The Nobles

Chapter 35

ADELAIDE felt the presence of Theodred throughout the hall. Agad silang nagkatinginan ni Claudius na mukhang alam kung ano ang nangyayari. But she's wondering what made him feel such strong emotions.

"I'm going to look for him, my lady, please wait here," said Claudius.

She immediately nod her head as a response. Nang umalis ito sa tabi niya, agad siyang nagtungo sa isang gilid upang umupo.

She sat at an elegant red sofa in the corner. Hawak hawak niya ang wine glass habang iniikot ikot ito gamit ang kamay.

Naramdaman niya ang ilang pares ng mata na nakatingin sa banda niya, inikot niya ang mata sa paligid at nakita si Gabriel na nakangiti sa banda niya, nasa taas lamang ng mukha nito ang maskara kaya't kita niya ang ngiti nito, alam niya agad na ang ginoo ang nakangiti at nakatingin sa direksyon niya dahil sa presensya nito na kilalang kilala niya.

Nang makitang nakatingin siya, agad lumapit sa kaniya ang isa sa mga malalapit na Noble sa kaniya. Gabriel bow down as a sign of honoring her authority.

"It's good to see you here, Lady Adelaide Victoria." nakangiti nitong tugon.

Tumango siya at nanibago sa pagbanggit ng kaniyang apelyido.

"It's good to see you too, Gabriel," she stand up after that.

"Too bad my daughter and granchild aren't here, they'll be happy to meet you," ngumisi ito.

"Where are they? I'm looking forward to meet them."

Hindi niya pa kasi nakikita ang mga ito, baka, sa panahon na wala siya nagkaroon ng anak si Gabriel, ngunit kilala niya ang asawa nito.

"They are sleeping, you'll meet each other soon, I wish."

Ngumiti ito sa kaniya, at maya maya ay nagpaalam na rin. Isang beses niyang sinuyod ng tingin ang paligid dahil ramdam niyang may nakatingin habang nag-uusap sila ni Gabriel.

Hindi niya malaman kung sino ito dahil halo halo ang mga presensya sa paligid at hindi siya sigurado kung sino ang mga nakatingin.

Ipinagsawalang bahala niya na lamang ito at naglakad papunta sa parte kung saan may pagkain.

She took out her phone in her purse to take picture of some dishes. She sent it to Devian who is sending a lot of messages to her.

Hanggang ngayon namamangha pa rin siya sa teknolohiyang gawa ng mga tao, nagawa nitong sakupin ang buhay ng nakararami.

And it's fun using it.

Natanggal ang tingin niya sa kaniyang phone nang may bumangga sa balikat niya. Her body was about to out balance when someone from behind held her waist. The presence of this person is new and she didn't know who this is.

Agad siyang umayos ng tayo ngunit hindi pa rin tinatanggal ng lalaki ang hawak sa kaniya. She look at him without any expressions. At tulad niya, nakatingin lamang ito sa kaniya tila may winawari.

"I can't feel anything from you, is it that pill again?" he asked.

Pill? He must be talking about the pill that Duncan created, but the market only has the imperfect pill, it must be it.

She nodded, lying.

"Are you a Noble? Nah, perhaps a half blood, I've never seen such eyes in Nobilis."

"A Noble."

Kumibot ang labi nito, kahit na may maskara, ang mga itim na itim na mata ay kitang kita niya dahil sa repleksyon ng chandelier dito.

"Oh, you must be some of those who doesn't live here in Nobilis then."

"Yes."

Halos hindi niya na napansin ang magkadikit nilang katawan at ang hawak nito sa kaniyang bewang.

"I'm Augustus Igor, nice to meet you."

"Adelaide." she mentioned her name.

Inalok nito ang isang kamay, habang ang isa ay hawak siya. Tinanggap niya ang pakikipagkamay nito bilang pagpapakilala.

She was about to pull her hand from his grasp when he grip it a little tighter.

"I'm really sorry, but can you dance with me? I really need to escape someone— I mean, yeah."

Her eyebrow slightly turn up. Napansin naman ito ng Noble na kasama habang isinasayaw siya.

"Really, Miss Adelaide. It's not my hobby to lie, but I'm escaping someone because—"

"Because you haven't reported to me anything about your mission, but that's not what important now, Igor."

She was shock and her head immediately turn to the direction of the King's voice. Nakatingin ito sa braso at kamay ni Augustus na nakahawak sa kaniya.

Alam na alam niya ang ganitong ekspresyon mula sa Hari, at hindi niya gustong nakikita ito mula sa mukha nito dahil nag-iiba ang ugali nito sa mga ganitong ganap.

"Your Highness..."

The King smirked, "You must be enjoying."

Naguguluhan itong tumingin sa kaniya, at maya maya ibinalik ang tingin sa Hari at sumagot kahit hindi sigurado.

"Yes, I'm... I'm enjoying, this party is for you so I thought I can have fun."

Lord Marquise Alaric Cassius sarcastic smile showed up.

"Have fun? Hmm, and with her?"

Naguguluhan muling tumango si Augustus. He look like a lost yet elegant puppy in front of her eyes.

She chuckle a bit because his expressions amused him. Ngunit nang may maramdamang hindi maganda sa paligid, itinuwid niya ang ekspresyon at tuminging muli sa Hari.

"When are you going to let go of the lady, Igor?"

Kunot ang noo, binitawan siya ni Augustus, "Uh, yeah."

Nang tuluyan siyang nakalayo rito, umatras siya ng kaunti sa dalawa. Kita niya ang pagsulyap sa kaniya ng King ngunit idiniretso agad ang tingin sa lalaking Noble na nasa harapan nito.

"You must be really enjoying a lot."

"I am, your Highness. But please forgive me about the mission, I don't have enough time to finish the papers."

"I don't seem to care about that now."

"Then, I shall thank your Highness for the consideration."

She saw how the King's eyebrow moved.

"Why are you dancing with her?"

"To escape you, please forgive me, your majesty. But to be honest I find the lady very ethereal and alluring, I'm sure she's very beautiful behind the mask."

Napapikit siya ng mariin nang marinig ang huling sinabi ni Augustus. She suddenly felt the urge to live the place instead of staying with a grumpy King later.

"She's really beautiful, and what will you do?"

Bahagyang natawa ang Noble na kakakilala lamang niya. Sa tono nitong mukhang may natunugan sa boses ng Hari. Mula sa kinatatayuan niya kita niya ang ningning ng itim na mata nito. He look really amused while the King looked pissed.

"Your Highness, I will marry the lady, I think I will need your word to honor the both of us." ngumisi ito matapos sabihin iyon.

While she closed her eyes tightly. She felt the overwhelming power and presence around the King. Naalerto rin si Augustus na agad napalingon sa kaniya.

Agad siyang humakbang papalapit nang akmang kukwelyuhan ng Hari ang lalaki.

She touch his arm to calm him down. Many are eyeing their side because of the sudden release of power.

"My King, please calm down."

Nilingon siya nito. His silver eyes are raging while his lips is on thin line.

"Did you hear what he just said?"

Bumuntong hininga siya, "Do you think I will marry him, your Highness?"

"He's not ruthless and he isn't as bad as me!"

Lumambot ang ekspresyon niya sa takot at ibang naghahalong emosyon na sumalamin sa mga mata nito.

"But do you really think I will marry him?" inulit niya ang tanong.

Huminga ito ng malalim at tiningnan siyang mabuti sa mata. Hinila nito ang telang tumatakip sa kalahati ng mukha at tiningnan siyang mabuti.

"Of course not, I won't allow it, hate me but I'd rather die, I know it's f*****g selfish but—"

"I won't marry anyone." putol niya rito.

Nag-iwas ito ng tingin sa kaniya at kita niya ang biglaang pagpula ng tenga. Nagpeke ito ng ubo bago nagsalitang muli.

"Don't stare at us," sambit nito kaya't ang mga naramdaman niyang titig sa direksyon nila ay hindi niya na naramdaman.

For sure, no one will dare to look their way again.

"Your Highness, I apologize for pissing you off. It's my first time seeing you like this, the lady must be special."

Tiningnan siya ni Augustus, nagtagal ito ng saglit bago lumapit sa kaniya at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. Rinig na rinig niya ang mura ng hari sa kaniyang gilid.

"Too bad, I am willing to take you away from anyone but not from the King," bulong nito sa kaniya bago tuluyang umalis at nakihalo sa marami.

Nilingon niya ang katabing halos magdikit ang dalawang kilay.

"I heard that."

"He said he won't take me away because it's you."

"It just means that Noble Leader likes you."

Tumaas ang isa niyang kilay ng bahagya.

"Why are you reacting this way? Many liked me back then but you are composed."

"Really? I was composed?"

She was taken aback. Or not, pag sila na lamang ng magkasama, saka ito nag-iiba at...

Ngunit ngayon, sumabog talaga ito.

"My king, there are a lot of eyes here."

Tumango ito, "I know. But he is Augustus Igor, he's almost perfect, and he is rank one on the Noble Leaders."

"And you are the King."

Naramdaman niya ang braso at kamay nitong pumulupot sa kaniyang bewang.

"I know, but isn't he the greatest enemy when it comes to you?"

"I just met him, what made you think of that?"

Isinubsob nito ang mukha sa balikat niya. Naramdaman niya ang maliliit na halik doon.

"My King," she warned.

"I'm so jealous."

She knew... She really knew...

"He held you like this," his embrace around her waist tighten a bit.

"And your bodies are crushing each other this this," pinagdikit nito ang kanilang katawan.

"I hate it."

Hinaplos niya ang buhok nito. Alam niyang may iilan nang nakatingin sa kanila at nababahala rin siya sapagkat wala nang nakatakip sa mukha niya. Some women in the area are openly glaring at her.

Ngunit ipinagsawalang bahala niya ang lahat ng ito, at inalo ang Noble na yakap niya.

"I'm sorry," she whispered on his ear.

"I hate being jealous, and I hate feeling this kind of fear."

She mumbled her sorrys once again. Naramdaman niya ulit ang maliliit na mga halik nito sa balikat niya.

"But I hug Claudius and the others like this too." she reasoned out.

"They are different, and I trust them."

Me too.

"Fine, I'll avoid him as much as possible."

Humigpit ang yapos nito, at inangat ang ulo upang tingnan siya mata sa mata.

"Don't, I'm not possessive," he reverted his eyes.

Gustong niyang magpakawala ng maliit na tawa ngunit pinanatili niya ang tuwid na ekspresyon sa mukha.

"Fine. I won't avoid him." she teased.

Agad nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay nito. His adams apple moved three times, his eyes went to hers again.

"Hmm?" she look at him innocently.

He licked his lower lips before answering, "I think it's better to talk about this in my palace, what do you think?"

Her eyes widened a bit.

"Of course not."

"Let's go. We're just going to talk."

Umiling siya ng ilang beses.

"No, my King. I think it's better to avoid him. And this party is for you, might as well enjoy it."

Ngumisi ito. Obviously satisfied.

"Fine, then, let's enjoy this party together then?"

"I have to look for Claudius and Theodred, and you need to talk to the guests, they are looking forward to it."

Pasaway itong umiling iling na ikinakunot ng noo niya.

"I'm still jealous, you need to stay by my side."

"I don't think there's a connection, your majesty," she tried her to make it sound good.

"Yes there is."

"You have to talk to a lot of people."

"I don't need to do that. What about we talk here? There's a balcony near."

She sighed and have no other choice but to nod, and she also wanted to have some fresh air after being exposed to many people like this.

Ilang saglit silang naglakad bago makarating sa balkonahe. Hinawi niya ang dalawang malaking kurtina at saka naglakad at isinandal ang sarili sa railings.

Agad lumapit sa kaniya ang Hari, hinawakan ang kaniyang mukha kasabay ng pagsunggab ng halik.

Her eyes widened at his aggressiveness, but it is nothing new. She felt how he suck her lower lip, and the King loves to do that. Ipinikit niya ang kaniyang mata at dinama na lamang ang emosyon nito dahil sa selos.