The Duchess' Daughter

Episode 12: A Commotion

"I am from Charlotte."

"Oh, yes, young miss. We are aware of that. Why?"

Lady Lara blinked while staring at herself in the mirror. She shook her head and took a glimpse at Rory's reflection. God, why did I say it out loud?

"N-Nothing. I mean, Charlotte, uhm, has this custom of . . ." she thought of a way to stop Rory's surprise upon her sudden statement. ". . . n-not braiding the hair at all."

"Po?"

"Yes. Mas nasanay ako—kaming nakalugay lang." Pinilit siyang ngumiti nang malawak.

"Oh, alright." Binitawan ni Rory ang buhok niya.

"Uhm, so, you don't have anything to do with me at this moment. I," she bit her lip, "want some time to be alone . . . here."

"Ah, yes of course, young miss. Pardon me for bothering you. Babalik na lang po ako rito kapag kailangan niyo na ako." Rory smiled and calmly walked away.

Nang makalabas na ang babae ay saka bumuntong hininga si Lara at inisip ulit ang kanina pang pumupuno sa utak niya.

"The kingdom could only survive if ruled by a woman from its most prosperous land, upon which the province of Charlotte was known to be."

I am from Charlotte. Could that mean . . . the empress is still up for the plan?

Ah, no. Make up your mind, Lara. You're taking it too far. Sabi nga'y ang prinsipe ang pumili sa'yo 'di ba?

She looked at herself in the mirror again and smiled a little to ease down. And then she stood up and went to her bed but before she could even touch the sheet, someone knocked on the door. Napakunot noo siya, hindi inasahang babalik agad si Rory.

But it wasn't her that she saw when she opened the door.

"So fine." Pagkatapos tingnan ng prinsipe ang malaya niyang buhok ay tinitigan nito ang mukha niya.

She bowed down, almost showing the back of her neck to Prince Rohan. "Good morning, Your Highness."

"May I touch your hand?" agad na tanong ng prinsipe nang magtagpo ulit ang mga mata nila. Lara slowly looked at her hand and lifted it up. His Highness didn't spend more seconds and took it. He gently pulled her out of the room. Lady Lara kept on staring at her thin slippers as they walked down the stairs. "How did your day go yesterday?"

Saka lamang nag-angat ng tingin ang dalagita. "Her Majesty let me ride on a horse's back. I mean, I was at her back."

"Hm? You did horseback riding? Sweet."

Lady Lara smiled as they finally stepped on the floor below.

"I was meeting someone in the building near the arena. I should've tried to visit my horse so I could see you there."

"Arena?" Lady Lara looked up at him.

"Yeah." Prince Rohan smilingly nodded. "I mean, I wasn't exactly where you were but I was in a building close to it."

Building? I didn't see any building there. Oh except that house for those horses.

"W-Wala po akong nakitang ibang building roon," nalilitong ani Lara. "Ah, perhaps Your Highness was on the other side of the beach."

Nakita niyang matigilan ang prinsipe. "Beach. Did I hear it right?"

"Y-Yes."

Prince Rohan played with his lips while thinking, and then he subtly sighed. "I see. Y-You don't quite know how to call things . . . no, nevermind." He shook his head and smiled. "But you had your debutante ball, right? You said you met Kanye there?"