Chapter 40

ELEENA'S POV

I was standing infront if the mirror while they're fixing my dress. It's been 2 days since I woke up from a deep sleep. Pwede na akong makauwi ngayon.

"Tapos na po lady Eleena" sabi ng maid.

"Thank you" pasalamat ko at ngumiti. Ngumiti naman sila at lumabas ng kwarto. Xian told me not to stressed to much. Bawal rin daw muna akong maglakwatsa. Langya! Di naman ako lakwatsera. Umupo muna ako sa kama at napatingin sa bulaklak sa side table.

Naalala ko naman si Zane. He never visits me after I wake up. Di pa ba niya narinig na gising na ako? I should write him a letter after arriving in the Imperial Palace. Siguradong nag alala yun sakin.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Napatingin ako sa pintuan nang bumukas ito. Napangiti naman ako ng makita si Caspian.

I saw him smiled when he saw me. He walks towards me and kissed my forehead.

"Hi" sabi niya. Napaiwas naman ako ng tingin.

Bakit ba ang gwapo ng Emperor na toh?

Itinulak ko naman ang mukha niya papalayo.

"Ang lapit mo. Lumayo ka nang konti" sabi ko. Tumawa naman siya na ikinapula ng pisngi ko.

Langya!

"You're still concerned about that? I even kissed you and pinned you on the bed" ngiting sabi niya na ikinatigil ko.

"D-di ko alam ang pinagsasabi mo" Sabi ko at umiwas ng tingin.

Nagulat ako ng bigla niyang inaharap ang mukha ko sakanya. Ang lapit ng mukha namin.

"Oh really? Want me to help you remember them?" Sabi niya. Langya, pwede bang suntukin to sa tiyan para matauhan sa pinaggagawa niya?

"Oo na! Naalala ko. Yan naman ang gusto mong marinig diba?" Simangot kong sabi na ikinatawa niya.

This Emperor is teasing me!

" Happy ka na diyan?" Sabi ko. Niyakap niya naman ako at hinalikan ang pisngi ko.

"Fine, I'll stop" sabi niya at nagpipigil ng tawa. Hinampas ko naman ang balikat niya.

"Langya ka talaga Caspian!" Sabi ko at tumayo. Biglang nawalan ng lakas ng tuhod ko. Buti nalang nasalo niya ako.

"I told you before Eleena. Wag mong biglain ang katawan mo. You're still weak" alala niyang sabi. Inarapan ko nalang siya.

Di ba niya naisip na hiyang hiya na ako dito?!

"Ikaw naman kasi di ka tumitigil sa pagtawa. Nakakahiya na" reklamo ko. Napasimangit ako ng makitang nagpipigil nanaman siya sa pagtawa.

Pagdating sakin ngumiti at tumatawa ang Emperor nato pero pagdating sa iba kulang nalang patayin niya kapag may maling nasabi.

"Sasakalin na talaga kita kapag di ka titigil diyan" pikon kong sabi.

"I didn't laugh" sabi niya at umiwas ng tingin. Nandito ba siya para kuni ako o para bwisetin ako?

Inilahad naman ang kamay niya sakin.

"Take my hand. Everyone is waiting for you to come home" sabi niya. Tinnangap ko namaan ito. I also missed the Imperial Palace. Makikita ko na rin ulit si Anne at ang Golden Tree.

Binuksan niya ang pintuan at lumabas na kami.

"Want me to carry you?" Rinig kong sabi niya. Nilingon ko naman siya at sinimangutan.

"I can walk Caspian. There's no need for you to carry me" sabi ko.

"I know, Your'e a strong woman. I'm just offering some help. Hindi natin alam baka tatanggapin mo" sabi niya.

Bwiset! Sasakalin ko na talaga ang Emperor nato!!!

Hinampas ko naman ang balikat niya.

"Langya ka talaga!" Simangot kong sabi at tumingin sa daan. Nagulat naman akong may isang mage sa harapan namin.

Sh*t! Nakita niya ba ang ginawa ko kay Caspian?

Ngumiti naman ito at bumati samin.

"Greetings, Your Majesty and Lady Eleena" sabi niya at nag bow. Napangiti naman ako.

"Tha--"

"Leave now before I could kill you"

Nagulat naman ako at napatingin kay Caspian. What the f*ck is he saying?!

Agad namang umalis ang mage. Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin.

"Why did you say that?! He's just greeting us Caspian" sabi ko.

"He's literally looking at you Eleena" seryosong sabi niya.

"Syempre titingin siya sakin. May mata siya Caspian" sabi ko at iniwan siya. Napansin kong hinawakan niya ang kamay ko pero oatuloy lang ako sa paglakad.

"I'm sorry, I just hate him for looking at you" sabi niya.

"You should at least be grateful" sabi ko at tinignan siya. Hinalikan naman niya ang kamay ko.

"I know. I'm sorry" sabi niya at ngumiti. Gaano kalaki ang ngiti niya ngayon. Ganyan din kalaki ang galit niya sa mage kanina.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at nagpatuloy sa paglakad. Minutes have passed, nakalabas na kami ng temple. I saw Alejandro standing beside the carriage. Xian is also here.

Napalingon sila samin at ngumiti. I walk towards Xian and gave him a courtesy.

"Thank you for taking of me Xian. You're a life saver" sabi ko at ngumiti.

"Anything for Lady Eleena" he said and patted my shoulder. Nilingon ko naman si Alejandro. He smiled and also bowed at me.

Nakita kong naguusap sina Caspian at Xian kaya lumapit muna ako kay Alejandro.

"It's been a while" sabi ko.

"Yeah, Thank goodness your already awake. Excited silang makita ka ulit" sabi niya at napatawa.

"I should thank them all" sabi ko at tinignan si Caspian.

"They sure loved you Eleena. When Roselia was in the Imperial Palace no one would dare it to do" sabi niya.

"Let's go Eleena" sabi nu Caspian at tinulungan akong makapasok sa carriage. All the mages from the temple bid their goodbye. I waved at Xian and he just smiled and waved back.

"They seemed to love you"

Napalingon naman ako sakanya.

"I don't think so. They didn't know me much. Parang nakitulog nga lang ako sa temple" sabi ko at napatawa. Umiling naman siya.

"Seeing those smiles and their waves is different. They like you" sabi niya at sumandal. I'm still not convince to what he said. Di pa nga nila ako nakakausap. Tapos magugustuhan na nila agad ako?

"Well, Good thing I wasn't wrong in picking you to be my Empress" sabi niya na ikinatigil ko.

"Pili lang?" Taas kilay kong sabi. Kinuha naman niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan ito.

"And of course. Hindi ako nagkamali na mahalin ka Eleena" sabi niya at ngumiti. Agad kong hinila ang kamay ko at umiwas ng tingin.

"S-stop talking nonsense Caspian. H-hindi nakakatuwa" Utal kong sabi.

F*ck! Get a hold of yourself Eleena! Wag kang magpadala!

"You should take a rest. The Imperial Palace is still far from here" sabi niya.

"I'm fine Caspian. Hindi rin ako inaantok" sabi ko habang nakatingin sa labas.

ZANE'S POV

I take a sip of the rum while looking outside. Its still daylight and I'm here drinking. I can see the knights were shoveling the snow. I heard someone knock on the door.

"You're Highness. You have a visitor" rinig kong sabi ni Lux.

"Whoever that is,  tell them to f*cking go home" walang emosyon kong sabi.

"It's Lady Stroban. Your Highness" sabi ni Lux na ikinatigil ko.

Elise? What is she doing here?

"Let her come in" sabi ko at nagsalin sa baso. Nakarinig ako ng mga yapak papalit dito.

"Why are you here Elise" sabi ko at uminom.

"I'm here to visit you Zane" rinig kong sabi niya.

"It's been years since the last time you showed up" sabi ko at tinignan siya. The last time I saw was when Ashley and I were getting married. And I never seen her again. She's like completely vanished without saying goodbye to me.

Elise Stroban is my childhood friend. I met her when she was playing with the mountain wolves at the side of the forest.

"You should stop drinking Zane. It's bad for your health" sabi niya at sinubukang inabot ang  baso. Inilayo ko naman ang baso na ikinatigil niya.

"What are you really here for Elise? I don't have time to talk to you right now. Bumalik kanalang sa susunod na linggo" sabi ko at tumingin sa bintana.

"I heard what happened from Ken" sabi niya na ikinatigil ko. That man...

"He told me everything. Don't be mad at him Zane. He is just worried for you. He sent me a letter" sabi niya.

"Don't interfere Elise. This is my business" sabi ko at inubos ang rum.

"I'm worried Zane. Please...stop acting like this" sabi niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko.

Acting?

Binato ko sa gilid niya ang baso.

"I just told you not to interfere Elise. IT'S F*CKING EASY FOR YOU TO SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT THE ONE WHO EXPERIENCE IT! SO STOP TALKING LIKE YOU KNOW EVERYTHING!"galit kong sigaw. Nakita kong nanginig siya dahil sa takot. Napahilamos nalang ako sa mukha.

"Get out Elise" sabi ko at tinuro ang pintuan.

"Z-zane---" she said and tried to reach my hand.

"I SAID F*CKING GET OUT!" Sigaw ko. I saw her tears started to fall and immediately go out.

Nagsibagsakan ang mga luha ko. Ang sakit...

"Eleena..."

ELEENA'S POV

We finally arrived in the Imperial Palace. Unang lumabas si Caspian at inilahad ang kamay niya. We walk towards the Door.  Bunati naman kami ng mga kawal na magbubukas ng pintuan.

They slowly opened the door. Nagulat ako sa nakita nang bumungad ang mga kawal at maids na nakalinya sa gilid.

"Welcome back, Lady Eleena" sabay nilang sabi. I look at Caspian and he just smiled back. I look at them they were smiling. I even saw Anne standing beside them crying.

Ito ba yung sinabi niya at ni Alejandro?

I wiped my tears and gave them a courtesy.

"Thank you very much" sabi ko. Nakita kong nagulat sila sa ginawa ko pero agad naman itong pinalitan ng ngiti.

"Let's head to the dining hall. Kumain muna tayo. It's a celebration" sabi niya at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

The knights opened the door and suprised when a lot of people greeted me.

"Welcome back Eleena!" Sabay nilang sabi. I saw Felisha and Meraki smiling and Christina was crying while Leo is comforting her. I isaw Keil facing at me and smiling.

"Thank you" sabi ko at pinunasan ang luha ko.

"There's no time for you to cry Eleena. Let's eat! We miss you. Marami pa tayong pag uusapan" sabi ni Felisha na ikinatawa ko.

We started eating and talk a lot of things to them. I enjoyed the rest of the day with them. It was very fun.

Until the night came. Caspian invited me to take a stroll outside.

We're facing the Golden Tree. Good thing the tree was fine.

"Caspian" tawag ko sakanya.

"Hmm" he said while looking at the tree.

"Thank you. You made my day happy" I said and hold his hand. Napalingon naman siya sakin at napangiti.

Hinalikan niya ako sa labi at inilagay ang kamay ko sa pisngi niya.

"Anything for you Eleena" he said. Hinalikan niya ang noo ko at niyakap ako ng mahigpit.

DONE CHAPTER 40

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