Battlefront

33- King's Lover

Dinner with the king was festive. Hindi inaasahan nina Tiana at Xandros ang imbitasyon ng hari isang gabi at wala silang choice kundi ang um-attend. Elca was also there.

"Try this lamb. It has been in the Blackbourne family recipe book for centuries and it is still as delectable as the first time I tasted it about seven hundred years ago. It just doesn't get old," masiglang sabi ng hari na kung kumain ay daig pa ang mga pulubi sa bayan nito na hindi nakakain ng ilang araw.

Nagkatinginan sina Tiana at Xandros. Kahit na nakasuot sila ng mask ay kita pa rin ng dalaga ang nag-aalab na galit sa mga mata ng lalaki.

"It is indeed very delicious. Parang pamilyar nga lang sa akin ang lasa nito. Parang natikman ko na ito noong bata pa ako," sagot ni Xandros na dahan-dahang ngumunguya ng lamb meat.

"Pamilyar? But only my family cooks this recipe, my boy. Baka nagkakamali ka lang? Original recipe ito ng aking ina," may pagbabanta sa boses ng hari na para bang nakaka-offend na similar ang lasa ng recipe ng ina nito sa isang di kilalang bampira.

Tumangu-tango si Xandros habang ngumunguya. "Baka nga nagkakamali ako... mahal na hari."

The king's smile was mocking and Xandros was not taking it lightly kaya naman hinawakan ni Tiana ang kamay nito sa ilalim ng mesa para pakalmahin ito. And he did. He had to breathe deep a couple of times to calm down.

"So, Kamahalan," may emphasis pa rin sa boses ni Xandros sa salitang Kamahalan, "bakit kayo na lang ang natitirang Blackbourne? I mean, you're a Pureblood. Everyone in your family should live forever."

Hindi agad nakasagot ang hari dahil hindi nito inasahan na itatanong iyun ni Xandros. "My parents and their parents before them chose to grow old and die. They lived for about a thousand years and they thought that was enough. Nawalan na sila ng gana."

"How about your brother and his family?" parang balewala lang na tanong ni Xandros kaya nahigit nina Tiana at Elca ang kanilang hininga.

"They were murdered," tila balewala rin namang sagot ng hari na tila enjoy na enjoy sa pagkain.

"Woah. That sucks. Did you punish the murderer?" umakto pa si Xandros sa gulat na gulat.

Tumawa ng malakas si Marlow. Tumalsik pa ang pagkain mula sa bibig nito. "Hell no. Akala ko alam na ito ng lahat dito sa kontinente natin. I killed them all to get the throne. I even killed the king's mistress. She was a filthy whore so I didn't consider her a person. She was more like an animal. The King's pet."

Hindi nakasagot si Xandros. Tila nanigas lang ito sa gulat dahil sa sinabi ng hari. He didn't even blink when he admitted his crime. And how dare he talked about Xandros' mother like that. Being a mistress was far from being good and right but she was definitely not an animal.

"I am the king now. I only answer to myself. I can kill whoever I want."

"You-."

Mahigpit na hinawakan ni Tiana ang kamay ni Xandros. Ramdam ng dalaga ang galit nito dahil sa panginginig nito but he breathed deep to calm himself down. Again.

"You must have an excellent life. I mean, to enjoy all this? Wow," pilit ang ngiti na komento ni Xandros and Tiana was so proud of him. He was able to keep his cool despite his anger.

Tumawa ang hari. "Oh believe me when I say I am literally the happiest person alive. I am immortal, rich, handsome. I can have anything I want."

"By killing people?"

Uminom muna ng dugo si Marlow mula sa kopita nito bago sumagot kay Xandros. "By killing anyone who gets in my way, yes. That is true."

Napailing na lang si Tiana saka uminom na rin ng dugo mula sa kanyang kopita at agad na nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang may ma-realize. Since she had arrived the shores of Blackbourne, all she had was animal blood since there was only Purebloods here. But this time was different. "This is human blood," hindi mapigilang komento niya at agad na ngumisi ang hari.