"You are here. Nagpalate ka pa talaga. Feeling mo ba ay mahalaga ka sa okasyong ito?" Patuyang sabi ng panganay na babaeng kapatid ni Gavin kay Veira.
Her name is Gina. She was married out already but from time to time, she would visit the Duke's mansion just to give the original owner a hard time.
This would be the first time Veira was meeting her though. Sa loob ng sampung araw matapos ng take over niya sa katawang ito, she stayed in her courtyard, refusing to meet everyone with the reason of illness.
During those times too, she had gathered everything she needed to know about the people from this Duke's mansion.
The Duke was corrupt. The mother was vain. The son was useless. The daughter was greedy.
None of them were good at all.
Anyway, after Gina's snide remarks towards her, Veira stopped walking and stared at her. Although there was no expression on her face but her stares ended up making Gina felt like a huge pressure was pressing on her. Her forehead even started to sweat.
"W-w-what are you looking at, huh?"
Gina was shocked. What happened to this sister-in-law? Why did she seem different today?
On the other hand...
'Fearing the strong, bullying the weak... Should I give her more scare, eh?' Veira thought playfully.
In the end, she didn't do anything... yet.
Why act now when she even prepared a grand surprise for their whole family today? Let her be a happy bully for now. Let's see if she could still be one later.
"Nothing, Eldest Sister. Pasensya na sa pagiging late ko. I just want to prepare a gift for the Heir's Wife."
"What gift?" Gina inquired with that scheming eyes of hers.
One thing you all should know about this woman, she was an epitome of greedy.
Bukod sa pambubully nito sa original owner, she would also come to her courtyard at hindi siya aalis hanggang walang nakukuhang "regalo" mula dito. At ang pinakapaborito nitong iuwi ay ang mga alahas ng babae na minana pa nito mula sa kanyang namayapang ina.
Yep! The original-Veira was really timid and naive.
Going back, Veira looked at Lulu who was standing behind at siyang pinahawak niya ng "inihanda niyang regalo" para sa bagong Heir's Wife.
Instantly, Lulu's expression was full of protestation. Her mistress shouldn't even use her dowry as gift to the new Heir's Wife! Ngayong naririto na naman ang gahamang babae na ito, paniguradong hindi mapupunta sa bagong Heir's Wife ang regalo na ito.
"Your... My Lady! Huwag mong ipakita sa kanya yung regalo mo. Aangkinin lamang niya yan!" Lulu couldn't help saying and even stomping her foot.
Veira almost laughed out loud.
This little maid was so cute! Look at her puffing red cheeks and almost teary eyes...
Hayyyy... The original owner was dumb and unlucky for many things but at least she still had loyal people around her.
"Lapastangan! Anong karapatan ng isang kagaya mong servant para pagsalitaan ako ng ganyan?! Hold this bitch and slap her face for me! Wag kayong titigil hanggang hindi ko sinasabi!" Gina commanded her maids with red face. Agad namang kumilos ang mga ito but before they could even reach Lulu, Veira already hid her behind her.
"Step aside, Concubine Veira." One of the older and buffier maids of Gina told her.
But of course, she just ignored the woman and instead, addressed Gina directly.
"Eldest Sister, please let go my maid for now. Alang alang na din at kasal ngayon ng Heir at ng kanyang bagong asawa."
"What, you say let go, so I will let go? Ano ka ba sa mansyong ito ha? Go! Drag that bitch here!"
"Eldest Sister! I... I'll just compensate you! Please pardon my maid for now. I will definitely pay gratitude on her behalf."
When she heard that, Gina gave the buffy maid a look. The latter didn't push Veira away but still stood in front of her for intimidation.
"At ano namang iccompensate mo sa akin, aber?"
Veira paused for a moment as if thinking.
"I... I still have a silver hairpin in my jewelry box. I will send it to Eldest Sister after the wedding."
Gina's expression eased up then signaled her maids to step back too.
"A word of advice, you should teach your maidservants well, Veira. Stop spoiling them otherwise, they might end you up in a lot of trouble in the near future."
"I understand. Thank your for your advice, Eldest Sister." Veira humbly said.
"Good that you understand. Now... let me see that gift na inihanda mo para sa bagong Heir's Wife."
***
*sob* *sob*
"Now, now... You should stop crying, Lulu. Malapit na tayo sa common hall. Kapag nakita nilang umiiyak ka, baka mapagkamalan pa nilang inaapi kita." Biro ni Veira sa dalaga.
"My Lady... I am sorry." Lulu apologized while trying to wipe her tears away. She was too heart broken for her mistress. All these injustice!
Plus... she seemed to make things even worse kanina. In the end, nakuha din ng Gina na iyun yung regalo na inihanda ng kanyang mistress para sa bagong Heir's Wife.
Kunyari pa ito na siya na lamang ang magbibigay pero alam naman nila na sa koleksyon niya lang din iyon mapupunta.
Kung alam lang niya ganun lang din naman ang magiging ending ay inabot na niya dito yung regalo noong una pa man. Hindi na sana ito nagkaroon ng pagkakataon para iintimidate ng ganoon ang mistress niya at hindi na rin sana napilitang magcompensate ang mistress niya on her behalf.
It was all her fault.
"What are you being sorry for?"
"I am sorry for not handing out the gift right away and for speaking like that which caused you more trouble in the end, My Lady."
"En... You should really reign in yourself a bit. Such a little lady but you have such big temper." Veira teased her.
Lalo namang nangilid ang luha ni Lulu dahil doon.
'My Lady is really good person. She is even trying to console me like this kahit na dapat ay magalit siya dahil sa pagpapahamak ko sa kanya.'
On the other hand, when Veira saw na kabaliktaran pa ang epekto ng panunukso niya dito, napahinga na lang siya ng malalim.
"I am not blaming you, Lulu. I have anticipated that ending already. With the greed of that woman, kahit kunin lang niya ngayon yung regalo na inihanda ko para sa bagong Heir's Wife, I will still lose that silver hairpin to her in another day na bumisita siya sa courtyard ko.
"So it's okay. You don't have to apologize. Plus, I am not stopping you to speak up. But you must be wiser in doing so the next time."
"I... I understand, My Lady."
"Okay. Now, you fix your face first bago tayo magpatuloy sa pagtungo sa common hall. Don't worry, that's not the only gift I prepared for the new Heir's Wife. I have another one hiding here in my sleeves."
Lulu finally stopped crying then. For a moment, she wondered kung kelan ba naghanda isa pang regalo ang mistress niya but she didn't dwell on it too much. It was good that her mistress did so because although she should not be sending a gift to the new Heir's Wife but it might also help her gain a good impression from the latter. Good impression from the main wife means a good life for concubines after all.
***
