Crown Series #1: The Dark Era of Diadem

Part 2: Chapter 73

Pagkadating nina Valerie kung saan sila pinatawag ng maha l na prinsipe, dahil nga raw may sasabihin itong importante, pero pagdating naman nila roon ay nakatayo lamang ito sa gitna habang nakatulala.

Nakasampay ang coat nito sa balikat nito. Kaagad silang nagtaka at naunang nilapitan ito ni Bella. "Sire...?" tawag niya at hinawakan sa balikat.

Bahagyang napatalong ito sa gulat at wala sa sariling napatingin kay Bella.

"Oh..." he blurted out. He roamed his eyes as if he's looking for someone. "Your highness?" tanong ni Gabriel. Dahil naguguluhan sila sa ikinikilos nito.

"Uhm... you told us that we will meet someone we know here..." Gabriel said. They all looked around and found no one but themselves only.

"Did I?" tanong nito. Nagtaka naman silang lahat dahil iyon ang sabi ng knight sa kanila, pero hindi rin nila natanong kung sino dahil busy pa ito sa nangyayari sa paligid.

"Wait... I am sure that I am with someone. But that person disappeared," sabi nito.

"So... do we know that person, Sire?" Tumango ito sa kanila ngunit napakamot sa kaniyang batok kalaunan.

"I am sure that we know her, but suddenly she disappeared. The thing is... I don't know who she is and what she looked like. But I definitely know her... I just can't bring myself to remember her," explain nito.

"Then she probably ran away because she's scared?" patanong na saad ni Xabi.

Naglakad naman si Cain sa inupuan ni Lacy kanina at may kinuha. Nakatalikod ito sa kanila kaya naman hindi nila nakita kung ano ang dinampot nito.

Cain picked up the maskara she wore and smiled while touching it. "I think I know who it was," he mumbled enough for them to hear it.

"Who?"

"You knew?"

"Really?"

Sari-sring reaksyon ang kaniyang natanggap pero ngiti lamang ang binigay ni Cain nang humarap siya sa kanila.

"I think... it's Lady Rose you are talking about, your highness," he said, and showed the mask. Kaagad naman nilang nakilala ang maskarang hawak-hawak nito. Dahil lahat sila ay nakita ang babaeng kasa-kasama ni Cain.

Valerie and Bella spoke at the same time.

"The one you escorted with?"

"The girl in the bathroom?"

Kaagad naman silang nagsamaan ng tingin sa isa't isa.

"Yes, that's my girl," Cain said, then his eyes averted to Pickett who's face darkens. Unconsciously, this made Pickett gritted his teeth and clenched his fist secretly as he felt furious. Before they saw his reaction, he turned around and held his coat on his shoulder.

"Cain, Valerie, and Golden," he called. Nagsilingunan naman ang tatlo sa kaniya. Bahagya niyang tinilt ang kaniyang ulo at tinignan sila habang nakatalikod pa rin.

"Meet me at my office. I believed we have something to discuss." May bahid ng pagkaseryoso ang boses nito bago lumakad paalis. "Those who didn't I called. you're all dismissed."

"Yes, your highness," sagot nila.

Nagtinginan naman sina Valerie sa isa't isa at alam nilang nabuko na sila. Nakuha nila ang guillitione file na nasa isang tagong opisina, matapos mawala ni Pickett at ni Lacy. Hindi na nakita pa ni Cain si Lacy dahil sa blackout na nangyari. Though, ginamit na nila ang opportunity na iyon upang isagawa ang plano, hindi man sila ang nakapagligtas sa mga nakakulong sa dungeon.