Princess Knight

🗡️10🗡️

Cassandra Elise Alteria

Nakapag-palit na ako ng damit ko ngayon at handa na akong harapin ang taong lumapit sa akin. Wala si Louis dahil pinilit ko siyang makipag-socialize para makilala ang pangalan niya. I know that we need to hide his identity as a prince pero we need to make sure of something too

"Sorry to keep you waiting." sabi ko kay Viscount Wilkins "Lets stop the formalities, Elise." nagulat ako sa pagbanggit niya ng pangalan ko pero tinanguan ko nalang siya "Someone attacked one of my men the other day."

May nilabas siyang papel at may logo ito ng slave auction na pinuntahan ko noong nakaraang linggo. "May naglagay niyan sa balat niya. Hindi ko alam kung ano iyan but I know for sure that you do."

I took the paper and burned it. "This is not safe and it is very dangerous. Bakit dinala mo yan dito? You should have went to the estate." galit kong sabi.

"I tried! But someone stopped me and threatened us. So I took this opportunity to talk to you." seryosong sabi niya. "Sinabi mo na ba ito kay Lolo?" I asked pero umiling ito. "If I told him that. Do you think sino ang kawawa?" napairap nalang ako sa sinabi niya

Sino pa nga ba? Ako rin lang! Iaasa niya sa other me! "I'll pass this to my brother as soon as I get home." assurance ko sakanya. "Thank you." he said.

"And Elise?" tinignan ko naman siya "Please be careful." sabi niya sa akin bago ako iniwan. Tumayo naman ako at lumapit sa bintana.

The moon is shining brightly. I haven't seen this for a long time when I'm alone. Pakiramdam ko napaka-useless ko every time I'm being me. "Aren't you cold?" naramdaman ko agad ang init ng yakap niya sa likod ko

Umiling nalang ako "Hindi na because you're there." I said while smiling. He hugged me tightly because of that. "How's the party?" I asked. He lets go of me and turned me to face him. "The party's boring without you." natawa nalang ako sa sinabi niya

We sat at a nearby sofa. Rosa brought tea for us to drink. "Bukas ng maaga ay kailangan na nating umalis. I needed to relay a message for my brother." tinanguan naman niya ako.

We talked a few things about the ball and about Sir Leon, him being his retainer since he was knighted in the academy. After that we slept for the whole night and morning came

We bid our good bye to the Duke. Louis rode his horse throughout the journey as I am with Rosa inside the carriage. "Rosa," tawag ko dito. Mabilis naman niya akong nilingon.

"Yes, my lady." tinignan ko muna siya ng matagal and I think she's the right choice for this job. "I need you to stay for a month sa Wilkins' Estate. I need you to investigate this case." sabay abot ko sakanya ng tissue with the logo in it

Kinuha naman niya ito at tinignan ng mabuti bago ito binasa at tinapon. I gave her a bag of coins and a letter. "We'll drop you at the next town." nag-bow naman ito sa akin.

"If you see that its too risky and dangerous, stop. I don't want to risk your safety." tumango ito muli. "If you see something unusual send a letter. They are already moving."

Nang marating namin ang sumunod na bayan ay hinatid muna ni Jake si Rosa sa isang sakayan papunta sa estate ng mga Wilkins. Hindi naman nagtanong si Louis sa akin which is good dahil hindi ko rin alam kung anong isasagot ko sakanya.

Nagpatuloy naman na kami sa byahe pauwi. Taimtim naman ito at walang nangyari tulad ng dati. Nag-isip lang ako ng mga susunod na hakbang at hindi ko na rin napansin na gabi na rin ng makasapit kami ng mansion.

"Lady Elise," bati sa akin ni Roel. Tinanguan ko lang siya. Sinamahan naman ako ni Louis papuntang silid ko at tinignan ang balcony ko. Hindi ko naman na ito pinansin at nagpalit ng damit ko.

Pagbalik ko ng kwarto ay nakita kong may hawak na papel si Louis kaya lumapit ako sakanya at tumabi sa upuan. He gave me the note and he stood up.

'I'll see you in two weeks -NP'

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. Pang-ilan ng sulat ito? Same sender. I looked at Louis and he is looking at me saying that I should explain. I sighed. Hinila ko naman siya paupo sa tabi ko

Sinabi ko naman sakanya ang tungkol sa ibang sulat at hindi naman siya umimik. "I'm sorry for not telling you. Akala ko kasi hindi na ito importante," I said. He just looked at me and sighed. "It's fine. I know the man sending those letters to you. He's harmless,"

Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag ng sabihin niya 'yon. I thought he's going to me mad about it. Hindi ko pa nga in-expect ang reaksyon niya. "Kung kilala mo ito? Who he is then?" hindi na rin ako nag-assume ng gender since sinabi niya kanina ang 'he'.

"He is Nikos Daniel of Pyros. The crown prince of the neighboring country and he is a good friend of mine." nagulat ako masyado sa rebelasyon. That man is a prince! Hindi ako naging ma-ingat sa mga galaw ko!

Tumayo ako at humarap sa salamin. Napaka-tanga mo naman Elise! You let your guard down! "Hey, are you okay?" nag-aalalang tanong niya. I just smiled at him. "Yeah, okay lang ako. Hindi ko naman inakala na isang prinsipe pala ang taong 'yon,"

"Huwag mo ng isipin 'yon. Magpahinga ka na muna, okay?" tinanguan ko nalang siya at hinalikan niya ang noo ko bago ito umalis ng silid ko. Sinubukan kong matulog pero binabagabag ako ng mga pangyayari ngayon. Kailangan ko munang pabalikin ang dalawa dito.

I wrote a letter and called my trusted bird. "Give this to Light." I said pagkatapos kong itali ang sulat sa paa niya saka ito pinalipad. Since I can't sleep, I changed my clothes into an outdoor attire and took my sword.

Pumunta ako ng training grounds and I'm getting rusty since matagal na rin akong hindi masyadong nakakapag-training at madalas ay kasama ko si Louis. I don't blame him because of me slacking I blame myself for not having time what I usually do.

I trained for an hour non-stop at hindi ko pa rin ramdam ang pagod. "You need a sparring partner." mabilis naman akong napalingon at makitang andoon ang prinsipe at nakasandal pa sa may fence.

Lumakad ito papunta sa akin saka ako nilagpasan. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon. Napailing nalang ako at humarap sakanya. Masyado ka kasing nasanay sa kanya Elise! "Focus, Elise." I bit my lower lip then nodded. I made the first move

Mabilis niya itong nailagan at bumawi agad. Mabuti nalang nailagan ko ito. Nagtagal ang sparring naming dalawa na puro punit na ang damit namin ngunit hindi naging sagabal iyon para sa amin. We continued until the sun rises.

"Truce!" he shouted. I nodded then he dropped himself on the ground and I did it too. "Can't believe that you got that kind of stamina in you." he said then chuckled. Napangiti naman ako dahil sa sinabi niya and I took that as a compliment.

Tumayo naman na si Louis and he offered his hand to me. I took it and he pulled me. Nagkatitigan naman kami and I can see myself in his eyes. His face is moving towards me and I know where this is going. I closed my eyes and I can already feel his breath.

"Elise!"

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