A Royal Affair

Chapter 2

Saymetri's Pov

"Prima." I irritably called her as soon as I step inside my room. My eyes widened and unexplainable fear crept into me as I saw her laying on my room's carpented floor with a gunshot on her left arm.

Hindi ako makapagsalita at halos hindi rin ako makagalaw dahil sa matinding takot. Ang bintana ng kwarto na kaninang nakasara noong umalis ako rito'y bukas na.

"T-tulong! Tulong! Tulong!" Mabilis at sunod-sunod na nagsipatakan ang mga luha sa 'king mga mata kasabay ng pagbabalik sa 'king alaala ng mga trahedyang aking kinasangkutan. Maging ang naging pagsabog sa may sementeryo.

"Tulong." I keep on whispering as I sat on the floor and hug my two kness sobbing like a kid.

Mayamaya pa'y narinig ko na ang mga papalapit na yabag sa 'kin. Kaagad akong tumayo at wala sa sariling lumapit kay Barette para hagkan ka. I felt his body stiffened at my sudden movement. I don't wanna let go of this hug as of this moment for it made me feel that this is the safest place for me now.

"Anong nangyari dito?" Duke Marfori looked horrified when he asked it. Ilang saglit pa'y lumapit na sa 'kin si Aram. Barrette removed my grip of him. Lumapit s'ya kay Prima na wala na wala pa ring malay para pulsuhan ito.

"Elliot, tumawag ka na lang ng gagamot sa kanya. Hindi p'wedeng malaman ng mga tao na may pag-atakeng nangyari sa loob ng palasyo." Gone was the annoyingly intimidating Barrette earlier, he look so serious and passionate about his work with so much eagerness evident on his eyes to save Prima from danger. Magkasunod silang lumabas ni Zeid ng kwarto.

Nanlalamig ang buong katawan at halos hirap pa ring patahanin ang sarili ko mula sa pag-iyak na naupo ako sa "king higaan.

Duke Alexis swerve he locked the windows and secure that the four more are locked as well.

"Ayos ka lang ba?"

"Do I look like someone okay? Hindi ako ayos! Paano ako magiging maayos kung alam kong may papatay sa 'kin pati sa sarili kong palasyo hindi na 'ko ligtas. After getting my family killed on a plane crashed. The bombing on the sementary that almost took my life. Do I look like someone okay? Ni hindi ko na nga magawang ipikit ang mata ko ng hindi nag-aalala na baka pagmulat ko may baril na ring nakatutok sa 'kin! Aram hindi ako ayos, natatakot ako ng sobra sobra." All of my words and other rants was caged in my mind and mouth as he pulled me for a hug. Naiiyak na napahawak ako sa kanya. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko.

We stayed like that for more than an hour as the grand duke quietly leave my room. Ba't ang gulo-gulo na ng lahat?

Papalubog na ang araw nang magising ako. Wala na rin sa tabi ko si Aram. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako.

Inalis ko ang comforter na nakatabon sa 'king katawan at dahan-dahang bumaba sa 'king kama. Tumigil na rin ang pag-ulan mukhang mas kalmado na ang panahon kahit papaano'y napanatag ako.

"Cara." Aram murmured as the creeked open revealing my perfect future husband. Have you ever look at someone and you see your future with them? That feels beautiful.

He slithered his way and gave me a back hug as he place his head on my neck and began inhaling my natural scent. Napapikit ako ng bahagya ng dahil ro'n.

"Maayos ang mga mamayan, may iilang pinasok ng tubig ang bahay dahil sa pagbaha na naging dulot ng pag-apaw ng mga tubig sa ilog pero wala namang nasawi. Duke Marfori ordered someone to look after the well being of Turin's people. Naro'n na rin ang mga tulong na kakailanganin ng mga nasalanta. Maayos na ang lahat." He muttered and plant a small kisses on my lips.

Pumihit ako paharap sa kanya ikinawit ang mga kamay sa kanyang batok. "S-si Prima? Kumusta na s'ya. Is she safe now? S-sigurado akong natakot s'ya. Iyong gumawa nun sa kanya nahuli n'yo ba?" Inalis ko ang mga kamay ko sa batok n'ya ngunit kaagad n'ya rin 'yong ibinalik. He placed his hand on my waist like he is securing me.

"Sa may balikat lang s'ya tinamaan pero ayos na s'ya iyon nga lang ay baka hindi muna s'ya makabalik kaagad sa paninilbihan n'ya sa'yo." He stopped talking for a moment and nod at that. Mabuti na lang at ligtas s'ya hindi ko na kasi alam kung paano ko pa mapapatawad ang sarili ko kung may mangyaring masama sa kanya lalo na't alam kong nadamay lang naman s'ya.

Muli ko s'yang binalingan ng tingin nang tumikhim s'ya. "Barrette and his troop captured the culprit but he has nanite planted on his body. Noong magsasalita na dapat s'ya ay pinasabog ang katawan n'ya." I closed my eyes tightly and let go of our hugs as I marched out of my room.

Kailangan ko ng maka-usap si Barrette tungkol dito.

Naabutan ko s'yang kausap si Zeid samantalang ang dalawang duke ay wala na. Baka umuwi na sila.

"May ideya na ba kayo kung sino ang gumagawa nito?" He gazed at me and shook his head. Tiim bagang nag-iwas s'ya ng tingin sa 'kin. Marahas akong napabuntong hininga saka lumapit sa kanya at pilit na humarap sa 'kin.

"I thought you're the best in this field? Kung gano'n ba't hindi mo masabi sa 'kin kung sino ang gumagawa nito o kung ano ang totoo ang kanilang motibo. Senior Special Agent your ass!" I scoffed in between gritted teeth. My knuckles even turned into white from clenching my fist too hard.

Pabalang n'ya 'kong binalingan. Blazing fire in his eyes shouts one thing for me. He's dangerous and I shouldn't crossed the line that's between us or he might burn me alive.

"We are working on it like you, I am much more eager to solve this case and get the hell out my ass here so I won't have to see you and experience your intolerable attitude. Kung wala akong kwenta ano ka pa kaya?" The sharpness in his word hit me hard  that I ended up slapping his face too hard. Pati sina Aram at Zeid ay natigil dahil sa nakita.

Nanginginig ang kamay na napahawak ako sa gilid ng dress ko saka s'ya pilit na tiningnan.

"Saymetri!" Duke Marfori's thunder like voice filled the room. Mukhang nakita n'ya ata ang ginawa ko kay Barrette.

"Things are getting out of controlled and you acting like a sixteen years old brat is the least thing that we need right now. Kung namomoblema ka kami rin!" Nanghihina dahil sa mga nangyayari'y napaupo ako sa sofa at tumungo. I am at fault, but I am not sorry. He deserves it anyway.

"We cannot risk your life anymore your highness." Panimulang sinabi ni Zeid nang basagin n'ya ang katahimikan na lumukob sa 'min sa loob ng ilang segundo. My eyes shot up.

"Gusto ko na pakisamahan mo ng mabuti si Barrette." I smirked at that and shooked my head simultaneously.

"Why do I have to do that? I only need him to protect me from those culprit. Hindi ko s'ya kailangang pakisamahan— Because he's taking you in the Phillipines. Doon ka muna sa kanya titira pansamantala hanggang sa hindi pa naayos ang lahat dito sa Turin." Halos sumayad ang panga ko sa sahig dahil sa narinig. Marahas akong tumayo at paulit-ulit na umiling.

Ayoko!

"Pardon, but what makes you think that I'll do that? I can't even stand his presence for a minute and you're asking me to leave Turin, my country and be with him. Are you all out of your sane?"

"Like I could really stand your whims and caprices, your highness." He mocked.

Barrette stared at me with pure disgust as our eyes locked in. Inirapan ko lang s'ya.

"We aren't asking you to choose Saymetri because in the first place we gave you no choice. It's a royal command. Once everything is settled in here you are free to go back and rule this country but for now we need you to be under Barrette's protection and you must follow everything that he says, every rule...everything." A paint of ghost smile slinked into his lips.

This is so frustrating it made me want to curse my spirits away.

"But I am not someone who is born to follow rule from someone who isn't even a royal blooded." Bumaling ako ng tingin kay Aram na mukhang wala ring magawa sa sitwasyon ko.

"Consider him as one, Montefiore is one of the powerful clan on their country and Saymetri, trust me Barrette is more useful than your Baron ranked future husband." Ani ni Duke Marfori saka kami tinalikuran. Leaving no room for my arguments.