The Nobles

Chapter 16

ADELAIDE is currently readying herself for another stroll for today. This time, she is with the King. He really insisted on doing this so she have no choice but to oblige.

The servants set up the dress for her after bathing, and now she's facing the mirror while they are fixing her hair.

They must be curious what's my relation to the King. He really doesn't care what others opinions are. Not that she care, but this situation will stir confusion, worst, rumors are most likely to spread.

After dressing up, the servants opened the double door and they assisted her towards the King and her meeting place.

She saw him standing in front of the beautiful tree. He look ethereal beside that.

"You Highness, Lady Adelaide is here."

Lumingon ito sa direksyon niya. His eyes are scanning her body from head to toe. She wanted to say something but the maids are on her side, they will be offended if she say something weird to the King.

"Shall we go?"

Inalok nito ang braso sa kaniya. She immediately place her hand on his firm arm. Kitang kita niya ang saglit na pagkinang ng mata nito sa maliit na aksyon na iyon.

"Leave us." He commanded the servants, and the knights that are on watch.

Agad umalis ang mga ito, hanggang sila na lamang ang natira sa kinatatayuan nila.

"Where do you plan to go, my King?"

"Let's go to the stables first."

Tumango siya at tahimik na naglakad sa gilid nito. Nang marating ni ang barn kung na saan ang mga kabayo, pumili ng isa ang King para sa sarili nito. While she walk towards the white horse on the side.

"What are you doing?"

Confused, she turn her head to see what he meant. Nakasakay na ito ng kabayo at inaalok ang kamay sa kaniya para sumakay din.

She suddenly felt the amount of head ache she experienced handling the Four Guards including Claudius.

This man...

Such a troublemaker. Kapag nakita ito ng iba, lalo na ng mga kasalukuyang Leaders, malaking gulo ito.

"I can also ride a horse, your Highness."

His expression didn't even changed. Patuloy nitong nilalahad ang kamay sa kaniya. Matigas ang ulong gagawin ang kung ano mang bagay na magustuhan.

He is a very distant, cold and even ruthless person, but he have this personality that she only sees.

"This is an order, Lady Adelaide."

He used his trump card again. Here she is, in between his arms, riding the horse fastly, passing the eyes of many.

Nakalabas sila ng palasyo nito, dumaan pa sila sa gubat at halos oras din ang inabot bago nila maraming ang gusto nitong puntahan.

This is the lake where she used to spend most of her time back then. She used to train here, she was around 25 years old, she was very weak at that time. This place is where the two of them first met.

"M-My King, why did you bring me here?"

She felt his chest on her back. His breath is on her neck and ears when he whispered.

"Why are you stuttering? Nervous?"

Her forehead almost touch what at he said.

"I'm going down."

Pababa na sana siya ngunit ipinulupot nito ang braso ang bewang niya. She's trapped again. Staying here will deplete her energy sooner or later.

"Not yet. I want us to stay here for a while."

Adelaide can't help but to heave a deep sigh.

"Why are you even doing this..."

She felt his breath her neck once more. He's surely enjoying this.

"Hmm? When you come back to them, it will be hard to reach you again."

She sighed once again. Nagpaubaya na lang siya at hinayaan ito sa gusto. He got a point, after this, there's a lot of problems to face. She need to go back to the cave where she was sealed again. Inside that cave, she will regain her powers, and it will surely take long, perhaps, months. She need to chase the Nobles who betrayed her and the whole race.

There are a lot of things to worry about. And having a moment like this, is just a little token of reward for what she will encounter later on.

"Let's take a dip."

Did she heard it right? Take a dip? On that lake, together with him?

"You Highness, it seems like you want me to cut our ties." She made sure he heard the seriously in her voice as she go down from the horse.

Tiningala niya ito, seryoso rin ang mga mata, kinatagalan, ito rin ang nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Fine. Then, let's ride that boat."

Tinuro nito ang maliit na bangka. Sumakay silang dalawa rito, kinuha nito ang sagwan at nagsimulang igalaw ito. Magkaharap sila at maliit na espasyo lamang ang nasa pagitan.

"Let me do that, Your Highness, if someone see us, they will think I'm treating the honorable King my servant."

He smirked.

"I was already your servant, even before, Lady Adelaide. You must have forgotten."

Natahimik siya sa naging balik nito sa kaniya. She'll never win in this type of war.

Napapikit siya ng bahagya nang humangin ng malakas, dinala nito sa agos ang kaniyang umaalong buhok. Nasulyapan niya ring nagulo ang buhok ng lalaking kasama niya.

"Nevermind, I shall accept your offer of doing this instead, Lady Adelaide."

Inabot sa kaniya nito ang sagwan, agad niya itong tinanggap. Sa simpleng pagtaas pa lamang ng gilid ng labi ng kasama, alam niya nang may naiisipan na naman itong gawin.

She's not mistaken. Inabot nito ang iilang parte ng mahabang kaniyang buhok, hinahaplos, inaamoy at pinaglalaruan gamit ang daliri.

She close her eyes calming herself, she has a long patience but he is the champion on making it thinner.

"Your Highness." She warned.

Kumunot ang noo nito.

"Not allowed too?"

Heavens. She give up. Hinayaan niya na ito at nagpatuloy sa pagsasagwan.

"Your smell did not changed." He commented.

"Yours too."

Napangisi ito at tuluyang itinuon ang sarili sa kaniyang buhok.

"The boat is heading to the Victoria's town."

Tumango tango ang haring kasama niya.

That is probably the reason why he chose to the both of them to go in this place. Short cut ito papunta sa maliit na town na pagmamay-ari niya.

The townspeople are still there. She knew it. They are all to loyal to leave the town they treasure.

Siguradong marami nang bagong bahagi ang lugar na pagmamay-ari niya dahil ilang dekada na rin ang lumipas. Victoria's town was their home. Including Claudius and the others. It was a famous and prestigious town before, and it is the main supporter of the King. She wonder what happened after she was sealed.

"Victoria remained hidden after all these years?"

"Hmm. Yes, your people did not even go out for hundred of years, except the time of war."

They are still waiting, perhaps, like Egon and the others. Kahit hindi magpakita ang mga Nobles na nasa Victoria's town sa buong Nobilis, they will surely manage to survive because the town had a tremendous amounts of goods and treasures.

There is a sign that a Noble belongs to her town, that is the magical diamond on the center of their forehead. It twinkles like a star especially at that.

"They participated on the war? But without my presence, their power is only 80 percent, your Highness."

Tumango ito at inilayo sa ilong ang kaniyang buhok bago sumagot.

"Yes. But they wanted to be there for me on your behalf. Some of them had fallen, but many survived."

She can't help but to feel sad, and angry at herself. If she wasn't fool in the past, no one must have suffered.

Binitawan ng King ng tuluyan ang hawak nitong buhok niya. Seryoso ang naging ekspresyon nito.

"I don't like seeing that kind of expression from you."

Her lips lifted slightly.

"Then, shall I pretend, my King?"

His forehead crease.

"I don't like that either."

"What do you want me to do then?"

"Nothing. My ruthlessness is willing show just to wipe off that expression from your face."

She knew he is serious. Kuyom ang dalawa nitong kamao. His silver eyes are shining brightly with killing intent.

"What are you going to do? Hmm?"

"I told you I killed a lot, just by thinking how lonely it is to be sealed for a long time, I was about to go insane."

Himawakan niya ang dalawang kamay nito. His expression changed a little bit. Nag-iwas ng tingin at hindi na nakapagsalita.

Ilang minuto nang makaisip siya ng nais itanong.

"My King, what was the other Nobles opinion when the townspeople of Victoria appeared suddenly?"

"They were suspicious of them. But they cannot afford to be on your townsfolk's bad side. The strongest warriors in the town holds the power that can be par on Noble Leaders."

Tumango siya sa nalaman. Malalakas ang mga Nobles na nasa town. Everyone of them holds the power of a star, and she is—

"We're here."

Tumayo siya at nilapag sa gilid ang sagwan. Unang umalis ang King at inalalayan siyang bumaba nang marating nila ang pampang.

Ilang minutong lakad lamang ay narating nila ang tapat ng higanteng gate ng town. Makapal ang hamog sa paligid na halos magkorteng ulap na. No can see this place unless there's an access from the inside, without the four guards, Claudius and her, the King is the only one who can come inside.

Suddenly, all the memories of the place rushed in her mind.

"Shall we?"

Tumango siya at nang hinawakan ng hari ang parte ng pinto, agad itong bumukas. The loud gong echoed all over the place.

Rinig na rinig niya ang mabilis na paggalaw ng lahat papunta kung na saan sila. It must be a long time since the town had a visitor.

Hawak ang braso ng hari, naglakad sila at huminto ng unti unting magsidatingan ang mga Nobles at pumalibot sa kanila.

Nang mamataan nila ang hari, nagulat ang mga ito at agad tumungo para magbigay galang.

"Lift your head."

Sumunod ang mga ito, maraming mata ang lumapat sa kaniya. Some of the oldest Nobles, and some Nobles that she recognized didn't know how to cointain their shock when they saw her.

Agad agad nagsitunguan ang mga nakakilala sa kaniya. The younger generation of Nobles are confused but they bow down just like their seniors.

"It is our greatest honor to see you again, our Queen."

"We are please to meet you again, Lady Adelaide!"

"Our treasured, Queen. It is our blessing finally have you back!"

She the indeed address as the queen of this town, but she is not the queen of Nobilis. The King is the only rightful Noble to sit on the throne.

"Lift your head, everyone."

Ngayong nasisilayan na niya ang mukha ng mga ito, kitang kita niya ang porsyon ng Nobles na lumuluha. The younger generation seems shock, they eyed her with both confusion and amazement.

The Nobles who knew about her surrounded her and the King.

"King Lord Marquise Alaric Cassius. We, the townsfolk of Victoria, will serve you forever. Thank you for taking our queen back." Quentin, the Head of the town said with outmost respect as he bow to the King.

"Queen Adelaide Francesca, we never lose hope on waiting for you." Said Vaneza, she still looks beautiful like what she remembered.

"Let's prepare a ball to celebrate the arrival of our queen!"

Napuno ng sigawan ang paligid. Nagtatatalon sa tuwa ang lahat at ang iba ay pinaliwanag sa mga hindi nakakaalam ang nangyayari.

"Your Highness." Bulong niya sa katabi ang sinenyasang lumapit pa sa kaniya.

"What it is?"

"Some of my powers can't work properly without exhausting me so help announce something on everyone's mind."

Sumeryoso ang ekspresyon nito.

"We need to so something about your powers as soon as possible."

She sighed.

"That's not our concern right now, my King."

"Fine. Say it."

Huminga muli siyang ng malalim bago magsalita.

"Everyone, I am sorry but I won't stay for long, I have to leave tonight. Don't worry I will visit you occasionally, I have to do something really important before staying here again for good. I am grateful for staying loyal and for waiting for this day to come. It is always the Nobilis', the Kings, and my honor to have Nobles who will shield our race from any danger."

It was probably the longest speech she have said after coming back from being sealed for hundred of years.

She was really grateful when they understand her reasons. They stated that they are always ready to serve her wherever she goes.

Matapos ng kaunting salo salo, lumisan siya kasama ang hari. Hatinggabi na nang bumalik sila ng palasyo nito.

And now they are on the balcony of his room, drinking wine.

"Adelaide..."

Agad niya itong nilingon ng banggitin nito ang mismong pangalan niya.

"Adelaide... Lady Adelaide."

"What is it, my King?"

"I'm just wondering."

"Hmm, about?"

"Why aren't you letting them know your condition."

Naalala niya ang mukha ng mga naiwan niya sa lugar ng mga tao. Bukas ay babalik na siya.

I am sorry for letting you wait again.

"They will worry a lot about me."

"If I am them, I'd rather worry than staying oblivious." Sambit nito at lumapit sa kaniya. Hinaplos nito ang pisngi niya, nahanap ng daliri nito ang kaniyang pang-ibabang labi.

"I'd rather know because I can't afford not knowing about your struggles."

Her heart race at his words and actions.

"Do you think it's a good decision?"

Natagalan bago sumagot ang hari dahil naagaw na ng labi niya ang atensyon nito. Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito at inilayo sa paghaplos sa labi niya.

Agad nagsalubong ang kilay nito dahil hindi nagustuhan ang ginawa niya.

"My King, I am asking you if it is a good decision?"

Still annoyed, he nodded his head. "Yes. You trust them and treasure them, do you think you won't hurt them if you conceal the truth? You sadist, you hurt us enough."

Ngumiti siya at tumango. Realizing something. How could she hesitate this much, they don't deserve it.

Taking initiative, she hug the King. Umaasang sa kahit ganitong paraan mapunan niya ang pagkukulang.

And tomorrow, tomorrow she will surely tell them everything. This time, she will do it right.