The Royal Series 01: The Royal Agreement

Chapter 12

VICTORIA

“Aren’t you comfortable?”

“Please shut up. I’m not fully awake.” Sabi ko kay Clinton na kalalabas lang ata ng banyo.

I was too tired last night that I just went to sleep. And now, I just realized again that I’ll be sleeping in one bed with Clinton. Kaya kanina nang nagising ako ay nahampas ko sa mukha si Clinton ng unan, which woke him up.

Hindi pa naman ako sanay na may katabi. I mean, I’ve been sleeping in my own room with my own bed for as long as I can remember. So you can’t blame if I woke up with someone hugging me! Lalaki pa!

“Hey.”

Nang marinig yung pagtawag ni Clinton ay tinanggal ko yung unan na nakapatong sa mukha ko. Inangat ko yung sarili ko pero nang nakaharap na ako kung nasaan yung bedside table, napaatras ako nang kaunti.

“W-what?” Tanong ko at sinubukang lumayo nang kaunti kay Clinton.

Nakatukod kasi yung isang braso n’ya sa bedside table ko at nakayuko. With this proximity, I can smell his expensive perfume. I can also see how his hair is still slightly wet.

“We maybe married and will be sleeping in the same bed, but you don’t have to worry about anything inappropriate. I’m not like that.” He said and sighed. “I have no problems sleeping beside you, but if you do, I’ll talk to my parents about sleeping in different rooms.”

I couldn’t say anything back because he just picked up his laptop along with a few folders and left the room. On the other hand, I decided to finally get off the bed to take a bath. But first, I went to the walk-in-closet to choose what clothes to wear.

Honestly, kung ako masusunod, I’d wear something comfortable. T-shirt and short ganon. Maybe sweatpants. But ever since I started living here in the Palace, I’ve been wearing clothes meant for going out even if I’ll only be in the Palace.

Kung tutuusin pwede namang mamaya na lang ako magsuot ng pang-alis dahil mamaya pa dadating yung lawyer ng Royal Family para sa mga papeles na kailangan kong pirmahan. Pero may inaasikaso rin akong documents kaya mas okay na yung kung tatawagin ako ni Red para kausapin yung lawyer ay didiretso na lang ako.

Hanggang dito ba naman?

Hindi ko napigilang mapatigil nang makapasok ako sa ‘study room’ ko raw. Looks like they forgot to tell me that Clinton and I will be using the same study room.

Binigyan ko na lang ng tipid na ngiti si Clinton nang umangat yung ulo n’ya bago in-occupy yung malinis na desk. Nilapag ko yung laptop bag, hardbound sketch notebook, at pencil case ko. At pagbukas ng laptop ko, I began working on what I needed to do.

Inuna ko yung school paper works ko dahil karamihan don ay within this week or the following week ipapasa. Naka-log in din yung mga social media accounts ko sa browser para sa mga group activities and reporting.

At nang matapos ako sa mga school paper works ko ay saktong nagdala si Red at Ray ng snacks para sa amin. Kaya naman habang kinakain ko yung snacks ay binasa ko na lang yung mga paper works na nagawa ko na for Royal Hands.

Yung iba dito over 1 month ago ko na nagawa kaya tinitingnan ko na lang for revisions.

Actually, Royal Hands could have been registered to operate in Great Amber a month ago. But Kuya Julius suggested that I register Royal Hands after my marriage because it’s easier. Aside from the fact that the registration might be prioritized due to the one registering it a Royal. Mas mahirap kasi kung ire-register ko na Sparks pa ako.

Although hindi magiging mahirap para sa akin since kinasal ako kay Clinton kung ire-revise ko yung documents after the wedding. Since the wedding turned me into a Royal. Magiging mahirap para sa mga magp-process ng papeles dahil baka akalain nilang ayoko maghintay.

Dahil pag-send na lang ng mga documents sa offices ang kailangan, sunod ko namang tiningnan yung reports sa performance ng Royal Hands. Pati yung budget breakdowns. Pero napatitig ako sa budget report. At pagkatapos ko tingnan lahat ng budget reports ng Royal Hands sa Great Amethyst at Great Crystal, napangiwi ako.

Doing this budget report all by myself will definitely kill me. I have enough math subjects to deal with, being a Business Economics major. I don’t want to add studying accounting in my list. So I dialed Henry’s number.

“Siguraduhin mong importante ‘to Victoria.”

Halos matawa ako nang marinig yung boses ni ni Henry kaya tinanong ko s’ya, “kagigising mo lang?” Medyo bangag kasi s'ya pakinggan.

“Hindi ba obvious? Nag-inuman kami nina Gian, Jon, at Finn pagkatapos ng reception n’yo.”

“Huh? Eh diba uminom din kayo nung isang araw?” Gulat na tanong ko.

Pero hindi ko narinig yung sinagot ni Henry dahil napatingin ako kay Clinton. God! Naalala ko na naman na may hangover pa s’ya kahapon!

“Hoy, tumawag ka lang ba para manggising? Sa pagkakaalala ko, wala tayong gala. At hindi ka na pwede lumabas basta-basta.”

“Do you have to remind me about that?” Ismid ko at naalala ko yung dahilan kung bakit ako tumawag. “And hey, you know a lot of accountants. Can you refer one to me?”

“May Royal Accountant ah?”

“It’s for Royal Hands.” Sagot ko. “I need someone to take care of the organization’s accounts here in Great Amber.”

“Edi ako. Accounting student ako.”

“Hindi ka pa graduate.” Puna ko sa sinabi n’ya.

“Grabe ‘to oh! Sumbong kita kay Mama. Sabihin ko naging Crown Princess ka lang, binu-bully mo na ako! Wala pang 48 hours yan ah!”

“Alright, fine!” Natatawang sabi ko. “You can take care of Royal Hands’ accounts once its paper works are done. But have Auntie look at it. There are still stuff about accounting you need to learn.”

“Aray ha, walang tiwala? Goodbye, matutulog pa ako.”

Nang narinig ko yung pag-end sa call, iiling-iling na lang akong napatingin sa screen ng phone ko. At humigop ako sa cup of tea na nasa tray bago bumalik sa ginagawa ko. Pero nahinto ako dahil tinawag ako ni Clinton.

Hinihintay kong sabihin n’ya yung kung ano mang itatanong n’ya pero lumapit s’ya sa desk ko. While still sitting on his swivel chair.

“You know, I’m curious about something.” Aniya.

“Does…that involve me?” Maingat na tanong ko.

“Kind of, I guess. Since I want to ask about Royal Hands.” Sagot n’ya.

“Ah, okay. What are you curious about?”

“What do you actually do there?”

Napaisip naman ako sa tinanong ni Clinton pero nang maisip ko kung anong sasabihin ay napaayos ako ng upo.

“Charity works, mostly. And it’s a nonprofit organization so we don’t really earn money from it. Royal Hands is financed by donations of companies. At first, we just do volunteer works. Like feeding programs, visits to orphanages, and the likes. But we recently started to give stray animals a temporary home.” I answered.

“And who are those people taking care of the stray animals?” Tanong n’ya ulit.

“Homeless people and in exchange, they have a room to stay in and food three times a day.”

A smile suddenly made its to Clinton’s face which caught me off guard. And my eyes were just following him when his swivel chair rolled to settle beside me.

“You’re taking care of Royal Hands’ papers, aren’t you? Can I see?”

Since he asked, I opened all the soft copies of the documents for him to see. Inilapit ko rin yung laptop sa kan’ya para makita n’ya nang maayos. At sa totoo lang, kinakabahan ako na ewan. Ang seryoso kasi n’ya habang binabasa yung files.

Panay tingin tuloy ako sa screen ng laptop ko sa kan’ya. Pero napatitig ako sa kan’ya nang dumako yung tingin ko sa labi n’ya. Hindi ko alam pero napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko.

Nanlaki naman yung mata ko nang bigla s’yang lumingon paharap sa akin.

“W-what?” Tanong ko. “Is something wrong with the documents?”

“Yeah.” Sagot n’ya kaya napakuha ako ako sa laptop.

Binasa ko ulit lahat ng file pero wala naman akong makitang mali. Kaya magkasalubong ang kilay na tiningnan ko si Clinton.

Is he trying to mess with me?

Bumuntong hininga naman si Clinton at nang kumilos s’ya ay sinundan ko yung bawat galaw n’ya. In-scroll n’ya yung documents sa pinakababa kung nasaan yung pangalan ko at itinuro. Taka ko naman s’yang tiningnan.

Ilang segundo kaming nagtitigan hanggang sa napabuga ng hininga si Clinton. Na para bang hindi s’ya makapaniwala na hindi ko makita yung nakita n’ya.

“Who are you?” Tanong n’ya.

“Tori.” Takang sagot ko.

“More.”

“Victoria, the new Crown Princess of Great Amber?” Hindi pa rin siguradong sagot ko na na naging dahilan para humugot si Clinton nang malalim na hininga.

“And my wife.” Dagdag n’ya.

I couldn’t help but purse my lips and turn to look at the documents, because it feels weird. Someone calling me his wife. Then I looked at the documents again until I was staring at it.

“Normal ba sa ‘yo na minsan sobrang attentive at minsan sobrang slow?”

“Anong mali ba sa documents? I can’t see it.”  Tanong ko at nilingon s’ya.

“Your name.” Sagot n’ya na nagpasalubong sa kilay ko.

I mean, how can I type my name wrong? I definitely know the spelling of my own name. Lalo namang wala akong amnesia para magkamali sa na-type kong pangalan.

“You’re now my wife and the Crown Princess of Great Amber, Tori. So the name there should be Victoria Janelle Sparks-Williams or Victoria Janelle Williams. You’re not Miss Sparks anymore. You are now Mrs. Williams.”

Napanganga ako sa narinig kong sinabi n’ya kaya naman tiningnan ko lahat ng documents. And he was right. Victoria Janelle Sparks lang ang nakalagay. Kaya agad kong inayos yung nakalagay.

Pagkatapos ko ayusin ay nilingon si Clinton at yung mukha n’ya, sinasabi talagang hindi s’ya makapaniwala. Kaya hindi ko napigilang mapanguso.

“Cut me some slack. I’ve only been a Williams for a little over 24 hours. Normal lang na hindi pa ako sanay.” Nakangusong sabi ko.

“Looks like I have to remind you every time you’re writing down your name until you’re used to it.” Buntong hininga n’ya. “Anyway, I’ll help you start Royal Hands here. I-send mo sa akin yung files para masimulan na.”

Bumalik naman na s’ya sa desk n’ya kaya naman s-in-end ko na sa email n’ya yung files. May kumatok naman sa study room at pagbukas ng pinto ay nandun si Red.

“Your Highness, the Royal Lawyer and Royal Accountant is here.”

Tumayo naman ako at sinundan si Red sa lounge ng Southern Wing ng Palace. Bago pa ako makapasok ng lounge ay narinig kong inanunsyo yung pagdating ko. Pagpasok ay agad na nag-bow yung Royal Lawyer at Royal Accountant.

It’s a little difficult to tell who is what since both the man and the woman are both wearing a corporate attire with no IDs.

“Please take a seat.” I told them but they only sat down after I did.

But I figured out that the woman is the lawyer since she’s the one who handed out the files that I had to sign. She also explained the contents of the files before I signed them. While the man gave me a different file. He’s discussing as I flip through the pages of the files.

It’s the list of properties transferred to my name. There’s even millions of money under my name.

I’m not new to seeing large amounts of money, but seeing millions under my name. Solely from marrying a Prince, it kind of made me shocked.

Getting that much money in return of losing my single life? Unbelievable but it's right in front of me.

The meeting was quick so I went back to the study room with the list of properties in my name.

“Tapos na?” Gulat na tanong ni Clinton.

“Yeah.” Sagot ko at umupo.

Tiningnan ko naman yung listahan ng lupa na sa akin na nakapangalan. Hinanap ko yung may pinakamaliit na lot. Saka ko hinanap online.

And it’s a five storey building that looks like it’s been abandoned for years. I’m no engineer but the building looks sturdy. The previous owner probably lost the ownership to both the building and lot either by bankruptcy or for being involved in something illegal that it fell to the hands of the Royal family.

“Clinton.” Tawag ko at binitbit yung laptop ko papunta sa desk n’ya. “Does this look good?”

“Looks a little…dirty but it’ll be good if renovated. Why?” Sagot n’ya.

“I think it’s a good location for Royal Hands. Within the city lang din at minimum renovation ang kakailanganin. And about the money for the renovation…my parents, brother, Jenny’s family, Gian’s family, Henry’s family, and Sandy’s family already agreed to help me build Royal Hands.”

“And me. You can also consider Jon’s, Finn’s, and my friends’ families in on this.” He added after scanning the site.

“You’re not going to force them aren’t you?” Tanong ko.

“I just know that they can’t say no to this. Now, let’s go.”

“Huh? Saan tayo pupunta?” Gulat na tanong ko dahil bigla n’yang kinuha yung laptop ko at hinawakan ako sa palapulsuhan palabas ng study room.

“To my parents.” Sagot n’ya. "You don't need an appointment to talk to my parents when you're their daughter-in-law."

At hindi ako makapaniwalang basta-basta lang s’yang pumasok sa study room sa Northern Wing!

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