Courting The Crown Prince (Seven Princes Series: The First Prince)

Kabanata 4

Queen

"¡Dios mío!" nasambit na lang ni Charlene ng makita ang haba ng listahan na kailangan naming puntahang events dahil official ng nag-simula ang panliligaw namin sa Crown Prince.

Kinain ko na lang ang Peach Pie na nakahain sa harap. I used to eat egg pie in the Philippines.

Bigla ko tuloy namiss ang baryo namin pati sila nanay at tatay.

Simula ng mamatay sila sa isang aksidente, nabuhay na akong mag-isa. I was in my second year in college when they got in an accident. Nangako pa ako kay tatay noon na itatayo ang pinapangarap nyang restaurant pero it never happen. Tumigil ako sa pag-aaral para magtrabaho dahil kailangan kong bayaran ang utang sa ospital at funeraria.

Hindi na ako nakapagpatuloy. Madaming nagsasabi na sayang daw ako kasi ang talino ko raw. Alam ko, kahit ako nanghihinayang. It took years bago ko nabayaran ng buo ang utang. Walang tumulong sa aking magbayad.

Noong nakabawi na ako, I tried to save money to buy some affordable lots. Doon ko nakilala si ate Vill na bingyan ako ng mahabang panahon para mabili ko ang kanyang lupa pero...

"You should learn how to drink tea properly. Tomorrow will be your tea party with the Reina! I need to teach you! Oh my gosh!" natatarantang sabi ni Charlene.

Pinaupo ko sya at pinainom ng tubig. Mabilis nyang naubos iyon at huminga nang malalim.

"You need to show your best tomorrow or else, House of Lopez will be doom," mas kalmadong sabi nya.

Tumango ako. "I understand, I will do my best tomorrow. It's that okay?"

Tumayo sya ulit at hinalungkat ang mga damit nya. "You need to look at your best! The Reina will be judging on how you carry yourself. Here."

Inabot nya sa akin ang isang magandang victorian dress na kulay pink. But...

"I appreciate this thing, really. But I am not comfortable with that. Richart said that I should wear something that makes me feel comfortable. I will wear a dress from my country."

Tumayo ako at hinalungkat ang maleta ko. Nadismaya ako nang wala sa isa mang mga damit doon ang pwedeng pang-party.

"Anong sinabi sa iyo ni Principe Richart? At ano ang tawag mo sa kanya? Richart?! You must be crazy, little women! You can't call him by his name, when someone hears you, you will be dead by day!"

Humarap ako sa kanya.

"'Yon ang sinabi sa akin ni Principe Richart kahapon sa ball. He said that I don't need to address him kapag kaming dalawa lang. Gusto nyang maging ordinaryong tao kapag kasama ako. He also said that I should wear what I used to wear in the Philippines and that's okay," sabi ko sa kanya.

Napalo nya ang kanyang noo at umupo sa isang upuan. Uminom sya ng tubig.

"If that's what Principe Richart said, then so be it," sabi nya.

Napapalakpak ako sa tuwa. Finally, a real dress.

"Kaya lang wala akong damit pang-party."

Tumayo sya. "Don't worry. There's a*****e downtown that sells what you wanted."

Sinamahan kami ni Antonio papuntang Centro de Cordancia (Cordancian Downtown).

Itong lugar na ito ay parang isang malaking mall. Puro Spanish ang mga nakasulat. Pumasok kami sa kaisa-isang English store na nandoon.

"Hello! Welcome to Trendy Store. The first and only fashion store in Cordancia that sells international trend clothes. How can we help you, Ma'am, Sir?" salubong sa amin ng isang babaeng blonde na mukhang manager ng store.

"Do you have a dress for a tea party with Queen?" tanong ko.

Ngumiti ang babae at iginiya kami sa isang stall. Maraming pastel-colored dresses.

"Here, ma'am. These dresses are from the United Kingdom and I assured you that dresses are class A with Queen Elizabeth II approval in style."

Isa-isa kong tignan ang mga damit. Maganda nga ang tela at mukhang mahal din. Tumingin ako kay Charlene at Antonio.

"Okay lang ba sa inyong bumili ng mahal na damit para sa akin?" tanong ko sa kanila.

"It's okay, choose three different types of dresses for three different events. I will pay, don't worry," sabi ni Charlene, tumango lang si Antonio.

"Pero sabi sa akin ni Antonio, bankrupt na daw kayo" bulong ko sa kanya.

Umiling sya. "Yes we are, but we still have money to sustain the lives of 10,000 people so it's okay."

Tumango ako at pumili na ng mga damit. Ang daming maganda, hindi ako makapili ng tatlo lang.

Ang damit na pinipili ko ay kailangan tanguan ni Charlene. Ibig sabihin gusto nya o pwede na.

Sa huli ay nabili namin ang pastel pink na dress na may puting gloves at cute na head dress na kasama. Ito daw ang susuotin ko bukas sa tea party. Ang isa naman ay pastel blue over-all dress na may kasamang hand bag na susuotin ko naman sa meeting with Cordancian Marine Military. At ang huli ay pale pink na gagamitin sa grand parade para sa Cordancia Independence Day.

"You have the dress and now, manners. As I said last time, you can great people using Catalan or English. You will impress the queen if you greet her in Catalan, pero pwede na rin ang English language. You can show how capable you are in representing the Cordancia in different nations."

Nilista ko sa maliit kong notebook lahat ng sinabi nya. Malapit na ring mapuno ito.

"So, how do you greet the Queen in Spanish?"

Huming ako nang malalim. "Buenos días, Su Majestad, or Good morning, Your Majesty."

Ngumiti si Charlene. "Good, if she opens a topic and asks you about it, your answer should be relevant, of course, and straight to the point. You should answer in Spanish if her question is in Spanish unless she allows you to answer in other languages. You can shake her hand if she allows you. Make sure you are two steps behind her."

Alright, too many to remember. Naglakad kami patungong garden kung saan may nakahandang teapot.

"We will have a little role-playing here. Imagine that I am the Reina and you are yourself. You can seat if she said so. Now seat, Lady Iesha."

Mahina akong natawa at umupo sa kaharap nyang upuan.

Isang kasambahay ang lumapit sa amin at inilapag ang iba't ibang klaseng biscuits.

"You can drink your tea once the Queen starts to drink her tea. As same as having dinner with the Royals. "

Kinuha nya ang malaking table napkin at inilagay iyon sa kanyang hita. Ginawa ko rin iyon.

Kinuha ni Charlene ang isang teapot na kakaiba sa dalawang kasama nito. I mean, makakaiba sila ng design pero mas bongga ito.

"If you see a teapot like this it means that this is the container of authentic Peach-flavoured tea. One of the specialties of Cordancia. You pour it first to your teacup then the sugar and finally the cold milk to adjust the temperature."

Ginaya ako ang ginawa nya at napatango sya nang makitang tama ang ginawa ko.

"Next, you need to learn how to stir your tea. You don't stir clockwise or counterclockwise, instead, you stir just half of the clock. Imagine your teacup is a clock, you have to stir it from twelve to six and then back. Don't make any loud noise while stirring it. Avoid spilling it and remember to hold the teacup in its handle using your index finger. Don't stick your pinky finger, please. It's an insult gesture for the Queen."

Pinakita nya sa akin at ginawa ko naman. I think I'm nailing it.

"Muy bien! (Very good!), and when the party comes to its end, just put the napkin that's on your lap to the left side of your teacup. Finally, say your goodbyes to others and especially to the Reina. And how will you say your goodbye?"

"Muchas gracias, señora, por invitarnos aquí, la pasé muy bien. (Thank you very much, Ma'am, for inviting us here, I had a very good time.)"

Pumalakpak si Charlene at niyakap ako.

"I'm so happy, dear. You are ready. Just get enough rest and don't forget our lessons. Alright?"

Nag-thumbs-up ako sa kanya. "Sure, Charlene."

Bago pa kami makapasok sa loob ng kanilang mansyon ay nakita naming papalapit si Yoseph.

"Buenas dias, Señoras," sabi nya at yumuko sa amin.

"What's brought you here?" tanong ni Charlene.

"More like, who brought me here. Principe Richart requests to see Lady Iesha."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Ano?

"This early? Ano naman daw ang gagawin namin?" natatawang tanong ko.

"Hindi nya sinabi sa akin. But don't worry no one can recognize you. The prince is incognito."

Tumango ako. Tumingin ako sa suot ko pagkatapos ay kay Charlene. Tumango sya.

Hinatid ako ni Yoseph na Royal Guard at naging kaibigan na rin ni Richart.

Nilagpasan namin ang sentro ng Cordancia hanggang makarating kami sa isang Coffee shop na walang masyadong tao sa loob.

Pinapasok ako ni Yoseph sa loob. Kaagad hinanap ng mga mata ko si Richart. Nilapitan ko sya.

Hindi man lang ako napansin dahil busy sa binabasang dyaryo. Naka-simpleng t-shirt lang sya at naka-jeans.

"Hola!" bati ko nang makalapit.

Nagulat sya sa presensya ko pero kaagad ding napangiti.

"Hola, mi señorita." sabi nya at inabot nya ang kamay ko para halikan ang likod non.

Pinaupo nya ako sa tapat ng kanyang inuupuan. Tinawag nya ang waiter.

"Dos té de manzana y un pastel de manzana, por favor. (Two apple tea and one apple pie, please.)"

"Si, señor."

Tumingin sya sa akin at ngumiti.

"Anong in-order mo?" tanong ko.

"Apple tea and apple pie."

"Buti at hindi peach tea at peach pie ang in-order mo. I heard that two are your specialties."

Umayos sya ng upo na parang mahaba ang sasabihin.

"The Queen used to visit this place. Konti lang kasi ang tao at masarap ang pagkain. When my older brother and I are still a young, our mother brought us here to ate an apple pie and tea. She loves apples more than peaches, believe me." natatawa nyang sabi.

"Really? I thought all the citizen of Cordancia loves the peaches."

Tumawa sya ng mahina.

"Not my mother. Tomorrow is a tea party with all the suitors. Are you ready?" seryoso nyang sabi.

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "Of course, Charlene made sure that I will be at my best tomorrow, don't worry."

Dumating ang order nya at ibinigay sa akin ang isang apple tea. Binigyan nya rin ako ng isang slice ng apple pie.

Tinikman ko ang mga iyon at napanganga sa lasa. Ang sarap! Mas better sa peach tea at peach pie. No offense.

"Ang sarap nito. Kaya naman pala gustong-gusto ito ng reyna."

Ngumiti sya. "These are my favorites, too. I tell you that if you compliment an apple in front of the Queen, she will like you because she loves apple," mahinang sabi nya.

Tumango ako at tinandaan iyon sa isip ko. The queen loves the apple, pero bakit?

"Bakit gusto ng reyna ang mansanas?" tanong ko.

"My mother was not raised here in Cordancia, she was originally from England. Her adoptive parents have an apple tree. She told me that, she really loves that apple tree because while she's growing up, that tree too. It was part of her life. And when that bore its first fruit, she's the first one who tasted it."

"Why your mother ended up being the queen of Cordancia?"

"She discovered that her true parents are from Cordancia, and she was the heir of their Duchy, The Perene. She doesn't want to leave her adoptive parents but she had no choice. The future king, which is my father, fell in love with her immediately. My grandparents agreed to their marriage, and that's the story of why she ended up being the Queen of Cordancia."

Naliwanagan ako pero marami pa rin akong tanong.

"Kung ang dating Duchess ng Perene ay ang Reyna, which is your mother, edi kamag-anak mo si Duchess Clarita na namumuno ngayon sa Perene."

Umiling sya. "The Perene passed down to one powerful man in its territory. Which is Clarita's father. I'm not related to her. My mother needs to gave up the Perene because when she became the queen, a new duchy was given to her. A family or a person can't have two duchies at the same time. That's a rule in Cordancia."

Tumango ako. Ang dami ko ng nalalaman sa kanila.

"That explains a lot. Nakalimutan sigurong ikuwento sa akin ito ni Charlene."

Sumubo ako ng isang kutsarang apple pie at uminom ng tea. Practice lang.

"You already look like a fine lady that was raised in a palace. Honestly, no one knows that story, only our family knows that. Especially her love for apples. I want to help you to impress my parents."

Tumingin ako sa kanya. Seryoso rin syang nakatingin sa akin. He holds my hand.

"Why? Why are you helping me? Did you do it also on your other suitors?"

Umiling sya at ngumiti. Hinigpitan nya ang hawak sa kamay ko.

"Then, why are you helping me?"

"Because I want you to be my queen."

****

Cordancian Fact:

These two delicious foods are the specialty of the Kingdom, the Peach Pie and the Peach Tea Cordancia's parties are not considered as successful without these two.