[√]Lady of the White Rose

45: Who's Behind

VESPER

Pinabalik ko si Aidan sa loob ng mansyon. Dumiretso kami sa opisina ni papa kung saan naabutan ko si Alfonso na abala. Binati ako nito bago muling bumalik sa ginagawa niya.

Bago ako tuluyang pumasok sa loob ay nakasalubong ko si Lyn sa labas ng opisina, inutusan ko itong magdala ng tsaa at pagkain sa loob na agad naman niyang sinunod.

"You're fast," komento ko kay Aidan pagkatapos basahin ang report na binigay niya. Sa sandaling panahon lang na umalis ito ay ang daming ebidensya na agad siyang nakalap. And all of them were accurate. "Fast and precise. Would you like to work for me?" Pabiro kong alok ko dito.

Aidan's family is rich, they owned several mines and is the largest producer of metal in the whole Lorence Kingdom. Given his ability and skills with the sword I'm sure he's greatly valued within his family.

"Sure,"

"I guess you're too valuable to - wait, what did you just say?" Sa gulat ko dahil sa sinabi niya, ay napatayo pa ako sa aking kinauupuan. I touch my ears and ask him to repeat what he just said.

"I said, sure." He repeated with a light chuckle. "I am not that valued within my family like how you imagine it to be. In fact, I'm pretty much non-existent."

"What? Why? Y-you're extremely talented! Bulag lang ang hindi makakakita sa talento mo!"

He shrug. "My family doesn't see it, so you're saying they're blind?"

"Absolutely! Like 105% blind!"

He chuckle once again.

I immediately pestered Alfonso to create a contract upang sa akin na magtrabaho si Aidan. Mahirap na kasi at baka mawala pa ang pagkakataon, mawalan pa ako ng isang extremely talented na tao. Maliban sa pleasing personality niya, magaling pa sa swordmanship at mabilis pa magtrabaho... At gwapo.

Agad naman sinunod ni Alfonso ang utos ko rito at mabilis pa sa alas kwartong pinaperma si Aidan sa kontrata nito. Aidan stared at us in disbelief as he sign his signature while chuckling. Natatawa sa reaksyon namin.

Ilang segundo kong pinagmasdan ng nakangiti ang kontrata bago itinuon ang atensyon pabalik sa pinag-uusapan namin ni Aidan kanina. Ayon sa mga nakalap niyang impormasyon, ang mga assassin na umatake sa amin sa bahay ni Ashley ay mula sa Blue Moon Organization.

Blue Moon Organization is a secret underground organization completely hidden from the public. Only few people knows their existence. They have strict hierarchical order within the organization, and secretive above all things.

Walang nakakakilala sa mga higher ups nito at tanging written letters lamang ang mga natatanggap ng mga nasa baba. O kaya ay manggagaling ang utos mula sa nakakataas at ipapaalam sa susunod na posisyon at ipapaalam nung sunod sa susunod pa sa kanya, hanggang sa umabot sa pinakababang posisyon.

They received all kinds of request, from information gathering, finding missing humans and animals to assassinations. Anything they can profit, they're willing to accept any requests, however absurd they are.

"How did you know any of this?" Tila gulat na gulat kong sambit dito, hindi makapaniwala sa lahat ng mga impormasyong nalaman.

"I have my ways," he proudly said.

"So, is it the Blue Moon Organization? May ginawa ba akong mali sa kanila at napunta ako sa hit list nila?"

"Someone probably hired them to assassinate you," Alfonso butted in. He's already done with his paper work.

"Yes," Aidan agreed. "It's one of your vassal family, Marquis Castro De Kloyn."

Namayani ang ilang sandaling katahimikan bago namin napagpasyahan kung ano ang dapat gawin sa kanya. I've always expected him to act rashly because of his apparent desire for the head position but I didn't know he'll be this bold to send assassins to kill me. I don't feel any wariness towards him tho. He's just a small fry, wasn't worthy of my time but what he just did was something I cannot slide.

He dare to assassinate me? Bold of him.

I needed to make him an example out of him for the others to see that messing with me will surely hit them back, big time. I wanted to show the others that I am not a kitten but a full grown lioness that will bite back once attacked so they wouldn't think to do this again next time.

"Summon everyone," seryoso kong sambit habang nakasandal sa upuan ko, nakadekwatro at sinusuportahan ng kamay ko ang ulo ko.

After planning everything with Alfonso and Aidan, what should we do, his punishments and all those involved with his plan, how should we do it and when they all left to work on it. While I was left to do some paper works and read the report regarding kuya Kaido's missing corpse.

Pinatawag ko si Jay upang sabihan itong magdagdag ng tao upang mapabilis ang pag-usad ng imbestigasyon nila. Nang makaalis ito ay tsaka namang pumasok si Abby, dala-dala ang isang tray ng pagkain.

Trailing behind her are the kids with their new, fresh clothes. Noong una ay nagdalawang isip pa sila kung papasok ba o hindi. Siguro ay iniisip na nagtatrabaho pa ako.

Sinabihan ko si Abby na papasukin 'yong dalawa. Umupo ako kasama nila sa mesa at sabay-sabay kaming tatlong kumain sa pagkaing dala ni Abby. Meanwhile she just stood behind us, I ask her to join us but she politely refuse. Hindi ko na ito pinilit pa at masaya na lamang nakipag-usap sa mga bata.

I ask them how they're doing. Kamusta 'yong bahay ko, 'yong pagkain. Kung masaya ba sila sa bago nilang bahay at bagong buhay.

"Are you adopting us?"

I was taken aback by what Ren ask. Adopting them? I haven't thought about that, the only thing in my mind was to give them all the happiness in the world. Give them clothes - clean, new and fresh not like the one they used to wear, that even my rags looks presentable.

Feed them all the delicious food the world can offer. I want them not to feel any hunger anymore, to let them sleep at night with a full stomach.

But to adopt them... I... I don't think I'm ready to have two innocent children depending on me. I still make a lot of bad choices, I don't think I can take responsibility for their lives.

Naging abala ako sa mga sumunod na araw, preparing for the storm that might swept the entire Dukedom. A new kind of air will enter the estate, the vassal families must hang on to their seat properly or else they might get blown away by this wind.

I'm planning to cleanse the entire family of all the dirt, the rotten parts will be taken out, if not nicely, forcibly. I'm going to lead this family now and by doing so, I can't keep those who plan against me by my side. A lot has happened to the Frontera. Tragedies after tragedy, problems were piling up and I myself was all over the place.

I learned a lot of things, discovered a lot of things and experienced a lot of things I didn't expected to ever happen in my life even in my wildest dreams.

I think I gained a new brain cell, it made me mature a little more. It made a little bit stronger, braver and a tiny bit clever.

And this time... I'm going all out. I'm out for a war.

Those who targeted my family, trying to bring it down those who killed my brother, those who stole his corpse and to those that aims for my neck, for my death, they better be prepared because I'm retaliating now. It's time to strike back.