CLOAKED IN ROYALTY

Chapter Seven

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But I was immediately distracted when a hand slipped on my waist and a hot breath touched my neck, "Welcome to the palace banquet, Darling. The first ever invitation you've accepted." I shivered.

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Chapter Seven

I almost forgot the thing about the palace banquet but good thing that Al reminded me. After fooling around in the library, we decided to prepare to leave. A lot of servants went in my room. Nanibago pa nga ako kasi ang gagrande ng mga damit na dinala nila! I did not know this is the perks of being a royalty!

Nakaupo na ako ngayon sa kama at hinahaplos si Raven. Everything's ready. I checked myself in the mirror and voila, ayos na ayos ang mukha ko—mukha ni Julius, to be exact.

Subalit sa kabila nang malinis na ayos na ito ay ang malakas na pagkabog ng dibdib ko. Kahit itanggi ko man ay kinakabahan ako. This would be the first time that I'd go out of the palace. At makikita ko pa doon ang mga kapatid ni Julius! What if makaramdam sila? I've already met the other one, but I heard, Julius has another sister and a younger brother. In which, the younger brother is the heir to the throne.

Si Julius sana ang magmamana. But the latter did not want a big responsibility plus he's already married to a king, too. The younger one is the only son left, and so they had no choice but to pass the throne to him. Not yet, though. He's still a crown prince. He will succeed the throne in his right age. I've heard he is currently 16 years old and the right age for someone to succeed the throne is above 18.

Julius is already 22 and Al is 24. Wonder how I had knew this details? Sa mga marites na tagapasilbi sa hardin. Narinig ko kasi ang usap-usapan nila na;

"Sayang talaga ano? Ang prinsipe Julius sana ang tagapagmana ng trono kung hindi lamang siya hinahangaan ng hari."

"Ano ka ba! Huwag mong lakasan! Sinasabi mo bang ayaw mo sa relasyon ng prinsipe at hari? Naku, huwag mong sabihin iyan at baka hindi na kita makita sa susunod na araw!"

"Hindi ganun ang ibig kong sabihin! Ano ka ba! Mabuti na lang din at may kapatid pa siyang lalaki. Pero sa totoo lang, mas gugustuhin ko pa rin sana na maging tagapagmana ng trono ang ating Prinsipe."

For the first time, I thanked Julius for marrying Al dahil nakaiwas nga siya sa malaking responsibilidad. Look oh, I can go everywhere without worrying with my status. Mas okay na ang ganito. However, come to think of it? How did the two of them met anyway? At...gaano na sila katagal na nagsasama? Bakit malamig ang pakikitungo ni Julius kay Al? At ano naman ang nagustuhan ni Al kay Julius gayung malamig ito sa kanya?! May sira ba talaga itong si Al?

Napa-iling na lamang ako sa sariling iniisip. Tatapusin ko na muna ang misyong ito bago maghanap ng kasagutan sa mga tanong ng aking isipan.

Just then, I heard a knock. "Mahal na Prinsipe, handa na po ang karuwahe. Pinapatawag na kayo ng Mahal na Hari." It was Nana Eda's voice. Raven woke up and floated in the air then disappeared. He said na sasama raw siya gayung ang hina ko pa naman.

I walked to the door and opened it. I saw Nana Eda with her head low. "No need for formalities, Nana Eda. Please raise your head," ngiti kong sabi. Nagdalawang-isip pa ang matanda pero sa huli itinaas niya rin ang kaniyang ulo at ngumiti. She lead the way.

Nana Eda is probably around 60's na. I've heard na simula nang dumating si Julius dito sa palasyo ay siya na ang nag-aasikaso dito. Julius eventually warmed up to her and became comfortable. So, it's nothing new to show kindness towards her.

Umabot kami sa labas ng palasyo and I immediatly saw the golden carriage outside the big tall gate. Mayroon dalawang puting kabayo at nasa unahan na ng karuwahe ang coachman nito, hawak ang lubid na nakakonekta sa dalawang kabayo. The carriage has a symbol of a sword with a vines of flowers in it.