The Villainess Demands a Kiss

Kabanata 9 | The Name's Ginger

𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐀 𝟗 | 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄'𝐒 𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑

𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐀

"Niccolo is here." Muntik na akong matawa dahil hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kailangan pang ipagsigawan. Ano naman ngayon kung nandito na si Niccolo? Dapat bang i-kiss ko ang paa niya?

I looked away while thinking about where I should put the fruits and bread that I had bought from the market. It was late when I realized that I should have brought a bigger woven basket. Hindi ako nagsalita ngunit ramdam ko pa rin ang presensya ng lalaking nakatayo sa tabi ko.

"It's my first time seeing a woman with such exotic hair. Where are you from, and what is your relationship with the Count?" I scoffed as he leaned closer. Tinupi ko ang mga sapin na binili ko't kahit hindi ko siya tinapunan ng tingin isang segundo'y alam kong pinagmamasdan niya ako.

''Is it your first time to see a woman who knows how to do a basic household chore too? I'm not wondering. Knights like you are always outside, right?'' Natatawa kong sambit.

This time I glanced at him. I was surprise to see that it was Velrod. Hindi ko nga lang pinakita na nakilala ko siya at umiwas ng tingin dahil nagkatinginan kami ng dalawang segundo.

I remained silent and continued doing what I needed to do, fixing things in the corner. Ang totoo ay kanina pa ako problemado kung saan ko ilalagay ang mga tinapay na binili ko.

Nag-assume si ate mo girl na merong ref dito. Hinilot ko ang sentido ko't binalingan ng tingin ang buong paligid. Is my tent okay? I didn't know why I was suddenly hesitating to live in the forest.

What If madilim tapos may ahas pala sa inodoro ko? E 'di natuklaw na ang kiffy ko?

"Is that your food for one day?" Tumaas ang kilay ko nang magsalita si Velrod. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin lahat ng binili kong tinapay.

''One day? This is for the whole week. Nobles should be sensitive enough to remember that not all commoners have the same luxuries as they do.'' I scoffed because he dared to assume. Did Velrod think that these foods would be consumed in only one day?

"I apologized. I thought this was just for one day."

"You better be." I grinned. Saglit kaming nagkatinginan bago ko ibalik ang buong atensyon ko sa ginagawa ko.

How silly. Minsan talaga ay hindi ko maintindihan ang takbo ng isip ng mga may pera. I remember this trend in TikTok where people share they experiences. Aminado akong mapera ang biological father ko pero kahit kailan ay hindi ako naghangad ng mas higit pa sa kaya niyang ibigay. Ang gusto ko lang ay peace of mind sa buhay.

At that moment, I wondered what Velrod's proposal was, as it had never been mentioned in this novel.

"I can see that you're a Knight. A gold Knight." Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang suot niyang armor.

The truth is, there's no need to wear armor when going outside. I know they just want to flaunt the Gold Knight's badge on their left chest. Kung ipandalakan nila na Gold Knight sila, kala mo naman talaga ginagawa ang trabaho nila.

They would wear the Gold Knight's armor in public, yet they would approach Morgana in private to ask for advice. These men are funny.

''Yes.'' Velrod sounded proud. Muntik ko siyang tawanan dahil hindi niya alam na ako si Morgana.