Chapter 17: The Plan

I was humming while my eyes looked around Juniper's office room. My hands were clasped behind my back, my head slightly tilted as I read the title of each book on her bookshelves. I had been in different working rooms before, from my father, mother, Dastan, and even Tobias, and Juniper's room was no different.

I couldn't help but ask why... this human girl even with her few months in this world could literally live in this world in this status— a writer but with access to all the information in Nemetio Spiran.

I suddenly wanted to choke Kreios to death. I might not have felt anything unusual about her, or probably a sense of betrayal, but Kreios couldn't just hand all the information to a human like her even with her great talent.

Knowledge is power.

"Don't you think your knowledge in this world can kill you?" I asked, curious about her question.

If she's smart enough, this knowledge isn't new to her.

"To acquire and preserve knowledge is the only ability I have in this world, Your Majesty. If I wouldn't use it to my advantage then yes, that knowledge will kill me."

"And you think Kreios's power will keep you alive?"

"I think for now."

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa. Why do I feel like she's a cunning one?

While Kreios was busy, I spent most of my time with Juniper. I couldn't help but get intrigued and be fascinated by her. As someone who isn't a born woman in a prophecy, it was surprising for me to witness a human who could easily take our history.

Well, it was hard for Claret since she was just informed about a man who was waiting for her, but wasn't it hard for Kezalli as well even though she already had an idea about Nemetio Spiran?

Surprisingly, this woman could take everything easily and she could answer everything confidently.

"You sure have a great talent," I said as I continued flipping the notes she had written for the past few months.

I was sitting across from her long table, which was filled with documents, scrolls, ancient scriptures, books, and even the important names in Nemetio Spiran and their contributions.

I could hear her continuously scribbling, not even distracted by my endless questions.

"You should be my dearest queen. How much if I have a laptop and printer? Baka hindi lang iyan ang matapos ko. I could put everything in MS Excel or MS Word. I could even make a PowerPoint presentation with all the kings in each generation. I could even make a poll in this empire asking everyone who's the most handsome king."

I couldn't understand some of her words, maybe that was her way of working when she was in the human world.

Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit hindi siya nais pakawalan ni Kreios. This woman was a treasure to any kingdom, and as wicked as Kreios was— I knew that he'd do everything to keep her.

Mas pinagmasdan ko na lang siya habang abala siya sa ginagawa niya.

I had been exposed to humans who turned into vampires after they had been bitten. They would turn out to be more beautiful and healthier with our venom, but Juniper— still a human was looking worse as days passed by.

She might die anytime soon.

"Don't you think you need a bite from a vampire and turn you into one?"

Umiling siya, pinagpatuloy niya ang pagsusulat habang may nakasampay ng tela sa balikat niya. Ilang beses na siyang inuubo.

"You look pale... sick."

"I want to die as a human. Sanay na rin naman ako. Namatay ako sa walang katapusang overtime. Mamamatay ulit na puro overtime."

"Maybe I can talk to Kreios and lessen your work?"

She raised her right eyebrow. "Is this one of your ways to steal me, Your Majesty?"

"No. I am just a friend— a concerned one."

"Now we are a friend?"

"Would you like to be my enemy instead?"

Umiling siya. "I can't be anyone's enemy after all any of you can snap my neck in an instant."

"So, tell me, ano ang ipinagagawa sa 'yo ngayon ni Kreios?"

"Well, our main focus is the Ancient Quillper since Mudelior's paper has been the topic of Nemetio Spiran recently."

I rolled my eyes. Hindi ko pa nakalilimutan na kami lagi nina Kreios at Tobias ang naroon sa Ancient Quillper nang una iyong inilabas.

"Now that I am already inside this empire, what's new? Kami pa rin ba?"

Juniper grinned. "I happened to meet the Viardellons."

My eyes widened. "Nagpunta ka sa Avalon?"

"Well, I tried to run away but it was a failure. I almost died. Mas gusto ko pa mamatay sa overtime kaysa kainin nang buhay."

"Oh, you were caught by some monsters?"

"Yes."

Ilang beses akong napatango. We might have the famous embargo, but Avalon is known for more monsters hiding in their caves, forests, and everywhere, and they were uncontrollable.

"Surprisingly Nemetio Spiran is interested in the story about the Viardellon brothers."

Muli akong napatango. Wala man kaming Ancient Quillper noon, alam kong sina Rosh, Zen, Seth, Blair ang siyang laging laman ng usapan ng iba't ibang nilalang, even Caleb, Evan, the young king Dastan and Tobias, and Finn...

The Viardellon purposely had hidden themselves as the talk of Nemetio Spiran and they let Seth set as the image of them all. Kaya hindi na rin siguro nakapagtataka na marami ang nag-aabang sa mga isinusulat ni Juniper tungkol sa kanila.

I took one of her copies and read an article about the Viardellon. I thought it would be full of praises, some interesting love stories, or even parties that the Viardellon brothers recently attended, but all I did was look astonishingly at Juniper.

Did she write this? This was clearly an insult to their family!

"And Kreios is still alright with your issues?" nag-aalangang tanong ko.

This could cause a political conflict. Pumayag si Kreios na lumabas ito? We are all aware that Ancient Quillper is being published in Mudelior.

"Wala naman, Mahal na Reyna."

"Hindi pa ba nagkakaroon ng digmaan ang Mudelior at Parsua Avalon? Walang natatanggap na mensahe si Kreios mula kay Uno?" napamasahe na ako sa aking noo.

Umiling si Juniper. Napatitig ako sa kanya. Kilala ko ang mga Viardellon, our family Gazellian doesn't care much about the image when it comes to family, Le'Vamuievos' siblings were secretive, but Viardellons were known for their prestige and perfection, na kung minsan man silang pag-usapan gusto nila'y walang pagkakamali o kaya'y higit silang hahangaan ng mundong ito.

Reading Juniper's article... the Viardellon would hunt her down.

"No one's trying to find Kreios's writer and kill her?" tanong ko.

"I am still alive. Your king will be the one who will kill me, Your Majesty."

Napansandal na ako sa aking upuan at napatulala na ako kay Juniper. The Viardellon should be thinking right now on how to kill her or Kreios, but why?

"Y-you went to Avalon, right? You met them?"

She nodded. "I had a few interviews, and I even had their sketch."

"A-and you're alive after all your articles?"

She looked at me, confused. "Yes? What's wrong?"

I was about to ask her more questions when the door opened, showing the king of this empire. "There you are, darling love... I've been looking for you."

Kreios casually placed both of his hands on the table, locking me with his arms, and he pressed a gentle kiss on my cheeks. "I was about to introduce you to my right hand, but you found her too soon." He glanced at Juniper.

"Right hand?" I asked.

I looked at Juniper, she was not happy with the news.

Umiling si Juniper. "I don't like promotion, Your Majesty, I am happy as the writer of your paper."

Kreios ignored her. "Did you already talk to her? Isn't she a talented one?"

"She is."

"Yes."

"Now, I finally talked to the Mudelior councils. I already have the list of the places that we need to visit."

Naupo na rin si Kreios sa tabi ko. Kumuha siya ng isa sa mga libro ni Juniper, sinimulan niya iyong buklatin habang nakakrus ang kanyang mga hita.

"We're going to start our journey a few days from now, My Queen."

Napatayo na ako at mariin napatitig sa kanya. "W-wait, Kreios... how about Mudelior? You can't just hastily decide just because I wanted..."

"Harper, do you think of me as an idiot? Of course, I will not leave our empire unattended."

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. "You can't just summon Claret here, Kreios. Alam mong abala siya dahil nagsisimula nang dumating ang mga itinakdang babae... and with Tobias and Kezalli's conflict right now."

Umalis ako roon ay kagigising pa lang ni Tobias. I knew that he was already fine when I left, but at least the princes of the prophecy needed Claret's help.

Kreios rolled his eyes when he heard Tobias's name. Biglang bumilis ang pagbuklat niya ng pahina at humaba ang nguso niya.

"Why did you even think of using him to make me jealous? Don't you think I am shallow? Iyong long hair na iyon magseselos ako?"

I raised one of my brows. "I didn't even talk about your jealousy, Kreios Sageton Doyle. Ikaw lang iyong nakakaalala. I was talking about Claret."

"Whatever."

He closed the book and threw it on the table. "Gago talaga," rinig namin iyon ni Kreios.

"Don't you think you have to be careful with your words, human girl? I am still your king."

"Guwapo talaga, Your Majesty," Juniper corrected.

"Ha! Of course," nakangising sabi ni Kreios.

"What I mean is King Tobias, he's my type, long hair, green eyes."

Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtawa ko, marahas lumingon sa akin si Kreios na may naniningkit na mga mata.

"What? You can't just change your writer's taste in men and Tobias is a real handsome."

Napamasahe sa kanyang noo si Kreios. "All right, enough with that long hair. I am here to tell you my plan."

Juniper cleared her throat. "Your Majesties, don't you think you have to talk about your plans without anyone around?"

Kreios waved his hand dismissively. "You're part of it."

"Me?"

"Yes. You are my right hand. You will secretly rule Mudelior while Harper and I are on a journey."

Hindi lang ako ang nagulat kundi pati si Juniper. Nasisiraan na ba ng bait itong si Kreios? Juniper is a human, she's defenseless and no one in this empire would take her seriously unless she is mated to royalty.

"A-are you crazy? I know that Juniper's talented, but you can't just leave the biggest empire in this world to a weak human."

Pagkatapos kong sabihin iyon ay ilang beses pang inubo si Juniper.

"I don't want to leave this empire to the council, Harper."

"But you can't just leave it to her! Someone will kill her! And while we are away someone will take your place! Mas mabuti pa siguro na makiusap tayo kay Claret, or... maybe, yes...let's forget this journey! I know it's ridiculous from the very start. We're the king and queen of this empire. If someone needs to have a journey, someone needs to stay inside."

"Juniper can be my consort so she can legally lead the kingdom while we are away."

Mas lalong nanlaki ang mga mata namin ni Juniper sa sinabi ni Kreios. "A-are you insane?"

"It's not new to take a consort in Mudelior. This empire is different from Parsua."

Mariin akong napapikit.

"Don't you think my brothers or even Claret will not kill you? Lily will not even plan your assassination because once she hears about this, she will kill you herself."

Napangiwi si Kreios.

"For what? For taking a talented consort?"

Napailing ako sa kanya. "I have a question, Kreios. Who do you think has the most kills of my siblings?"

"Zen?"

"No."

"Finn?"

"No."

"Of course, Dastan."

"No. It's Lily but it's a secret to everyone. And if Lily wants to kill someone, Dastan, Zen, and every one of my brothers will do everything to follow her."

"A-are they afraid of her?"

I nodded. "So do not take a consort."

"Even if it's for our political game plan?"

"Should we tell them our plan then?" tanong ko.

Umiling si Kreios.

"Then consider yourself half dead."

"What makes you believe that I'll accept it or worse what if I'll betray you?" sabat ni Juniper.

"Come on, you're not interested in ruling this world, human. You're just a curious human girl, with an amazing brain who wants challenge," he waved dismissively as if it was just a simple explanation.

"What makes it different, Kreios? If you announced that you took a consort, would that make her powerful? I don't think you have a plan to bite her..."

Kreios taking a consort is a serious matter, if I hadn't been aware of how Juniper and Kreios treated each other, I probably killed Kreios for bringing this up.

"No..." umiiling na sabi ni Juniper.

"Well, Mudelior wouldn't be taken over even if we're not around, Harper. Because my consort has the powerful support."

"Huh?" nalilitong sabi ni Juniper.

"Why?"

"After announcing my marriage to a consort and revealing her as mine, Avalon would protect the Mudelior and it wouldn't be taken over. I planned not to ask help from Sartorias or Deltora with their situation, but even without asking for Avalon's help they would voluntarily protect this empire."

Saglit akong natigilan sa sinabi ni Kreios, una'y nalito pa ako bago bumalik sa alaala ko ang usapan namin ni Juniper kanina at ang ipinagtataka ko kung bakit buhay pa silang dalawa ni Kreios habang sinisiraan nila ang Avalon.

I gasped, looked at Juniper, and then at Kreios.

"Who?"

Kreios shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Hulaan mo sa labindalawa. It could be Uno, who knows..."