The Nobles

Chapter 12

ADELAIDE wake up early to cook for the boys in the house. Natuto na siyang gumamit ng mga kagamitang gawa ng mga tao sa tulong rin ng mga ito.

She made a pancake, cinnamon rolls and tea for their breakfast. It was a simple morning so she cooked simple foods.

Hinanda niya ang mga plato sa lamesa at ang mga pagkain.

She kept in mind how good their appetites are when she's the one who cook the food. Alam niyang malakas kumain ang mga ito, lalo na kung siya ang nagluto.

Maya maya naramdaman niyang may yumakap sa kaniyang bewang. It was the little Devian. Mukhng inaantok pa at nakapikit habang nakasandal ang ulo sa kaniya.

Hinaplos niya ang buhok nito ng marahan.

"Good morning, Lady 'Aide."

"Good morning, you wake up earlier than normal."

"Maybe because I slept a lot yesterday."

"Go and brush you teeth."

Agad namang sumunod ang bata.

She sit on one of the chair to wait for them.

Later on, Duncan wake up, followed by Claudius and Egon. Guillaume is probably still dreaming right now.

"Wow! Master, the food smells so good!" Egon take the sit beside her.

Sa kabilang banda niya, umupo na si Devian na inaantok pa.

"Who's going to wake up that sleepy ass?" Claudius asked.

"Definitely not me."

Duncan had no choice to go to Guillaume's room.

The day started like that. She's thinking about the serial murder case that happened in this town, but after seeing some part of the town yesterday, it's pretty normal. There's no signs of terror. Perhaps, the killings happened in the secluded area of this town.

Lumabas siya saglit ng bahay ni Duncan para pumunta sa swing the nagustuhan niya. Nasa ilalim ito ng puno, tamang lilim at tamang sinag ng araw lamang ang nararamdaman niya.

Eversince, she love a peaceful place like this. Sa lugar kung saan naroroon ang mansion ni Claudius, masyadong maraming tao, maingay, at higit sa lahat, kailangan niyang makisalumuha sa marami.

She close her eyes to feel the surrounding, to hear the birds chipping and to fully feel the wind.

Pinakiramdaman niya rin ang kapangyarihang nasa loob niya. Something is still broken, there's still missing pieces. Kaya't hindi mapagkakailang mahina pa siya sa lagay na ito. Ngunit, hindi pwedeng malaman ng iba, mag-aalala lamang ang mga ito sa kaniya. She can survive just fine.

She just need some time to generate the lost power, a little bit more and everything will back from normal.

But in the corner of her heart, she knew there's a big and important picture she can't pinpoint. Something connected to the past. The part of the past she cannot—

"Deep thoughts?"

Minulat niya ang mata niya para kay Egon. Nasa harap niya ito, nakapamulsa, magulo ang kulay lupang buhok, at tulad ng kulay nito ang kumikinang na mata.

He sat in front of her. Egon hold her hand, his brown eyes went directly to hers.

"Master, something is troubling you."

She let go of his hand to caress his cheek. Lumambot ang ekspresyon nito ngunit bakas pa rin ang pag-aalala.

"I am afraid." He said as he heave a deep sigh.

"I am afraid that these moments with you will perish right in front of my eyes."

He caught her hand on his cheek to hold it tightly.

"So please, please tell us if something is bothering you. Please allow us to help. We cannot afford to lose you for the second time."

Her heart felt heavy, not only for him but for her other treasured Nobles. Her heart aches for them.

She pull Egon for a tight hug. Wishing it will ease even a part of his worries.

"Master... we won't make it if something happens to you. We can't..."

She caress his hair to let him feel her concern. Hopeful that even through this, he can feel her assurance.

"Egon, I promise that I won't go anywhere, you have my word. My precious Noble, I won't let you feel the same suffering, do you understand?"

She bit her lower lip when she felt his shoulders move up and down. Pinipigilan nitong marinig niya ang mga munting hikbi. Ibinaon ng mabuti ang mukha sa kaniyang leeg. Ramdam niya ang mga luha nito sa kaniyang balat.

Her eyes moisten. He must be so worried, uneasy, and paranoid for a long time.

Huminahon lamang ito ilang minuto ang lumipas. Lumayo sa kaniya at patagong nagpunas ng luha.

"I-I didn't cry." Sabi ni Egon at umiwas ng tingin.

Mahina siyang natawa sa tinuran nito.

May sasabihin pa sana ito pero hindi natuloy nang dumating si Duncan. Kaswal itong lumapit sa kaniya.

"My lady, I was looking for George and I found out that he's here with you. I'm bringing him with me to look up for the serial murder."

Egon's face became serious when Duncan mentioned the case. Tumayo ito at nagpagpag ng pangbabang suot.

"Let's go."

"I'm going with you."

Agad pumayag ang dalawa sa gusto niya. The three of them walk together to go outside the forest. Tahimik lamang at may kaniya kaniyang iniisip. As for her, she's weighing down her plans and decisions that she will make.

"Before we totally go outside, please take these pill."

Inabot ni Duncan sa kanila ang isang bilog at kulay gintong gamot. It is the Presence Sealing Pill he's been talking about.

Wala itong lasa at mabilis natunaw sa bibig niya na parang tubig. It was perfectly done, as expected.

"How many humans are murdered?"

"Four in total."

Nakinig lamang siya sa usapan ng dalawa at tahimik na naglakad kasabay ang mga ito.

"All of them have no family. There are the troublemakers of this town. They committed a lot of crimes such as hostage taking and stealing."

Kita niyang tumango tango si Egon sa narinig.

"Then, this must be done by another human. Victims usually became evils when they couldn't accept what happened to them."

"Let's just observe some more, we cannot afford to see another life taken."

They take a different road unlike yesterday when they go outside the forest. Sa parte kung saan sila naglalakad ngayon, puro taniman ng gulay at prutas. They even saw farmers doing their work. Ngumiti at bumabati sa kanila sa kabila ng halatang pagod.

"Let's ask some towns folks."

Agad tumango si Egon, alam na ang gagawin.

Lumapit siya sa isang dalagang babae na may buhat na basket.

"Magandang umaga, binibini." Egon gave his million dollar smile.

The girl's cheek turn red when Egon came a little more closer. He's so expert on this field.

"Uhm, magandang umaga r-rin."

Hinawakan nito ang baba ng babae at nilapit pa ang mukha rito.

This fool...

"Pwede ba akong magtanong?"

"Oo n-naman! Ano ba 'yon?"

The voice of the girl became high pitch. Hindi na mapakali ang mata at halos mabitawan na ang dala dahil sa lapit ng kaniyang Guard rito.

"May mga napapansin ka bang kakaiba rito?"

"A-ah? Uhm, oo! Oo!"

"Then, pwede ba tayong mag-usap tungkol doon?"

Agad pumayag ang babae. Umupo sila sa gilid kung saan may nakatumbang katawan ng puno. Sumunod naman silang dalawa ni Duncan sa mga ito.

"A-ano, may apat na namatay nung nakaraan. T-tapos sabi ng iba may half bloods daw silang nakita rito banda sa amin."

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa sa Four Guards. Siya naman ay hindi mapigilang mapaisip.

If that is the half bloods doing, why didn't they get the life force of those humans?

The case is really odd now that there must be half bloods around. But she knew they couldn't accuse them just because they are half bloods.

Tumayo na si Egon at nagpasalamat sa babae. Habang si Duncan, nagsimula nang maglakad.

"Teka! Ano... gusto niyong kumain sa amin? May niluto si Nanay na minatamis na saging dahil maganda ang ani..."

The human girl look expectantly on Egon. Napakamot sa batok ang lalaki, hindi alam ang gagawin. She expected this, because she encountered a lot of girls who fell on the trap of this guy's... charm, as what he said.

Huminto sa paglalakad si Duncan at humarap sa kanila. Nanonood lamang sa mga nangyayari. He look so bored.

"Please!" Pinagdaop ng babae ang dalawa nitong palad. Nagniningning ang mata na nakatingin sa lalaking kaharap.

Lumingon sa kaniya ang lalaki, humihingi ng saklolo. Agad siyang umiwas ng tingin at lumapit kay Duncan na walang inaalala sa mga nangyayari.

"A-ayaw mo ba?"

Egon George immediately went to them. His eyes are widened and he look so lost.

"Master, what should I do?"

She heave a sigh and went to the girl.

"Lead us to your house."

Agad na tumango tango ang babae at masayang naglakad patungo sa bahay nito. Maliit lamang ngunit sapat na para tirhan ng tao.

"Nay! May bisita po tayo!"

Lumabas ang isang matandang babae na hawak na walis tambo. Pinalo nito ang anak, at ang babae ay tumakbo papalapit sa kanila.

"Nay! Nay! Huwag!"

"Sabi ko sa'yong bata ka, huwag kang lalabas! Delikado ngayon! Alam mo naman ang usap usapang may half bloods!"

The mother and daughter's fight cooled down after several hits to the daughters bottom.

Napunta na sa kanila ang atensyon ng matandang babae.

"Naku, jusko, pagpasensyahan niya na kami. Pasok kayo. Medyo maliit nga lang ang bahay namin."

EGON sit on one of the bamboo chair. Katabi si Duncan at nasa tapat nila ang kaniyang Master at ang makulit na babae.

Naghanda ang mag-inang kakakilala pa lamang nila ng sinasabi nitong minatamis na saging. When he take a bite of the food, his eyes widened. The food is sweet but it is delicious! Siguradong magugustuhan ito ng batang si Devian.

"Nay, siya po ang boyfriend ko."

Napaubo siya ng malakas, halos mabulunan nang makita niyang nakaturo sa kaniya ang babae.

Anak ng ...

Alam niyang malakas ang alindog niya sa mga babae, marami na siyang nakilalang ganito. Noon nga, may nagpakilala sa kaniya at anak niya raw ang pinagdadalang tao nito.

Nahimasmasan siya ng batukan ng nanay nito ang babae.

"Aray ko! Nay naman!"

Piningot ng nanay ang tenga ng anak.

"Ikaw bata ka, bata ka pa lang ang landi landi mo na! Makakita lang ng may itsura susunggab agad!"

The human girl pouted at her mother's sermon.

Buti na lang, matapos nilang kumain ay hinayaan na silang umalis ng mag-ina.

Kunot na ang noo ng seryosong si Duncan, iritado na nasayang ang isang oras nila. Kaya naman, tumahimik lamang siya habang naglalakad sila at nagmamasid sa paligid, delikado, baka bigla nalang sugurin siya ng yelong ito kapag ininis niya lalo.

"The food was delicious."

Gulat siyang napatingin sa kaniyang pinaglilingkuran Noble. Nagustuhan nito ang pagkaing binigay ng mga taong iyon.

"Maglu—"

"I'll cook that for you."

Magprepresinta dapat siya pero naunahan ng gagong si Duncan. He can't help but to sulk beside his lady. Dapat siya ang magluluto!

"I'll look forward to that."

Lalo siyang ginanahang magtampo dahil sa narinig niya. Gusto niya siya ang magluluto para sa kanilang binibini.

Just imagining her face when she taste his delicious cooking, she will smile and go for him for a hug...

"Your imagination will stay there."

Sinimangutan niya si Duncan nang pinindot nito ang sentido niya.

"Gago ka isang daang beses."

"Son of a —"

Natahimik siya maging ang mga kasama nang maramdaman nila ang presensya ng iilang half blood. Malayo ito ng ilang metro sa kanila. Tumatakbo patungo sa kanilang direksyon. Lima ang mga ito at parang hinahabol ng kung ano.

Lumagpas lang mga half blood sa kanila. Their speed is a bit enhanced so they are faster than normal humans.

Dahil hindi nito nararamdaman ang presensya nila bilang Nobles, there's no reason for the five half bloods to be wary of them. Nilagpasan lamang sila ng mga ito na para bang hindi sila nakikita, ang gusto lamang ay makawala sa kung ano.

Huhulihin niya sana ang isang dumaan sa harap niya ngunit pinigilan siya ni Duncan.

"What the f**k dude?"

"We have no proof against them and we are not sure if they are involved in this case."

He calm down when he heard his reasoning. Of course they couldn't force a half blood to abide them just because they are Nobles. And they cannot just accuse them so something they are not even sure about.

"I put a tracker on one of them."

Ngumisi siya sa anunsyo nito.

"Good f*****g choice!"

Nilapitan nila ang nakatayo lamang na si Lady Adelaide. Ang itim nitong bistida ang bagay na bagay dito dahil sa maputi nitong balat.

"Egon, Duncan."

He stiffened when he felt her seriousness.

"I need to check something, would you let me roam around?"

He blink rapidly, he don't know if it's a good choice. No one will accompany her and he's afraid, what if somethings might happen.

"You my strength. I will be fine. I just need to do something."

He cuss inside his head. Her words are final. Hindi sila papasamahin sa kung saan ito pupunta.

Is there something wrong? What happened so suddenly? The half bloods just passed them...

"I now, I will come back, you have my word."

Fuck...

"We understand, Master. Be safe."

They have to no choice but to come back to Duncan's house without her.