Desiderio Domini

Chapter 15

“For Hors-d oeuvre, we will have Tundrian Salad dressed with Encanterian Tomato Sauce served with Arctician Shellfish Cocktail covered with creamy mayonaise, please, enjoy.”

Inilapag ng mga waiters at waitresses ang unang course namin at agad akong namangha sa delectable and absolutely elegant presentation ng appetizer.

I attended my fair share of royal banquets and galas dahil pwinersa ako ng nanay ko na samahan siya because my father is smart enough to avoid going through all that stomachache nonsense sa royal palace ng Libertad.

“Tama nga ang sabi-sabi sa kontinente namin, if we are at the height of our luxury already, then the enchanteds can certainly take anything we can present to the nines,” I remarked na nagpangiti sa isang dosenang kasama namin ni Caspar at ng nanay niya sa dining table at the center of the ballroom.

The empress who is sitting at the head of the table chuckled at me, “We are just getting started, my dear. May I advise na tumikim-tikim ka lang ng pauti-uti para maka-abot ka sa kahuli-hulihang course.”

Tumango si Caspar at tumikim na ng salad gingerly at halatang napipilitan lang, “Tiisin mo na lang, Vladira. The technique is not to eat too much, too fast at wag na wag kang magmamadami ng tubig or juice para hindi ka magsawa agad.”

“Not too loud, Caspar.”

“So you two are in first-name terms already? May kasalan na ba ulit tayo in the next three years or so, Crown Prince?”

Sabay kaming dalawang lumingon at umiling sa engkanto in his late twenties and was introduced to me earlier as Max, the Imperial Minister for Internal Affairs, “No.”

“Calm down, minister. Una ko pa lang kita sa marchioness, I already saw her treating my son as her younger sibling,” Empress Iseria said simply as she raised an eyebrow at her son who flinched fearfully, “I just hope na hindi mo ako ipapahiya sa kaniya, Caspar.”

Umiling agad ang anak niya and the empress thankfully decided to let his feeble attempt to please her slide, this time.

“I would just like to take this opportunity to remind Her Most Honourable that the existence of our crown prince is an imperial secret,” sangat ni Olivia, the Imperial Ministress for Foreign Affairs, “Huwag mo sanang sayangin ang tiwalang ibinigay ni Empress Iseria sa iyo.”

I shook my head and bowed respectfully, “I couldn’t care less sa sikreto ng iba, may malaki din akong problema na mas importante kaysa sa chismis na hindi ko naman mapapakinabangan at all.”

Napataas ang kilay ng ministress in approval as she looked at her liege, “Your Majesty, while I admit that I do have some misgivings when you brought her here, ngayong nakausap ko na siya ng harapan, wala na akong maiisip na reklamo pa. She really reminds me of us, specifically, you, in your younger years, anyways.”

Tumawa lang ng malakas ang empress before raising a glass of expensive champagne at all of us, “Cheers, everyone!”

“Cheers!”

After a few small talks, dumating na din ang next course for me to see.

“For Potage, you may all enjoy this Nephro ala Creme to heat your stomachs for what is yet to come.”

Nilapag ng serbidora ang isang thick looking creamy soup with delicous looking lobster meat.

Kumuha agad ako ng tamang kutsara para humigop at hindi ako nagsisi. It really is creamy with a hint of cognac that made it extra rich and flavorfull.

“While I applaud Zabel’s spicy curry soup, iba pa din ang Nephro ala Creme para sa aming mga enchanteds. It just brings in that “kick” to start your festive meal with a bang,” masayang wika ng empress as we nodded in agreement, including me of course, dahil natikman ko na twice ang spicy curry soup ng reyna namin and compared to this, may iba talagang dating pag hinaluan mo ng alak ang pagkain, “I hope you are enjoying our feast so far?”

I nodded respectfully and smiled a little after surprisingly finishing the soup quickly despite the fact na pinaalalahanan ako ni Caspar na huwag dadamihan ang kain.

Anyways, I think I am still safe, soup lang naman ang nilantakan ko so I can still enjoy the rest of the waiting fifteen courses, hopefully.

“I must say, I find it quite odd and unique at the same time na gumagawa pala ng ganiyang klase ng korona at mga alahas ang mga mortal,” wika ni Hugo, the Imperial Minister for Finances as he looked at my crown and family jewels pointedly, “And here I thought binase lahat ng mga tao sa aming mga enchanteds ang kanilang taste sa alahas.”

I took a deep breath and sigh as I try to remember the admittedly weird history of how our gemstones are mined, “Yes, even among the royal aristocracy, talagang takaw pansin ang aming korona and family jewels. But really, kung makakakuha lang ba kami ng ibang mga mamahaling bato sa aming nasasakupan, we would have.”

“Ah, yes, the Marquisate of Sabayat is quite rich with black colored metals and gemstones since time immemorial. Though mas mababa ang presyo kumpara sa ibang mga mined gemstones, masasabi naman na walang kapantay ito sa tibay and endurance,” sunod ni Caspar as he bowed his head a little and pointed at my ring, “May I borrow it for a minute, Vladira?”

Napakurap na lang ako sa sudden request niya but I respectfully obliged and removed my ring bago inabot sa kaniya ito.

Maingat niyang tinanggal ang removable na onyx encrusted in it and to my surprise, he froze it solid before raising it for everyone to see bago niya crinush ito using his bare hand.

Napasinghap ang mga nakaupo sa table namin except the empress when he revealed that the onyx remained intact and unscathed amongst the pieces of broken ice in his palm.

“Indestructable even by an enchanted’s hand,” lumingon siya saglit sa kaniyang ina and inclined his head at her, “Unless gusto mong subukan, nanay?”

But the empress who just finished her soup waved her hand dismissively, “Madami ka mang hindi namana sa akin sadly, one of the few things that you did is my tight grip. Kung hindi mo masira iyan using your hand then I am sure the same result will happen if I tried it myself.”

“Thank you for lending it to me, Vladira. Here you go,” iniabot ulit sa akin ni Caspar ang singsing ko after he returned its gem at sinuot ko naman ulit ito agad, “Anyways, sa dami kong nababasa tungkol sa kontinente ng tao, napakadalang kong makakita ng excerpts about your dominion. I wonder why?”

Bago ako makasagot ay nagsilabasan muli ang mga waiters and waitresses to serve the third course of our feast dutifully.

“For Oeuf, we have Omelette aux Champignons, a very light dish in preparation for a heavier meal we are planning to serve next, enjoy!”

Napatingin ako sa fluffy and oddly runny dish made of egg, peppercorns and mushroom among other out of season vegetables cooked not in oil but in butter and champagne.

Parang puro may halong alak ata ang handa and while it is not illegal in the Gaia Children’s Statute to feed children from all beings mortal or not, dishes with alcohol, kung lahat ng meals na susunod ay puro may alak, someone is bound to get drunk.

Well, it will not be me, and I am sure Empress Iseria knows that full well dahil while walking on our way to the ballroom, I casted a skill na magbabago sa sikmura ko akin to those of the dead. Kahit palaklakin ninyo ako ng ilang litro ng alak, may lason o wala, hindi ako tatalban.

Iyan actually ang kinaiinggitan sa akin ni Wynda.

Hindi ko need mag-diet to maintain a slim figure unlike her.

Kaya kong kumain ng kahit anong gustuhin ko at piliin kung alin ang ipapa-absorb sa katawan ko and what will be disposed of harmlessly.

“Parang puro mga paborito ko ang mga handa ah!”

Napatingin kami sa prinsipe na naubos na agad ang kaniyang alcohol-cooked omellette as fast as he did with his soup.

I caught a mischievous glint in the eye of the empress that faded away quickly as it came habang tinitingnan niya carefully ang kaniyang anak, “Don’t get ahead of yourself, little one. Para kay Vladira ang handaan na ito at nagkataon lang na tao siya kaya no choice ang imperial chefs kung hindi magluto ng mga putaheng magugustuhan niya.”

Gaya ko, mukhang alam din ng Imperial Ministress for Sustenance na there is more to it than what her empress is letting on.

“Kahit sa mga pagkain kakaiba na talaga ang teritoryo mo and I mean it in a good way,” wika nito sa akin and I thanked her gratefully, “Nakatikim ako ng dinuguan, itim na lemonade at napakasarap na black velvet cake na niluto ng isang chef from your dominion invited by my mortal counterpart when I visited her house at wala akong magustuhan sa kahit anong ihanda niya.”

I raised my glass of sparkling water at her direction which she returned the respectful gesture in kind as a sign of how noble borns such as me show our gratitude to our equals or someone of higher rank.

“Too bad my father died early in my childhood. Napakagaling niyang magluto and black colored dishes are his specialty. My mother and I back then just drools all over the dining hall waiting for our next meal.”

Napatawa naman ang empress sa sinabi ko, “The famed Necromancer na kinuwento ng namayapa kong asawa na kinatatakutan ng lahat ng mortal, including him, knows how to cook? Color me surprised.”

I smiled respectfully at the empress as our next course arrived.

“Farineaux, esteemed guests. Penne alla Vodka, may your tongues be tittilated with this risque twist to our regular Encanterian Pasta with a shot of mortal vodka, enjoyed by our esteemed emperor back then, cooked with tomatoes chilli pepper, Acrtician oil, garlic and bay leaves to perfection.”

Caspar gasped in glee when he was served with our next meal at halatang gustong-gusto niya ang pagkain sa harap niya, “Naku, tikman mo dali, Vladira! Minsan lang every few years magluto ng ganito ang chef namin at napakasarap grabe!”

Hindi na niya ako kailangang kumbinsihin pa dahil unang subo pa lang niya ay halata ko na agad sa kaniyang mukha na pareho sila ng hilig ng ama niyang tao.

“If I am not mistaken, the marchioness haven’t taken the masteral class for Necromancy yet, right?” magalang na tanong ng Imperial Minister for Education sa akin at tumango naman ako.

“Oo. Sabi ng Archbishop, hindi pa daw ako handa at all.”

To my surprise, napatawa ang mga kasama ko dito sa hapag-kainan except the prince na busy sa pag-ubos ng kaniyang pasta.

“Seriously, what would the highest representative of light know about darkness at all?” naiiling at natatawang tanong ng nanay ni Caspar na nagpatango sa mga ministro nya quickly, “Para ka na ding humingi ng permiso sa isang Pyromancer to get your masterals as a Glaciemancer.”

I heaved a sigh and shrugged my shoulders after I finished my own pasta later than the satisfied priest who is tapping his stomach contentedly, “It is what it is. Kung hindi niya ako bibigyan ng pagkakataon na makakuha ng exam at all, stuck na ako sa Spiritualist in the forseeable future.”

Akmang may sasabihin ang Imperial Minister for Military Affairs pero dumating bigla ang mga serbidor at serbidora to deliver our next course right on schedule.

“For Poisson, we have Tuna de vin. Delight yourselves with freshly caught fish from our shores sauteed to perfection using only the finest wine in our lands and tasty fish stock.”

Another dish with alcohol content. What’s the endgame of the empress?

Kilalang hindi malasingin ang mga engkanto, it is even said na isa sa kinaiinggitan ng mga mortal sa mga ito ay ang kakayanan nilang enjoyin to their hearts content ang kahit anong alak without the painful hungover that will come surely later para pahirapan ang mga pobreng tao.

I glanced at Caspar who is already well underway in decimating his plate bago tumigin sa ministro na may itatanong sana sa akin, “If I am not mistaken, may gusto kang sabhin sa akin, my Lord?”

“Well, more of a question, if you don’t mind, Most Honourable. Paano nakapag-masteral ang tatay mo considering how hard it is for your line of job to even be qualified to take an examination.”

It’s the empress who answered the question herself, “Kagaya ni Melchor ang tatay niya. Self-taught and trained. Unlike my departed husband, the marchioness’ father is a very impatient man. Base sa kwento niya, hindi na daw naghintay na payagan pa ng archbishop siya na magmasteral at siya na mismo ang nag-aral at nagpatapos sa sarili niya through sheer will and grit alone.”

We did a number of small talks before the next dish arrived for us to feast on.

“Entree is Steak de Bourbon. A preview of what is to come. It is marinated with a shot of prized sauvignon poccured in our southern vassal states coated with rich mushroom gravy.”

Nararamdaman ko na unti-unti nang nag-momove sa mabigat ang dishes na hinahanda and this steak is no exception.

Kahit light siya by standards, wala naman sinabi ang bigat ng mga naunang courses dito.

“Which brings me to my question, my dear,” seryosong wika ng empress after she chewed the first bite of the beef and pushing it away immediately dahil gaya kanina, more on patikim-tikim lang siya at ginagawang pulutan sa alak ang mga putahe and now that I think about it, kami lang ni Caspar ang talagang nakain ng buo sa aming mga plato dahil hanggang tikim lang ang ibang mga engkanto at engkantada while they enjoy the small talks and liquor instead of the meals themselves, “Bakit hindi mo nalang gayahin ang ama mo? You are quite formidable in your own right. I should know, nakita ko sa kaluluwa mo kung paano ka mag-control ng kapangyarihan mo over darkness to make sure na hindi mo nasasapawan ang kaibigan mo at ibang mga ka-guild.”

Tumango naman si Caspar na may amos pa sa bibig, “Kaya nga, Vladira. Why bother seeking for the approval of others when you don’t need it in the first place? Kung nadala ka dito ni nanay, ibig sabihin lang noon, kaya mong makipagsabayan sa aming mga enchanteds and that is a great feat in of itself since nasa magkalayong level tayo.”

Ngumiti ako as I inclined my head at the incoming army of waiters and waitresses bringing our next meal to say na sasagot ako after ko matikman ang kasunod na handa.

“Sorbet, our lordships and ladyships. Her Majesty’s favorite itself. Tropical Paunch Sorbet made of coconut rum, pineapple syrup prepared as an icy treat for our guest of honor!”

Napangiti naman ako ng malapad.

Ito talaga ang kanina ko pa inaantay na course.

Ang unang dessert as pallet cleanser.