The Blood Maiden

Chapter 19 | Nightmares

Elaire's POV

Tuluyan na ngang kumunot ang aking noo nang mapansin si Gideon na pabalik-balik sa kwarto ng prinsipe. This time, pumasok siya kasama ang isang katulong na may dalang isang timba ng umuusok na tubig.

Magtatanghali na at hindi pa rin lumalabas si Prince Mirev mula sa kanyang kwarto...

"Elle," sambit ni Gideon nang muli siyang lumabas. "You are free to leave and you do not have to come to work this afternoon. His Royal Highness will be staying inside his room the whole day."

My nose caught the scent of herbs from behind the doors. "Did something happen?"

"His Highness is not feeling well—"

A lady servant interrupted us. Nakakapit siya sa nakabukas na pinto nang sabihing, "His Highness has allowed the guard to come in."

Nilingon ko si Gideon na sandaling nabahala ang mga mata pero sa huli ay napabuntong-hininga. He adjusted his monocle before signaling me to enter. "You must never speak of what you will see behind these doors."

"Stop acting like it is a big secret, Gideon." Narinig ko ang namamaos na tawa ng prinsipe. "Everyone knows. They just don't talk about it."

Humakbang ako papasok ng kwarto at agad sinalubong ng kahindik-hindik na tanawin— nabalot sa putik ang buong lawak ng sahig at sa mga pader, malagkit na tumutulo ang malalaking talsik ng itim.

Nilaktawan ko ang maliliit na pudla ng maruming tubig upang bigyang-daan si Gideon na kapapasok lang din ng silid. "His Highness suffers from inescapable nightmares. It is completely avoidable, if he only stops invading other vampires' dreams," sabi niya, bakas ang kaunting inis sa tinig. "He got pulled into a servant's nightmare this morning and almost drowned in mud."

"It was an accident," paliwanag ng prinsipe. "I was just watching him from a tree when the branch beneath me suddenly broke."

"With all due respect, Your Highness," matigas na sagot ni Gideon. "No accident would have occurred if you didn't enter his nightmare in the first place."

Underneath the dirt, the prince's room was definitely a royal's chamber. Malaki ito, engrande, detalyado ang bawat sulok. Huminto ako sa tabi ng nagtataasang glass panels na bumubukas sa isang balcony. At saka lang ako tumingin sa kabilang dako ng kwarto kung saan naroon—

Napatigil ako nang matagpuan si Prince Mirev na nakaupo sa gilid ng higaan habang pinupunasan ng mga katulong ang kanyang hubad na itaas. He was clearly tired. His hair was damp with sweat but— but why do I also feel like breaking into cold sweat?

The prince held his nose slightly higher, tila may nahagip na amoy. Ilang segundo niya itong pinag-isipan at namuo ang isang maliit na ngiti sa kanyang labi nang lingunin ako.

"Elaire," he called, as his gaze bore into mine, sharp at first before growing intense, digging right straight into the nerves of my spine. "Remind me what time it is."

"It is..." Umangat-baba ang aking lalamunan. "Noon, Your Highness..."

The prince's subtle smirk flickered with satisfaction.

"Gideon." Tumayo ang prinsipe dahilan na mapaiwas ako ng tingin. "I believe I have audience today?"

"Yes, Your Highness," sagot ni Gideon. "Lord Delric, the Duke of Borderlands, is on his way to meet you this afternoon."

Kumibot ang aking kilay nang marinig ito.

The Duke of Borderlands?

The Duke of Borderlands, kumpirma ko nang makita ang lalaking tumayo upang salubungin ang prinsipeng kapapasok lang ng drawing room.