THE news spread fast after the lady of the ducal family won the hunting festival. Many admired her skill and personality, but it was unavoidable for some to feel bitter about her capabilities. Thus, spreading rumors to tarnish the name of the lady.

Regardless, Eziyah didn’t change how Yophiel’s strong personality spoke to him. She was and will always leave an amazing impression like the Bluestar he was holding.

“A woman . . . indeed.” He smiled as he stared at the Bluestar flower he bought earlier. He was planning to give another one to Yophiel after his meeting with the duke.

It had been a week since the hunting festival. After he and Yophiel got the egg of the Felis Drahika, they immediately went out to meet the other contestants. Everyone was astonished to see the pile of harvest the lady got. Despite not getting the win this year, Yophiel’s success made him more proud than having his own win.

He liked watching her being seen by many. He liked being by her side, seeing her achievements. And he wanted to stay closer for further years that may come.

“Eziyah.”

Napalingon siya sa tumawag sa kaniya. Nasa loob siya ng office ni Duke Niklaus. Nakaupo ito sa upuan na nasa harapan niya at pinapagitnaan sila ng isang lamesa.

The ends of the duke’s eyes squeezed as if he was observing him.

“What is it, Your Grace?” he asked.

“I can see that you’ve been clinging on my daughter recently, Eziyah.” Pinagsaklop nito ang mga kamay. “That Bluestar you’ve been holding, I’ve seen one in Yophiel’s room. Are you the one who gave it to her?”

Napalunok naman siya. Bigla siyang kinabahan at hindi magawang salubungin ang mga titig ng duke.

“Y-yes, Your Grace.”

Kaagad naman na nagdilim ang tingin ng duke. Tinitigan siya nito na para bang babalatan na siya nang buhay kaya muli siyang napalunok at napaupo nang tuwid.

“Do you like my daughter?”

Hindi siya nakasagot. He never once thought he would be asked about this question. He didn’t even ask himself yet.

“I . . .” Being careful of what he say, he couldn’t find the right words. If he would say yes, that would seem an impulsive word to say to the duke, but if he would say otherwise, that would somehow feel like a lie on his part.

“You know, Eziyah. I don’t really mind you liking my daughter because who wouldn’t like her? She is the greatest beauty of this country, after all. The duchess, my wife and the most ethereal being I have loved in my life, bore my daughter. It is expected that men will go crazy for her.” At first the duke sounded like he would kill him any minute, but now, he was boasting. His voice was deep yet it held admiration. Hindi maipagkakaila na tuwang-tuwa ang duke habang binabanggit ang asawa. The confident look on his face said he was the luckiest man on earth.

“I also don’t care which man my daughter will love. Even if he is powerless or just a mere nothing, I will not be against her happiness. But . . .” Pinasadahan siya nito ng tingin. “But if I see her in tears, I will not hesitate to extinguish the man without leaving any bones to mourn for. Do you understand, Eziyah?”

Muli siyang napalunok. “Yes, Your Grace.”

“Good.” Nawala na ang nakakatakot nitong tingin at nginitian siya. “Now, let us tackle the reason why we are talking here.”

Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa tangkay ng bulaklak.

Muling naging mabigat ang ihip ng hangin sa paligid nila. “The prince’s coronation is almost near. We should also start preparing for the revolt.”

Habang binabanggit iyon ng duke, nawala ang saya sa mga mata nito. He could feel the duke’s mana rising, overwhelming his. The furniture around grumbled as the duke’s madness couldn’t be hidden. The papers on the table laid flat and messy on the ground.

He was furious. And Eziyah knew the reason.

“I am going to overthrow that smug on your face.” The duke gritted his teeth. He was pertaining to the emperor. “But before that, we need other urgent things to deal with.”

Huminga ito nang malalim upang pakalmahin ang sarili. He raised one of his fingers to command the wind to get the papers that had been scattered on the floor. “I received a report from the information unit that the country beside us is planning to overtake ours.”

Tinignan niya naman ang mga papeles. Nakasulat doon ang mga impormasyon tungkol sa mga nilalang na d-in-eploy sa kanilang border.

“They are raising ogres? But the empire already implemented a law prohibiting the raising of these violent creatures,” ani niya.

Ogres were gigantic and barbaric creatures who fed on human flesh. They only eat those who were not their master and people who had an unfamiliar scent.

“Yes. But there are no laws that can strongly stop the violation of laws, therefore, there are always be people who will break it despite knowing the consequences.” The duke crossed his legs and leaned against the chair.

“What is your plan, Your Grace?”

Ngumiti naman ang duke kaya nagtaka siya.

“What is your plan, Eziyah?”

“Huh?”

“I would like to see what kind of man are you when you lead.” Makahulugan ang mga tingin nito na para bang hinahamon siya sa isang paligsahan na dapat niyang mapanalunan.

“But, Your Grace, this is a serious case. You can’t just leave it to a mere knight like me.”

“You are not just a mere knight, Eziyah. You are a knight captain. I trained you. I raised you. You’re one of my best students, second to my daughter. Oh, and please . . .” Nanunuya itong tumawa kaya mas lalong nalukot ang kaniyang mukha. “It’s not like our neighboring country can overtake us just by sending ogres. Have you forgotten what power can this man in front you do?” Tinuro nito ang sarili.

For a minute, he stopped and stared at the duke before a realization struck him.

Right. He was the strongest magician and duke, Niklaus Ivan Demancrius. How could he forget about it?

“You are unbeatable, Your Grace.” Napangiti siya.

“Of course,” proud nitong sagot. “That is why I’m leaving this assignment to you. Can I trust you, Eziyah?”

Bahagya siyang yumuko at nilapat ang kamay sa dibdib. “I will try my best.”

“Okay, then!” Tumayo na ito, hudyat na tapos na ang kanilang pag-uusap.

“What about the revolt, Your Grace?” pahabol niya.

“The country’s safety first. May oras pa naman tayo r’yan.” Tumalikod na ito sa kaniya.

Hindi na siya nagtanong pa tungkol sa pag-aalsa at muling yumuko bilang paggalang. Tumayo na siya at naglakad na palabas pero napatigil siya sa pinto nang muling magsalita ang duke.

“Ah, and if I may add about what we have talked earlier, you have been with me since you were a kid. I wouldn’t mind if you really become my son. I would prefer it, actually.”

Hanggang sa makalabas siya, hindi nawala ang sinabi ng duke sa kaniya. What did he mean by that? Was that an approval?

Hindi siya mapakali sa hindi mapigilang nararamdaman. He maintained a straight face while walking in the hallway as the inside of him was screaming. Gusto niyang sumigaw sa tuwa kahit na hindi niya alam kung bakit nga ba siya tuwang-tuwa.

“Sir Eziyah?”

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad sa pasilyo nang makasalubong si Lady Gisela.

Nakangiti itong lumapit sa kaniya. Nakatingin ito sa dala-dala niyang bulaklak.

“Is that for me?” she asked, excited.

“Ah, no. It’s for someone else, Lady Gisela.”

“Oh . . .” Bakas sa mukha nito ang pagkadismaya.

“Why are you here?” He asked while staring at her. He asked himself one more time what he felt towards the woman.

Am I in love with her?

His mind didn’t come up with the answer he expected, but a particular woman appeared instead. The woman of the wind. The woman who owned a pair of blue orbs.

He held the flower tighter.

So, she is the answer.

“I personally asked Lady Yophiel to come at my tea party tomorrow. You should come, too. It will be held in the Larin Lake,” sagot ni Lady Gisela at muli nang lumiwanag ang mukha nito.

“Ahm . . .” Eziyah hesitated. He glanced at the flower before looking at her. “Thank you, but I would like to decline.”

“Why?”

“I have things to do tomorrow,” he said as an excuse and looked away.

Hindi naman sumagot si Lady Gisela. Magpapaalam na sana siya sa babae para magpatuloy na sa paglalakad pero nabigla siya nang bigla nitong hinawakan ang kaniyang braso. Napalingon siya at napatingin sa higit na mas mapula nitong mga mata kaysa sa kaniya.

Biglang naging blanko ang kaniyang utak nang kuminang ang mga mata nito.

“You will be with me tomorrow at the tea party, okay?”

“I will, Lady Gisela.”

“That’s great. See you, then!” Ngumiti si Lady Gisela at doon lang siya napabalik sa kaniyang diwa.

Kunot-noo niyang tinignan ang babae na naglalakad na palayo sa kaniya habang nalilito sa kaniyang sinagot.

What just happened?

KANINA pa natatawa si Yophiel habang pinaglalaruan ang makulit niyang Felis Drahika. Pagkatapos nila itong makuha, kaagad na nabasag ang itlog pagkauwi niya at iniluwa roon ang isang kulay itim na nilalang. Pinagsalin sa kulay ng asul, pula, at dilaw ang mga mata nito at may maliit ding puno sa ulo.

Aliw na aliw rin ang kaniyang ama sa Felis Drahika at ito pa ang nagbigay ng pangalan.

“Zopy!” tawag niya rito. It was a nickname she came up from the name Zoela Piper Azalionora. Sobrang haba ng pinangalan ng ama kaya binigyan niya na lang ito ng palayaw.

Lumipad naman palapit si Zopy habang kagat-kagat ang kaniyang unan. Ito ang naging paboritong laruan ng alaga.

Iniwan niya muna si Zopy sa kuwarto at naglakad siya palabas para puntahan ang ama. Nalalapit na ang koronasyon ni Prinsipe Adelio at paniguradong nag-iisip na ang ama sa gagawing pag-aalsa.

Kailangan niyang makausap ang ama tungkol dito.

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad nang makasalubong si Lady Gisela.

“Good morning, Lady Yophiel,” bati nito at bahagyang yumuko.

“Anong ginagawa mo rito?” sabi niya at napaatras nang masiyadong malapit sa kaniya ang babae.

Ewan niya ba pero pagkatapos ng insidente sa coming-of-age ceremony, hindi na siya makampante kay Lady Gisela. Parang may kakaiba sa babae.

She was portrayed as a sunshine in the novel, soft and light-hearted, and Yophiel could perfectly see that in her appearance. But the woman’s gaze was quite different. Kahit na nakangiti sa kaniya ang babae, hindi tumatawa ang mga mata nito.

“I want to invite you in my tea party tomorrow, Lady Yophiel. The other ladies will be there as well. I’m sure they all want to see you as much as I do.”

Napaisip naman siya. Parang may nangyaring ganito sa nobela.

She recalled her memory and almost gasped when she remembered this scene. The tea party would be held in Larin Lake. Sa pangyayaring ito, dumalo ang orihinal na Yophiel para lang i-bully si Lady Gisela. Dadalo rin ang dalawang male leads ng kuwento. Isang pangyayari ang magaganap dahilan para manganib ang buhay ni Eziyah, at kagagawan iyon ng orihinal na Yophiel.

Subalit hindi niya maalala kung ano ang kaniyang ginawa.

Tumikhim siya bago sumagot. “Thank you, but I will say no. Inatasan ako ni Papa na tulungan siya sa trabaho bilang duke upang hindi na ako mahihirapan kapag ako na ang pumalit sa kaniya.”

Alam naman niyang hindi niya gagawin ang ginawa ng orihinal na Yophiel pero mas mabuting umiwas na lang siya at huwag nang pumunta.

“Oh, is that so?” Bakas sa boses nito ang lungkot.

“Yes. If you’ll excuse me.” Nilampasan na niya ang babae pero kaagad din siyang napalingon nang hawakan nito ang kaniyang braso.

Nagsalubong ang kaniyang mga kilay nang bigla na lang umilaw ang mga mata nito.

“Anong ginagawa mo?” taka niyang tanong at inalis ang pagkakahawak sa braso.

“Huh?” Pinilig nito ang ulo, nagtataka sa kaniyang naging reaksyon. “Ah, nothing. I will get going, Lady Yophiel.”

Tumango naman siya habang nagtatakang pinanood ang babaeng naglalakad na palayo.

What was that?