His Royal Highness's Scandalous Passion

Kabanata 12

They shove me into a cold, dimly lit cell. I heard the iron bars clanging behind me. Naramdaman ko ang lamig sa katawan nang maupo ako at sumandal sa pader habang pinapanood ang pagsara ng bakal sa harap ko.

Maliit ang silid, pero pakiramdam ko ay sobrang luwag non. Walang kahit ano bukod sa maliit na bintana sa taas, ipinapakita ang liwanag ng buwan.

I shivered, pulling my knees to my chest. Hours seemed to drag by each second feeling like an eternity. Wala akong lakas para gumalaw pa, hinayaan ko lang ang sariling manginig sa lamig ng gabi habang pinapanood ang liwanag ng buwan.

I could hear distant voices and the occasional clatter of footsteps, but none came near my cell. The silence of the cell brought back memories of our mansion, where I was always alone. Halls, rooms, corridors, dining, all had been empty echoes.

Halos marinig ko na ang mahihinang bulungan ng mga tagasilbi sa mga pasilyo, ang maliliit na tawanan sa kung ano mang dahilan. And then the door opening, and the footsteps of my father on his study room. My mother on the living room fitting his new garments.

The occasional party on the first floor, and the loud noises. Lords, ladies, scholars, businessmen, royalties. I remained on the corner because no one dared even to notice me.

What the hell? Mabilis kong pinalis ang luhang tumulo sa gilid ng mata ko. Damn, all I did was to spend an hour inside this cell and here I am acting like a child.

Natawa ako sa sarili. "What a pain in the ass."

I had spent too much time feeling sorry for myself, I'm done with it. I'm long done. Why would I pity myself? Their expectations don't matter to me. The only thing that matters is my expectation to myself.

Who gives a damn about making your father proud? I don't. I don't care. A family who had given up on me a long time... I don't care about them.

I heard a sudden clatter beside me, the sound of the cell door swinging open. My heart leaped into my throat as I turned, trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief.

"Papa," I stammered, unable to hide the shock in my voice.

He stood there, his expression unreadable. Nakatunghay siya ngunit ang mga mata ay nakatingin sa akin sa mababang paraan na animo'y nakatingin lang sa isang paslit sa daan. A child, no worthy of attention.

"Why are you here?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

He took a step closer, his footsteps echoing in the silence of the cell. "I heard what happened," he began, "The accusations, the arrest... It's all over the kingdom."

Nanginig ako.

"I didn't," I insisted, the words tumbling out in a rush.

He pulled my collar and looked at me in rage. Naramdaman ko ang pagsikip ng kuwelyo sa leeg ko at ang bahagyang pagpigil sa aking paghinga.

"What have you done!? Another scandal!?"

"I swear, I didn't do it. Albert framed me." Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at tinignan siya ng diretso. I'm different. I'm not the pathetic child Alarken always asking for his attention. I don't need it. I deserve more. I deserve better.

"You set Kaiser's Building on fire and you're telling me you didn't do it!?"

Tumalsik ako sa malamig na sahig. Muli, ang malamig na sahig sa aking mga palad at tuhod. It was the same. Like how he beat me up whenever I do something that is nothing but a shame.

Tears dropped on the ground. I saw how the stone absorbed it dry to the ground, and how another drop of tears fell again.

"How many times have we been through this, Alarken?" he growled, his voice low and harsh. "How many scandals? And now this? Are you really gonna ruin our reputations!?"

"Albert framed me!"

"Framed you?" He groaned in disappointment. "How long are you gonna be like this? I thought you were just too prideful and incompetent. But you're also ruining your own family? Ruining Albert? Your own brother? What a foolish son."

I gritted my teeth.

"Ruining my family? Wow!" Tumawa ako at pinalis ang luhang natira sa pisngi.

"I thought, I'm just your slave 'Pa? Now I'm your foolish son? Hmm..." Hinawakan ko ang baba ko at umaktong parang nag-iisip. "Does that mean I'm promoted? Can I have at least 10 percent of your company then?"

Kumunot ang noo niya at akmang lalapat na naman ang palad sa pisngi ko. Mother caught it and held him on arm. There, sweet talk your husband.

"No? 5 percent then?" I continued.

I sighed and smirked. "Uh, I feel bad for Albert. Mababawasan ng 5 percent ang shares nya. He's even dying on working his ass and here I am, easily asking for shares. Will you give me Pa?"

My father shook his head, his features hardening. Tumalikod siya at marahas na hinila ang kamay mula sa pagkakahawak ni Mama.

"Alvaro!"

Humalakhak ako nang maglakad siya paalis. Loud enough for him to hear it.

Naputol ang tawa ko nang makita si Mama na lumapit sa akin. Pity on her face while looking at her pathetic son, again.

"Alarken, I'm sorry. Your father was just in shock. He was—"

I cut off my mother, my voice tinged with frustration and hurt. "He didn't even give time to check if it's real? He heard the news in town and he came straight here, punching me."

"Your father... he's under a lot of pressure, Alarken. The accusations against you, they're serious. And Albert was in shock too from the fire---"

"Fuck Albert! Albert dito! Albert dyan! Damn that fucking Albert!"

"Alarken!" She screamed. Pumatak na ang luha sa gilid ng mata. I shook my head, unable to contain my disbelief.

"Your father loves both of you."

Bullshit!

"He loves you, Alarken," she replied, her eyes reflecting the pain. I know she's in pain, but I'm in pain too!

She's always like this. Sweet talking me every time this happens. 

"He wants what's best for both of you. We both want--"

"Leave!"

"Alarken, please—" she started reaching out to touch my arm.

"I've had enough talk right now. Just leave Mother!"

She nodded silently. "Come back home," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Pinanood ko siyang umalis at ang pagsara ng selda.

Damn!

Sinipa ko ang makapal na bakal sa harap ko at hinayaan iyong saktan ang paa ko.

"I'm not done with you, Albert!" I muttered under my breath.

I'm going to show the whole kingdom how better I am. Better than you. Better than Father. Better than the entire Kaiser family.

I'll use my skills, I'll use resources, I'll use connections, I can even use the prince! With his help, I could access circles of influence, using his status and connections to my advantage.

The bars clanged, echoing through the cold silence of the cell. Standing at the entrance of the cell was a guard, holding a set of keys in his hand.

"You're being released," the guard said, his voice firm. "The charges against you have been dropped."

Nakita ko sa likod niya si Cedric at Evander. Evander grin and Cedric was holding a coat on his arm.

"His Highness sent us to pick you up."

Maliit na ngisi ang sumilay sa labi ko.

He really has a power to pull this kind of things, huh? With him by my side, I could have a power.