Crown Series #1: The Dark Era of Diadem

Part 2: Chapter 70

"Your highness!" Izabel squealed at me. I secrelt closed my eyes tightly before opening them and put a fake smile on my face.

"Yes, Lady Izabel?" I asked her. She's smiling widely at me while giggling.

"I heard that you are attending a birthday party of Marquess Lopez later," sabi niya. Nangunot naman ang aking noo nang sabihin niay sa akin iyon.

How did she knows?

I smiled at her and asked her why.

"Well, my father received an nvitation too..." she stops and looked at me with her cute hazel eyes. I raised my two eyebrows as I turned my gaze on the paperwork that I have on the desk.

"So... can I be your partner?" she excitingly asked. I smiled at her before clasping my hands and put my chin on my hands.

"I'm sorry, Lady Izabel. But I am turning down your offer." Kaagad na nalungkot ang itsura niya at kalaunan ay nainis, napapadyak pa siya ng kaniyang paa.

"Why?" inis na tanong niya.

"It's not that important. Plus, I can handle myself," I said to her while smiling. Her shoulders fell down when she heard it.

"I'll tell this to my father!" she exclaimed, before heading out and slamming the door. Napailing na lang ako kinilos niya at bumalik sa aking trabaho.

Hindi ko naman kasi pwedeng palayasin na lamang ito basta, dahil isa si Izabel sa naging kababata ko noon, dahil ang aming ama ay magkalapit. Si Brandon Brandenburg ay isa mga pate ng faction kung saan nasa side siya ng royal family, kaya isa iya sa pinagkkatiwalaan ng aking ama.

Si Izabel lamang ang mababang noble lady na nakakakita ng aking mukha, mostly kasi ng nakababa sa posisyon ng duke, iilan lamang ang nakakikilala sa kaniyang mukha. Dahil hindi pa naman ito tamang panahon para magpakilala siya sa buong mundo.

Dahil si Brandon ay isang Marques, kung sina Lacy, Bella, at ang iba pa niyang mga kasamahan ay nasa mataas na posisyon sa lipunan, si Izabel ay mas mababa sa kanila, when it comes to nobility titles and ranking.

Napatigil ako sa aking ginagawa at napasandal sa upuan bago huminga nang malalim at ipinikit ang aking mga mata. It's been a while since I saw Izabel, is it 5 years? 8? I don't know. She's not here before because she migrated. Hindi ko lang alam kung saan, basta alam ko lang ay lumipat siya.

I don't really care since it's not that important and, I am too busy with my duties to care for other matters.

Someone knocked on the door. I told that they can come in without opening my eyes.

"My lord, there's something you need to know," saad nito. Napadilat naman ako at napatingin sa aking tauhan. Nangunot ang aking noo dahil sa itsura nitong nababahala.

***

I am late!

Aksidenteng naka-idlip ako kanina sa aking opisina dahil sa dami ng ginagawa at ang bumabagabag sa sinabi sa akin kanina ng aking tauhan.

How dare they? Do they think I wouldn't found out, and fool me?

My breathing is heavy as I walked towards my carriage. Ang isang royal guard ay bahagyang nag-aalinlangan nang makalapit ako. Tumaas ang aking kilay sa kaniya kahit na suot-suot ko ang maskarang sumasakop sa byuong mukha ko.

"What?" I asked. Tumingin siya sa carriage bago yumuko sa akin.

"I'm sorry, your highness..." hinging tawad nito. Kumunot ang noo ko at tinignan ang carriage. Doon ko lamang napagtanto kung ano ang kaniyang ibig sabihin.