A Royal Affair

Chapter 3

Saymetri's Pov

I couldn't helped but to feel lonely as I get to stare at my room for the last time, sa loob ng dalawamput anim na taon ito na ang nagsilbi kong safe zone. I would cry all my frustration in here whenever I failed to do something and disappoint the elders.

Dito rin ako madalas inaalo ni Mama sa t'wing masama ang loob ko sa reyna o kay Papa o maging sa lahat ng tao.

This room witnessed and knows everything about me.

"Your highness." Bumaling ako kay Prima at nakita s'yang naiiyak na nakatayo sa pintuan ng kwarto. I stride towards her and for the first time in my twenty six years of existence. I found myself hugging and comforting her.

Hindi ko naisip namimiss ko rin pala s'ya. Napabuntong hininga ako ng dahil ro'n. I am sure, I'll missed her as much as I miss everything here in Turin. Simula't sapul s'ya na ang kasama ko't laging umaalalay sa 'kin. Siguradong maninibago ako.

Kumalas s'ya mula s pagkakayakp sa 'kin at pinunasan na ang sarili n'yang luha nang marinig namin ang pagkatok  sa pinto ng kwarto.

"Mauuna na po ako, mag-ingat po kayo ro'n." Habilin n'yang muli. I fashed a weak smile and nod at he for the last time.

Naglakad na palapit sa 'kin si Aram at pinadausdos ang kamay n'ya sa 'king bewang at sinamahan ako sa panunuod kay Prima na manduhan ang tatlo pang tagapagsilbi na ibaba ang mga maletang naglalaman ng gamit ko.

He pulled me for a hug immediately as soon as they left. Naiiyak na 'ko. Parang hindi ko ata kaya na malayo ako ng libong milya sa kanya. P'wede bang h'wag na lang akong umalis?

"I'll miss you, Cara." His voice was endearing when he whisper those into my left ear. Mas lalong humigpit ang yakap ko sa kanya. Animo'y isang bata na takot mahiwalay sa pinakamamahal n'yang laruan.

"Ako rin, mamimiss kita, sobra." I smiled bitterly as he wipe my tears with his thumb and kiss both of my eyes as if doing it would stop my tears from falling. How sweet of him.

"We should be preparing for our wedding, food tasting, wine tasting. I should be visiting my royal designer for my wedding gown. M-masaya tayo d-dapat at h-hindi gan'to." Nahihirapang sinabi ko habang patuloy pa rin sa pag-iyak.

A queen should never show anyone their weaknesses.  I suddenly remember Queen's word. I failed her again, I can't seem to hide my weakness and vulnerability towards Aeram. I could only be myself whenever he's the one that I am with.

He planted a soft kiss at the back of my hand as well as on my forehead. "We will figure this out, Marquess Zeid and the Grand Duke. I am sure they're doing something about this. Hindi matatapos ang taon na'to at makakabalik ka rin ng Turin. Matutuloy ang kasal natin." I nod in agreement with so much hope at that. Sana nga mangyari 'yon.

Magkahawak kamay kaming naglakad papunta sa main hall kung saan naghihintay ang halos lahat. The Dukes and The Duchesses as well as Marquess Zeid and her Sister, Savannah.

Everyone was there except for that annoying creature let's called, Barrette. Nasaan na ba s'ya?

Just when I was about to ask them where he is. He showed up with his infamous poker face. Galit na ata ang isang 'to sa mundo since birth.

I maybe stress at times because of my royal duties but atleast I know that I can still enjoy my life. I am living a life.

"Pardon, but what are those?" Kunot noong tanong ni Barrette nang makita n'ya ang mga maletang inilalabas ng mga tagapagsilbi. He directed his eyes on me. Mabilis ko s'yang inirapan at pilit na nginitian.

Hindi lang pala s'ya galit sa mundo since birth mukhang tanga rin.

"Luggages, those are my things!" I spat. Hinawakan ni Aram ang kamay ko at natigil ako sa dapat na pagbuhos ko ng balde balde kong inis sa kanya. I glance at him and smile. Sandali ulit na natahimik ang paligid.

A smirk crept on his lips that intensifies my irritation. Oh God! I didn't know I am capable of hating someone this much till I met him. His whole existence cause a boiling of my blood.

"By things you mean designer clothes, bags, shoes and jewelries?" Paglilinaw na tanong n'ya pa. What a nonsense question. Malamang! Anong gusto n'yang dalhin ko mga basahan? Karton at basura?

I couldn't say that. It's very unlady like to outburst because of him every now and then that I end up nodding like a tamed cat.

Nangingising binalingan n'ya ang tagapagsilbi. "Bring it back to her room, we won't bring any of her 23 luggages." He muttered with firmness and finality. Tumigil sa paglalabas ng mga gamit ko ang tagapagsilbi at mukhang handa silang sundin ang sinasabi ng isang...ito.

Stress!

"Anong ginagawa n'yo? The last time I checked sa 'kin pa rin kayo nagtatrabaho kaya ang sinasabi ko lang ang sundin n'yo." Inilagay n'ya ang magkabila n'yang kamay sa bulsa ng pantalon n'ya saka ako binalingan. Nakangisi pa rin s'ya halatang nang-iinis. Argh! Sumosobra na talaga s'ya.

"Okay, edi ilabas n'yo lang. That won't change a thing, hindi pa rin namin dadalhin 'yan — The F— Saymetri!" May pagbabanta sa boses ni Duke Marfori.

Mariin akong napakagat sa 'king pang-ibabang labi. Mamura ko lang talaga ng isang beses ang Senior Special Agent Barrette Thadeo Y. Montefiore na 'yan p'wede na 'kong mamatay.

Aram stepped up. "Can't you atleast let her bring some of her things. Kahit lima lang sa mga maleta n'ya." Suhestyon n'ya na maagap rin inilingan ni Barrette. This is so insane! Could you believe that? For the first time in the history of Turin. Isang walang rango at hindi pa taga-Turin ang nagpapasunod sa Royal family. What is so great about that butthole?

"Dadalhin ka sa Pilipinas para maging ligtas ka mula sa kung sino man ang gustong pumatay sa'yo, it also mean that you cannot bring your whims and caprices there. You cannot wear your designer clothes, bags, shoes specially your million worth jewelries. Mamumuhay ka ro'n bilang isang normal na tao lang pansamantala." Mabilis na sumang-ayon ro'n si Duke Marfori at Alexis.

Si Zeid, Savannah, si Duchess Olga as well as Aram remained silent on the other hand.

"But I am not used to that! Hindi ko kaya ang gusto mong mangyari. I cannot leave a normal life that normal people like you are living — Of course you cannot, kasi hindi ka rin naman ata normal na tao. Someone who is in their sane mind would think of ways to spare their life from  danger rather than thinking that they cannot live without all of that damn caprices!" Pagalit na pagputol n'ya sa sinasabi ko.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my pist. How dare him, I am Princess Saymetri Dolciani of The Great Country of Turin and never in my entire existence that someone talked and humiliated me that way! Dapat sa kanya ay pinarurusahan, pinapapatay!

I redeemed my composure after taking several of breathing exercise to calm me down. Thanks that it worked somehow.

"Then what should I wear? I am a high maintainanced woman, you don't expect me to wear cheap, eat cheap and leave in a cheap place! That is beyond of what my mind and soul can take." I ranted once more. Tiim bagang n'ya kong pinasadahan ng tingin mula paa hanggang ulo.

"Mukha ba akong gipit sa'yo at walang kapasidad na itira ka sa disenteng bahay? Pakainin ng maayos at bigyan ng maayos na damit?" Nangigil na rin na tanong n'ya sa 'kin. Halos mamula na rin ang buong mukha n'ya dahil sa inis.

"How would I know? Looking at you, you look like someone— Okay! Enough with that you two. Handa  na ang private plane na maghahatid sa inyo sa Pilipinas." Singit ni Duke Alexis. Hindi ko na naituloy pa ang sasabihin ko at inirapan na lang s'ya.

He raised both of his hand on the mid-air before he turned his back on us. Nauna na s'ya umalis at naglakad papunta sa sasakyang maghahatid sa 'min sa paliparan.

This is one hella nightmare turned into reality.

"I'll try to visit you there — Aram, pasikreto ang pagpunta ro'n ni Saymetri mas makakabuti kung hindi mo na lang s'ya pupuntahan ro'n para walang makaalam sa mga 'to." Duke Marfori cut what he was saying off. Ngumiti s'ya sa Duke saka s'ya bumaling sa 'kin at mahigpit akong niyakap.

Bead of tears slipped through my eyes as the driver drove away from the palace. I'll see you again, Turin, my home.