✓ | REBIRTH OF THE REBEL [Book Two]

CHAPTER 28

[ C H A P T E R 28 ]

LATISHA VALENTINE

Ramdam na ramdam ko ang hapdi ng aking mga palad dahil sa higpit ng pagyukom ng aking mga kamao. Hindi lang ang galit ang aking pinipigilian kundi lahat-lahat na. I can hear my daughter's little voice shaking as she calls my name, drawing my attention to her.

I can't hurt Annika.

It was that thought that let my immorality dissipate. Humugot na lamang ako ng malalim na hininga para kumalma. I didn't know Nethys would finish his tea, nor calculate how much anger mutilated in a span of minutes.

Mabibigat ang aking mga hakbang na may kasamang bilis akong umalis. I didn't hear anything from them, except the soft cry of my afraid daughter. Diretso akong pumasok sa loob at nilandas ang aking kwarto.

"Rage should not be ruling, your grace—"

"I don't need your opinion right now, Napoleon," I cut the words of the Lord of the State as he joined me at my pace. I'm in haste, yet he is trying to make things worse.

"May pasabi-sabi ka pa na may tiwala ka sa duke, bakit parang ngayon gusto mong manlapa ng tao?" agad siyang bumawi dahilan para matigil ako sa paglalakad at hinarap ito. His arms were crossed as he looked at me with both curiosity and guard.

I heaved a deep sigh. "Anong kailangan mo?" I asked.

"Kumalma ka," tanging sagot niya. Agad naman nagsitaasan ang mga kilay ko na siyang agad nitong naiintindihan. He slowly shook his head as if he was disapproving of something. "It is true that there is an ongoing turmoil inside the State of Edinburgh. I am the Lord, so trust me when I say that," he continued.

"And what's the point of saying this?" I asked. I could feel my senses relaxed, but it wasn't Napoleon who managed to deplete my rage.

A tune. A zither is playing nearby.

"My point, your grace. The election is in a month, of course there is war. Kasali na din sa mga nanggugulo ang lahi mo. They are using this election to win favor from other Lords and in the peerage. So, there is no point for you to get angry with. Kung tinago man ito ng lahat, iyon ay dahil sa ikabubuti ng pagbubuntis mo," salaysay niya.

Naririnig ko lahat ng sinasabi ni Napoleon, pero ang buong atensyon ko ay hinahanap ang pinagmulan ng tugtugin. It feels close, like it resonates within the walls of the corridors, or underneath the carpet, or even tracing the designs of the ceiling. It's everywhere.

"Can you hear that?" I said, roaming my eyes around the house. I'm trying to find the root of the vibration. Dumaan pa ang pagkunot ng noon ni Napoleon dahil sa sinabi ko. Itinigil ko ang aking paningin sa kanya. "Gaano kalala ang nangyayari ngayon? Sa puntong ito, wala ka ng dahilan para itago pa sa akin," saad ko.

I know he can't hear it, so I disregard the thought and focus on not exposing my inner fright. I am scared because the last time this happened, it didn't result in a good conversation with that Prince. Kailangan ko siyang makausap ng masinsinan.

"Just like in every election that happened, this one is not particularly different," he replied. Binulsa nito ang kanyang mga kamay habang nakatingin sa akin. "I won't be here if I am safe out there. Out of twelve politicians who ran for candidacy, seven remained alive. Your clan, along with those who ordered for their kill are aiming for a position."

"Are the people oppressed?" I asked. My voice was laden with worry and fear. I was seeking answers in his eyes while trying to win my consciousness that is slowly drifting away. "Tell me, Lord of the State, do the people of Edinburgh still have their freedom to choose which Lord would run the entire land?"