The King's Little Maid

ROYAL AFFAIR 09

The Duke

"Oh my! Sobrang ganda pala talaga kapag nasuot na!" Bulalas ni Eris habang pinapasadahan ng tingin ang kabuuan ko.

"Your body curves is amazing too! Ang sexy mo sa suot mo, Liyana!" She added.

Yeah, the gown is indeed elegant and beautiful. Lantad na lantad ang mga balikat ko dahil off-shoulder typed ang gown. Plus, the long slit sa harapan. My right legs is visble.

"Try the heels too!"

Kinuha ni Eris ang pares ng sapatos. "Let me wear it for you,"

Hinawakan ko ang mahabang laylayan ng gown para umangat at para ma-isuot ni Eris sakin ang sandals.

"The sandals fits you well! Paano nalaman ni Princess Serena ang size ng paa mo? Sinabi mo ba?" Tanong ni Eri. Agad naman akong umiling.

Ang gown ay sakto sa 'kin pati na rin ang sapatos. Paano nalaman ni Princess Serena ang sizes ko?

"You're so beautiful, Liyana!"

Napangiti ako sa sinabi ni Eris. Ngayong araw ay puring-puri niya ako.

Maya-maya ay may narinig kaming kumatok. Eris immediately opened the door and heard her gasped.

"Your Royal Highness!" She exclaimed. Nilakihan niya ang bukas ng pinto at agad na sumalubong sakin ang nakangiting mukha ni Princess Serena.

Mas lalo pang lumapad ang ngiti niya nang pasadahan niya ng tingin ang kabuuan ko.

"Oh my! I really picked the right gown for you, Ate Liyana! You're so extremely beautiful wearing the gown and sandals!" She happily said.

"Pwede ba akong pumasok?" She carefully asked us. Mabilis naman kaming tumango ni Eris.

"Yes you can, Your Highness," Saad ni Eris. Princess Serena smiled at her and say thank you before entering our room. She's wearing a color champagne silk bathrobe.

Sa tingin ko ay naghahanda palang si Serena.

"I'm here to fetch you, Ate Liya. Let's go to my room dahil doon kita paaayusan." The Royal Highness said. Hinarap niya si Eris na may ngiti sa labi.

"And you too, Ate Eris. Let's go to my room, I have something for you as well," She said.

Eris eyes went wide because of what the Royal Princess had said. Masaya akong ngumiti sa kaniya. Ibigsabihin ba no'n ay makakadalo rin si Eris sa Royal Ball? Bigla akong na-excite.

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"T-Totoo ba talaga 'to, Your Highness? Sa akin po ba talaga 'to?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Eris habang pinagmamasdan ang napakagandang gown na nakasuot sa isang mannequin.

Kahit ako ay sobrang namamangha sa gown ni Eris. It's really elegant and a princess-like ball gown.

"Of course, Ate Eris. That's yours," Sagot ni Princess Serena.

Nandito kami sa loob ng kaniyang kwarto. Grabe ang pagkamangha ko sa kwarto ng prinsesa. Kwarto talaga ng isang prinsesa ang kwarto ni Serena.

Nilapag ko ang dalawang kahon sa ibabaw ng maliit na lamesa. Hinubad ko kasi muna ang gown at ang sapatos bago kami nagtungo sa kwarto ni Serena.

Eris's gown is a color light sky blue off shoulder gown. Sobrang ganda at panigurado akong bagay kay Eris.

"And this will be your shoes, Ate Eris," May inabot na isang light blue shoe box si Serena kay Eris.

She accepted it and slowly opened the top cover of the box.

"W-Why are you giving me this, S- Your Highness?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Eris.

Agad kong nilapitan si Eris para tignan ang sapatos na binigay ni Serena.

"Wow. Ang ganda, Eris..." Namamanghang ani ko. Her sandals is same as mine but different in colors. Mine is silver while hers is light blue.

"Actually, I wasn't the one who gave those to you, Ate Eris. May nagpapabigay lang," Serena smiled meaningfully while staring at Eris.

Nakakunot ang noo ko nang balingan ko ng tingin si Eris. She seemed shocked and... nervous. Tila may ideya na siya kung kanino nanggaling ang gown at ang sapatos.

"W-Who?" Eris nervously asked. But, why is she nervous?

Lumipat naman ang tingin ko kay Serena, waiting for her answer. "Uhm..." Serena looked away before she answered.

"They're from K-Kuya Rameses."

Ano daw? Rameses? Bakit parang pamilyar? Ah! I remembered that Eris mentioned him as one of the guests of The Royal Ball. He's a Duke!

Pero bakit bibigyan ng isang Duke si Erin ng isang mamahalin at eleganteng damit pati na sapatos kung hindi pa naman sila nagkikitang dalawa. And Eris is a servant here in the Marquez Palace and he's the Duke of Cambridge. So, why? And how?

"I-I can't accept this, Your Highness," Eris put down the box above the center table. Her expression is different from earlier. Nawala ang excitement sa mukha niya. Pero bakit?

Is it because she can't accept the gown and pair of sandals na isang Duke ang nagbigay? Maybe she's worried too just like me. Accepting gifts from Royal people is too much for us. We're just servants and yet we received things from a person who has a royal blood.

"I-I'm sorry, Ate Eris. But, he wanted to see you wearing those," It was Serena.

"I don't want to accept anything from him, Serena." Mariing anas ni Eris. Biglang naging casual ang pakikipag-usap niya sa isang Prinsesa. Sa tono palang ng kaniyang boses ay halatang sanay na siya na gano'n makipag-usap sa kaharap.

Wait, something is not right here.

I stared at Eris. I can see lots of emotions in her hazel eyes. I can see anger and sadness. May galit ba siya sa Duke ng Cambridge?

"I don't want to attend the Royal Ball, Your Highness. Marami pa po akong gagawin sa kusina." Eris came back from being formal while talking to Serena. She bowed her head a bit bago humarap sa 'kin. She smiled at me.

"Enjoy the night, Liyana. Babalik na muna ako sa kusina para tumulong sa paghahanda." She said. Marahan akong tumango at malungkot na ngumiti sa kaniya.

When Eris left the Princess's room. We became silent. Hanggang sa basagin ni Serena ang katahimikan.

"Oh my. Hindi ko dapat sinabi kay Ate Eris! Malalagot ako kay Kuya Rameses nito." Rinig kong sabi ni Princess Serena.

Eh?

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06/13/22