Pagkapasok sa karwahe matapos mamili ay agad na gusto kong hablutin sa leeg ko ang kwintas na binili ni Count Maximo para sa akin, but upon realizing that I could still use it as an emergency fund, maingat ko itong hinubad para hindi magasgas at para hindi makita ng ama ko pagkarating namin sa mansion.

I stared at the piece of jewelry on my hand. How did this end up there? It's impossible that this is a different jewelry. My father has his own jeweler, na ipinapatawag niya kapag mayroong mga importanteng pagtitipon, para magpagawa ng alahas. This jewelry was commissioned by the Count a few years ago for his birthday. So there's no way it has a similar design elsewhere. Tiningnan ko ang pangalan ng boutique na pinuntahan namin, I've been on that place countless of times, oras na ata para iwasan ko ang pagpunta roon.

When I arrived home, the Count has already left for a meeting in the palace. Hindi ko maiwasang isipin na baka may kinalaman ang pagpupulong tungkol sa pagtatangka sa buhay ng Itinakdang Prinsipe. Dalawang araw. Sa loob ng dalawang araw ay magaganap na ang pinakamalaking pagbabago sa buhay naming lahat.

Habang papalapit ang araw na hinihintay ko ay hindi ko maiwasang kabahan. Sa nauna kong buhay, kasama ko ang ama at dalawa kong kapatid sa loob ng dalawang taon na iyon bago ako alukin ng kasal ni Tyronne. Pero sa pagkakataong ito ay mag-isa kong tatahakin ang lahat hanggang sa makabalik siya.

"Calm down, Tina." Pang-ilang ulit ko ng paalala sa kanya.

Paano ay napaghahalataan ang pagkabalisa sa mukha niya. Nahahawa tuloy ako. Naikundisyon ko na ang sarili ko noong nakaraan na kakayanin ko ito dahil sanay naman ako sa mahirap na buhay. Pero ngayon, eto at may pag-aalinlangan na sa isipan ko.

Ilang oras na ang nagdaan simula ng makauwi ako, pero hindi pa din bumabalik ang Konde. Dumadagdag iyon sa kaba ko.

It's now one in the afternoon, and I just finished my lunch, but the Count is still not home.

"Where is she?" Naalarma ako ng marinig ang boses ng isa sa mga kapatid kong lalaki.

"Master, wait!" Narinig pagpigil ni Tina rito.

But to no avail because the door to my room swung open.

"There she is!" But instead of a grumpy expression that I'm often acquainted with, he was smiling ear to ear when he saw me.

"Brother, is there something wro—oh my god!" I gasped when he suddenly lifted me in the air and spun around happily. "D-Did something good happen?" Nagtatakang tanong ko matapos niyang ibaba.

"There she is, my beautiful daughter." This time it's the Count.

Masaya rin itong lumapit sa akin at yumakap.

"Father, did something good happened?" Malambing kong tanong, paano ay hindi naman sinagot ng magaling kong kapatid ang tanong kong iyon sa kanya.

"First, Duke Marshall, and now Count Maximo." Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang balikat at napakasaya nitong nakatingin sa akin.

A ghastly feeling engulfed me upon the mention of the young Count's name.

"I don't understand." Nakangiti at mahinahon kong sabi.

"We met Count Maximo on our way out of the palace. He greeted us and said he met you at the shopping district this morning."

"Umm, yes. We met at a boutique." I could feel my sweat running down my spine. It wasn't a pleasant memory at all.

"He seems interested in you." Napatingin ako sa likuran ng ama ko. Our eldest brother just arrived and is now standing outside my room.

"I-I'm not sure about that." Tanging nasagot ko nalang dahil alam ko na ang patutunguhan ng pag-uusap na ito.

"He asked if he could visit you this afternoon." My other brother interrupted.

"W-What?" Kahit inaasahan ko na iyon ay nagulat pa rin ako, because I was thinking he would visit one of these days, not as immediate as this afternoon.

"Go and wear your best dress. Make haste and do not make him wait!" Napakalaki ng ngiti ng ama ko na para bang nanalo ito ng malaking papremyo. If Count Maximo isn't extremely wealthy and influential man, my father wouldn't be this happy.

Yes, another County would be a great match, but Count Ernest is aiming to have her daughter seat as a Duchess in the future. He is an incredibly ambitious man.

"Yes, father." Ngumiti rin ako rito.

Nang makaalis na silang tatlo ay agad na nawala ang mga ngiting hirap na hirap akong panatilihin kanina.

Napaupo ako sa gilid ng kama dahil naguguluhan ang isipan ko. None of this happened in my first life. Yes, I know Count Maximo, but he was never a part of my life. Not once did we cross paths, so what is this now?

"Milady, what dress should I prepare?"

"Just whatever." Sagot ko.

There is definitely something wrong right now. What did I do for the circumstances to change like this?

I have to think of a plan.

Mabuti nalang talaga at nag-ayos na ako matapos nilang umalis sa silid ko, because in less than an hour, Count Maximo did arrived.

"Milord," I made a curtsy. "Welcome to the Campbelle estate. This such a pleasant surprise." Pagbati ko rito.

"Thank you, Milady." Nakangiti ito ngayon sa akin.

I really don't like his presence.

"It really is great to have you here, Count Maximo Westley. But may we know the reason of such honor?" My father asked after the greetings.

"Lady Abigail and I met at the boutique this morning, as I have mentioned, and gave her a necklace for a gift," Kamuntik ng mawala ang mga ngiti ko ng banggitin niya ang tungkol sa kwintas. "It seems it wasn't of the lady's liking, so I wanted to gift her a more precious one, suited for the daughter of the great Count Ernest Campbelle." Pagpapatuloy nito at sumenyas sa taong nasa likuran niya.

Lumapit ito at may dalang kahon. He opened it, at tumambad sa harapan ko ang isang kwintas na napapalamutian ng mga diyamante.

"I hope this one is more to your liking, Milady." He said.

Kung hindi ko pa nakita ang paglingon ng ama ko sa akin ay hindi ko pa maikukondisyon ang sarili ko para magsalita.

"I-It wasn't like that, Milord." I forced myself to smile. Of all the things he had to say, why mention the necklace I stole? "It's just I was lost for words that I received such a gift from a great man like you, Lord Maximo."

"You honor me, Lady Abigail." There he is, reaching for my hand again, and because the Count and my brothers are watching, I willingly reached out to him so he could kiss it.

I was relieved that my father didn't press more questions and it looks like he was happy with the diamond necklace gift from Maximo.

Doon ko din nalaman na kaya pala masaya ang isa kong kapatid na lalaki kanina ay dahil niregaluhan siya ng isang napakagandang kabayo ng konde. Count Maximo also brought gifts for the Count and my oldest brother. Count Ernest was really pleased with it.

We were left alone in the garden with tea and desserts. Kasalukuyan kaming naglalakad lakad sa paligid ng garden.

"Are you betrothed, Milady." Such a bold thing to ask in the second meeting.

"No, Milord." Tipid kong sagot since I can't tell him that I already promised myself to my husband. "Marriage hasn't crossed my mind yet." Dugtong ko ng makita ang ngiti sa labi nito.

Napadasal nalang ako sa isipan na sana ay matapos na ang sandaling ito. I really don't like where this things are going.

Sandali pa kaming nag-usap bago ito nagpaalam na aalis na.

"May I visit again?" Damn it! Mura ko sa isipan. He asked where my father could deliberately hear it.

"Y-Yes, Milord." Pagpayag ko dahil wala naman akong ibang pagpipilian.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng tuluyan na itong makaalis. That short walk in the garden drained my energy.

Kinakabahan ako na baka magtanong ang ama ko tungkol sa kwintas na sinasabi ni Count Maximo kanina. Buti nalang talaga at naging abala ang mga ito sa mga iniregalo ng konde sa kanila. Nagkaroon ako ng oras para mag-isip sa mga susunod kong gagawin.

"Are you ready?" Tanong ko kay Tina.

It's already night time at tahimik na ang paligid.

"Y-Yes, M-Milady." Kabado nitong sagot.

"Do not be afraid. Everything's gonna be fine." I assured her. "Here. I have another request to make." Nag-abot ako sa kanya ng kapirasong papel.

Kinuha naman niya ito at binasa.

"Please find this person, and gave this letter to him." I gave a sealed envelope next. "Tina, this is very important. Please." Nag-abot ako ng isa pang gold coin sa kanya bilang dagdag sa nauna kong ibinigay. "Be extremely careful not to get caught." Paalala ko.

"Y-Yes, Milady. Please be well. I am worried about your safety here. What if the Count gets mad?"

"He is always mad." Komento ko para mabawas bawasan ang kaba namin. We both laugh, bago muling naging seryoso ang mga mukha namin.

We hugged after that.

I was so relieved that she was able to escape without getting caught.

I'm on my own now.

"These damn slaves!" Of course when the Count learned that one of the maids went missing, he was pissed.

It took a day for the head maid and Butler to realize it. They thought Tina was sick and took a day off, and now the Count is fuming about it.

"I heard Tina has a lover. She must have eloped, Father." Gatong ko upang hindi ito mag-isip ng ibang dahilan kung bakit ito nawawala.

"Of all the days, why now that Count Maximo will be visiting again?" Inis nitong bulyaw.

Pagkasabi ng ama ko kanina na mayroong sulat na dumating, saying Count Maximo would visit again as he said the other day, nawalan na ako ng ganang kumain. But I have to force myself to eat and act that I was excited to receive him as my guest today. Mas mabuti nga rin siguro na abala ang isipan nito sa pagbisita ni Count Maximo para mawala kay Tina ang atensyon nito.

In the afternoon, another maid was assigned to me. She helped me get dressed. Pero wala akong pakialam pa. I just want this visit to be over, because tonight, the palace guards will arrive to arrest my father.

"Just bear with it, Abigail." I told myself.

As expected, Count Maximo showered my father, and brothers with gifts again. He also gifted me another jewelry, and a lot more.

"Y-You shouldn't have, Milord." This is really awkward. I don't like it. I don't like receiving these gifts at all.

Mabuti nalang at ngayong araw na ang pinakahinihintay ko. If all this happened a lot earlier, siguradong malaking problema. But in a few hours, our family's honor will go down the drain.

"Allow me, Milady." Ngumiti nalang ako sa sinagot niya.

Yes, Abigail. Just smile. Everything will be over in a few hours, so just smile and deceive them.

I acted like the happiest lady in the Kingdom because he visited me. I Chatted with enthusiasm and engaged myself in a skillful conversation with them.

Pinuri ni Count Maximo ang kakayahan ko sa pagbibigay opinyon at kaalaman sa politika. I think even my father was surprised that I knew a lot, I don't actually, I just knew this thanks to my previous life as a Baroness, may natutunan ako kahit kakaunti lang. Kung alam ko lang na magagamit ko iyon, sana ay mas nag-aral pa ako tungkol rito kay sa sinayang ang mga oras sa tea party at paghahanap ng dahilan para awayin si Tyronne.

"Milord!" Lahat kami ay nagulat sa biglang pagdating ng Butler at mukhang natataranta ito.

"What kind of disrespect is this? Can't you see that Count Maximo is still here?" Galit nitong bulyaw.

"I'm sorry, but Milord, the palace guards came and are demanding for your presence." Medyo nagulat ako sa narinig.

The palace guards are here? Pero maaga pa. Hindi pa lumulubog ang araw.

"I'm sorry about this, Count Maximo. But I'll excuse myself first." Paalam ng ama ko.

My brothers also excused themselves at sumunod sa ama namin.

"Milord, please excuse me as well." I made my voice sound as worried as possible.

"I'll escort you, Lady Abigail." Hindi na ako tumutol ng magpresinta ito.

We went outside at naroon nga ang mga palace guards. Nagkakagulo roon at nangingibabaw ang boses ng ama ko.

"What do you mean to arrest me? How dare you lay your hand on a Count!" He was shouting.

The Knights surrounded him to protect him from the palace guards.

"F-Father, what's happening?" Kunwari kong tanong kahit pa alam ko naman ang mga nangyayari dahil ganitong ganito din ang eksena sa nakaraan kong buhay, hindi nga lang kasama si Count Maximo sa mga nakasaksi ng sandaling ito.

"This is a Royal order!" Itinaas ng kakarating lang na Royal Knight ang hawak na scroll at binuksan iyon. "Count Ernest Campbelle is under arrest for the crime of plotting against the Crown." Nagulat ang lahat sa narinig.

My father tried to protest, but he has no choice but to come because it's a Royal order.

"No!" Tinapik ko ang kamay ng palace guard. "Let go of him!" Kunwari kong dinepensahan ang ama ko tulad ng ginagawa ng dalawa ko pang kapatid na lalaki. I should act like a worried child, because my father is being taken away. Nagpasalamat pa ako at tumulo ang mga luha ko, nagmukhang makatotohanan ang pag-aalala ko.

"It's alright. I will be back. Everything will be okay!" Ani ng Konde sa amin.

No, everything will not be okay. This is the end for you, father.

Tumago ako at binitiwan siya. They took the Count, and like in the past, my brothers and I were put under house arrest and cannot leave the mansion.

Count Maximo was advised to leave, and he did. He promised he would try to help, but I don't think he really would. Wala na rin akong pakialam pa.

I went to my room after all the commotion. The whole mansion was surrounded by palace guards and Knights.

Everything is happening according to how I remember it. But with a little difference. It's like everything is happening a little bit early. Ganon din ang nangyari kay Tyronne. He left a day early to the battlefield. And now the Count was arrested hours earlier than the original.

Something really changed.

________

WAIT, THIS IS UNEDITED. I WAS JUST SO EXCITED TO POST IT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE. 🤍🤍🤍

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