Whispers of the Ethereal Threads

CHAPTER 5

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Sa maluwang na bulwagan ng palasyo, ang hangin ay punong-puno ng tensyon. Ang mga gintong chandelier ay nagbibigay ng malambot na liwanag sa marmol na sahig, ngunit ang liwanag ay hindi nakapagpalambot sa matigas na ekspresyon sa mukha ng naroroon.

Nasa kanyang trono ang hari, ang kanyang mga daliri ay bahagyang tumutuktok sa magarang armrest. Ang kanyang matalim at mapagmatyag na mga mata ay nakatutok sa alipin na nanginginig na nakatayo sa kanyang harapan.

The servant had seen it all. The sight had rooted him to the spot, his heart pounding in his chest. He hasn't had a proper sleep for weeks because of that.

He had known the princess possessed remarkable abilities, but he had never seen her use them in such a violent manner. Fear had taken hold of him, and without thinking, he had turned and fled the scene, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and terror.

Ngayon, habang nakatayo siya sa harapan ng hari, ramdam na ramdam ang takot ng lalaki. Pinagmamasdan siya ng hari nang malamig at mapanuring mga mata.

"Speak," King commanded, his voice echoing through the hall. "Tell me what troubles you."

"Your Majesty, nakita ko po ang prinsesa. Siya po... p-pinatay nya 'yong matandang lalaki. Hawak niya po ang isang m-matulis na bagay." Tumingin ito sa hari ng may takot sa mata. "Siya ang matandang natagpuan sa ilog M-mahal na Hari. H-hindi po ako makapaniwala sa aking nakita. Natakot ako nang husto, kaya't t-tumakbo po ako."

Walang emosyon o reaksyon ang hari habang nakikinig.

Nang matapos ang tagapagsilbi sa pagsasalita, unti-unting kumalat ang isang mabagal at nakakatakot na ngisi sa mukha ng Hari. Ang kanyang mga mata ay parang pumipilantik na tila unang beses niyang makita ito. "It's time then," bulong niya sa kanyang sarili.

Ang mga mata ng alipin ay lumaki sa takot. "Your Majesty?"

King Delmoras rose from his throne, his imposing figure casting a long shadow. "You see, hindi lamang siya isang prinsesa. Mayroon siyang mga di pangkaraniwang kakayahan. Mga kapangyarihang nagiging banta sa atin at nakapatay pa nga nang walang sinuman ang nakapagturo ilang linggo na ang nakakalipas," seryosong pahayag nito.

"She can sense danger, heal rapidly from wounds. I thought I could control her, mold her into a useful tool for our kingdom. But now... now I fear she might turn against us," dagdag pa ng hari.

The servant's heart pounded in his chest. "But Your Majesty, she's your daughter."

The king's expression hardened. "Why should I care? She is no family of mine. Her powers make her dangerous. I should have eliminated her when she was a child, but I was a fool. I believed I could use her. Now, she must be stopped."

Nanginginig siya sa takot, ang kanyang lalamunan ay tuyong-tuyo. Ang mga salita ng hari ay nagdulot ng panlalamig sa kanyang likuran. Ang lalaking nagpapamahala sa kanilang lupain ay kilala sa kanyang awa, hindi niya akalaing malupit pala ang kanilang hari at kinatatakutan niya kung ano ang susunod na mangyayari.

King Delmoras leaned forward in his throne, his eyes narrowing. "I should have killed her," he continued, his voice tinged with regret. "I should have eliminated the threat before it grew. But now, it's too late for that. She's grown powerful, and we cannot afford to let her live."

The king stood, his movements slow and deliberate. He turned to his right-hand man, a stern-faced man who stood at attention beside the throne. "You will take a squad of our best soldiers. Captain Rudj is on another duty, so I'm entrusting you with this mission," King commanded.

"The princess is on her way to Dinburgh City. She will attend a festival there. Hurry and catch up with her in the forest. We must act swiftly. Be alert, be cautious. Do not underestimate her."