Vera Estelle of Serpentine

Chapter VI

Chapter 6: Ruler of Rouges

"M-Madam Vera Estelle..."

Agad na dinaluhan ni Vera si Eamon (8th) na ngayon ay may mga kaunting galos sa mukha. Ganoon din si Kaizen (2nd) na nagkaroon din ng pamumula sa kaniyang braso at likuran dahil sa pagsangga nito ng makapal na stick na para sana sa kapatid.

"Eamon, Kai, are you both all right?" puno ng pag-aalala ang boses ni Vera.

"Yes, Mom..." sagot ni Kaizen.

Tumango si Eamon (8th) habang pinupunasan ang dugo sa kaniyang pisngi.

"How about you, Annerys?" harap ni Vera sa anak niyang babae.

"I-I'm fine, Mom. Hindi naman po ako natamaan," ani Annerys (3rd).

Napatingin din si Vera sa kambal, kay Alvah (4th), Viltrain (25th), at kay Hachelle (22nd) na tila hanggang ngayon ay gulat pa rin sa mga pangyayaring nasaksihan. Umigting ang panga ni Vera at agad na hinarap si Diana.

"Diana! How dare you do this to the children of Third House?!" nanggagalaiting untag ni Vera.

Muling nagulat ang headmaid sa narinig at agad na tumayo habang inaalalayan ng ibang maidservants.

"M-Madam... the children was rude towards me. Tinuturuan ko lamang sila ng leksyon!"

Mas nagpantig ang tainga ni Vera dahil sa narinig. Kumuyom ang kaniyang kamao at sinamaan lalo ng tingin si Diana. Maya-maya ay napapikit si Vera at napahilod sa kaniyang noo. She calmed herself before looking at the headmaid again.

"When did the headmaid have the authority to lecture my children, Diana Frank?" this time, Vera's voice is calmer, but overflowing with authority.

"M-Madam... tungkulin ko po bilang headmaid ang pagsilbihan ang Third House..."

"Exactly. Hanggang doon lang ang awtoridad mo, Diana. The discipline of the children should be my job as their mother and the Matriarch of Third House. How dare you go against my orders! You have overstepped your boundaries, Headmaid."

Vera's last word was emphasized and felt like a thunder towards the people in that receiving area.

"In this house, I am the one who holds the most power, next are my husbands, third are my children. Even Soraya who's my direct command and above you did not dare to cross her boundaries, but you, who's a mere headmaid dared to bear its fangs against its master?"

Agad na nanginig ang bibig ni Diana sa narinig.

"M-Madam, simula nang t-tumira ka rito ay ako na ang nag-alaga sa'yo. H-How can you do this to me?"

Bumuntong-hininga si Vera at muling napahilod sa kaniyang ulo.

"I see..." usal ni Vera.

Tila nabuhayan si Diana sa kaniyang narinig at nang may mapansin na tila kung anong napagtanto si Vera. Napangiti siya at tumango.

"Y-Yes, Madam! A-Ako ang nagpalaki sa'yo, nag-aruga, at unang taong k-kakampi mo!"

"Ate Alvah, what's happening?" isang tinig.

Napalingon si Alvah (4th) sa tatlong lalaking bagong dating. They were Haron (5th), Kaltain (6th), and Greyden (7th). Kahit sila ay nalilito sa kung anuman ang nangyayari. But Vera's rage was clear to them and seeing their abuser, Diana Frank, in that state made them stop on their tracks.