The Ruler of Westeria

TROW 35| Insanity

Third Person

Xiomara kept her head low as she sat on the cold floor. Her wrist was still tied up in the air with a chain. Ang nagkalat na dayami lang sa loob ng tore ang nagsisilbing higaan niya sa malamig na sahig. Being locked up inside one of the tallest towers in the palace, she felt like that one Disney Princess. What's her name again? 

"It's cuffing season, and all the girls are leaving to get a big boy . . ." Xiomara pursed her dried lips and rolled her eyes. "I need a big boy, give me a big boy." She continued to sing. Kapagkuwan ay parang baliw ito na natawa.

This is not the cuffing season I want! Nasaan na ang big boy ko? 

Kung ilang araw na siyang nakakulong dito ay hindi niya alam. She's been stuck for maybe three days or so? Talagang pinanindigan ng haring iyon na ikulong siya upang hindi na makagala at makapanggulo. That's what she thought. 

But the real reason why she was locked up in the tower was to keep her away from the king. She has been steering emotions in his heart, giving him profound feelings he hasn't felt for thousands of years after sealing it. Simply put, mere thought of her was enough to question his sanity. 

"Why?" The king clutched the cup of booze in his hands. "Why do you drive me insane to the point I want more?" He wanted to laugh at himself. He had no control over his mind now—nor his heart. He had become a complete mess. 

"Mother. . ." Masuyo niyang hinawakan ang pangalan ng kaniyang ina na nakaukit sa lapida. "Father. . ." His fingertips touched the cold memorial of his father. He just wanted to go back as child with no burden and responsibilities. 

He was in the Hidden Chamber of Granite Crypt, a burial sanctuary where his family and friends rested. It has been three days since he isolated himself to mourn for their death anniversary. He hasn't eaten anything since then. All he has with him is a few pots of liquor and an awfully colored dream catcher he doesn't have the heart to throw away. It has been accompanying him to sleep on this restless night. 

"Your Majesty, I am here to bring you fo—" His gaze flew at the woman who just entered the hidden chamber. Matalim ang mga mata niyang nakatitig dito kaya napakurap-kurap ang dilag. 

"Did I ask for your assistance, Talia?" Kaagad itong napayuko. He didn't. But she was concerned about his health. 

"Now, leave." Wala itong nagawa kun'di ang umalis gaya ng naging utos nito. 

Talia was one of his trusted servants. He saved her when he first escaped the seal. He found her in the dungeon, where she was about to get violated by knights. From then on, she swore to offer her life and become useful to him. Even though he only treated her as a tool, she treated her like a family, an older brother she never had but wanted to have. 

Everyone in the king's eyes was only chess pieces who were given a role for his revenge. As for her, she was like his knight. She was the one who created the internal conflicts between the Archons of Westeria. She screwed up the Flamma Archon's caravan of weapons and armories and blamed it on the Fulgur Archon. She also pretended to be a low-class geisha to sleep with one of the Fulgur Archon's generals to obtain information about Ravenburgh. She killed thousands of his war horses to cause distrust among them. 

As a woman with beauty and wits to lure them into her trap, she would be on par with Reed as a battle tactician. 

"Saskia?" Talia knocked on the mechanical door. A wheel-shaped door automatically opened upon hearing her voice. 

Pagpasok niya sa loob ay kaagad siya napangiwi dahil iba't ibang nagliliwag na likido ang bumungad sa kanya. There were human-sized capsules, different sizes of vials, and experimental bottles on the the table. Bukod doon ay may mga nakasabit ding mga mechanical dolls sa pader. Other's still have incomplete mechanical parts, but some were already perfected to the point of having painted skin of a human being.