Tatlong araw na ang nakalipas nang dakpin si Count Ernest, and by this time, I'm certain that everyone who are suspected to have conspired with Prince Agustus Vesta to assassinate the Crown Prince are already locked up.

There would be a twenty seven days trial, in which the Count was not proven guilty. But because of his connection with Prince Agustus and closeness to the second prince's maternal side of the family, he was stripped of his title, and all his properties and wealth will be confiscated. This is to ensure that he won't be able to help the now wanted prince.

Everyone was shocked when they learned that the one who plot the assassination was Prince Agustus, he was closed to the Crown Prince after all. But since Prince Agustus' mother is the King's mistress, and is hated by the Queen, it is said that he did it to take the first son's position as heir. To secure the Crown Prince and Prince Marion's safety, both children of the Queen, everyone who was proven guilty are sentenced to death immediately.

After the trial is where the hardships started. The only property left to the Count is the main mansion, which he will sell in four months to sustain the family's lavish lifestyle. At kahit alam nilang iyon nalang ang perang meron sila ay hindi pa din nila ito tinipid, at nang malapit ng maubos ay doon nag-umpisang ibenta ng Count ang mga tagapagsilbi niya. My stomach churns to that thought. In the past, I knew that the Count was doing it, but I didn't do anything to stop him. It was so hard to adjust to the new lifestyle and deal with the insults of the other Nobles, so I didn't care even if it's illegal, as long as it brought in  money.

"The Count will be alright, Milady." Natigil ang pag-iisip ko ng marinig iyon.

"T-Thank you, Milord." Sa tatlong araw na wala ang ama ko ay sunod sunod ang pagbisita ni Count Maximo rito sa mansion.

I was hoping that visitors at this moment are already prohibited, pero hindi pa kasi nag-uumpisa ang trial. May limang araw na paglilikom ng ebidensya at paghahanda sa kaso na magaganap bago mag-umpisa ang dalawampu't pitong araw na paglilitis. Katunayan, kaninang umaga ay narito ang mga Knights at inspectors para halughugin ang buong mansion para kumalap ng ebidensya. The Count's room and study was ransacked for hours.

Ayoko na sanang harapin pa ang lalaking ito, pero pinipilit ako ng mga kapatid ko dahil baka raw makatulong ito sa ama namin. Kung hindi lang ako natatakot na saktan nila ay hindi ako susunod. But until the trial is not over, hindi ako maaaring umalis para magsarili. I'll be in trouble if the Royal family finds my actions suspicious.

"Abigail!" Agad akong napatayo nang marinig ang boses na iyon.

"Prince Marion!" Tumakbo ako papalapit sa kanya.

"Thank goodness you're alright!" Para itong nakahinga ng maluwag ng makita ako, he hugged me for a while before speaking again. "I heard what happened. I went straight to the palace to visit the Count, but visitors weren't allowed, so I came here." Halata ang pagmamadali nito dahil hinahapo pa siya. "What happened?" Tanong niya.

"I-I'm not sure either." Nagkunwari akong nalulungkot sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon. I feel bad for lying to Marion, but it's better that no one knows.

"I will talk to the King about this. Everything will be alright. I promise." Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang balikat habang sinserong sinasabi ang mga katagang iyon.

"Thank you so much, Your Highness. I'll forever be grateful." Kahit pa ba ang gusto kong sabihin ay wag na siyang kumilos, pero ayos lang dahil alam ko naman na hindi mapipigilan ni Marion ang magiging pasya ng Hari.

"You don't have to thank me. You and the Count are my second family. You're my best friend, and like a sister." Sagot niya.

Ngumiti nalang ako. This scene also happened in the past. My brothers kept pestering me to contact the Prince to ask for his help, but Marion was on a charitable activity outside the city when this happened, so it took him days to come back.

Napalingon ako ng makitang bumaling sa likuran ko ang tingin ni Marion, and he doesn't look pleased.

Oh my gosh! Nakalimutan kong narito nga pala si Count Maximo! Dahil wala naman ito sa nauna naming buhay ng nag-usap kami ni Marion ay nawala siya sa isipan ko.

"I-I almost forgot," Humarap ako sa bisita ko. "I have a visitor right now." Pag-uumpisa ko.

Lumapit naman si Count Maximo sa amin.

"Greetings, Your Highness." He lowered his head a little while greeting the prince.

"Count Maximo, what a surprise." I could sense the coldness in his voice.

"I was visiting the Lady, Your Highness. But it seems you two have something to discuss, so I'll take my leave first." Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng magpaalam ito.

Finally, I could breathe!

"What is he doing here?" Salubong ang kilay na tanong ni Marion habang nakasunod sa akin.

Lumapit ako sa lamesang ginagamit namin ni Count Maximo kanina, and sat on the chair. The maids immediately went to clear the table, and a new batch of desserts and tea was served.

"He's been visiting here quite a lot." Pag-amin ko.

I offered him a seat because I know he's tired. Sariwa rin ang hangin dito sa hardin kaya alam kong mas makakapagpahinga siya.

"I don't like him." Ani ni Marion.

Yeah, me too. Pero hindi ko naman pwedeng sabihin iyon sa kanya.

"Why?" Tumatawa ko nalang na tanong.

"I heard a lot of things about him, especially about their wealth. A lot of Nobles are suspicious of him." He took a sip on his tea.

"Nobles are like that, they would make assumptions and stories if they are jealous of someone else's achievements." Hindi na bago ang mga bagay na iyan.

"Yeah, but his wealth is really suspicious, I swear. House Westley wasn't even famous the time his father died, and in just a year, he became one of the prominent Nobles in the Kingdom. Have you heard? He's as wealthy and influential as a Duke."

"I don't really care." Sagot ko nalang. Sa oras na matapos ang paglilitis ay aalis na agad ako, kaya hindi ko na problema si Count Maximo.

"What I'm trying to say is, be careful who you mingle with. May gusto ba siya sayo? He obviously does."

"It doesn't matter if he likes me or not. I'm not interested. I'm not interested in anyone." Tanging kay Tyronne lang.

Marion narrowed his eyes on me.

"What?" I asked while munching some sweets.

"May plano ka bang maging matandang dalaga?" Kamuntik na akong mabulunan sa tinanong niya.

Sinamaan ko nalang siya ng tingin sabay irap.

"The Count will be furious." Tumawa ito. "Speaking of your father, I'll do everything in my power to help him. Kaya wag ka nang mag-alala pa."

"Thank you, Your Highness. I'll leave it to you then." Sagot ko nalang.

We talked more, Marion asked for some details of what happened while he was gone. And like in our first life, I explained everything that happened the day the Count was arrested.

He left after that, promising that the Count will be set free soon. My brothers were happy to hear that. Ako lang ata itong tumatawa sa isipan ko dahil alam ko namang malabong mangyari iyon.

Nagpatuloy ang tensyon sa loob ng mansion. My brothers wanted to go to the palace and visit our father, but the Royal Knights are steadfast and wouldn't budge.

Minsan tuloy ay napipilitan akong awatin ang mga ito dahil nagkakagulo na sila sa bukana ng mansyon. I haven't heard from Marion for a few more days, bago ito bumalik dala ang balita.

"I-I'm sorry." Halos hindi ito makatingin sa akin ng maayos.

"It's alright. I know you did your best." I wasn't surprised, but I still acted like I was sad about it.

Hindi siya nagtagumpay na kumbinsihin ang Hari. Pagkasabi ni Marion ay agad na umalis ang mga kapatid ko and slammed the door.

"I apologize for their behavior, they are just desperate at this moment." Ako na ang humingi ng dispensa sa inasal ng mga ito.

"It's okay, I understand." Napabuntong hininga nalang si Marion. "A list of my brother's allies were found in his study, but the King won't release the names to anyone. If the Count's name is listed there, it will change everything. He will be charged of  treason, and I don't know if I will be able to help. This is after all a serious matter." Paliwanag ni Marion.

Call me heartless, but I don't feel any sympathy for the Count at all. Nothing came up but hatred every time I remember how he denied me help when I was pregnant with Tyronne's child.

Kung sana ay tinulungan niya ako ng mga panahong iyon ay sana kakalimutan ko ang iba niyang pagkukulang sa akin para tulungan siya ngayon at sa mga kakaharapin nitong paghihirap sa hinaharap.

"Are you alright?" Tanong ni Marion. "I understand why you're spacing out, kaya hindi na kita iistorbohin pa. You should rest. I'll report whatever progress happens to your father's case."

He left after that. Ako naman ay bumalik na sa silid ko para magpahinga. Nakakainis rin kasi ang manatili sa labas dahil nakasunod ang mga Royal Knights sa bawat kilos ko. At least in my room, nakabantay lang sila sa labas ng pinto.

A few more days and the trial started. By this time, visitors are no longer allowed in the mansion. I felt relief dahil hindi ko na kailangang makita si Count Maximo. He's also been here a few more times, informing me of his efforts to help my father, but to no avail. Of course, si Marion nga hindi magawang kumbinsihin ang ama, ang isang Count pa kaya?

Wala na akong pakialam pa sa mga mangyayari, the outcome will be the same. All I have to do is to wait for twenty seven days to pass, tapos ay magkakaroon na ako ng pagkakataon para isagawa ang plano ko na tulungan ang mga servants na makatakas sa puder ni Count Ernest. Mahirap kasi iyong gawin ngayon under the watchful eyes of the Royal Knights and guards.

Nagulat ako ng bigla nalang bumukas ang pinto ng silid ko, and it was our oldest brother. This caught me off guard since nothing like this happened in my first life. While all the commotion is happening, hindi ako pinapansin nito maliban nalang kapag dumarating si Marion para magbalita sa sitwasyon sa palasyo.

Matalim ang mga tingin nito sa akin nang isara ang pinto. It didn't take long for my room to reeked of alcohol.

"B-Brother, have you been drinking?" Kabado kong tanong.

"You, I told you to do your best!" He strode towards me and grabbed a handful of my hair.

"Aagh!" Agad akong napahawak sa kamay niya. "W-What did I do?" Sigaw ko pabalik sa kanya.

He pulled my hair down to make me face him, at dinuro niya ang noo ko ng paulit ulit. "I told you to convince the prince and Count Maximo to help out our father! I told you to do anything, even if it means giving your body to them! Why didn't you do it?" Bulyaw nito still not letting go of my hair.

"I-I told you, I did everything that I could!" Pinaghahanpas ko siya, lahat ng matamaan ko, dibdib, kamay, mukha, at braso. Pero hindi ito natitinag.

He pushed me to my bed, at bumagsak roon ang katawan ko. Pumaibabaw ito sa akin and grabbed my face so tight, and his other hand pointing at my face. "Kung ginawa mo ang lahat, eh di sana nakalaya na ang ama natin! If anything happens to the Count, this will be all your fault!" Banta niya.

Tumayo ito pagkatapos akong pagbantaan at pagewang gewang na lumabas ng silid ko.

Umupo ako sa kama matapos makabawi sa takot at gulat. My face still hurts kahit ilang minuto na ang nakalipas. Nararamdaman ko pa din ang pagduro niya sa noo at mukha ko.

I can't believe that he came here just to say that.

"Kasalanan ko ang nangyayari? Ipagamit ko ang kawatawan ko para lang mapalaya ang Konde?" I scoffed. Hindi ko mapigilan ang pag-agos ng luha habang inuulit ang sinabi ng kapatid ko nanina.

Umiling ako at pinunasan ang mga luha ko. No, I've endured many things worse than this! Hindi ako matitinag ng pagbabanta niya.

I have to be strong. I am strong. I can do this! Pagkukondisyon ko sa sarili.

Kailangan kong maging matatag at ingatan ang sarili ko hanggang sa makabalik si Tyronne.

Everything will be better once he's back. I'll leave everything behind, and be happy with him.

Well be happy and content at the Elwindor Barony with our son.

______

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