The Blood Maiden

Chapter 06 | Regina's Curse

Elaire's POV

Regina's Curse. Ito ang ipinangalan nila sa sumpang umuubos ng mga kabayo ngayon. At nasa stables ako kasama si Evelyn dahil isa sa mga kabayo niya ang nakuha nito.

"We have to bury it, Evelyn," sabi ko sa babaeng nanghihinang nakahimlay sa kabayo habang tahimik na umiiyak.

"B-But I saved her, Elle—" Nawala na ang dating buhay sa boses niya. "Kasama kita no'ng binili ko siya diba?"

Hindi ako sumagot.

The horse that died was bought by Evelyn when she saw it was in very poor condition. She saved it from being left for dead by the owner who told us that if the horse didn't sell, he planned to leave it in the forest for the wild animals.

Kahapon lang, sobrang saya namin dahil nalaman naming nakapasa si Misa sa Academia. Nasa Lumien siya ngayon kasama si Sion para mag-order at magsukat ng mga uniporme. Ako sana ang sasama sa kanya kung hindi biglang namatay itong kabayo ni Evelyn.

She was devastated, obviously. Paborito niya kasi ito. She even planned to have it bred because she liked the shine of its champagne coat.

"My baby..." bulong ni Evelyn habang hinahagod ang leeg nito. "I'm sorry." Lumakas ang kanyang iyak nang ibaon niya ang kanyang mukha rito. "I'm so so sorry..."

She's blaming herself— kung bakit hindi raw niya nagawang bantayan ito. But even I didn't know that the horse was sick with the curse. Nalaman lang namin pagkatapos itong mamatay.

"Evelyn." Dumating si Robin. "Kailangan na nating ilibing 'yong katawan niya bago may mahawa sa sumpa." Marahan niyang hinila si Evelyn na namimigat ang katawan at gusto pa ring yumapos sa kabayo.

I looked at the horse.

Nakabukas ang mga mata nito at mayroong bahid ng itim ang nguso nito. The horse got it from vomiting its own cursed blood before it dropped dead. Its body smelled rotten, but Evelyn, the one who raised it, couldn't care less.

Si Sangie lang ang nakapagpatahan sa kanya. Lumabas kasi ito na may dalang mga bulaklak at sinabing hinanda niya raw ito kapag ililibing na 'yong kabayo. Touched by the gesture, Evelyn finally allowed Robin and I to drag its body behind the building and bury it.

"Mama, paglaki ko bibilhan kita ng maraming kabayo." Narinig kong sabi ni Sangie habang tinatakpan namin ni Robin 'yong hukay.

"You don't understand, Sang," ani Evelyn. "I don't need a lot of horses. I only need a few that I love."

Pagkatapos ipatong ni Sangie ang mga bulaklak sa libingan ng kabayo, bumalik na kami sa tavern maliban kay Evelyn na nagpaiwan.

She came inside after a couple of hours and she spent the rest of the day mourning at their residence on the third floor. Ako ang pumalit sa kanya sa kusina, at buong araw, napaisip din ako sa sumpang pati kami ay hindi pinatawad.

Kinabukasan, napagdesisyunan kong maglakbay patungo sa baryong pinanggalingan no'ng sumpa.

I already asked for permission from Robin the night before, and I left Evelyn's an hour after dawn, on one of their two remaining horses.

Over my commoner's dress, I wore the black cape. And the old leather bag that hung by my waist contained exactly— two apples for the horse, two bread for me, one wooden container with water, my coin pouch, and a... pencil.

Hindi ko alam kung para saan 'yong lapis, sa totoo lang, pero mas lalong hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at ginagawa ko ito.

Come to think of it, I should be with Misa right now but I'm not. Because I am traveling along Silk Road, alone, to a village in Borderlands, with no plan about what to do once I arrive.