The Nobles

Chapter 14

ADELAIDE wake up feeling the ache on her head. Masakit ang likod niya at nang tuluyan nang maidilat ang mata, bumungad sa kaniya ang lugar na matagal na niyang hindi nasisilayan.

"Lady, you're awake! Please, drink this medicine."

A Noble went to her, she is wearing a maid's uniform, she bow her head and stretch her arms to give her the bowl of medicine.

Kinuha niya ito at iniinom. Dahil sa lugar na ito, alam niya na kung sino ang nagligtas sa kaniya.

Later on, the door opened, the King of Nobles made his way in front of her.

"My King." She bow down in her bed.

Tumungo rin ito at nilapitan siya lalo. He sat on the side of her bed looking so serious.

"I made sure the greatest healer of Nobilis Kingdom treated you properly, the wound will heal soon."

Tumango siya at piniling hindi ito tingnan sa mata.

"Lady Adelaide, I know about your condition."

She close her eyes tightly. Of all Nobles, he's the first one to know. What a play of fate. But deep inside, she knew he'll be the first one to notice.

Sumandal siya sa headboard ng kama.

"I'm fine, you don't have to worry, your Highness."

He close the gap between him and her a little more. Mas kita nito ang mukha niya at ang kaniyang ekspresyon ngayon.

"You dare to lie in front of your King?" His baritone voice gives chills down her spine.

She heave a sigh, turning her head away from his close gap.

"I deeply apologize, your Highness, I admit there's a problem about my powers, but I can handle it." Sinabi niya ito na nakaharap ang tingin sa ibang bagay.

Napapikit siya nang inilapit pa nito ang sarili sa kaniya, if she's facing him she knew what will probably happen! Ramdam niya ang hininga nito sa leeg niya sa sobrang paglapit nito. He's like this whenever they are...

"Hmm. Can handle it? Care to explain about his?"

She flinch when his arm circle around her waist, his hand went to the wound on her back.

She can't breath properly because of their closeness.

Shit. This devil.

"Okay, I admit it, this is a bit alarming, I need to recover as fast as possible, is that what you want to hear, my King?"

Nangangalay na ang leeg niya sa kakaiwas na harapin ito ng maayos, she can feel her collarbone showing because of difficulty in breathing.

"You Highness, can you please, take away your arm around me, and keep the gap between us not this close?"

She can feel the intensity of his stares on her. Napapikit na lamang siya ng marihin dahil sa aksyon nito.

"Am I not allowed to do this anymore, Lady Adelaide?"

Dumilat siya marahang tinulak ito sa dibdib. Naharap niya lamang ito ng maayos dahil doon. Hindi niya tinanggal ang kamay niya sa dibdib nito para hindi muli ito makalapit.

When she fully saw his face and expression, she realized he's just playing with her. Mapaglaro ang tingin nito at kagat kagat ang labi.

She sigh in defeat. His personality really changes depending on where they are. But atleast not as naughty as before.

Bumaba ang tingin nito sa dalawang kamay niya sa dibdib nito at napatitig doon.

"How long was I unconscious, my King?"

Napuntang muli ang tingin nito sa kaniya. His silver eyes shine as it met hers.

"Almost 4 hours."

Not so long. She sigh in relief.

"Then I am going to come back to where you saw me wounded, your Highness."

His playful eyes and expression became serious. Ang kamay nito ay pumunta sa kamay niyang nakalapat pa rin sa katawan nito. Tinanggal nito ang kamay niya at sa pangalawang pagkakataon lumapit na muli sa kaniya.

"Who said I'll allow you to leave my palace?"

Her eyes widened at his remark.

"What? But they are waiting for me..."

"Do you know how serious your condition is?"

Hindi niya alam ang isasagot dito. Her shoulders loosened. He looks like he already had his final decision.

"But Devian and the others..."

Kumunot ang noo nito.

"Who's Devian?"

"You haven't met him yet?"

Umiling ito, kuryoso pa rin sa pangalang binanggit.

"He's a human child. Claudius adopted him."

Tumango tango ito, nawala na ang pagkunot ng noo.

"He'll be glad to meet you, your Highness."

She remembered Devian's expression when she told him stories about Nobilis, she also mentioned about the King.

"We'll meet someday."

Natauhan lamang ulit siya sa lapit nilang dalawa ng maramdaman niya ang hininga nito malapit sa kaniyang labi.

Her hand immediately goes to his chest to push him slightly. Just enough to make things comfortable.

"My King, you're not really going to let me go?" She asked with a little bit of hope.

"Not until your wound fully recover. I also need to do something about your power."

"It will take a lot of time..." She just whispered the words.

"The healer made sure you'll recover fast, just another two days."

She nodded.

"I think I need to go to the cave where I was sealed. I'll gather clues there, and I think refining my power there is a good idea, your Highness."

"I'll go with you then."

"But not this time. I think I'll go there next week or the next coming week."

His eyebrow slightly crease. Seryoso siyang tiningnan, pinaparating mabuti na hindi niya gusto ang nangyayari.

"You really don't want to stay here that much?"

This time it's her eyebrows that almost touch.

"What made you think of that, my King? I wanted to come back because I promised them, and they are important to me, you know, of all Nobles, that." Paliwanag niya at bahagyang tumango, "And I have already wounded them so much, I don't want to add some more."

Hinawakan nito ang baba niya upang iaangat sa pagkakatungo ang kaniyang ulo. Sinalubong nito ang mga mata niya. He showered her with different emotions.

"I understand. You hurt us so much, so I beg you, don't add some more."

Matapos nito ay nagpa-alam na ang ginagalang na hari ng mga Nobles.

Her eyes moisten. She felt so sorry for falling into a trap back then, she felt so sorry because her stupidity affected the Nobles she loves and treasured.

Tumayo siya sa higaan at tumungo sa balcony ng silid. The sky is now color orange mix with pink. Patapos na ang hapon, iniisip niya kung anong lagay ng mga Nobles na naiwan niya sa maliit na syudad na iyon.

She knew she cannot defy the King. She understand where he is coming from. So she need to heal fast in order to come back.

Nang unti unti nang nagdilim, pumasok na siya sa loob. Wala pa ring pinagbago ang silid na ito. Naging mas maayos lamang, ngunit ganoon pa rin ang glamorosang disenyo.

Nilingon niya ang pintuan nang may kumatok.

"My lady, can I come in."

"Yes."

"My lady. We came here to send you food."

Tumango siya.

Three royal maid went to the mini table to place the food for her.

Lumapit siya sa kinaroroonan ng mga ito. She sat on the couch, ready to eat the food they served.

"You can go now."

"Yes, my lady."

Agad na sumunod ang mga ito matapos tumungo bilang paggalang.

Bago pa makalabas, narinig niya ang mga bulungan ng mga ito.

"Who is she? Why is she in the room of our King?"

"Shhh. Baka marinig ka."

She sigh deeply. Kumain na lamang siya at pinag-isipang mabuti ang gagawin mamaya pagdating King sa kwarto nito.

Nang matapos kumain, tinawag niya na lamang muli ang tatlo para sa magligpit.

It was late when the King arrived.

"Still not sleepy?"

Tumango siya at nilapag ang pinahandang tea kanina.

She stand up to give him a bow.

Nang tumingala agad niyang sinabi ang kanina pa laman ng kaniyang isipan.

"My King, please allow me to have a separate room."

Dumiretso ito sa isang pintuan.

"We'll talk after I take a bath."

He really can ruin her expressionless face. She frown at his stubbornness. Maaga niyang naubos ang tsaa dahil sa pasaway na Hari.

The King went out only on his robe and drying his hair using the small towel.

Umupo ito sa gilid ng kama at iniwan sa ulo ang puting tuwalya. Umakto itong parang naghihintay.

Wala siyang nagawa kung hindi tumayo at pumunta sa harapan nito.

Hinawakan niya ang tuwalya at sinimulang patuyuin ang buhok nito. She remember Devian doing the same thing! Sometimes he acts so serious, and sometimes he's like a child.

Nang mapansin niyang paangat na ang dalawang braso nito papuntang bewang niya, agad siyang nagsalita.

"My King." She made sure her voice is full of warning.

"I am not allowed to do that again as well?"

Mas binilisan niya ang pagpupunas ng buhok nito.

"My King, I want to sleep in a separate room."

"Fine. But let me do this." He wrapped his arms around her waist.

Nasa dibdib niya nag ulo nito, habang ang mga binti niya ang nasa pagitan ng mga hita nito.

"It's been so long."

Her expression soften. She caress his hair with her one hand and the other is resting on his one shoulder.

"My King..."

"I will turn totally something you don't know if you vanish once again in my life."

"Uh-huh, didn't you became ruthless years ago? I heard."

Agad siyang tiningala nito. His silver eyes slightly widened.

"W-Who said that?"

"So you became so ruthless. What did you do?"

Binaba nito ang ulo mula sa pagkakatingala sa kaniya.

"Killed Nobles and half bloods mercilessly."

She move a to change her position. She sat on his lap placing both of her arms around his nape.

Pilit nitong tinago ang gulat at malapit nang lumabas na ngiti.

Sa pagkakataong ito, ito naman ang nakaharap sa iba, pilit iniiwas ang sarili sa kaniya.

Nilapit niya ang sarili rito para sa isang bulong malapit sa tenga ng Hari.

"You became so evil, my King."

The last string of patience of the King was cut off when he felt her breath on his ear.

Mabilis itong gumalaw para itulak siya sa kama. Seryoso itong tumingin sa mga mata niya, at inatake ng halik ang labi niya.

His lips move in a soft manner a couple of minutes, but his hunger is showing when he attack her mouth with his sinful tongue.

His tongue made sure it touch every part of her mouth. He suck her lips hungrily.

Binitawan lamang siya nito at tumingin sa mga mata niyang inaantok nang mapansing hindi na siya makalaban sa sabik nitong mga halik.

"Sleepy, hmm?"

Tumango siya at pinikit ang mga mata.

Naramdaman niya ang pagbuhat nito sa kaniya para maihiga ng maayos.

"I apologize, you won't be sleeping separately from me tonight."

Nang maramdaman niya ang braso nito na nakapulupot sa kaniyang tiyan, hindi na niya ito pinansin at tuluyan nang hinila ng antok.

When the morning came, nagising siyang katabi ang lalaki. She immediately went out of bed, sighing.

Bumighay agad.

She can't help but to scold herself. She take a bath, and after that she leave the room. Hindi nagising ang King dahil sa mahimbing nitong pagkakatulog.

Kasama ang iilang maid, she went to the garden to see the condition of the place.

Her heart was fluttered when she saw how healthy the flowers are. Halatang inalagaan at nasa maayos na kamay.

"This is the King's garden, my lady, we can't go further or we'll be punished."

Nilingon niya ang maid na nagpaalala siya kaniya.

"I assure you, he won't do anything."

Pumasok siya ng tuluyan sa garden para tingnan pa lalo ang paligid.

"But my lady, only few Nobles are allowed to go inside."

Hindi niya ito pinansin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. She wanted to see the most beautiful tree at the middle of the garden.

Kabisado niya ito kaya nagtataka ang mga kasama niya, ilang minuto lamang nasa harapan na sila ng napakagandang puno. Half of the tree is snowing, while the other half is freezed with fruits like an ice. Napakaganda nito at kumikinang.

Ilang minuto siyang natahimik habang tinitingnang mabuti ang punong punong puno ng magagandang alaala.

"Who told you to go here? No one is allowed to enter this place aside from the King and me."

Narinig niya ang isang pamilyar na boses mula sa kaniyang likod. Agad siyang humarap, at nang magtama ang mga mata nila, agad itong nawalan ng balanse at halos mapaluhod.

"Sir Theo!"

Theodred Rainier's hazel eyes widened.

"M-Master!" Theodred look at her as if he saw a ghost.

"Sir Theo, do we need to call a healer? A doctor?"

Agad na umayos ng tayo si Theodred at lumapit sa kaniya kahit na halatang hindi na makontrol ang emosyon.

"Leave us." Utos niya sa mga maid.

Nagdadalawang isip pa ang mga ito ngunit sa huli ang sumunod din.

"Master... how..."

Kahit nanghihina niyakap siya ni Theodred na isa ring myembro ng Four Guards. She heard him sniff on her shoulders.

"f**k. Are you true? How come..."

His hug tighten.

"I can't believe— please tell me this is not a dream. Please. Please."

Hinaplos niya ang likod nito. Rinig na rinig niya ang bawat iyak nito dahil sa lapit nila. Gumagalaw ang mga balikat sa nilalabas na emosyon.

"Theodred, so you decided to live here after all those years?"

His sob became a little louder.

"Maste—r." His hiccups intervene. "I can't believe I'm holding you right now. I-I'm not hallucinating, right? I've only hallucinate of this moment..."

"I miss you so much, I miss you so much, please, don't go away again, please, please, I will die if you leave once again."

Kumalma lamang ito ilang minuto ang lumipas ngunit hindi pa rin siya pinapakawalan.

"You're wearing a uniform of a knight, you serve the King?"

Tumango tango ito sa balikat niya.

"I became his Highness' Royal Knight." He said with his hoarse voice.

"Theodred, face me."

Sumunod ito at tumayo ng maayos sa harapan niya. His hazel eyes have a little tears left, and his ash brown hair is a bit messy, pawis ang gilid ng noo at basa ang buhok sa noo dahil sa pag-iyak.

Hinawakan niya ang buhok nito sa noo at inayos. Pinunasan niya rin ang iilang pawis sa mukha nito.

Ang mga mata nito ay sinusundan lamang ang bawat galaw niya sa malambot na paraan.

"I miss you so much, Master."

Ngumiti siya rito.

"I miss you too, Theodred. You're finally home."