The Blood Empress

Bloody 2: Ruby Locket

Bloody 2: Ruby Locket

Roen Astrid.

My mother suddenly lost her grip at my hands so I immediately held her shoulders to support her.

Why would that filthy rich bitch, the empress of this damn empire, that freaking woman, tried to steal it?

Why did my father, the powerful emperor of this empire, that old bastard, let himself to be a puppet of that sick woman?

That's right. That old bastard is my father. Simula nang ipanganak ako ay nakakulong na kami dito. Why? Because I'm the illegitimate child of the emperor. She made my mother his mistress and if everyone found out about my existence, his reputation will be ruined.

But locking us here for all these years? This punishment is unreasonable. We don't deserve to be treated worse than criminals.

It's all because of the empress. She brainwashed my father and forced him to lock us here. That old bastard. How can he let a mere woman order him around? How weak.

Unti unting umangat ang tingin ni mom sa aking mga mata. I was startled to see her red and teary eyes. I don't want to see her like this.

"Mother, Is there something that you need to tell me?" I held her hands and asked her softly. Tell me the truth, Mom. Tell me, so I can protect you.

"Roen, there is actually something mom badly wants to tell you." Nanginig ang mga labi niya sa pagpigil na umiyak.

I retracted my gaze from her. I gritted my teeth. I can't look at her teary eyes.

"Roen, sweetie. Wag ka sanang magalit kung ngayon ko lang sasabihin." She touched my cheeks. Kita ko sa mga mata niya na matagal niyang iniwasan ang sitwasyong ito. It's time, mom. It's time for you to tell me the truth.

"You are the first born daughter of the emperor, Roen. I and your father may not be married but you are not an illegitimate child either. I'm not the mistress, sweetie. You should be the crown princess, Not Lucy's insolent daughter."

I inhaled deeply. I already prepared myself for this confession. I knew it.

Empress Lucy Emery Dallas. The emperor's dear wife.

Princess Lily Emery Dallas. Her insolent daughter.

I better remember their names clearly. Oh wait, there's one more name that should be added in my death list.

Emperor Zandrick Dallas. My incompetent father.

How could he let his wife and his insolent daughter do this to us? How could he abandon us?

"Roen, sweetie. That ruby locket is the proof that you should be the crown princess. We must get it back. Your grandpa will be disappointed."

I inhaled deeply. Do I really need that title?

"If the ruby locket is the proof that I am the first born daughter, then they should be planning to get rid of me right?" She nodded. Is that so? I think there's something wrong.

"If that's true then the empress should already know that grandpa gave it to you. He must be the reason why she can't kill us." Dagdag ko pa.

"That is the problem, sweetie. He's the reason why Lucy can't kill us. Pero paano kung gamitin niya ang emperor para patayin ka, tayo?" Nakita ko ang pagdaan ng takot sa mukha ng aking ina ngunit agad ding nawala.

"They must be plotting something." Madiin kong bigkas.

"Yes, they are probably waiting for the right time, Roen." Bakas ang matinding takot sa kanyang boses.

"We are banned from entering the palace or even getting out. How can we leave this place? I don't want you to rot here with me, sweetie. You must escape." Dugtong pa niya.

"What are you saying Mother? I'm your daughter. Naturally, I'm involved in this matter."

"Roen, don't even think of doing something dangerous. They are probably not doing anything because we are protected by your grandpa and the Darah clan." That's right. They are no match to our clan. The most feared clan amongst the empire.

"Don't worry Mother. I'm not planning to show up in the palace with the locket. Now is not the time  for me to enter the palace, Mother. First, I need to know what they're plotting." I held my mother's face and looked straight in her eyes.

She suddenly hugged me tightly.

"I won't let you, Roen. Just let Lucy do what she wants.  Let's live a quiet life, okay?"

I looked down and hugged my mother back. I'm much more taller than her.

"I don't believe you, Mother. I know that you gave it to me to seek justice for what happened to us. Di ko man alam lahat ng pinagdaanan mo dahil sa kanila, I can still feel your sorrow, Mother. I will get to the bottom of this." I sincerely said while touching my Mother's back to comfort her.

Unti unti kong naramdaman ang pagbasa ng damit ko dahil sa luha niya. I hugged her tightly.

"I'm so selfish, sweetie. I'm so selfish. I don't want to involve you in this problem b-but I also can't accept what happened to us, I can't accept what they did to me!" Puno ng hinagpis ang boses ng aking ina. I gritted my teeth.

"Everything will be alright, mom. They will reap what they sow. I'll make sure of that."

Kumalas siya sa yakap ko at tumingin sa akin. Nanlalaki ang mga mata niya na tila di makapaniwala.

"A-am I dreaming? Did you call me m-mom? Say it again sweetie, say it again." Inalog niya ang balikat ko.

"Roen sweetie, from now on, just call me mom okay? Don't be so formal with your mom, okay?"

I smiled.

"Yes, mom. In exchange, you should not worry so much and just let me get back what we deserve. Trust me, mom."

Unti unting kumalma ang aking ina at tumango.

"I'll accompany you to your room, mom. Sleep and rest, got it?"

Inalalayan ko siya at naglakad kami pabalik sa kanyang kwarto. Pinahiga ko siya sa kama at kinumutan.

Inintay kong makatulog ang aking ina. Hinalikan ko ang noo niya bago lumabas sa kanyang kwarto.

Pagkalabas ko ay agad akong naglakad papunta sa aking chamber.

All of the guards and helpers are already there. They all heard my conversation with mom.

No worries though, they are on my side so they will only report what I wanted to tell to the empress.

I am their master.

There are a total of 5 guards and 5 helpers who were assigned by the empress to be here in order to monitor our actions and conversations.

They are the empress' most trusted servants. But there's one thing that she didn't know. I am the one who implanted them in the palace. I ordered them to gain the empress' trust and that's the reason why she assigned them to guard us.

There's a reason why I chose them as my team. I already did a background check on them. Kasama ang pamilya nila sa mga taong tinapak tapakan at pinahirapan ng royal family. They wanted revenge and I am the key for that revenge. They are my key for my plans, as well.

How pathetic. She wasn't aware that her most trusted servants are actually the moles in this palace. She believes that they are really working for her. Letting them know her plans to eliminate us. But the truth is, I am the one who's watching her moves, not the other way around.

The servants she thought who would protect her, are the ones who wanted to kill her the most.

I may be locked in here but that doesn't mean I am not doing anything. I can easily get information from the outside. I can effortlessly escape this palace if I want to, but that would be boring. I smirked.

I want to play a game.

And the royal family are my toys.