Crown Series #1: The Dark Era of Diadem

Part 2: Chapter 62

One month had passed and, everything went back to normal. Although, something had changed with the way they deal with others.

"I told you! It's not them who you should be following with!" ogalit na saad ni Lucian habang nakatingin sa kaniyang tauhan.

Problemado siyang napahawak sa kaniyang noo at tinignan nang masama ang kaniyang tauhan na pumalpak sa inutos niya. "I'm sorry, Sir--" Napapikit naman ang lahat nang biglang sumigaw si Lucian.

"Stop saying your sorry! It already happened!" Napayuko naman ang lalaki at hindi na nagsalita pa. Nakatingin lamang si Zeus sa nangyayari dahil hindi niya maipagtatanggol ang kasamahan niya. Dahil nagkamali nga naman ito, then it's better to face its consequences than letting it be s as a failure.

At least, after this, he'll learn his lesson to do better.

Lucian looked at Zeus and, he can feel the strong aura coming from the duke. He can also feel his anger, even though Lucian is trying to suppress his feelings. Zeus came close to him, dahil alam niyang may ipag-uutos ito sa kaniya.

Ellys was there, at the back together with his brother and his other friends. The new guy got scolded by the duke. He probably feels embarrassed that everyone saw that. Ellys thought, 'Seeing them two, standing side by side. I can feel their power, authority, and manliness.'

"Tell everyone to spar with each for the next 12 hours. If someone has complained, tell them to go to me and, I'll spar with them," seryosong saad ni Lucian bago tignan ang mga nakahanay na Clemson Knight.

Napalunok naman ang iba ng marinig ang sinabi nito. Grabe talaga ito magalit, para bang bumalik ito sa dati nitong ugali.

Zeus nods his head right after the duke left. Zeus smirked at them and, he looks like mocking them. "You heard the duke," he said. Some groans and grunts but, neither of them didn't complain.

It made Zeus smile as if he's enjoying what he sees and what will they do. "Let's start after 5 minutes, change into your gear, prepare everything within those 5 minutes. After that, I should see you all here, back in time. Understood?" he strictly commanded.

All of them stood straight and answered at once, "Sir, yes, Sir!"

Lucian, on the other hand, went back to his office. Their newly renovated manor has been quiet the past few days. After everything that had happened, they managed to reconstruct and revamp everything. There are still some that are needed to repair. He prioritizes their defense and security so that what happened before would not happen again.

He massaged his nose bridge and leaned back. He took a deep breath before opening his eyes. A-frame caught his attention and, it's the picture of his daughter, Lacy. Well, it's been a month since she's been residing inside the temple. She's still receiving her treatment.

Luci has been updating him every week, but he hasn't heard from his daughter, panatag naman siya dahil kasa-kasama nito ang kaniyang pinsan, pero gusto na niyang makita ang kaniyang anak.

He misses his daughter so much. To the point that it's has been affecting his performance with his job, just like earlier. He burst out in anger, knowing that someone failed in the task that he task to do. Lucian can't help but feel angry, but he knows that he shouldn't be.

Maliit na trabaho lamang na iyon, pero grabe siya kung magalit. Sa totoo nga lang, hindi naman talaga sinasadya ng tauhan niya na magkamali, nagkataon lang na mahirap paki-usapan ang lalaking pinaki-usap niya.

The sun struck his face as he took the frame where his daughter is smiling widely. It was a year ago, they are having a party and a photographer was invited. The photographer saw Lacy and asked for her permission if he can take a picture of her, which Lacy gladly accepted and smiled widely at the camera.

But now, he's been missing his daughter so much and, he can't do anything about it. Yana has forbidden him to visit his daughter because of a reason she didn't tell. She told him that everything is under their control and Luci will report to him every week.

Ngayon ay magpapadala si Luci ng another letter na matatanggap na niya dapat ngayong oras. Balita niya kasi ay iba ang oras sa loob ng temple, mas mabagal. Kung ang 10 days doon, magiging isang buwan ang katumbas sa oras nila.

Naiinip na siya pero wala rin naman siyang magagawa kung paano mapapagaling ang kaniyang anak, dahil na rin sa stress na nangyayari, palagi siyang nanaginip ng mga bagay-bagay na weird, hindi niya alam pero para bang totoo lahat iyon, pero blurred ang mga mukha.

Ang alam niya lang ay puno siya ng galit, lungkot, sama ng loob, at pagsisisi. Sa panaginip niya, mas isang babae na may mahal na isang lalaki pero alam niya na ginagamit lamang ang babae ng lalaking iyon. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ganoon.

Then the scene will change into something tragic that makes his heartaches. The girl in his dreams was defamation of fraud and treason and, she's facing her execution by herself and, he saw himself staring at the girl with a blurred face and turning his back.

As far as he can remember, he clenched his fist and walked away, leaving the girl staring at him with desperation. His eyebrows scrunched together, his jaw tightened and, his body shakes a bit because of anger. All he knows is everything will fall and, he'll do everything to avenge that girl he saw.

Just by thinking of it makes his blood boil, kung hindi lang may kumatok sa kaniyang pinto ay patuloy niya pa ring iisipin ang kaniyang napanaginipan. Huminga siya nang malalim bago papasukin.

Si Jerome ang pumasok at may dala-dala itong maliit na silver tray, nandoon ang sulat na galing kay Luci. Inabot kaagad ni Luci ang sulat, hindi kasi ito basta-basta na sulat lamang. Hindi ito mabubuksan nang nino man kung walang permiso galing sa nagpadala, kaya inilalagay ito ni Jerome sa isang tray upang ingatan.

"Is there anything you like to eat for dinner, Sir?" he asked. Lucian looked up and shook his head. "Anything will do," he answers.

Jerome nods his head and, he was about to leave Lucian when he calls him. He looked at Lucian with a curious look on his face.

"Prepare a feast for those knights who are sparring right now." Jerome smiles and nods his head before leaving him.

Lucian sighed and opened the letter. He has to chant a spell to open the letter and do a little ritual, itinuro iyon sa kaniya ni Erich via telegram. Sa una ay medyo nahirapan siyang sundan pero kalaunan ay nagawa niya rin nang maayos.

Pagkatapos niyang gawin ang ritual, kailangan niyang mahintay ng isnag minuto upang umepektibo ito.

Maya-maya lang ay nawala na ang ilaw na nakapalibot rito at naging isang puting sobre na may pulang bilog sa gitna na siyang seal niya.

Kinuha na niya ang letter sa loob ng sobre at kaagad na binasa iyon.

From: Luci Cunningham

To: Lucian Marquez

How are you, uncle? I hope you are doing fine as Lacy. Lacy has been showing a good sign of healing and, she might be home next week. We still need to check if her condition is a hundred percent sure so that there will be complications when she goes home already.

Lacy told me to say 'Hi' to you. She hopes you are doing well and not scolding every knight (by the way, she knows that). You are screwed up, haha! I'm just kidding but, she really said that.

Anyway, once she is home, please give her some time to rest for more days. To able to adjust to her surroundings. Expect a different side of her is just all I can say. She's still sleeping now and, it's the last day of her treatment.

Lacy also asked that her news coming home should be in private and, she doesn't want any grand welcome once she came home. Thank you, uncle, and always take care of yourself.

Sincerely,

Luci