Notorious Nightingale

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

When night has finally come, everyone in the castle proceeded to the grand dining hall where dinner was already served. Habang kumakain kami ay tumikhim si Marshall upang kunin ang aming atensyon. Gaya ng dati, ako pa rin ang nasa kabisera at silang lahat ay nasa gilid nakapuwesto sa pahabang mesa.

Enzo was seated at the first chair on my left, ngunit bagamat malapit siya ay malayo pa rin ang agwat namin upang palihim sanang maghawakan ng kamay. The thought of us holding our hands secretly made me blush. Binaling ko ang iniisip kong iyon at saka tumingin kay Marshall.

“What is it that you want to say, Marshall?”

“I finally know the force of King Mateo.” Aniya, dahil doon ay bahagyang tumigil ang tunog ng mga kubyertos mula sa ibang mga miyembro. It seems like they all stopped eating just to listen to what Marshall has to say.

“How many?”

“A hundred thousand Royal Knights, and a hundred and fifty thousand Holy Knights. Combined, that makes two hundred fifty thousand Knights under his disposal... Also, he has ten Court Mages that we have to be wary of. They are the elite of the elites, the creme of the top magicians—they used to work for your father who sat on the throne. And I heard from my spy who is currently watching Pope Mateo that he is steadfastly growing the number of his soldiers. He plans to write a royal decree forcing every man in the kingdom, at the age of 18 to 40, to enlist, in the name of fighting God’s war.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ko dahil sa aking narinig. “And I assume that the nobles at the age of 18 to 40 will be excluded, at ang mga mapupuwersang maging sundalo talaga ay ang mga mahihirap.” I concluded.

Tumango naman si Marshall. Biglang bumilis ang pintig ng aking puso... “That won’t work. I have the heart of the poor people.”

“Well, they’ve been given the stick already, just put a carrot at its end and they’ll blindly follow Pope Mateo.” Saad ni Genesis, tumango naman sina Lilith at Margaux, “you may be charismatic and they may be rooting for your cause that will save them, Zendaya, but reality check—that won’t appease their survival. Every day is a battle for their survival.”

“Ano ang ibig mong sabihin, Genesis?” Hindi ko maiwasang tanungin.

“I believe that Pope Mateo is an idiot and would never think of this, but there is someone who is advising him, someone smart.” She replied, “it seems like he has managed to close the tides between you overnight... He plans to use the poor people as soldiers, Zendaya... Kaya mo bang labanan ang mga pinaglalaban mo?”

“I don’t get it.”

“Think, Zendaya, what can Pope Mateo possibly give the poor people for them to be motivated enough to fight against you?”

I finally got the idea, but I did not want to acknowledge it. I already knew who was behind this idea too, it’s no other than Scholar Jung. I hate to admit it, but when it comes to war, he is an expert. He’s helped General Marcos a lot already in turning the tides before when there were still kingdom wars because of lands. In the end, a non-aggression pact was signed among the kingdoms to end the senseless killing, and it was I who served as the diplomat in order to make this happen. I had every king of the four kingdoms to comply... At the age of thirteen.

“Ano ba ang posibleng magpapabago sa isip ng mga tao upang kalabanin ka?” Kumunot na ang noo ni Wendy na tila hindi naiintindihan kung saan na patungo ang usapan.

“Property, prestige, and power.” I said, “these are the things that further perpetuate the social stratification... Alam ng mga mahihirap na tao kung gaano kahirap ang mabuhay sa laylayan, this gives them hope to finally live a life where they no longer worry of their survival.”

“Tama ka, Zendaya.”

“But the Pope will not really give them such prizes or rewards. It’s just a false hope given to the people for them to fight me. I know this because I am sure it is Scholar Jung who is giving him advises and that person would do anything just to close the gaps when it comes to war, even dirty tricks. They have nothing to lose here, in fact, it works on their favor—if you strike the enlisted soldiers who now hope to be nobles too, then you also strike down their poor families who root for you. We are still at an advantage here as they do not know exactly of our forces, and I have already put a protection on this island against invaders. Hindi sila basta-bastang makakapunta rito... But having the poor people fight against us has become a game changer.” Pagpapaliwanag ko.

Hindi ko maiwasang mabahala at magalit dahil sa ginawa ni Pope Mateo. I did not expect Scholar Jung to be able to do this too, especially that I thought he cared for the poor the way I do. He was the one who paved way for me to hope for a better place, yet he has become an instrument of the enemy to stop the fulfillment of such vision. I am so disappointed and appalled. He disgusts me.

“Oh, Zendaya, may isa sa mga tauhan ko na nagsabi na may pinatay ang isa sa mga nilikha mong rebulto ng mga kabalyerong nakatanghal sa tulay.” Marshall said after a few seconds, “the man was identified to be a spy working for Scholar Jung Ko Lee.”

Those were the conditions I set when I created the golem knights. They’re able to detect the enemies and those who work for them. Kaya kampante ako na ang mga tao sa imperyong ito ay mga kakampi ko. Walang makakapasok sa islang ito na kalaban. They have to face the golem knights at the bridge first if they do so, and the island is surrounded by high walls, it is a stronghold, and soon, once Enzo creates his own army, the island will be more well-guarded. This island is under the protection of my magic and my Night Court. No enemy will be able to infiltrate it.

“So, Marshall, who is the spy that is working for you?”

“Doctor Helen Le Penelope, she also helped in creating this empire in just four months.” Tumango naman ako.

“How did you manage to have her help?”

Chapter 80

“She paid a visit at my estate.” Sagot ni Marshall, “she is a smart woman, she saw through our plan. Alam agad niyang buhay ka matapos ang nangyari sa libing mo noon kung saan sinunog ang iyong katawan at ang apoy ay biglang naging mukha mo... She knew I was one of your accomplices too. I could not deny, not to those old eyes of Doctor Helen that seem to know everything. And she took my silence as a moment to offer help, at nagulat ako, dahil kasali siya sa Grand Council ng kaharian.”

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Marayuka, “siya ang aking propesor noon sa akademiya. We have the same affinity towards light magic... She is a healer. That also explains why she is assigned as the Minister of Health of this kingdom.”

“Also, to add, she gave one million diamond coins, Zendaya. That’s her entire wealth. Our treasury vault currently has two million diamond coins, with my wealth combined as well. That’s enough for the survival of the people who are now under us. It’ll grow too once trade starts in the island which I am currently handling.”

Hindi ko maiwasang humanga kay Doctor Helen. I’ve already met her several times when my father had conferences, and usually, out of curiosity, I would join. She is a smart woman, that’s for sure. And I already liked her before because she is the only one who did not vote for the legalization of s*****y in the kingdom which Alexandro Belmonto has authored. She was a visionary too, like me.

“She’s taken such great risks... Paano kung malaman ito ni Pope Mateo?” Biglang sabi ni Genesis, tumango naman ang lahat, napansin ko namang tahimik lang si Shinigami sa dulo na nakikinig.

“I asked her about this when she paid a visit, and she said that she has already lived a long life, and she is ready to die if the Pope finds out.” Sagot ni Marshall, “but she also added that she won’t be careless, because she still hopes to live and see the world that Zendaya can make.”

Ngumiti ako dahil sa aking narinig. “How do you contact each other, Marshall?”

Marshall suddenly whistled and from the open window of the dining hall, a black eagle flew towards him. He stood up and raised his arm where the eagle landed. “This is Veyrondale, Doctor Helen’s friend. She uses Veyrondale to send information regarding the current state and events happening inside the Kingdom Palace, and we both use Veyrondale too to communicate because of how fast he can fly,” tinuro niya ang agila.

“Please tell her that I hold her in high regards, and that she must stay safe always.” I told the black eagle with golden eyes, hoping he can talk. Ang agila ay biglang lumiwanag at nagkatawang tao, he had black hair that reminded me of Vandersnatch and he had black pointed wings on his back... Like an angel.

“This is Veyrondale’s human form, by the way.” Marshall said as Veyrondale bowed to pay his respect towards me. Hindi ko maiwasang mapatitig lamang sa kaniya. He resembled so much of Vandersnatch—his demeanor, and his golden eyes. It’s like Vandersnatch.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapatayo. Ngumiti lang si Veyrondale sa akin pagkatapos. “Masyado bang nakakaisturbo ang human form ko? Siguro dahil sa pakpak.” Humalakhak siya nang bahagya, “balik ba ako sa pagiging agila?”

Umiling ako. “No... No. You just remind me of someone, you look like him.” I said after going back to my senses. “It is nice to meet you, Veyrondale.”

“The pleasure is mine, Queen Zendaya.” Ngumiti siya sa akin, his golden eyes glowed. “Doctor Helen has also sent her regards towards you, and said that she cannot wait to meet you soon.”

“Please tell her I feel the same when you meet her again.”

Tumango si Veyrondale.

“Care to join us for dinner?” I asked.

“Yes, please. Thank you.” Ngumiti si Veyrondale at tumungo sa bakanteng upuan, sa tabi ni Margaux kung saan bahagya silang nagkatinginan. I can feel that he was powerful too. He had the same aura that Vandersnatch has.

“So, Veyrondale, what magical creature are you?” Hindi maiwasang tanungin ni Wynonah, halatang nagagandahan siya sa pakpak nito. “Is it safe to assume that you are an angel?”

“Yes.” Ngumiti si Veyrondale. Tumingin siya sa akin pagkatapos, at naramdaman ko ang kakaibang sensasyon mula sa kaniya. It’s like there is something mysterious that lurks around him. Or maybe it is because I just met him.

“This is my first time seeing an angel. I never thought I’d live to see one, is it said that angels are God’s knights?” Saad ni Lilith, “hays, pero kung hindi man totoo, mukha namang hulog ka talaga ng langit, Veyrondale. Ang gwapo mo e.” Kumislap ang mga mata ni Lilith habang nakatitig kay Veyrondale na ngayon ay naglalagay na ng pagkain sa kaniyang plato. “But, on the serious note, is it true, though? The myth, that angels are knights of God.”

“It is true.” Ngumiti si Veyrondale. Everyone in the room took it as a joke and laughed, but I felt it—his voice and his calm composure. He was serious.

Tumingin ako kay Genesis, and she has also shared the same sentiment that I had.

“It’s him.” Genesis said in my mind. “The killer of Mad Kings.”