Kabanata 7
Palace

Celestia Rogue

I DON'T KNOW If this is a good idea. It's been two months since I saw Seah and I'm getting really worried. She seems to have a problem and I just want to make sure she's okay so I sneaked in the palace, hoping that I would meet her.

And yes, I am an idiot for doing something this reckless. Will I be executed when caught? Yes I might die on the spot. Is there a huge possibility that storm guardian who wants to kill me is here? ofcourse.

Will I die if she sees me? yes I will.

But I also might annoy Drashit if that Ice burg is here so it might be worth it. Am I thinking right when I decided to sneak in here? No I am not, I'm worried about Seah.

But I'm kinda proud that I managed to get inside despite of the security. But I'm not proud that I do not know if I will be able to make it out alive in this place.

"Why did I do this again?"

I mumbled while wearing a palace maid's uniform and a mask. Maids are not allowed to show their face in the palace, it is considered to be rude, showing their bare face to the royalties and nobles.

Habang nakayuko ay naglakad lakad ako upang hanapin kung nasaan si Seah. I know who she is even if she's wearing a mask. I would sense it, ang problema lang ay posibleng malapit siya sa prinsesa kaya mahihirapan akong makatyempo.

"Take these plates to the buffet table."

One of the maids said, naka maid uniform pala ako. Agad akong tumalima sa sinabi niya upang hindi mahalata. Ninakaw ko lang naman itong maid uniform kanina nang makapuslit papasok ng palasyo.

The kingdom won a war, that's why there is a grand celebration today, here in the palace. Kaya hindi ako madaling mapapansin dahil masyadong abala ang lahat. Plus they won't randomly check if a maid has a mana.

And unlike Drashit who has high enough mana to hear your thoughts, most of them dont have that ability. I asked Seah about mind reading and she told me that the ability needs a really high mana to do so and no one would bother to use that and waste their mana anyways, unless they have unlimited power.

Well he won't be the first rank for nothing.

I shrugged.

"HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS! CROWN PRINCE SETH DRAKE DEWEI ZAVERI AND HER ROYAL HIGHNESS! PRINCESS NATALIAH ZAVERI!"

They announced as a very beautiful woman, dressed elegantly entered the hall with the said crown prince. She has a beautiful long blonde hair and bright green eyes.

And for some reason, unlike any other nobles, I don't feel any resentment as I look at her.

Maybe because her eyes is as warm as my mother's.

Well who knows, what she really is like. She's important to Seah so I won't disrespect her.

I don't really care about the crown prince, but he do has the same features as the princess.

"Where is Seah?"

I mumbled.

The princess is only with her brother right now.

Is she serving the guests? I can sense her, so she's probably somewhere in this huge hall.

"Draco is really handsome isn't he?"

Kinikilig na sabi ng mga guest sa lamesa kung saan ako nagseserve ngayon.

"Wag kang maingay ate, kapag ikaw narinig ni Ayesha, baka ikaw ang pag initan. You know how possesive she is towards Draco."

Iling iling na sabi ng isa pa.

"They are not even together, just look how Ayesha keep bothering him, he doesn't even care about her."

She shrugged.

"She doesn't care about anyone, but he's indeed good for the eyes."

Her sister giggled.

Drashit? Good for the eyes? ang sakit niya sa mata kamo. That Ice burg is irritating as hell, I wish I wouldn't bump into him. If he's here, then he probably knows that I am here too incase he's using his ability.

Why would he use that here? The thoughts of the nobles are all disgusting, I wouldn't be interested hearing them if I were him.

He probably doesn't care anyway, I just hope he won't open that damn mouth of his if he finds out. I just wanted to check on Seah and bring her necklace back, lalo pa at importante ito sakaniya.

Nilibot ko ang buong hall at nagtanong tanong sa mga maids.

"Have you seen Seah?"

I asked one of the maids, lumingon naman ito saakin.

"Seah? the personal maid of princess Nataliah?"

Tanong niyang ikinatango ko.

"Yes! that Seah."

I said.

"Inutusan siya ng prinsesang maghatid ng mensahe sa Bailey kaya wala siya ngayon dito, hindi ba niya nasabi saiyo?"

Tanong nito.

"Magtatanong ba ako kapag sinabi sakin?"

Sambit ko.

"Hindi."

Napakamot ulong sabi niya saka nilingon ang isa pang maid na tumatawag sakaniya.

"Sige na, tutulong pa ako sa kusina, dalhin mo iyang mga tray sa table."

Utos niya saka nagmamadaling umalis.

So inutusan si Seah ng prinsesa?

"But why do I sense her in this hall?"

Kunot noong bulong ko.

Is she disguising herself right now? she told me that sometimes, the princess would order her to spy on someone suspiscious.

I can't speak with nobles since they might figure out that I am not an actual maid here and just sneaked in, so I had to trust my senses and follow it to find Seah.

The ball continued as I wait for an opportunity. Patuloy lamang ako sa pagseserve ng mga bwisita habang inaalam kung saan posibleng naroroon si Seah. I can sense her near the princess. Maraming kausap ang prinsesa kaya hindi ko mawari kung nasaan siya naroroon.

"Pakidala ito sa table ng crown prince."

Utos saakin ng matandang maid na agad ko ding sinunod. They should pay me higher, ako ang pinaka mabilis magserve ng pagkain ng walang natatapon.

Why would they pay me? I'm just disguising myself and had to escape later.

Sisingilin ko talaga ang babaeng iyon.

Dala dala ang tray ng inumin ay nagtungo ako sa nasabing lamesa. Naroroon din pala si Drashit na kausap ng prinsepe ngayon. Kasama nila sa lamesa ang tatlo pang member ng kanilang party.

Tahimik lang akong naglapag ng inumin habang nakayuko nang hawakan ng lalaking mukang tanga ang kamay ko.

"You have nice hands."

He said then winked at me, nangiwi ako doon.

"Leona, you're gonna scare her."

Tawa ng lalaking may pulang buhok at tila ba nagbabagang mga mata, I heard he's the Archduke's son, from a family of strongest fire mages in this kingdom.

"Sorry miss, she just drunk too much."

Seryosong sabi ng isa pang babaeng nakapang lalaking suot din habang masamang tinignan iyong humawak sa kamay ko. So the one who held my hand is also a girl? Thinking about it, she does look like a girl when you stare at her. She has platinum blonde hair and beautiful tan skin. She also has white ears like a wolf beastman.

"What? I love beautiful flowers like her."

She giggled then kissed my hand, nanlaki ang mata kong babawiin na sana agad ang kamay ko, ngunit agad na hinablot ng katabi niyang babae ang kamay niya palayo saakin.

What beautiful? I'm wearing a mask dumbass.

Sinamaan pa ako ng tingin habang hawak ang kamay ng beastman, I need to disinfect my hand later, a guardian kissed and touched it.

"See? even our ice king is staring at her."

Ngisi nung Leona habang nakapangalumbabang nakatingin saakin. Sumulyap ako kay Drashit at doon napansing nakatingin nga ito.

Did he figure it out?

"Nonsense."

Ice burg said blanky as he sipped on his wine.

"Shut it Leona, baka magising ka bukas, nasa tuktok ka na naman ng nagyeyelong bundok."

Tawa ng prinsepe saka sumulyap saakin.

"You can go now."

The crown prince grinned, yumuko lamang ako saka umalis.

I sensed Seah going somewhere so I decided to follow her, leading me to a green house. Nangunot ang noo ko roon at pinasok ang lugar.

"Who's there?"

An unfamiliar voice said, nanlaki ang mata ko nang makitang, ang prinsesa iyon. Weird, I definitely can sense Seah here, the green house is really big, so I guess she's somewhere.

"A maid?"

She muttered.

"Pardon my rudeness, your highness, I didn't know, you were here."

I said then bowed my head, I'm not really sure if I greeted her properly. But I feel like she's shocked while looking at me.

"You may rise."

She said while looking at me.

"Why are you here?"

The princess asked, looking at me with those warm eyes.

"I am looking for my friend, your personal maid, Seah."

I said.

"She's quiet busy right now, but you can tell me what you are going to tell her, I will pass it onto her."

She smiled, napakurap ako doon.

"You're her friend, Celestia right? and you're also not a maid here, I will help you get out, since you a friend of Seah."

Sambit pa nito, really?

"I will gladly accept your kindness, your highness."

I said.

"So why are you here?"

Tanong niya.

"I was worried with her since the last time we saw each other, she seems to be having a problem into her home. And I also want to give back the necklace she dropped, she told me that it's very important to her."

I explained, the princess nodded her head.

"She's doing fine, you don't need to worry. The palace is just too busy this past two months so she doesn't have time meeting you. I will give her the necklace and tell her that you came to meet her."

She smiled then held her hand, napatango lamang ako at ibinigay sakaniya ang kwintas.

"Thank you, your highness."

I said politely, mahirap na't baka hindi pa niya ako tulungang makalabas dito.

"Seah is lucky to have a friend like you."

Ngiti niya saka binigyan ako ng isang badge.

"Show that to the guards and tell them that I ordered you to deliver a message. You shouldn't sneak in again after this, it is too reckless, paano nalang kung hindi ako ang nakasalamuha mo? They might suspect you as a spy so better now to do something as reckless as this. Next time, you can just deliver a message for Seah."

Saad nitong nagpatango saakin.

"I will keep that in mind, princess, thank you."

Ngiti ko.

" I will go back now to the party, take care."

She said then left, napatitig nalamang ako sa badge saka tinanggal ang maskara ko.

"So it's really you."

A cold voice said, even if it's dark, I knew right away, it's Ice burg.

"I have a name."

He hissed making me grin.

"Yeah, Drashit."

Kibit balikat ko, binalingan ako nito ng masamang tingin.

"Kanina ka pa ba diyan?"

Tanong ko.

As usual, I didn't sense him at all.

"Yeah, it's stuffy inside."

He said while looking at me blankly.

"Even though you have a reason, it's not valid to go in here, are you so used into risking your life than even something that can be solved without sneaking out, you'll still do it? are you stupid?"

Kunot noong tanong niya na nagpairap saakin.

"Pumunta lang ako dito para makikain saka ko kikitain ang kaibigan ko."

Ngiti kong matamis, nagtiim bagang ito habang nakahalukipkip na tumingin saakin.

"Then go to my house, I'll feed you as much as you want, don't do reckless things that might risk your life, you idiot."

He hissed, nangunot ang noo ko roon.

"Why would you go that far for me? and I don't know where your house is."

I frowned.

"Because you are the most stupid theian I have ever met. I don't like theians doing stupid things as you do, so I am going this far."

He hissed then handed me a compass.

"Pwedeng ibenta?"

Ngiti ko.

"No."

Blangkong sagot niya na nagpanguso lang saakin.

"Follow that and you'll find my house, tell the guards your name and they will let you in."

Drashit said making my forehead ceased.

"And no, I don't have any other motives."

He added.

"Fine, don't blame me if your food get out of stock or if I steal something to your house, to sell."

Kibit balikat kong sabi.

"It doesn't matter, just don't do anything that will put you into grave danger again."

He tsked.

"Why would I listen to you? Hindi naman kita tatay"

Kunot noong tanong ko.

"Then ask me for help if something happens."

He uttered.

"And what would you gain by doing this?"

Taas kilay kong tanong.

"Don't over think, I am only doing this out of pity, nothing more, nothing less."

Hissed, inirapan ko siya.

"I really don't like you."

I hissed.

"But you don't hate me."

Kibit balikat niya, binalingan ko siya ng masamang tingin.

"Except my father, I hate guardians."

Mariing sambit ko.

"You hate me?"

He asked while looking at me straight in my eyes. Do I hate him? We ll he did helped me back then, but guardians are as cruel as nobles.

"You don't hate me, aren't you?"

He again asked, napasimangot ako doon.

"What is it to you?"

Kunot noong tanong ko.

"Anwer my question, stupid woman."

He said.

"Well I said, I don't like you----B-But yeah, you haven't done anything I will hate, but I am irritated by you, I'm annoyed at your fac---"

"So you don't hate me? Celestia?"

He asked while leaning closer, napaatras ako roon.

"Yes, so what?"

Matapang na sambit ko na matipid na nagpangiti sakaniyang nagpatigil saakin.

"Good."

He smiled.

"So you do now how to smile."

Nag iinit ang pisnging pag iiba ko sa usapan.

"I'm not some kind of statue."

He answered on a bored tone then lend me his hand.

"What?"

Kunot noong tanong ko habang nakatingin sakaniya.

"Let's dance."

Sambit niya habang nakatingin ng diretso sa mga mata ko.

"I don't want to."

Mabilis kong sagot na nagpakunot ng noo sakaniya.

"It's my first time asking out someone to dance, and you're rejecting me without even a second thought?"

He shook his head, looking amused.

"Why would I dance to someone I don't like? go ask someone who likes you."

Nakahalukipkip kong sabi.

"You don't seem like someone who could dance well But I'm bored, so dance with me."

Kibit balikat niyang saad na nagpasimangot saakin.

"500 silvers."

Ngisi ko.

"One gold, dance with me."

He said then handed me, one gold meian coin, nanlaki ang mata ko roon.

"Hip-hop? ballroom? interpretative? kaya ko yan kahit chicken dance pa eh, tara na!"

Excited na sabi ko habang pinapakita ang moves ko, nag iwas ito ng tingin na tila ba nagpipigil tawa. Napangisi ako doong sinundot ang tagiliran niya, Drashit glared at me, making me grin.

Mapapagamot ko na si nanay kapag tinanggap ko itong pera.

"May I have this dance?"

He asked, I smiled at him sweetly and accepted his hand as we both leaned closer and danced.

"Hindi ko alam kung paano ba kayo sumayaw."

Kunot noong sabi ko habang sinusubukang sundan ang mga galaw niya.

"It's fine, you're doing great."

He said as his set of deep eyes stared at me.

"Don't you find it strange? you're dancing with a commoner who is wearing a maid's uniform intead of one of those beautiful noble ladies inside."

I shrugged while dancing with him as I met his intense gaze.

"You don't need a dress to look beautiful, and no,if I ask a monster for a dance, that will be considered strange than dancing with a commoner."

He answered.

"So you also know how to give a compliment?"

I grinned.

"I don't give compliments, I'm just telling you what my eyes sees, there's nothing special with it."

He hissed making me chuckle.

"You have a terrible personality, I don't know what those ladies whose head over heels for you, sees in you."

Iling iling na sabi ko.

"You have a terrible personality as well, woman. You're also a stupid pain in the ass."

Blangkong saad niyang nagpangisi lang saakin.

"Well I can't argue with that."

I shrugged.

"You like me, do you?"

I asked, giving back his questions earlier.

"No."

Mabilis niyang sagot na nagpairap saakin.

"Then you hate me?"

I again asked.

"Unfortunately, no."

He hissed.

"Then you also don't like me?"

Tanong ko ulit, wala na kasi akong masabi.

"You talk too much."

He hissed making me roll my eyes on him. He used his power to create an ice ring and held my waist as we continued dancing in there.

Gusto ko sanang apakan ang paa niya, ngunit mabilis siyang nakakaiwas.

Para kaming tanga kasi wala namang musoc pero nagsasayaw kami dito.

"Then sing."

He said when he heard my thoughts, I rolled my eyes on him.

"Mahal ang talent fee ko."

Sabi ko saka ngumisi sakaniya.

"I'll pay you."

Sabi niyang nagpangiti saakin.

"Anong kanta ba yan? Birthday song? funeral song? national anthem?"

Halos magningning ang matang tanong ko.

"Up to you."

He frowned making me smile as I started singing.

Natihimik siya doong napatitig saakin habang kumakanta ako't nakikipag sayaw sakaniya.

I don't know if it's my imagination, or his cheeks kinda turned red.

We danced and danced in the green house, puro sagutan lang naman kami, pero hindi man lang namin namalayan ang oras.

"I'll take you home, it's getting late."

He said, tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"I'm not interested in doing something to you, you're not my type. You will have to walk for hours if you won't let me take you home, baka sisihin mo pa ako."

Sabi niya saka nag iwas ng tingin.

Well yeah, I do want to rest already since I'm tired.

"Sige na nga, tutal ay maaga pa ako bukas sa trabaho."

Nakapamulsang sabi ko.

"Eira!"

He called a name.

Kasabay nito ay ang paglabas ng isang malaking ibong tila ba gawa sa ice crystals and pakpak.

"A celestial beast?"

I asked, Drashit nodded his head. It's my first time seeing one, they say that Celestial beasts are rarely seen and it's impossible to form a contract with them.

Since those who are chosen by gods are the only ones who can.

"Are you some kind of God's favorite son?"

Naiiling na sabi ko, he's a very powerful guardian, he's also rich and now he had a contact with a celestial beast.

He's indeed god's favorite.

Nagkasalubong pa ang mga mata namin ng ibon. Napangiti ako doong sinubukang hawakan siya.

"No wait! she might hur---"

Natigilan siya nang makitang hinahayaan ako ng ibong haplusin ang balahibo niya.

"You look beautiful."

I smiled while petting her, the bird chirped happily and used it's power to make a flower crown made of ice crystals.

"For me?"

I chuckled when the bird gave it to me happily then looked at Ice burg who is just staring at me intensely.

"Just who are you Celestia?"

Kunot noong tanong niya, nawiwirduhang tinignan ko siya.

"I am Celestia, who do you think I am? your father?"

I rolled my eyes on him.

Draco just hissed and went to the bird's back and offered his hand. Hindi ko iyon pinansin at sumakay mag isa sa ibon.

"Thank you for letting me ride you, Eira."

I said sweetly to the Celestial bird while petting.

"It's me who summoned it."

Drashit said while looking at me blankly.

"Well you offered, hindi naman ako nanghingi ng tulong."

I shrugged, Ice burg just groaned, giving up on arguing with me as he told Eira to fly.

***

A/n: Hi! Since medyo nag improve ako at wala gaanong matinong illustration si Draco, ginawan ko na ng bago. 🤣