The Kings Of Kartia: Legend Of The Moonguards

3: What People Mean to Me.

The moment I woke up, all I did was look outside the window, gazing at the designs being put up in the city bilang preparasyon sa nalalapit na pagdiriwang. The festival is one week away from today. It will be held to celebrate my 17th Day of Coming. Such fancy event for someone like me, who is not even the son of the Ruler. The ruling House is the House of Gilda. The House of Moon, my own house, is only second to them.

My father is the general of the army, serving directly under the First Family. This places us the 2nd in command in the Kartian hierarchy.

The festivity will be done on the 17th day of the 6th song of the year. Today is the 10th day. I have 7 days left before the big day comes. This event is done for all the noble houses of Kartia. Once the heir reaches his 17th Day of Coming, a festival is in order to celebrate. Sometimes, I wonder why it is done on the 17th Day and not the 18th. Well, alam ko naman ang dahilan. Because on the 18th, the heir of the House will have to discard all the fancy things that comes with youth, and will be sent to Galagos island to be trained about leadership, personality improvement, and more doses of history.

Tumayo na ako at naghilamos. Malapit na akong sumapit sa hustong gulang. Malapit na akong tumayo sa mga pagtitipon ng mga dugong bughaw, at hindi ako natutuwa dito. Politics is one of the dirtiest things in this world, Tess always says. And I see them with my own eyes, how my mother and father are forced to act blissful upon kissing other noblemen in the cheeks, even those who had plotted an assasination against them years ago.

Things like that.

May kumatok sa aking pinto. Tinatamad man, alam kong kailangan kong buksan iyon at papasukin si Tess upang ihatid sa akin ang aking almusal.

"Look at you, you silly boy! Pupungas-pungas ka pa dyan. Tuyuin mo muna ang mukha mo bago mo buksan ang pinto! Basang basa na ang carpet!"

Hinayaan ko na siyang ipasok ang tray ng pagkain at padapang inihagis ang sarili ko sa kama.

"Lord Caserd, breakfast shall be finished before 8:30 in the morning or you will not get any!"

"Ang aga-aga pa, eh. Itabi mo na 'yan, sige na. Magpapaluto na lang ako mamaya," reklamo ko.

"Tatayo ka ba dyan o tatayo ka dyan?"

Sinimulan nya akong kilitiin. This is one of the few things that I love about my life. Having Tess nearby. In front of her I do not have to pretend to be someone else. She was my personal maid, but I treat her like my mother, love her more than my real mother.

Nang bumangon na ako ay nagsimula na siyang isa-isahin ang mga kailangan kong gawin ngayong araw.

"You have to attend Introduction to Harmonian History at 10am. At 12pm, you will have your lunch at Senior Ferruni's home - "

"Who is that?" I asked in between chewing.

"The owner of the Iron Museum."

"Bakit kailangan kong kumain kasama ng isang taong hindi ko naman kilala?"

"Social obligations," Tess told me and proceeded. "You are heir of the House. People would want to make connections now that you are almost 17. As a Lord that is also important for you. Allies make a weak man strong, a strong man even stronger. Do you hear me?"

I nodded.

"At 2pm, you are scheduled to have your session with Professor Jocella."

"What subject?"

"Introduction to Gifts."

I smiled. Now that's interesting.

"At 4pm, the maid Janel will accompany you to the town to check on your family's businesses."