SEA'S BRIDE (PHILMYTHO ROMANCE II)

CHAPTER 1

Underwater dome

Bajo de Masinloc,

The West Philippine Sea

I woke up tucked from the embrace of a warm navy blue silk fabric. The bed I'm lying on was too comfy and light that it felt like I would probably shrink underneath due to its softness.

And then, my eyes grew wide in amusement seeing where I'm currently at. Bounded by the thick ceiling and the walls made of glass, surrounding me beneath these glasses are marine creatures swimming and dancing their way to boast me they're freely out and I'm caged in.

From my perception, I'm inside a glass dome under the sea.

Of course, how could I forget?

Everything flashes so abruptly like a splash inside my memory. From the wedding up to the moment that I've got taken from the reception and probably held here abducted and imprisoned for reasons, I've yet to decode.

"Glad you are awake."

My attention was caught by a man standing at the front of two large beige doors across me. His whole get-up gives me the notion that he could be a butler or what in those fine tux and bow tie he is wearing and the way his funny brush-out hair looks too.

I suddenly feel the urge to ask him, “Excuse me, but where exactly I am?”

He just replied to me with a small smile and gestured his hand on top of his chest before he showed me a quick bow. And then he said, “Apologies for my late introduction, I am Leandro Pascua and I will be attending to your needs for the time being until my master’s return.”

I appreciate his introduction but that didn’t answer my question. Oh wait—did he just say, master? So this dome has the luxury master that dominates it.

“Miss, I have prepared you some set of clothes if you wish to change.” My eyes went over to look where he’s referring to and I’m surprised to see large paper bags from Fendi, Dior, Burberry, Chanel, and other high-end brands I could not possibly afford.

I look into my clothes and to my astonishment; I’m still wearing the beige gown. Too bad though that I’ve caused crumples over its long skirt because I slept while wearing it.

“These are personally requested by my master to be crafted by hand exclusively for you, Miss.” He even added.

My jaw dropped at the moment as I rose up to check if the clothes were really legit and true to their tags, that most of them were clothes that were personally handmade by these luxury brand lines.

“Emalia,” I told him, completely forgotten the fact to tell him my name. How rude of me.

“Excuse me?” he asked as his brows met half-way.

“You can just call me Emalia.” I cleared it up.

“Of course Miss Emalia, by the way, your breakfast is available downstairs whenever you are ready.” The butler suddenly chimes from my fascination.

“Breakfast?” I replied. Right! Having to see no sunlight underwater made me forget to check what time it is. So it’s already morning now. All I could remember was losing my consciousness at the wedding. I’m surprised to see an unfamiliar location by the time I woke up.

Before I could even say anything else, the butler walked beside the bed and pointed a square button, “Oh and If you have other requests you can just press this beeper beside your bed and I will come right away to assist you.” He said while pointing the beeper and giving me a short demonstration on how it works like I’m a complete novice about buttons.

“I’d like to see my friends, where are they?” I suddenly asked, changing the topic.

Leandro abruptly looks so uncertain until he cleared his throat to tell me, “I’ll be downstairs if you needed me.”

“Wait—you’ve been skipping my questions ever since you came here. Could you at least tell me why am I here?” I instantly said to hold him back.

He turns his gaze back at me and shyly smiled, “You are my Master’s favored guest.”

“Favored guest eh?” I just mumbled and before I knew it, Leandro has already left me alone in the room once more.

I should be feeling anxious right now, I should be worried that I am uncertain where I am but for some reason, I feel as though I am not far from home. Strange as I don’t even feel any fear about where I am nor even the fact that I could be being held here as a captive or something. It all feels weird yet reassuring.

Before I knew it, my hands were already clasping tightly on the piece of designer dress from one of the paper bags. I took out a sky blue cottony corset dress from a Valentino Garavani paper bag before walking myself into the bathroom at the right side of the bed that faces the headboard.

My eyes were pretty much overwhelmed by the space, one by just seeing how the bathroom has almost half the same size as the bedroom itself. Complete with a porcelain bathtub, a separate glass door for shower, a toilet bowl, and a bathroom sink, I can’t bring into thought how much these things would probably cost each. Not to mention the elegance of the emerald tiles this bathroom has as furnishing.

I never thought such kind of luxurious room exists in a place below sea level.

Right! I have to know where I am. How foolish of me to even forget to find that one out and yet here I am wearing one of the dresses they gave me. Looking at it made me suddenly ponder though. I guess that Leandro has a good taste for fashion after all. I mean without even knowing my measurement, it’s amusing how he was able to get me clothes that perfectly fit me well.

When I was done changing my clothes, I went over to the maroon dresser table and began giving a little color to my face using some of the new set of makeups laid over the table. How remarkable, they even bothered buying me these costly brands of make-up.

And soon after I finished with light make-up, I began looking for any shoes among the pile of shoeboxes next to the paper bags that would best fit the dress I’m wearing. I was hoping to find a pair of flats but unfortunately, all of the shoes that I could only choose from were high-heeled stilettoes or open toes.

This beats me. I suppose it leaves me no other choice but to use one among these unless I preferred roaming around here in bare feet. Besides, Leandro said he’ll attend to me until his master’s arrival. So if I were to meet his master on his return, I believe I should at least look more decent than less horrifying had my feet were left exposed confronting him. Just the thought of it made me laugh.

From having a long time picking which one would suites my dress. I then ended up wearing a peep-toe pump from Givenchy instead. Right after I got myself dressed, I realized how funny I look remember that I would just be eating my breakfast, but here I am looking as if I were to go attend a dinner party.

Guess it’s a go or doesn’t now.

When I exited the room, my feet were greeted by the second floor’s base which leads to a grandeur staircase. The black handrails were complemented by the black floor covering the carpet with its edges embroidered with fancy gold lining.

I was even more fascinated with the wall that has golden carvings of three-dimensional beautiful creatures that looks seemingly too mythical for me to identify whatever it is.

Compared with the room where I slept that has a cream carpet, the main hall—as I can describe with its wide space—is made out of fine Foshan calacatta white marbles. There is no denying that the interior of this house is aesthetically inspired, yet its luxury is too hard to conceal.

There was basically nothing too simple around here. Even the grand piano looks like an ultimate feast for the eyes with its remarkable case inlaid with seemingly rare woods. I don’t know how much it cost but at its front engraved a brand name of Steinway & Son.

Out of my own fascination, I pressed a key and two. I am not certain anyone would consider it pleasant to hear but despite being ignorant in playing the piano, I find that two key’s melody vibrating in my ears so comfortingly. How I wish I know how to play this piano.

If there is something else that had caught my attention from this huge hall is that its absence of neither windows nor door. The room where I came from at least has its glass dome feature unlike this hall that despite its grandeur somehow looks concealed to me.

I withdraw from the thought and pressed on few more keys on the piano as my eyes wander around. I feel like a silly kid right now but it brings me to calm somehow doing it.

“Forgive me for intruding your recital, Miss Emalia, but your breakfast is served.” Leandro startled me that I disconcertedly pressed on a sharp deep key instead.

With the sound I made, my limbs made me instantly rose up from the seat and repeatedly apologize to Leandro for using the piano without permission.

“I’m very sorry, Leandro. I was just captivated by this piano. I don’t mean to break it or so.” My regret forever touching is futile. It’s too late, he has seen me. He might sue me for this after reporting me to his master.

Of course! I don’t even know his master in the first place and here I am trying to touch his stuff without his permission. Now, what would I do if he learns it and they try to harm me for doing so?

I was preoccupied with all my anxious thoughts when Leandro walks closer and said, “Be our guest, feel free to use the resources our master owns. He told us to let you have all the possible access inside until he returns.”

“He said that?” I asked him and he just nods back. So Leandro’s master is a He. Now I wonder if his master looks terrifying too.

“By the way, Miss Emalia, I hope you take your breakfast now before it cools. There are some things I need to show you after you eat.” Leandro suddenly changed the topic back to my breakfast.

“What things?” my brows furrowed after I asked.

Leandro once again ignored my question and just gestured his hand towards another connecting corridor, must be this house’s dining. I wonder how vast can this house be? Moreover, it brings me so much curiosity as to what kind of breakfast awaits me in their dining hall.

***