The Empress (TAGLISH)

Chapter 6

Ivantie is walking around patrolling the place since the princess asked him to leave her with Prince William and Princess Donna for a while. Isang linggo na rin ang nakalipas magmula ng umalis ang Prinsipe Eugene patungo sa Esterholt.

He looked at the cloudy sky as he remembered he heard what the maids are talking earlier.

"The princess is beautiful isn't she?"

"Yes, I think she's the prettiest of them, sometimes I can't help but to stare at her but I always have this strange feeling that the more I look at her something bad will happen. Maybe the rumoured curse was true. They said that if you look at her eyes you will drawn into a series of unfortunate events that'll lead to death." Said the other maid.

"There's a story about an incident that occurred in the palace a long time ago."

"Huh? What is it?"

"There was a noble man who happened to saw her eyes. He started to act strange after that as if he became obsessed to her. One day he met the princess again and she complimented his beauty mark under his lips. The next day the princess received a gift from him and the princess screamed in fear after seeing what's inside. It turns out that it was the peeled skin of him where the beauty mark resides."

"W-what? That's scary."

"Mmm. What's worse is he took his life in front of the princess. They said that before he died he claimed that taking his life in front of her is the most wonderful offering to her." The maid said and continued. "The princess was unconscious for days after that and the young Prince Eugene ordered the magician to remove her memories from that incident."

That story actually happened right before they joined the war. Nasaksihan niya mismo ang pangyayaring iyon and that's when the people started to call her monster and cursed. The King ordered to never spoke of that incident but mouths are hard to stop from telling it.

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad ng makarinig siya ng mahinang tunog papalapit sa kinaroroonan niya. Ivantie has an incredible sense of hearing and this helps him a lot.

"My Lord! My Lord!" A maid came running towards him. Ivantie recognize her, she's the Princess's aide. "Th-the Princess collapsed i-in the garden." She said between her breathe.

Ivantie didn't waste any time and he run in a full speed towards the garden. He saw the Illyria being held by Princess Donna on the ground. Agad niyang binuhat si Illyria at agad na tinungo ang kuwarto ng prinsesa. Sumunod naman sa kanya si Donna na bakas sa mukha ang pag-aalala.

He carefully put Illyria on her large bed while Donna sat beside her and held her hand. It didn't take long for Nulara and the butler to arrive with the Royal Magician to examine the Princess.

"May I asked what happened before the Princess collapsed?" Tanong nito at agad namang sumagot si Donna.

"We're just having some tea while talking in the garden. We enjoyed the sweets that brother William brought earlier. But not so long after brother left Illyria started to massage her temple. I asked her if she's okay and she told me that she started to feel dizzy and her head hurts." Princess Donna said. "I immediately ask her maide to look for you and decided to bring her inside that's when she collapsed."

The magician nodded after Donna spoke. Elrico stretched his arm above the princess and suddenly a yellow light glowed from his hands and spread throughout Illyria.

"I see no problem. But it appears that her reason of collapsing is due from stress and lack of proper sleep." Elrico said. "I advise to let her rest for the time being and give her light food after she wakes up."

A sense of relief plastered on their faces after hearing Elrico's words. He made some instructions to the butler and her aide.

"Then i'm going to head back to the palace. I shall visit her as soon as she get well." Princess Donna spoke.

"I will escort you back Your Highness." Wika niya dito.

"Thank you." Sagot nito sa ngumiti.

He opened the door for her and before he left the room Elrico suddenly called out to him.

"My Lord, may I have a word with you?" Magalang na wika nito.

He looked at Princess Donna and he's about to tell Elrico to wait for him after he escort her back to the palace ngunit agad na nag salita si Donna.

"It's fine." Nakangiting ika nito. "Have someone to escort me back."

"I apologized Your Highness. I shall appoint one of our knights to escort you." Hinging paumanhin niya saka siya bumaling kay Sora na siyang nagsisilbing head butler upang samahan ang prinsesa.

"What do you want to discuss Sir Elrico?" He asked after the princess and the servant left.

"May I asked you to please deliver this to the fourth prince milord?." Elrico said with a manner of urgency at saka nito ibinigay ang kulay brown na envelope sakanya. "It contains about the matter of Princess Illyria."

"Is there something wrong about Her Highness?" Tanong niya rito saka niya kinuha ang envelope mula sa kamay nito.

Elrico sighed saka ito tumingin sa walang malay na si Illyria.

"I'll assume that you had a knowledge about the incident 5 years ago, Milord?"

"Yes." Maikling sagot niya.

"I was tasked by the fourth prince to erased her memories from that day but erasing memories is impossible."

"Are you saying that magic isn't capable of that task?"

"Yes. But it is possible to block it or to remove her memories and transfer it into some sort of container." Elrico paused before speaking again. "Blocking memories is quite effective but the side effect of it is constantly having headaches and collapsing whenever that person was accidentally encountered or think something related to his blocked memories."

"...On the contrary removing one's memories and storing it to a container has no side effects like that and it is impossible to retrieve it back unless the container is broken. That's why the Prince choose to remove her memories. The problem is having the memory back after losing it for a very long time will take a lot of toll to the person's mental state."

"Then Her Highness experiencing this sudden headache and collapsing means that the container has a crack." Wika niya at tumango naman si Elrico bilang pagsang-ayon sa tinuran niya.

"That is correct. The container's magic that serves as a seal to her memories must've weaken. But what is strange is why it was weakened all of sudden. In my calculations the magic will last for another 5 years."

"...I examined it last year so how come something like this happened? This is bad. I need to see the container as soon as possible." He muttered with a restless expression.

"I'll send the letter to His Highness immediately." Ivantie said.

"Thank you Milord. I shall take my leave now." Elrico said and Ivantie nodded.

"I wonder what secret lurks deep within you." He thought as he took a last glance of her before leaving the room.

***

The sound of swords clashing against each other resounds through out the training ground early in the morning and Ivantie is walking around overseeing the knights training as part of his duty as their Commander.

It's been four days magmula ng mawalan ng malay ang prinsesa at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ito nagigising.

After he left her chamber yesterday, Ivantie ordered a messenger to deliver the message to the fourth prince. The message should be arriving anytime soon if the messenger didn't rest throughout the night. The horse is one of the fastest breed here it the Prince's state and it was covered with recovery magic allowing the horse to run continuously without eating and resting.

After the morning training he decided to make a round around the mansion since he won't be able to escort the princess. He felt somewhat strange for not seeing princess Illyria's back. He must've gotten use to follow her around after being appointed as her personal guard.

He also noticed that the fourth princess Donna frequently visits his master and she seems happy about it. Madalas rin niyang napapansin ang pasimpleng pagsulyap sa kanya ni Prinsesa Donna na siyang ipinagtataka niya.

He once asked if there's something wrong but Donna immediately shook her head while looking flustered.

"I might be young to understand those things but I believe my sister likes you." That's what Princess Illyria told him while taking a walk after Donna left the state.

"You must've been mistaken Your Highness." He answered and Illyria smiled.

"Ivantie Crassius, are you perhaps not aware that you are as popular as my brothers among the noble ladies?"

To be honest Ivantie didn't care about what people talk behind his back kaya wala siyang alam sa tinuran nito.

Illyria looks surprised with his silence and suddenly he heard her laugh. Somehow he thinks that the Princess had a knack of teasing people dahil madalas ay siya ang napagbabalingan nito.

"No way! Are you serious? I may not attend a lot of gatherings but when I go out, I hear a lot." Ika nito. "I happen to remember one of the ladies. She was from House Dulcan."

"...She once asked me if I see you quite often given that you serve under my brother. I can't forget how her face looks like when I answered her yes." Illyria said and continued.

"...I remember her saying, 'Princess how lucky you are to be surrounded by such beautiful faces. If I was in your shoes I'll definitely not miss their knight training every morning. Imagine seeing Sir Ivantie swinging his sword allowing his muscles to flex and the look of him drenched with sweat under the sun.' I had a hard time stopping my laughter after seeing her almost drooling just by imagining it."

"...I wonder how will she reacts when she see you in person. I should invite her here sometime." She said and grinned teasingly. "Right Ivantie?"

He felt embarrassed after hearing her story. Is that how the ladies see him? Pakiramdam niya ay nag-init ang kanyang tainga dahil dito.

"What about Her Highness, what does she think of me?"

Napatigil ito sa paglalakad at bigla itong humarap sa kanya. She looked at him as if she was thinking what to say.

"Hm? Ivantie is handsome and a good man but you can't beat my brother Flaviu." She answered as if she was bragging her brother.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit may halong pagkadismaya ang kanyang pakiramdam ng marinig niya ang sagot nito.

"But Ivantie, do you have someone on your mind?" Tanong nito saka sila nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

"There is none Your Highness. I haven't given any thought about that since I believe that it's unnecessary." He answered and she sighed.

"You and brother think alike. You're end up being alone if you think that way. But don't worry I believe that ladies will flock on your side when you give them a call." She grinned and made a thumbs up.

"Pfft~"

"Why are you laughing?" Tanong ni Illyria sa kanya but he immediately shook his head. Hindi niya mapigila ang hindi tumawa. She looks silly grinning proudly like she was sure of what she's saying while making a thumbs up.

Cute. That's what he thought.

"What about Her Highness? Does she have someone in her mind?"

"Ha! Of course I do." Mabilis na sagot nito which made him curious. "Blueberry Cheesecake!" Ika nito saka sumuntok sa hangin.

"Pfft. Ahahaha."

"Why are you laughing!?"

"Nothing Your Highness. Forgive me." He said and she scowled in annoyance before marching away from him.

Hindi napansin ni Ivantie na dinala siya ng kanyang paa sa harapan ng kuwarto ng prinsesa dahil sa pagbabalik tanaw niya. He dismissed the guards who are stationed in front of her door and replaced them himself.

"Princess, please wake up."

***

Mahigit dalawang linggo na ang nakakalipas magmula ng mangyari ang aksidenti sa archeological site na pinuntahan nila Gin. Their project was temporarily halt right after Ioan was admitted into the hospital.

Gin is visiting Ioan today along with Mario, Alvin and Pauline. Serena can't come to them because of her fever. Nahuling sunakay si Gin sa kotseng rinentahan nila. When they all set to go Mario started the car and drive. After a few minutes Gin's phone rings from his pocket.

Agad naman niyang kinuha iyon mula sa kanyang bulsa upang tignan kung sino ang tumatawag. He answered the call as fast as lightning when he saw who's the caller.

"Baby, I miss you. How are you?" He said on the phone.

"I'm fine kuya and I miss you too. Anyway, where are you? Are you busy?"

"No, I'm not busy and I'm currently in Nhakjan." Sagot niya.

"Then can you please pick me up here in the airport?"

"What you're here in Lauren!?" Gulat na wika niya.

"Mmm."

"Alright. Wait for me." Sagot niya.

"Yes! Thanks kuya." Her sister said over the phone before ending the call.

"Who's that? Your girlfriend?" Tanong ni Pauline.

"What? No!" Kunot-noong sagot niya. "Alam niyong wala akong girlfriend, ka-fling nga wala ako eh."

"Alam mo bro. Kung hindi lang siguro girlfriend ni Ioan si Serena, siguradong mapagkakamalan kong kayo ni Ioan ang may relasyon." Sabat naman ni Alvin dahilan upang magtawanan sila.

"Honestly Ioan cheated on me with Serena. I don't know why, e mas maganda naman ako kaysa sa kanya." Sagot niya upang sakyan ang biro ni Alvin.

"...Anyway can you guys drop me near the airport? You can go ahead, susunod na lang ako sa hospital mamaya."

"Yeah sure. May kikitain ka ba don?" Tanong ni Mario.

"Yeah. My sister, you'll see her later." Nakangiting ika niya.

AGAD na sinalubong ni Gin ang kanyang kapatid ng makita ito. He hugged her and kiss her forehead.

"How's your flight?" Malumanay na tanong niya.

"It's okay kuya and thank you for fetching me." Nakangiting sagot ng kapatid niya.

"Of course. Anything for my baby sis." He said and pat her head. "So where are we heading now?"

"To the hotel. I already booked a room there. Anyway kuya, are you sure na walang kang lakad ngayon?"

"I'm actually on my way to the hospital when you called."

"Hospital? Why are you sick?" Tanong ng kanyang kapatid na may bahid ng pag-aalala.

"Nah. Kailan ba ako nagkasakit?" Ika niya sabay flex ng kanyang braso dahilan upang sumimangot ang dalaga. "I'm planning to visit Ioan. He's been in coma for two weeks."

"Why? What happened? Ioan is that your best friend?"

"Yep. A rubble fell and hit his head. I was so nervous, I thought he's going to die. Thankfully the doctor manage so save him but he fell into coma after the operation." Pagpapaliwanag niya. Gin was really terrified that time. He thought they'll lose Ioan, he didn't know how he managed to remain collected after seeing him lose his consciousness. Iyak din ng iyak si Serena at halos hindi ito kumain dahil sa sobrang pag-aalala.

"Then we should visit him kuya. I'll just drop my luggage in the hotel then we can go there."

"Alright." He said.

Papasok na sila sa loob hospital ng makasalubong nila sila Mario. They're about to leave and wait for them at the parking lot ng magkita ang mga ito.

"They're my colleagues. That's Mario, Alvin and Pauline." Ani Gin at napansin niya ang bahagyang pagkatulala ng dalawang binata.

"Hi, I'm Ylleryne. Nice to meet you guys." Her sister said and extended her arm to make a handshake.

"Hey, nice to meet ya too." Ani Pauline saka kinamayan ang dalaga.

Tila naman natauhan ang dalawang binata ng tumikhim siya. The two of them extend their arms for a handshake but Gin slapped them. He won't allow their filthy hands to touch her sister.

Magrereklamo sana ang mga ito but he glared at them dahilan upang itikom ng dalawa ang kanilang mga bunganga.

Pauline sighed and his sister laughed while watching them.

"So how is he?" Tanong niya and Mario sighed.

"Still no sign of him waking up." Pauline answered.

"I really wish that he'll wake up soon. I feel sorry for Serena." Dugtong ni Alvin.

"Well gonna see him for a bit." Gin said and they nodded.

"Well wait for you at the parking."

"Thanks." Sagot ni Gin kay Alvin saka iginiya ang kanyang kapatid patungo sa kinaroroonan ni Ioan.

Bumungad sa kanila ang binata na nakahiga sa hospital bed at mga tubes na nakakabit dito.

"Hey bud. How are you? It's me Gin." Ika niya. "I'm here to visit you with my sister. She arrived from Millbeack today and came with me to see you."

"...please wake up soon bud. Serena's waiting for you." Naramdaman ni Gin ang pag vibrate ng kanyang mobile phone sa kanyang bulsa. He put his phone in silent mode bago sila pumasok na ospital kanina.

Kinuha niya iyon at nakita niya ang pangalan ng kanilang ama na nagflash sa screen niya. His father is calling and he was sure that it is related to her sister. He didn't had a chance to ask her why she suddenly appeared here in Lauren. Gin sighed and excused himself before going out from Ioan's room to answer the call leaving her sister inside.

YLLERYNE sat on the chair beside Ioan. She look at him while listening to the beeping sound of the monitor

"The City of Lauren celebrates a flower festival every year and it's going to be a month from now. I've been Lauren for a couple of times and I've witnessed the festival too. The scenery was incredible and the people looks happy as they give flowers to the tourists. It's like a paradise full of vibrant colors." Wika niya rito saka sumandal sa upuan.

"...But this time I came to Lauren not because of the flower festival but to visit a place."

"...Have you heard the place Moonbourne? Probably not. Well, it's a place near the outskirts of Lauren. There's a small hill there and on top of it you can find an old infrastructure that looks like a shrine. The villagers put flowers as an offering and on winter they put lanterns around it."

"...Are you not curious why they do that? When I heard about that story. I decided to visit Lauren again to find out." She said and made a light laugh. "You should visit that place when you wake up."

Ylleryne heard the door opened and her brother entered the room sighing. She had a hunch that either their father or their older brother was the one who called.

"Ellie, it's time to go." Ika nito saka lumapit sa kanya.

"Buddy, we're going now. I'll come and visit you again." Her brother gently said and hold his friend's hand.

"Let's go sis." He said and she nodded.

"Goodbye Ioan." She uttered before walking out the room and little did they know that Ioan's finger moved as the closed the door behind them.