Zendaya of the Night

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"You do not know the gravity of what you've done, Zendaya!" Galit na bungad sa akin ni Papa habang siya ay naglalakad palapit sa akin mula sa pintuan ng aking kuwadra.

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya dahilan upang mas lalo siyang mainis, "of course, I do. I told you, Papa, I will do things my way. I have given your wish a chance, and also mine through the challenge that I raised and apparently, none among these 'qualified' men are qualified enough to seat on the throne. I am doing this not for myself, but for the kingdom. I will not let a random man rule under my watch."

"They are not happy about it." Bumuntonghininga si Papa at saka siya umupo sa silya sa aking harap. "You have angered a hundred and fifteen noble families, Zendaya." He must be pertaining to the families of these men who failed to hit my mark.

"Men and their egos." I laughed.

"This is not a laughing matter." This time, I can see the dead serious gaze of my father and that was enough for me to keep my mouth zipped. The cold tension lingered in the air and after a few deafening moment of silence, he continued, "while it is by the virtue of your rights to choose a king or not and while it is true that you have given every man in the room a chance, you have also crushed their names-you have made enemies even before you have worn the crown."

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. I looked at my father, the King of this kingdom, "Papa..." I was surprised. "Have you finally accepted that I will be the one who'll sit on the throne?"

He looked at me in disbelief, "iyan talaga ang napansin mo at hindi ang katotohanan na marami kang ginawang kalaban bago ka pa man naupo sa trono? Remember, Zendaya, you cannot rule if your subjects are against you. As you have shaken the very foundations of this kingdom, of its patriarchy, many men will try to subjugate you in the name of being a woman."

"Then let them come after me however they want, I will let them eat my dust."

"They think that you do not respect our traditions and culture, that you have gone mad, and that you are a rebel."

Natawa ako dahil sa sinabi ng aking ama, "really? A rebel? They call the princess of this kingdom, the one who will reign over them, as such?"

"It's because you've broken the system, Zendaya. Kahit pa man anong gawin ko, hindi na mababago pa ang nangyari kagabi. The entire noblemen and kingdom saw everything that happened last night and they saw that none was able to make your mark, except you."

"And it hurts their pride."

"And you've caused the calm to be upset, and a storm awaits."

"Papa, I am very happy that you raised me to be the kind of woman I am. I know that Mama, wherever she is right now, is also happy that I am who I am today. It is time to accept that times are changing, Papa, and it is time to prove that women can also do what men can."

"Are you ready for the risks you've taken, Zendaya?"

"Yes."

He sighed, pagkatapos ay lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan niya ako sa aking kamay, "then, I, Grand King Zenovia Exellencia Nightingale, bless you, Princess Zendaya Zandeyi Nightingale, to be the next holder of the Grand Throne, to be entitled as King Zendaya Zandeyi, by virtue of the power vested in me, let this will be done."

I looked at the King, he was looking at me the way a father is. I smiled, "I will not disappoint you, Papa."

"You've never disappointed me, Zendaya." And this time, I know he was already speaking to me as his daughter, and him to me as my father. He opened his arms for a hug and I let his warmth envelop me. Finally, he has come to accept my will. "For as long as I live, I will continue to guide you in all your endeavors, as the next successor of my throne and I must warn you right now, I will not go easy on you."

"Then don't," I smiled as I accepted his challenge. "It'd make me even happier if you do so."

Nag-usap pa kami ng saglit ni Papa tungkol sa politika at kung paano mamalakad. But this is just a reminder on me since ever since I was young, I was tutored by Scholar Jung, the best scholar in the kingdom, about politics. He's currently travelling in exploration of ruins, I wonder if he heard the news already about me taking over the kingdom and my coronation.

"Your coronation is next week already. Everyone will be there to watch you ascend the throne." Saad ng aking ama, "however, as I am still alive, I will serve as your right hand and will advise you in all the things that you do."

I nodded, "but I get the last call on the decisions, right?" I don't want my title to be just a title. I want power-and I will use it to fix this broken system of our kingdom that was designed only to benefit the rich and exploit the poor. I know of it, Scholar Jung has always reminded me of that and made me aware of what's really happening under my father's nose. The more pressing issue I want to end though, is s*****y.

"You will." Tila labag sa loob na sabi ng aking ama, ngunit nakita ko naman ang pagtitiwala niya. "You are a very smart and wise woman, however, as there are oftentimes you shine so bright, other people might be blinded by it. Make sure to keep it at bare minimum."

"I will try."

"Alright, I will take my leave. I have a meeting with the Grand Council." I nodded and let my father take his leave.

The Grand Council consists of different nobilities who are the figures and powerhouse of different institutions that makes up the kingdom-my father, the King, is the State and head of the council, I will soon replace him. Then we have the church which is headed by Pope Mateo Xavier III, under health is Doctor Helen Le Penelope, on military is General Marcos Maurellio, on education is Scholar Jung Ko Lee who is currently away, and on economy, is Alexandro Belmonto.