The Prince and The Parvenu (Completed)

chapter 26

"What do you mean we'll go to the Philippines?"

Kuya Traq stood a few meters away from me while Ate Emm took a step forward to hold me softly by the elbows. Her deep set hazel brown eyes staring at me with so much urgency and worry.

"We need to unwind. We're going nowhere with the leads and I just feel like we should take a rest from all of this for awhile" Ate said in her voice calm as the rustling tress in the forest. Like the summer breeze right after spring. Her hands were warm against my skin but I couldn't feel it's warmth. We're now at the throne room and they're telling me that we're going to the Philippines tomorrow. But I couldn't leave La Belleza tomorrow. Not when I'm still chasing the truth about my abilities. The truth about my identity.

"All the more reason that we need to dig deeper Ate. They could attack our Kingdom at any moment. And I still have so much to do" I tried to keep my voice from raising.

I still need to find the child. At first, Sudie's words confused me but when I thought about it last night, I've finally understood. It was the child that I brought back to life when I first stepped inside the boundaries of El He Chizo. He was the one that triggered my abilities. I need to talk to him, maybe he can help us find the truth about the death of my parents.

"It's been weeks Herm. I couldn't sleep peacefully, aren't you tired?" I noticed the dark circles around her eyes and realised how sleep-driven she is. Kuya Traq stay silent at one corner, consumed by his own thoughts.

"So are we going to just let them get away with it?" I asked, a lump starting to swell in my throat as I choked the words out of my mouth.

Ate Emm avoided my eyes, gazing up ahead the huge glass lenses that covered a part of the roof, giving light to the entire throne room. I saw how her bloodshot eyes tried to focus as she calmed herself down. I remained my eyes fixed on Ate Emm, waiting for her answer. We can't give this up. We've exerted so much effort on this, it's justice or die trying to claim it.

"We are not waving the white flag Herm. Let's just step outside the country for awhile, it has been so suffocating." I couldn't believe how selfish she sounded. I'm also dead tired but the thought about stopping never crossed my mind.

"You're saying this as if the outside world is an ideal relaxing place. It's war out there Ate. Worse things happen outside. Running away from our problems? It won't do anything good." She looked at me for a moment, and her tears flowed like a drizzle. Silent. I felt no guilt, she needs to know. If we don't do this, then all will be for nothing.

Four thrones stood right in front of us, all four made with pure gold. Each vary when it comes to the gems that are placed intricately, amethyst, emerald, sapphire, and diamonds. No one ever sat on those thrones after what had happened with my parents. The shadows reflecting on its glassy surface on each stud seem to follow our every move and wait for the next words that would come out of our mouths. Kuya Traq stood up from his chair and said,

"Pagod na rin ako Herm. I'm sorry"

"I'm tired. Yes, I admit that. Pagod na pagod na ako. Sa tingin niyo ba hindi ko naisip na talikuran nalang ang lahat? But no matter how hard I try, I can't. This is what we need to do. To find those bastards that killed our parents which I may add are also the ones responsible for what happened in El Suelo, and make them pay." I quickly wiped the tears are escaped my eyes and tried my best to focus on the both of them. Kuya Traq looked sideways, avoiding my gaze. Ate broke into a sob and pulled me for a hug. Her warm embrace filling the void inside me. Her gentle cries echoing on my ears.