Ms. Villainess Prince Charming

Kabanata 7

Salubong kilay kong pinagmamasdan si Spade na nasa aking harapan. Kanina pa ito hindi makali, pabalik-balik sa paglalakad habang may binubulong na kung ano.

"Anong problema ni young master?" Tanong ni Uri na nasa aking tabi habang ipinagsasalin ako ng kape.

"I don't know either," tugon ko at muling binalingan ng tingin ang dokumentong hawak ko.

I am running a merchant guild here outside the border of Antimacassar Kingdom. At masasabi kung, maganda ang takbo ng business ko sa kadahilanang maraming lumalapit sa amin upang bumili ng impormasyon at hingin ang aming serbisyo bilang isang mangangalakal.

It's been three years since I build this guild, at sa tatlong taon na iyon ay halos impormasyon ng iisang tao lang ang mabenta sa amin—at iyon ay walang iba kundi, ang impormasyon ng bagong Countess ng Heist.

Habang tumatagal ay nakukuha na nito ang atensyon ko, siguro dahil ito ang madalas naming hinahanapan ng impormasyon. But nevertheless, I didn't read her information for my own personal reason and besides si Uri ang humahawak no'n.

Spade is in charge of collecting informations through the mouth—orally and by stealing. So he often goes to the city, town, and other villages to collect informations that he needs, via use of recorder that he's carrying around. Aside from being my nephew, he is known as the youngest intelligence here in the border.

While Gaspar, he is in charge for our guild's safety. But he usually sticks beside me because it's his duty as my employee. Kasama rin sa inaalok naming serbisyo ang serbisyo ni Gaspar bilang isang bantay o mangangalakal. Gaspar got a strong and huge body, he looks like a mountain bandits but with a good yet a little bit twisted personality.

On the other hand, we got Uri. A nobleman who wanted to experience being slave to death. He offered his service to me freely na siyang mabilis ko namang tinanggap dahil wala ng libre sa panahong 'to. He is in charge on our clients background checking and he also handles most of the information Spade gathers.

"Spade stop walking around," Suway ko rito sapagkat ako'y bahagya ng nahihilo.

Mabilis naman itong tumigil at lumuhod sa harapan ko kaya ako ay napasintido.

"What is it this time?" Tanong ko ng makita ang nangungusap na mga mata nito.

Sa totoo niyan ay hindi naman dapat talaga naririto si Spade, sapagkat siya ay bata pa. Iyon nga lang sa akin siya inihabilin ng nakakatanda kong kapatid na babae kaya wala akong ibang choice kundi ang isama siya kahit saan man ako magpunta.

My older sister will surely kill me if something wrong happened to her precious son—Spade. May inaasikaso kasi ito kaya naman ako ang na perwisyo.

"Let's go to capital uncle," Wika ni Spade habang nakanguso.

"Ano bang mayroon sa kapital at atat na atat ka young master?" Nakangiting tanong ni Gaspar habang kumakain ng mansanas.

"I heard that a hunting competition will about to happen soon this coming winter. I want to participate that's why we need to go there," Paliwanag nito.

I just heave a sigh because looks like Spade already got a plan on his mind. Kaya siguro panay ito tanong nitong mga nakaraang araw tungkol sa iba't ibang uri ng pagdiriwang sa Antimacassar Kingdom.

"Do you really want to go there?" Tanong ko at ibinaba ang hawak kong dokumento.

"Yes uncle!" Spade exclaims happily.

"Do you really want to participate on that shabby hunting competition?" Itinukod ko ang magkabilaan kong siko sa aking hita at taimtim na tinitigan ito.

I am trying to intimidate him but it doesn't work. Well, stubbornness runs in our blood but I am the only exemption.

"Yes uncle," Desididong tugon nito. "I really want to participate and besides the money reward is to huge! And a year of food supplies too,"

"Did you just say money reward?" Uri said without even blinking, and I can tell that he's already imagining himself showering on that price money.

Gaspar dropped the Apple that he is eating and said, "Food supplies?" At kulang na lang ay maghugas puso ang mga mata nito.

"Stop it you two!" Suway ko sa mga ito.

Sabay nila akong inismiran na siyang kinasintido ko. Kahit kailan talaga'y balimbing ang mga ito, lalo na pagdating sa mga bagay na ninanais nila.

"Selfish..." Rinig kong bulong ni Gaspar kaya ito'y tiningnan ko.

"What did you just say Gaspar?" May ngiti sa labing tanong ko.

I saw how Gaspar gulps hard as he avoided his gaze from me. "N-nothing my lord. Mukhang may naririnig ka na naman na hindi ko naririnig," Pagak pa itong tumawa.

"Really?" Bahagya akong tumango. "Am I hearing things Spade?" Binalingan ko ng tingin ang pamangkin ko.

Sa kaniya nakasalalay ang buhay ni Gaspar gayon din ang magiging kahihinatnan ng nais niyang mangyari. Sa isang maling salita lamang ni Spade ay maaaring mawala sa kaniya ang pagkakataon na makadalo sa hunting competition ng Antimacassar Kingdom.

Spade loves Gaspar as his older brother s***h uncle so as Uri, kaya paniguradong nahihirapan ito sa pagdedesisyon. Gaspar's life is on the line, so he must choose the right path for both of them.

"A-ahm..." Spade glances at Gaspar's direction. "Uncle Gaspar didn't—"

"I did it my lord please spare my life," Pagputol ni Gaspar sa sasabihin ni Spade, kasabay ng pagluhod sa harapan ko.

"Gaspar..." Marahang pagtawag ko sa pangalan nito.

"Y-yes my lord?" Kinakabahan at bahagya pang nanginginig na tanong nito.

Umusli ang dulo ng aking labi nang dahil sa naging reaksyon nito. Malaking tao si Gaspar pero tumitiklop naman ito pagdating sa akin at sa salita ko.

"I heard that someone's talking ill about our guild. Destroy them for me, but make sure when you come back you got two broken limbs," Inisang lagok ko ang medyo malamig ng kape na nasa tasa ko.

"Isn't it bit to harsh my lord?" Pagsingit ni Uri sa usapan.

Ito naman ang seryoso kong tiningnan at magsasalita pa lang sana ako ng bigla na lamang itong umalis sa aking harapan. Tanda na ayaw nitong madamay sa gulong papasukin ni Gaspar—but in reality, nakaabang na iyon sa labas ng guild at may nakahandang pagkain para kay Gaspar.

"Uncle isn't it too much?" Nag-aalalang wika ni Spade.

I tsk, and face them seriously. "Go with your uncle Gaspar if you're worried then,"

"U-uncle it's not—"

"I can handle it my lord please let Spade do whatever he wants. He had nothing to do with my work," Muling pagputol ni Gaspar sa sasabihin ni Spade.

Muli itong yumukod at pagkalaon ay umalis na rin samantalang si Spade ay naririto pa rin sa aking harapan, namumutla at bahagyang nanginginig.

Ako ay tumayo at nagtungo sa hindi kalakihang bintana ng aming guild. Sa aking pagsilip ay nagkakagulong tao agad ang aking nakita, gayon din ang ibang kawal nang kaharian ng Antimacassar.

I gritted my teeth because of the fact that those nobles in Antimacassar Kingdom didn't know that this darks ide existed. Halos lahat kasi ng naririto sa border ay mga pinatapon dahil may nagawang kasalanan kahit hindi naman malaki.

Those nobles are heartless. Habang sila nagpapakasasa sa pera, kayamanan at pagkain nila...ang mga taong naririto sa border ay halos magpatayan na nang dahil lamang sa isang pirasong tinapay at tubig.

"Uncle..."

"What?" I snapped.

"Are you angry?" Mahina nitong tanong kaya napabuntong hininga ako.

"I'm not. I'm just thinking about something," Tugon ko at namulsa.

Nilapitan ko si Spade na nakasalampak pa rin sa sahig at ginulo ang buhok nito.

"I'm not angry with you okay? Kahit kailan ay hindi ko magagawang magalit sa 'yo sapagkat ikaw ay aking kadugo," Muli kong ginulo ang buhok nito at inalalayan ito papatayo. "If you really want to participate in that hunting competition, papayagan kita."

Spade got frozen in his place but eventually shouts in glee and hugs me tightly.

"Thank you uncle! Thank you!" Paulit-ulit na pasasalamat nito.

Natatawang tinapik ang balikat nito at bahagyang lumayo. "But..."

"But what uncle?" Nabawasan ang saya nito.

"We're coming with you to the capital," Wika ko na siyang kinalaki ng mga mata nito.

"W-why? Anong meron uncle? You hate Antimacassar Kingdom right? You hate the capital and you hate everything that related to Antimacassar," Nagugulohang tanong ni Spade. "Why now uncle? For sure it's not about my safety,"

I turn around and faces my table. I scan every documents in front of me until I saw what I'm looking for. "I have a business there. A filthy nobleman needs my help,"

"Why you? Isn't it uncle Uri's duty?" Kunot noong tanong nito.

"He came at me personally. He also gave advance payment and gems to ensure the contract," saad ko at inabot dito ang dokumento at mapa na hawak ko. "He also offered me a land inside the Antimacassar Kingdom. That's the location, and I want you to check it for me while I am doing my part."

Napailing si Spade habang nakatingin sa mapang ibinigay ko. "It's too far from the capital uncle, I think I can't do this task."

"You can't?" Pag-ulit ko.

"Yes," Mabilis na tugon nito.

"Then no hunting competition for you this coming winter. As simple as that," I shrugged my shoulder as I opened the wine's bottle.

"Fine." Labag sa loob na sagot nito.

Umangat ang sulok ng aking labi sapagkat halata namang ayaw nitong gawin ang pinapagawa ko.

"Good," I replied as I lick my lower lips. "I'll buy you new sword after you finish your task,"

"Really?!" Spade sprung to life.

"Really," I wiggle my brows and sits on my wooden old chair again.

Spade's eyes are shinning in happiness, watching him makes me happy too. Seeing my nephew smile satisfy me, isa lang kasi ang ibig sabihin no'n—I am capable of rising kids. I won't be a burden to my future wife.

"I'll live now uncle, I'm going to check the land to confirm if it's a fraud or not." With that, Spade runs as fast as the lightning.

I rested my elbow on the top of my table as I think about the work that I need to do. And as usual, it's about the new countess again.

Halos lahat yata ng dokumentong nasa harapan ko ay tungkol sa bagong countess, na siyang ngayon ko lang mababasa. I hate things related to nobles lalo na pag babae dahil wala lang naman silang alam gawin kundi ang magpaganda nang magpaganda, upang makahanap ng mapapangasawa. Why can't they be independent? They're nobles for god's sake! They can live their life without a man.

In additional, noble girls or woman don't know how to do household chores. Umaasa lang sila sa mga katulong at utosan nilang halos magkanda kuba na kakatrabaho para sila'y pagsilbihan.

They are brats who loves spending money, buying luxurious useless things, social gatherings, bragging about their wealth and attention seekers.

I admit, I have a foul mouth and personality. Pero kahit sinong tao rito sa border ay tiyak na sasang-ayon sa sinabi ko.

"f*****g nobles," I huff as I reach for the new countess information.

Ang mga impormasyong nakasulat rito ay nakalap ni Uri at Spade mula sa social gatherings, servants, newspapers, noble ladies at ibang mamamayan sa palasyo. Ang ilan naman dito ay nanggaling mismo sa kliyente ko.

As I open the folder, my heart skips a beat when I saw two beautiful pair of golden brown eyes. Wala sa sariling muli ko iyong sinara at paulit-ulit na napakurap nang dahil sa aking nakita.

"What was that?" Tanong ko sa aking sarili at hinawakan ang aking dibdib.

Ramdam na ramdam ko ang mabilis na pagtibok ng aking puso. Hindi iyon ng dahil sa kaba, sa anong dahilan naman kaya?

"Weird," I whispered as I open the folder again.

I gasps loudly and my grip on the folder turns tightly, as I saw the countess whole face. Hindi ko alam kung pinaglalaruan lang ba ako ng mga mata ko, o sadyang napakaganda nito?

I stares at the picture thoroughly and all I could say is that, she is breathtakingly gorgeous. I can't describe her in just simple word like—beautiful, because she's more than that.

Her golden brown eyes caught me and shocked me to the core. And as I am staring at it right now, I feel like she's scanning my whole body and soul. Her eyes looks so unreal, magical and majestic but as I stare at it more, I can glimpse sadness on it.

"Why does your eyes looks so sad? Aren't you living in luxury?" Tanong ko sa litrato nito.

I'm in awe when I saw her ginger hair, it looks good in her and it compliments her eyes very well. She got pale skin—so different from mine who's tanned. Kumbaga, siya ang krema at ako naman ang kape.

Nasapo ko na lamang ang aking noo nang dahil sa naiisip ko.

"Focus Zacchaeus," kausap ko sa aking sarili at mariin pang pumikit.

Sa pagdilat ko ng aking mga mata, ako ay napalunok ng mariin. Sapagkat dumapo ang aking paningin sa mapupula nitong labi na tila ba'y kay sarap halikan.

Why do I have an urge to kiss her? What's happening to me? Nasobrahan na naman yata ako sa alak at kape, kung ano-ano na kasi ang naiisip ko. Nawawala na ako sa tamang huwisyo.

"My lord..." Saad ng boses na nagpatalon sa akin mula sa kinauupoan ko.

"f**k!" I shouted loudly as I held my throbbing chest. "Papatayin mo ba ako sa gulat Uri?!"

"I'm sorry my lord, it's not my intention." Nakangiwi nitong saad at ako'y tinulungang tumayo. "Are you okay my lord?" Tanong nito.

"I'm fine," Muli, ako ay naupo. "What do you want?" Tanong ko rito at muling binalingan ng tingin ang folder na nasa harapan ko.

"Your client is downstairs my lord. He's looking for you," Imporma nito.

Nagsalubong ang aking mga kilay nang dahil sa sinabi nito. "For what?"

"He's wondering when are you going to do the job he gave," tugon ni Uri.

"When crow turns white,"

"My lord that's not a proper answer!" Uri said, stressed.

"Handle that damn noble Uri. I don't have a time for his drama," saad ko at pinakita rito ang folder. "I'm reading this damn thick informations for him,"

I heard Uri heave a sigh and excuse himself. Uri can handle damn Viscount without a sweat because he is noble too. And besides, alam naman ni Uri na ayaw kong nagpapaistorbo.

Our guild—no, the guild that I build is well-known here in the border. Mayroon itong dalawang palapag, at nasa ikalawang palapag ang opisina at pahingahan ko. Sa unang palapag naman ang reception area kung saan naroroon si Uri, at doon na rin mismo nangyayari ang transaction.

Chaeus Guild.That's our merchant guild's name, I named it of course because I am the owner. As the owner, I am in charge of facilitating my employees works, money handling, and the overall transactions within the border to Antimacassar Kingdom of the West and to Zahir Kingdom of the North.

We mostly handled dirty works for nobles such as money laundering, assassinations, life threatening, and burglary. But if the work is heavy or it requires man power and force, I have no choice but to do it by myself.

"Damn nobles," I whispered between my heavy breathes.

Muli kong binalingan ng tingin ang folder na nasa aking harapan, and because I need to be familiar with the Countess face—kinuha ko ang litratong naroroon at inilagay iyon sa aking pitaka.

"Countess Quynh Xitlaly Heist of Heist Household, also known as the cruel countess and a villainess," Umawang ang aking labi nang dahil sa nabasa ko.

Hindi lang pala ang mukha nito ang maganda, gayon din pala ang pangalan nito. Pero ano raw? She's cruel and a villainess? Looks like a baseless rumor. How can a woman with angelic face became cruel? Siguro ay naiinggit lang sila sa kagandahan nito.

But wait, aren't all of the informations we get are ninety percent correct? Does it mean that the Countess is evil? They're not mistaken? It's not a rumor? Why can't I find myself believing in it?

I just shrug my shoulder and continued reading.

"What?!" I shouted in disbelief. "Twenty six years old?!" I shouted again.

Hindi ako makapaniwala, I know that she looks young but she's too young compared to me—compared to my age. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ang tanda-tanda ko na kahit thirty-three pa lang naman ako. We got seven years age gap and it's giving me chills.

Kinalma ko muna ang aking sarili bago ako muling magbasa. Mahirap na baka sa susunod na magulat ako sa sementeryo na ang bagsak ko, paniguradong magdidiwang sila Gaspar.

Title: Countess

Name: Quynh Xitlaly Heist

Age: 26

The new countess of Heist is known for being cruel and bad. She got a lot of enemies because she's a bully and straightforward person. She's a social butterfly and she loves attention. She got so many suitors but sad to say she's already meant for the King at the very young age—but, the engagement got cancelled because the King got a new lover.

Countess Quynh is a perfect human being and a perfect wife for the King. She knows how to sing, dance, paint, cook, play instruments, sew, horseback riding, and wielding a sword—because of her father who's a former Royal Knight.

Countess Quynh got a lot of business, including jewelry, clothing, money lending, pastries and perfumes. She also supports an organization for woman and children rights. Some says that a countess is known for her love for childrens that's why she supports more than three orphanage at the same time.

But behind her sweet smile hides a monster.

There is no proof that actually portrays the Countess evil deeds, but base on rumors—Countess Quynh is insane and psycho. In every gatherings and ball that she's in, a big trouble will surely begin.

She's been a lot of fights because of the throne and jealousy. She slaps every girl that tries to seduce his majesty, but the most cruel thing she did is that—she pushed someone off the stairs. The Countess also tried to kill someone by poisoning it and she also framed someone to death. She's also the reason why many businesses in the Kingdom got destroyed.

The King of Antimacassar Kingdom can't even handle the Countess. And most of the citizens in the Kingdom believes that, that's one of the reasons why the King broke up with her

She may be ruthless and cruel especially to those people she hates. The Countess also have a sweet, caring and bright side that she hides to all of them.

One of the old worker on the Heist manor stated that, the Countess is a big sweet and cry baby. That the Countess has never been rude towards them—the servants, though there are times that they tasted her wrath but still there's no best lady than Countess Hesit. Who loves showering them with gifts, luxury and keeps on raising their wages if they do something nice and worthy.

Lihim akong napangiti nang dahil sa huling mga salitang nabasa ko. Daig ko pa ang sumakay sa gumugulong na kahon dahil bahagya akong nahilo sa mga impormasyong nakasaad dito.

Hindi ko lubos akalain na kaya pala nitong manakit at maging mabait sa isang kisapmata. At ano raw? Dati itong naging kasintahan ng Hari? She got no taste then. Wala naman kasing silbi ang Hari ng Antimacassar, ni hindi nga nito kayang umapak sa border ng walang kasamang kawal.

She's like a devil in disguise, but why can't I find my self hating her? Imbes na magalit ay proud pa nga ako sa mga ginawa nito, dahil paniguradong mayroong dahilan kung bakit niya nagawa ang mga gano'ng bagay. And I'm intrigued, gusto kong malaman ang kaniyang dahilan.

Ilang pahina pa lang ng dokumento ang nababasa ko pero bakit tila lulong na lulong na ako? Hindi yata magandang pangitain 'to. Aren't I hate nobles?