The Side Character Wants The Spotlight

chapter thirteen: the afternoon tea

Upon my arrival, a palace maid has been waiting already in front of the door. She bowed in front of me and showed me the way to where the tea party is going to be held.

It was quite a lengthy walk, as we walked through countless of hallways were portraits of royalties were displayed with a lot of blinding ornaments below it.

The tea party will be held in a greenhouse in the middle of the palace’s garden. After minutes of walking, the top of the greenhouse is finally within my view. It took us another ten minutes to completely arrive to our destination.

My hands were shaking the whole time, and I forgot how many times it crossed my mind to stop from my track, and go back home instead.

The wind carries the smell of tea as it softly touches my body as we arrive in front of the greenhouse. My heart which has been beating abnormally slowly starts to beat as it used to upon my arrival in front of the greenhouse.

I thought it would only be me and the crown prince who’ll have tea today, but I am so happy that I am wrong.

The palace’s maid bowed infront of me as she announced my presence to everyone inside. The little chatter ceased, and everyone's eyes gaze at me, including the Crown Prince.

I slowly bowed in front of him and showed a soft smile.

“Gabby! You’re finally here!” Jewel excitedly comes closed and held my hand with a big smile.

“Hello, Jewel,” I greeted her.

“Welcome, Lady Gabriella. We are glad you made it,” The Crown Prince greeted and slowly making the distance between us, much closer.

“It was your Royal Highness’ invitation, I most certainly cannot refuse,” I humbly answered, lowering my head.

“I see. Well, no need to be shy, please come on in. We’re just about to start,” he answered and went first to where a circle shape table fit for five or maybe six people and sat at the very top, facing the little fountain inside the greenhouse.

There are six of us inside the greenhouse in total who will be... joining us to tea in the afternoon, except for the maids which will serve us the tea and pastries.

“Let’s go?” aya sa akin ni Jewel na siyang tinanguan ko naman. Sumunod kami sa Crown Prince at nagsi-upuan sa aming mga mesa.

Balak ko sanang umupo ng malayo sa Crown Prince kasama Jewel, ngunit naunahan na ako ng ibang kasama namin. Tumikhim ng mahina ang Crown Prince bago dahan-dahang umupo si Jewel sa natitirang upuan na malayo sa Crown Prince.

“Aren’t you going to sit, Lady Jewel?” nagtatakang tanong ni Lord Henston na siyang naka-upo sa katapat ko na upuan na katabi ng Crown Prince.

Binigyan ko naman siya ng isang pilit na ngiti nago umupo sa upuang katabi ng Crown Prince.

‘I don’t like this set up,’

“Tell me, Lady Gabriella. Do you truly fancy my cousin?” nakangising tanong sa akin ni Lord Cambia, pangalawang anak ni Marquess Cambia na siyang kapatid ng Reyna.

“I prefer not to repeat myself, Lord Cambia,” seryosong sagot ko. Kinuha ko na lamang ang tsaang nilagyan na ng tsaa ng isang tagapagsilbi at ininom ito.

Ano ba ang tumatakbo sa ulo ng lalaking ito at ako’y tinanong niya pa no’n?

“Lord Cambia, it’s rude to ask that to a lady, especially if the person in the question is present,” puna ni Lady Vestienne na kasalukuyang kumakain ng isang biskuit.

“My apologies. What would you like to talk about then?” nakangisi habang umiiling na tanong niya at humigop ng tsaa.

“What do you think about what's happening in the North, Cousin?” tanong ng Crown Prince.

“The north? What's going on with the north?” balik na tanong ni Lord Cambia sa Crown Prince ng nakakunot ang noo.

Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, kasalukuyang mayroong ipinapatupad na bagong patakaran patungkol sa buwis na ibinabayad ng mga mamamayan sa taga North sa kaharian.

“I see Uncle did not inform you about it. Let’s talk separately about that later instead,” sagot ng Crown Prince sa kaning pinsan bago ibinaling ang tingin sa akin.

“How are you feeling now, Lady Gabriella?” tanong niya. Muli ko siyang binigyan ng isang maliit na ngiti bago dahan-dahang ibinaba ang hawak-hawak ko na tasa.

“Better, thank to your highness’ visit the last time. Thank you,” mala-bulong na sagot ko, tama lamang upang marinig ng mga tao na malapit sa amin.

Hindi ko alam kung alam ba ng lahat ang araw-araw na pag-bisita ng Crown Prince sa akin sa aking tirahan noong nahimatay ako, ngunit kung hindi nila alam ay mas mabuti ng Hindi na nila malalaman pa.

“I’m glad to hear that. By the way, my Father would like to talk to you later before you depart. Would that be fine?” nag-aalalang tanong niya. Medyo nagtaka ako kung bakit niya pa tinanong kong ayos lang gayong ang Hari ang nais na makipagkita sa akin?

Sino ang na sa tamang pag-iisip na nilalang ang aayaw o magtangkang aayaw sa imbitasyon ng Hari? Hindi ko pa nais na mamatay ngayon o mamuhay sa kalye kung kaya’t dapat itong tanggapin.

“I would be most delighted to see the King, your highness,” sagot ko gamit ang pinaka mabait ko na boses.

Tumango naman ang Crown Prince at binigyan ako ng isang natamis na ngiti bago ibinaling ang tingin sa aming mga kasama.

“Are you alright, Gabby?” mahinang boses na tanong ni Jewel sa akin at mayroong nag-aalalang tingin.

Hinawakan ko naman ang kaniyang kamay tsaka tumango.

“I’m fine. Although I really wanted to go home,” nakangiting sagot ko. Natawa naman siya ng mahina sa aking sagot tsaka ako binigyan ng isang pagkain. Kinuha ko ito’t kinain habang siya ay tumatawa pa rin.

Nakita ko ang mga tingin si Lord Henston sa aking kaibigan kung kaya’t napangiti ako, ngunit mukhang nakita niya akong nakatingin sa kaniya kaya’t ibinalik niya ang tingin sa Crown Prince at Lord Cambia na kasalukuyang nag-uusap.

‘Bakit ba ayaw pa niyang aminin sa lahat na nais niya si Jewel? Pinapahirapan pa niya ako,’

Sa kalagitnaan ng aming mga pag-uusap, bigla na lamang nahulog ni Lord Henston ang hawak-hawak niyang tsaa at nanigas sa kaniyang kina-uupuan.

“Are you alright, Henston?” nanlalaking mata na tanong ng Crown Prince.

Hindi sinagot ni Lord Henston ang tanong ng Crown Prince na tila ba wala itong naririnig. Tumayo ito sa kaniyang pagkaka-upo makalipas ang ilang segundo at tila ba mayroong hinahanap.

Nang dumako ang kaniyang tingin sa aming dalawa ni Jewel, ay bigla na lamang tumulo ang kaniyang mga luha.

“Are you alright, Lord Henston?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Jewel sa kaniya.

Mas lalo pa itong umiyak tsaka umupo sa kaniyang upuan, umiiling.

“I hope I'm not dreaming,” bulong niya habang umiiyak.

Kahit sa aking unang buhay, hindi ko pa nakitang umiyak ng ganito si Lord Henston. Ano ang nangyayari sa kaniya?