The Empress (TAGLISH)

Chapter 1: The Dream III

Nakahiga si Ioan sa kanyang kama habang tinitignan ang mga larawan na kinuha niya kanina, habang hinihintay niyang matapos na mai-upload ang mga files niya sa kanyang cloud. Minsan na kasing na-corrupt ang files niya at mabuti na lang ay may nai-save siyang backup sa cloud.

"She really is a beauty." Bulong niya habang nakatitig sa picture ng painting.

Hindi niya mawari kung bakit pakiramdam niya ay tila naninikip ang kanyang dibdib sa tuwing pagmamasdan niya ang larawan.

Ioan sighed as he remembered the necklace that he has. Agad niyang tinaggal ang kwentas niya mula sa kanyang leeg saka niya ito itinapat sa mukha niya upang tignan ito.

Bumangon siya at umupo ng maayos sa kanyang kama. Zinoom niya ang kwentas ng babae sa painting na naka-display sa screen ng kanyang laptop at hinawakan naman niya ang pendant ng kanyang kwentas, saka niya ito i-tinabi sa screen upang maikompara niya ito.

Ilang beses din na nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya mula sa pendant na hawak niya at sa picture na naka laptop niya, hanggang sa makomperma niyang pareho ang mga ito.

Lumutang ang mga tanong sa kanyang isipan. How and where did his great grandfather get the necklace? Is his necklace was really the one in the painting? Or just a mere coincidence?

Ioan shook his head. This necklace might not be the only one in the world. Maaring may kapareho ito and because his family loves to collect antique stuffs, it's no surprised that his great grandfather bought this one.

For the sake of his inner peace, he will accept his own reasoning to settle the questions that popped in his mind.

Haa~

"I really want a dreamless night tonight." Sambit niya at kasabay nito ang dahan-dahang pagsara ng mga mata niya.

It's been two days mula noong nag umpisa silang mangolekta ng mga artifacts na nahuhukay nila. They found some gold daggers with their handles designed with gemstones, silver cups and scrolls inside the stons boxes.

Serena was sitting under the small three with Gin standing beside her while drinking from his bottled water, while he's standing in front of a wall after they finished removing the vines that covered it.

The wall revealed a mural of a woman wearing a red flowing dress with her back facing them while standing in the field of Asphodel with a few dyed with red.

Mabuti na lamang at halos kompleto pa ang parte ng pader na kinalalagyan ng mural.

Umatras ng bahagya si Ioan upang kunan ng larawan ang mural gamit ang camera na nakasabit sa kanyang leeg. Matapos niyang ito ng ilang larawan ay ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagtatanggal ng mga baging.

Ioan pulled a vine away from the wall without him noticing the falling ruble above him.

"Ioan! Look out!" Sigaw ni Serena ngunit bago pa man siya makagalaw ay tumama na sa kanyang ulo ang parte nd pader.

"Oh my god!" Serena exclaimed in panic. Agad na tumakbo si Gin patungo kay Ioan upang saklolohan ito.

"Serena go get Lexter and Mario now!" Gin said with commanding voice dahilan upang mapatakbo agad si Serena.

"Ioan, stay with me! Stay with me buddy!" Gin said to him. Ioan saw Gin's worried face as his consciousness slowly fading.

***

Ivantie is standing beside the princess who is sitting in front of the table while waiting for her tea and desserts that she ask from her servant.

Nasa veranda sila ngayon tanaw ang malawak na hardin ng mansyon. Masayang nakatingin ang prinsesa sa bugkos ng hyacinth na nakalagay ngayon sa plorera na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa. Hindi maiwasan ni Ivantie na pagmasdan ang masayang ngiti nito na siyang dahilan ng pamumula ng kanyang taenga.

After a few minutes, her servant arrived pushing a small trolley in front of her containing a tea set made of porcelain along with some variety of desserts. She placed the tea cup in front of her and poured the hot tea from the pot.

"Why don't you sit and have a tea with me Ivantie?" Mahinhing wika nito. The servant put another tea cup on the opposite side of the table and poured some tea in it.

"I-I.." Ivantie stutters as he pound his head to politely refuse the princess.

"Hmm?" She hummed as she looked at him with a bright smile. Ivantie sighed and reluctantly sat down on the chair across the Princess.

"Thank you Princess." Wika niya. Hindi niya magawang tangihan ito sa takot na mawala ang ngiti nito.

Kinuha niya ang tasa upang sumisim ng tsaa at nang maitapat nito ang tasa sa kanyang labi ay naamoy niya mabulaklaking aroma nito.

"This is a Sapphire Earl Grey Tea." Sambit niya ng matikman ito. This is a black tea flavoured with bergamot and in addition to that it features whole blue malva flowers, which gives a nice pop of color and light floral smell to the brew. Ito ang paboritong inumin ng kanyang ina.

Tumango si Illyra bilang pagsang-ayon sa tinuran ni Ivantie. "It's great to pair it with desserts." Sagot nito.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto na binalot ng katahimikan hanggang sa nagsalita si Illyra.

"I want to know more about you Ivantie." Wika nito habang nakatingin sa kanya. "You're one of the few people who treats me as a normal person." Sambit nito saka niya ibinaling ang tingin sa malawak na hardin.

"I'm always been avoided because they think that I am strange and cursed because of my eyes."

Ivantie stared at her, she's still wearing the veil that hides her eyes. Hindi kaila kay Ivantie ang mga storya na naririnig niya tungkol sa prinsesa. Some of the people he knew are afraid or disgusted towards her. Kahit ang ilan sa mga kasamahan niya sa Knight Guards na nagsisilbi sa ika-apat na prinsipe ay ilang sa prinsesa.

"Your eyes are beautiful princess." He said in his mind. Ivantie felt a sudden heat from his ears after realizing that he said the words out loud.

Illyria chuckled as she saw how Ivantie's ears reddened in embarrassment.

"Thank you, Ivantie." She smiled.

Then suddenly a male voice spoke and interrupt them.

"What are the two of you doing?"

Agad na napatayo si Ivantie mula sa kanyang upuan upang humarap at magbigay galang sa prinsipe na kararating lamang.

"Brother Flaviu!" Illyra exclaimed when he saw the Fourth Prince. "We're just having a small chat while enjoying some tea." Sagot nito.

"Please be seated and join us brother." Masayang sambit nito. Tumugon naman ang prinsipe at umupo sa tabi ng prinsesa.

"Where is brother Lucio?" She asked while serving a tea for his brother. Ivantie noticed that the princess likes to call her two siblings with their second names which he found amusing.

"Brendon dragged him out from the mansion." Maikling sagot nito.

"It's been a while since I saw him." Sagot nito sa tinuran ng prinsipe.

"You should start preparing for the banquet after this." He said and the princess nodded.