Not like Us

Chapter 28

"Maharlika!"

Dayang Vivien called his husband, the king, when she noticed that she saw Lamang's fingers moved.

It has been four days since Lamang was being infested by the black creature. It was fortunate for him that he was able to fight for his life.

Dayang Vivien held her son's hand and kissed it. She could not imagine what would happened to her if the infestation would take away her son. She wiped the forming tears away from her face. She would not be on her right mind if that happens.

"I saw his hands move," Dayang Vivien announced to the king. The king sighed a relief. He was relieved that his son had conquer the infestation of the black creature, just like his mother.

The king went towards the queen and patted her back. "You are a great mom," the king commented.

The queen looked down. "I am not. I have made this to our son. If only we noticed. This would not happen."

The king patted her head. "No, he would not like to hear that you are blaming yourself.”

Lamang felt that his eyes were now lighter compared to the last time he remembered. He tried to open it and he was greeted wit the face of both of his parents. Her mother noticed it.

“Lamang,” she happily called. She was glad that her son was all right. She combed his hair with her fingers.

“Mom,” Lamang said. His voice was still cracking.

Lamang tried to sat up. He groaned. His body still hurt a little. He felt his mother’s arms wrapped around him. “I thought we will lost you, son.” Lamang felt there were tears that fell to his back. The king joined them.

“I am still alive, mom.” Lamang smiled. He tapped her mother’s back.

The king and queen removed themselves from the hug. His mother held his shoulders. While the king holding was her for support. She had not been taking a rest to take care of her son. “What are your worries son?”

“Only those with human blood will get affected by the power of those black creature. Engkantos are only in danger by the negative energy produced by those who are infested. And only those with human blood who have such great worries will only be affected.” The highest elder said as he was stacking his things. He blew the lit candle and the smoke went up above and a minute later, it disappeared.

Lamang just looked down. His parents noticed it. They looked at each other. “We are here to listen, son,” the queen assured.

Lamang lay on his bed and covered himself with his sheet. “My body still hurt. I will take a rest.”

He rolled his body to the side and the highest elder was looking at him. “You can still be infested by the black creature if you do not clear your heart and mind.”

Lamang nodded as a response to his reminder. “Thank you.”

The queen looked at her husband with worry. The king just shook his head. The queen sighed. “Son, just let the knight outside know if you needed something,” the king said.

Lamang nodded. The king and queen together with the highest elder went outside his room.

“Thank you for helping us, elder.” The king said as soon as they reached the main door of the palace.

The highest elder bowed, “It is my duty, Gat. I am happy to serve you.”

Both of the king and queen bowed in return. “Just keep me updated if you need my help.”

They both bowed once again, “Thank you, elder.”

After the main door has been closed, the queen immediately leaned on the wall. “Vivien,” the king called. “Are you okay?” he asked. She looked at him and sweats were starting to form on her forehead.

She nodded. “Yes, I just need to take a rest.”

The king helped the queen to stay upright. He held both of her shoulders and let her rest her head on his shoulder. “You should take a rest for two days,” the king suggested.

The queen shook her head. “No, I will be fine later. We still need to check on Lamang.”

He assisted the queen to walk to their quarters. “I would make sure he is all right.”

“Is Dayang Vivien all right? What happened to the Gat?” Dayang Maria’s right hand asked.

Dayang Maria emerged from the dark corner of the area. They heard and saw everything. She did not mean to eavesdropped. She was about to go to the garden. She wanted to get some fresh air since she had not been able to go outside ever since the wedding.

“Let us go and check the prince,” Maria said.

Dayang Maria’s right hand ‘s face got shocked. “What do you mean, Dayang?”

Dayang Maria started to walk to where Lamang’s room was situated.

“No, where are you going? You are not allowed to go there.” Her right hand protested while trying to catch up with her walk. “It is stated on your contract,” she added.

“’I am just going to check up on him. I am not coming in,” Maria clarified. “And uh,” she stopped and faced her right hand. “Please prepare some food for Dayang Vivien. I am going to bring her some. Just meet me at my room,” she said and smile. She went back to facing the path to where Lamang’s room was and walked towards there.

As she marched at the stairs towards Lamang’s room she already saw there was a knight guarding the door.

The guard noticed her from a far so he faced her. As she got nearer, she noticed that he was staring at her to the point like his stares were a piece of arrow piercing her deeper and deeper as she the distance was getting smaller and smaller.

She did not mind him and stood in front of the door. The knight use his long spear to stop Dayang Maria from continuing.

“You are not allowed to take a step any further,” the knight announced.

She looked at him but he was now looking on the wall parallel to the door while he was holding his spear diagonally to his side.

Lamang, who was just on his bed and staring on his ceiling, heard what the knight said but he did not know who he was talking to.

“Who is it?”

Dayang Maria’s attention got back to the door when she heard Lamang asking.

“It is the princess consort, Dayang Maria,” the knight announced.

“Do not worry! I won’t come in,” Maria said in speed to stop Lamang from thinking that she was defying the rules just like her right hand said.

“I just wanted to ask, how are you? As your wife, it is still my duty to know about your well-being,” Dayang Maria said.

After Dayang Maria said that, there was a silent end on the other side.

“Am I stepping the line?” Dayang Maria asked. She stepped back. “I am sorry then.”

She was about to walk away from the door when she heard Lamang answered. “No, you are not. I am fine. Thank you for performing your duty,” he said on the other end. It was visible from his voice that he just got recovered from something that he had been through. They were told to do not go to this area four days ago but no one ever tell them why.

Dayang Maria went back in front of the door. “That is good then, Gat Lamang. I am glad to know that you are now fine and I am sorry for coming here without any notice. “

“No, it is fine. Thank you for showing some concern.”

“You are welcome. I will get going then.”

“All right, thank you.” Dayang Maria said as she faced where the knight was. She did not noticed that the knight was just near her. She almost bumped on his shoulder.

“Knight Pulo, please accompany Dayang Maria on her way back to her room. I would be just fine here,” Lamang commanded.

They both looked at each other. Dayang Maria’s eyebrows met. She did not need any companion.

“I will be back, immediately, Gat Lamang,” the knight assure.

“It is alright, no need to rush,” Lamang said on the other end.

They both now started walking. They followed the path the Dayang Maria went through earlier. They were just quiet as they walked. No one dared to speak. And Maria did not want to speak, either. She did not want to waste her energy speaking to a knight. She did not need a knight to accompany her too. Why would Lamang suggest it?

“You should slow down, Dayang,” the knight said but Maria did not listen instead, she walked faster than her pace earlier.

It did not take them five minutes to go to the entrance hall. “You could go back now. I am already fine here,” she said as she faced the knight. The knight looked at her, “ I cannot, Dayang. What was ordered to me was to accompany you to your room,” the knight looked around around the area. “This is still not your room.”

Dayang Maria’s eyebrows rose and just sighed. She continued walking back to her room as soon as possible so she would get away with the knight behind her. Ever since she stayed in the palace, the king and queen never asked a knight to accompany her. Lamang is very protective, she thought.

When she arrived at in front of her door, she did not bother to look at the knight. She immediately went inside and closed the door.

“Why are you in a rush?” Someone at her back said. She looked at the person who spoke.

“Father, why are you here?” Dayang Maria asked. She did not expect her father to visit her today. Her father was sitting on her chair near her window. “I did not expect you here,” she added.

“Am I not allowed to visit my daughter?” Her father said as he stood up and encircled her.

“You are allowed. I am sorry for asking that,” she apologized as she curtsy.

“You have been three weeks married with the prince. What is your progress?” her father asked as he looked at the things displayed on Maria’s table.

“I did not get the chance to talk to him that often. He was always not around,” Maria said.

“What about the other members of the royal?”

“I saw earlier, the queen looked sick. I am planning to bring her some food later.”

“Good,” Dayang Maria’s father said as he kept walking back and forth. “You have to gain their trust.”

Dayang Maria nodded. “I will, father.”

He looked at her. “But your main goal is to make Lamang fall in love with you. “

“I will try my best, father.”

Her father looked at her with an eyebrows drew together. “Do not just try, do it.”

Dayang Maria gulped. “I will do it, father.”

Her father smiled at patted her hair. “That’s my daughter.”

“Make sure to make Lamang fall in love with you. If Lamang falls, the kingdom will fall as well. It would be an opportunity for us to take over,” he continued. “Understood?”

Dayang Maria nodded. “I understand, father.”