CHAPTER 8

S A K U M I ✿⁠ 

I kept on balancing the five books that were place atop of my head by my tutor. I thought being a proper lady and starting to serve the monarchy is easy it's not!! Huhu. The traitorous books are moving what the heck! Kinuha niya ang libro at mabilis siyang lumakad at hindi ito nahuhulog. Why does it look so easy! My brain keeps talking to me that I can do that! But no huhu.

When the time I step my foot inside this place, the people walked me around the manor and told me about it's history, how it was build. They also told me there are rooms that were not supposed to be disturbed, halls only for the guest and other places only used when there's a celebration. I tried to stock them inside my poor brain. Parang maleta na pinagsiksikan ko parin ang mga damit ket di na masara. Yes it's like that.

The thud of book hitting the floor woke me from spacing out. I picked it up and place it on atop of my head, chest out and calm myself, huffing air. "Walk here" she pointed her spot and she's a mile away from me, I reimagined the hallway extended on like it goes on forever and it's impossible for me to crossed while balancing this thing on top of me. No choice. This is for me and for my parents.

I can do this. I'm not loosing any opportunities.

I walked slowly and the book fell and hit my toes. It felt like my world was crumbling apart, like a glass cracked on my background. I hold my scream deep inside me. It was so painful like I'm going to punch someone on the face.

The pain!! Nanggigil ako sa sakit.

"Be still ladie, don't stress yourself, walked like a feather but has the strength of an elephant.

In serving, your duties are perilous specially for the new prince of Spring you must be strong, gallant and most of all never turn to face of danger. My lord Endemion started to trained himself when he was four years old. Stand straight like your marching proudly to the highnesses"

She's expecting me to mastered it all. What did she thinks I am? A pro?

That lord started when he was in his youth while I just started.

"Ohayo Gomaizu so how was it?" I heard a bored tone somewhere on the hall and I heard a clicking of shoes on the tiled floor. My brow raised when I saw a man with a genuine smile. Oh it's him [ Good morning]

".... My lord Endemion " she was surprised to his unexpected arrival at the hall and he bowed her heads and then she darted her eyes to me, glaring and wants me to bow and I bow with a slight of confused and he look at the book on my head.

Paiba iba siya ng mood kanina gentlemen ngayon parang mag act siya parang di kami magkakilala

His holding a bow on his left hand and few stained of dirt on his cheeks. I thought his allergic to dirt.. then how come? Nevermind His smile faded as his attention drawn to me.

"Who is this again?" He asked her and glared at me again. His pretending he didn't met me a moment ago. Or this must be his twin so he acted this way. This one is scowling my entire existence.

This must be his twin.

"Ah, she was brought her by Captain Valor'e and I've ordered by the lord, your father asked me to teach her" she said softly and he didn't even looked at the teacher, his eyes were too sharp, like a knife, scanning me from head to toe. And as our eyes met he flinched a little with a scowl.

"How's the performance"

"...err not good but she trying her best"

"B-baka " he said it with a slight raise on his upper lip and turn his back

"Kini shinaide she'll probably learn I promise" she said and turn his shoulder and look at my direction and my breath ceased,his eyes are too horrifying. [Don't worry about it]

"Baka "

Baka? Anong baka? Despite for not knowing the words slips on his mouth, I know he meant it in a bad way, might be worst in the ears, his facial expressions was the evidences. What's his deals with me and why is he looking at me like that? The teacher came to me and her smile change into a serious one. "You were lucky because he didn't scolded you"

"I'm sorry madam but was that his twin?" I asked in confusion and she flick my forehead

"That's lord Endemion!"

"Oh.. but he.. amph pero tinanong niya ulit kung sino ako"

"He has trouble in memorizing of the people around here, if he remember yours, your important"

Ah okie. So that's explained the unwelcoming aura's from him. He seems arrogant like the others tch! "What language I just witnessed?"

"Oh that's nihongo, mostly Aristocrats like him were force to learn this language and also I must trained you about the rules of this Manor. And teaches you, there will come a day that you both become partnered to protect the new prince"

"Amph.. sorry to say this, but how will I suppose to start a conversation with him if I didn't even know the words he's saying"

"Don't worry just ask him"

They said she was strict but she's like a normal person to me.

No, I'm not talking to him while his in a bad mood. He seems not a type of person that I can just hopped around and shake a hand, he would rather swatted my hands away in disgust. Well those gazed are not new to me so It won't be a bother anyway. He seems different that our first met.

Our class continued, I promised myself to stay focus because in the end this will make both of my parents will be proud of my accomplishment.

She put down her stick and folded her eyeglasses " You are dismissed, we'll Continued our lecture tomorrow, don't be late be sure to be on time because a friend of mine will teaches you how to master a sword and arrow"

Mukhang isasabak na ako sa Gera

"....Thank you ma'am" I responded and walked out of her study place and walked around the hall carrying a book. I tried to find a nice spot where no one is looking at me. I'm going to read it somewhere, the garden maybe.

I'm rushing learn more about proper etiquettes and how to deal with the people around me, everything is matter around here. One wrong moved will dragged you back to once where you started. I thought living in a luxurious life was easy not until I came here. But I enjoyed every inch of her lectured, it was captivating and encouraging me to learn more.

I'll do my best..

The warmth carried by the gentle gust of wind swirled around the room and disturbed the forest smell, causing it to leak from the linen and the rugs upon the floor. The afternoon sun leaked through the window onto the white tiles upon the floor, and reflected sunlight into the ceiling like disco balls. The comfortable glow caused the hall to relax and breath; a fresh, homely aura. The, open, bright room tended; whether that due to the hundred chandeliers, or the glimmer heated sunlight.

I wandered down the staircase, my hand placed on the tail a very light strength, the marbles under my hand leaked a chill that sent shivers up to my spine. I saw many maids doing their job seriously but when I past them they just gave me a sweet smile before turning their attention back. This manor is quite big. From a far I saw many cute houses, streets crowded with busy people.

I waddled out the door and squinting my eyes to keep the bright sun from my eyes. I made my way to the garden, looking around to take a shade, a place to rest and I saw a nearby willow tree by the pond and walked myself there. I flopped under the long, weeping vines that dripped from the taller branches and as the wind gusted I felt serenity and I finally said it that this is the perfect spot.

The daisy-litterer grass flattened as I layed over and flipped the book open. I ran my fingers to the letter. A cute creature interrupted me halfway studying. It's wing fluttering and not a few seconds later it flew away and I stood up and follow it. I've never seen one in my life and I want to see it again. Like I was under the spell of it's beauty

It landed on a flower and I crouch on my spot until I layed my chest on the cold grass and it flew on another flower, watching its astonishing wings slowly flapping. I kept quiet to not scaring the creature away, I crawled and crawled and it just flew off the bushes. I peered over and my eyes widen by surprised with a slight of confusion.

I saw a white slug hanging between his legs.

➖➖➖

I stood beside my tutor, looking at the aristocrats having there lunch. It was awkward to be in here. He barely touch his food and saw his fist clenched together and I gulped hard. It was horrible and a traumatizing. And I saw a thing between his legs, it looks like a slug but an albino. That bug did me dirty and I was an idiot who was lost in thoughts and followed the simple creature and lately lead me to spot, where I saw him undressing himself naked.

"Doushitano? " tanong ng nanay niya at bumalik siya sa realidad [What's wrong?]

"...oh, nothing I'm sorry I just lost an appetite" he said and bowed his head before he left the dining hall, scowling until he stop at my direction and my soul scream in terror. But he just walk past me and we followed him behind.

He raised his hand and the butler came to him and he nodded and called madam, leaving the two of us in the hallway. I puff my cheeks and remained a few feet away from him while both of my hands are on my back.

I want to turn away because he didn't even started a conversation. I should have followed madam. Maybe he asked them to leave him alone and I was stupid enough to not noticing it. I have a second thought of either turn away or follow him and he might scolded me. He suddenly stop and that made me stop to and he turn his shoulder and glared at me.

I quickly looked away and he yanked me effortlessly like a kitten.

"What are doing in my pond!!" He bellowed

"I'm sorry, I'm just looking for a perfect spot so I can read my book peacefully... I-if I had know I wouldn't go there" Im stammering when I heard him growled. "I swear I saw nothin..." I swatted his hand away from me.

He sighed and yanked me to a room, his room. And as he closed the door I recoils immediately somewhere far away from him and ready to attacked him if he attempt something bad.

"What wrong with you" he removed his tuxedo and tossed it on his bed. I curled to the corner to make myself small. "Come here"

"S-saan?"

"You want me to dragged you? Don't make me repeat myself" His voice was too deep an it send chills to my bone. He slowly walked towards me and that makes me trembled in fear and he scooped me up and I still make myself small.

"Please don't!!" I beg him and he smirked at me.

"I can't hold it anymore"

"I never done this before"

"Then let me be the first to taste it"

"B-but!!! Let go of me!" I tried to wiggle away from his grasp and he didn't let go of me.

"I'm not letting you go after what you did"

"N-no please!!"

"Dalhan moko ng pagkain"

"..... Huh?"

MOMENT LATER.. I brought him his favorite food. Ang reason dun kase inutos ng ama niya na huwag siya ipagluto ng paborito niyang pagkain dahil natalo siya sa sa sparring nila kanina. I went to the kitchen and asked the chef and he rushed to make it.

I sat on the beautiful chair beside the window. I facepalm. Akala ko may gagawin siya masama sakin yun pala nagugutom lang siya. He raised his cup and I paddled over and pour him a wine. "About earlier why did you reacted that way?"

I sneered and turn my face on ever direction "Nothing" I said sheepishly and move a little bit away and he asked for another wine. After he finished his food he removed his clothes and I rushed away through the door and he stood up and open the wardrobe to find something to wear. I sighed and knocked my head. Ano ba tong iniisip ko. He just tossed me his clothes and I smell his perfume and a few mixture of sweat.

"Sparring with me" he said and tossed the scabbard and I luckily catch it.

"Sir Renos if you mind" he hand over his clothes to someone and he dragged me to their garden. There are many dummy puppets around, about ten in standing. He unsheathed the wooden sword and I just copied him and it's stuck. He already aligned his sword while I'm pulling mine.

Hanggang sa mahila ko na ito palabas at bigla niya akong inatake at napukpok ko siya ng kahoy sa mukha dahil nabigla ako sa kanya.

Natameme lang ako habang nakatingin sa pula niyang pisnge, bakas kung saan ko siya napukpok.

"Sorry"

Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto tinuruan niya lang ako kung ano ang tamang paghawak ng espada at paano ang galaw at postura ko upang hindi ako papalpak. "strike!" He commanded and hit the puppet and I only create a slight damage to it. Inulit ulit kolang Anong ginagawa ko hanggang masira ko na ang puppet. And I cheered for my accomplishment.

"One done, nine to go" he said

"This time in a crisscross" he show me a basic tutorial and slash the three puppet in half without damaging his dummy swords.

"Just that, don't rushed just focused to your target, trust your instict and let the sword finished the job" he whispered and patted my shoulders while I gulped and look at the puppet.

I concentrated and gave all my strength to my knees and hand to make a bigger impact and I strike it but my sword slipped and landed somewhere until I heard a cat and rushed out of the bushes. I look at him while slouching my shoulder and he bit his lower lips, trying to hold his anger and grab me back to manor with one hand.