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That damn Eizner. Wala talagang iniwan na kahit ano na may kinalaman sa state affairs ang knight niya na nakipagsabwatan sa reyna. Naninibago siya na wala siyang ginagawa. Walang meetings. Walang dadaluhang events o appointments. Nang makita pa lang niya ang pares na tasa ay alam na niyang ang kanyang ina ang may pakana niyon. The Mother Queen was really desperate and even bought their knights' loyalty in order to execute her plan. Natunugan na nitong tatakasan lamang nila ni Soleil ang balak nito.

Funny thing was her plan succeeded. Nauwi pa sa pisikalan ang sa kanilang dalawa ni Eizner para i-subdue siya. Tuso lang talaga ito at gumawa ng paraan para mawalan siya ng malay. The mini-office was completely useless. Walang mga bagay ang naroon. This was a forced proximity and a forced vacation. May tiwala naman siya kay Arzhel na makakaya nitong i-handle ang state officials at nobles.

"Your Royal Highness."

Napaangat siya ng ulo kay Soleil. Makikita ang worry sa mukha nito.

"The crew quarters are locked. The only remaining room is the master's suite."

She was wearing a lounge shorts, exposing her smooth long legs and light pink shirt. While him, he was in his casual clothes when he's in his room, beige cargo shorts and casual t-shirt. Unusual para sa kanilang ang makita ang isa't isa na ganito ang suot.

The queen really wanted them to sleep together, as if commanding them to do the deed. Nang magsink-in sa kanya ay bahagya siyang natawa. Noong mga bata pa silang tatlo, kahit pa Hari ang kanilang ama, walang-wala pa rin ito sa Reyna. Their mother was their foundation. Few people knew that in the palace.

Who said that they're the Ice couple? The lady in front of him is a compassionate lady who has a big heart for the orphans and little children. At ngayon, pinagkaitan nila ang isa't isa na magkaroon ng anak.

"Come here," he commanded.

Napakurap-kurap na lang ito sa sinabi niya. Nasa office area sila ng yacht. He was sitting on a chair, facing her.

"What?" Bago pa man ito magreklamo ay hinawakan niya ang kamay nito at hinila ito papalapit sa kanya. She was inches away from him and he could smell the scent of her shampoo, a combination or morning mist and citrus scent. Napasinghap ito at nanatili sa harap niya. But their bodies were so close to each other.

"Do you know why I avoided you for so long?" 

"Why?" she asked.

He inwardly smirked and snaked his arms on her waist. "I'm afraid that I would get burned.”

Arthur closed his eyes when he felt her hand raking his hair. It was the moment he hugged her and buried his head on her stomach. Saglit na napasinghap si Soleil sa ginawa.

"I don't know that avoiding you means preventing myself from wanting a close proximity to my wife."

Magaan na ngumiti si Soleil. Kahit siya naman ay pinipigilan ang sarili na lumapit rito lalo na kapag marami ang nakatingin. She didn't want to be seen by everybody, looking vulnerable and sensitive in front of the Crown Prince - her husband.

"There are so many eyes watching us," she spoke and sighed. Hindi rin lingid sa kanya na may mga prinsesa rin at nobility na gustong maghiwalay silang dalawa ni Arthur para sa kapangyarihan at marami pang dahilan. "Waiting for us to fall."

Saglit itong humiwalay sa kanya. Gusto pa itong hawakan ni Soleil ngunit hinila na ni Arthur ang isang office chair para doon na maupo si Soleil. Umupo roon si Soleil, kaharap ang ngayong seryusong Arthur. Halos magsalubong na rin ang makakapal nitong kilay at bahagyang nabahala si Soleil.

"Tell me what worries you a lot." Sa tono nito, ayaw nitong hindi niya ito sasagutin kaya sinalubong niya ang matiim nitong tingin.

"For me, our marriage happened because of political or state reasons. We don't know what will happen in the near future, but divorce can be possible."

Base sa pagkunot ng noo nito, hindi nagustuhan ni Arthur ang salitang 'divorce'. For Arthur, divorce is not an option for their marriage.

"No," he said firmly. "We won't divorce. I won't divorce you. Wala sa pamilya namin ang nagdi-divorce. It's our tradition."

Nag-isang linya ang mga labi ni Soleil. "It's a tradition. You can break it anytime when things don't work out well."

"Bakit iniisip mo 'yan?"

Umiwas ng tingin si Soleil. "It can possible, Arthur. I don't have high hopes for our marriage. Maraming puwedeng mangyari."

"Tinanong mo ba ako kung pumayag akong magpakasal sa iyo? Despite that it's an arrange marriage?"

Saglit na natigilan si Soleil sa sinabi nito. Arthur slowly hold her trembling hands. She was trembling because of his intense and dark eyes, roaming around her face, scanning her facial expressions. The warmth of his hand enveloped her, as if comforting her and vanished her worries at the same time.

"Even though, it's an arrange marriage, I didn't feel force marrying you. Or our marriage is only built in papers and for political reasons. Dadating ang panahon that we will work out our marriage." Napasinghal si Arthur at bahagyang natawa. His eyes became soft while smiling and gazing at her. It was breathtaking and her heart raced in glee.

"I want it to work out," she said, almost a whisper while looking at their locked hands. "For the sake of the kingdom."

"For the sake of the kingdom?"

Soleil smiled. May maliit pala ito na dimple sa gilid ng mga labi nito pag ngumingiti.

"For the sake of our marriage. Gusto ko ring magwork-out ang marriage natin. Hindi ko lang maiwasang mag-isip noon na baka napilitan ka lang or you only do your duties as a royalty. You're the Crown Prince."

"I don't even think of adding concubines. It's not in our tradition. And there's no other woman who can be my crown princess. It's you only. Are you thinking of running away?"

Dahil intense ang mga titig nito sa kanya, napaiwas saglit ng tingin si Soleil.

"Why would I? When I am stuck with you here?"

He chuckled. "Fine. Their plan is effective for locking us here. Might as well we forget about our royal duties and act like an ordinary married couple. I don't want headaches from thinking of the work that I left behind."

"Kaya din siguro pinilit nila tayong dalawa dito sa yacht. Pinagkaisahan nilang tayong dalawa."

Nakasalalay sa official royal guards nila ang katagalan ng stay nila roon. Marami silang mamimiss na trabaho pero ayaw na muna iyon isipin ni Soleil. Once in a blue moon na magkasama sila na ganito ni Arthur.

"Surprise me, wife. Ipagluto mo ako."

"What are your allergies?" she asked out of the blue.

That earn a lopsided smile from the Ice Crown Prince. "No, I have no allergies. Seafood will be okay. Kung ano ang stocks, ayos lang sa akin."

Napatango-tango siya. May naisip tuloy siyang lutuin. "Then, I will cook my yaya's heirloom dish."

Napansin ni Soleil ang pag-glint sa mga mata ni Arthur na para bang may naalala ito. Marami pa siyang walang alam rito at dahil rin sa position nito, marami din itong sikretong itinatago.

***

"You're eating a spiked ice cream, young lady," someone said behind her back.

She was silently eating her ice cream when someone approached her. Kahit hindi niya ito nakikita dahil sa may likuran niya ito ay naririnig naman niya sa footsteps at sounds mula sa buhanginan ang mga hakbang nito. Matalas lang talaga ang pandinig niya lalo na kung minsan may nae-encounter siyang mga manyak.

Hindi naman siya pangit. Hindi rin siya saksakan ng ganda pero pag naayusan, may hitsura naman talaga siya at may curves din, dangan nga lang mas lalaki ba siya sa ibang lalaki. Amazona ang tingin ng iba.

"Who the hell are you? At bakit mo naman nasabing spiked ang ice cream na ito?"

"You didn't know? The beachfolks here know that the ice cream that that man was selling has cannabis."

Doon siya natigil sa pagkain ng ice cream at kaagad na nilingon ang estranghero. Bakit ba may mga pakialamero sa mundo? Naningkit ang mga mata niya dahil na rin sa sinag ng araw doon. Maririnig din sa background ang paghampas ng alon sa dalampasigan. Mula sa malayo ay maririnig din ang mga huni ng beach birds.

Her eyes surveyed his looks. Dang! Cold yet hot asshole. That's the words that registered in her head when she saw his handsome face. Sinasayaw ng hangin ang buhok nitong singkulay ng raven. Not to mention, maitim rin ang mga mata nito. And those jawline of his. Kung sino mang babae ang makakita ng mukha nito tiyak na maglaglagan ang panties. Saksakan talaga ng guwapo. At pamilyar. Kaya nangungunot ang kanyang noo.

"Me? I'm just a beach bum who knows to observe. Look at your ice cream, it has green flakes. You're actually eating a cannabis ice cream."

"Kung gusto mo nito, Sir, puwede mo naman itong hingin sa 'kin o bumili ka na lang ng bago. Available pa ang ice cream ni Mr. Cannabis," she said with a hint of sarcasm.

Tinaasan lang siya nito ng makapal nitong kilay. Tila walang pores ang mukha nito at halos ang kinis. Maraming babaeng maiinggit sa skin nito.

"What? Am I dumb? Why would I buy a cannabis ice cream?"

She rolled her eyes. Konti na lang talaga ma-aannoy siya sa tono ng boses nito. May hint ng arrogance at iyong tono na mahahalatang taga-alta talaga o yayamanin. He sounded like an arrogant noble.

"Yeah right, whatever." Sa asar, basta na lang niya tinapon ang ice cream sa trash can. Ilang hakbang lang kasi ang layo ng trash can sa kanilang dalawa.

Hindi pa rin gumagalaw ang loko sa kinatatayuan nito. Bakit ang pamilyar ng mukha nito? Parang nakita na niya sa mga society pages. Hindi na niya ito pinansin bagkus ay naupo na lamang siya sa buhanginan. Gusto niyang tumunganga at wala siyang pakialam sa lalaking ito na bigla na lang tumabi sa kanya ng upo at isang metro lang ang pagitan nila.

"Puwede ka namang umupo malayo sa akin," basag niya sa katahimikan.

"Bakit naman ako lalayo?"

She gritted her teeth. Sinusubukan talaga nito ang pasensiya niya.

"Bahala ka."

She inhaled and exhaled. Saksakan nga ng guwapo pero saksakan naman ng sungit. Hindi rin ito ngumingiti at mas lalo na siya. Kahit siguro pinakaguwapong lalaki na ang ihaharap sa kanya. Wa epek pa rin.

Nagsawa na rin siguro ito kaya umalis na rin. Pinagpag lang nito ang shorts nito at tahimik na umalis. Gaya kung paano ito dumating.

Nilapitan nito ang nagtitinda ng ice cream at may kung anong ibinulong sa nagtitinda. Nawala ang kulay sa mga mata ng nagtitinda.

Ano ang ibinulong nito sa kawawang tindero?

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