as a belt to help accentuate my waist without being too much. The gown reaches all the way to the ground and is longer in the back.
I am wearing burgundy high heels, they're simple, but they radiate grace and refinement. To top it all, I'm wearing intricately designed large jeweled earrings.
As for my hair, Prim suggested the chignon hairstyle since it complements a halter neckline gown.
(Chignon hairstyle is a low bun or knot positioned at the bottom or nape of the neck)
I don't have much knowledge about makeup but I can say Letty did a great job. Since I have a fair or pale complexion, I'm only using a light foundation, used a hint of peachy blush on my cheeks.
For my eye makeup, she used a soft brown palette, then there's a bit of glitter I think?
For the lips, of course, red lipstick is the choice. And now I'm ready to go.
"My lady, please have fun at the banquet".
"I sure do, Letty", pinagbuksan ako ng pintuan ni Letty at nagulat ako ng makita ko si Chadwick na nakatayo doon na mukhang kakatok palang.
"What are you doing here?"