Desiderio Domini

Chapter 13

“Her Imperial Majesty, the Eternal Iseria the First of the Enchanteds, Empress of the Empire of Tundria and its Vassal States!”

Nagluhuran lahat ng mga engkanto ang engkantada nang umupo sa nagyeyelong trono ang emperatrist at taas noong tumingin sa paligid niya.

This is a being, no, a woman who reached the zenith through sweat, blood and sheer force of will alone. Halatang-halata sa kaniya na she worked hard to even sit on the throne right now.

Nang mahalata ko na ako lang ang nakatayo pa din sa mala crystal na throne room, yuyuko na din sana ako ngunit tumikhim lang ang pinuno ng mga engkanto.

“Don’t bother, it’s not like you even care at all.”

Tumigil ako sa pagyuko at tumingin lang sa babaeng nagdala sa akin dito, “I don’t even want to be here, as you well know.”

“I do. One of the reasons kaya dinala kita dito is ayaw mo. Sa lahat ng nakapilang babae kanina, ikaw lang ang walang pakialam sa akin, or sa mundo at all. You piqued my interest.”

Napangiti na lang ako a little sa sinabi niya, “I assure you, walang interesting sa boring na buhay ko.”

“Is it though?”

I suddenly have this nagging feeling na alam niya ang mga bagay na tinatago ko but before I can give it much thought, nagsalita bigla ang gwardya sa pintuan.

“His Imperial Highness, Imperial Crown Prince Caspar!”

Bumukas ang higanteng mga pintuan at naglakad papasok ang isang binatang lalaki around my age and quite short for the enchanteds I saw earlier.

Pero grabe, iba talaga ang angking kagandahan at tindigan ng mga engkanto, lalo na kung may kabataan pa.

He is at the midst of his teenage years and really good looking.

Well, I guess good looking is an understatement.

Hindi ko maipalawinag pero there is something different about him that sets him apart from the rest of the enchanteds I met earlier.

Madaming bata, or young looking, na mga engkanto kanina na nagbabantay sa paligid ng kastilyo ni Empress Iseria.

I know for a fact that like the rest of the immortals, kahit bata pa silang tingnan, baka mas matatanda pa ang iba sa kontinente namin. Sa halip na mamatay, once they reached a certain age, depende sa lahi, automatic na iikot muli sila sa pagkabata in a neverending cycle.

Puro lalaki ang mga sundalong nakahanay sa hallways kanina nang makapasok na kami at karamihan sa kanila ay mga teenager.

Mga matatangkad, magaganda ang tindigan at muscled ang mga braso at binti.

Sinasabi na ang mga enchanteds ang may pinakamalapit na mukha sa mga anghel as they are the strongest of all before they fell from grace at naiwan sa kanila ang mukhang hindi mo halos mahahanapan ng pula.

Matatangos ang mga ilong, mahahabang mga pilikmata at maninipis at mapupulang mga labi. If I can give a simmilar example, iyon na si Mors na sa sobrang gandang lalaki, napagkakamalan siya laging engkanto.

But something put me off from trully falling head over heels sa kanila.

Kahit nakakapaglaway na ang kanilang mga mukha at katawan, may ibang aura sila na inilalabas. Mapagmataas, unapproachable and, well, cold.

Iyong kahit siguro gumulong ka sa harap ng isang teenager na engkanto to profess your undying love, titingnan ka lang nila ng malamig with that poker face of theirs.

They are too distant, expresionless and unperturbed.

Kung ako ang papapiliin, sa simpleng tao na lang ako magpapakasal if ever kesa sa mga gaya ng mga engkanto na wala halos emosyon at all.

But this boy who just entered the throne room is awfully different from the rest of them all.

Kung hindi mo halos makitaan ng emosyon ang pagmumukha ng mga kasing-edad niyang engkanto, halatang-halata sa kaniyang mukha ngayon na takot na takot siyang humarap sa nanay niya and he’d rather be somewhere else, preferrably as far as possible.

It made him, how can I say this, human.

Which is quite odd. Base sa matikas na tindigan at malakas na aura, engkanto siya.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapataas ang aking mga kilay ng makita kong nangangatog na lumuhod siya sa paanan ng kaniyang ina at ipinatong ang kaniyang ulo sa mga paa nito quietly.

“Tumayo ka, Caspar, I’d rather not let our guest see you grovelling,” inis na sabi ng ina nito at mabilis na tumayo agad ang anak bago umatras at tumayo sa tabi ko absentmindedly na para bang naghihintay na lang sya na matapos na ang paghihirap niya, “My one and only child, my dear. Caspar, my mortal handmaiden, Vladria Sandugo.”

Mabilis na humarap sa akin ang binata at kinuha ang aking kanang kamay with his trembling hands and kissed them respectfully, “An honor to meet a mortal worthy of my mother’s attention.”

Automatic na nag curtsy ako kasi dinikdik sa akin ng nanay ko that when meeting someone from a higher rank than you are that paid you respect, you are honorbound to return the favor.

And so I did.

I curtsied as low as I can na nagpataas naman ng kilay ng emperatrist, “Pilitin mo mang itago, lalabas at lalabas pa din ang matinong pagpapalaki ng mga magulang when push comes to shove.”

Napakurap sa akin ang magagandang bluish silver eyes of his at me out of surprise as he seemingly can’t believe that I am aware enough of basic aristocratic protocols.

Magalang niyang binitawan ang aking kamay at umayos na din ako ng tayo bago humarap kami sa emperatrist that obviously doesn’t regard her own son in very high regard at all.

“Though I can probably have you taken care of by one of the sons of my high ranking nobilities, judging by your behavior, mukhang mas mapapakinabangan kita kung ang anak ko ang makakasama mo, as awfully immature, simple and unreliable he is,” tinapunan niya ng inis na tingin ang kaniyang anak at bumuntong-hininga in exasperation, Walang ginagawa iyan maghapon kung hindi magbasa ng magbasa ng mga libro, dyaryo at research articles. I hope he wouldn’t bore you too much, mapapauwi ka ng maaga.”

Namula sa kahihiyan ang kawawang anak at nakaramdam naman ako ng awa sa aking puso.

Truly, for an enchanted, he sure wears his heart on his sleeve, “Anong mga binabasa mong libro?”

Nagulat siya sa tanong ko at almost a minute na hindi makasagot bago nagsalita in a shy voice that made him very endearing in an odd way, “Adventures, young adult and science fiction to name a few.”

“I like reading as well, I look forward na makita ang mga libro mo, if given chance, Your Highness,” magalang kong tugon sabay tungo.

Tumango naman ito slowly as if he can’t believe what I just said as his mother continued talking.

“Treat him as your servant, my dear. He is at your disposal for your duration of stay here. And when I said disposal, I also mean that if you are ever in need of someone to warm your bed, he can assist you,” malamig na sabi nito which made me wonder if she is serious or joking at all dahil hindi ko talaga makitaan ng emosyon ang kaniyang mukha, “But I doubt, he will be of much use in that regard. You see, hindi kayo nagkakalayo ng edad. Pinanganak ko siya literally more than sixteen years ago and he is woefully ignorant in all manners of subject.”

Umiling na lang ako at sumagot frankly, “Kahit gaganto-ganto ako, I still believe that physical contact must be consumated after marriage.”

“Not that I expected you to call my bluff,” balik ng empress sa akin that made us both smile a little at each other.

“Also, a woman of your calibre is not someone I will even imagine of having a child, Your Majesty.”

Mukhang sensitive subject ang nasabi ko as she looked at her child whimsically as if my words made her remember memories she’d rather not think of ever again, “Isang pagkakamali ang anak ko, I can assure you of that, Vladira.”

“And here I thought totoo ang kasabihan ng mga mortal na mga perpekto ang mga engkanto at engkantada, moreso the one who leads them,” I said pointedly na nagpatawa ng malakas sa pinuno ng pinakamalakas na nilalang sa Gaia.

“At mukhang hindi ka naniwala a single bit sa kasabihan na iyon, my dear,” she said pointedly that made me shrug my shoulders nonchalantly, “One of the sore evidence that I, and the beings that I lead are prone to imperfection, is my son here. Siya ang araw-araw na nagpapaalala hindi lang sa akin, kundi sa lahat ng nasasakupan ko na kahit anong subok namin, magkakamali at magkakamali pa din kami, sooner or later.”

Magalang akong tumungo as she waved her hand to tell me that my audience is over.

“Wala kang kadala-dala kahit ano maliban sa damit na suot mo, and I must say I like your style, that, I can much. Ang anak ko ang bahalang tulungan ka sa pamimili ng mga damit, gamit, alahas, and all basic necessities around my capital,” tumingin naman siya sa kaniyang anak na halatang natuwa dahil tapos na din ang kaniyang paghihirap, “Siguro naman hindi ka masyadong papalpak sa simpleng gawain mo, Caspar?”

Umiling agad ito at magalang na lumuhod sa paanan ng kaniyang ina quickly before offering his arm for me to latch on.

Ayokong sumasabit sa kahit sinong lalaki but I know he will be ridiculed again by his mother if I didn’t so I relented and carefully wrapped my arm on his as he guided me outside the throne room.

But before we reached the doors, nakinig namin na nagsalita muli ang emperatrist in a cold tone.

“Niceness will not get you anywhere, my dear. It can only get you so far...”

-0-

“Lahat na lang ng ialok sa iyo, ayaw mo.”

Napatingin ako sa prinsipe na kasama ko as we wait for our lunch to arrive dito sa high-end restaurant ng mga enchanted na pinagdalhan niya sa akin after an admittedly rather painful shopping trip.

“Lahat ba naman ng gustong ipasuot sa akin ay puro gowns. Kahit pangtulog, seryoso?”

He just looked at me as if I am insane or something, “That seamstress is my mother’s purveyor since time immemorial. Kahit sino sigurong babae, mapa-immortal o mortal na madadamitan niya ay tatanggapin ang kahit anong ipasuot sa kanila.”

“Well, I am not one of them, that’s for sure,” inis kong sagot that made him chuckle a little, “Pero as you saw, no choice din ako kundi sumunod. I’d rather not push the patience of the empress more than I already did.”

“Honestly speaking, mukhang tuwang-tuwa siya sa iyo,” he said pointedly before looking at me curiously, “If my mother talks to someone after one sentence, ang ibig sabihin lang noon, nakuha mo ang atensyon niya and she rarely bothers small talks sa mga mortal o enchanted na hindi worth ng oras niya.”

“Huh...”

“Well, I can see why though. Hindi ka takot sabihin ang gusto mong sabihin kahit kaharap mo ang mga nilalang na kayang-kaya kang patayin in a blink of an eye.”

Uminom muna ako ng tubig saglit bago tumugon, “To be honest, I can’t explain why I keep on talking like that to your mother and you freely. Para bang hindi ko na kailangan pang alalahanin ma ya masasabi kayong hindi maganda pag binuka ko ang bibig ko para magsalita. No need to control my mind or mouth.”

“I think I know what you mean. Kakaunti pa lang ang mga taong nakakasalamuha ko at sa kakaunting panahon na sinubukan kong makipagusap sa kanila, takot na takot sila at hindi kami magkaroon ng matinong usupan like what we are having right now. I think you are brought here because unlike most mortals, hindi ka ilag sa amin. You treat us as your equals.”

Napangiwi ako sa sinabi niya because I know na never magiging pantay ang mga engkanto sa tao, “I wouldn’t go that far, personally speaking. We can never be equals. Kaming mga tao ay firmly sa pinakailalim ng foodchain and we know our place. Tama lang ang ginawa ng mga mortal na nakausap mo before. Keep their heads down.”

“And what you are doing is wrong?”

Tumango ako sabay buntong-hininga before looking down at the beautiful casual black gown na ipinilit sa akin ng Royal Seamstress after an hour of fitting and choosing.

“Fundamentally wrong, yes,” I said matter-of-factly before giving his face a good look for the first time since we met, “Napakagwapo mo pero hindi ka mukhang engkanto. No offense. I mean it in a good way. You look different, probably even better looking than the other enchanteds. There’s this aura you are giving that cannot be found with other of your kind.”

He blushed a little and smiled lopsidedly that showed his icy white teeth and enhanced his already good looks to a whole new level.

“You heard my mother earlier, right? Isa akong pagkakamali, Vladira...”

Napakurap ako sa sinabi niya and slowly, I am beginning to see the clearer picture and finally understand what the heck is going on all along.

His looks, his mother’s resentment and the enchanteds’ sudden friendliness with the mortals that started a little more than a decade ago.

“Isa kang...”

“Tao,” he finished my sentence simply as he looked at himself on the mirror next to our table, “Half, to be exact.”

Napailing naman agad ako sa sinabi niya kahit all evidence inside my mind pointed to that very same conclusion, “That’s impossible, the enchanteds never falls in love with mere mortals. Walang record kahit ano na nagka-anak sa tao ang mga engkanto o engkantada. Sa ibang lahi, yes, but sa mga tao? Imposible.”

“Then please, explain why do I look and act this way, Vladira,” he dared me and I was stumped, “Imortal ako gaya ng mga engkanto pero pula ang dugo ko.”

Laking gulat ko ng kinuha niya ang kutsilyo sa tabi ng kaniyang pinggan at hiniwa ang kaniyang daliri at halos mawalan ako ng ulirat ng makita kong pumatak mula doon ang pulang-pulang dugo na tao lang ang meron.

You see, the term blue blood is coined by mortals to denote those who are members of the upper crust of society but it is more literal sa mga engkanto at engkantada.

Asul talaga ang dugo ng mga ito and that is what sets them apart from the rest of beings dito sa mundo namin.

Iba, iba ang kulay ng dugo ng bawat lahi with pure red for mere mortals and blue para sa mga engkanto na pinakamataas sa lahat.

Pero itong prinsipe ng imperyo ng mga engkanto, pula ang dugo niya.

“So that’s how you look like when at a lost for words,” untag nito sa akin as I blinked my eyes and tried to regain my lost composure, “Matutuwa si nanay pag nakita niya mamaya ang expression mo. I will make sure to project your very image just now on ice so she can amuse herself. She is rather fond of watching different expressions of mortals since as you may already have seen, bato ang pagmumukha ng mga engkanto.”

I nodded but pointed at his face, “Not you, though. Iyon siguro ang malaki mong pagkakaiba sa mga kalahi mo.”

“Knowing the truth, genetically speaking, kalahi din kita,” he said meaningfully na nagpatawa sa akin ng kaunti, “Pero sabi ni nanay, physically and ability speaking, I am an enchanted through and through but when it comes to my behavior and the way I carry myself, taong tao ako.”

I nodded slowly at nagtanong carefully, “Paano ang pakitungo sa iyo ng mga kapwa mo enchanteds? Surely it caused an uproar of epic proportions when their own very empress have a child, her only child, to a mere mortal.”

“Well, in that regard, wala naman naging gaanong problema,” he said that made me raise an eyebrow in disbelief, “Unlike sa mga tao, hindi kami nanghuhusga depende sa kasarian, sa pinagmulan o hitsura ng nakakasalamuha namin. We judge base on merits, power and sheer audacity of other beings to go against us.”

Itinuro niya ang dambuhalang estatwa ng isang lalaki sa gitna ng central plaza ng Arcticia made of beautiful ice so large and big, it can be seen from all across the wide expanse of the enchanted’s capital city, “ Melchor Bustamante, twenty two years old.”

“Wait a minute, Melchor Bustamante? Nabanggit sa akin dati ng tatay ko na may nakatrabaho siya dati na powerful Glaciemancer going by that name. A mercenary like him who got lost in the frozen wastelands up north in a job, never seen again.”

Napatawa si Caspar at tumango sa akin happily, “Small world, huh? Well, your father is right. Naanod siya dito seventeen years ago at ang nanay ko ang nakapulot sa kaniya while on her visitation of her coastal boarders.”

“They fell in love?”

Umiling lang ito at nagkibit-balikat as our food arrived and it’s the waiter who answered my question, “Love is for other beings. The Emperor, glory to his eternal name, is so powerful and confident for a mortal, kahit kaming mga enchanted ay hindi nakapagreklamo when he was crowned as our ruler.”