Prey of the Lion

Chapter 5: Walk at the Royal Citadel

Chapter 5: Walk at the Royal Citadel

Nauna nang umalis sina Leo at Pan sa kuwarto habang si Akane naman ay naghintay sa labas upang hayaan muna akong magbihis. Nang nakapagpalit na ako ay lumabas na ako at tumungo na rin sa silid-kainan kung saan naroon ang dalawang magkapatid.

“Mama, you so slow!” Bungad ni Pan sa akin. Nagsimula siyang magpalaman ng tinapay habang nagtitimpla naman ng kape si Leo. Yumuko si Akane at walang sabing umalis matapos akong igiya papunta sa silid.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Pan habang si Leo naman ay mag-isa sa kabisera ng pahabang mesa. There were many foods on the table and it was very hard to choose. A few seconds of internal debate and I decided to have some bacons and a quailed egg.

“How was your sleep?” Tanong ni Leo at pagkatapos ay uminom siya ng kaniyang tinimplang kape.

“Good.” I answered. “Ang aga mo atang gumising?”

“Yes, I had to work on some papers.” Aniya. “So, I’ll have Filo and Akane to come with you as you shop for your things in the city.” He announced, “and don’t worry about the money. Just take whatever it is that you need or want. I gave Akane the money and she will pay for your things.”

Ngumiti naman ako at tumango. Napatingin kami ni Leo kay Pan nang bigla itong tumayo mula sa kaniyang silya, “Pan wants to go to the city with Mama!” Tinuro niya ang kaniyang sarili at saka siya tumingin kay Leo. Nanlalambing ang mga mata nito at lumabi pa ito.

Leo just sighed, “fine, but don’t be too troublesome with Mama, alright?”

Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti sa labi ni Pan at saka siya tumango. “Yes, Papa! Pan promises!” He put his hand in front of his heart, as if saying he crosses his heart and solemnly swears.

“Good, now eat.” Leo said to his little brother who immediately sat down again and ate the sandwich he created. I started eating too.

As I looked at Leo, I keep seeing different sides of his. Who would have thought that he’d be so soft when it comes to his younger brother? Ang mabigat na kaniyang awra ay nag-iiba. The way he interacts with other people truly depends on who they are and what they are to him. I don’t see any signs of ruthlessness with him.

“So, Pan, why were you not with us last night?” I asked Pan. Bigla kong naalala na wala siyang kagabi sa selebrasyon.

“Pan was at Nosfarata Kingdom to spend the weekend with Grandpapa and Grandmama, and Pan just arrived home a few hours ago.” Sagot naman nito. Oh, it means he was with his maternal grandparents.

Matapos ang ilang segundong katahimikan ay tinapik ako ni Pan sa aking braso dahilan upang bumaling ang aking atensyon sa kaniya, “yes, Pan?”

“Since you are my Mama and you are Papa’s wife, Pan is curious if Mama and Papa will make a baby.” I can see his eyes glisten with hope, “if so, Pan wants a baby sister.”

Para akong nasamid dahil sa sinabi ni Pan. I was about to say that it was impossible but Leo answered first.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Pan.” Seryoso ang tinig ni Leo nang sagutin niya ang tanong ni Pan. Ngumiti muli si Pan at pumalakpak bago kumagat sa kaniyang emparadados.

I glared at Leo for giving his little brother a false hope, but he just shrugged at me and went back to drinking his coffee and eating his breakfast. I looked at Pan once more who was still smiling at the idea of having a baby sister in the house.

--

When we were finished with our breakfast, Leo was the first one to go since he has a lot of work to do. Umalis na rin kami ni Pan sa silid at tumungo sa entrada ng kastilyo kung saan naghihintay na sina Akane at Filo. They bowed and greeted me and Pan upon seeing us.

“Filo!” Ngumiti si Pan at saka niyakap ang binti ni Filo na seryoso lang ang mukha. How is this child not afraid of this man who looks like he is about to kill you? “Carry Pan, Filo!” Utos nito sa kabalyero.

Nakasuot lang ito ng kaswal na damit at hindi siya nakakutamaya. Ngunit mayroon pa rin siyang espadang nakasakbit sa kaniyang sinturon.

Bahagyang lumuhod si Filo at saka niya binuhat si Pan at pinaupo ito sa kaniyang balikat. Nang tumayo si Filo ay sumigaw sa tuwa naman si Pan.

“Let’s go, Empress Lark.” Akane said.

“What did I say about calling me Empress Lark? Just Lark is fine.” I dismissed.

“But we are just proud servants, Empress Lark.”

“Hmm... Then just call me Prince Lark.” Nawiwindang talaga ako kapag tinatawag ako sa titulo na para lang dapat sa isang babae.

“Then Prince Lark.” Ngumiti si Akane sa akin. Si Filo ay tumango lang naman. He was silent as ever and he probably only talks when it is necessary.

Lumabas na kami sa kastilyo kung saan may mga ibang guwardiya ang nakapuwesto sa halos lahat ng sulok ng paligid. There were also some who were in their armor and they were patrolling. The castle was surrounded too with heavily guarded walls that were high and impenetrable. Sa harap namin ay isang karwahe.

“I’d rather walk.” I said. “I mean, mas maganda pumasyal din sa siyudad na naglalakad kaysa naman sa nakasakay sa karwahe.”

Tumango naman si Akane at saka niya sinabihan ang tsuper upang ibalik ang karwahe sa garahe. The chauffer nodded and whipped the horses to start moving. After that, we continued walking. Pinasadahan ko muli ng tingin ang paligid.

The black gate that was four times taller than me automatically opened when we were close and it revealed the brick pathway of the city called Royal Citadel.

As we were on the topmost part of the city, from where we stood, I can see the dark blue rooftops of the houses and the people who were interacting with one another. We eventually descended towards the city and all people looked at us with curiosity on their faces. Upon recognizing Pan who was a prince of the empire, they would bow as a sign of respect and Pan would simply wave at them.

As we walked, I heard people gossip as they looked at us.

“I heard that the Emperor has finally chosen his Empress.”

“Is that the Emperor’s chosen Empress? She is beautiful but she lacks boobs!”

“No wonder the Emperor has chosen her!”

“No! It’s been a news around the empire that the Emperor’s Queen is a man!”

“Blasphemy! How can someone as beautiful as her be a man?”

“It is true, though! Even the nobles who were invited at the castle last night to celebrate the coming of the Empress to the city were shocked when they heard the Empress speak!”

“What has gotten into the Emperor to choose a man? There are a lot of women out there!”

“Maybe the Emperor will create his harem and have concubines to preserve his bloodline. Perhaps the Empress is just for display because of his pretty face.”

“Yes, a man—even if he is the Empress, cannot due his duty as a child-bearer, after all. So, perhaps the Emperor will create a harem.”

They were talking about me now. Hindi ko na lang sila pinansin at sinundan ko na lang si Akane na mas nauna sa amin nina Filo at Pan. We should have disguised ourselves before we came down from the castle so that we’d have our privacy. Ngunit mukhang sanay naman na ang mga kasama ko sa ganitong mga senaryo. I guess I have to get used to it too.

Pero hindi ko maiwasang maisip ang sinabi ng isa sa mga taong nadaanan namin. Well, Leo is the Emperor of this empire and most Emperors always have a harem of women and bedwarmers. The thought of him taking a woman seemed to pull something within me and it hurts. But I cannot stop him... And I do not plan to.

He does not even love me and I also feel the same.

He just took me in to prevent the magic sealed within me from being unsealed, or else disaster will fall unto the world.

I sighed.

“Mama, Pan wants to know why you look sad.”

Tumingala ako upang tingnan si Pan na nasa balikat pa rin ni Filo. He was looking at me intently with his curious eyes. I faked a smile, “of course not! Mama is just thinking.”

“What are you thinking, Mama?” Tanong nito habang naglalakad kami sa kalye.

“Nothing. I just miss my family back home.”

“Pan understands.” He replied, “homesick!”

“Yes, Mama is just homesick.” I lied.

“Don’t worry, Mama! Pan is with you now and Pan will make sure that Mama is happy!” He cheered me up, “right, Filo?!”

Tumango lang si Filo.

“Right, Akane?!”

“Yes, Prince Pantaleon.” Akane smiled.

“See?!” Pan looked at me after, his face was proud. “Pan and Papa are your new family now and this is your new home now, Mama. Of course, you’ll miss your original family, but we’re here!”

“Thank you.” I smiled. I felt a little sad for lying because the truth was, I was sad because I felt insecure that I was not a woman. I never wished to be a woman until now. I shook the thought away. But I guess it was true that I missed my family and my home. Ngunit tama rin ang sinabi ni Pan. Sila na ang bago kong pamilya.

Nang nasa plaza na kami ng siyudad ay doon ko na napansin ang maraming hilera ng mga tanghalan at tindaan ng sari-saring mga bagay at pagkain. There were also statues of lions around. The place was lively even if it was still early in the morning. As usual, people would bow their head to Pan as a sign of respect, and they would also reluctantly bow at me.

I guess since I was still not officially crowned as the Empress and I am not yet made public—only a select-few people in the empire knows of me and it is those who were with us last night.

The rest of the people are not aware how I look like. Speaking of coronation, maybe I should ask Leo when I will be crowned as his Empress. It’s not that I am rushing it and I really want to be his Empress, but after finding out that we have to be together or else bad things might happen, I have no choice but to be his Empress!

“So, where do we shop for my clothes?” I asked Akane as we continued walking the bricked street.

“We’ll go to the famous and best dressmaker’s shop in the city. Her name is Lady Castella, Prince Lark.” Sagot ni Akane.

“Oh, Castella! Pan misses her!” Pan said after hearing the dressmaker’s name. “She makes all of my favorite clothes!”

Mukhang napansin ni Akane ang pagtataka sa aking mukha at muli siyang nagsalita.

“Allow me, Prince Lark.” She started, “Lady Castella is Emperor Leonhart and Prince Pantaleon’s tailor, too. Ever since the Emperor has chosen her as the royal family’s official dressmaker, she has been in demand especially with the nobles around the empire. Being associated with the Emperor, after all, is a big opportunity.”

Now, I am curious as to who this woman is.