Paper Crown

Chapter 30:

"Chaos often breeds life when order breeds habit.."
-Henry Adams

Chapter 30:

=Avery=

"Princess Alexandra." napatingin ako kay Charlotte na nakaupo sa tabi ko ng marinig ang bati niya. I looked at Alexandra before nodding my head a little.

"Oii." I greeted.

"Lady Solace! You should greet Princess Alexandra correctly!" I rolled my eyes at Charlotte before nagging her that the three of us are already friends and there's no need to be too formal with each other. Diniin ko pa ang nangyaring pagpapakalasing naming tatlo para matahimik siya kahit konti.

"Avery." napatingin ako kay Alexandra ng marinig ang pagtawag niya sakin. I raised my brow at her waiting for her to speak. "Ang sabi ni kuya, you're avoiding him?" I awkwardly laugh at her before shaking my head.

"Di ah. Kuya mo talaga parang tanga." I unconsciously said. Parehong nanlaki ang mata ko at wala sa oras na napatakip sa bibig ko. I can't believe I just said that to a Prince! Kahit hindi naman siya ang tunay na tagapagmana ay Prinsipe pa rin siya! Have I gone crazy? I awkwardly laugh before giving them a peace sign. "Let's forget I just said that, can we?"

"Lady Solace!" bahagya akong napatalon mula sa upuan ko dahil sa pagsambit ni Charlotte ng pangalan ko.

"Sorry! Hindi ko naman sinasadya, eh!" napanguso na lang ako ng wala sa oras. Matalim kong tiningnan si Alexandra bago nagsalita. "Walang iwasan na nangyayari dahil hindi naman kami close! Hmmp." when Lady Saisha went inside of the room, I fell into silence.

'I can't let the both of them be dragged into this. They don't need to know what I'm up to and it will stay like that until everything is over.'

--

"Aalis ka?" tanong ko kay Charlotte. Kinuha ko ang bag na dala ko kanina na naglalaman ng pamalit ko saka ito isinukbit sa balikat ko. I glance at Alexandra before looking back again at Charlotte. "Sasama ba si Alexandra?"

"I can't." pareho kaming napatingin sa kanya ng marinig ang sagot niya. She elegantly stood up from her seat before checking herself. Hinawakan niya ang nakaayos na buhok at plantsadong damit. She even tuck some loose strands of her hair before finally looking back at us. "I have something to do." napatango na lang ako sa naging sagot niya. She already look prepared kung saan man siya pupunta kaya wala na akong magagawa pa.

"Pero wala kang kasama."

"I am not a kid, Lady Solace." I blink multiple times because of what she said. Saglit na bumalik sa isip ko ang sinabi ni Denise. Hindi naman siguro nila bibiktimahin si Charlotte, diba? Hindi naman siya bata.

"Sige. Mag-ingat ka." I said to her. "Ikaw din." I look at Alexandra before giving her a wink. I wave my hand at the both of them before heading my way out of the room.

Time to train myself.

=Charlotte=

I gently bowed my head to Princess Alexandra before giving her a smile.

"Take care, Princess Alexandra."

"You too, Charlotte."

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad palabas ng silid-aralan habang iniisip ang nakita ko kagabi. Sino ang kausap ni Lady Solace kagabi? Why are they meeting secretly in the middle of the forest? I can't help but to worry about Lady Solace. Baka masamang tao ang kinakatagpp niya kagabi.