PITONG buwan. Ilang araw ko ring halos bali-baliktarin ang utak ko na tila damit labahin ngunit kahit anong piga at pagnanais kong hampasin ito, panay dumi't bula pa rin ang umaagos mula rito. Hindi ko na alam kung sadyang wala itong maibigay na konkretong kasagutan sa akin o ako mismo ang tumatanggi sa puntong dinadala nito sa akin.
Pitong buwan. Pitong buwan na ang nakararaan nang tumakas ako kasama sina Archer, Hunter, at Violet── mga taong kapwa nagising din tulad ko mula sa ilusyon ng Institusyon na nagpalaki't kumupkop sa 'min. Noong araw na 'yon, hindi 'yon ang eksaktong tiyempo na inaantay namin subalit anong magagawa namin kung ang sitwasyon na ang tumatawag sa amin na kumilos? At sinasabi ni Eldridge na sa mga panahon ding iyon ay nagsimula ang tensyong wala naman noon sa pagitan ng magkaibigan at magkatuwang na sina Caesar at Julian?
Only a fool would believe it's a mere coincidence. And I'd be a fool, too, if I refused to consider myself a possible reason why a raven is forced to become the Red Circle's obedient dog.
"Miss Quinzel? Nako, kanina pa po namin kayo hinahanap. Nandito lang po pala kayo ulit~"
In a surprise, I lifted my chin and both hands from the balustrade, following the relieved voice of a man assigned to be my personal guard. From peeking behind the glass door, he strides into the blinding and warm balcony, skipping steps as if the floor's only for a hopscotch game.
"Hmm~" Rupert casually hummed as he confusingly checked what I'd been looking at. "Why are you here, though? Mr. Montelier dispatched us just now to search all over the building because he didn't find you in your room when he returned from the morning briefing. It's been a while since he called for you. Won't you get in trouble?"
My brows furrowed at what he told me, unaware of why Caesar would order a search for me when he put me in a position of a princess-locked-in-a-tower role here. It was only when I caught a glance on my guard's watch that I remembered something.
"Ah!" I clapped my hands in realization. "Ang sabi niya huwag munang lumabas hangga't... hangga't hindi pa siya bumabalik kasi may pag-uusapan kami." Pumahina nang pumahina ang boses ko, nahihiya na sa hindi ko pag-alala ay nakapagdulot pa ako ng abala.
Higit pa roon, lagot ako. He may not look like it but the man I married is a nagger.
"Sor──"
"Oops! You keep saying sorry again, ma'am!" agarang suway sa akin ni Victor bago ko pa tuluyang mabuka ang bibig ko. Iniharap pa nito ang mga palad niya sa akin na animo'y sa lahat ng bagay ay paghingi ng paumanhin ang pinaka-hindi niya nais matanggap mula sa 'kin. "You're his wife! You don't have to always apologize! And it's not like no one has ever forgotten what they were told to do so, right? You can do anything you want! Isa pa, siya 'tong halos walang paramdam after you came here. Anong akala niya, marry and run ang ganap ninyo?"
I can't help but smile whenever he does this. So long as it's not arguing against Caesar face to face, he would always mythically stand by me, spurring me on. Thanks to his company and the others, I hardly noticed that my so-called husband indeed didn't visit me for a while. Not that I have the confidence to face him, though. Not when I might've already caused a problem for him before we ended up being married.
YOU ARE READING
The Montelier Bride
Mystery / ThrillerIn order to survive her hunters, Quinzel de Agustin, a woman who bears truths that could forever change the Underground, told one lie--- she's a mute. However, when their trail comes closer than ever to threaten her freedom, Quinzel decides to resor...
