Chapter 16: Met

It was one of those fleeting moments— when we found ourselves in the middle of a peaceful place, a greenhouse to be exact, where he could fully relax, close his eyes and I could simply watch him. I hated that I couldn't even blink.

Kreios always had that image— a carefree king— known for breaking the norm. If there were ever a meeting with all the kings of Nemetio Spiran gathered in one place, he'd be the one to stand out. He was different— dangerously.

Who would have thought that the foolish, runaway grandson of the great councilor Leon Doyle would one day wear the crown? I was among those who mocked him, questioning his decisions and believing his future would have been better if he'd succeeded his grandfather. But Kreios was destined for something greater— a higher position than any of us had imagined.

I might have provoked him— filled him with the idea that I was the one who made him this way. But the more time I spent in this kingdom, despite our pointless banter, I couldn't deny one thing: he was a king— the perfect ruler of the largest empire in Nemetio Spiran.

"Now you fall in love with me again, My Queen," he said, with his amused and mellowed voice.

I bit my lower lip as I kept staring at him, silently cursing how confidently he carried himself. He wasn't touching me, and there was a slight distance between us, but the tension was unbearable— so thick I could hardly breathe. He wasn't even looking at me, yet it felt like if one of us made a move, we'd find ourselves tangled together behind the bushes surrounding us.

He knew how godly his beauty was, just like his sister.

Kreios might not have been that pristine and elegant just like Tobias, Dastan, or even Uno— the traditional king that I used to grow up with, but the way he was different from them made him look more dangerously attractive.

Alam kong hindi lang sa mga mata ko kundi pati na rin sa napakaraming kababaihan mula sa iba't ibang lahi.

How could he unconsciously slant his body on this bench, legs stretched out against the ground, arms sprawled across the backrest—positioning himself in a way no king should? Vampires, all of us, radiate more at night—but Kreios, with the filtered sunlight streaming through the glass panes above us, could make anyone falter.

How could he look so vulnerable, yet I still felt the challenge—as if he was daring me to crumble and beg for him?

My hands balled tightly on my thighs, unconsciously crumpling my dress as I looked at him.

"You shouldn't sit like that, Kreios. Someone might see you. You are a king."

He closed his eyes, "I don't care. Is the king not allowed to relax sometimes?"

"You can rest inside your room—"

"Our room," he corrected.

"Go."

"With you? I don't think so," he smiled, still with his eyes closed.

"We can arrange a separate room if—"

Hindi na ako muli pinatapos ni Kreios, bigla siyang nagmulat, umupo nang maayos, mabilis na pinagkrus ang kanyang mga hita, bahagyang inihawak ang isang kamay sa isa niyang tuhod habang itinuon niya ang isang siko sa likuran nito. With a single snap of his fingers, the golden chains tied on my feet turned into dust and slowly vanished into the air.

I gasped as I looked at my feet, unable to process the sudden change of events. I thought he'd never allow me to wander his kingdom without his chains. What made him remove my chains?

Unti-unti akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya. Ngayon ay nakahalumbaba na ang isa niyang kamay sa kanyang mukha habang nawiwili siyang pinagmamasdan ang reaksyon ko.

"You're free now. I don't think you'll run anymore. After all, in a few days, we will have our honeymoon journey. Holy Land, Asta Wellingzon, and this goal of killing Atlas's minions. Oh, darling love," he enumerated, counting on his fingers as he exaggeratedly mellowed his voice, almost a whisper with his last few words—his endearment, his habit of calling me that when he was acting and provoking me. "I just offered you the most exciting honeymoon of the century."

I should have been annoyed at first by the way he addressed me, but what caught my attention more was the journeys he mentioned.

My eyes widened, "Y-you're serious..."

He nodded.

Mas natulala na ako sa kanya. We might have had that conversation just now, I thought that it was an empty promise, since the king and queen couldn't leave the empire unattended, and he was different from Dastan who had many siblings that could stay inside the kingdom and could lead temporarily.

"But how?"

I wanted this journey so bad, but I couldn't just let Kreios risk the safety of this empire just to fulfill my wishes. I didn't know that he'd immediately act upon it, but how? He couldn't just leave his empire.

His brow arched, "That's going to be my problem."

Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya.

And then, still, with his crossed legs, a hand cupping his face, he gently leaned closer to me, since he was crouched a little, he had to tilt his face to look at me playfully. He pursed his lips as if he was conflicted just because he saw my reaction— an act to provoke me.

"Isn't this what you want? When you were in Sartorias they don't usually let you get involved... why is it so unfair for My Queen? Such a tough life," he sounded like Zen when he was trying to make Divina cry.

I wanted to punch his face.

Naningkit na ang mga mata ko sa kanya, ngumisi siya at dumistansya sa akin. He stood up, his back in front of me as he brushed his fingers through his hair with one of his hands on his waist.

"Y-you—" but I cut himself off because I couldn't find a word to tell him, after all, he granted my wish.

I thought I was the one playing? I thought I had him at his wit's end? But now, the tables have turned—why am I unable to summon the words to challenge him?

Hindi na siya lumingon sa akin at nagsimula na siyang maglakad nang mabagal papalayo habang habol ang tingin sa kanya.

And then he stopped walking.

"I made you speechless there, Gazellian," he looked over his shoulder and winked at me. Then he laughed, leaving me speechless—fuming—yet there was a silly smile on my lips, because, in the end, it was Kreios who could give me that offer.

"I hate you," I whispered.

Pinagsawa ko muna ang sarili ko sa loob ng greenhouse na iyon bago ako nagpasya na pumasok na muli sa palasyo, at iisa lang ang reaksyon ng mga tagasunod nang sandaling makita nila akong mag-isa at walang kadena— takot.

Nagagawa man nilang yumuko sa akin bilang paggalang ngunit kapag natapos iyon ay agad na silang nawawala sa harapan ko.

I shrugged my shoulders and continued walking. Hindi ko na rin naman hinanap si Kreios dahil alam kong magiging abala siya.

What noticed about the castle of Mudelior was the similar paint— the castle was fully painted in white. Hindi ganoong kakulay ang Mudelior kumpara sa Sartorias. Bigla kong inalala ang Mudelior nang panahon na hindi pa si Kreios ang nakaupo, sa natatandaan ko ay mayaman din sa iba't ibang kulay ang emperyo ng Mudelior, kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay mas marami pa silang tradisyunal na pagdiriwang na maihihilera sa Deltora. Isa iyon sa dapat kong tandaan, ano iyong mga pinanatili at binago ni Kreios nang sandaling naupo na ito sa trono.

At the end of the hallway, there was a huge portrait of Kreios. He was sitting, his legs were crossed, and his face was leaning lazily at the back of one of his hands— This time, he didn't look bored, but he was too serious. He was wearing the traditional Mudelior tunic—slightly similar to what Dastan and Tobias usually wore, but this one was fancier, with a mixture of red and delicate golden embroidery. He also had a headdress and a single long earring in his left ear. I tried to spot the iconic loose knot, but my eyes widened as I looked lower—there was no knot. His tunic was boldly open.

If Dastan and Tobias were always exposing their chests, Kreios—who seldom wore his tunic—was exposing his chest all the way down to his abs.

Nakangiwi na ako habang nakatingala sa painting niya, "Bakit hindi ka na lang naghubad?"

"Iyan ang sinasabi na minsan na nga lang sumunod sa dresscode, mali pa."

The sudden voice beside me interrupted my attention from Kreios's abs, "Who are you?" I quickly asked.

A woman dressed differently than the palace maids was hugging books to her chest. I noticed her hands filled with inks and even the growing circles under her eyes. She looked overworked.

A council perhaps? But she sounded different.

Nakatingala na rin siya habang pinagmamasdan ang hubad na katawan ni Kreios. I tried to look at her reaction if she'd be attracted or fascinated with Kreios's portrait— but she looked as though she wanted to vandalize the painting.

I almost smiled.

In Sartorias and in Deltora, Dastan and Tobias would display their portraits in royal suits. Dito lang ako nakakilala sa Mudelior na maaaring hubad ang hari habang balot na balot ang kanyang nasasakupan.

Hindi agad siya sumagot sa halip ay pinasadahan niya rin ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. She looked displeased as well. I almost forgot that I dressed as exposed as Kreios right now.

"You must be the rumored possessed queen? Bagay kayo."

Nag-angat ako ng kilay sa kanya, pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko at tuluyan siyang hinarap. "Now that you're aware of my status, you should know your manner, woman."

Some servants might have sweated, apologized, and even kissed the floor to spare themselves, but she merely bowed to me. It wasn't difficult to notice that she wasn't used to it—yet I caught a glimpse of a mocking smile from her.

Wala siyang takot.

"Who are you? You're not from here."

Ngayon ay mas ipinakita na niya sa akin na talagang nakangiti siya. "I came from the human world."

My eyes widened, "W-what?"

She shook her head, "If you're thinking that I was one of those famous women from the prophecy, then you got it wrong."

"Dumaan ka sa Middel?" tanong ko.

Umiling siya at nagsimula nang humikab. "I died and I woke up in this world."

"What?"

She shrugged her shoulders and turned around, she lazily waved her hand, "I should go, Your Majesty. I have a lot of things to do. Overtime na nga sa human world, overtime pa rin sa mundong ito. Pesteng buhay."

Agad ko siyang hinabol at sinabayan ko siya sa paglalakad. "What do you mean you died and woke up here?"

"Hindi ko rin alam. How I wish I woke up in a game, pipili ng guwapong lalaki kasi pag-aagawan ako, tea party there and everywhere, but oh, my god, the moment I leave this place, there are monsters! Kakainin ako nang buhay! I am not even blessed by any power! Kaya ito, bagsak na naman sa pagiging empleyado."

Since I had been exposed to the human world, with Naha and Claret, it wasn't that hard to understand her words.

I continued walking beside her as she complained about everything in this world until I realized something...

I gasped, "Y-you're... the writer."

She rolled her eyes, "I am. I am overworked. No sleep. Forced to read the history of Nemetio Spiran. Forced to know the rulers, traditions, and current events of this world. May DOLE ba rito sa mundo ninyo? I will report to your king. Abusado na."

"What's DOLE?"

Umikot muli ang mga mata niya, "Nah, I was just kidding. Alam ko naman na walang sumbungan dito kung may mga abusadong hari na."

"My brother, King Dastan, the king of Nemetio Spiran."

She laughed, "Of course. But I don't know how. I am locked here."

"Then how much for your service? Itatakas kita kay Kreios. Work for me."

She waved her hand dismissively, "The Viardellons tried to buy me as well. Ayoko na rin magpalipat-lipat ng lugar. Dito na ako hanggang kamatayan."

Pinagsalikop ko ang mga kamay ko sa likuran at pinagpatuloy ko ang pagsunod sa kanya. "If you're not planning to leave Mudelior, I still want to have your service. You should be loyal to me; I will let you rest. Forget working for that idiot Kreios."

"Are you trying to promote me from a gossip writer to the Queen's aide?"

I nodded.

"Hmm... pag-iisipan ko."

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Juniper."

And that was how I met the writer— who would write the rest of the history of us— Gazellians.