The Saintess is the New Villainess

TSNV 14| Aphrodisiac

CLEA

"How is she?" I heard someone asking, it must be the Emperor. 

"I already gave her the sufficient amount of medicine that she needs. She will be fine, father." Ferocious assured him. 

"Isn't she the Holy Saintess everyone is talking about? Why can't she just heal herself? How dramatic." Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong wag mapairap dahil sa sinabi ng Empress. 

Agree naman ako sa sinabi niya na ang dramatic ko dahil nagpanggap ako nahimatay matapos ang announcement ng Emperor na engage ako kay Ferocious. How I wished I don't have to pretend back then. Sana inuntog ko na lang ang ulo ko sa pader para mawalan talaga ako ng malay. But I can't just do that. 

"You should have consulted me first before announcing it, father. She must've been so shocked." Malumanay na wika ni Ferocious sa ama nito. 

So he had no idea about it, too? 

Mukhang nagdesisyon talaga mag-isa ang Emperor. He must've assumed that Ferocious had grown a liking for me since he probably had an idea that his son set my dress. Not to mention niyaya pa ako nito makipagsayaw, making me the first woman he danced in the ball. 

"How about the archduke, Felecity?" Rinig ko namang tanong ng Emperor. 

The archduke? What happened to him? 

"His Grace insisted on returning to his dukedom, but he chose to stay due to the heavy snow and mild fever." I wanted to laugh. A mild fever, eh? Of course, what can he say but an ordinary illness? 

Hindi niya naman pwede sabihin na he was suffering a severe effect from his Venom of Karma. Hindi niya pwedeng sabihin na malubha ang nararamdaman niya dahil hindi pwedeng malaman ng Emperor kung ano ang kahinaan niya. For centuries, the Ducal family of Rognvaldur managed to hide the truth from everyone. That's why even the royal family cannot touch them because they can't find any weaknesses.

"You should stay in your fiancée's chambers to keep him in check instead of being here." The Empress reminded her. Apaka-echosera talaga nitong Empress. Hindi niya na lang hayaan anak niya. Paladesisyon.

"It's okay, I wanted to make sure the Holy Saintess is alright. I cannot let the clumsy maids touch her delicate body." If I didn't know her personality, I would be touched by her sentiments, but no. There's always a reason behind her actions. 

"Then, please take care of her for me, dear sister. I still have an ongoing experiment to observe in the lab. I must take my leave." Narinig ko namang may kung ano itong pinatong sa gilid ng kama. "This is her last medicine. I hope she takes it when she wakes up." I felt him go near me to fix the dangling hair on my face. 

Seconds later I heard footsteps leaving the room. Hindi ko na rin narinig ang boses ng Emperor at Empress kaya baka umalis na rin sila. I can only feel Felecity's presence sitting in a chair beside the bed. Ramdam ko ang bawat titig na binibigay niya sa akin na para bang sinusuri nang mabuti ang mukha ko. 

"He never left his eyes on you the moment you entered the ballroom hall." Wala sa sarili akong napangisi sa kaloob-looban ko. 

"Is it because you're prettier than me?" I felt her stood up and sat beside me on the bed. "If I destroyed your face, would he only look at me?" Naikuyom ko ang kamay ko sa ilalim ng kumot nang hawakan niya ang panga ko. Ramdam ko ang tulis ng kuko niya at ang madiin niyang pagkakahawak. 

Pigilan niyo ako babangon talaga ako para sampalin ang gagang 'to! 

I heard her laughing afterwards. Mahinhin na tawa lang 'yon, tawang madalas niyang gamitin sa harap ng maraming tao upang magmukha siyang kanais-nais. To others, it may sound angelic and lovely, pero para sa akin para lang ito lamok na nakakairita sa tenga.