Chapter 24: The Masks
I took a deep breath. I looked up at the ceiling, closed my eyes, and tried everything to calm myself. I counted from one to ten, yet my hands were still tightly balled as my mind rattled like crazy.
I already had an idea that the Viardellon would appear, and this was actually Kreios's plan—his trap. He used Juniper to lure the Viardellons and danced with our farce.
Inaasahan ko na hindi magiging maganda ang unang pagpasok nila rito at magiging pagsubok pa kung paano namin sila makukumbinsi na makinig sa plano namin, pero hindi ko akalain na itatali nila si Kreios. Worst, they drugged him and turned him into this mess!
They just ruined our next plan!
I couldn't even take a step closer at Kreios. I had this urge to attack the Viardellons for messing up his face and attack Kreios at the same time for letting these brothers tie him like that.
Hindi man lang ba siya lumaban? Alam kong kaya niyang pagsabay-sabayin ang apat na ito!
I frustratingly ran my fingers through my hair with one of my hands on my waist. I knew that everyone was watching me.
This was Kreios's plan and with his situation, I am fucking on my own now!
I glanced at my mate again. He was tied up, his head tilting from side to side with a constant grin and laughter, even whistling. Then he stopped and looked above him as if he had spotted a firefly and was trying to catch its attention by blowing on it.
"Y-You drugged him!"
Marahas kong itunuro si Kreios. Tamad siyang nilingon ni Tres na nakapamaywang. Naroon na rin sa tabi niya ang mga kapatid niya na sina Dos, Sais at Quatro na kapwa nakakrus ang mga braso at nakangisi.
They seemed to be enjoying this— not Kreios being tied but Tres wearing a traditional wedding suit.
Though these brothers weren't fond of attending banquets, as a princess of Sartorias, I had to at least acknowledge them. I used to see them unexpectedly when Seth requested errands for them—but this time, I knew it wasn't because of Seth. Kreios and I had lured them into this trap.
I told myself that as long as Juniper's mate wasn't Uno, everything would be alright, there would be a possible problem, but I knew that we could handle it.
Muli akong mariing napapikit nang tumama ang mga mata ko kay Tres.Why did I forget about this fucking Viardellon? If Deltora had Rosh, who commanded both the military and political voice of Deltora, Viardellon had Tres. I even heard Evan and Casper say it was better to coordinate with Uno and Seth, not Tres.
"We did not drug him, Princess—" Cuatro was cut off again.
"She is my Queen. Call her Queen," Kreios insisted even with his head banging.
"Forgive his rudeness, Queen Harper, but Cuatro's telling you the truth. We did not drug the king. We merely played a few cards games." Inilahad ni Sais ang kamay niya at itinuro niya ang isang lamesa na may mga baraha at alak.
"The loser will drink the wine," dagdag ni Dos.
"There's a drug!"
Malalaki ang hakbang ko patungo sa bote at inamoy ko iyon. Napailing na lang ako at inilayo iyon sa akin.
"It has a silver. He'll get drunk, of course." Malamig na sagot ni Tres.
Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at marahas kong hinarap si Tres. Natagpuan ko na lang ang dalawang kamay kong mariing nakahawak sa kasuotan niya sa tapat ng kanyang dibdib at bahagya ko siyang inangat.
