Tale of The Substitute Princess

Chapter XIV

14: UPDATE OF THE SORCERER

I stood up and walked towards the door. I opened it and took a peek outside to see if there are already roaming knights, good thing there isn't. Wala rin namang nagbabantay sa labas ng kwarto ko. It's supposed to be Aiden but he thinks that I'm outside at this moment.

Napaisip ako kung nasaan ba si Aiden ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung saan ang knight's quarters.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang makarinig ako ng boses. Magtatanong na lang siguro ako. I followed the faint sound of voices and there, I saw Prince Oliver together with—what was his name again?

Sinusubukan kong alalahanin 'yung pangalan nung lalaking 'yon nang biglang sinampal ni Prince Oliver 'yung lalaki. Napakurap ako nang ilang beses dahil sa nakita ko. Alam kong malakas 'yung pagkakasampal sa kanya dahil sa tunog at pati na rin 'yung pag-gilid ng mukha nung lalaki.

"It was a simple job but you couldn't even do it."

Nakita ko kung paano ikuyom nung lalaki 'yung kamay niya. Despite that, his face was void of any emotion even after being slapped.

"How useless." That was the last words that Prince Oliver said before walking to the opposite direction of where I am, thankfully.

Tinitigan ko 'yung lalaki na nakatulala sa sahig habang inaalala pa rin 'yung pangalan niya. I don't know if he felt my presence because he suddenly looked into my direction and our eyes met. I blinked a few times, he just stared at me as if he knew that I was watching them because he didn't seem to be surprised.

Pagkatapos ng ilang segundo na pagtititigan namin ay tumalikod na rin ako. It was not my business and he seemed like he wanted to be alone. I felt like I witnessed something I wasn't supposed to but I didn't really care. We weren't even close so why should I bother?

I continued roaming around to search for Aiden. I heard a faint sound of something like it was slashing through the air.

Sinundan ko 'yung tunog at napunta ako sa parang free space area. I didn't know what place is this in the palace. Basta may mga puno sa paligid pero may space din sa gitna. This is actually good for a place with outdoor activities.

There, I saw Aiden swinging his sword. This was my third time seeing him wield his sword. The first one was during his duel with Prince Louie and the second was in the restaurant. Pero iba ang galaw niya ngayon, he seemed... frustrated. Parang doon niya nilalabas 'yung inis niya kaya ang lakas ng tunog ng paggalaw niya ng espada.

He looked cool as he started to swing his sword like it was just light as a feather. He was so fast and swift that I barely managed to follow his actions. I noticed his outfit and it was a black long sleeve turtle neck that fit his body.

Napaubo ako. I unconsciously swallowed as if something was stuck in my throat.

Nando'n lang ako sa gilid habang pinapanood ko siyang mag-train. I wonder if he still has the time to train though. Kasi halos buong-araw ko siya kasama.

When he stabbed the sword on the ground and panted, that's when I decided to come near him.

This guy... didn't I tell him to rest at night?

Ready na sana ako sermunan siya nang namalayan ko na lang na nakatutok na sa'kin 'yung dulo ng espada niya sa leeg ko.

My breathing hitched because of the close contact with the sword. My eyes widened as I saw the sharp blade near my throat.

He turned his head to look at me with a passive face but it immediately changed into panic as he recognized that it was me. Agad niyang nabitawan ang espada kaya nalaglag 'yon sa damuhan pagkatapos ay mabilis siyang lumuhod sa harap ko.