The Nobles

Chapter 4

AT SCHOOL, Adelaide is silent as usual. She's just focused on the discussion, eating quietly at breaks and waiting for Guillaume or Claudius at the end of the class.

It's already breaktime and she's eating the food that Guillaume made. It is an Italian cuisine according to him.

Busy chewing, a human girl stand in front of the table she's occupying. She's wearing the same uniform as her, she has a fair complexion and her hair is short, like snow white, she remembered the Disney princess Guillaume made her watch.

"Pwede bang umupo rito?" The girl asked.

She just nodded, and continue to eat.

Ramdam niya ng titig nito sa kaniya kaya tumingin din siya pabalik. Her eyes questioning.

"Sorry!" Tumawa ito, "Ang ganda mo kasi, alam mo bang usap usapan ka lagi? Para kang hindi totoo!"

She don't know what to say so for the second time, she just nod her head again. Slightly drifting out of reality.

"You know what? Iisipin ko talagang isa kang Noble kaso tahimik lang sila at hindi nakikihalubilo sa mga tulad namin."

This time, she eyed the girl seriously. She didn't deny nor confirm her speculation.

Ngumuso ito nang sa pangatlong pagkakataon, hindi ulit siya nagsalita.

"Ang daya! Kanina pa ako daldal ng daldal dito tapos hindi ka pa rin nagsasalita."

After carefully chewing the food on her mouth, she sighed.

"Aren't you going to eat?" It was all she said but the snow white-like human girl expressed her exaggeration.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! You talked to me!"

Just like that Hera, the girl she's talking to, continuously bothered her at school.

Hera. She said she is named Hera, too far from the Disney princess Snow White.

Finally, silence, at Claudius' mansion.

"Master!"

Or so she thought.

Guillaume went to her carrying plastic bags. Kasama nito si Devian na tahimik at mukhang inaantok. The four year old boy is still crying at night, missing his parents. Claudius carefully told him the truth, and the child was still in shock, and was far from moving on.

"Come here, Devian." For the past few days, she became so close to this human.

He went beside her on the sofa, placing his head on her lap. She comb his hair lightly to make him sleep.

"Master, when will you do that to me again?" Pouting, Guillaume asked her.

The Four Guards used to be so spoiled to her. Watching them to sleep and cooking food for them occasionally. They will always consult her about their every action.

"Master, I bought foods made by humans! Look, it's called marshmallows!" The ever gullible Guillaume show the marshmallows to her.

Binuksan nito ang pagkain at agarang ipinatikim sa kaniya. Nginuya niya itong mabuti bago tumango rito, tanda na nagustuhan niya ito. Her treasured Noble smiled widely as if it's an honor. Like always.

Maya maya ay dumating na rin si Claudius na inasikaso ang adoption paper ni Devian.

Nakatingin ito sa kanila, Devian on her lap, and Guillaume sitting on the floor, eating human made foods.

"My lady, did Guillaume made you eat those unhealthy foods?"

Agad na sumimangot si Guillaume sa narinig ibabato sana ang isang chocolate na kakabukas niya pa lang ngunit pinigilan niya ito. Kinuha niya sa kamay ng isa sa kaniyang Four Guards ang tsokolate, she ate it, trying to test its delicacy.

"My Master..."

Pang-asar na bumaling si Guillaume kay Claudius dahil ginawa niyang pagtikim sa pagkain.

"She loves me more." He even stick out his tongue to tease him.

Napailing siya. She knows where this is going. As expected, naglaban ang dalawa. There are flying just near the high ceiling, Claudius is using a little bit of his power, while Guillaume use his heat to fight against him.

Naramdaman niya ang pagtaas ang temperatura dahil sa dalawang ito kaya unti unti siyang nagsalita.

"You two..." She mumbled, "Stop."

They immediately stop, following her command. Nagkamot ng batok si Claudius at ang isa ay panguso nguso sa gilid. Hindi makatingin sa kaniya ang dalawa.

Ilang beses siyang napailing, buti na lang hindi agad nasundan ang mga ganoon kaliit na away sa pagitan ng dalawa. Paano pa kaya kung makumpleto ang apat, they will be the cause of her head ache again. Ngayong malayo sila sa presensya ng King, wala siyang katulong sa pananaway.

The other days came smoothly except that Claudius became more busy and stressed out. Hinihintay niya lang itong magsalita at kumonsulta sa kaniya.

Guillaume became closer to Devian, kahit magkalayo silang dalawa ng ugali. Ang bata ay madalang nang umiyak. She realized that he was a silent child, nagkakaroon lamang ng boses kapag magsusumbong at umiiyak. Madalas silang mag-away ni Guillaume na parang bata rin, madaldal nga lang ito kumpara sa taong tulad ni Devian.

"Lady..." He stretch his arms to let her know he wants to be carried. She immediately carried him on her lap.

"Mister Aume cheated on our game, you said it is bad. He is bad, Lady." Nagsusumbong na naman sa kaniya ang bata, kaaway na naman si Guillaume na unti unting lumalapit na sa kanila.

"Master! I was just playing around! He's always accusing me! You bad tiny human!"

She close her eyes, sighing, before looking at him again. Agad agad humaba ang nguso nito, umupo sa sahig at niyapos ng braso ang mga binti, ipinatong pa nito ang baba sa tuhod. He's acting like a child again, hindi niya halos malaman kung sinong mas bata ang pag-iisip sa kanila bi Devian.

Napalingon siya sa batang karga niya nang unti unti itong humikbi habang nakatingin kay Guillaume.

"Bad Aume... You're bad!"

Nanlaki ang mata ni Guillaume, nakalimutan ang pagmumukmok at lumapit sa batang umiiyak.

He snatch him from her all of the sudden, hugging the crying child in his arms.

"Hindi na, bati na kayo ni Aume. Hindi na magch-cheat si Aume."

Iniwan niya ang dalawa sa sala. She went to her favorite place in the mansion, the Gazebo.

Nagsalin siya ng wine sa wine glass na naroroon. Saglit lang, naramdaman niya na ang presensya ng kaniyang kanang kamay. He sat on the chair in front of her. Sighing while getting himself a drink.

"These past few days, there were cases of missing humans in this village, I think half bloods are behind it. What should I do, my lady? They consulted the police first before me, the owner of the village."

So this is what he's stressing over these past few days. Gulping his wine, he look directly at her.

"Claudius, I assumed you already did an investigation over this matter, am I right?"

He nod his head. "Yes."

"What did you discover?"

"Most of the victims are girls, teenagers to be exact. So humans, I mean the police concluded it was human trafficking. But I am sure this is a work of half bloods. I checked the CCTV footages around the area, there was no trace, how can a human do that? It's impossible that they went missing outside the village because they were seen the last time entering this village. Those fools became police, what the f*ck."

They went silent after that. She's thinking carefully of their next plan so she decided to inform Guillaume first before surveying the whole village.

Matagal na nang lumipad siyang muli kasama ang dalawa. Karga ni Guillaume si Devian na nasa braso niya.

She wanted to let it free but it will surely attract the attention of humans even in the middle of the night.

They surveyed the whole village together, until they saw a fighting human couple, probably in their early 40's, in front of their car.

Agad siyang bumaba sa lupa at sumunod naman ang mga kasama.

"You should have payed a close attention to her! You know I was working!" The man shouted.

Crying and full of anger, she saw how the woman slap the man, "You sound like you're accusing me of not taking care of our child! Listen, David, if you only let her do what she enjoys, she wouldn't sneak out at night, we should have give her some slack! You are just keeping our daughter in the dark!"

Agad sumingit si Guillaume sa dalawang nag-aaway. She wanted to glare at him badly because of that.

"Yow. Is there a problem?" He asked as if he didn't witness the fight.

Napatingin sa kanila ang dalawa. The woman wipe the tears on her cheeks immediately.

"Y-yes. Did you perhaps saw my daughter a few nights ago? This is her, she went missing last Friday night." They showed them the picture of a teenager girl.

GUILLAUME looked carefully at the picture of the missing girl. Sa kaniya kasi ito itinapat dahil siya ang pinakamalapit.

"I am the owner of this village. Can I ask you a few questions?"

Nagulat ang dalawa nang magpakilala si Claudius, ngayon lang natauhan na kasama pala nila ang may-ari ng village.

"We know! We know, please help us, Sir."

Dinala nila ang dalawa sa mansion. Seated in the couch comfortably, he sip his tea. Kausap ngayon ni Claudius ang mga bisita, habang abala siya sa tulog na si Devian.

Damn, when did he became a nanny?

Nilingon niya ang pinakamagandang Noble na nakilala niya sa tabi niya. His Master Adelaide Francesca L. Victoria. Elegante pa rin ito, tulad nang dati.

"Before she went missing, she and her father fought. She wanted to go to a party but her Dad told her she can't, that's why on that friday night, she sneaked out. After that, she went missing. When we go to the place of her friends, they told us she never went to the party, and when the police checked the footages, she didn't went out of the village."

Halos maiiyak ang ginang habang nagk-kwento. Lahat naman sila ay natahimik lang. Hindi alam kung paano papagaanin ang loob ng taong bisita.

"We promise, we're going to look for her. I am doing a separate investigation to this." It was Claudius.

Pagkatapos nito, nagpaalam na ang mag-asawa. Anak ng pucha. Nangangalay na siya, ang bigat pala ng batang hawak niya. Chubby kasi.

"Master..." Ready na siya ulit daldalin ang kaniyang Master.

Tinapunan siya ng masamang tingin ng kanang kamay nito. Agad siyang napasimangot. Ang daya, kapag siya ang dumadaldal kay Lady Adelaide, pwede. Sa susunod talaga tutunawin niya ang mga collections nitong sasakyan. Napatawa siya sa naiisip.

"I'm going to fight you to death if you do something to my cars, Guillaume Alexander." Agad na sabi nito nang matunugan ang hindi magandang tono sa bigla niyang pagtawa.

Ngumisi siya, "Sige ba! Puro mababang half bloods ang nakakalaban ko, ang tagal na simula nang magamit ko si Guill." He said pertaining to his very own weapon.

"If you're going to fight, include me."

Napaubo siya bigla maging si Claudius Aeneas. Nanlalaki ang mata niyang tiningnan ang kaniyang Master, sinamaan niya rin ng tingin ang kanang kamay nito na namumutla na.

"Damn you, Lawyart! Bakit ka kasi nagbibiro? Anong laban laban? We're at peace! Peace is important."

Tumango tango ito biglang pagsang-ayon, "Yes, peace is our virtue. We don't fight. Of course, we value our lives."

Agad silang tumayo at lumayo sa babae. Kinakabahan siyang naglakad patungo sa taas. Nakasabay niya pa si Claudius na namumutla pa rin. Gusto niya sanang matawa kaso parehas lang sila ng kalagayan.

"This is your fault." Galit nitong usal.

Kung hindi niya hawak si Devian, mapapasapo na siya sa dibdib niya.

"Kasalanan ko pa? Ikaw ang nanguna! Inaano ka? Inaano ka?"

Lawyart was about to say something in return when they felt the atmosphere became heavier.

Nagmadali agad silang dalawang naglakad. Minumura ng paulit ulit ang isa't isa. Nilagay niya ang paa niya sa hinahakbangan ni Claudius, muntik na itong madapa sa hagdanan. Halos maubusan siya ng hangin kakatawa habang lumilipad ng mabilis pataas.

Inilagay niya si Devian sa kwarto, pagkalabas na pagkalabas niya nakatanggap siya ng suntok kay Claudius, agad niya itong nasangga. Nakipagpalitan siya ng ilang suntok hanggang ginamit nila pareho ang binti at paa habang lumilipad.

He release a little high temperature of heat when his fist was about to land on his face. Lawyart shield himself with a flame of light. Sa init ng paligid dahil sa kapangyarihan nila, pumutok ang isang chandelier.

Nanlaki ang mata nila at agad bumaba mula sa pagkakalipad, biglang umayos ng tindig.

Nilingon nila si Lady Adelaide na marahang naglalakad patungo sa kanilang dalawa.

"I think, you haven't change at all, still playing around, hmm?"

Nanindig ang balahibo niya. s**t, kasalanan 'to ni Lawyart!

Pekeng tumawa ang katabi niya, gawaing kilalang kilala niya, "O-Of course I changed for the better, My lady. It was Alexander's fault."

Teka, apelyido niya 'yon 'di ba? Betrayed, he eyed the f*****g Lawyart with wide eyes.

"Bloody hell, it's my fault now?" Ngayon siya napagbigyan ng pagkakataong masapo ang kaniyang dibdib, umaarteng siya ang biktima rito.

"You should include me to your fun next time." Ngumiti ang kaniyang Master. Lumakas ang hangin at parang kaharap niya na si kamatayan, kung mayroon man noon sa kanilang mga Nobles.

"Bahala ka, Lawyart! Labas ako diyan!" Agad siyang tumakbo ng mabilis paalis at nagkulang sa kwarto niya.

Phew.