The Empress (TAGLISH)

Chapter 1: The Dream II

Ivantie couldn't forget those enchanting eyes, that shines like rubies under the light. He had seen her face before when she was young, but it's been too long that the memory became vague. She also started covering her face using a veil or an eye mask, to hide her red eyes.

The Fourth Prince, loves bragging and praising his sister, to the point where Ivantie gets sick of hearing it. Now, he understands the prince's words. His lips curled up secretly while remembering the princess's bare face, which is always hidden behind a veil.

His thoughts were cut off after hearing Veyron's voice, who's standing next to him.

"It's terrifying whenever I witness His Highness's soft side," Veyron commented while watching the Fourth Prince riding a horse along with the youngest princess.

Veyron is a member of the Knight Guards who were assigned to protect the Fourth Prince, and Ivantie is the one who leads the squad.

"Haa, I'll never get used to it no matter how many times I see it."

Ivantie chuckled after hearing his words.

Fourth Prince Eugene Flaviu Hastrel Kantakouzene. He is the third son of the Queen but they're indifferent to each other. He has the most beautiful appearance among the six princes.

The prince is tall and has a nice build. He has long black hair that is similar to the princess. His eyes bear the color of Sapphire, that gives an impression of calm yet cold at the same time. The Prince has also have an excellent fighting skills that Ivantie had witnessed before.

They have been friends since they were kids. They both studied under the same master and trained within the Military.

"Hmm. Illyria is becoming better at horse riding." A male voice suddenly spoke.

Ivantie look beside him and saw the Second Prince Alvion Lucio Astoc Kantakouzene standing with his right hand resting on his chin.

'He's flashy as ever," He thought to himself as he saw the usual attire of the Prince.

The second prince loves to dress in flashy clothes and cares a lot about his appearance. It is not surprising for Ivantie since the second Prince owns a business mainly for clothes and beauty parlors which the ladies loves to go.

"Your Highness."

The Knight Guards bowed in unison. He gestured his hand to acknowledge them and the Knights raised their heads.

"You look as stoic as ever Ivantie," Alvion grimaced as he put his arm around his shoulders, "You should try to smile sometimes. You look like a grumpy old man."

Ivantie frowned as he heard the suppressed laugh of his fellow knight.

Tumigil ang kabayong sinasakyan ng prinsipe sa harapan nila. Agad namang hinawakan ni Veyron ang tali ng kabayo at kasabay noon ang pagbaba ng prinsipe.

"Oh, here comes the other grumpy bastard," He murmured in exaggeration.

"Brother," Prince Eugene called, acknowledging the presence of the second prince, "What made you come here?"

Prince Alvion dramatically sighed while pressing his temple, "Well, I'm here to escape my duty in welcoming the emissaries of the Eastern Kingdom."

"You pushed it to Brother Brendon again. Am I right brother?"A sweet voice suddenly butt it.

"Oh, Illyra my dear sister." Wika nito ng makita ang prinsesa. Lumapit ito sa kanyang kapatid upang tulungan ito sa pagbaba mula sa kanyang kabayo.

"I brought you a dress for the banquet today."

"Banquet?"

"Oya? Didn't Eugene tell you about it?"

Illyra shook her head.

"Tch. She doesn't need to know. I don't want her to attend that damned banquet." Iritadong wika ni Eugene.

Alvion sighed and turned to the princess, "Why don't you come with me and live in my place, instead of staying with this strict brother of yours, dear sister," He proposed while patting the princess's head.

"What? Illyria is staying with me, brother!"

"I'll take you to fun places everyday and buy you lots of sweets. Plus, we'll go to my stores and parlors to pamper you," Alvion continued while ignoring the Eugene'

"Do not listen to him, little sister!" Eugene took Illyria, distancing her from Alvion.

"By the way, I have a gift for you," Alvion said, ignoring Eugene's antics.

His servant came forward holding a cluster of a certain flower that varies the color of white and light pink. Alvion took the flowers from the servant and gave it to the princess.

"It's beautiful brother!" She exclaimed and hugged the prince happily, "They have a strong fragrance which I like."

"I'm glad you like hyacinths." He smiled, "So come and live in my place little sis. I'll give you lots of hyacinths too."

"That is bribing!" Eugene uttered angrily and Alvion threw a mischievous gaze to him.

The princess smiled widely, "I'll come and visit your place tomorrow brother."

"Alright, I'm looking forward to it." Alvion answered with satisfaction.

"No, She is not. We'll go horse riding again tomorrow." Eugene butted in.

"Illyria is mine tomorrow," Alvion said with a singsong voice.

"No!"

"Yes!"

Ivantie sighed as they watched the two princes arguing with each other.

'This is not gonna end.' He thought to himself and faked a cough which made the two of them to stop.

"Tch."

"Ahem. I need to talk to you, Eugene." Alvion shifted in aserious tone.

"Fine. We'll talk in my office brother," He replied, "I'll follow you there in a bit."

"Taro, escort my brother to the office."

"Yes, Your highness."

Tumango si Alvion at na una na itong umalis patungo sa mansion.

"Ivantie, follow me." Ika ni Eugene saka ito naunang naglakad. Sumunod naman si Ivantie at saka sila lumayo ng bahagya kung saan natitiyak nilang walang makakarinig sa kanilang dalawa.

"I need to ask you a favor Crasius."

Ivantie loosened up when he heard the prince calling him Crasius. He knew that Eugene is talking as his friend and not as a prince.

"Please, protect my sister. I want to assign you as her personal Knight," Sambit nito saka tumingin sa direksyon ng kanyang kapatid.

"A storm is coming Ivan and you're the only person that I can truly trust." Ika nito at ikinuyom ang kanyang kamao.

Ivantie sighed. Being a prince is truly an arduous task and Eugene was carrying this burden for a long time.

"I will do as you say. I'll protect the princess with my life." He pledged and tapped the prince's shoulder to reassure him. The prince smiled with relief as he heard what Ivantie said.

"I shall go now," He said and went ahead. Ivantie walked towards the princess who seems to be waiting for him.

"Princess."

"Ivantie."

***

"Ioan. Ioan, Wake up!" Serena called while shaking Ioan who's sleeping in the tub.

Tatawagin sana niya ito upang kumain ngunit hindi ito sumasagot sa kanyang tawag nag desisyon siyang pumanhik sa kwarto nito. Mabuti na lang at hindi ini-lock ni Ioan ang kwarto nito kaya madali lang siyang nakapasok.

"Mmm." Sambit nito saka dahan-dahang nagmulat ng mata. "Serena?" Takang tanong nito. Tatayo na sana ang binata ng mapansin nito na nakalublob pa siya sa tubig.

"Damn. I fell asleep again." Wika nito saka ito napahawak sa kanyang ulo.

"Are you okay?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Serena sa kanyang kasintahan. Itong mga nakaraang araw ay napapansin niya na madalas sumakit ang ulo ni Ioan. His sleeping pattern is all messed up. Kung hindi ito laging tulog, madalas ay hindi ito dalawin ng antok.

"I feel tired."

Kinuha naman ni Serena ang tuwalya ni Ioan saka niya ito ini-abot sa binata bago siya lumabas ng banyo.

"Babe are you sure you don't have any sleep disorder? You're also sleep talking a while back."

"I don't know, I haven't visited a doctor yet." Sagot nito. "What did I say while i'm sleeping?" He asked.

"You uttered the word Illyra." Sagot ni Serena saka kumuha ng damit ni Ioan mula sa nakabukas na maleta nito. "Is that a name?" She confusedly ask.

"Thanks." Ioan said when she handed him his clothes.

"Anyway, kakain na tayo. I'll be going downstairs, sunod ka na. Okay?" She said and smiled before leaving his room.

Ioan sighed as he looked on the mirror.

Illyra

Is that her name?

Lumabas si Ioan sa banyo at agad niyang tinungo ang bag niya na nasa ibabaw ng kama. Kinuha niya ang kanyang sketchbook. He flipped the pages until he reached the page containing an unfinished drawing. He's been attempting to draw the woman in his dreams but he can't remember her face. Kaya naman blanko ang mukha ng babaeng nakaguhit sa kanyang sketchbook.

He took a pencil from his pencil case and started to draw her eyes. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na may natandaan siyang bahagi ng mukha ng babae sa kanyang panaginip.

She has red eyes. That's what he remembers from his dream. It's strange strange but for some reason Ioan felt something tugging his heartstrings.

He sighed with satisfaction after finishing it. He stares at it for a couple of seconds until he suddenly remembers that Serena called him for dinner. Agad niyang itinago ang sketchpad saka siya bumaba patungo sa kusina.

***

It's already 6 o'clock in the morning and they are currently trekking on their way to the ruins. Maaga silang nagising dahil isang oras din silang maglalakad at kakailanganin din nilang magtayo ng tent.

Matapos ang halos dalawang oras nilang paglalakad, sawakas ay nakarating na sila sa kanilang destinasyon. This place was hidden by the sea of bamboos surrounding the area.

This place is huge. Ioan thought as he walked around. Matapos niyang maibaba lahat ng dala niyang gamit maliban sa hawak niyang camera. He was about to leave and explore the area when Mario called him to help them build the tent.

After they finished building the tent and set-up the folded tables, and some stuffs, they immediately scattered themselves around.

Gin decided to stick with Ioan and the two of them went at the western part of the area.

"Whoa!" They both exclaimed when they saw the huge pillars. It was covered with flower vines and even the floors has vines on it. Gin cut the vines which made them recognized that the pillars are made of marbles.

"Gawa din ba sa marmol ang sahig?" Tanong ni Ioan and Gin took a closer look.

"No." He answered as he touched the floor. "This was made of white onyx!"

Ioan took pictures of everything that they found, like the murals around the broken walls.

"I feel like this is a chamber for someone with a high status." Wika nito at naglakad patungo sa espasyo na kapareho ng swimming pool.

"More like a public bath to me." Sagot ni Ioan. Habang nakatingin sa direksyon ni Gin.

"This bathing place is too little to be a public bath bro." Sagot ng binata. "And royalties own a large private bath for themselves."

Matapos ang ilang oras, napagdesisyonan nila Gin at Ioan na magbalik sa tent na tinayo nila. Nadatnan nila si Mario na nakaupo sa damohan habang tinitignan ang camera nito samantalang umiinom naman ng tubig si Serena, habang si Alvin ay sinusubukan na buksan ang isang kahon na mistolang gawa sa bato.

"Hey, what's that?" Tanong ni Ioan.

"It's a stone box made of black marble. Nahukay namin kanina kasama yang mga vases na nasa mesa." Sagot nito.

"What did you find?" Mario asked.

"Broken parts of a mural." Sagot ni Gin saka nito ibinaba ang bag na pinaglagyan nila.

Alvin is trying to open the stone box using the thin wide chisel. He carefully hammering the chisel around trying to lift the lid.

Matapos ang halos kalahating oras, sawakas ay nabuksan na rin niya ito. Sakto naman na dumating sila Lexter kasama si Pauline at Cecile.

"Yo, we found some jewelries." Wika ni Lexter. "Hmm, what's that?" Takang wika nito saka ito lumapit sa may mesa.

Kinuhan ni Ioan ng litrato ang laman ng kahon ng mabuksan ni Alvin ito. They all got curious when they saw a scroll inside. Alvin dusted off the table and put a clean cloth then he put on his gloves before taking the scroll out from the stone box.

Maingat niyang inilabas ang scroll sa kahon. Saka niya ito inilapag sa kinuha niyang tela bago niya ito dahan-dahang binuklat hanggang sa masilayan nila ang nilalaman nito.

The scroll revealed a beautiful painting of a woman and all of them gasp in awe. She was undeniably beautiful. Her long black hair was adored with a lotus hairpin. She has a long thin eyebrows, her sultry red eyes has long thick lashes. She has a small pointed nose and luscious res lips.

"She's beautiful! I wonder who is she." Wika ni Mario.

Hindi alam ni Ioan kung bakit pakiramdam niya ay maiiyak siya anumang sandali habang nakatingin sa painting na nakalatag sa harapan nila.

Red eyes. Ito ba ang babaeng laging laman ng panaginip niya?

Pinagmasdan niya ng mabuti ang larawan hanggang sa mapansin niya ang suot nitong kwentas at wala sa sariling napahawak siya sa kwentas na nakatago sa loob ng t-shirt niya.

It looks identical to the necklace that he's wearing. His necklace is made of Jade and it was given to him by his great grandfather when he was a kid before he died.

Itinaas niya ang hawak niyang camera saka niya kinuhanan ng ilang litrato ang painting na nasa harapan nila.

"Look, may nakasulat sa baba ng painting." Sambit ni Alvin. "Pauline can you read this?"

"Let me take a look." Sagot ni Pauline at lumapit kay Alvin. Pauline took a few seconds before nodding her head. "Yes, I can recognize this writings."

After a few minutes of translating it Pauline spoke the words.

"I want to be with her, forever. Even in another thousands of years, even if the kingdom has fallen. As long as the river flows and the sun shines, my heart will never forget my love for her. My soul-"

"My soul will always find her." Wala sa sariling sambit ni Ioan na siyang dahilan upang mapatingin si Pauline sakanya.

Huh? Why does he know the words? Ioan questioned himself.

"And this one reads as, Ivantie." Wika ni Pauline habang itinuturo ang sulat na bahagyang nakahiwalay.

"He must be the one who made this portrait." Serena uttured.

"Yan ang masasabi kong 'undying love'. He really love that woman." Cecile commented. "Ahh, I'm jealous!"

Napansin ni Ioan ang kaibigan nitong si Gin na nakakunot ang noo habang nakatitig sa painting. He's unusually quiet and that feels strange. Then he saw him picking something inside the box.

"This is incredible!" Bulalas ni Gin. "It's a ring made of an extremely rare gemstone. This is the rainbow lattice sunstone!" Saka niya ito itinaas at itinapat sa sinag ng araw.

"Amazing!" Muling wika niya.

"Huh?" Gin brows furrowed with he notice a small crack inside. He looked inside the ring closely and suddenly Gin spoke slowly saying the word,

"Asphodel".

"A-Asphodel?" Nangatal na sambit ni Ioan.

"That must be her name?" Gin said as he look towards the painting. "What a beautiful name."