The Villainess Ran Away

XLVII

Sofiane Louise's POV

Restless, that's how we've been for the past three days. I've been pacing back and forth around dad's office. Ito na ang naging tambayan ko mula nung nalaman ko ang tungkol sa background ng kapatid ko. Pretty much nothing changed, for me, she's still my little sister. Moreover, I'm feeling grateful dahil kung hindi dahil sa pamilya ni Gwenivere ay wala ako sa mundong ito ngayon. I promise to cherish her more this time around, hindi lang dahil may utang na loob akong dapat tanawin kundi dahil na rin ayoko na may pagsisisihan pa ako sa relasyon namin bilang pamilya. I kept my distance before thinking it was for the best but clearly I was wrong, lalo lang napalalim ang rift sa pagitan naming dalawa. I won't do that again, not ever.

Hindi pa rin kami sigurado kung may kinalaman nga ang emperor sa pagdukot sa kapatid ko. Sebastian suddenly went missing in action as soon as he heard of the news, going to only the gods know where. Hindi namin alam kung sino ang may pakana nito, kung ano'ng motibo, o kung ano'ng gusto nilang makamit sa ginawa nila. I'm growing more anxious by the minute, paano kung wala silang balak makipag-negotiate?! I refuse to think that the worst situation has come to pass.

"Dad, can we really not dispatch our knights?" I asked for the nth time.

"As much as I want to, we can't have the news spread about her disappearance and reach the emperor. Your sister's gonna be much safer that way whether or not, it's his highness that has her.”

I sighed, "Surely there's something else we can do".

"The emperor doesn't have her. His majesty seems unaware of her true identity," Sebastian suddenly popped up from nowhere. Ni hindi ko napansin na pumasok siya. Ngunit gustuhin ko mang tanungin kung saan siya nagsususuot nitong nakaraan, that's not what's important right now.

"Are you certain?" dad asks.

"Affirmative, I've been observing him. There's no sign of his majesty dispatching his private brigade," Sebastian reasoned.

"How can you be so sure? What if he purposely didn't string you along because of your connection to Gwenivere?" hindi ko mapigilang sumabat sa usapan. Kung ayaw pala nila sumingit ako, sana hindi sila sa harap ko nag-usap, right?

"I would've known otherwise, I'm involved enough in the inner circle to move without arousing suspicion," his confidence somehow reassured me. I shouldn't be hard on him, he still found out more than I could've. I doubt I'll be able to get anywhere if I investigate in the matter myself. Baka mapahamak ko pa ang kapatid ko.

"We can't be relieved just yet, but at least that's one suspect off the list," dad interjects. Then followed a moment of silence between the three of us na sinira ng katok mula sa pinto.

"My lord," ani ng butler namin, "You have a guest waiting outside, should I let him in?"

"Who might it be?"

"He claims he's Lady Gwenivere Verose's fiance," the butler's hesitant to answer. Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo ngayon dahil sa narinig.

"I didn't expect him to get here this early. Pinuntahan ko siya para ipaalam sa kanya ang sitwasyon. He deserved to know at the very least. I hope that wasn't presumptuous of me," saad ni Sebastian, "It isn't clear to me what he can do but I'm certain that he's willing to help."

Father sighs, "You did the right thing. As long as you can guarantee that this man can be trusted. We wouldn't turn down a helping hand," he faces our butler, "Lead him to the drawing room".

No words were exchanged during the whole time we were waiting for our unexpected guest's arrival. We didn't even bother take a seat. For sure, may kanya-kanya kaming iniisip patungkol sa misteryosong fiance ng kapatid ko, bukod na lang siguro kay Sebastian na nakakilala na sa kanya. This is it! I'll finally be able to meet the guy who's trying to take my sister away from us. Obviously, not this right this instant, but to me, he's no less than those kidnappers. What kind of guy would make my sister swoon enough to want to marry him within the span of few weeks after meeting him?