A Shadow of an Illusion

Chapter 33

Menrui’s Point of View

Nang dahil sa sinabi ni Grim, agad na napatayo si Cynth sa kaniyang kinauupuan. Ako naman ay natulos sa aking kinatatayuan dahil sa narinig ko, dahil parang hindi ko ma-process kung ano ang sinabi niya.

Did he just said that they already found the spy? But what the h*ck is happening? Aren’t I the spy they were talking about? Hindi ba ako ang taong ‘yon na sinasabi nilang nakapasok sa palasyong ito para magmatyag sa bawat galaw niya?

Is this suppose to be some kind of prank? Because if it is, I do not know if I should be happy or not. After all, I am that person. I am the spy, so why the h*ck would Grim say that he already found that person who got inside the palace unnotice?

Maraming tanong ang nasa isip ko, pero alam ko na masasagot lang iyon kung makikinig ako sa usapan no’ng dalawang kasama ko sa loob ng kwarto na ito.

With that thought in mind, I turned to try and focus my attention at the both of them who have the same expression on their faces. They looked so satisfied, and they have that same smirk on their faces that I do not like to see.

“Really?” Cynth asked Grim, and the latter just nodded at him. “How did you find that mouse who always roam around my palace spreading that virus of his?”

Mas lalong napangisi sa kaniya si Grim at sinabi nito sa kaniya, “That ‘mouse’ you are talking about, Emperor, is in fact a woman.” He corrected him that made my heart beats faster.

Nalaman na ba niya kung sino ako? Alam ko naman na hindi talaga siya na-brainwash ni Cynth at ginagawa niya ang mga bagay na ito nang walang pag-aalinlangan. Alam ko na nagpapanggap lang siya na hindi kilala sina Fawn at Hemera, kaya naman alam ko na makikilala niya agad ako. Alam ko na sa oras na makilala niya at mamukhaan niya ako, siguradong sasabihin niya agad iyon kay Cynth. After all, he was follong Cynth willingly.

But something is odd though. Bakit ngayon lang niya sasabihin kay Cynth kung sino iyon? Bakit ngayon lang niya naisipang sabihin kung ako nga ang taong sinasabi niya? Bakit parang may mali at parang kailangan kong itama ang kamalian na ‘yon?

It looks like he knew something that I don’t. And it looks like I needed to listen intently to what they are talking about so that I would know what was really happening right now.

Nakita ko ang pagtaas ng kilay ni Cynth nang dahil sa sinabi ni Grim. “Oh really?” he asked in amused tone as if this really entertained him. “A woman even dared to challenge me, huh?” Umakto siyang nag-iisip bago siya muling nagtanong. “Sino ang sinusunod niya at naisipan niyang pasukin ang palasyo ko?”

Nakita ko kung paano napatigil dahil sa sinabi ni Cynth, pero agad siyang nakabawi roon at seryosong tumingin kay Cynth. Umiling ito, at para sa akin, parang pilit lang ang pag-iling niyang iyon.

“She did not say it, even if I already threaten her with her own life,” he said.

Somehow, it felt like he was lying as he said that. Somehow, it felt like he was hiding something that he really did not want to tell Cynth. And because I wanted to know that, I looked intently at him.

Mukhang napansin niya ang tingin ko dahil lumingon siya sa gawi ko nang naka-kunot ang noo at may nagtatanong na tingin sa kaniyang mga mata.

“Is there something wrong, milady?” he asked me.

Ngayon lang ata niya napagtanto na naririto rin ako at nakikita ko ang pagtataka sa mukha niya. Iyon din ang unang tanong na sinabi niya sa akin magmula no’ng pumasok siya sa kwarto na ‘to at sinabi ang nakakagulat na balitang iyon.

Umiling lang ako sa kaniya at hindi iniiwas ang tingin sa kaniya. “It is nothing,” I said then I turned to look at Cynth.

Tahimik lang siyang nagmamasid sa aming dalawa na para bang may naiisip siya pero hindi niya gustong sabihin ngayon. Lumingon siya sa akin bago niya ulit itinuon ang atensiyon niya kay Grim.

“Finish your report.” Iyon lamang ang sinabi niya, pero mukhang natauhan na si Grim dahil agad siyang tumingin muli kay Cynth at ipinagpatuloy ang sinasabi niya kanina.

“As I have said earlier, Emperor,” he said as he cleared his throat and staightened his back. “She does not want to tell us the person who gave her n instruction to get inside the palace. Ginawa na namin ang lahat, pero nanatili pa rin na tikom ang bibig niya.”

“And you did not do anything to make her tell the truth?” Cynth asked, impatiently.

Mukhang hindi niya gusto na ipinaligoy-ligoy pa siya ni Grim at hindi na lang nito sinabi ang totoo na wala silang nakuhang kahit ano sa ‘espiya’ na sinasabi nila ay nahuli nila. At mukhang kagaya ng sinabi ko kanina, may hindi siya sinasabi kay Cynth kaya naman ayaw niyang sabihin kung sino ang taong sinasabi niyang espiya.

“Just like what I have said earlier, she does not want to tell us the truth.” I saw how Grim shrugged as if he does not care anymore. “I do not want to waste my energy for someone like her, you know.”

Nagulat ako nang biglang hinampas ni Cynth nang pagkalakas-lakas ang mesa na nasa harapn niya. Napalingon ako sa gawi niya, at muntik na akong matakot nang makita ko kung gaano siya kagalit ngayon.

“Are you trying to b*llshit me, Grim?” Cynth asked as he gritted his teeth.

“Of course not, Emperor.” Pagtanggi ni Grim sa akusa niya. “Why would I do that to you? I do not have any death wish you know,” he said, casually, and I could see that Cynth did not like it.

Narinig ko ang malakas na pagbuntong hininga ni Cynth habang sinusubukan niyang pakalmahin ang sarili, kahit na alam ko na nagagalit na siya dahil sa inaakto ni Grim ngayon. Nakikita ko rin na kaunti na lang ay mauubos na ang kaniyang pasensiya.

“What else did you find out about her?” he asked, and this time, he had this hopeful tone on his voice. “I assume that you managed to find something, right? Hindi ka naman siguro t*nga para iyon lang ang itanong mo sa kaniya, hindi ba?”

Ngumisi si Grim sa kaniya na nakapagpakaba sa akin. “Of course, Emperor,” sabi niya na parang proud siya sa sarili niya. “Sino ba ako sa tingin niyo? I learned a thing or two from you, you know.”

Mukhang kung sino man ang tinutukoy niyang espiya ay nakausap na niya ito. At mukhang mali ang hinala ko na ako ang sinasabi niyang espiya ng palasyong ito dahil una, naririto ako no’ng mga oras na nagtatanong siya, at pangalawa, nasisiguro ko na hindi ko nakita si Grim na umaaligid sa kwarto ko nitong mg nakaraang araw. Kaya naman napaka imposible na ako ang tinutukoy nito.

But one question was left on my mind: Sino ang taong tinutukoy ni Grim? At bakit parang sa tingin ko ay may itinatago siya tungkol sa taong iyon na ayaw niyang sabihin kay Cynth?

And I know that my question will be answered if I would continue to listen to them.

“Great,” Cynth said as he started to sit on the chair behind him. “Then let us hear those things that you found out about this spy.”

Nagsimula namang sabihin ni Grim ang mga nalaman niya, at sa bawat salitang binibitiwan niya, mas lalong bumibilis ang t***k ng puso ko. Mas lalo akong kinakabahan dahil mukhang alam ko na kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.

“She also said that she did this in order for this world to be free,” he finally said to Cynth and I could hear a mocking tone on his voice as he said, “I did not know that woman could be this naive about this world.”

“How have she been here inside the palace and acts as one of the maid?” Cynth asked because Grim said earlier that the spy is one of the maid that made me even more anxious.

“It seems like she was here ever since you invaded the Land Realm, Emperor.” Gim acted as if he was thinking as he said, “Come think of it, kung ganoon na nga siyang katagal na naririto, siguradong marami na siyang nalalaman tungkol sa palasyo natin.”

I saw how Cynth’s face darken because of what he said. Tumayo siya at lumapit kay Grim. “Nasaan ang spy na sinasabi mo?” he asked and I could hear anger in his voice. “I want to see this spy and tell her how dumb she is for hoping that she could still free this world from me.”

Lumubog ang puso ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Well, it looks like I was naive too for thinking that he was changing. After all, I am sure that I did not imagine that he said he will not free this world anymore. It looks like that change I saw in him these past few days was already gone, just because of this incident.

Mukhang kailangan ko pala talagang isipin pa kung ano ba ang nararapat na desisyon na gagawin ko. Because what he just said made me think twice again if what I was about to tell him is alright or not. Well, it looks like I still needed to consider my other choice.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard what Cynth had said next. “Where is she? I think I needed some more information about her.”

“She is currently inside the hall. Inutusan ko ang iba nating mga tauhan para bantayan siya,” he said then he turned to briefly look at me then he turned his attention to Cynth. “About that spy, it looks like something was going on about her.”

Napa-kunot na namana ng noo ni Cynth nang dahil sa sinabi niya. “What do you mean by that?” he asked, confused on what Grim is pointing out.

“To tell you the truth, Emperor,” he said as he sighed as if he was contemplating if he would say it or not. But knowing him, I already knew that he was just acting. “Hindi namin siya nahuli,” sabi na ikinagulat ko at mukhang ganoon din si Cynth, base na rin sa expression ng mukha niya.

“Ano ang ibig mong sabihin na hindi niyo siya nahuli?” he asked, and it looks like any time from now, we would see his outburst again. “I thought that she was already in that hall, and our knights are with her so that she could not escape? What is happening right now, Grim?”

Iyon rin ang tanong na nasa isip ko dahil parang may hindi talaga sinasabi si Grim sa taong ‘espiya’ raw ng palasyong ito. At mukhang nagpapaligoy-ligoy siya para hindi namin malaman kung ano ba talaga iyon.

“We did not catch her spying your palace, Emperor,” he said that made me frown, so is Cynth. “HIndi namin siya nahuli dahil siya na mismo ang sumuko.”

I tried as hard as I could to stop myself from gasping because of what he said.

Siya na mismo ang sumuko? Pero bakit naman niya kailangang gawin iyon? Ano ang dahilan ng taong iyon para isuko niya ang sarili niya? And why do I have this feeling that I have a clue on who that person is? Na kahit itanggi ko pa, siya pa rin nang siya ang naiisip kong natatanging makagagawa ng bagay na ito.

“She has the guts to do something like that, huh?” Cynth said, and I could see that he was thrilled because of what he just heard.

“It looks like she already knew that there was no sense if she kept on spying on you, Emperor, that is why she surrendered herself now.” Mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi ni Cynth nang marinig niya iyon kay Grim.

“Let’s meet this woman,” he said, and he already prepared to leave his office.

Ako naman ay sumunod sa kanila dahil sa kagustuhan ko na malaman kung sino ba talaga ang taong iyon na tinutukoy ni Grim. Gusto kong malaman kung tama ba ang hinala ko na ang taong nasa isip ko ay ang taong sinasabi ni Grim na sumuko at sinabing siya ang espiya sa loob ng palasyo.

Mukhang napansin ni Grim ang pagsunod ko sa kanila dahil lumingon siya sa akin nang may nagtatanong na tingin sa kaniyang mga mata.

“Oh? Is the lady also curious about this spy I am talking about?” he asked, and somehow, I do not want to hear that tone of his voice.

“Yes,” diretsahan kong sagot habang hindi ko iniaalis ang tingin ko sa kaniya. “Is there something wrong about it?” paghahamon kong tanong sa kaniya.

Ngumisi lang ito sa akin at akmang magsasalita muli, pero naunahan na siya ni Cynth. “Just let her do what she wanted. For now, I want to go and meet that spy you were talking about.”

Dahil sa sinabi ni Cynth, agad na nag-sorry si Grim at hindi na nagsalita pa pagkatapos no’n at tahimik na lamang na naglakad kasabay namin.

We turned and walked again, until we reached the hall, the same hall where we could find Cynth’s throne, at mukhang ang hall na iyon ay ang hall na tinutukoy ni Grim na pinagdalhan niya ng ‘spy’ na sumuko ngayong araw.

I took a deep breath as I prepared myself to see who it was, because after all, kahit na hindi siya ang taong makikita ko sa loob, hindi ko rin makakaya na may sumuko nang hindi naman talaga siya iyon. Hindi ko makakaya ang guilt na mararamdaman ko dahil sa may sumuko nang wala naman talaga siyang ginagawang kahit ano.

The two knight that was on the door of the hall, hurriedly opened it as soon as they saw Cynth on the way there. Mukhang nakita nila na nagmamadali ito kaya naman agad din nilang binuksan ang pinto ng hall.

I clenched my fist as I walked behind Cynth, afraid to see who that person is. Afraid that I would see someone dear to me inside that hall, saying that she was the spy, even if she is not.

“Well, well, well,” Cynth said as soon as he saw the woman in the middle of the hall. “It looks like the rat inside my palace is not just a simple one. Hindi ba’t ikaw ang inatasan kong maging maid ni Menrui.”

My heart sunk because of what Cynth had said. Iyon ang oras na nagkaroon ako ng lakas ng loob para tignan kung sino ang taong sumuko at sinabing siya ang espiya sa loob ng palasyo.

My heart beats faster than it ever was, when I saw that the woman who was kneeling on the floor was Hemera. Naka-yuko ito at hindi agad mapapansin kung sino siya, pero hindi ako pwedeng magkamali dahil kilalang-kilala ko na siya. Kahit na yumuko pa siya, alam ko na ang taong iyon ay si Hemera.

“Hindi ka ba titingin sa Emperor na inaakala mong ganoon lang kadaling matalo?” tanong ni Cynth sa kaniya.

That was the time when Hemera looked up and our eyes met for a brief second, and I know that I did not imagine the sad glint in her eyes as she looked at me. But that look was immediately gone when she turned to look at Cynth.

“You were never been my Emperor, and never will be,” galit niyang sabi, habang ang kaniyang mga mata ay sobrang talim ng tingin kay Cynth.

Mapakla namang natawa si Cynth dahil sa sinagot niya at lumapit siya kay Hemera. I, on the other hand, was just standing meters away from them as I tried as hard as I could to figure out why did Hemera surrendered herself.

“Oh right. Bakit ko nga ba naisip na Emperor ang turing mo sa akin? You were a spy, that is why I know that you see me as your enemy,” Cynth said to her that made her glare at him even more.

“Actually, I consider you as more than my enemy,” she spat at him. Sinubukan niyang tumayo, pero hindi siya hinayaan ng mga kawal ni Cynth. “You did so many horrible things in my kingdom and I think that the word enemy is never enough to describe you.”

It looks like Cynth enjoyed the expression on Hemera’s face because he continued to trigger her emotions. Umupo siya sa trono niya, at ako naman ay patuloy lang na naka-masid sa kanilang dalawa dahil hindi ko pa rin malaman kung bakit kailangang gawin ni Hemera ang bagay na ‘to.

“Then let’s hear all those horrible things that I did to your kingdom, woman,” sabi ni Cynth habang prenteng nakaupo sa kaniyang trono. “Come on, tell me.” Paghahamon niya rito.

Hemera glared at him again as she said, “I will never tell you things that I know you already knew. Why would you act dumb if you know everything that you have done in this world?”

“Iyon na nga. Ang dami kong nagawa,” sabi ni Cynth at nginisihan siya. “Kaya naman ipaalala mo sa akin ang mga bagay na ginawa ko. I am sure that you clearly remember it right?”

Hemera just kept quiet as she did not answer Cynth’s question. “I will never entertain your questions.”

Tumango-tango naman si Cynth sa kaniya. “Alright. If you do not want to, then i cannot do anything about it, right?” He then shrugged as if he does not care anymore. “Then care to tell me what makes you decide to spy on me? Who gave you a courage to do something like that, huh?”

Hemera just looked down and did not dare to answer his questions. Hindi na rin siya nagsalita pang muli pagkatapos no’n.

“You did not want to talk?” he asked, but Hemera stayed silent without even looking at him. “if you do not want to, then I will make you tell everything you know later.”

Lumingon siya kay Grim at agad itong inutusan. “Bring her in the dungeon,” he said and then he looked at Hemera again. “I will make sure that she would tell me everything.”

Agad naman siyang sinunod ni Grim at hinila papatayo si Hemera paalis ng hall na iyon para pumunta sa dungeon. Si Cynth din ay agad na umalis din pagkatapos no’n, at hindi man lang ako tinapunan ng tingin.

And I was left inside the hall as I tried to process everything. Nanghihina akong napaupo sa sahig ng hall na iyon habang patuloy pa rin ang pagtakbo ng mga tanong sa utak ko.