Became The King's Woman

CHAPTER 40

"You're worried for Prince Ri?"

"Well... It has just been a month since I've found him after 15 years. Ayukong mag-isip negatively but I just can't contain myself from worrying. Baoluan Clan have the strongest troops, marami na silang nalupig at nasirang kaharian. Now given the fact that Prince Ri has to face them makes me feel uneasy."

"I-- I understand but... You know what, your brother has been like that ever since. Kapag gusto niyang gawin gagawin niya. Kapag pangarap niya, pangarap niya. He's unstoppable. Same goes with this one. Fulfilling his duty as the Emperial General of the empire is his dream.

"I know but he can still fulfill his dream nang hindi na kailangang salubungin ang kamatayan niya. He's the Prince after all. He can just mobilize our troops without having to set foot on the battlefield."

"But he doesn't want to be just a guard dog staying within just the vicinity of the empire. Hindi iyun ang gusto niya. Rather than just being a guard dog, he wants to be an eagle who will fly high, spread his wings and earn recognition and victory thru the effort and hardwork of his own hands, of his own sweat and even blood if that's what it takes him to obtain triumph." Mahaba at mahinahon kong saad nang mapatingin siya sa akin, shocked.

"Uhmm, kamahalan, m-may problema po ba."

"Well, you speak so well about him. I know that you're friends but hearing you talk about him is just so deep. What you said is exactly what he said to me. D-did you two perhaps met before him leaving?" Kunot noo at mapang-obserba niyang saad kaya naman bahagya din akong natigilan ngunit nagsalita din ako agad.

“Ah—k-kasi matagal na kaming magkaibigan and I was able to know him deeper…” tanging naitugon ko na lamang. I don’t know why I lied again but I don’t think this is the right time for me to tell him everything.

Tumango lamang siya bago niya ako tiningnan ng mariin in those inquisitive eyes of him matapos yun ay umayos na siya ng pagkakahiga at nagtalukbong ng kumot. “Let’s sleep then…” walang emosyon niya lamang na saad kaya naman nagtaka ako ngunit kumalas na ako sa kama para magbihis bago bumalik sa kama para matulog.

3rd Person’s POV

Payapa na noong natutulog si Imperial Noble Consort Ling nang bumangon naman mula sa pagkakahiga ang hari at tinungo ang silid-liguan.
He soaked himself sa isang royal bathtub na kulay ginto na punong-puno ng pinagsamang gata ng niyog at talulot ng mga bulaklak. He even slid his body to drown himself fully because of the thoughts circling on his mind.

*******
“Kamahalan, naparito kayo. Ipapaalam ko po sa Imperial Noble Consort Ling…” wika ng isa sa mga palace guard who is guarding the gate of greenhill palace nang pigilin siya ng hari.

“Hindi na. Huwag mo nang ianunsyo ang aking pagdating…” Nakangiti lamang na saad ng hari at tinapik ng bahagya ang palace guard.

“Ah masusunod po mahal na hari.”

Kasunod si Ginoong Khut ay tinungo nang hari ang bulawagan ni Imperial Noble Consort Ling kung saan siya natigilan sa paglalakad dahil sa bumungad sa kanya. Ito din ang dahilan kong bakit unti-unting nawala ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

“K-Kamahalan, a-anong ginagawa dito ni Prinsipe Ri?”

“Shhh… huwag kang maingay.” Saway lamang sa kanya ng hari bago sila lumihis ng kunti mula sa pinto.

Magkaharap lamang noong nag-uusap sina Prinsipe Ri at si Imperial Noble Consort Ling habang nakaupo at umiinom ng tsaa.

Tila seryoso ang pinag-uusapan nang mga ito at narinig nga ng hari dahil hindi naman malayo ang kinaroroonan nila ni Ginoong Khut sa mga ito.