Chapter 33: The Throne

"I know that you're not just going to be a shadow princess... you will not forever stay behind Lily. Yes, you have a very strong sister, but you are strong too. You will be remembered, Harper, not because you have powerful brothers and sister..." Mother gently combed my hair as she lovingly stared at me in the reflection of the mirror.

That night, in the darkness of my room, lit with few candles, my eyes turned crimson red with my mother.

"You will earn it, my dearest daughter."

"You will serve your queen because I earned it," I said with confidence with my head held high.

Hindi ko akalain na darating ang panahon na lalabas sa sarili kong mga labi ang mga salitang binitiwan sa akin ni ina noong bata pa lang ako. Noong una'y hindi ko iyon maintindihan ngunit ngayon na nasa sitwasyon na akong tila matagal nang nalalaman ni ina, halos sumabog ng dibdib ko sa lakas ng tibok ng puso ko.

Pilit kong pinigilan ang sarili kong maluha nang saglit kong maalala si ina at ang paniniwala niya sa akin kahit nasa batang edad pa lang ako. "I miss you, Mother."

"You will earn it. You will grasp it, and you will not hide it just like what I did."

Muli ko nang sinalubong ang mga mata ng mga kababaihan sa paligid ko. Dahil takot ang higit na namamayani sa kanila dahil sa nasaksihan nilang kapangyarihan ko, ang tanging nagawa lang nila'y sumang-ayon sa akin. Hesitant and confused, still the eight women gave me names and descriptions, and I was not even surprised when I learned that most of them were abusive customers who caused their pain and endless fear.

Nag-angat ako ng kilay nang malaman na wala man lang nagsabi ng pangalan ng may-ari ng bahay ng aliw na ito. Well, the old owner gave them a job. Kung tutuusin ay wala rin naman itong kapangyarihan sa sandaling may nais na gawin sa kanila ang mga panauhin. Isa nang patunay ang transaksyon ni Kreios kanina. Just like what he did, he demanded a certain amount and no matter how the owner tried to negotiate, Kreios had his way. At nasisigurado ko na hindi lang si Kreios ang maharlika na ganoon dito. He just portrayed the daily experience of most of the owners in Entertainment District. Sa huli, ang mga babaeng ito lang ang naiipit.

"Alright. Now I will let you go and continue with your usual job. I will not force you to work with me until I fulfill our agreement."

Tumango na sila sa akin at hinarap ko na si Mira. Bahagya akong ngumiti sa kanya at itinuro ko ang ibinagsak niyang mga kasuotan at kagamitan kanina. With her expert touch, it took her only a few minutes to fully dressed me as one of the muses of the house.

Nang marinig ko na may paparating na yabag patungo sa silid namin ay tinanggal ko na ang kapangyarihan ko sa silid. Hindi ko na kinausap pa ang mga kababaihan at sumunod na lang ako sa bawat utos ng head mistress.

When we were already in the serving area, even with the customers around us, noises from each table from the clanking of the utensils, the pouring of the liquors, the clicking sounds of the bottles, the guitar and singing, the laughter and shouting as if everyone had their own bubble, I could still sense most of their eyes— the curious gaze of those women that I had encountered— anxious about the words I gave them.

Bumuntonghininga na lang ako. Maaaring ang mga matang madalas sumulyap sa akin ay dahil hindi sila makapaghintay na ipaghiganti ko sila o kaya'y gusto nilang subukan ang bantang kapangyarihan ko sa kanila.

I just hoped that they wouldn't take my words lightly because the moment that one of them tried to betray me with their mouth—they'd end up shouting endlessly until they lost air, choked, and died.

I tried to ignore them and continue with my disguise.

As a princess who grew up being served, it was strange for me to serve these men with their filthy smell, and disgusting stares. I had to endure sitting beside them, smiling, and even controlling myself once a hand touched me. Sa tuwing ginagawa iyon ng katabi ko ay agad kong hinuhuli ang kamay niya at kunwari'y natatawa at nakikipagbiruan. But if someone was persistent, I didn't have any choice but to lean closer to his ear and whisper his next nightmares, and in the end, he'd be sleeping like a typical drunk man.

Sa tuwing ginagawa ko iyon, dalawa hanggang apat na babae na ang nakatitig sa akin, at ang tanging gagawin ko lang ay ngingiti sa kanila at kakaway— a move that made them confirm that they were still within my grasp.

While serving these men, I was throwing them subtle questions about a mysterious place that could be hidden in the Entertainment District. Ilan ay tumatawa lang sa akin dahil naniniwala ako kakaibang kuwento, ang ilan ay hindi ako maintindihan at ang ilan naman ay nagagalit dahil masyado daw mababa ang edukasyon ng mga alipin na katulad ko na madaling maniwala sa sabi-sabi.

I could cut their throats, behead them, and hang their heads at the entrance arc of this Entertainment District.

"Harper Esmeralda Gazellian!"

Napapikit ang isang mata ko sa lakas ng boses ni Kreios sa isipan ko.

"We are here for information and not for murder! Why do I have this feeling that you're doing it on purpose? You'll let your mind slip and let me read these thoughts of yours? Kanina ay puso ang dudukutin mo! Ngayon ay gusto mo nang magsabit ng ulo! You are really Zen's sister!"

I grinned and shut him off.

Ibinalik ko muli ang atensyon ko sa lalaking katabi ko. Pilit kong pinahahaba ang pasensiya ko at pinagpatuloy ko ang paghahanap ng impormasyon. My plan was to find information with these women around me, at sa sandaling matapos ang trabaho namin ay sasabihin nila sa akin ang kanilang nalalaman. I knew that they had friends from other houses of pleasure, and with their loyalty I could even get more information from other houses to help the others.

"My Lord, you have glowing skin. Don't tell me you're taking water from that infamous legend..." I tried to sound like I was teasing him, gently caressing the back of my hand on his rough cheeks while my other hand was occupied by the bottle of sake.

He smiled disgustingly at me, pleased with my lies. He emptied his cup, and I took another bottle of sake and poured him more. "You're new but you're already informed about the legend..."

I giggled fake. "Naririnig ko lang iyon sa usapan ng matagagal na. They are hoping that they can intake the water so they can still serve with their youth."

Nang maubos niya muli ang alak at ibaba iyon sa lamesa ay nais niya na muling lagyan ko iyon. I was hesitant because he might faint, and I didn't think that I could use my power again with more customers around. But when he lifted his cup, asking for more sake, I didn't have a choice. I poured him a little amount of it.

"Is it true? I don't think we have that kind of water... siguro'y kung mayroon ay malamang nagpatayan na ang bawat may-ari ng bahay ng aliw, o 'di kaya'y—" sinadya kong bitinin ang salita ko dahilan kung bakit tumigil siya sa pag-inom ng alak.

He leaned his face closer to mine. "Ano ang sinasabi mo?"

"If that magical water is true... maybe it is located to the most popular house. Siguro iyong lugar kung saan higit na magaganda ang mga babae..."

He laughed. "Maaari!"

Binitawan na niya ang braso at sinapo niya ang baba ko. "Maaaring narito sa bahay ng aliw na ito. Ika'y napakaganda... dapat na ba kitang bilhin?"

He was about to kiss me when I avoided him, I quickly poured him another drink. Since he was more into liquor, his sudden rage turned into delight when he saw the cup.

Mabilis niya lang ininom iyon at muli niyang ibinaba ang baso. Handa na sana akong maglagay ulit ng alak nang mas lumapit ulit siya sa akin. Bigla akong natigilan nang tila naging matalas ang pananalita niya na tila hindi na siya ang lalaking may alak na sa kanyang sistema.

"Bakit tila interesado ko sa tubig na iyon?"

I quickly smiled at him, and I started massaging his arms. "My Lord, the house of pleasure will gain endless fortune with that water from the legend. Gusto kong magpatayo ng sariling bahay ng aliw."

Ilang beses siyang napatango. "May pangarap ang babaeng pinanganak bilang alipin."

He laughed mockingly at me.

Everyone can dream—whether born poor or rich, with status or as commoners, a mother for her child, a father for his family, a sister for her siblings, someone without a job, someone who is sick, someone who can enjoy a meal, a performer on stage, a traveler exploring the world, a painter bringing art to life, someone cleaning a window, a random stranger who smiled at you, or the vendor on the street—anyone with life can be a dreamer. Even a child can dream.

How dare this drunken man limit someone else's dream just because of her current circumstances?!

I took a deep breath, clasped and unclasped my hand to compose myself, and reminded myself that I was here for information, and not to kill just someone because I heard one of the poorest perceptions I had heard in life.

"D-Don't you think it is not a legend, My Lord?"

Pagbabago ko ng usapan ngunit ang inaasahan kong kasagutan mula sa kanya ay umabot na sa kanyang pagbagsak sa sahig.

"Fuck!"

Should I just force my power on him?

Hahawakan ko na sana siya sa kuwelyo nang may isa sa mga babae ang tumabi sa akin at bumulong sa akin. "He's a regular. You can still question him tomorrow."

Mariin akong pumikit at huminga nang malalim. Hindi rin nagtagal ay lumapit na rin sa akin ang head mistress sa sinabing kailangan ko nang lumipat ng ibang lamesa.

This time, it wasn't just the information about the water, but I started looking around as the number of customers doubled, and the familiar descriptions of the targets started to appear in front of my eyes. I confirmed their identities every time I looked at each woman with a gaze of hatred, and it was easy to remember them because the moment that I spotted them, all I'd do was close my eyes and remember the sound of their footsteps.

The whole House of Pleasure was operating like the usual night, the owner looked satisfied, the headmistress looked delighted, the women tried to work just like how they used to, and the drunken customers were in bliss. Little did they know, a queen was serving them— and now getting excited about her new move.

Madaling araw na nang lumabas ang huling panauhin ng bahay ng aliw. Hinintay ko na mabilang nilang lahat na dumaan na kami patungo sa paliguan kung saan, ngunit nang sandaling dumaan ako sa anino ay mabilis na akong naglaho at nakalabas sa bahay ng aliw.

I was already on the roof of the house of pleasure and my shadow casting against the moonlight behind me. I closed my eyes and listened to their footsteps, I grinned with satisfaction before I vanished on the roof and ran over to the nearest forest, still with the men within the area. I sat on the biggest rock in the forest, slumped my legs, removed the laces of my hair, combed it slowly with my fingers, and started singing like a forest nymph.

I didn't wait for long when the men slowly appeared from the shadows with their eyes dazed by the singing woman, but the moment I lifted my face— instead of glowing like a usual nymph they were welcomed by eyes like a color of blood and bared fangs.

"There you are... my prey."

All I did remember inside my mind was how Kreios gasped, and the faint voice of Livius as if he kept calling Kreios' name as if he just lost consciousness.

***

It didn't take long for me to bring all of them inside our room. I could hear the giggling voices of the women, their light footsteps, and the swooshing of their dresses against the floor. I could smell the soap even with the metallic smell of blood on my clothes.

I yawned, but I stayed in my position, with my crossed legs. I looked bored waiting until the door opened. I lifted one of my fingers, opened my mouth, and commanded them to enter, one of them quickly closed the door before I used my power again to muffle our sound from the outside.

Sabay-sabay silang nagsigawan sa harapan ko. Ilan ay tila hihimatayin habang ang ilan ay maluluha, ngunit ang higit na nakapagpasaya sa akin ay ang ilang mga ngiti nila sa labi.

I continued tossing and catching the kitchen knife with one of my hands, wiping the stain of blood on my cheeks, and shifting my crossed legs into a more comfortable position, but it made the bodies move. Rolling my eyes in annoyance, I kicked one of the bodies.

Because I just welcomed them with myself sitting on the throne of dead bodies—men that tormented them. I tossed the money and gold onto the floor inside the brown bag, splattering on the cold floor with moving blood. "That is yours. I got it from their bodies. Now, where does your loyalty lie?"

And that was when I earned it, Mother.

The women knelt before me.