A Shadow of an Illusion

Chapter 12

Matapos ang insidente sa ‘kasal’ ko, o kung masasabi ko bang kasal ‘yon dahil sigurado akong hindi normal na pumatay sa isang kasal, at least I never heard of that, pinapunta na ako sa kwarto na tinutuluyan ko ng taong nag-utos sa mga kawal na sundin ang ini-utos ko sa kanila.

I am still shock that I saw him here. Kahit na ilang beses ko siyang titigan, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang nasa harapan ko siya. Ang akala ko ay si Arson lamang ang nag-iisang tagapagmana ng trono na naririto sa loob ng palasyo, pero mali pala ako dahil nandito rin siya at ang mas nakakagulat pa ay malaya siyang nakakapaglibot sa loob ng palasyo.

It seems like he has a high rank inside this palace because the maids and the other people inside the palace are bowing down at him whenever he would walk pass by them. At mukhang natural lang na nangyayari iyon sa paligid niya. Which I became more shock because of that.

I looked at the back of the man that I am just talking about. Grim Alexanders, one of the ruler of Land Realm before Erebus had invaded their kingdom. Isa siya sa mga pinaka kilalang tao sa mundong ito dahil na rin sa angkin nitong galing sa pamumuno, ngunit ano ba ang nangyari sa kaniya para mapunta rito sa palasyo ni Erebus.

Nag-offer siya na ihatid ako sa kwarto na tinutuluyan ko dahil ang sabi niya ay kailangan ko nang magpahinga dahil sa dami ng nangyari sa palasyo ngayong araw. I immediately agreed because I wanted to talk to him privately so that I will know what is his role inside this palace.

I just continued to follow him until we reached the door of my room. He stopped on his tracks as he opened the door of my room and then he bowed at me.

“You must be tired, milady. You should go inside of your room so that you can have a rest,” sabi niya habang nakayuko pa rin sa akin. “I will ask the maid to help you prepare for the night.” Doon lamang siya nagtaas ng tingin habang nakangiti sa akin. “Then if you’ll excuse me.”

He was about to go and ask for the maids to help me prepare for the night, but I stopped him from doing so. Kailangan ko siyang makausap. Kailangan kong linawin ang mga tanong sa isipan ko. Kailangan kong malaman kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa kaniya.

“Wait,” I said that made him look at my direction. “I needed to talk to you. If that is okay with you.”

He looked at me for a brief second, his face void of emotion, gone the smile that he showed me earlier. Mukhang pinag-iisipan niya kung papayag ba siya o hindi. And I am praying that he would agree because I am sure that I won’t be able to have a sleep if he will not answer the questions on my mind.

“If that is what you wanted, milady, then I will gladly have a talk to you,” he said as he nodded his head at me.

I sighed out of relief dahil sa sinabi niya. Tinitigan ko muna siya nang mabuti bago ko itinuro ang loob ng kwarto ko. “I want to talk to you inside my room.”

Iyon lamang ang sinabi ko at hindi na siya hinintay pang magsalita muli. Nauna na kong pumasok sa loob at umupo sa isa sa mga sofa na naroroon, at hinintay siyang makapasok sa loob ng kwarto ko.

Mas mabuti nang dito na lang kami mag-usap para walang makarinig kung ano ba ang pag-uusapan namin. Kagaya nga ng lagi kong dinadahilan, mas mabuti nang nag-iingat kaysa naman magsisi ako sa huli.

It did not take a minute before Grim went inside of my room then he went to sit on the chair that was across mine. Umayos siya nang upo bago niya itinuon ang atensiyon niya sa akin.

“So, what do you want to talk about, milady?” he asked to break the silence between us.

I took a deep breath before I started to think of the questions I needed to ask him. Kailangan ay maging maingat ako dahil una, wala akong ginamit na magic para ma-protektahan kaming dalawa. At pangalawa, hindi ko sigurado kung nasa panig pa ba namin si Grim o wala na.

“You are Grim Alexanders, right?” I asked him that made him stopped. He looked at me with a serious expression on his face as I continue to ask him my question. “The previous ruler of Land Realm before Erebus had invaded your kingdom.”

His emotion became void after that. Parang pinag-iisipan niya kung sasagutin niya ba ang tanong ko o hindi, pero sa huli, tumango siya sa akin na nakapag-kumpirma sa tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Yes, I am Grim Alexanders,” sabi niya pa matapos niyang tumango sa akin.

i breathe out again as I started to ask him another question. “Anong katayuan mo sa palasyong ito?”

Sigurado akong hindi lamang siya basta-basta isang tauhan lamang ni Erebus. Kung niyuyukuan at sinusunod siya ng ibang mga tao rito, sigurado akong mataas siya sa loob ng palasyong ito. At kung totoo man ang naiisip ko, bakit siya bibigyan ni Erebus ng mataas na katungkulan dito kung alam naman niya na isa itong ruler dati?

I did not look away from him as I wait for his anser. “I am the Emperor’s butler,” he said that made me stop.

He is Erebus’ butler? Ibig bang sabihin nito ay siya ang isa sa pinaka pinagkakatiwalaan ni Erebus dito sa loob ng palasyo? Pero paano nangyari ‘yon kung siya ay dating ruler ng mundong ito? HIndi ba dapat ay makaramdam siya ng muhi kay Erebus dahil sa ginawa nito sa kanila? Katulad na lang ng galit na nararamdaman ni Arson sa tuwing mababanggit niya ng pangalan ni Erebus.

Then, I thought of what Hemera had said the first that I met her; Na hindi lang silang tatlo ang naninilbihan sa ilalim ni Erebus. Na may isa pang tao ang nasa loob ng palasyo na may mataas na katayuan dati.

Hindi kaya siya ang tinutukoy ni Hemera noon? Come think of it, hindi sinabi ni Hemera kung sino ang taong iyon kaya naman malaki ang posibilidadna siya ang tinutukoy na tao ni Hemera noon.

As far as I could remember, Hemera said that she have not met him in weeks and she also said that it seems like he was brainwashed by Erebus. Kung totoo man ‘yon, masisigurado kong ang lahat ng pinag-usapan namin ngayon ay makakarating kay Erebus.

Pero, kailangan ko ring mapatunayan na na-brain wash nga siya ni Erebus. Only one way to find out then, to ask him something that could take this confusion away from my system.

“Do you know me?” i asked him.

Yes, that question will answer everything. Kung hindi man siya sasagot ng totoo, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko kapag nangyari iyon. After all, kung ganoon siyang kataas rito sa loob ng palasyo, kailangan kong mag-ingat sa kaniya dahil sigurado akong si Erebus na ang sinusunod niya at hindi kami.

He frowned because of my question as if he was confused by it, but after a few seconds, he shook his head at me. Hindi ko alam kung nagsasabi ba siya ng totoo o hindi, pero sapat na ang pag-iling niya para maging alerto ako sa tuwing makikita o makaka-usap ko siya katulad na lamang ngayon.

“I don’t know you, milady,” he said then he smirked at me. “But I have a question for you, Lady Menrui.”

“Go ahead and ask me,” I told him.

I looked at him with a serious expression on my face as I prepared myself for his question. Mukhang nakahalata na siya sa akin kaya naman nagpasya na siyang magtanong sa akin. At kung ano man ang tanong na ito, I am praying that I could answer it right away so that he won’t get suspiscious of me.

“How come you knew about me but then you do not know anything about the emperor?” he asked and he acted as if he was really curious on what I will answer to him.

He even raised his brows as if he was challenging me to answer his question. Alam kong isa itong trick question na kapag hindi ko nasagot, siguradong maghihinala ang mga taong nasa paligid namin, at is ana si Erebus roon.

At para maiwasan ang paghihinala nila, umakto akong hindi nagulat sa tanong niya, kahit na sa totoo ay nag-pa-panic na ako dahil sa tinanong niya.

I have to think fast or this might be the end for me, and for the plan. At hindi ko hahayaang mangyari iyon. HIndi ko hahayaang masira ang lahat ng plano nang dahil lang sa tanong na ito.

We already took a step closer so that we can already defeat the Emperor and I will not let anyone to interfere our plans. Not even this man in front of me. Not this man named Grim that was on Erebus’ side right now.

“I have read a book about you,” I said, briefly.

HIndi ko alam kung maniniwala ba siya sa dahilan ko, pero iyon lamang ang naiisip kong dahilan para malusutan ko ang sitwasiyon na ito. Iyon lamang ang naiisip kong paraang para hindi siya maghinala sa akin.

“Really?” he asked as if he does not believe what I said, but I still stay calm as I nodded my head at him. “Then why didn’t you read about the emperor’s?”

Another trick question, but I still stood my ground and stay as calm as I could so that he will believe that I am telling the truth, even if it is lame.

“I am not interested in him,” I said as I looked straight into his eyes. “I am more interested about the book that contains information about you.”

He raised one of his eyebrows and he acted as if he does not really believe what I am saying. “Is that so?” I nodded my head at him again as my face remained neutral. “That is odd though,” sabi niya at umaktong parang nag-iisip.

“What is odd with my statement?” I asked him.

I act as if I am confuse with his question, but the truth is I want this conversation to end because I don’t know how long I could act that I did not know anything about their ‘emperor.’ If this conversation will last, I might tell him something I shouldn’t have.

Wala dapat akong masabi sa kaniya na kahit anong makakapag-sabi ng tunay kong katauhan. HIndi ko pa rin kasi sigurado kung nasa panig nga ba siya ni Erebus o nagpapanggap lamang siya.

“You are interested in me more than the man that you just marry? Isn’t that odd?” He even looked up as if he was thinking then he looked at me again with a smirk on his face. “HIndi ba’t kapag hindi mo kilala ang papakasalan mo, gagawa at gagawa ka ng paraan para makilala mo siya? I am sure as h*ll that this palace is full of books that discusses about the Emperor and you did not even bother to read it. Above it all, you choose to read something about me, a mere butler of the emperor? That is really odd.” He shook his head as if he was disappointed about my reasoning.

Hindi pa rin ako nagpatalo at ipinagpilitan ko na totoo ang sinasabi ko. I have to, because I don’t know whose side he is right now. I have to, so that I could protect the plan that we have.

“I am telling the truth,” I said as I looked at him again. “Bakit ko naman babasahin ang tungkol sa kaniya kung bawat araw na dumadaan na naririto ako, nakikilala ko ang tunay na siya? And I think that was enough reason for me to read a book that does not contain anything related to him,” I explained to him.

Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala na ba siya sa akin o hindi, at hindi ko rin makita sa mukha niya kung naniwala ba siya o hindi dahil na rin sa ngiti niya ngayon na hindi ko maipaliwanag kung ano ang nais nitong sabihin.

The whole room became silent after that, and i really do not know why but he hasn’t talk since I said that statement. He just kept on looking at me with that unexplainable smile on his face taht creeps the sh*t out of me.

I, on the oher hand, just looked at him with an emotionless expression on my face. I showed him that I am really serious about this even though it looks like it is not believable.

We just continued to stare at one another until I got shock when he laugh. It was so loud that it echoes in this empty room. Naka-hawak pa siya sa tiyan na habang tumatawa siya na para bang nakakatawa talaga ang sinabi ko sa kaniya kanina.

“I am sure that I never told you something to laugh about,” I told him, confused.

Now what? Bakit bigla-bigla na lang siyang tatawa riyan na para bang nasisiraan na siya ng ulo? Wala na talagang patutunguhan ang usapan na ito. Just look at him right now, he was still laughing even though there was really nothing to laugh about.

He looked at me as he tried to laugh but then he failed, so I glared at him again. It looks like he noticed my glare because he raised his hands as if he surrendered, but stil, he was chuckling from time to time.

“I’m sorry, milady,” he said while he was trying to stop laughing. “It’s just that I now know the reason why he choose you.” He smirked at me then he stood up.

“Where are you going?” I asked him.

Lumingon siya sa akin bago niya sinagot ang tanong ko. “I believe that our conversation ends right here, and also, the emperor will return any minute from now. I still needed to do something before that.”

I just looked at him briefly before I nodded my head at him. Wala na rin naman akong magagawa dahil nasa may pinto na siya at handa nang lumabas ng kwarto ko.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me,” he said as he bowed is head at me. “I will also tell the maids to attend you and help you prepare for the night.”

HIndi niya na hinintay pa ang sagot ko at tuluyan na niya na akong iniwan sa loob ng kwarto ko na nag-iisip.

Hindi ko nakuha ang gusto kong malaman sa kaniya. Ang malala pa nito, mas lalo lamang akong naguluhan kung ano nga ba ang nangyari sa kaniya.

It seems as if he was brainwashed or something, but I am sure that he was acting as if he was perfectly fine, and nothing was wrong. Which is I found odd for some reason.

Kung siya nga ang tinutukoy ni Hemera na isa pang may mataas na katayuan dati, siguradong mahihirapan kaming makumbinsi siyang umanid muli sa amin. Dahil base sa usapan namin kanina, parang ipinapakita niya na ang katapatan niya ay kay Erebus na.

Kung na-brainwash nga siya, maaari ko pang maibalik ang dati niyang ugali at pag-iisip, ngunit ang kinakatakutan ko ay ang isiping hindi siya na-brainwash at kusa siyang umanib kay Erebus.

Pero, kung kusa nga siyang umanib kay Erebus, bakit naman nag-desisyon siyang gawin iyon? may nagtulak ba sa kaniya para pag-desisyonan niyang gawin iyon? O may malalim na dahilan para gawin niya ang bagay na ‘yon?

I don’t know. My mind is so confused right now. I could not even think of the reason why he would do such things. Dumagdag pa itong si Erebus na hindi sinunod ang deal namin.

I should have known that he won’t be able to fulfill that deal. Sa sobrang tuso ba naman ng taong iyon, bakit ba umasa pa ako na may himala pa para sa kaniya?

And I should have followed my instinct that was shouting me that there was something wrong today. Well, we managed to save the lives of those ten people that he wanted to execute, so I guess that it was alright?

Though, alam ko na kailangan ko pa ring makumbinsi si Erebus na tigilan niya na ang mga tao sa dungeon, dahil kung hindi, sigurado akong mauulit at mauulit din ang nangyari kanina sa ‘kasal’ namin.

I sighed as I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I have so much to think of,” I mumbled to myself.

And I have a plan to think of. Now that we took a step towars our plan, we needed to get more serious than ever before. We needed to be more extra careful with our every move so that we could fulfill our missions.

I, together with Hemera and the other two, will have to make this plan work in order for us to achieve what we want to. And we all have the same goal: to bring back the world to its normal state. To stop Erebus from invading the last kingdom. To give this world a freedom.

And I promise to do everything that I could so that we can achieve these goals.