The Nobles

Chapter 32

ADELAIDE together with the King of the whole Nobilis started their journey again after the long wait for the absorption of her power. Hindi niya man inakalang ganoon katagal, ngunit sa loob loob niya ay masaya siyang naibalik sa dati ang sitwasyon ng kaniyang katawan at kapangyarihan.

They are now flying above the clouds, they are riding Aric, one of the spirit animal of the King. It is a tiger with a huge and dazzling wings.

Naramdaman niya ang hininga ng King sa tapat ng kaniyang tenga.

"After all these, you should go to your first home."

Even though her heart beats fastly, she still manage to calm herself down. Tiningnan niyang mabuti ang paligid, walang nakikita ang mga mata niya kung hindi mga mabibigat na ulap, kita niya rin ang pagbabanggaan ng mga ito na na nagreresulta ng maliliit na kidlat.

"Promise me." dagdag nito.

Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin. Ngunit, isa sa mga natutunan siya sa daan daang taong lumipas ay ang hindi basta bastang pagbibitaw ng pangako.

"Please..."

Pero hindi niya ata magamit ang realisasyong iyon pagdating sa Noble na kasama niya ngayon.

Huminga siya ng malalim, "When everything really ends in nothing but peace, I'll come back..."

to you...

"Keep your promise."

Iyon ang huling usapan nila bago maghiwalay ng landas. Inihatid siya nito sa lugar kung saan nila naramdaman ang mga presensya ng kaniyang iniingatang mga Nobles.

She was shocked at first when he saw the state of Claudius' mansion, she knew already that dispute happened there.

So they decided to look for them and they felt their presense in one of the building near her former school.

"We'll meet again." she said her goodbye.

Tumango ito at ilang segundong nagtama ang mga mata nila. Ngunit hindi rin nagtagal nang magbukas ang pinto sa harapan nila.

They must have felt the radiating presence of the King.

"Master!"

"Lady 'Aide!"

"Your Highness."

"You're finally here."

Agad siyang sinalubong ng yakap ni Devian, at si Guillaume na yumapos din sa kaniyang bewang.

Duncan stood in front of her, he is staring directly at her eyes as if he wanted to convey something through that.

Samantalang si Theodred at Claudius ay kaharap ang Hari, kita niya sa gilid ng kaniyang mata na sabay yumuko ang dalawa bilang paggalang dito.

Moments later, when she reverted her eyes away from Duncan's, she saw Egon stretching his arms up while yawning. Ngunit tila nawala ang antok nito nang magtama ang mga mata nilang dalawa.

"Oh s**t! Master!"

Tumakbo ito at lumapit sa kanila, nasanggi nito si Duncan at hinila palayo sa kaniya si Guillaume. Hinaayan naman nito ang batang si Devian na yakap yakap pa rin siya sa baiwang. Yumakap ito sa kaniya kapalit si Guillaume na nakasimangot na sa ngayon.

"I missed you so much," bulong ni Egon sa kaniya.

"I feel the same, Egon."

Yumuko naman siya nang maramdaman ang paghigpit ng yakap ni Devian sa baiwang niya.

"Lady 'Aide, I couldn't sleep well at night when you're not around..."

Nang masilayan niya ang maamong mukha ng bata, nakaramdam siya ng hindi maipagkakailang tuwa sa puso. She felt like she found something she's really missing.

Siguro nga dahil halos isang buwan niyang hindi nakita ang mga ito kaya't hindi man pansin, nangulila siya para sa kanila.

"Let's go inside, I cooked meal," Theodred said.

"Oo nga pala! Nagluto ka ng Filipino cuisine this time, 'di ba?" tuwang-tuwa na sambit ni Guillaume.

"Finally, I missed local foods."

Bumitaw sa kaniya si Egon at sumunod silang ibang maglakad papunta sa loob. Naiwan siyang nakatayo kasama si Devian at ang Hari.

When she look up at him, she saw his eyes directly staring at her and the child.

Umupo itong kapantay ng bata kaya bumaba rin ang tingin niya rito.

The King stare at the child's eyes, and Devian didn't even falter as he stare back.

"You are the King?" asked Devian.

"Yes."

Bumitaw sa pagkakayakap sa kaniya ang bata.

"Then, let me greet you properly, your Majesty." Devian bow down to address the authority of the King.

She saw how her King's lips lifted as he look at the child in awe.

"Greetings, little one."

"I waited for this moment to tell you something, your Highness."

Tumaas ang kilay ng Hari at bahagyang tumaas ang tingin sa kaniya. Wala naman siyang naging reaksyon sa gustong sabihin ng mga mata nito.

"What is it?"

"I love Lady 'Aide and she's mine, so please, own everything including your kingdom but not her."

The King chuckle when he heard what the kid said. Maging siya ay bahagya ring napangiti dahil dito.

Bago magsalita, tumaas ng kaunti ang isang kilay ng Hari, "Well, too bad, I don't care about anything, I just want to have and own her."

She felt embarrassed yet happy when she heard that. Hindi niya alam ang magiging reaksyon kaya't pinanatili niyang tuwid ang kaniyang ekspresyon.

"Lady 'Aide said you're a good King, but you can't even grant what I want."

"I am far from being good, little one. And I am not selfless enough to give you something I, myself, really hopes to have."

She faked a cough to end the conversation of the two. The King is being too transparent, he's not even taking everything slowly! He really is taking this seriously and it somehow amaze and make make her nervous at the same time.

"Devian, let's go inside and eat with them." aya niya sa bata.

Nilingon naman siya nito at tumango.

She bow down to greet him goodbye but the King stood there as if he's thinking of something so deeply. Maya maya ay bumuntong hininga ito at kunot noong umiling.

"See you soonest, Lady Adelaide Francesca."

"Our path will surely cross one of these days."

Matapos ng pagpapaalam, pumasok na sila ni Devian sa loob at nakisalo na sa iba.

Napag-usapan nila sa kanilang tanghalian ang mga nangyari sa mga nagdaang mga araw na wala siya.

Now that her power is completely restored, she suddenly felt the responsibility she's been carrying for so long.

Naisip niya ang mga bagay na dapat tapusin, ang mga bagay na dapat alamin, at ang mga bagay na dapat niya pang tuklasin.

She fell into a deep thinking when the night came. Nasa iisang kwarto sila ng bata at tulog na ito, ngunit siya ay hindi makatulog dahil okupado ang utak.

Hindi nakakapagtaka na may mga traydor matapos ang nangyari sa kaniya noon. Hindi na bago na may mga naghahantay na makabalik siya para tuldukan na ang buhay niya, ngunit hindi niya gustong isipin na isa sa mga pinagkakatiwalan niya ang nagtataksil sa kaniya.

Who would spread the clues like that? Simula nang malaman niyang may mata at impormasyong lumabas patungkol sa Victoria's town, hindi na mapakali ang puso niya.

She can't deny the fact that she's scared of another betrayal, she wonder if she will handle it well this time, but last time, the worst happened.

Deep inside her heart, in the most corner of her brain is the residing trauma of betrayal within her.

Kung bakit ba mas masakit at ang hirap maghilom ng sugat na gawa ng pagtalikod ng isang pinagkakatiwalaan?

Mas malalim ang dala ng nasirang relasyon dahil sa pagtataksil. At kailanman, hinding hindi siya masasanay sa bagay na iyon. Hindi niya man maipakita at masabi ng maayos, ibinibigay niya ang lahat kapag nagtitiwala siya.

Lumabas siya ng kwarto nila ng bata at nagtungo sa baba kung saan ang bar area ng penthouse ni Duncan.

Nakaramdam siya ng presensya sa bandang iyon kaya't nagdalawang isip siyang tumuloy pababa.

Ngunit huli na dahil nang makalapit, nagtama ang mga mata nilang dalawa ni Egon.

She had no choice but to go near him. Umiinom ito ng wine at magulo ang buhok na tila natutula sa kinauupuan. Bumalik lang sa sarili nang makita siya.

"Problem?" she asked as she sit on the stool beside him.

Umiling iling ito at napangisi.

"Master, pakiramdam ko hindi na ako normal." nakita niya ang mangingiyak nitong mga mata nang magsalita.

"Hmm?"

"Because I can't focus on the case that isn't even hugely involved with her. Hindi ko na naman dapat siya imbestigahan pero hindi ko mapigilan. These damn feet are always endeding up chasing after her, it's f*****g creepy."

Is this what Theodred whispered to her about hours ago?

Nawala tuloy ang rumaragusgos na mga bagay sa isipan niya dahil sa problema nito.

"What is your case all about?" she curiously asked.

"It's about the cases of several killings around the country, but the wounds are vividly telling that they aren't done by the half bloods, there's no slit in the neck where they force out the life force out of a person."

She felt like Claudius told her about the similar case months ago. It was around the time when she just came back, if her memories are correct.

"Her case and connection to the case is quite unique because she was seen in the state like that few years ago but she survived. She lost her memories so she cannot remember anything about what happened, but I have stumble on her files, and I really think her case is something alike to those bodies that are found dead. But as I investigate her, I have this thinking that maybe, it was just a coincidence."

Hindi siya nakasagot at napaisip na rin sa kaso at sa babaeng tinutukoy nito.

"She's living alone, so I don't think there are still clues that will lead me— if my hunch is true, to the culprit behind the killings."

Uminom ito ng wine bago muling nagsalita.

"But you know what, Master? I knew I won't get information from her but I can't stop myself but to think of her, to follow her gracefully actions with my eyes, and to involve her on something she isn't hugely involved. F*ck it, I hate being swayed by feelings like this, my reasoning is getting blurry and I hate it so freaking much. I couldn't focus, but I am happy like a fool every time a see her. I felt like I look like a love struck fool. I am always denying in front of them, Master, but I wanted to let it all out because I can't hold it in anymore. I'm f**k up and I'm happy about it, just what the hell is that, right? I want to punch myself."

Halos hindi na ito huminga sa haba ng sinabi. Siya naman ay nakinig lamang at tumango tango.

Nakaramdam siya nang panghihinayang dahil hindi niya nakita ang proseso ng malaking pagbabago sa nararamdaman ni Egon, hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang matuwa na sa wakas, matapos ang mahabang mga taon, nakahanap ito ng iingatan. Ngunit sa kabilang banda, bakit ngayon pang hindi maayos ang lahat at marami pa silang mga bagay na dapat tapusin, at asikasuhin.

However, she really hope the girl in his stories won't hurt this lovable Noble. Egon is precious and she don't want anyone or anything to hurt her.

She knew he is a real flirt and he hurt a lot of girls and women as he grow day by day, but everyone still deserves someone that will love them and embrace them for who they was and who are they becoming.

Ganoon din ang isa sa mga iniingatan niyang Noble na si Egon. Kaya't sana, hindi ito masaktan, at sana hindi bumalik rito ang sakit na dinulot niya sa iba. But who she is to decide for that? She's juts a Noble, but a strong one.

All she wanted is for her beloved Nobles to be with someone who will treasure them and will never betray and hurt them intentionally.

Dahil siya, nahanap niya na ito, hinihintay na lamang silang dalawa ng tagpuan, ngunit pareho silang hindi pa dapat humakbang patungo roon dahil may mga bagay pang dapat alalahanin, may mga bagay pa na dapat tapusin at bigyang pansin.

What is this? She felt like something new is building inside her the moment she restore her power. Is this development of mind? She don't know, but she'll embrace whatever it is.