Lumina Academy: Light and Shadow (Realm Series #1)

Chapter 22: The Dinner In Luminaria Palace

Chapter 22: The Dinner In Luminaria Palace
 
“The princesses have arrived!”
 
A servant name Cecelia assisted us to go in royal library because that’s where we can find our grandparents right now. Pareho naming inililibot ni Gen ang mga mata namin habang patungo kami sa royal library. Hindi ko pa—namin ni Gen nalilibot ang buong palasyo at hindi ko alam kung magagawa pa namin ‘yon dahil sa lawak nito. At saka, wala rin kaming oras sa ngayon lalo pa’t ranking na bukas.
 
Until we stopped in front of a golden double door at mayroong mga kawala sa magkabilang gilid ang nagbukas ng pintuan para sa amin. The one who assisted us mentioned us to get inside and that’s what we did. Bumungad naman sa amin ang napaka-lawak na library—from left to right, and from up, you can see a lot of books. There are pixie fairies here too and they are busy arranging the books and it reminds me of the library in the academy.
 
“My granddaughters!”
 
Sabay naman kaming napalingon ni Gen kung saan nanggaling ang boses at nakita namin si grandma na patungo sa direksyon namin. She’s wearing an elegant white dress and her hair is always in an updo style. She looks gorgeous, especially, while seeing her smile on her face. Gen and I did the curtsy and we heard her chuckle softly. She stopped in front of us and using her hands, she lifted our chins softly.
 
“You don’t have to be so formal, mga apo. Come and hug your grandma,” mabilis naman namin siyang niyakap at sabay-sabay na lamang kaming napatawa.
 
It feels good hugging your grandma…
 
Humiwalay naman kami sa kaniya habang pare-pareho kaming mayroong ngiti sa mga labi. Honestly, when I finally met Mimi’s family, I felt happy, however, I am still looking for someone—for something and I already know what are those. I can feel that my cousins don’t want to be close with me and I don’t know and I am not sure if their parents aren’t like me too… but just like what Mimi told me, I just have to understand them.
 
“How are you both?” Grandma asked before she gently pulled us where the sofa set was.
 
“We’re doing well, grandma… it’s just that, we’re nervous for later’s dinner since it was our first time,” Gen answered and we all sat on the sofa. Kaharap namin si grandma and she’s sitting elegantly.
 
“I see… and I guess, Lara already knows why you are here too,” grandma look at me that’s why I smiled at her.
 
“Opo,” I answered before I remembered something. “Pero… pwede po ba akong umuwi rin mamayang gabi pagkatapos po ng dinner? Mimi message Gen and she was asking for my help…” I told her and I am looking at her hopefully.
 
Grandma smiled at me sweetly and she is looking at me softly. “Sure, apo. No, problem,” she answered which made me smile.
 
Mimi message Gen earlier and she was asking if I could help her pero hindi ko lang alam kung patungkol saan kaya kailangan kong bumalik sa academy mamaya. After dinner, I will go back to the academy. Merlia, Titiana, Sarafina, and Zephyr were still in my room—waiting for me and Gen to come back.
 
Kinausap pa kami ng kaunti ni grandma bago kami lumabas at nagtungo sa garden upang maglibot habang hinihintay namin ang sundo ni Gen. Kahit umaga ay maganda pa rin dito but I chose night since that’s when pixies, fireflies, and glowing butterflies and flowers are appearing and it makes the whole place magical. That’s also the reason why I want to go out every night, pero bawal naman kasi lumabas sa academy.
 
I also wanted to see the city lights pero hindi ako nagkakaroon ng pagkakataon. But since there’s an event in the academy in the whole week kaya pwedeng lumabas kahit gabi ngunit hindi pwedeng lumabas sa mismong academy. I am actually looking for a place inside of the academy where the city lights can be seen pero hindi ko pa ‘yon maharap sa ngayon.
 
“I excited but at the same time, nervous for tomorrow’s event. Ranking always scares the shit out of me,” Gen said and I laugh because of it.
 
“Paano ba ang ranking last year?” I asked as I look around.
 
“Hmm… we were called individually then we will fight the assigned monster to us,” pag-kwento niya kaya naman napatango-tango na lamang ako.
 
“Paano naman kaya ngayon…?” Bulong ko but since Ingrid Genevieve’s sub-power was enhanced hearing, hindi ‘yon nakatakas sa kaniya.
 
“Headmistress ang nanay mo pero hindi mo tinatanong! Hmp!” Saad niya na ikinatawa ko naman.
 
“You know that she’d been busy this whole week and we barely see each other that’s why I was never given a chance to talk to her,” I told her and she sighed.
 
“Oo nga…”
 
Nilibot pa namin ng kaunti ang garden hanggang sa mayroong nagsabi sa aming nandiyan na ang sundo ni Gen habang ako naman ay kailangan ng ayusan. Nagpaalam na kami sa isa’t isa bago kami tuluyang naghiwalay. Dito daw sa palasyo gaganapin ang dinner kaya ang kailangan ko na lamang gawin ay hintayin ang royal family and until now, hindi ko alam kung sino ang kasama ko.
 
Ate Cecelia accompanied me to my room here in the palace and told me to take a bath. She wanted to help me but I said that I can manage kaya nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng iwan niya ako para maligo. Mabilis akong naligo at naabutan ko si Ate Cecelia na inihahanda na ang maso-suot ko. Pina-upo niya ako and told me to wait for those who will help me to get ready for tonight’s dinner until there are twin ladies came at inumpisahang ayusan na ako.
 
Ate Cecelia was only on the side while watching these two beautiful ladies until they are done. Pinasuot naman na nila sa akin ang aking dress before I look at myself on the mirror. I was wearing a white sparkling dress—long sleeve and there’s a slit in my left leg. White high heels at ang buhok ko na maayos na nakatali. Mayroong mga takas na buhok sa harap ko but it’s not bothering me. I also wanted to put on my hair clip but I stopped myself.
 
“You look gorgeous, princess!” The twin said in unison—Ate Luz and Ate Lucy.
 
I thanked them both before they took their leave until it was only me and Ate Cecelia inside of my room. Dahil do’n ay kinakabahan na ako dahil ito ang unang beses na mangyayari ito sa buhay ko. Gusto ko ng matapos ang araw na ‘to—gusto ko ng bumalik sa academy at matulog—I also miss eating strawberry kahit kakakain ko lang kanina ng na sa garden kami ni Gen.
 
“Kumalma ka po, mahal na prinsesa…” marahan na wika ni Ate Cecelia ngunit tila hindi ‘yon nakatulong.
 
I look at her before I pouted my lips. “I can’t help it po, Ate…” saad ko bago umupo sa malambot na higaan.
 
Narinig ko namang bumuntong-hininga si Ate Cecelia bago tumabi sa akin ng upo. “Alam mo bang pinangarap kong alagaan ang magiging anak ng unang prinsesa?” Napatigil naman ako dahil sa narinig ko mula sa kaniya bago siya tinignan and only to find out her smiling face. “Matagal na akong naninilbihan sa palasyo na ‘to… sa pamilya mo, lalo na sa mommy mo…” she look back at me while she’s still smiling. “Halos kasabayan ko ng lumaki ang Prinsesa Jade at Reyna Emerald ngunit mas napalapit ako kay Prinsesa Jade at nakikita ko siya sa ‘yo ngayon…” tumawa siya ng marahan ng may maalala siya. “Nang mga panahong naghahanda siya dahil malapit ng ipasa sa kaniya ang pagiging reyna, palagi siyang kinakabahan—walang araw na hindi siya kinakabahan habang ako naman ay sinusubukan siyang pakalmahin—at ganitong-ganito ang ginagawa ko sa kaniya—ku-kwentuhan ko siya at habang siya naman ay makikinig sa akin ng mabuti…” I was only looking at her while she was telling a story about Mimi.
 
Mula sa kaniyang ngiti ay makikita ko kaagad kung gaano sila kalapit ni Mimi. Ate Cecelia is not a servant to my Mimi because she is her good friend inside of this palace. But I wonder… are the twins close? Is Mimi and Tita Emerald close before their conflict happens? I wanted to ask a few things about Tita Emerald but before I could even open my mouth, someone knock on the door and said that I have to go now.
 
Dahil hindi ko alam ang pasikot-sikot ng palasyo ay si Ate Cecelia ang nauna ngunit ng magtanong ako ay pinantayan niya ako sa paglalakad habang nakayuko. “Sino po ba ang makakasama ko? Tsaka, sino pong pamilya ang makahaharap ko?” Tanong ko habang hawak ko ang sarili kong mga kamay—my cold hands.
 
“Ang hari at reyna, mahal na prinsesa…” napatigil naman ako sa paglalakad dahil sa sinabi niya ngunit kaagad ding nakabawi ng magsalita siyang muli. “Wala naman po akong ideya kung sino sa mga royal family ang makahaharap niyo ngayon, mahal na prinsesa…” napatango na lamang ako at nagpasalamat sa kaniya.
 
Tahimik na naming tinatahak ang daan hanggang sa na sa harap na kami ng pintuan. Ate Cecelia opened the door and bow her head before I entered the room. Nakita ko naman sa loob ang hari at reyna—both wearing white like me and the king look dashing while the queen looks so gorgeous in her white dress. I did the curtsy and greet them before walking towards them—before calming my nerves.
 
This will be my first to be with the king and queen in one room and I don’t know what to say right now—whether to start a conversation or just shut up until this night ends. Until now, I don’t know if the queen likes me or not since I can’t read her expression which makes me more nervous. I wanted to put out myself in this misery—I wanted to start a conversation while waiting but it was the king who talked first—making the atmosphere lightened a bit.
 
“Hello, dear, Lara…” the king was smiling at me brightly and I don’t know why but I also match his smile.
 
“H-Hello po…” kinakabahan kong bati pabalik na ikinatawa naman ng hari ng mahina.
 
Akmang magsasalita na ang hari ulit ng biglang may nag-anunsyo sa labas at napatigil na lamang ako sa narinig. “The royal family Smith have arrived!” Smith… so, they are the royal family that I will face for tonight’s dinner… and the king and queen beside me…
 
Oh, boy… what’s happening?
 
Huminga ako ng malalim, lalo na ng pumasok na ang nasabing pamilya and saw Queen Azalea wearing a red blazing dress, while her husband was wearing a black tuxedo and red polo. The queen emphasizes her beauty while her husband still looks handsome even he’s not smiling. He became more mysterious because of his emotionless face—mysterious just like his son but his son is more mysterious… and when I look in his direction, natahip na lamang ang hininga ko.
 
He was wearing a black tuxedo and a black turtle neck that emphasizes his broad chest—the black turtle neck was hugging his body at naka-ayos ang laging magulo niyang buhok. Nagtama ang mga mata namin but as usual, he’s emotionless but he still can drown me because of his blue eyes… those blue orbs that drowning me because of how mysterious they were.
 
We greeted each other before we finally sat. On my left side was Queen Emerald and on her left side was Queen Azalea. Beside the queen is her husband beside King Lorcan. On the king’s left side was Prince Aiden and yes, I am beside the prince of fire. While with these royalties, I can’t help but feel heavy. I can feel their authority—from my left to right and in front of me… I felt suffocated all of sudden because of their auras that they are emitting.
 
Especially, that prince of fire’s aura that was just beside me…
 
The servants serve the food and we started eating. Bakit kasi six sitter lang ‘to?! Parang hindi ako makalunok at feeling ko ay hindi ako matutunawan ngayong gabi. This night will never happen anymore, I swear! I can’t stay like this but I have to endure it. If Mimi was only here… sana lang ay mabilis ang oras para matapos na ‘to.
 
Can someone put me out of my misery?
 
Nagugutom na ako kanina pa pero dahil sa posisyon ko ngayon ay hindi ko magawang makakain ng maayos. I rather stay in my room than this! Dalawa naman ang anak ng hari at reyna pero nakit ako pa talaga ang napili nila?! Na saan na ba ang dalawang prinsepe na ‘yon?! I was so peaceful inside of the academy earlier yet here I am… being miserable because I don’t know what to do in front of these powerful immortals!
 
“So… how are you, my dear Lara?”
 
Mabilis naman akong napa-angat ng tingin sa reyna na kaharap ko ng marinig ko ang boses niya. I tried to smile and good thing that I made it. “I’m fine po…” I answered and good thing that I didn’t stutter.
 
Queen Azalea smiled at me before she look at her son—busy minding his world beside me. “I was looking forward to you visiting our palace and if ever you visited, I will tour you myself!” Dahil kay Queen Azalea ay medyo nakahinga ako ng maluwag, lalo naman ng naging madaldal na siya and I am listening at her attentively and somehow, I was wondering why the prince of fire didn’t become bubbly just like his mother.
 
It was Queen Azalea who put me out of my misery at paminsan-minsan pa ay sumasali si King Lorcan at tila kaming tatlo lamang ang magkahaharap. The father and son are emotionless while the queen was only eating quietly. Queen Azalea lightened up the atmosphere until she started to ask questions about Mimi and our life when we were still in the mortal realm.
 
“So, Jade and Romina became your parents?” The queen asked and I nodded while there’s a smile on my face.
 
“Opo…”
 
“I see… I always wonder how Jade and Romina lived in the mortal realm until I found out that she has a daughter,” the queen said again and I can’t help but remember our life in the mortal realm before.
 
“We live a simple life in the mortal realm before we went here, Queen Azalea. Mimi and Nana have jobs that provide our everyday needs while I was sent to school to study,” I told her while still reminiscing our life before going here.
 
I miss the mortal realm…
 
Queen Azalea smiled while her husband looked at me—and yeah, I noticed it—but didn’t say anything—or it was just what I thought. “When Jade and Romina thought you about this world?” His baritone voice echoed and I can’t help but feel a bit nervous—especially while looking into the king’s eyes—the prince of fire’s father.
 
“They… they didn’t at first, King Zaiden. My mother wanted me to live like a normal being—live a normal life without magic involved until my mother realized that I can not escape this kind of life even she did everything,” I told the king and he was satisfied with my answer… I think?
 
“Does that mean that your mother has no plan on returning here? In Luminaria Realm?”
 
Bigla naman akong napalingon ng magtanong ang katabi kong reyna—Queen Emerald was the one who asked and I don’t know but I felt the atmosphere became heavy and I am starting not to like it. Especially, when the queen looks at me in the eyes without any trace of emotion. She’s looking at me emotionless but her tone was telling something… is she mad? Napatigil na rin ang iba pa naming kasama rito sa silid and their attention were on us.
 
“Emerald…” it was her husband—his tone was soft but it’s still sound like a warning for me. The queen didn’t even look at her husband and she remains looking at me.
 
Despite the heavy atmosphere, I tried to smile while looking into the queen’s eyes. “She planned, Queen Emerald… but because she knows that even she doesn’t want to go back here anymore, she still must…” I answered while thinking about Mimi. I had a proud smile on my face while talking about my mother and I know that they can see how much I love Mimi through my eyes but what the queen said next made me lose my smile.
 
“Don’t you know that your mother was the reason why I was suffering until now?” Bigla niyang saad at ramdam ko ang galit niya habang binibigkas ang mga salitang ‘yon. “Don’t you know that she’s the reason why I don’t know whether my princess was still alive or not?!” Tumaas na ang boses niya at ang walang emosyon niyang mga mata ay napalitan ng galit. Because of what she said alerted the others while I was only looking at the queen.
 
“Emerald!”
 
Hindi ko na alam kung sino ‘yon, all I know was that the queen was looking at me furiously. Her husband—King Lorcan pulled her up and that’s also the reason why I stood up. “She was the reason why my daughter is missing! She was the reason why I have no idea if my daughter was still alive!” Now, the queen was shouting at me and I was standing here while I can feel my heart tightening, and at any minute, I will break down.
 
“Emerald, stop! She has nothing to do with that issue!”
 
Hindi ko na alam ang nangyayari. Napako na lamang ang tingin ko sa reyna na hawak ng hari at pilit na pinatitingin sa kaniya but Queen Emerald was still looking at me furiously like in any minute, she will attack me. Seeing Queen Emerald right now while remembering Mimi’s suffering too, I can’t help myself but to feel hurt. I bite my lower lip to stop myself from crying not until I heard what the queen said next.
 
Can someone… put me out of here…?
 
“Your mother is heartless! I wish she will lose her daughter too for her to feel how miserable it is to lose her child! I wish you will also die!”
 
Napaawang na lamang ang labi ko hanggang sa naramdaman ko na lamang na mayroong humila sa akin palabas sa silid na ‘yon na hinding-hindi ko na gugustuhing balikan pa. My heart was tightening and I can’t breathe properly—I can’t even walk anymore until someone lift me up—carrying me and I don’t know where we are heading to. All I know was the hurting words of the queen that keeps on lingering on my ears.
 
Naramdaman ko na lamang ang mga luha kong tumutulo hanggang na naramdaman kong inilapag ako ng bumuhat sa akin—I was sitting while looking down and I can see the pair of black shoes but I am too hurt right now to know who owns it until that person kneel in front of me and our eyes met which made me cry even more.
 
Looking into his concerned eyes, I can’t help myself but hug him while he’s still kneeling. I felt that he hugs me back before caressing my back softly but it made me cry even more. I buried my face on his neck and shamelessly cried my heart out. Mas lalo siyang lumapit sa akin kaya hinigpitan ko ang yakap ko sa kaniya at gano’n din siya. He’s quiet while only listening to my cries while I can feel his kisses on my shoulder from time to time.
 
My shoulder wasn’t showing but I still can feel the warmth of his lips. He’s now caressing the back of my head before I heard his voice. “Shhh… everything is going to be alright…” his soothing voice is slowly calming me down. Paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi ‘yon until I can no longer cry. His left hand was hugging my waist while the other one was caressing the back of my head down to my back.
 
Sumisinghot-singhot naman akong lumayo sa kaniya at tinignan siya sa mga mata. But I noticed that there’s a hint of longing in his eyes ngunit mabilis din ‘yon nawala. May mumunting luha pa ang tumutulo sa mga mata ko at alam kong namumula na ang ilong ko. I don’t even care if my make up was ruined because of my tears—I was shamelessly looking at him while I am sure that I looked like mess in front of him.
 
I was only staring at his face and he is staring back at me before I felt his warm and gentle hand caressing my cheek—wiping my tears away while his eyes are softly looking into my eyes. Mula sa pagsikip ng dibdib ko dahil sa sakit at mula sa pagbigat nito ay napalitan ng pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko. And again, I just found myself being drown and lost in his blue eyes.
 
“You want to go back to the academy?” He asked gently and I nodded slowly. He smiled and it caused my heart to beat faster even more. “Okay… we’ll leave this place…” he said before standing up and offering his hand on mine.
 
I look into his hand first before looking into his smiling face and I just felt myself calming, and when I raised my hand to hold his hand, I just suddenly felt peaceful and safe. I felt safe while holding his warm hand.
 
***

Princess Lara’s hairstyle and dress

Source: Pinterest