The Nobles

Chapter 11

ADELAIDE woke up feeling the feathery kisses from Devian.

"Lady 'Aide, they told me to wake you up."

Napatitig siya sa bata, hindi malaman kung bakit hinayaan niyang mapalapit sa kaniya ng ganito ang isang tao. Dahil hindi niya matandaan ang biglaang pagpapapasok ng kung sino sino sa buhay niya. But since she felt comfortable and at ease with this child, she just let him pass the walls of her heart.

Pagbaba nila ng kotse nasa gitna sila ng mapunong lugar, at mula sa kinatatayuan niya, may isang simple ngunit malaking bahay.

Or so she thought.

Pagpasok nila sa loob, it was like a laboratory. Not new from the genius, Duncan Emmanuel.

Umupo sila sa sala, karga niya si Devian at nag-uusap ang mga lalaking kasama nila.

"Whoa. Your life is boring as fuck." Egon didn't hide his amazement.

Tawang tawa namang sinuyod ni Guillaume ng tingin ang bahay.

"You're the weirdest Noble, you have the crown!"

Sinundan pa ito ng ilang asaran. Wala namang naging tugon si Duncan kung hindi walang ekspresyon na mukha at ang gitnang daliri.

"Don't tell me you live in isolation— walang mainit na gabi?!" Egon's face expressed his horror.

Napailing siya sa tinuran nito. Parang hindi mabubuhay ng walang...

Claudius, however, was busy looking around and examining the experimental materials.

He went to a shelf, put out two books and click something on there. The house immediately went into a ruckus. May mga lumipad na kutsilyo at mga espada kung saan saan.

Agad niyang tinakpan ang mata ni Devian habang mabilis na kumikilos para umiwas.

"f**k you, Lawyart, what did you do!" Guillaume shouted.

"Bloody hell. This house is a pain in the ass! The knife almost got my precious face!"

"Shut the f**k up, Egon George!"

Habang umiiwas papunta sa lugar kung na saan ang button, Duncan speak, "He clicked the button, it didn't recognize his identity."

Nahinto lamang ito nang si Duncan ang pumindot dito.

Naramdaman niya ang mahigpit na yakap sa kaniya ni Devian ay napagpasyahan niyang ilabas muna ang bata.

"We'll go out for a bit."

DUNCAN glared at the Nobles in front of him, especially Lawyart who messed up his house.

Claudius raise the both of his arms when he saw how he glared at him.

"It wasn't intentional!"

Tahimik naman ang kapwa niya Guards. Guillaume is sitting in the couch like a good body, while Egon is avoiding his eyes.

"You know I don't like someone touching my things."

Sumimangot ang tatlo sa kaniya pero walang nagawa kung hindi tumango. They know how bad it is when he is mad. Not that they are stronger than them, but Lady Adelaide is always on his side when there's a fight that hugely include him, because his Master knows him well. Halos parehas sila ng ugali. At alam na alam nito ang ugali ng tatlo sa Four Guards at ng kaniyang pikon na kanang kamay.

"I have no stock foods here. We should go to buy what we need."

Agad agad gumalaw si Guillaume at umaktong nananakit ang katawan at pagod na pagod. Samantalang si George at Lawyart ang nagpalitan sa pagmamaneho sa byahe nila.

He sighed in defeat. Lumabas siya para mamili, wala siyang aasahan sa mga iyon.

He saw his Master on the swing in the large tree near his house with the young lad, Devian.

Naglakad siya patungo sa dalawa, bago yumuko bilang paggalang.

"Going somewhere?" Tanong nito kahit ang atensyon ay nasa batang natutulog.

"Yes, my Master."

Lady Adelaide nodded. Tumayo ito at humakbang papunta sa kaniyang harapan. Rinig sa bawat yapak nito ang mga natatapakang patay na dahon.

"Can you carry him? I'll go with you."

Slightly shocked, he offer his arms to carry the boy. Naging payapa naman ito sa bisig niya kaya nakahinga siya ng maluwag.

Most of the children he knew are always frightened of him. Takot sa mga walang ekspresyon niyang mata sa kabila ng tila dagat na umaalon na kulay nito.

Ilang minuto ang dapat lakarin para makalabas ng gubat kaya tahimik lamang sila habang naglalakad.

Paminsan minsan mayroong lumilipad na dahon, at ang iba nama'y nasa lupa, patay na, at malutong kung apakan.

He felt the breath of the boy Devian on his neck. Maayos ang tulog nito dala siguro ng pagod.

"How many years did you live here?"

Taken aback, he wasn't able to answer her question right after. He can't still believe the day like this would come. He waited for so many years for her.

When he gather himself, he answer, finally.

"After the war years ago, I live myself away from the crowd. I occasionally goes out, one of those times is when I met Guillaume."

He really is comfortable blurting out whatever he wants when he's with his Master. It is his safe zone, his comfort zone.

"I remember the Presence Sealing Pill he take on one of the cases we investigated."

He blushed hearing that from her. Naalala niyang hindi pa perpekto ang pill nang ibigay niya ito kay Guillaume, at may side effects pa ito tulad ng diarrhea.

"He went in and out of the toilet after it wear off."

Lalo siyang nahiya sa dinagdag nito. Buti na lang ay nasa labas na sila ng gubat matapos iyon. In this part, there were small houses but are far from each other. There are different farms of vegetables ang fruits.

Agad niyang nabago ang usapan.

"We need to ride a tricycle to go to the market, my lady."

His Master nodded. She let him guide the way.

They arrived at the tricycle station a few minutes later.

Mukhang ngayon pa lamang ito makakasakay sa ganito. He made sure to assist her properly.

He's kind of worried about Devian when the loud engine of the vehicle started.

"This is too loud. I'm afraid he'll wake up." He can't help but to express his disappointment.

He know how treasured this boy is inside Lawyart's mansion. He is especially treated best by his Master. He don't want to disturb the young lad's sleep like this, especially that he looked really tired from the long ride.

"Don't worry. He's smart, he'll understand."

Tumango tango. As expected, Devian wake up. Umayos ito ng upo sa binti niya habang hawak niya ito ng maayos at may takot. He's afraid he'll hurt him unintentionally, or make him cry. Children always cry in his presence.

The young boy rub the back of his hands in his eyes. Tahimik itong pinagmasdan siya matapos.

"Is he alright?" He asked lady Adelaide who is watching them carefully.

"Of course, why wouldn't he?"

Umiling siya at napanatag sa loob loob. He thought Devian is afraid of him.

"'Uncan, where are we?"

His eyes gave away his shock when he spoke to him. Sa ilang sandaling pananaliti kasi niya sa bahay ni Lawyart, madalas kasama ng bata ay si Guillaume.

"In a tricycle, we're going to buy something in the market."

Nakarating sila sa bayan na tinatawag matapos ng ilang minutong byahe. Unlike the part of the town awhile ago, this place is crowded.

Maraming taong napapatingin sa gawi nila habang naglalakad.

"Kay gandang pamilya!"

"Ang pogi nung lalaki, beshy!"

"Sayang may jowa na ata, saka may anak."

"Uso ba 'yung violet strips sa buhok tulad nung kay Ate? Ang ganda!"

"Gaga, may binabagayan 'yan."

Pareparehas silang tatlo nang ekspresyon dahil daming atensyon na nakukuha. He suddenly remember how important mask is.

"Lady 'Aide, are you okay?" Devian asked his Master.

Nakita niya itong tumango, umangat pa ang gilid ng labi bago haplusin ang pisngi ng bata.

"My lady, please hold the hem of my shirt."

Kunot noo siya nitong binalingan. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin, nag-init ang pisngi niya kahit pinipilit ang pantay na ekspresyon ng mukha.

"It's crowded inside so..."

He don't know how to continue his statement.

Ramdam niya ang pag-akyat ng init ng pisngi sa kaniyang tainga. Ibinaling niya na lang ang atensyon kay Devian na nakatingin sa bawat galaw ng mukha niya.

Nang maramdaman niya ang marahang hawak sa kaniyang damit, agad agad siyang lumingon, nabago ang wala dapat ekspresyon na mukha. Napatitig sa kamay nito.

He can't help but to smile.

Nabura agad ang ngiti niya nang may tumili. Agad napakunot at noo niya, hinawakan na lang mabuti si Devian at pumasok na sa loob ng palengke kasama ang kaniyang Master.

"I'll carry him, buy what is needed."

Agad siyang nagpaubaya at ginawa ang dapat gawin.

He bought plenty foods enough for all of them. Bumili pa siya ng iilang bagay na kakailanganin nila sa ilang araw na pananatili roon.

"Taasan mo ang presyo, mukhang mayayaman oh."

"Ano ka ba, baka mahalata."

Hindi niya na iyon pinansin. Compared to the things in Nobilis, the prices here are nothing. Kapag pinalit ang currency ng bansa nila sa iba pang bansa, malaki ang palit nito. Their money in Nobilis is literally gold and silver.

"I can smell meat and fish everywhere, Lady 'Aide."

"It's normal, young lad. This is a wet market." Siya ang sumagot sa tanong ng bata.

Matapos nilang mamili, umuwi agad sila at hinayaan na si Devian na tuluyang magpahinga matapos nilang kumain lahat. Gumising lang ito muli nang maghapunan, at nang matapos, ilang sandali, hinila agad ng antok, kaya hinayaan na nila ito para mabawi ang nawalang lakas.

When the night came, Egon and Guillaume prepared a space in front of him to drink.

Lawyart is busy fanning the grilled meat and sea foods, while his lady is on the swing near them, watching them carefully.

Ang mukha nito ay nasisinagan ng buwan. Ang mahabang buhok na may kulay lilang parte ay lalong tumingkad dahil naiilawan ng buwan.

His Master is really the most beautiful Noble.

"It's your turn, Duncan Nerd Emmanuel." Egon George smirked calling his name.

He ignored him to drink the alcohol for him.

"Damn it. Why didn't I bring alcohol from Nobilis?" Reklamo ni Guillaume nang mainom ang alak sunod niya.

"Gago, ilang taon ka na bang 'di nakabalik doon?"

"Gago ka rin Egon Darling George, matagal na akong 'di nakabalik."

He really doesn't get this two. They are always fighting at every petty things.

"Bakit mo sinasabing dapat nagdala ka ng alak galing doon? Paiinumin mo kami ng expired? Anong akala mo doon? Wine?"

Alexander show his mocking face, "Gusto ko lang sabihin, bakit?"

This is probably one of the most unreasonable fight he heard from the two of them.

"Knuckleheads." He can't help but to shake his head.

He drink another shot of alcohol. Hinayaan na ang dalawa sa ginagawa.

Maya maya naglapag na ng pagkain si Lawyart. Naamoy naman agad ng dalawa ang pagkain kaya natahimik.

He saw Lawyart goes to where his Master is. Inaaya nitong sumalo sa kanila.

Lumapit ang dalawa para makisama sa pagkain. Puro inihaw ang nasa harap nila, pangpares ang alak na gawang tao.

"Are you going to drink, my lady?" Lawyart asked his Master.

Umiling ito, "I'm sleeping beside Devian."

Tumango silang lahat sa pasya nito at nagpatuloy lamang.

Kanina lamang nag-aaway ang dalawang Guards na katabi niya, ngayon hindi na makausap ang mga ito. Minsan gusto niyang itakwil ang dalawa.

He focused himself on eating for awhile before he continue drinking. And when it's turn to let the drink circle the table, it slowly went noisy.

"So where were you when our Lady was still sealed?" Kay Lawyart nanggaling ang tanong na ito.

Siya ang unang sumagot, "Here."

Sinimangutan siya ng dalawang kapwa Guard sa napakaikli niyang sagot.

"Boring mo talaga, Emmanuel Baby! Ako na lang sasagot!" Alexander exclaimed. "Before I met Master and Lawyart Babe— ouch!"

Binato ng pikong si Lawyart ng takip ng alak si Alexander. Pinagmasdan niya lang ang dalawa at walang ginawa. Nasa gitna nila si Lady Adelaide, paniguradong hindi nila itutuloy ang mahaba at walang kwentang away.

"Ehem. So iyon nga, bago ko kayo makita, kung saan saan lang ako pumupunta, no permanent address. Ewan ko ba, andaming nagagalit sa akin, lalo na 'yung pulis na nakilala ko, nakita ko siyang nanghihingi ng pera doon sa hinuli niya, e 'di syempre ni-report ko, tapos gago! Nagalit sa akin, 'di ako tinantanan nung mga minions niya!"

He drink another shot of alcohol.

"Yeah. Yeah. Stop him from talking!"

Tinakpan ni George ang bunganga ni Alexander. Nagpumiglas naman ito at nauwi sa suntukan. Matapos ng ilang minuto, maayos na ulit ang dalawa.

"For me," When Egon George started talking with an irritating smirk on his face, he already knew what's happening next. "Damn, I spent a lot of time with girls. There were steamy nights. Ugh. I already miss getting laid."

Sinuntok ni Alexander sa mukha si Egon, habang si Lawyart ay binato ito ng isang pirasong sea food mula sa lamesa. Agad nitong nasalo ang pagkain at kinain.

"Teka! I'm not done!"

Hinayaan naman ng dalawang magsalita ito. Halos silang dalawa lamang ng kaniyang Master ang hindi nagsasalita.

"Pero may part time job naman ako! I'm the masked hero of the humans! Kasi lagi akong nakikita sa camera tuwing may s-in-osolved akong case."

Nagtaas baba ang kilay nito habang malapad ang ngiti. Napailing siya sa disgusto.

"Malamang, I saw several times on news. You cover controversial cases, asshole!"

Mayabang lang na ngumiti si George sa harapan ng lahat. Gusto niya tuloy makisali sa away dahil hindi niya kayang maging walang kibo sa pangit nitong mukha.

"Do you know where I was sealed?"

Agad natahimik ang lahat nang magtanong ang kaniyang Master.

The truth is, they don't know where was she sealed. They just wander helplessly, waiting for her return, hopefully wishing to see her again.

"After the news broke that you were sealed. I immediately come to talk to His Highness, but he... he didn't accept any guests for ten years. Even the Leaders that time don't know His Majesty's doing."

Tumango siya sa sinabi ni Lawyart. Bakas sa mata ni Lady Adelaide ang gulat.

The King shut off everyone for ten years, because of that they are appointed to lead for a meantime together with the Leaders. Nawalan ng oras para maghanap. Kaya nang magpakita ulit ang King matapos ang sampung taon, at ginawa ulit nito ang tungkulin bilang pinuno, doon palang nagkaroon ng oras para maghanap kung na saan ang kaniyang Master.

"The King, after that, who was cold and distant before, became more cold, distant and ruthless." He find the courage to say those words.

"Ruthless?"

"He didn't trust anyone, every single mistake comes a great punishment. But it just toned down when the war years ago happened, he slowly came back from his old self." Egon George explained.

"Grabe, ang bait bait ko nung mga panahong nakakatakot ang King, para akong lalapain ng buhay e."

The mood turn light when Guillaume Alexander said that. Matapos nito, kakulitan na lamang nito at ni George ang tumapos ang gabi.