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3

In a peaceful place surrounded by colorful flowers, the air is filled with their sweet scent. Today is a sunny morning, a good start for a busy nation like the Zhang. Golden rays illuminate the world, casting shadows and warming everything they touch. I sigh as I watch the fresh and breathtaking scenery in front of me. I remember reading about the Emperor's taking a liking to flowers, which is why the soil he's owning is filled with various flowers in different scents and colors.

"Pero nasaan na iyong sinabi niya na Rambotan?" Maktol ko dahil kanina pa ako naghihintay sa tao na'yon. I'm not quite sure if that is his name, but it sounds like Rambotan as I remember.

Habang naghihintay kay Rambotan ay inabala ko na lang ang aking sarili sa magandang view sa aking harapan. I don't know what is this place but I have a guess that this is the quarter where visitors stays. I wanted to roam around the place but I stopped the urge of doing so, because a minute of walking feels like hell in this weak body.

Grabe! Hindi ko alam kung may sakit lang ba talaga si Thalassa o sadyang mahina lang talaga siya. Kanina paggising ko ay nag desisyon akong ayusan ang sarili ko. May iniwan kasing damit ang lalaki kagabi, at ito ang isinuot ko ngayon. A robe that is similar to a eunuch, and a hat of a eunuch. Tinali ko na lang din ang mahaba kong buhok para magmukha talaga akong eunuch.

"Hoy ikaw! Ano'ng tinatayo-tayo mo riyan? Saang kwarter ka ba nagsisilbi? Alam mo ba na bawal ang mga eunuch sa lugar na ito? Hindi maaaring pumasok ang isang kagaya mo rito!"

Who the hell is he?

Dahil sa malakas pagsigaw niya ay nakukuha nito ang atensyon ng iba pang mga tao sa paligid. Nakaramdam ako ng hiya at takot na baka saktan ako ng kawal. Thalassa's body is too weak to handle punishments.

"Ano'ng pangalan mo?" Tanong niya sa mataas at magaspang na tono. "Hindi ka ba nakakapagsalita?"

Dahil hindi ako sumagot ay tumawa ito ng ubod ng lakas na para bang kumbinsido siya na hindi nga talaga ako nakakapagsalita.

"Kita mo naman oh! Isang eunuch na hindi nakakapagsalita! Saang kwarter ka ba naninilbihan? Ah alam ko na! Sa kwarter ng isa sa mga concubine ng emperor 'no? Ayos din doon lalo na sa katulad mong hindi marunong sumagot!" He then laugh again.

Hindi ko alam kung saang parte nang sinabi niya ang nakakatawa. I mean, is he bullying me?

"Gusto kasi ng mga babae iyong nauutusan kaagad na walang angal at hindi nakakapagsumbong sa kahit sino."

Is it okay to talk about concubines like that?  Hindi ba bawal?

"Hoy! Ano pa ang hinihintay mo? Simulan mo na ang araw mo maglinis at silbihan ang kung saan ka man naninilbi, hindi iyang pakalat kalat ka sa daan at walang ginagawa! Nakikita mo ba iyang mga iyan?" May tinuro siyang area at tinignan ko naman. "Maaga pa lang ay naglilinis na sila habang ikaw ay patayo tayo lang dito! Hindi ka prinsepe, boy! Hala sige, linis!"

He shoved a broom, with elongated handle made of bamboo, in my face. Rinig ko pa ang pag landing ng handle sa noo ko kasabay ng pagngiting aso ng kawal.

Tsk! He doesn't need to smirk like a dog; he looks like a dog in the first place. Mabuti na lang at umalis na rin ang kawal and then I realize na wala namang ganitong scene sa libro ni Poisson.

Pero ang tagal ng Rambotan ah! Ano'ng oras ba siya darating? Minutes passed, a guy full of biceps suddenly showed up. He's wearing a maroon robes and a gat, and on his side waist I saw a sword.

"The prince is waiting for you in the Lotus  Pavilion. I am here to accompany you to the prince."

His voice is straight and stern, cutting through the air with authority and clarity, leaving no room for hesitation. His emotionless face is unyielding, revealing nothing of his inner thoughts. He's well trained.

"Let's go!" I said with my small and weak voice.

Siya ang naunang maglakad habang ako naman ang nakasunod lang sa kanya sa likod. Judging the attitude he showed to me, I thought he's going to walk on his own pace. He's tall and I was expecting for him to walk faster, but that is not what happened. But fast or slow, I still feel exhausted.

I haven't imagined what the pavilion looks like, but now that I am seeing it with my own eyes, I am amazed by it. In the midst of a vast fishpond, a pavilion emerges, its elegant structure perched upon sturdy stilts. Connected to the shore by graceful arched bridges. Sunlight sparkles on the water's surface, where fish glide gracefully. Inside the pavilion, cool breezes flow through open windows, creating a peaceful sanctuary surrounded by water and greenery.

Habang naglalakad ako kanina sa bridge ay hindi ko maiwasang ma amaze sa ganda ng tanawin. Then, when we were near the pavilion, I was stunned by the man sitting by the window, deeply engrossed in a book. Kaagad kong nakilala ito dahil sa kulay asul nitong roba.

"Dianxia!" Tawag ni Rambotan sa nagbabasang prinsipe.

He immediately looked at us, particularly me, and then he smiled.

"Hi! Good morning!" Malawak ang ngiti nito na para bang nagagalak siyang makita ako ngayong araw.

"She's not talking," rinig kong bulong ni Rambotan pero umakto akong walang narinig.

Prince Yuze just tapped Rambotan's shoulder and gave him a smile, then Rambotan exited. But before he finally vanished into thin air, he gave me a glance which I don't know the meaning.

"So, I've heard from Botan that you've been silent the whole time. Are you, perhaps, feeling sick?"

Ahh! Botan pala ang pangalan ng lalaking 'yon!

Marahan akong umiling at tumingin sa loob ng pavilion mula sa nakabukas na bintana.

"Actually the royal chef made a breakfast for us, come inside and let's eat first."

Why is everything not in the book? What the fuck is happening?

Leaving with no choice, sumunod ako sa kanya. Pumwesto kami sa isang rectangular wooden table na may ibat-ibang putahe na nakahain sa ibabaw. Upon seeing the food, I suddenly felt a gnawing hunger in my stomach, my mouth watering at the sight and aroma.

"You can eat everything, Thalassa."

I don't know why the prince of Zhang is treating me like someone he adores. His voice was gentle, like a soothing breeze on a warm day, calming and comforting to anyone who heard it... like me.

"Why am I here?" I asked. "Why are you doing this to me?"

Actually nagugutom na talaga ako, pero kailangan kong magtanong. Kailangan kong malaman ang rason niya. But what I am really looking for now is the reason why he showed up early. This is not what happened in the book. There wasn't a scene of Yuze and Thalassa talking inside the Lotus Pavilion.

"I am afraid I don't know what you mean by 'here'. Do you mean here in the Pavilion?"

Eh? Hindi ako nakasagot kaagad.

"You're here because we're going to talk about something and prepare as well. First, you are officially a eunuch and you will going to serve the Crown Prince of Zhang. Second, I changed your name into Thala. Third, we are going to prepare for the wedding of the Emperor Dàyông  and the royal consort Xuánjī."

R-royal consort?

Xuánjī?

There's a wedding going to happen? But yes, there will be a wedding mentioned in the prologue. So meaning ba nito ay nasa prologue pa ako? Gagi, ang haba ha? Hanggang kailan ba 'to matatapos eh hindi naman umabot sa 'wanki' word counts ang prologue ni poisson? Ganito ba talaga sa mundo ng fiction, mabagal ang takbo ng storya?

As I remember kaya sila ikakasal ay dahil namatay sa sakit sa puso ang unang empress, which is ang totoong nanay ng crown prince. Ito namang si royal consort Xuánjī ay ang unang consort ng emperor at may anak din ito pero babae and I forgot her name. She's the same age with Yuze, oo sabay niyang binuntis ang kanyang empress at ang kanyang royal consort. Pero base sa libro ay hindi minahal ni Emperor Dàyông ang dalawa, isang tao lang talaga ang nagpatibok sa puso niya.

Now, the plot is... Xuánjī is pregnant kaya sila ikakasal pero the truth is hindi naman talaga siya buntis. Then papasok ang character ko bilang sidekick ni Xuánjī and my first ever mission is the Red Bean Tree Portrait. My first and last mission.

"Are you listening? You have to eat, you're so thin."

Pero ginamit lang talaga ni Thalassa ang weakness ni Xuánjī para makapasok sa palasyo at unti-unting naghasik ng lagim.

"Hey! Are you okay?"

Napakurap ako dahil bigla na lang may mukhang bumulaga sa aking harapan. Our face are only inches away from each other kaya agad akong umatras. Nakikita ko naman ang pag-aalala sa mga mata niya. Mukhang nahulog ako sa malalim na pag-iisip.

"Y-yeah."

"Let's just eat first before talking about some matters. Don't worry, I am the only person allowed to enter in the pavilion and I invited you here. Feel free to eat everything, Thalassa."

Ang ginawa ko ay dahan-dahan na kinuha ang chopsticks at hinawakan sa isang kamay ang bowl na puno ng kanin. Kumuha ako ng mga ulam at inilagay sa ibabaw ng kanin saka kinain gamit ang chopsticks. Gano'n din ang ginawa ng kaharap ko, and I was thankful because he let me eat comfortably.

After eating breakfast ay may dinala pa ang royal chef nila na isang pie. Just looking at the dessert, it made me remember my mom. Pie is her specialty.

"So let's get down to the business, shall we?"

Na alerto ako sa paraan ng pananalita niya. It's only a matter of seconds before he change personality and it sounds like he's giving me task right after he appointed me as a eunuch.

"What do you want to happen?"

He didn't mention about what happened yesterday, but I know he's asking me about my plan. Does he want me to take revenge?

"Ano sa tingin mo ang mararamdaman mo kung maghihiganti ako sa emperor? I am asking you as the Crown Prince of Zhang."

"Revenge might temporarily soothe your anger and bring inner peace, but it often leads to prolonged conflict or even death."

Tinitigan ko siya ng mabuti pero umiwas din ako pagkaraan ng ilang sandali. It's impossible if he knew.

If I really am Thalassa Bennett, I would choose revenge and end the ruling of the emperor, pero hindi naman talaga ito ang nangyari sa libro bagkus ay siya ang namatay. Hindi ko nabasa ang end part ng libro, at saka on-going pa ang book two kaya hindi ko rin batid kung talagang pinatay ni poisson si Thalassa sa kwento. She could revive her character. Hindi pa talaga tapos ang kwento, but I will end it on my own accord.

"Do you know me?"

Ang tanong kong ito ang naging dahilan para matigilan ang maharlikang nasa harapan ko. Ang mga mata niya ay dumako sa akin and for some reason I feel uneasy. His deep, intense look that it feels like it could see through me, my thoughts, and vulnerabilities.

"When I was a kid, my mother taught me to consider both sides of the story. That's why when I mediate conflicts, I always listen to everyone involved before making a judgment. I stay impartial and support what's right."

Ang alam ko ay paborito siya ng mamamayan dahil pinagtatangol niya ang mga naaapi, lalo na ang mga mahihirap na minamaltrato ng mga mayayaman. Palagi rin siyang updated sa mga pangyayari sa paligid niya at agad na uma-aksyon kapag may mga problema.

"Someone once advised me to fully understand situations before making quick judgments. Fairness can profoundly impact someone's life."

Habang sinasabi niya ang mga katagang ito ay napansin ko ang pagkislap ng kanyang mga mata na para bang na-iisip niya ang mukha ng taong iyon. Baka jowa niya.

But, my plan?

Is to rewrite the entire story with my own plot. I admire the original characters and their traits, and I appreciate how the book concludes. However, if I adhere to the original plot, it means I'll eventually face death. Poisson killed Thalassa's character because she's the villain, and that's her destiny.

"Would you let me do what I want to do?" I asked, trying to make sure.

The crown prince of Zhang smiled widely at me trying to assure that I could trust him and he trusted me.

"I'm planning to survive..no matter what." Puno ng determinasyon na sabi ko.

Poisson no longer holds the pen. From now on, I, Thala, will rewrite everything and give these unfortunate characters their happy endings.

My journey as a female eunuch is about to start in a few hour.

Huh! The Red Bean Tree Portrait is under major editing by the villainess of the book itself, Thalassa Bennett.

*****•*****

- B M -

A/N:

Na mention ko sa ibabaw ang word na 'gat' which is a certain hat that men wear during the joseon period. It is a Korean traditional hat made of bamboo or horsehair with a bamboo frame and is partially transparent (according to Google).

I don't own the picture and I just got it from Google.