The Ruler of Westeria

Kabanata 26

Third Person

Tatlong araw ang nakakalipas bago pa man makabalik sa katawan ni Xiomara si Isla ay bumisita ang punong katulong ng reyna. May dala itong mga prutas at mga sangkap panggamot upang mas mapabilis ang paggaling ng Arkon. Sa hindi lamang inaasahang pagkakataon ay si Dashrath ang naroon sa katawan ni Xiomara at hindi si Isla. 

"What do you mean the head maid of the Westerian Czar is waiting outside?" Gulat na wika no Xiovenn dahil sa ibinalita ni Noe sa kaniya. 

"Your highness, the head maid was tasked by the queen to bring herbs and tonics made by her wizards to stabilize the Glacial Archon's health in hope for her fast recovery." Napakagat na lamang ng kaniyang labi si Xiovenn. 

He announced that Xiomara hasn't woken up since the day she was struck by the holy lightning. He made everyone believe—even the queen that she was in a terrible condition. Hindi niya na rin mabilang kung ilang regalo ang natanggap niya mula sa ibang mga Arkon para lang mapabuti ang lagay ng kapatid niya. 

Even Reed and Kane sent their own diplomats trying to negotiate on a specific magical tool they wanted to obtain, but Xiovenn knew better than that. They were not there for the magical tools, rather their main goal was to check the Glacial Archon's health. 

And now the queen, even if it was just her servant, he can't just simply shoo her away. He needs to have an audience with her because she is holds the name of the queen. Ang problema niya lang ay kung paano niya ito haharapin kung nanaisin nitong masilayan ang kalagayan ni Xiomara. 

What am I going to do with that sly fox? Nagungunsume nitong wika sa kaniyang isipan. It's not like Dashrath would openly cooperate with him knowing he hates his guts. Should I just knock him off? Kaagad naman siya umiling. He don't want to hurt the body of his sister. 

Habang problemado si Xiovenn kung ano ang gagawin niya ay nakahalumbaba naman sa isang tabi si Alec. Nakasandal ito sa poste sa loob ng silid habang pinapanood si Dashrath na umiinom ng serbesa. Samantalang si Dashrath naman ay mataman lang nakatingin sa binatang nakabantay sa kaniya. 

"Your eyes seems to hold many questions, why don't you ask something?" Alec shrugged his shoulder. Kung ano man ang itatanong niya panigurado'y hindi naman nito kayang sagutin. He knew the body of his mistress was possessed by someone else.

"I see, so you knew I am not your master, yes?" Dashrath concluded after seeing Alec's reaction upon his question.

Well, it's understandable. Alec is the Glacial Archon's knight, although he started as her murderer, but now he had swore with his life to watch over and protect her. Kung may tao mang mas higit na makakakilala sa Arkon maliban sa kapatid nito ay tanging siya lang, ang personal nitong tagabantay. 

Alec closed his eyes tightly. A memory of his mistress sacrificing her life to protect the Terra Archon's brother flashed in his mind. Hindi niya lubos maisip na gagawin niya iyon. She was tortured by that man. He was the one who inflicted those flesh wounds that caused her pain but she still saved him? He doesn't understand the logic in that situation.

His heart almost fell in the floor back then, seeing her falling in the air with the body as cold as a corpse. Everyone thought she will not survive, gladly she did—but her soul left her body. In return, someone else is inhabiting her body. Hindi niya maiwasang magalit sa kapatid ng Terra Archon. His mistress was too kind, too kind that others might take advantage of it and abused her.

Napansin kaagad ni Dashrath ang paghigpit ng pagkakahawak ni Alec sa punyal na siyang lagi nitong sukbit-sukbit sa bewang. Looking at him, there's something different in this man that he can't figure out. But he can sense he wasn't dangerous at all, he just felt like someone who doesn't belong in this world.