Chapter 21: The Article

The whole empire of Mudelior was still covered by darkness, the wind was already calm, but the remnants of the sudden sandstorm lingered around the empire. I glanced at the high window, now covered with thick sand. I wonder why the whole empire looked like right now? I had been used to the buried Sartorias with the sudden snowstorm, and our citizens were used to surviving and recovering from it.

Nasanay na rin sila dahil hindi lang naman pagdating ni Claret nagkaroon ng biglaang paglakas ng pagpatak ng mga nyebe dahil hindi lang naman si Claret ang dahilan ng pagbabago-bago ng emosyon ng kapatid ko.

Now that this empire had to experience sudden changes in weather, or sudden sandstorms, did Kreios prepare them for this?

They should get used to this— or probably helped Kreios control himself.

Our naked bodies were tangled together under the old cloak that we found inside this room. We were silently staring at the hearth beside us, with the fire dancing and its shadows lingering on our faces. I felt like the sand had entered the castle as I could smell the strong scent of dust on the cloak.

"Do you want me to ring the bell now?"

"Of course. You need a new clothing."

He chuckled. "Yes."

Kreios stood up, revealing his nakedness against the bright flick of the fire. I sat up, pulled the old cloak, and covered myself unconsciously. He walked so confidently naked in front of me as he reached the small bell on his table.

He was aware that I was watching him, and he took this opportunity to proudly brandish his perfectly carved body in front of me.

"Where is it? Oh, here."

When he turned around, I didn't look away. I had already enjoyed my eyes with the view of him, sweating, groaning, and on the verge of exploding with pleasure, but it had always been entertaining to watch him with his confidence— this typical grin of his, and brows arching as if he had completely read my mind even if I had closed it.

"Do you enjoy the view, My Queen?"

"I like it better when it's between my thighs."

He chuckled. "Do you want to—" I cut him off.

"I don't want to cause another sandstorm, Your Majesty. Perhaps, you have to learn to control it from now on to save your citizen?"

Hindi agad naglakad papalapit sa akin si Kreios sa halip ay bahagya siyang sumandal doon sa lamesa niya at pinagkrus niya ang kanyang mga braso.

"How can I control it if it's our first time? I've been waiting for it to happen for years, and I had to live with those dreams... waiting for it to become my reality."

Hindi ako nakasagot sa sinabi niya. Ibinaba niya muli ang bell na hawak niya at kapwa niya inihawak iyong mga kamay niya sa lamesa sa likuran niya. Marahan siyang tumingala at tipid na ngumiti.

"When I was inside you, I knew that I lost it, Harper. I didn't know what was happening outside... all I felt was you... even now that I have to keep our distance before I fully bury this place."

Nanatili lang akong nakatitig sa kanya ngunit ramdam ko ang biglang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Nakikita ko ang mabibigat na pagtaas at baba ng dibdib niya.

He wanted me again as much as I wanted him right now but I had to calm myself down. 

Huminga ako nang malalim, pinagsalikop ang balabal sa katawan ko, tumayo na at marahan akong naglakad patungo sa kanya.

"H-Harper..."

When I finally reached him, I tiptoed and kissed his cheek. "You have to get dressed, Your Majesty."

Inabot ko na sa kanya iyong balabal at sa pagkakataong iyon ay ako naman ang hubad na naglakad sa harapan niya. Ilang beses kong narinig ang mabibigat niyang paghinga at ang bulong niya sa pangalan ko pero nagpatuloy ako sa paghahanap ng mga kasuotan ko at sinimulan ko na iyong suotin.

When I finished dressing up, I rang the bell, the servant knocked on the door, I opened it slightly before I asked the old butler for the new clothing of the king.

"Does the king need his usual—" I cut him off.

"Give him the traditional clothing," I quickly replied.

And I regretted it.

I didn't know how long it took us or for the whole Empire of Mudelior to endure the sudden sandstorm, but after that, Kreios and I returned to our official business as if nothing happened. After all, we still need to keep everything professional, we are the king and queen of Mudelior, and we were about to leave this empire with a solid plan.

For the first time after I stayed inside this empire, I witnessed him wearing the traditional clothing of a king— the same style he had in his painting. Iyong sinabi ni Juniper na minsan na lang sumunod sa dress code, mali pa. Dahil kaiba nina Tobias at Dastan na nahihiya pa at labag sa loob magbuhol ng kasuotan, si Kreios ay wala nang ganoon. Hindi na lang naghubad. It was just a tunic that covered his lower half, with a red sash draped from his right shoulder, tied at his left waist. Anyone could see the firm edges of his stomach— those intriguing abs that he hid with his fitted black shirts.

Dapat ay hinayaan ko na lang siya na suotin ang lagi niyang sinusuot. It felt like he's inviting me again, and it was distracting to someone who just had a taste of him. 

Hindi ko na lang sinita si Kreios sa pananamit niya dahil wala rin naman siyang sinasabi sa mga unang kasuotan na isinuot ko rito sa Mudelior. At ako rin naman ang humingi noon sa kanyang tagasunod.

"Kreios..."

"Yes?"

Kreios was sitting at his desk, with a few documents on it, while I was standing beside him. I had a paper in my hand with the succeeding projects, meetings, invitations, celebrations, and some ceremonies that Mudelior would have for the next few months. This meant that we had to settle everything with these documents and endorse them to Juniper.

Just like Kreios, during the short time that I had stayed here, Juniper caught my interest, and I already admired her for her talents and ability to absorb new information even as a human. Pero hindi kaya napakarami na nito para sa kanya?

"Don't you think we'll be leaving Juniper too much work? She has to keep the Ancient Quillper operating with your spies traveling around Nemetio Spiran, weigh their information, and produce articles that will keep everyone's eyes attention to our farce, she has to know all of your daily operations, the documents you usually review and the officials that you usually interact with." Mariin ang bawat bitaw ko ng mga salita kay Kreios.

"That's why she has to have her trusted men on her side. Before we introduce them to Juniper, I'll give you a brief introduction," he started.

"My most trusted butler or my secret right hand is Milton. He has been serving this empire even before my father sat on the throne. He's loyal to the throne not to our family. But I could assure you that as long as I am the king in this empire, he'd remain loyal to me, or to anyone that I appointed as a temporary decision-maker, and that's Juniper."

I nodded.

When I first came here in this empire, my initial plan was to surprise him after I got pissed with all his issues on the Ancient Quillper. I even had a plan to escape and return to Sartorias, but his golden cage happened. Inaamin ko na nawalan na ako ng oras pansinin ang mga nilalang na nakapaligid sa kanya pero ngayon na nagkaroon na kami ng masinsinang pag-uusap ni Kreios, bahagya akong napanatag na may iilan din pala siyang napagkakatiwalaan sa emperyong ito.

"Next is General Pendleton."

Pilit kong inalala iyong mga kawal na sumalubong sa akin noon. "You mean the one who was overprotective with you? The one who kept on announcing that you were being attacked?"

Kreios pinched the bridge of his nose and grimaced. "Yes."

I grinned. "I like him."

"He's my best general. Unlike Milton who is loyal to the throne, General Pendleton is loyal to me. He was a friend of mine since I was still a nobody. He knows Desmond and..." he shook his head and continued. "Then I have Juniper."

"J-Just them?"

He nodded.

Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mag-isip. Kahit na inalok ko na si Juniper ng lugar kung saan maaari siyang mabuhay nang tahimik, bakit pakiramdam ko ay hindi pa iyon ang matinding dahilan para makipagtulungan siya sa amin?

Ano ang hawak ni Kreios kay Juniper? Even if Juniper had already told me that she'd prefer living as a writer in Mudelior than risking her life outside, what made her stay loyal to Kreios even if she looked at him as if she wanted to murder him?

"Milton and General Pendleton will stay beside Juniper. Milton for political advice and Pendleton for her protection."

"They are not royalties, Kreios."

"I know, that's why... this is where the Viardellons will enter our drama."

Kreios took his bell and rang it again. The old butler, Milton entered. Kreios re-introduced him to me. He also summoned General Pendleton who looked anxious with my presence. I couldn't blame him, he just witnessed how I threatened his king's life many times.

Nang tapos na silang ipakilala sa akin ni Kreios ay panibagong katok sa pinto ang umagaw sa atensyon namin. Sumugaw ang ulo ni Juniper na ngayon ay may hawak na papel.

"I already have the draft of Ancient Quillper's issue, Your Majesty."

Dalawa iyong kopya niya at inabot niya iyon sa amin dalawa ni Kreios. Just like what Kreios had planned, the latest issue were about us, Kreios taking a consort, my heartbreak, and even a son?

I knew that my siblings were smart enough to understand the real meaning behind this issue, but right now we were not just facing one problem in Sartorias, and what was I worried about... they might have overlooked it and proceeded by killing Kreios.

I bit my lower lip. Baka nga sumugod ang mga kapatid ko. Pero kung agad nilang makukuha ang ibig sabihin nito, isa lang ang kasunod nito— my siblings would be willing to dance with our farce. If Casper's still in the human world, maybe King Dastan would catch this up...

"Human girl, I think you forgot to describe me accurately, it should be, the youngest, smartest, and fairest ruler in the history of the Empire of Mudelior. Why did you just put my name?"

Napangiwi si Juniper.

Kreios took a quill, dipped it into his ink, and had the audacity to edit the paper. I waited for him to find more words that he wanted to change but he seemed satisfied with everything except his description.

"How about you, My Queen? Do you want to add more?"

Umiling na ako. "This is enough."

Nang basahin ko ulit, wala naman doon na pangalan si Juniper kaya paano malalaman ng mga Viardellon na siya ang tinutukoy ng nasa Ancient Quillper? Are they even aware of her name? Kung tutuusin ay nakatago si Juniper sa Mudelior at kakaunti lang ang nakakakilala sa kanya rito. Maybe Milton and General Pendleton only?

"Then how are you going to get their attention?"

Kreios arched one of his brows. "She's not just good with her words. She can draw. The images on the previous issues were her sketches and paintings too."

Napatingin ako kay Juniper.

"Give this issue a little bit of a teaser, okay?"

"What do you mean?" tanong ni Juniper.

"Put your own face? Or make it your back? Just a tease of your identity. Then put a glimpse of Harper. You can even add me. Make it more dramatic."

I didn't know that Kreios's Ancient Quillper would reach this extent. I thought those papers were just the collection of his silly hobby of getting on my nerves.

"What's with this getting their attention? Is this the Viardellon?"

Juniper quickly understood her situation.

"If you noticed, after attacking them several times with our paper, they didn't even try to fight back, human girl. What could be the reason? It's either one of them is interested in me, or in you. Well, I prefer the latter. I don't think I can have two consorts. Viardellons are not even my type..." Kreios shook his head.

"So... basically you're not just forcing me to temporarily take your responsibility, but you will also use me as bait since you had a hint that someone from them might be interested in me..."

"Yes," Kreios confidently answered.

"And you think that someone's interest in me is enough to protect your throne while you're away?"

Kreios yawned. "Yes. Viardellons love their good image... we've been attacking them for some time now. You're aware of it, right?"

Juniper gasped and she took a few steps back. "So that's the reason why you kept telling me to issue articles about them..."

Kreios shrugged his shoulders. "Testing the waters."

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Juniper sa kanya. "Y-You cunning bastard..."

"Let's be happy that we were not attacked, alright? So, are you still going to cooperate with us? My Queen..." Kreios looked over his shoulder. "Your offer for her is clear, right? A place to stay with good protection."

"Yes."

Juniper sighed. She took the paper with Kreios's added description before she bowed to us. "Yes. I don't even have a choice but to cooperate."

Tumalikod na si Juniper at naglakad na patungo sa pinto. "Can you finish it today? Our latest issue should reach the whole Nemetio Spiran today."

"Yes. I'll distribute the copies today."

"Very well. See you at our next meeting."

Nang maiwan na kami ni Kreios ay ako naman ang humarap sa kanya. Marahas kong hinampas ang lamesa at mas inilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kanya.

"My siblings might notice the paper. How about the Viardellons? They will also know, but they will kill you for sure."

"Probably. Let's just hope that it's not Uno. If it's just one of his brothers, I can manage."

"Why?"

"Well, it's more complicated if Juniper's mated to a king, but I really don't think it's Uno."

Kapwa kami lumingon ni Kreios sa bintana nang marinig namin muli ang mga buhangin na tumatama dito.

"Another storm? Is this you?"

"Partly? Maybe I triggered the natural storm."

And then he laughed. My brows creased even more.

"Why are you laughing?"

"If the article will reach them today, someone from them will desperately travel here. I closed all the possible places for portals, and that means, they have to travel by land. They will be caught by another sandstorm."

Napaawang ang bibig ko sa sinabi niya. "Kreios... they might not cooperate if you continue to provoke them..."

"I have to get ready for another dagger to my throat," he said amusingly.

Si Kreios lang yata ang kilala ko na natutuwa kapag may banta sa buhay niya katulad na lang nang sinabi ko tungkol sa mga kapatid ko na maaari rin siyang kitilin kung hindi nila malalaman ang ibig sabihin ng totoong mensahe ng Ancient Quillper.

Napatitig na lang ako sa kanya. Maybe because I had been used to serious kings— like Dastan and Tobias, who had to deal with every situation seriously, opposite of Kreios who looked as if he was just playing.

I sighed. "I hate to admit this... but you are really starting to amuse me."

Pumangalumbaba si Kreios at ngumuso siya sa akin. "Don't fall in love with me too much, Gazellian, we are just starting..."