ACCIDENTAL ACCIDENT

XXXVI. Mom's Concern

The kingdom was quiet, a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle. Jace had left for the Eurodeo Kingdom on urgent business, leaving me in charge. I missed his presence, but I knew he trusted me to handle things in his absence.

Mother and I were having tea. During that time, I noticed that she seemed restless, as if something was bothering her.

"Ma, anong problema?" I asked her.

She looked at me, but didn't immediately respond. I could tell she had something on her mind, but she seemed hesitant to speak up.

"Just tell me," I urged her. Finally, she took a deep breath and began to open up.

"It's just that... I feel like your father is hiding something from me," she confessed, her voice filled with anxiety. "What if he has a mistress?" Ano daw? Mistress?

I couldn't help but burst into laughter, knowing deep down that my father would never do such a thing.

Seeing my laughter, my mother looked at me, puzzled. "Why are you laughing, Carmilla?" she asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

I wiped a tear from my eye, still chuckling. "Ma, there are three reasons why Papa can't cheat on you," I began, trying to reassure her.

"First, cheating is considered a major crime. If someone is proven guilty, they could end up beheaded. Papa wouldn't risk his life for such a foolish act," I explained, hoping to ease her worries. Just like in mortal world, ang panlilinlang o pagtataksil sa asawa ay itinuturing na malaking krimen rin dito. Naniniwala sila na ang kasal ay isang sagrado at mahalagang pangako na hindi dapat balewalain.

"Second, you have this amazing ability to tell if someone is lying or telling the truth. If Papa was lying to you, you would have known by now," I continued, reminding her of her unique gift.

"And lastly, Papa is head over heels in love with you. He always has been, and he always will be. He wouldn't jeopardize that for anything," I concluded, hoping to bring a smile to her face.

Seeing that my mother was still not fully convinced, I knew I had to take a different approach.

"Mama, if you're still worried, why don't we try to find out the truth ourselves?" I suggested.

"Paano?"

"We could follow Papa and see what he's really up to. That way, we can put your worries to rest once and for all."

She looked at me, surprised by my suggestion. But after a moment, she nodded. "Alright, Carmilla. If that's what it takes to ease my mind, then let's do it."

I couldn't help but wonder why Mama doubted Papa's faithfulness when he had always been such a warm and loving person. Despite his busy schedule, he never failed to make us feel satisfied and happy. It just didn't make sense to me why she would question his loyalty.

After our conversation, I felt a mixture of curiosity and anticipation as I made my way to the palace. The messenger had delivered a summons from the king himself, and I couldn't help but wonder what he wanted to discuss with me.

As I entered the grand halls of the palace, I was greeted by the familiar sights and sounds of royal life. The air was filled with an air of importance and intrigue, heightening my excitement even further.

Finally, I arrived at the doors of the throne room. Taking a deep breath, I entered and approached the king, who sat upon his majestic throne. His presence commanded respect and admiration, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe in his presence.

"Your Majesty, you summoned me," I said, bowing respectfully.

The king looked at me with a serious expression before speaking. "Carmilla, I have need your wisdom and discernment. I have a matter of great importance that I wish to discuss with you." Saan nanaman kaya hahantong ang diskusyon na ito?