Paper Crown

Chapter 29:

"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."
-Thomas Jefferson

Chapter 29:

=Avery=

"Harder!" I flinched with Master Hayes shout. I am blindfolded while holding a wooden sword. Agad akong napaharap sa likuran ko ng maramdaman ang hangin. "Use your remaining senses!"

"Ugh!" napaluhod na lang ako sa lupa ng maramdaman ko ang malakas na hampas sa likuran ng tuhod ko. Agad akong napatayo at hinampas ng malakas ang sa tingin ko ay kinalalagyan ni Master Hayes. I can hear the clashing of the sword to his flesh and that sound rode my passion to win. I stood up and started to imagine him. The way he jumped, avoids and even attack me.

Napayuko ako ng maramdaman ang pag-atake niya sakin mula sa ibabaw. I tried kicking his knee but I hit nothing.

"Tsk."

"Mind over matter." sinangga ko ang atake niya sanhi para saglit na magmanhid ang kamay ko dahil sa lakas nito. Nilipat ko ang hawak na espada sa kaliwang kamay ko saka inatake si Master Hayes. "Interesting."

I smirk proudly at him.

"I practically learned how to use my left hand, Master." I slashed, pierced and keep on moving my body while continnously attacking him. I was about to give my final blow when I tripped over a small stone and fell flat straight on my face.

"A-aray." when I felt a rough thing on my neck ay buong inis kong inalis ang blindfold saka tumayo. Pabalang kong binagsak sa lupa ang hawak na espada saka inis na ginulo ang basang-basa kong buhok.

"You seems annoyed and frustrated this past few days, Lady Solace." I didn't answered Master Hayes and continue to drank my water. Nang nangalahati na ito saka ako sumagot sa kanya.

"Your technique."

"What about it?" I started to walk towards the nearest bench and started to wipe my sweat off using my towel.

"It's the same technique I practiced at Laraline." I bowed my head at him then walked myself out of the room.

"What a––"

"It was the late Emperor Maxir, Lady Solace."

"Kainis." diretso akong naglakad papunta sa dormroom ko habang paulit-ulit na naririnig ang boses ni Charlotte. My hands was balled into a fist while walking. Bago pa ako makarating sa girl's building ay may bigla na lang humawak sa braso ko. I was too lazy to fight and just let that stranger to drag me anywhere he wanted to. Huminto kami sa likurang bahagi ng main building. No one was there except for us.

"Greetings, Your Highness. The Crown Prince o––"

"Why are you avoiding me?" I boredly look at Prince Alaric before bowing my head a little.

"I am not avoiding you, Your Highness. How dare a low person like me, ignore the Future Emperor of the Empire? I would not dare to do such thing." I said slowly habang unti-unting humihigpit ang kapit ko sa magkabilang kong damit.

"You're avoiding me! Just tell me why, Lady Solace. Did I do something wrong?" from bowing my head, I stared straight at him.

'Wrong? It was a mistake to like you Prince Alaric. Noon una pa lang ay alam ko nang kalaban ka namin pero nagpumilit pa rin ako. I was even relieved to hear that you're not the real son of the person I despised the most. But.. that thought actually tortured me every night remembering how Averianna's father was brutally killed. How dare me to dream of liking you when I couldn't even fulfill what I promise to Averianna.'

I bowed my head at him before answering.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Your Highness. Please refrain yourself from coming near me again." I was surprise when he held both of my arms tightly. Tiniis ko ang sakit at pilit na tiningnan ito ng diretso sa mata.

"Tell me why, Lady Solace."

"It wasn't supposed to happen at the first place, Your Highness." nagpumiglas akong makaalis sa hawak niya saka taas noong umalis sa harap niya. Dire-diretso akong naglakad at nang makarating sa dormroom namin ay hindi ko na inabala pang kausapin si Charlotte. I went straight to my bed while hugging my pillow to comfort myself from the pain that slowly crept up inside of me.

I wasn't supposed to be here. Dapat nasa earth ako at namomroblema ng bayad sa patong-patong kong utang at hindi ganito na namomroblema sa lovelife ko. I didn't belong here.... but why am I even here in the first place?

Memories of the past started to flashed back at me. From the first time I saw him, to his white hair, red eyes and even the way he got angry at me earlier. It all came back at me. But why? Bakit ko pa ba yun iniisip? Nakapagdesisiyon na ako! Kailangan kong bawiin ang korona at trono na dapat kay Averianna. Kailangan kong pagbayarin ang pumatay sa ama niya sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha at pagprotekta sa bagay na nais niyang ipamana sa anak niya. Pero bakit ako? Bakit ako pa ang nandito? Hindi..... Hindi dapat ako ang nandito. I didn't even know this world! I didn't even know people like them exists.

--

"My Lady." I smile weakly at Denise before sitting on the usual rock I used to sit to. "Are you okay? You shouldn't have go out! You need to rest, My Lady."

"Report now, Denise." seconds after when she didn't respond to me ay napatingin na lang ako sa kanya. "Report. If not, I might go insane. Please."

"My Lady..." I gave her a nod as a sign to start.

"Last week, mysterious missing cases of children have started to broke out in the entire Empire, My Lady. The first kid was a boy in the age of seven who lives at the kingdom of Larabold. Then to five kids went missing on the Kingdom of Misenda. Three kids at Hamia Kingdom and six kids in Ruhan." napakunot na lang ang noo ko dahil sa narinig.

"Even in Ruhan?"

"Yes, My lady."

"How about the palace? Anong solusyon ang ginawa nila?"

"That's where the problem starts, My Lady." I blink multiple times because of what she said. "The Empire hadn't done anything to resolve the issue." mas lalong lumalim ang kunot sa noo ko dahil sa narinig.

Bakit nila pinapabayaan ang ganitong isyu? Dapat nilang iresolba ito! Tsk. This fucking Emperire and Emperor is starting to get on my nerves. Una, ang mga tribo na tahimik na naninirahan ngayon naman ay mga bata?

"Have you started to search for the missing kids?"

"Yes, My Lady." she even bowed her head in front of me na hindi ko na lamang pinansin pa. "Members of our group voluntarily looked for the missing kids, My Lady." nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil sa sinabi niya. At least someone is still looking for the kids. 

I looked at the lake infront of me while formulating my plan.

"You'll go to the Northern Tribe, right?"

"Yes, My Lady."

"We need to staged something. Kailangan kong umalis sa paaralan na to para magawa ko ang bagay na kailangan kong gawin. Will you help me?"

"Anything for you, My Lady." I didn't mind her bowing at me and started to tell her about my plan.

I hope this will work out well.

--
archangel_dina