The Empress

Chapter 7

"Princess... My princess..."

The big and innocent eyes of Izabela stared at her mother as she approach her. Minsan niya lang ito makita at tuwing may events lang kung kailan kina-kailangan ang presensya niya. The heart of 3-year old Izabela, although didn't grew up with the presence of her mother, doesn't yearn for the affection of the latter. Nanay Celia niya lang ay sapat na. Pinakita at pinaramdam na sa kanya ng kanyang yaya ang pagmamahal at pag-aruga na hindi niya nakita o naramdaman sa sariling ina kaya naman nagtataka siya, ano ang dahilan nito para lumapit sa kanya at lambingin ito?

"Why?" Is all she could ask. The little Izabela could understand everything on her surroundings but can't speak much. She maybe a smart girl but the ability of a child doesn't exempt her.

"I have a favor for you my child. Can you do it for your Empress?"

'Narcissist.' she thought. The word which she had read in a story somewhere perfectly fits for her mom. She was still not crowned yet the nerve of her to call herself an Empress.

"What is it?"

Instead of answering her, she smiled to the child where Izabela got chills down to her bone. The little child knew there was something wrong in her mother's smile. She just couldn't put a word in it. The mother signalled her to follow her which she did.

The dark and eerie hallway of their castle bothered Izabela. She feels like there's something that about to happen. Something... That a 3-year old like her would never understand.

Her mother led her to the door leading to her grandfather's bedroom. She blinked a couple of times when her mother didn't knocked and just opened the door. She also noticed that there are no guards guarding the current Emperor's bedroom. She pouted when her mother entered like the arrogant person she was. She then followed closely.

As they get near to the sleeping Emperor, she noticed the glass that the Emperor was holding closely. She then wondered if the glass was something dear to her grandfather. Because he was holding the glass while sleeping like she was with her teddy.

"Now, my princess. For the favor I was asking...", her mother said when they stopped right beside the Current Emperor. From her back, she showed her something that seems like a knife and handed it to her.

"Can you please kill your grandpa for me, dear?"

"Please?"

Her eyes abruptly opened at nakita niyang nasa conference room pa siya. She thought she was just alone in the room but then saw Sean inside with her. He was playing something on his phone and looked up when he saw the twitch she made. She instantly felt relieved.

"Gising ka na. 'Di na kita ginising kanina. Mapatay mo pa ko.", he chuckled kaya napangiti siya ng konti. Masarap kasi sa pandinig tawa neto. Parang ang mahal at pinagkakaitan nito ang iba kaya napaswerte mo kapag narinig mo siyang tumawa.

"Pero bakit 'di mo na ko iniwan?" sa tanong niya ay parang na-offend ito at sumeryoso kaya siya naman ang natawa. Alam na kasi niya ang dahilan.

"I can't leave you unguarded. You know that."

She smiled fondly at him, "I know."

Tumayo si Sean sa inuupuan niya at nag-inat.

"May naghihintay pala sayo sa labas."

"Let me guess." they both smirked.

"You already guessed it right."

Pagbukas nila ng pinto ay bumungad sa kanila ang nabubugnot na si Dan or mas gustong tawagin ni Isabela na Sherwin. Nakahalukipkip ito at nakasandal sa pader na katapat ng conference room. Ngumisi siya rito na agad naman siyang sinamaan ng tingin.

"Ang cute mo." pang-aasar niya.

"Shut up. Let's go."

Nauna na itong umalis at doon niya nakita ang nagkukumpol na mga babae sa magkabilaang gilid nang sundan niya ito ng tingin. Nagsihawi ang mga babae nang dadaan na ito at para namang uod na binudburan ng asin ng makadaan ito.

"Kahit saan talaga nakakapukaw ng atensyon ang kumag na iyon."

"Right." tamad na sang-ayon ni Sean, "Do you wanna grab something by the canteen before we go?"

Umiling si Isabela at sumunod na sa daan kung saan dumaan si Sherwin. Sigurado namang may inihanda na ang Nanay niya pag-uwi niya.

"Tagal mo." nang-gigigil na saad ni Sherwin nang makarating sila ng parking lot. Nginisian na naman niya ito.

"Hinihintay mo ba ko?"

"Hindi."

"E bakit nandito pa kayo?"

"Para isabay..." natigilan ito saglit, "Si Sean!"

"I have my bike with me, so do Isabela."

There was an awkward silence between them and the people inside the van before Sherwin went inside and closed the door loudly.

The two can't help but burst out laughing when the van left.

"Napaghahalataan ka, Sherwin." natatawa at naiiling na saad ni Isabela.