FIRST LOVE COMPLEX

CHAPTER 19

The sun warms our hearts, the moon soothes our souls - together, they create a love that is true and oh so pure.

But what if you have so many moons around you? Moons that'll cover your rays, and cast you their shadows?

And no matter how hard you free your soul, you're bound here for long, until the moons die down in sorrow.

Makalipas ang ilang buwan matapos ng karumal-dumal na naganap na gyera sa palasyo ng Asnador ay nagsimulang manumbalik ang kapayapaan sa buong lupain ng Volterione.

Bilang si Froy ang susunod na hahalili sa naiwang trono ni King Richard, halos lahat ng nasasakupang teritoryo ng Asnador ay nagkasundo na iluklok si Prince Fory sa nasabing katungkulan bilang bagong hari ng Asnador.

In line with this, the new king Froy Zelwick announced that his marriage be delayed due to his plan to reform the institution of Asnador that his cousin, the former king Richard, soiled because of his tyranny.

King Froy strengthened the unification of three nations of Volterione and extended it's friendship with the neighboring kingdom—the kingdom of Houndshire.

Naging payapa ang lahat, kalmado at para bang wala na akong mahihiling pa. Kung tutuusin, bahagya akong napanatag dahil wala naman akong nakikitang possible na maging threat sa buhay ng pitong second male leads sa kwentong ito.

Wala na si king Richard na naging dahilan kung bakit nagpaka-martyr ang mga kalalakihang ito, subalit ang di ko lang mawari ay kung bakit ngayon lamang lumitaw si Princess Beatrice sa kwentong ito?

Mistulang palaisipan sa akin kung bakit ganun na lamang ang naging takbo ng kwentong ito.

Ayaw ko man mag-isip ng masama pero iba talaga ang kutob ko sa pagdating niya kahit pa wala naman siya masamang ginagawa.

Princess Beatrice has always been sweet and nice just like in my previous lives, at ganun din siya ngayon. As a matter of fact, she was very friendly towards everyone, most especially me.

Kung kaya naman sa di ko mawaring dahilan, pinagtatakahan ko na lamang kung bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko sa tuwing nariyan si Princess Beatrice.

Was I threatened dahil siya ang original na female lead sa kwentong ito at isa lamang akong side character na bida-bida sa kwento?

I guess I am.

Habang patuloy ako sa pagmumuni-muni na sinasabayan ko ng pagsusuklay ng aking buhok sa harap ng salamin, agad naman ako nagulat nang bigla nalang umupo sa may dresser drawer ko si Duke Lorkan.

"Am I not enough of a good distraction? You keep brushing your hair countless times I dare not even remember how many times already." tugon niya sa akin nang mapansin ko siya.

Dala ng pagkakasurpresa ko ay agad naman ako napatayo. I immediately stopped whatever I was doing and began stuttering to reply. "Du-Duke Lorkan? You-your grace, how long have you been waiting there?"

He grins at me, and damned it was too devious and too captivating to ignore. I could stare at it forever, pero nakakahiya naman na dahil lang doon ay mautal-utal naman ako.

"Long enough to stare at you forever." He said, leaning forward as towers me close. His hand cupped my left cheek as he drew his face to sniff on my neck. "How long do you intend to make me wait, Lady Giezelle?" agad naman na tanong ni Duke Lorkan.

Sa totoo lang hindi ko agad na-proseso sa utak ko ang mga sinabi niya. I was too preoccupied with his touches that it made me melt.

"I beg your pardon, your grace?" I asked, waiting for him to clarify things for me. Masyadong clouded ang utak ko dahil sa presenya niya, ang hirap mag-focus.

Ngunit mas lalo pa naging mahirap sa akin ang huminga nang pareho ng hawak ng kamay ni Duke Lorkan ang magkabilaang pisngi ko. Sinakop ng malalapad niyang palad ang pisngi ko kaya naman paniguradong wala akong kawala kung subukan ko man na iwasan siya ng tingin.

"I understand I gave you a word that you'll end up deciding when the two of us will be married. But we've been betrothed for a long time and you haven't decided when you want the wedding to be held."

Oo nga pala, matapos ang rebellion na ginawa ni Duke Lorkan, sinabi niya sa akin na hindi ko kailangan ipressure ang sarili ko na pakasalan siya agad. The Duke was willing to wait for me until I would be ready to marry him.

Yet, despite that, I should agree to live in the castle of Kahoma. At the very least, I understand that the Duke wanted to fence his claim on me by letting me live within the same castle as him.

It was a custom completely different from the usual where couples could only live together under the same roof once their married. Duke Lorkan broke that custom when he ordered to have the east wing of the Kahoma castle be redecorated that would be much to my liking.

Dahil sa hindi ko naman magawang iwasan ang tingin kay Duke Lorkan ay napapikit na lamang ako. Hindi ko rin alam papano ba ako titingin sa kanya lalo sa aking naging tugon.

"I apologize, your grace. Am I already causing you a burden by making you wait?" tanong ko.

At mabilis naman niyang sinagot ito. "Never. But lately, the longing to be with you has become almost unbearable. I longed to keep your innocence until the night of our wedding, but the scent of you, Giezelle, was all it took to awaken my primal desire," he murmured softly in my ear, his words filled with longing and intent.

I could feel a warm blush creeping up my face. Hindi na ako magtataka kung sa mga oras na ito ay nakikita na ni Duke Lorkan ang namumula kong mukha.

And I could tell he was interested as he leaned back and gazed at me intently. "Your face alone elicited a more favorable response, my lady. And it was enough to turn me on."

Nang mahimasmasan ako sa pinaggagawa ni Duke Lorkan ay agad ko siyang tinulak papalayo sa akin, "Your grace!" agad ko naman na isinara ang robe na suot-suot ko dahil halos makita na rin ang manipis kong panloob.

After that, Duke Lorkan chuckled playfully. "Do not worry, I have no intention of pursuing you tonight," he assured me. And it dawned on me, that he had done it again, just like he did every other evening since I arrived here.

Duke Lorkan has a knack for leaving me feeling flustered. Following that, he stroked the tip of my nose, just as he would normally do after teasing me. "Did I scare you again?" Tanong niya.

Agad ko naman sinagot ito, "No. I don't think you could ever scare me, unless you intend to take my life the way you did with Richard, your grace."

At mas lalo pa nga natawa si Duke Lorkan sa akin. "And why would you even think I am capable of doing such a thing? Doing that would have been the same feeling as giving a fatal strike to my head."

His answer made me smile. Duke Lorkan has been very devoted to me that it really make me feel bad that I still couldn't tell him the truth why I keep delaying the marriage between us.

It's not that he was unlovable, but the thing was that I still feel like my mission here was not yet over. And by marrying the Duke of Kahoma, it would definitely hold me down even more into accomplishing my mission to save them all—including Duke Lorkan.

"Anyway, I came here to tell you that Princess Beatrice wishes to visit Kahoma. Her envoy came today with a letter of her intent to arrive here in two days." Duke Lorkan suddenly told me, which caused me to shift into a more curious expression.

"Did she mention her intent for coming here?" I asked, curiosity painted all over my face.

"She did not mention any specific plans, but I suppose it was to see you. I mean, isn't it that the two of you were friends?" Duke Lorkan answered with a query.

"Yeah, we are." I answered with a soft smile. and yet, I was feeling some discomfort.

specially since that question from Duke Lorkan was enough to unsettle me further. It compelled me further, as I was unable to help but wonder why Princess Beatrice had suddenly expressed a desire to visit the dukedom of Kahoma.