Desiderio Domini

Chapter 14

“Anyways, my father died shortly after my birth. It is a heroic death that made him even more respected by the enchanteds. Biglang may nagbukas na portal mula sa ibaba at naglabasan mula dito ang hindi mabilang na mga kampon ng kasamaan thretening to destroy a nearby nursery facility housing thousands upon thousands of first born enchanteds. My father who is visiting alone that time sacrificed himself to defeat all those who are threatening the first borns before using his life force to close the portal permanently.”

I nodded slowly when I heard that as I quietly look at the statue again standing proudly and on its face a smile not that different from Caspar’s when he is happy.

“They said that certain mortals at the brink of death can unleash powers well beyond what they are capable of normally. To seal an evil portal is no small feat that any mere mortals can say that they did so and managed to live and tell the tale,” wika ko ng tahimik as we finished our delicious meal that to my surprise, I quite enjoyed, “Let me guess, nagkaroon ng mga pagkaing inspired ng mga tao dito dahil sa tatay mo, Caspar?”

“Yes. Though his stay here was short, he was very, very influential. Sabi ng mga gwardya ko, madaming pagkakataon na mas maimpluwensya pa siya sa nanay ko. Ang unang-una niyang pinagawa ay maghanda ng mga pagkain na magugustuhan ng tao,” he replied casually as he wiped his mouth and smiled sweetly at me, “I guess you could say na ginawa niya iyon in part because of me. Between you and me lang ha? Hindi ko magets kung paano nakakain ng mga kapwa ko engkanto ng seventeen courses for one meal alone at napakadaming kung ano-anong sahog at seasonings. Minsan, tinapay at keso lang, masaya na ako.”

Napatawa ako ng mahina sa sinabi niya, “That’s very mortal of you to say that, Caspar. Pero bago ako mapasarap, ayos lang ba na Caspar ang itawag ko sa iyo? I don’t want to overstep my boundaries and surprising it may be to hear, may limitasyon din ang kawalang-pakialam ko sa ibang nilalang, tao or otherwise.”

“You’re the very first being I ever talked to like this. Kahit nanay ko, hindi ko nakakakwentuhan ng ganito, or anyone here to be exact,” seryosong tugon nito sa akin as he really looks so happy to have a modicum of conversation with me.”

“Well, kilala ang mga engkanto at engkanta sa pagiging tahimik at ayaw sa small talks. They prefer to get to the point and dislikes chatting,” I replied matter-of-factly as I allowed him to assist me standing up from my seat, “I don’t want sound to be rude pero ayoko talagang umasa kahit kanino on simple things such as this. Kaya lang ako nagtitiis sa iyo ay dahil baka may masabi na naman ang empress if you failed to even get a mere mortal woman to allow you to assist her.”

He chuckled and sigh, “Oo, tama ka. Masasabon na naman niya ako pag tinanggihan mo ako. Besides, you looked like an independent kind of woman. That’s something female enchanteds can appreciate. I am sure madami kang makakasundo later sa grand welcoming feast.”

“Grand welcoming feast, para kanino? Sa akin?”

“Oo. Napakadalang magkaroon ng bisitang tao dito sa amin and the last mortal who ever set foot here ay ang tatay ko years and years ago. Kating-kati na tiyak magpaparty si nanay dahil ang huling handaan dito ay noong bininyagan ako and that’s about it kaya maghanda ka na mamaya dahil mararanasan mo ang kinatatakutang twelve course meal namin first hand.”

We just laughed together as we walked out of the restaurant and into the snowy streets of Arcticia, the eternally cold capital of the enchanteds.

-0-

“Kung lagi kang magdadamit ng ganito, pagkakamalan kang engkantada gaya namin...”

I looked at the mirror and I have to agree with the enchanted na tumulong na mag-ayos sa akin and one of the trusted handmaiden of Empress Iseria.

She picked everything from the gown, make-up and shoes that I should wear. Tinulungan din niya akong mag-apply ng make-up, though hindi na niya need kapalan because she said that one of the reasons why her empress brought me here is the fact na kaya kong magmukhang kagalang-galang without putting to much of anything in my face to do so.

A hallmark of female enchanted, or so she said.

“And here I thought lalait-laitin mo ako at mamaliitin bago tadyakan at pagtawanan for being a mere pathetic mortal as many teledramas suggested when I was a child,” nakangiti kong wika dito na nagpatawa naman sa kaniya a little before raising an eyebrow.

Napakaganda talaga niya.

Well, given na maganda talaga sa lahat ang mga engkantada pero iba talaga ding pumili ang emperatrist ng mga enchanted na papaligid sa kaniya.

Mapa lalaki o babae, may certain simmilarities silang lahat. Unassumingly beautiful, lithe and graceful.

“Tama naman ang mga napapanood mo, Lady Vladira. Kung normal kang tao na napadpad dito, hindi lang basta lait at pangmamaliit ang gagawin ko sa iyo. But you are handpicked by Her Majesty herself and as always, now and eternally forever, wala siyang palya sa pamimili ng naaayon sa kaniyang standards and let me tell you, mas mataas pa sa langit ang expectations niya sa mga kapwa nya enchanteds, what more kung sa tao pa?”

I shook my head and smiled at the youthful looking enchanted which is four thousand times my age, “Please no need to use honorifics, it is not like I am a member of high society anyways.”

“Kahit hindi ka miyembro ng aristokrasya dito sa Encanteria, you are still a high ranking member of the Sapienos nobility. Tao man, royalty pa din, and we acknowledge other beings’ title and position in our own nation as much as kung paano igalang ng mga tao ang emperatrist namin,” mahinahon at maliwanag na wika nito sa akin and when I am about to protest, she just gave me stern gaze, “Alam lahat ng Mahal na Emperatrist Iseria ang tungkol sa buo mong pagkatao, Lady Vladira. The moment she laid her eyes on you and picked you, she already read your soul like the back of her hand. Mas magiging madali at peaceful ang pananatili mo dito kung gagalaw ka ng naaayon on what she saw, she already liked how you speak, might as well walk the talk, hmm?”

I just heaved a sigh and nodded quietly in agreement.

Sinasabi ko na nga ba.

The moment na titigan niya ako in the eye, nalaman na niya ang buong pagkatao ko.

Enchanteds have the infamous ability to read other beings very life as if they are just perusing a particularly interesting newspaper or something.

Kaya ang hirap hanapan ng kapintasan ang mga ito in mortals’ perspective. Iyong hinahanapan mo pa lang sila, alam na nila lahat ng baho mo.

“Baka hindi maniwala ang mga bisita namin na tao ka, Vladira,” napalingon kami ng kasama ko sa pintuan ng aking kwarto at nakita ko si Caspar na nakasuot ng magarang blue and black ceremonial clothes fitting his imperial position complete with a sash with the empire’s coat of arms and a princely crown on his golden belt, “Or should I say, Marchioness Vladira Thanasia?”

Laking gulat ko ng itinaas niya ang hawak niyang pamilyar na velvet na kahon bearing the marquisate’s coat of arms.

A carrion crow perched on top of a simple obsidian shield with our dominion’s motto written at the bottom in ancient language.

“Memento Mori.”

“Alalahanin mo na mamatay ka din,” nakangising bigkas ni Caspar as he let my attendant take the box and open it to reveal the crown that I loathe, onyx family jewels and the sash that I dreamt of never wearing again, “Pinadala iyan ni Reyna Zabel. She said that you forgot to take it with you.”

I just closed my eyes and tried to calm myself as my attendant put on the obsidian crown on my head encrusted with precious onyx gemstones of unimaginable carat only found in one of our mines in the marquisate.

Though it pales in comparison with the duke’s and of course, the queen’s, ang itim na kulay at ensemble nito ay takaw pansin sa kahit sinong makakita and it is created together with the jewels that served as our family’s only worldy possesion that we can really call our own.

Isinuot na din sa akin ang full ensemble ng mga alahas na minana ko sa aking ama at isinuot na din dati ng aking ina.

Priceless onyx encrusted silver fineries composed of a ring, bangle, anklet, necklace and earrings emphasized the pitch black evening gown and gloves specifically chosen for me by the empress’ seamstress earlier from the empress’ collection.

I looked at the mirror and saw my face covered only in light foundation as the attendant emphasized only my eyes and lips accented by black rogue, eyeliner and mascara from Empress Iseria’s own choice pallets.

Hindi pumayag ang nag-ayos sa akin na itago ang isang pulang mata ko but I tried to stand my ground and we finally reached a compromise.

Inayos niya in a bun with side swept tendrils ang mahaba kong buhok para kahit papaano ay matabingan ang aking nagbabagang mata but still let’s everyone who looks at my face see a sneak peek of my blood red eye.

“Kung ngayon lang kita nakita, iisipin ko na isa kang engkantada and be done with it,” manghang sambit ni Caspar as my attendant presented me to him so that he may marvel at my looks right now, “To think na tao ka and you look so, perfect, is really something else. Baka magalit ka, I am complimenting you, Vladira.”

Pinilit kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko as I felt the weight of the crown on my head na pinangako ko sa sarili kong hindi ko na mararamdaman pang ulit, “I’m sorry I can’t respond to your kind words for now. Hindi ko lang akalain na hahantong sa puntong isusuot ko ulit itong nasa ulo ko when I promised myself to never wear it again.”

“Well, I hope you can gather yourself soon, dadalhin na kita sa imperial ballroom where everyone is waiting to bask in your glory, Your Most Honourable.”

I flinched when he addressed me as that but considering na puro miyembro ng alta sociedad ng mga engkanto ang mga bisita ng emperatrist, kailangan ko nang masanay.

For the duration of my stay here, hindi muna ako si Vladira Sandugo, ang isang patapong babae na Spiritualist.

Umangkla na ako sa braso ni Caspar after thanking profusely the proud attendant for everything she have done to make me look presentable at naglakad na kami papunta ng prinsipe sa imperial ballroom.

Napatingala ako sa kasama ko at ngumiti a little, “And here I thought you can’t be anymore handsome and dashing than you already are. It is like someone took a good-looking teen mortal boy and enchantified him.”

“Well, now that’s something new to describe my looks but I’m flattered. Falling in love yet?” nakakalokong tanong nito sabay kindat sa akin pero napailing na lang ako.

“You are not my type at sigurado ako na hindi din ako ang type mo. Magkakasundo ba tayo sa isa’t-isa na parang matagal na tayong magkakilala if we harbor any trace of attraction to one another,” I then looked at him nostalgically as I remember my longing back when I was a kid, “Siguro kung may kapatid lang akong lalaki, ganitong-ganito ang pakitungo ko sa kaniya.”

Tumungo ito ng kaunti as we stopped in front of a large door flanked by enchanted who is staring at me right now curiously, “I will take that as a compliment and god knows hindi ako nakakarecieve ng compliment dito sa Encanteria. I hope you are ready, Vladira. It’s showtime.”

Bago pa ako makasagot ay nakinig ko na ang pag-aanounce ng arrival naming dalawa bago binuksan ang pintuan ng ballroom to let us in finally.

“His Imperial Highness, Heir Caspar of the Enchanteds, Imperial Crown Prince of the Empire of Tundria and its Vassal States escorting Her Royal Highness, The Most Honourable Vladira of House Thanasia, Marchioness of the Marquisate of Sabayat, Kingdom of Tribon!”

Sabay kaming lumakad pababa ng icy grand staircase ng ballroom draped with luxurious velvet carpet at sa ibaba ay kitang-kita ko ang mahigit dalawang daang mga engkanto at engkantada na nakatingala sa amin wearing elegant gowns and suits.

Nang makarating na kami sa paanan ng hagdanan ay nakita namin na lumapit sa amin ang nanay ni Caspar, wearing a fabulous ball gown made of silk and glittering crystals who hold a glass of wine above her head towards my direction, “Here’s to the Marchioness.”

“To the Marchioness!”