Bare (Royal Society #2) COMPLETED

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

Unprecedented Feeling

They said your life could change any second... I didn't believe that. Simply because I know my life is already planned the moment I was born. The path I should take is already laid in front of me and I just have to walk through it. Everything is already settled...

But I was wrong.

The seething anger in me back then as I discovered that I will be replaced as Elise's Partner is gone now. Looking back, it was just an impulsive reaction from me. My shattered ego became violent, the reason why I claimed her mine even when I know I shouldn't. 

That was just so wrong. 

And right now, as I witness the two of them... smiling at each other, their eyes were glowing with happiness, I realized what I felt for her was nothing close to this. They were just... so happy with each other. It's very evident in the way they stare at each other. 

Maybe she isn't really meant for me. But I am happy that I didn't become a hindrance to them. That would be awful... especially to Z. I am his brother yet he took her away. It's exactly would be the thing running in his mind. I'm sure of it.

But that was all in the past now. We moved on, all of us. I became busier with my training and duties outside the clan. The more I am exposed to the public, the more I felt like I'm becoming a better person.

That or I'm imagining things.

The atmosphere outside the palace excites me. It's like I am deprived of life for years and being outside is my only way of survival.

"Archi!" I was brought back to reality when I heard my name being called. During my duty, I always use another name. I don't want them to know that I am royalty because for sure, they will keep their mouth shut on what is really happening to them. 

Bureaus assigned to provinces are sometimes an ass. Mas gugustuhin pa nila na itago kung anong kailangan nila kesa sabihin sa kinauukulan. I don't get their logic. If they want to corrupt the money that the Upper Clan will provide, shouldn't they let us actually see what they need?

I smiled at the old man, holding a basket of apples. He looked tired from carrying the basket kaya naman nagkusa na akong kuhanin iyon at buhatin papunta sa lamesa kung saan binibilang ang mga nakuha nilang bunga. 

"Salamat, hijo." I nodded when I assisted him in walking. Mang Bert, as they call him here, is the oldest farmer I know. He is the one handling all the harvests and he is also regarded as their leader of some sort. 

Siya lang ang minsang nakakausap ko dahil siya ang mas nakakaalam kung paano ang pamumuhay nila dito. He gladly accepted my favor of knowing their province more by masking my intention by saying I am planning to live here. 

It's not a lie... maybe in the future. I would stay here.

"Mang Bert, ano ho iyon?" I asked and pointed a group of people crowding on someone's house. 

He looked at what I'm pointing. "Huwag kang magtuturo, masama iyon." Saway niya sa akin kaya naman ibinaba ko ang daliri ko. "Pero ayon, bahay iyan ng mga De Guzman dati."

"Dati?" I clarified.

Tumango naman siya. "Oo, kakaalis lang noong nakaraan. Kaya naman nakiusap sa aking asawa na ibenta o ipamigay ang naiwang gamit nila. Mukhang hindi na babalik dito, matagal-tagal din niyan nanirahan dito. Ke-ganda ng anak at ke-sungit naman ng kambal." Natawa si Mang Bert sa huli niyang sinabi kaya natawa din ako.