The Young Lady of Swertuanfel

Chapter 36: Black Magic

Binuklat ko ang librong itim na kinuha ko mula sa abandonadong kubo na iyon at muling binasa ang nilalaman nito, ngunit hindi ko talaga maintindihan, maging ang pagbasa medyu hindi ko rin ganoon magawa.

Gumising ako ilang minuto pagkatapos ako mawalan ng malay sa lugar na iyon, at umaga na. Wala na rin si Nicholas sa aking tabi, mukhang maagang umalis sapagkat maraming aasikasuhin sa kaniyang nalalapit na pag-alis.

“How am I suppose to understand this thing!?” naiinis na tanong ko sa kawalan at malakas na idinabog ang libro bago tumingin sa labas ng bintana ni Nicholas.

Hindi ko na nakikita ang napakalaking agila ni Nicholas ah, nasaan na kaya iyon? Napatingin ako sa pintuan ng bigla itong bumukas at pumasok ang bihis na bihis na si Nicholas.

“Are you okay? How's your sleep?” nakangiting tanong niya sa akin habang sinasarado ang pintuan.

“I feel amazing. Your bed is so soft,” sagot ko. Napa-agik-ik siya sa aking sinabi bago dahan-dahang lumapit sa akin at umupo sa aking tabi.

“You look so beautiful,” he murmured. Just enough for me to hear. I smiled at him and pinched his cheeks.

“I don't know about that, but I can't deny it. Anyways, are you going out?” I asked. He nodded at me as a response before gazing to the book in my lap.

“Where'd you get it?” he asked, still looking at the open book.

“Oh nothing. Just saw this on the library back home. Just feel like reading,” I answered before slowly closing the book. I lied. I just feels like what happened in my dream, those sculptures and this book shouldn't be known to anyone. Not even Nicholas.

“I see. I can't join breakfast with you, the Emperor called. I already called one of your carriage, and he is waiting outside. Dress up and rest at home okay? You need it,” he said. I nodded back at him and bring him close for a hug.

“Careful out there. Send me a letter when you have the time,” I whispered. He placed his hands in my head and stoke my hair while nodding.

***

Time flew by so fast. Nicholas and his team departed yesterday and here I am, currently in the Marquessate Library searching a book that explains and shows what language this book contains and how should I read and understand it.

Ever since the day I get out of that place, I always dreamt about something. Every night. It was about a girl. She was crying, crying with blood while on her knees, begging at someone. This someone is sitting on a thorned and black throne. Looking down on the kneeling girl.

Both of their faces are blurred. That is the first dream I have after leaving that place with an abandoned hut. The very evening, they appeared in my dreams again. But the scene has changed. The girl who was kneeling is now running for her life, while being chase by some dark, hideous monsters. And a very loud laugh can be heard from afar.

And then my nights went on like that. Every night, different scenes. But those two girls are always in it. Those two somehow screams something saying that I know those people. And that they play a huge role in my life. But the truth is, I don't know them. It could be that the past Despina know them, but I don't.

“Ugh! What should be done?” I asked in annoyance and drop the last book inside this library.

I have read all of the books inside this goddamn library, but I haven't seen any letters that resembles this black book at all!!

“Buns!” I called my personal butler, Buns who is just waiting for me outside the library. I did not tell a single soul about this book, that place, and my dreams.

But I don't know what to do anymore, I don't know where I should suppose to look to find answers. I know, and I know for sure that these dreams, this book, and those two people even that place has something to do with Despina's past and also my future as someone who took over her body.

Buns has now become a full fledge butler, and become my personal butler instead along side with Lily who becomes my personal maid, well, she's my personal maid from the very beginning.

“You called, My Lady?” Buns asked. I nodded at him and give him the book.

Nagtataka naman nitong tiningnan ang libro ng ilang segundo bago kinuha at binuklat ito. Kumunot ang kaniyang noo at maya-maya lamang ay medyu may nububuong takot sa mga mata nito.

“My Lady, saan mo nakuha ang librong ito?” kinakabahang tanong sa akin ni Buns habang mahigpit na nakahawak sa librong itim.

“Sa aking panaginip,” sagot ko. Mas lalong lumaki ang kaniyang mata at tumingin sa kawalan ng ilang segundo.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyayari, pero paniguradong may nakakakilabot na pangyayari ang magaganap sa hinaharap,” usal niya. Hindi ko masyadong maintindihan ang kaniyang sinabi. Totoo ba itong kakaibang nararamdaman ko na mayroon ngang mangyayari sa hinaharap? Anong klaseng pangyayari naman iyon?

“Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?” tanong ko. Umiling naman itong si Buns at muling tumingin sa akin.

“Maging ako ay hindi rin alam. Ang nga letra sa librong ito ay parang pamilyar sa akin, ngunit hindi ko lubos matandaan kung ano ito. Ngunit panigurado, alam na alam ni Lily ang mga ito,” sagot niya.

Seryosong tao itong si Buns, pero mukhang kakaiba ang kaniyang aura ngayon matapos makita ang loob ng libro. Tumango naman ako, at uutusan siyang tawagin si Lily na papuntahin sa aking kuwarto.

Ngunit hindi iyon natulog sapagkat bumukas ang pintuan ng silid-aklatan at pumasok ang nakabusangot na mukha ni Lily na may dala-dalang tray ng pagkain.

“Tanghaling tapat na at hindi ka pa rin kumakain, My Lady. Ano ba ang ginagawa mo Buns at hindi mo pinaalam kay Lady Despina na tanghalian na?” naiinis na tanong ni Lily Kay Buns na hanggang ngayon ay mayroon pa ring seryosong ekspresyon.

Inilagay ni Lily ang pagkain na dala niya sa malapit na lamesa bago lumapit muli sa amin.

“Ano po ba ang binabasa nito Lady Despina at hindi mo na napansin ang oras?” tanong niya sa akin.

Tinanguan ko naman si Buns upang ibigay niya ang librong itim kay Lily. Nagtataka naman itong tinanggap ang libro.

“Maari mo ba sabihin sa akin kung ano ang nilalaman ng librong ito?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Ay naku! Isa lamang po akong hamak na tagapagsilbi, hindi po ako nakapag-aral!” malakas na sagot naman niya sa akin. Nginitian ko naman ito at umiling.

“Sabi ni Buns ay alam na alam mo kung anong salita, at kung ano ang nilalaman ng librong ito. Paki-usap, kinakailangan kong malaman,” malumanay na lintaya ko. Tiningnan naman nito so Buns na tumango lang sa kaniya bago tumingin muli sa akin at tumango.

Binuklat niya ang libro, at agad na nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata at nabuo takot sa mga ito ng makita niya ang nilalaman ng libro, hindi kagaya kay Buns, mas sobra ang ekspresyong ipinapakita ni Lily ngayon.

“Hindi maaari, bakit nandito ito? Bakit mayroon kang ganito, Lady Despina?” takot na takot na tanong sa akin ni Lily ngunit hindi winawaglit ang tingin sa hawak-hawak niyang libro.

“Sa aking panaginip,” tanong ko. Mabilis naman itong tumingin sa akin at mas lalong natakot.

“Bakit? Ano ang librong iyan? Anong salita iyan? At ano ang nilalaman?” tanong ko. Nakaramdam na ako ng kaunting takot dahil sa ipinapakitang natatakot na ekspresyon ni Lily.

“Ang librong ito ay tinatawag nilang Cursed Book, lenggwaheng itim ang ginamit na salita rito, at naglalaman ito ng mga... mga Black Magic,” nag-aalalangang sagot niya sa akin at tila ba parang may hinahanap sa paligid dahil kung saan-saan napupunta ang kaniyang paningin.

‘Black Magic? Does that really exist in this world?’

tamadsiakuma. ♡