The Blood Maiden

Chapter 16 | Duty

Elaire's POV

Halos isang oras ang ginulgol ko sa pagsuot ng maitim na unipormeng ipinadala ng royal seamstress. First were the skintight pants, followed by the inner garment— a sleeveless top and a skirt with an open slit. Pagkatapos, 'yong corset-like support na mayroong straps sa magkabilang gilid para sa dalawang sai swords. Then a blazer with two layers of lapels. Long sleeves din ito, and one of the sleeves was armored. It had metal plates that curved perfectly around the length of my arm. Kasunod kong sinuot 'yong gloves at saka ang dalawang straps na ipinalipot ko sa aking kanang hita. I believe the straps around my thigh were for daggers, but I had none. At panghuli, ay ang aking mga sapatos.

Isang nakabukas na kahon ang nakapatong sa aking higaan. Nilapitan ko ito at bumungad ang isang pares ng sai swords. It looked like the pair that I found at the weaponry, pero nang mahawakan ito, napansin kong mas magaan ang mga espada sa aking kamay at mas mahigpit ang paghubog ng aking mga daliri sa mga hawakan nitong kasingkulay ng dugo. Sa huli, isinabit ko ang mga ito sa magkabilang gilid ng aking beywang.

I was obviously prepared to fight, not to answer another test, kaya laking taka ko nang matagpuan ang aking sarili sa study, pinapagalitan ni Gideon dahil nabibilang lang daw ang halls na kaya kong pangalanan.

"Have you learned nothing from the books you have read for the past few days?" reklamo niya pagkatapos masunog sa kanyang kamay ang pangatlo? O pang-apat? Na test na binagsak ko.

Book, I corrected him in my mind. I was only able to finish one book, and it wasn't even about the palace.

Kumisap-kisap lang ako kay Gideon, hindi alam kung anong gagawin para maremedyohan ang lumalalim niyang pagkadismaya sa'kin.

Maingay siyang bumuntong-hininga. Bumaba ang kanyang noo at napahagod siya sa kanyang magkabilang templo. "Good heavens..." The glass of his monocle glistened as he slowly shook his head. "I am going to develop tunnel vision because of you."

Hindi ako kumilos sa aking upuan at hinintay siyang matahan.

On the other hand, Prince Mirev seemed to be enjoying. Nang sulyapan ko kasi siya mula sa sulok ng aking mga mata, nakita ko siyang nakangisi, nagpipigil na naman ng tawa habang nagsasalin ng mga libro. In the end, he was able to maintain his poise but for a fleeting moment, he seemed amused.

Ibinaba ni Gideon ang kanyang mga braso. "Do you even know what tunnel vision is, Elle?"

Tinignan ko siya. "It is what happens when I get hit very hard in the head."

He sighed, again. "You are technically right."

A newfound confidence started to form inside me— na sinira lang din niya.

"But not exactly right," pagbabawi ni Gideon sa sinabi niya. "I thought you were supposed to be accurate and precise when targeting enemies. How come you can't do it when answering test questions?"

"Ibang tama lang kasi..." Humina ang aking boses. "Yong alam ko..."

Halatang dinala ng sinabi ko si Gideon sa bingit ng kapaguran.

"Continue studying," tugon niya na may kasamang matigas na paalala. "Study. Elle. Not just read."

Sa kabutihang palad, may lakad ang prinsipe sa umagang ito. We went to the observatory for his special studies. I just stood guard outside for a couple of hours, not worrying about test questions, and then we went back to Sapphire Hall, where I began worrying about them again.

"You must take this seriously." It was the hundredth time that Gideon has reminded me. "You must take everything seriously."

Some time passed and I opened a new book. Prince Mirev was writing on parchment while Gideon organized the shelves, carrying a couple of papers and books in his arm. Nakatingala siya sa estante, may inaabot na libro. Even in doing the simplest of tasks, nakakunot pa rin ang kanyang noo, nagpapahiwatig kung gaano siya ka-seryoso rito.