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03: Northern Land

03: Northern Land

I lived for 21 years in my past life. I was engaged to the Crown Prince when I was sixteen, and during my 18th birthday, the real female lead of his life came and he canceled the engagement himself. I was devastated, for I thought I would be the Crown Princess. I got brokenhearted for a few months, until my devastation became anger and envy.

I bullied the Crown Princess, spoke ill about her, and dispersed a huge amount of lies to the social circle. Even when it's what I do, I never meant to harm nor attempt to kill her. But it looks like someone harbor ill about the Crown Princess that they choose me to fill in the position on who to blame for her little misfortune.

I was beheaded in front of the sovereign citizens, and until now I still feel the coldness of the blade in my dreams. That dire trauma left a scar not just in my mind, but also in my heart. I will make that person pay for what she did. Hindi man ngayon, subalit ipapadama ko sa kanya ang bagsik ng galit ko.

I left the Capital as planned, and journeyed to the terrible terrain leading to the North. It will take about three weeks for me to arrive at the territorial domain of Duke Mulach Turnaryen, brother of the late Queen Jane Louisa Turnaryen, and my future husband's uncle.

The Duke took custody of Hendrix when he was eight years old, after the Late Queen died suddenly in her chamber. My future husband has an unexplained illness that he developed after his mother died, which made him dethroned from any position in the Royal Palace. But the truth lies vividly in the Palace walls, yet the people inside this magnificent reign are blinded by power and wealth.

Among other stories, Hendrix will be the villain of this fairytale. He is not yet now, because I recently turned eighteen. Alam ko rin na nasa paligid na ang magiging Crown Princess, dahil bumalik ako mismo sa araw ng aking kaarawan. Harriot was supposed to cancel our engagement himself during my birthday, but I did it first. Well, he's not allowed to ruin my birthday unless he's the celebrant—— which he wasn't.

Wala na akong pakialam sa kanila dahil ang plano ko ngayon ay pigilan ang aking mapapangasawa sa kanyang pagtangkang salakayin ang Kaharian. I don't want him to suffer the same pain he felt before, and as much as possible, I wished for him to have a good life. He doesn't deserve this cruelty, and his father didn't even try reaching for him.

"My lady, we have arrived at the territorial domain of Dule Mulach Turnaryen: the Azalea land of Nilvander."

Napako ang aking tingin sa nag-iisang maid na dinala ko sa panibagong yugto ng aking buhay. Hinila niya ang manipis na pader na siyang tumatakip sa bintana para makita ko ang tanawin sa labas. Azalea, as it's name is a famous city of flowers in the North of Nilvander. Dahil summer ngayon, napapalibutan ang buong lupain ng mga halimuyak ng bulaklak. Kahit sa malayo ay natatanaw pa rin ang kulay rosas na mga bulaklak.

Dahan-dahan na tumigil ang Karwahe at agad akong hinandan ng aking tagasilbi. She will accompany me on most of my personal movements since I have a few conditions that may shock the new household. Gusto nga sana ng aking Ama na magdala ng ilang mga katulong, subalit ayaw ko naman maging hostile sa bagong tinitirhan ko.

My lips parted when I got out of the carriage. I thought I would be greeted by the maids, but no one was waiting except for an aged man standing in front of the gate. Sinabi ko rin kasi na sa mismong Jade Castle ako titira, dahil nandito din naman si Hendrix. May kalayuan din ito sa mansyon ng Duke at Duchess, subalit hindi naman problema 'yon.

"Welcome to Jade Castle, my lady."

Kahit bakas ang pagkalito ay nanatili akong presentable at pinaunlakan ang kanyang pagbati. Base na rin sa suot niya at mukhang wala na akong aasahan na ibang tao, alam ko na agad kung sino ito. He must be Sir Recto, the majordomo of Jade Castle. Hindi din naman maari na siya si Joaquin, dahil sa pagkakaalam ko ay magka-edad si Hendrix at ang kanyang personal assistant.

"I apologize to greet you with no extravaganza even though we were informed by a letter that you may have arrived today," he added.

"I see, I don't like it anyway," saad ko na siyang ikinagulat niya. "My apologies, Sir Recto. I'm kinda trying to forget my glamorous life."

"Well then, your chamber is ready, my lady."

"His highness?" bigla kong natanong. He was also astounded that I brought that up. Maybe because they don't address Hendrix like that, or they thought I would not care about the whereabouts of my future husband.

"He is sleeping," he simply replied.

"Well, it is not your fault if my future husband don't have any interest on welcoming his future wife," pabalang na sagot ko at nagsimulang maglakad papasok.

I roamed around the yard and noticed that the castle is well-maintained. Well, the majordomo is in charge of the house and even if his master is someone who doesn't appreciate beauty, he has to preserve the castle of the late Queen. If the front yard is pleasing, the interior looks like a haunted house.

Nagsitaasan ang mga kilay ko ng mapansin kong wala akong nakikitang desenyo sa bawat pader, o kahit man lang mga maliliit na furniture o painting. Parang baliktad ata ang house palette ng bahay na 'to.

"My lady, you will be staying in the Ruby Chamber until the marital night. We are preparing the Sapphire room for the newlyweds," Sir Recto said.

Bumalik ang aking tingin sa kanya. "How many employees does the castle handle?"

Sir Recto fixed his clear-rounded eyeglasses. "We currently have 63 maids including chamberlains, 47 staff, and 36 patrolling Knights."

"Isn't that number a bit low for a castle like this?" bigla kong tanong dahil mababa talaga ang bilang ng mga tao rito. The castle is huge and wide.

"Young master depletes the employees whenever his temperamental attitude takes over. However, rest assured that the employees of the Duke often help in cleaning the entire castle."

Napatango na lamang ako. I glanced back at the entire empty living room. Wala man lang sofa o mesa, at kahit may chandelier naman, pero mukhang bibigay na rin. Gusto kong sapuin ang aking noo. This will be a long arduous work.

"Sir Recto, please inform me when his highness awakes, I would like to converse with him regarding the process of our marriage. I believe the King sent a letter informing the Castle and the Duchy," Binalik ko ang aking tingin sa kanya at bahagyang lumapit.

"Yes, my lady. I already informed the ducal couple and they are willing to coordinate with you regarding the preparations," he replied instantly. "This matter will mostly be handled by the Duchess, which the letter never stated."

"Does the Duchess don't like me?" My insecurity filled my system when I noticed his statement entered my ears like a warning. Tila napansin niya rin ang aking kaba kaya bahagya siyang napangiti.

"No, my lady. The Duchess is excited to meet you. She even told us to inform her when you arrived because she wished to welcome you herself, yet under an inevitable situation, the extravaganza didn't take place."

"Why so?" takang tanong ko.

He fixed his eyeglasses again. "The young master burned the preparations early this morning, which broke the heart of the Duchess."

Napamaang ako. Seriously...

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