Chapter 10: Old wagon and masks

My life as a princess with protective brothers and a sister had always been difficult. I always wanted to have my own adventures, but it was tough to sneak out of the castle. But fair enough, I was blessed by a very good friend named Lailani. She's a commoner's daughter, who came from a family who had been serving the royal family for generations.

Lailani's even better than the young aristocrats who think nothing but fancy dresses, jewelries, and tea parties. It wasn't even new to me that most of my playmates anticipated seeing my famous brothers in the empire, especially Zen. Hindi nila alam ang sungit-sungit naman ni Zen, or maybe they were all aware that it was part of his character, and they were attracted to someone who was always grumpy like him.

Unlike my brothers and sister, who had been proud of being royalty, I always liked to interact with commoners. I always tend to ask questions from our servants, which usually they avoid.

I suddenly remembered Zen.

He was always towering over me with his hands on his waist. "Harper, you shouldn't interact with the commoners. You're a proud Gazellian. Can't you see? They are working. You are bothering them."

Sinulyapan ni Zen iyong dalawang babaeng tagasunod na nilapitan ko dahil nagtatanong lang naman ako sa kanila. Agad yumuko ang dalawang babae at nagmadali kaming iwan ni Zen.

Nanghahaba ang nguso ko sa kanya at pinagtataasan lang ako ng kilay. Zen's always been everyone's bully. He was not friends with everyone. "I was just curious . . ."

"Then ask me."

"How? You're always grumpy."

Mag-aaway pa sana kami ni Zen nang biglang may lumapit na kawal sa amin. Agad hinawakan ni Zen ang kanyang espada bago niya ako muling sinulyapan. "Go. You can read books and ask Lily your questions."

Hindi ko siya sinagot, sa halip ay inilabas ko ang dila ko sa kanya. Zen quickly growled at me with his bared fangs, mas naunang natakot iyong kawal na nasa likuran niya.

"Ikaw, sutil ka . . ."

Ngumisi na ako. Agad lumuhod si Zen at inangat niya ang isa niyang kamay. "Akin na ang dilang iyan, Harper."

Ilang beses nang yumuko ang kawal at nagpaalam na. Hindi na siya pinansin ni Zen nang tumakbo na akong tumatawa sa pasilyo kaya sumunod sa akin si Zen.

"You silly little girl! Sino ang nagturo sa 'yo niyan? Si Dastan ba? Si ama? Hihilahin ko ang mga dila ninyo!"

Sa huli ay nahuli ako ni Zen at ilang beses niya nang hinila ang dila ko. Ganoon din ang ginawa niya sa akin kaya tumatawa kami sa isa't isa.

I was aware of the reason why Zen hated it when he saw me with the commoners or any other servants from the castle because he's been afraid that I might hear unnecessary stories about him. He was known as the black prince of this empire— the savage and the heartless who killed hundreds of lives in a snap at a young age. It was nothing new to me, but that didn't taint the image of my brother.

Zen might be the meanest brother— but I knew that he'd do everything for me. He loved me. Kahit lagi niya akong pinagagalitan.

"Give me that tongue. Pagbubuhol-buhulin ko kayo nina Dastan at ama. Kapag nakita ko iyang sina Dastan at ama hihilahin ko rin ang mga dila nila. They shouldn't teach you—" hinahampas ko na ang kamay ni Zen nang bigla kaming nakarinig ng magkasunod na tikhim.

Two shadows were now towering over us. Zen's eyes widened. I looked over my shoulder, and then I saw the familiar form of my father and Dastan. Both of them had similar outfits and hairstyles.

Napaupo si Zen sa sahig.

Si ama ay ngumiti at bahagyang inilabas ang kanyang dila. Ganoon din si Dastan na wala man lang kaunting reaksyon, ngumiwi si Zen at nag-iwas ng tingin sa dalawang nakatungo sa amin.

"Stop bullying Harper, Zen."

Inangat ko na ang dalawang braso ko at binuhat ako ni Dastan. Father looked at me and patted my head before he looked at Zen. "Aren't you going to pull my tongue, son?"

Mas lalong ngumiwi si Zen. "Stop bullying me."

Sabay tumawa sina ama at Dastan, iritableng tumayo si Zen at pinagpagan niya ang kanyang kasuotan. Umirap siya sa aming tatlo bago niya kami tinalikuran.

"Don't listen to him. He's just overprotective. You can be always curious about every living creature in this world." Sabi ni ama.

I hugged Dastan's neck. "I know. Zen's just shy to be lovable."

Sabay muling tumawa sina Dastan at ama. "Then who's your favorite brother?" Dastan asked.

"Casper!"

He rolled his eyes. Tumawa muli si ama. "That's going to be her only answer, Dastan. Don't worry, son, I heard from Caleb that you'll always be his favorite."

"Oh, come on . . . he's a headache!"

I blinked and saw those huge windows of the castles as if I could see the past— how Zen ran after me, how Father and Dastan stopped walking looking below them, how Dastan carried me, and how they started walking again with laughter.

It was so nice that every part of the castle had memories.

I was swinging my legs while sitting at the back of the old wagon. I could hear the clip-clop of the horse's hooves, the road was bumpy, and the empty barrels swayed in motion behind my back. My hands were tightly gripping my seat as I looked at the castle— my home. As the wagon continued to move— now I realized that I'd been living in luxury, in an enormous home filled with glamour, flowers, and colors.

I looked over my shoulder, and as we moved forward— now that we were about to leave the vicinity of the castle, noticing the difference in my life as a pampered princess to a commoner child at my age, where everything was a sandy road, an air filled with dust, and blasting sunlight that seldom touched my skin. The contrast was so evident, yet everything seemed fascinating. Like an adventure that I needed to decipher.

My attention diverted to Livius. He was warmly smiling— he looked so free and happy.

Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti niya nang mahuli niyang pinagmamasdan ko siya. I looked away. He's more handsome than my brothers.

"What is that?" Itinuro sa akin ni Livius ang isinuot sa akin ni Dastan na kuwintas.

Hinawakan ko iyong berde na bato. "He told me that I have to give this to your mother as a token of appreciation."

"Huh? Hasn't your family been giving us ample supplies of food? It's uncommon for Gazellian family to give jewelry. This is expensive." Hinawakan niya ang suot kong kuwintas at pinagmasdan niya iyon.

Huhubarin ko na sana nang pigilan niya ako. "You should give this to your—"

"No. Ikaw na lang ang magbigay. Naroon naman si ina lag isa palasyo, or you can give it to Lailani, siya na ang bahalang magbigay kay ina."

Dahil matagal pa hanggang sa makarating kami sa pamilihan ay nag-usap lang kami ni Livius. I even gave him bread that I hid from my breakfast. Tinanggap niya naman iyon.

"You know it's uncommon to see royal blood who wanted to sneak out of the castle and who's also interested to know our life."

Umiling ako sa kanya. "My brothers might be too proud that they came from royalty, but they are always curious about the outside—sabi sa akin ni Casper ay madalas daw talaga lumabas sa palasyo ang mga kapatid ko. It's just that they hide their identity."

"Just like you."

Ngumisi ako. "Of course. My queen will scold me. Lily will scold me. Even Evan and Finn! But I know Caleb will be proud of me. For sure, Zen will make me cry. Dastan will carry me and wipe my tears, but he will scold me after that! Pagtutulong-tulungan nila akong lahat. And the King will just laugh at me. Si Casper lang ang kakampi ko sa palasyo."

"Why didn't you ask him to join?"

"Nah. For sure, Casper has his own journey."

Tumawa siya sa sinabi ko. "How about you, Livius? How do you live? Do you have protective brothers as well?"

Umiling siya sa akin. "I am a commoner's son. My family has been serving the royal family for generations. I know you're already aware of it. I am the eldest child and at a young age I am already expected to contribute to the workforce— because that's the reality of the life of a commoner; our everyday life is all about surviving."

Napayuko ako. "I am sorry . . ."

Agad umiling si Livius sa akin. "No. Walang kasalanan dito, Harper. The Gazellian family has been generous to this kingdom, at maayos na pinatatakbo ni Haring Thaddeus ang kahariang ito, ngunit ganoon talaga ang reyalidad sa mundong ito. Hindi mawawala ang mayayaman at mahihirap."

"A-are you happy?"

"Of course. I am happy. Nagagawa ko naman ang lahat ng gusto ko at nasa mabuting kalagayan sina ina at Lailani."

Mas pinakatitigan ko pa siya. "Ngunit may nais ka pang gawin?"

He tilted his head. "Maybe? But to continue our loyalty to your family, I'll enlist myself as one of the knights of the castle."

"Then that means you'll live in the castle. You will not have your freedom."

Mapait na ngumiti si Livius. "But it's one of my family's responsibilities."

"How about you run away?"

He laughed. "The princess of the kingdom is suggesting me to run away."

"I can talk to my father—"

Marahas umiling si Livius. "I will serve the kingdom. Ayaw mo ba niyon, Harper? I will be your protector."

"But you don't look happy . . ."

"Narito na tayo!"

Naunang tumalon mula sa kariton si Livius at sinimulan niya akong habulin. "You can jump, Harper! Sasambutin kita."

I smiled at him. Sumunod ako sa sinabi niya at tumalon ako. Kapwa kami nahulog sa lupa at tumawa siya nang tumawa. "Tayo na."

Hinawakan na niya ako at hinila niya ako sa pamilihan.

"Masaya rito, Harper! Lalo na't may pagdiriwang."

"Why didn't they invite the royalties?"

"Maliit na pagdiriwang lang naman ito ng pamilihan at hindi ka kailangan pa ng gabay ng mga kawal ng palasyo."

The busy market of Parsua Sartorias was filled with different creatures. There were hanging small flags with red colors, there were petals of flowers raining, stalls with delicious foods, and even street music. Unlike the parties inside the castle filled with white, gold, expensive dresses, this place looked warm and lively.

Livius gave me a huge red apple covered with sticky sugar and a stick handle. I was licking it while our hands were clasped. Bigla akong napalingon sa isang tindahan nang mapansin ko na may kulay abong buhok siya, ngunit ng lumingon ako ay nakasuot ito ng maskara. He was selling watermelons, and he was juggling a lot of them as if they weren't heavy.

The people from the market were fascinated.

I noticed that most of the vendors were wearing fancy masks inspired by different ancient animals. I could even see dragons, lions with horns, tigers with thick fur, and even wolves.

The other stall was also filled with different creatures. I could hear the continuous clanking of the coins.

"Tingnan natin iyon, Harper!"

Nakipagsiksikan kami ni Livius, dahil maliit kami ay agad kaming nakapunta sa unahan. There were filled with different jewelries. Walang tigil sa pagbili ang mga nilalang na nasa likuran namin.

"This item is freshly picked from the known Tree of Prosperity! I am friends with Prince Evan, at pinapitas niya ako!" The vendor said with his weird voice.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin. The masked man was looking at me, but he quickly averted his eyes. I was licking my apple candy.

"There are fakes. Wala naman friend na vendor si Evan." Nanlaki ang mga mat ani Livius at hinila na niya ako. "Shh. It's his business."

Nagtungo kami sa isa pang pinagkakaguluhan ng mga nilalang. There was another masked man again, he was just sitting there with five cups in front of him. Pinapapili niya lang naman ang mga nilalang kung nasaan ang ginto. I could see that the gold was on the last cup from the left side, but when he opened it, the gold was in the middle. The creatures around him groaned in frustration.

"He's good!" Sabi ni Livius.

I continued licking my apple candy. Sumusunod lang ako kay Livius habang hinihila niya ako hanggang makarating kami sa panibagong pinagkakaguluhan. There were two masked men, both with daggers who were competing at each other.

I stood between them while licking my candy. Magkasunod kong sinalubong ang mga mata nila. The other one flinched, while the other one was emotionless. Hindi ko na sila pinanuod at sumunod na ako kay Livius.

I started to enjoy the whole festival when I played with Livius. Nakipaglaro rin ako sa mga bata roon at nakipagtakbuhan.

"It's weird. It seems like some creatures in this market are looking like my silly brothers."

"Maybe you just miss them, or you secretly want them to play with you in this place." Sagot ni Livius.

"But I am glad that you brought me here. Thank you!" I kissed his cheeks.

Livius and I enjoyed our days at the festival. We rode on a wagon again to return to the palace. I hugged him again. "Thank you!"

He smiled at me.

Kakatapos ko pa lang makipagpalit ng damit kay Lailani nang lumabas na ako sa silid ko. I quickly saw Zen who was looking at the nearest painting. Hindi niya ako binati, pasipol-sipol lang siya. Bigla ko rin nadaanan si Evan na nasa bintana at nagbabasa ng aklat. Habang sina Caleb at Finn naman ay nakasalubong ko sa paglalakad.

"Look! Si Dastan! Nasa garden with Casper." Sabi ni Caleb nang lampasan nila ako.

Nag-inat ako at nagkunwaring naghikab. "It was wonderful that I took a nap!"

Nakasalubong ko rin si ama na mukhang nagulat dahil nakita niya kaming lahat na nasa iisang pasilyo. "Why are you all here? Your mother is calling you."

Agad akong binuhat ni ama at sumunod na ang mga kapatid ko. My mom was pouring us tea, and every one of us was seated at our long table.

"Mother, I had a dream!"

Casper smirked but he continued sipping his tea. "I dreamt of visiting a commoner's festival!"

Narinig ko na may nasamid sa mga kapatid kong lalaki. Natawa si Lily. "Uh-uh . . ."

"Tapos I saw Caleb selling watermelons, Evan selling his jewels at a low price, Finn cheating on his customers, and Zen and Dastan making a commotion. The line was too long, hindi na nila pinalaro ang iba . . ." mas lalong lumakas ang pagtawa ni Lily.

Nanliit ang mga mata ko sa mga kapatid ko at inilabas ko ang dila sa kanila. "Mask mask pa kayo, silly brothers . . ."

Natutuwa akong ikinalong ni ama at hinalikan niya ang pisngi ko. Mother looked proud. While my brothers groaned in unison, si Casper lang ang hindi.

I looked outside of the window and saw Livius and his old wagon. I smiled.