Feint (Royal Society #3) COMPLETED

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

Ravi

I immediately crouched down to the kid who fell on the ground because I was standing across the road. But before I could touch him, tumayo na ito mag-isa at pinagpagan ang sarili.

I was... awed. He was around four years old kung hindi ako nagkakamali. Pero... wow. Parang hindi nadapa ah. Kung ibang bata iyan, malamang umiyak na yan. But this one is different.

I smiled at the kid while crouching but then he bowed at me. Gulat akong napatingin sa kaniya.

"Auntie," sabi nito.

Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita hanggang may bumuhat sa kaniya kaya napaangat ako ng tingin.

"Z..."

He smiled warmly at me, opposite to my expectation. I thought... he would snarl at me or shout at me. But he did nothing close to those.

"Say hi to your nephew," sabi ni Z sa akin kaya napabalik ang tingin ko sa bata. It's... his? Kaya pala! Kaya pala pamilyar sa akin ang tindig at itsura ng bata!

What the fuck? A prince was residing outside the palace. Ibig sabihin... buntis na si Elizabeth bago pa siya mapaalis?

Muli bumalik ang guilt sa akin. My mind was too clouded kaya nagulat ako nang may humawak sa kamay ko. It was Vini.

"Kanina ka pa tinatawag ni Zachary para kumain sa loob," he said, indirectly pointing out that I was spacing out.

Nauna siya humakbang pero dahil hawak niya ako napahinto siya nang hindi ako gumalaw sa kinatatayuan ko. I nearly tugged my hand from him kung hindi niya lang hinigpitan ang hawak doon.

"Vini..." mahinang tawag ko dito. Ayaw ko pa harapin si Elizabeth. Ngayon pa na nalaman kong buntis siya noon?

Nakatingin lang sa akin si Vini, inaantay na magbago ang desisyon ko pero malabo iyon. Pero si Elizabeth na mismo ang nagdesisyon para sa amin.

I averted my gaze from Vini when I saw her coming out of her house. Naka-apron pa siya. When Vini noticed that I wasn't looking at him anymore, tumingin siya kung saan ako nakatingin.

"Long time no see, Vince Nicholo," Elizabeth greeted him with a smile.

Vini had to let go of my hand to do his gesture as a sign of greeting. He bowed down after placing both of his hands at his back.

"Your Majesty," bati ni Vini dito na ikinatawa ni Elizabeth.

"I am not reinstated yet so don't address me like that," she said bago pumunta ang tingin sa akin. "Arch kind of said na sunduin ka kasi baka daw umalis ka bigla."

Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya. Hindi ko alam pano siya pakikitunguhan ngayon. "I'll go ahead," mabilis na sabi ni Vini at iniwan kami.

"Come, may magandang scenery sa likod. I know you don't like talking in public places," she shrugged and walked ahead.

Pwede naman ako umalis at magkulong sa kotse... pero kusa nang humakbang ang paa ko para sumunod sa kaniya.

She's right. Beautiful scenery is laid in front of us. Malamig din ang simoy ng hangin at nakakagaan ng loob tignan ang halamanan sa harap namin.

"You're guilty. Knowing your character, I know you already calculated Erzel's age and found out that I had him before I was deposed."

Magsasalita na sana ako pero biglang siyang humarap sa akin ag ngumiti. "But don't be, Ate Amara. It wasn't you and even though it was Ate Carrine, I'm not mad. How could I be when you just pointed out my mistake?"