The Prince and The Parvenu (Completed)

chapter 12

After slamming the door shut behind me, I ran towards the rear part of the castle. The hallway is empty and silent, not a single being witnessing my tear streaked face. Only the sound of my shoes echoing across the entire torch lit castle can be heard. The argument I had with my siblings played over and over inside my mind like a damaged tape, annoyingly rewinding. My head aches at the scene and the exchange of words I had with them. They couldn't understand me and I don't want to understand them. That's all I could ever think of.

In a distance, two pathways would separate the hallway, somehow I can clearly see a handmaiden walking in a slow and graceful manner on the right side of it, so I dashed towards the left pathway, an exit leading to the forest before she could take a glimpse of a frantically running Princess.

The cold wind blew my hair heavily, almost blocking out my face but I couldn't care less. I want to run away. Even just for an hour or so, I want to be away from it all. Ang tanging nagpapailaw lamang ng aking daan ay ang buwan na tila natakutok at nagmamasid saakin. Ang mga huni nang ibon na kay gandang pakinggan. Ang simoy nang hangin na kay presko at kay lamig. Ngunit kahit gaano pa man kapayapa ng kalikasan, ang isip ko'y gulong gulo parin. Dahil sa mga nais na hindi makuha, sa mga pagsisinungaling, at ang lahat nang nangyayari saakin. Parang unti unti na akong  nawawala sa aking sarili.

When I reached the deepest part of the forest, I stopped near a gigantic tree to catch my breath. Panting heavily while holding onto the trunk for support. Tears continually streamed down my face, I wiped it away and took a deep breath to calm myself down. Exhausted and worn off, I sat down on a large root and closed my eyes, my mind flew back to the argument I had with Ate. Hoping that it would make a difference when I know that it won't.

I slowly walked towards the double doors and knocked twice, the butler giving me curious stares. The doors opened in a slow and silent way, I immediately felt the warm air inside the throne room but my stomach still feel like ice cold from the shouting I just heard.

They immediately looked at my way when I stepped inside, both of them wearing a smile on their faces. But I know better. Beneath those wide smiles lies mismatched opinions and their unsettling argument. We all want to provide justice for our parents but I know that this war isn't the right solution. But there ain't no other way around it.

"So what is this all about?" I asked in a casual tone and placed both of my hands behind me. Ate avoided my gaze, tears still evident from her eyes while Kuya Traq walked towards me wearing a small grin on his face. He motioned for the butler to leave us and the butler did, bowing a little before closing the door shut behind him.

"We were thinking about stopping the upcoming war—" I cut him off, smiling brightly now.

"That's great" I said with much enthusiasm but it quickly vanished when I saw ate's scowling face. A cold feeling immediately drenched my entire being but instead I feel like I'm sweating. I fisted my hands and took a deep breath while gazing at ate who is now scowling at Kuya Traq.

"No. We are not. Nahihibang na ba kayo? Do you not see their intention at all? Think about it, pinatay nang Hari nila ang ating mga magulang. Our parents who ruled the part of the country they couldn't grasp within their palms. They want to act nice just to kill us afterwards. Just like what their parents did to ours! They want to rule over the entire country alone. And us being the royal family in El He Chizo would stand in their way." Kuya Traq immediately marched towards her and cut her off with a loud bang on the table beside her, making me squirm on where I'm standing. I fisted my hands tightly, digging my nails onto my palm, badly wanting this nightmare to end. But I stood there, awake and unable to move as Kuya Traq faced ate with so much anger reflected on his eyes, ate held his gaze when she looked at him with the same intensity of fury.