Prey of the Lion

Chapter 14: Trip to Wynzellia City

Chapter 14: Trip to Wynzellia City

The four of us—me, Madame Phoebe, Filo, and Akane—were standing in front of the palace while waiting for the carriage to arrive. Habang naghihintay, humarap ako kay Madame Phoebe upang tanungin siya kung saan kami pupunta.

“So, where are we going?” I asked her.

“In a nearby city, Wynzellia City.”

“That’s my homeland.” Saad ni Filo dahilan upang mapatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya.

“That’s a good coincidence, then. What’s your name?” Tanong ni Madame Phoebe sa kabalyerong tila yelo dahil walang bakas ng ekspresyong nakapinta sa mukha nito.

“Filo.”

“I’m Akane.” Singit naman ni Akane habang nakangiti sa aking guro.

“I’m Phoebe Briggs, but people call me Madame Phoebe.” She replied.

“Anyway, since Wynzellia is your home, you’ll be very helpful to the first immersion of Empress Lark to the city, I take it into consideration that you know what time of the year this is, of that city?” Tanong ni Madame Phoebe kay Filo kasabay naman ng pagpasok ng isang itim na karwahe mula sa malaking tarangkahan.

“Today is the celebration of the Lantern Festival.” Sagot naman ni Filo. Ako naman ay biglang na-curious kung ano ang ibig sabihin niya. It is my first time hearing of such, the only festivals I know of is the Harvest Festival which is the only festival that we celebrate in our kingdom. Since my kingdom is an agricultural kingdom, we celebrate the time of the year where we celebrate the harvest of our fruits and vegetables. Tanyag ang aming kaharian bilang isa sa mga may magagandang supply ng produkto gaya ng gulay at prutas, kaya maraming mga kaharian ang naki-affiliate sa amin upang maging kasangay sa mga pinapadalhan. But of course, there are drastic changes as my kingdom is already under the reign of Liondale Empire, and I know my father is quite busy reassessing and rearranging the affiliations.

“What’s the Lantern Festival?” I decided to ask.

“People gather around, write their wishes and dreams, and anything they want to let out, on a lantern, then they light it with fire, and the lantern will float to the sky where the message will reach out the Twin Moons, Ostrum and Aurum. It is said that they will fulfill the wishes and dreams that are written, for as long as you believe intently. You should see it for yourself, the sky will look magical! The lanterns, imagine thousands of it flying!” Ngumiti si Akane habang sinasabi iyon.

Kumunot naman ang noo ko dahil sa aking nalaman, “that’s an absurd festival! Do you guys know how that would badly affect the environment?”

“What do you mean?”

“You will just contribute to environment and air pollution! Imagine once the fire has died out, and the lanterns will fall and be just garbage hanging around the places.” Umiling na lang ako, “I don’t like such festivities.”

Tumingin naman sa akin si Madame Phoebe at halata ang bakas ng pagkamangha sa kaniyang mukha. Hindi siguro nito inakala, that I will be very vocal about my standpoints in life. But it is true—why would they commence such festivities that will possibly harm the environment? For mere aesthetics? While it is true that I still know little to know nothing of the cultures of this empire, I think some thing should be corrected. But since this festival seems to have been a culture for them already, I guess trying to remove it and making them understand the possible harms it will cause will mean nothing and I will just look like an empress from another kingdom who is meddling with businesses that are not of mine.

“Okay, here’s our first lesson before we go, Empress Lark.” Seryoso na ang mukha ni Madame Phoebe ngayon habang nakatingin sa akin.

“And what is it?” I asked.

Nagkaroon ng ilang segundong katahimikan bago siya nagpasyang magsalita muli, as if she was properly phrasing the words she is about to say.

“There are things better left unsaid.” She smiled, “as the Empress, your words will also reflect the words of the Emperor, if a word of what you said will come out and people will know of it, that will create chaos and perhaps an uprising on Wynzellia. You will cause problems to the emperor if you continue to do so. While you have a point in your argument, you should not be too blatant about it.”

I nodded, “I won’t apologize for it, as I was once trained to become the King of Parzelin Kingdom, my kingdom. And one of the qualities and traits that was embedded unto me is being vocal about my own stands, principles, and beliefs. As I will be King, supposedly.”

“But now you are the Empress, so you must change that. Otherwise, you might cause problems to Emperor Leonhart in the near or distant future.” Madame Phoebe stated as if it was a matter of fact. Nang dumating na ang karwahe ay pinagbuksan kami ng isang servant, sumakay naman na kaming lahat.

“Gagabihin pala tayo unti, dahil ang Lantern Festival ay magaganap mamayang 8:00PM.”

I nodded.

“How far is the city from here?” I asked.

“An hour away.” Sagot naman ni Filo.

While we were on our way, tumanaw na lang ako sa bintana lalo na sa siyudad ng imperyo ni Leo. The ambience of the place was truly different compared to my kingdom. Habang nasa biyahe rin ay pinag-isipan ko nang maigi ang mga sinabi sa akin ni Phoebe. Hindi ko maikakaila na tama siya... It saddens me that I have to change a part of me just to fit in... But I have to. I have no choice.

“So, Madame Phoebe, how old are you?” I asked. We were all bored anyway as there is nothing good to do while we were travelling. I kind of miss Leo too, hindi man lang ako nakapagpaalam na aalis ako ngayon.

Wait, did I just admit that I miss him?

Not that he will know.

“I’m 28.”

“Oh, I just turned 18.” Sagot ko naman, “so, you are ten years older.”

“Yep.” She smiled, “how about you two?” She asked Akane and Filo.

“Twenty-one.” Akane replied.

“Twenty-five.” Filo said afterwards.

I do not know why, but the weird sensation in my chest, like of a fire, which is always and constantly raging every time I am around Leo, is suddenly calm now that I am away from his grace. I find it weird, is this a connection of me and Leo? Does this mean that the seal is weakening?

Kumunot ang noo ko habang pinag-iisipan nang maigi ito. Hindi ba dapat baliktad? I do not really know of the mechanisms, as to how it works, so I guess I cannot really tell... But Leo said it was in his dreams where the moon spoke to him, and told him that we have to be together all the time. I guess he let this one-day slide since we will be together for the rest of my life, in the first place.

Sa gitna ng biyahe, naramdaman ko ang muling pagkabuhay ng sensasyon sa aking kaluluwa. It felt like the fire was alive once more, kumunot ang noo ko dahil malayo naman na ako kay Leo? This can only mean one thing...

Saktong iyon ay nakarinig ako ng tunog ng mga paa ng kabayo sa likod ng karwahe. Lumingon ako sa bintana sa likuran ng silya at nakita ang isang itim na kabayong tumatakbo nang mabilis, mula roon ay nakita ko si Leo.

My eyes widened, walang sabi kong binaba ang bintana ng karwahe at nilabas ang kalahati ng aking katawan. I do not know why I did it, but it felt like I had to. I was happy to see him!

“What are you doing?!” I asked.

“Running after you!” Sagot naman ni Leo.

“Why?”

“Because I finished my work already, and we have to be together or close to each other all the time!” Sigaw nito. Mas lalong bumilis ang kaniyang kabayo, or I guess it was a stallion, until he was already beside me. “I am glad I caught up.”

“So, you will be with us for the entire day?” I asked.

“Ayaw mo?”

“Gusto.” Sagot ko.

He grinned after, “then, it is settled.”

He grinned, right? Or my eyes are just playing tricks on me? Hindi ko alam, pero bakit attracted ako sa kaniya? Bakit sa kabila ng bilis ng takbo ng lahat ng bagay, he was in slow motion? What is this weird feeling that I feel? Is it attraction? Or love? I do not really know, and I cannot say it is love because reality have told me love takes time, and it cannot just happen on the spot. If this was a fairytale, that would have been possible. But it isn’t. So, I guess this is infatuation. I never thought I’d feel this way to someone of the same s*x.

“Get inside the carriage, Lark. Nagugulo ang buhok mo.” Utos niya sa akin. Doon ko lang naramdaman ang malakas na paghampas ng hangin sa akin at ang pagkakagulo na ng buhok kong inayos ni Akane.

“Alright!” I said and went back inside the carriage. I looked at Akane and Filo. Akane looked very pleased to know that Leo was with us, and Filo remained with his stone-cold expression. Madame Phoebe, on the other hand, also looked unbothered.

“Leo is here.” I smiled at the three, “I mean, Emperor Leonhart.”

“I think he is quite smitten to you, Prince Lark. The emperor usually does not skip his work for anyone else, unless it is a very grave and serious matter.” Akane said.

“You think so?” I asked. Why did I sound hopeful when I did that?

Tumango naman si Akane, “there is no doubt... I think when he first saw you, it was love at first sight.”

“You think so?” I asked once more.

And she nodded again.

Bigla akong napangiti na parang tanga.