The Nobles

Chapter 21

ADELAIDE was pestered by the guys in the house whole day long. Si Devian ay hindi humiwalay sa kaniya. Si Claudius na laging may dala-dalang pagkain saan mang parte ng mansion siya mapunta. Guillaume is extra clingy and naughty, Egon became too sweet. Theodred even wanted to sleep in her room last night, and Duncan is always staring at her without saying anything.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya, ngunit naiintindihan niya ang mga kinikilos nito. Kahit hindi sabihin, they are still scared.

Kaya bago pa siya umalis para sa importanteng gagawin, tinipon niya muna ang mga ito.

They are in the sala, Theodred in her side, and Duncan on the other side. Nasa tapat niya si Guillaume na karga si Devian, at katabi nito si Claudius at Egon.

"I'm leaving later." Panimula niya.

"You knew why am I leaving, right? For you, for the whole Nobilis, and also for me. I won't leave you like last time, this time, I'm leaving to protect. I hope, my treasured Nobles, that you understand how important this journey is."

Nag-iwas ng tingin sa kaniya ang iba, at ang iba ay tumango lamang. No one speak for a minute. But Theodred broke the deafening silence.

"It's sad that you're leaving when I just arrived here. But don't worry, Master. I will support you in everything. You're with his Highness, we all knew nothing will go wrong."

After that, the atmosphere changed into a more lighter one. Nagbiruan na sila sa pamumuno ni Guillaume at Egon.

That was the end of their conversation when the King arrived. Mag-isa lamang itong biglang sumulpot malapit sa kanila. Natahimik ang lahat lalo na nang lumapit ito sa kaniya.

Everyone stand up including her to bow down to the King of Nobles.

"Greetings, you Highness."

When she lift up her head, her eyes immediately met his. Seryoso ang mga mata nito, kung ibang Noble ang makakakita ay mahihirapan silang basahin kung anong ipinaparating ng mata ng hari, but she's an exemption, just like how easy it is for him to read her.

Maya maya napunta ang mata ng hari sa batang hawak ni Guillaume na biglang gustong bumababa para pumunta sa kaniya. The King still has this uncertainty towards the human child.

"Lady 'Aide. Kiss..."

Umupo siya para maging kalebel ang bata. She kiss his cheeks several times, before hugging him tightly.

She use her soft voice to whisper to the child.

"Wait for me patiently, Devian."

Tumango tango ito at halatang pinipigil ang luhang gustong kumawala mula sa mga mata. Dahil doon, namula ang dalawang mata ng bata.

"Yes, I will. I'll make you proud when you come back."

She smiled to the child. Hinalikan niya ito sa noo bago sumama na sa hari.

"My King."

Nawala ang tingin ng hari sa batang si Devian nang magsalita siya. Kakalapit niya lang dito at kanina pa pala ito nanonood sa kanila ng bata.

"Let's go."

She was about to place her hand on his arm but the King wrapped his arm on her waist before she could do it. Sa isang iglap, using teleportation, napunta sila sa labas ng pamilyar na kweba. This is where she was sealed. Oddly, there were no miners this time.

Nasa liblib na parte ng bundok ang lugar na ito kaya halos wala talagang tao. But this is a mining site. Wala silang ni isang taong makita sa lugar.

"My King, what do you think... of this?"

He looked directly in her eyes.

"This cave is connected to you."

Iyon lamang ang sinabi nito ngunit mayroon na agad namuong impormasyon sa isipan niya.

"Then, let's go inside."

Ngunit bago pa sila tuluyang pumasok. Narinig nila ang yakap ng mga tao. Dalawa sila at patungo sa direksyon nilang dalawa ng hari.

When the two humans arrived near them. Napansin agad sila nito, mukhang mga normal na mamamayan lamang sila na naghahanap ng mga halamang gamot sa gubat. She can smell the herbal medicines inside the basket the two humans are holding.

"Oh. Nawawala ba kayo? Halika, sumabay na kayo sa amin, alam namin ang pasikot-sikot dito sa gubat."

Umiling siya at bahagyang lumapit sa dalawang matandang lalaki.

"Hindi po, pero pwede po bang magtanong?"

One of the old human heartily laughed. "Aba'y oo naman, ano ba 'yon, Ija?"

Tinuro niya ang kweba, "Mining area po iyon, pero bakit wala na pong tao?"

"Hmm. Oo nga, nakakalungkot ang nangyari diyan para sa kanila. Pero para sa amin, naging biyaya na wala na silang makitang kayamanan sa loob ng kweba dahil sinisira nila ang kagubatan, at ang bundok na ito. Mula pa sa mga ninuno namin, masagana ang ginto't pilak sa loob ng kweba, ngunit ilang taon ang nakalipas, napunta sa kamay ng mga negosyante at pinagkakitaan. Pero nitong nakaraang buwan, biglang nawalan ng kahit anong mahahalagang bato sa loob. Naging normal na kweba na lamang."

Months ago? Nagkatinginan sila ng hari. Looks like their minds are heading the same way.

"Ganoon po ba? Maraming salamat po, thank you for answering."

Nagpa-alam na rin sa kanila ang dalawang tao matapos noon.

Pumasok silang dalawa ng hari sa loob ng kweba nang makalayo ang dalawang tao.

She open up about what they just heard while speeding ahead.

"I think the treasures are connected to me, my King."

"It was the result of your power swelling up inside that urn."

She nodded. Tiningnan niya ang paligid, there's no sign of stones or treasures, kahit pa malapit na sila sa pinakapusod ng kweba sa bilis nila.

As they go further, the more she can feel the connection with her and the heart of the cave.

At nang marating nila iyon. She can feel the strength of her powers scattered around. This is the shrine where she was sealed, and at the center of this place, is the urn were she stayed for hundred of years.

"My king, how did you know that I was here?" She asked the man she's with.

Nagtataka pa rin siya ba sa lahat ng kilala niyang Noble, ang hari lamang ang may alam kung nasaan siya.

"Do you think I will fail on that? No one can feel your presence but me."

Her lips lifted a bit. Right. How did she forget about that.

"I always go here from time to time hoping for the day you'll come back. I waited in sorrow, Lady Adelaide." Hinarap siya nito, tumaas ang isang kamay sa kaniyang pisngi upang haplusin ito.

Hindi siya makapagsalita dahil alam na alam niya ang pinaparating ng mga mata nito.

"Can you tell me the names of the traitors? Hmm?"

Napahakbang siya palayo sa gusto nitong malaman. She revert her gazes away from him. Deep inside, everything from the past still haunt and hurt her. Alam niyang dapat malaman ito ng hari ngunit hindi niya alam kung paano magsisimula, at kung anong dapat sabihin. Hindi niya alam sasabihin sa maraming bagay dahil wala siyang proweba. She can tell names, but some, some Nobles are too cunning that even before her tragedy, she wasn't able to gather evidences.

"Some... some of the traitors are dear to us, my King. But..."

"If you don't want to speak, I'll understand. But saying that, I knew already who they are. Did they caused you to be sealed in this place?"

She nodded.

"Then, would you allow me to kill them?"

Her lips quiver at the thought of killing those Nobles. Naglakad siya papalapit sa urn na nasa gitna ng shrine. Pinakiramdaman niya ang kapangyarihan niyang nagkalat sa lugar at ang ibang naiwan sa loob ng urn. Perhaps, every bits of her power in this place can't handle her long sleep. Marahil ay hindi rin kinaya ng urn ang dami ng nilalabas ng katawan niya sa tagal ng panahon na iyon. And now that she's here, may mga iilang pumapasok unti unti sa iba't ibang parte ng katawan niya.

"My King, will you lend me your power to control every bits of my scattered power?" Sambit niya nang muli itong lingunin.

The side of his lips lifted in a playful way.

"How can I disagree? It's the Lady Adelaide Francesca of Nobilis."

He smirked.

Napailing siya at umupo sa gitna. Inangat niya ang ulo niya para salubungin ang mga mata nitong nakatuon sa kaniya.

"Then, your majesty, please watch over me as I fix myself."

Gumalaw ito upang umupo sa tabi niya. He close the gap between them to whisper in her ear.

"Don't make me wait for too long. My desire is overflowing, you, of all Nobles, know that."

Nagsitaasan ang balahibo niya sa banta nito. What the hell, Lord Marquise Alaric Cassius.

Marahan niya itong itinulak palayo sa kaniya.

"And I am aware you're too patient when it comes to me."

Iyon ang huli niyang sinabi bago tuluyang ipikit ang mga mata. Pinakiramdaman niya ang sarili. Deep inside, there's a broken vessel, she tried to focus herself, fixing the brokenness within. As she absorb some of the powers around her, she's directing every bit of it towards the large broken vessel inside her that holds her power.

Naglabas siya ng kakaibang aura sa paligid na alam niyang mararamdaman ng kahit sinong malapit, but she trust the King, no one will harm her even if she release even stronger aura than this.

Unti unting nagkaroon ng mas maayos, at malaking daluyan sa loob looban ng katawan niya, na naging daan para sa kapangyarihang matagal nang naghihintay para sa kaniya.

"Lady Adelaide! Come here, can you see the transparent flowers inside the lake?"

"It's beautiful, right? I just found out about this when I focused my eyes carefully in the lake."

What's this? Why are the memories overflowing inside her brain? Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit kailangang ipakita ang mga ala-alang ito.

This Noble, she knew this Noble very. Ang kaniyang ngiti, at tawa, maging ang kislap ng mga mata nito, kilalang kilala niya.

"He had a nightmare again, his power is really troublesome, but I couldn't even help him, even my powers aren't enough to stop those dreams."

"The Victoria's Town is really amazing! You lead them well!"

"Some Nobles of Noble Clans are so cunning! If the King ordered me to investigate about that case, I will surely unveil everything."

"Lady Adelaide, he is having trouble over his powers again. He said something very disturbing."

"I know you are very strong, but those clans holds powerful Nobles also, they are dear to the whole Nobilis and to our King."

"Lady Adelaide, I'm going to show something for you! Let's leave Nobilis for awhile, I found a very beautiful place!"

Sumikip ang dibdib niya at halos hindi siya makahinga dahil kada agos ng alaala, ay nawawala sa kontrol ang kapangyarihan niya.

Nalalasahan niya na ang metal sa bibig niya, at nagiging malabo na rin ang pagsasaisip niya ng mga daluyan at ng vessel sa isip niya, dahil sa mga memoryang umaapaw kasabay ng pagdaloy ng kapangyarihan papasok sa kaniya.

Napaubo siya sa sakit ng dibdib at sa panghihina. Nakapikit pa rin dahil hindi pwedeng maantala ang ginagawa, nabuksan niya na ang iba't ibang parteng dapat daluyan, mamamatay siya kung ititigil.

Maya maya, naramdaman niyang umaayos ang pakiramdam. The King must have done something about the raging powers and rushed of memories.

Unti unti niyang hininahon ang sarili habang patuloy nilalaban ang sariling mga alaala na nagdudulot ng hindi maganda sa pagbuo ng sarili.

She tried hard to focus again. Huminga siya ng malalim ng paulit ulit. She tried to visualize the broken vessel inside her again as the power goes in in different part of her body.

Marami pang nagkalat sa paligid. She think weeks are not enough to gather everything at this pace. Masyadong mabagal ang usad at maraming hadlang sa bawat pagtatangka niyang mas bilisan ito.

"My King, we really did—"

"I'm happy."

"Lord Marquise, where is he?"

"Did you see the King?"

"Should I tell him about this?"

"Why at this time? But I don't regret this."

"The internal feud is worsening day by day, you all need to stand up for the King and for the betterment of our country, Nobilis."

"My King, don't worry, I, and the whole Victoria's are always ready to fight for you."

"I am—"

What's that? Some of the memories, she can't recall them. And she don't understand some of them. Did she lose a part of her memory?

She felt like she forgot a very vital thing, she felt like even if she is trying to fix herself, there's still something missing, deep inside her heart. She knew there's something she need to know. And after this, she will investigate about that.

Because after those memories appeared, she knew, there's a lot to find out.