Chapter 10: Old wagon and masks
My life as a princess with protective brothers and a sister had always been difficult. I always wanted to have my own adventures, but it was tough to sneak out of the castle. But fair enough, I was blessed by a very good friend named Lailani. She's a commoner's daughter, who came from a family who had been serving the royal family for generations.
Lailani's even better than the young aristocrats who think nothing but fancy dresses, jewelries, and tea parties. It wasn't even new to me that most of my playmates anticipated seeing my famous brothers in the empire, especially Zen. Hindi nila alam ang sungit-sungit naman ni Zen, or maybe they were all aware that it was part of his character, and they were attracted to someone who was always grumpy like him.
Unlike my brothers and sister, who had been proud of being royalty, I always liked to interact with commoners. I always tend to ask questions from our servants, which usually they avoid.
I suddenly remembered Zen.
He was always towering over me with his hands on his waist. "Harper, you shouldn't interact with the commoners. You're a proud Gazellian. Can't you see? They are working. You are bothering them."
Sinulyapan ni Zen iyong dalawang babaeng tagasunod na nilapitan ko dahil nagtatanong lang naman ako sa kanila. Agad yumuko ang dalawang babae at nagmadali kaming iwan ni Zen.
Nanghahaba ang nguso ko sa kanya at pinagtataasan lang ako ng kilay. Zen's always been everyone's bully. He was not friends with everyone. "I was just curious . . ."
"Then ask me."
"How? You're always grumpy."
Mag-aaway pa sana kami ni Zen nang biglang may lumapit na kawal sa amin. Agad hinawakan ni Zen ang kanyang espada bago niya ako muling sinulyapan. "Go. You can read books and ask Lily your questions."
Hindi ko siya sinagot, sa halip ay inilabas ko ang dila ko sa kanya. Zen quickly growled at me with his bared fangs, mas naunang natakot iyong kawal na nasa likuran niya.
"Ikaw, sutil ka . . ."
Ngumisi na ako. Agad lumuhod si Zen at inangat niya ang isa niyang kamay. "Akin na ang dilang iyan, Harper."
Ilang beses nang yumuko ang kawal at nagpaalam na. Hindi na siya pinansin ni Zen nang tumakbo na akong tumatawa sa pasilyo kaya sumunod sa akin si Zen.
"You silly little girl! Sino ang nagturo sa 'yo niyan? Si Dastan ba? Si ama? Hihilahin ko ang mga dila ninyo!"
Sa huli ay nahuli ako ni Zen at ilang beses niya nang hinila ang dila ko. Ganoon din ang ginawa niya sa akin kaya tumatawa kami sa isa't isa.
I was aware of the reason why Zen hated it when he saw me with the commoners or any other servants from the castle because he's been afraid that I might hear unnecessary stories about him. He was known as the black prince of this empire— the savage and the heartless who killed hundreds of lives in a snap at a young age. It was nothing new to me, but that didn't taint the image of my brother.
Zen might be the meanest brother— but I knew that he'd do everything for me. He loved me. Kahit lagi niya akong pinagagalitan.
"Give me that tongue. Pagbubuhol-buhulin ko kayo nina Dastan at ama. Kapag nakita ko iyang sina Dastan at ama hihilahin ko rin ang mga dila nila. They shouldn't teach you—" hinahampas ko na ang kamay ni Zen nang bigla kaming nakarinig ng magkasunod na tikhim.
Two shadows were now towering over us. Zen's eyes widened. I looked over my shoulder, and then I saw the familiar form of my father and Dastan. Both of them had similar outfits and hairstyles.
