". . . as my precious daughter-in-law."
 
Lara waited until her mother would meet her eyes after reading the letter, but it didn't happen. The duchess immediately stood up and approached the trinket box where the letter came from. Dali-dali namang napasunod si Lara.
 
"Do you know him, Mom? Are you going to have me marry his son?" Nag-aalala niyang tanong.
 
"No, for Pete's sake!" Napaatras siya sa sagot ng duchess. "Lara, stay here. I will talk to your father."
 
Lara's mouth stayed open when she watched her mother go out of her room in a rush and shut the door loudly. "Dear me, what did I just do?" she asked herself. Napaupo siya sa kama saka napalunok. She took a glance at the window. The sun was already setting. She remembered the duchess promising to cook dinner tonight before she had given the letter for her to read. And now, based on the way her mom reacted upon reading the letter, it seemed like they will not be having a nice dinner.
 
She was still walking back and forth when someone pushed the door open. Nang makitang ang nanny niya ito ay agad niya itong nilapitan. "What's with the look?" tanong ng ginang bago ito nagpatuloy maglakad papunta sa mesa kung saan niya nilagay ang mga pagkaing dala para kay Lara.
 
"Mom read it," kinakabahang aniya. "Siya sana ang magluluto ng hapunan, pero mukhang hindi na mangyayari."
 
"Pinagluto naman kita, bakit ka nag-aalala diyaan?" Hinarap siya ng ginang. Nanny saw how Lara's face seemed to tell she was really troubled. "What happened?" she finally asked.
 
Lara bit her lip. "It seems like mom doesn't like what the letter says."
 
"Yes? And I know you also don't like it, do you?"
 
"P-Pero parang galit si mom, Nanny. Sino ba kasi si Duke Cassano?"
 
"Lady Lara, he's your father's best friend."
 
Lara closed her mouth and then later nodded understandingly. She sighed. "Hokay. I shouldn't be worried then."
 
"What, why?" Nanny seemed to be amused. She looked like she was going to laugh. "What do you think of him, young lady?"
 
Napalunok si Lara saka lumapit para umupo katapat ang pagkain. "I thought he was kind of, uh, an adversary."
 
This time, the nanny did not hesitate to chuckle. "You're too drowned in novels, dear." She playfully touched Lara's cheek. "Eat up, now. Don't stress out."
 
"Sigurado po ba kayong wala akong dapat problemahin, Nanny?"
 
"Um-hm, that letter? Tsk. Hindi ka pa pwedeng ikasal, Lady Lara. It's just a promise, something like that. Your godfather must have been excited for his son to meet you. And to tell you the truth, Duke Cassano is really humorous. You even said he's funny, right?"
 
"Oo nga nanny." Lara tried to smile. "But why was mom reacting in such a way?"
 
"I don't know. Hays, Lady Lara, don't be too caught up with that. Her Grace might just have been surprised that Duke Cassano got back. Nagulat nga rin ako kanina." Kumunot ang noo ni Lara. Nanny sighed. "Kakauwi lang niyang kaibigan ng duke. He came from outside the empire. Oh siya, kain na."
 
Tipid na ngumiti si Lara saka sinimulan nang kumain. Nanny just watched her chew her food. Silence befell them. Mayamaya pa'y kailangan na niyang iwanan ang alaga upang makapagpahinga para sa gabi. Ganon pa man, isip-isip pa rin ni Lara ang liham na nabasa habang nakahiga ito sa kama niya.
 

 
"AH NANNY! Nakakasilaw!"
 

"Ay, ay. Tanghali ka na kung gumising. Kaya ayan, talagang may araw na," ani ginang habang ginigilid ang mahabang kurtina ng bintana ni Lara. Pagkatapos ay mabilis itong naglakad papunta sa pagkaing nasa mesa, kanina pa ito naihanda para kay Lara na ngayo'y nakaupo sa kama. Her hair was messy, and her eyes were fluffy from so much sleep. "Should I heat this up for you?" her nanny tried to ask, kahit nasanay naman na siyang mas gugustuhin ng alaga ang malamig na pagkain.
 
"Iwan niyo muna diyan, Nanny," natatamad na sagot ni Lara.
 
"Oh, hindi pupuwede, 'di pupuwede 'yan." Agad-agad siyang nilapitan ng ginang bago pa man siya makabalik sa paghiga. "Kailangan mo nang kumain, Lady Lara. Her Grace ordered me to get you ready. The designer will come any minute now."

"Po? Designer, anong ibig niyong sabihin, Nanny?"
 
"For your dress and stuffs, tsk. Bumangon ka na nga riyan," Nanny answered and immediately got back to opening the lids of the foods she had prepared an hour earlier. "Nakalimutan mo na agad ang mangyayari mong ball, young lady?" aniya habang bumabangon ang dalagita. "You should have known your mom never breaks a promise."
 
"She did. She promised to teach me everything I want to learn," nagmamaktol na sagot ni Lara saka pinasyang umupo para kumain. "Turns out you and her only taught me things I find unnecessary to know about."
 
"Like what?" Kumunot na naman ang noo ng ginang. Something was really up with the young lady these days, maybe because of puberty.
 
"For instance, etiquette," Lara said before picking up the chopsticks from the table. "I don't like using these."
 
Her nanny sighed and sat in front of her. "Seventeen, you are. It has always been the stage of a rush called rebellion."
 
It picked up Lara's interest. She looked at her. "Am I already a rebel when I rant, nanny?"
 
Nanny chuckled, amused. "No, young lady," she reached for the girl's hand, "but you're beginning to be rude. Surely, hindi magugustuhan ng mom mo iyan. Mas mabuti pang kumain ka na nang masimulan na nating mapaghandaan ang ball mo. Because it seems like you're really in need of interacting with other people."
 
Lara pouted. Nang matapos siyang kumain ay sinunod niya ang pagligo. Tuwing natatagalan siya sa banyo ay maririnig ang boses ng nanny niya mula sa labas nito. "Naglalaro ka ba diyan, Lady Lara? Masyado bang mabula ang sabon?" And she would always roll her eyes upon hearing that. This time, she mocked her, whispering to herself, "Who really is being rude now?"
 
Her nanny, Helia, has been with her since babyhood. She's another mother figure in the house. Kaya't normal na lamang ang palagian nilang debate sa mga bagay-bagay, para talagang mag-ina. Minsan ay hindi niya maiwasang ikumpara ang duchess rito. Hence, she ends up understanding the situation. Her parents are not only owners of the dukedom. They need to play their political roles. The empire has been an avenue for dukes and duchesses to compete for the emperor's favor.
 
"Good day, my lady," the short, meaty-butted woman said, bowing her head to Lady Lara after she was introduced by the duchess. But the girl wasn't looking at her; Lara was staring at the bag the woman was holding. "Ah, this?" Napansin ito ng babae. "If your ladyship is ready, may I start measuring your frame?"
 
Lady Lara nodded while faking a smile. My ladyship? Tsk.
 
"I know you'd think she's skinny." Napatingin si Lara sa duchess nang marinig ang sinabi nito. Nagpapasalamat siya na may nagsasalita na. Bukod sa nanangalay na ang mga braso niyang kanina pa nakaangat habang nagsusukat ang babae, nabuburyo na rin siya sa katahimikan. "That's why I want for her a dress with sleeves." Naglakad palapit ang duchess at tinitigan ang ginagawa ng babae kay Lara. Sinusukat nito ang dibdib patungo likuran ng dalagita.
 
"Noted, Your Grace," anito. "I also have pieces of jewelry imported from the neighboring empire. Would Your Grace like to make a purchase?"
 
Nagbaba ng tingin si Duchess Liria. "No, thanks. My husband won't permit it."
 
"B-Bakit po?" agarang tanong ni Lara. The duchess met her eyes.

"Nothing. Ah, I'll leave you here. Thank you in advance, Maureen," the duchess said while she gently tapped the woman's shoulder. Pagkatapos ay hindi na ito nagsayang ng segundo at tumalikod na agad.
 
"Sa'n po kayo ngayon, mom?" habol ni Lara.
 
"Palace," the duchess replied without turning her head at her daughter.
 
"You'd be back in the evening, right? May gusto po kasi akong ipaturo—"
 
"At morning, Lara. It's far from here," the duchess said, saka nagmamadaling lumabas.
 
 

 
"SHE LEFT me after calling me skinny," Lara pouted in front of the mirror while Nanny is braiding her hair. "Why is she like that?"
 
"I'm asking you how the designing went, Lady Lara," the woman said.
 
"Kaya nga. That woman made me choose some colors and patterns after mom left. And before that, she said I'm skinny."
 
"She made that comment?" Nanny started to be angry and met Lara's eyes in the mirror.
 
"No, no. You've got it wrong. Mom did," Lara corrected. 
 
"Ah." Nanny stifled a smile, and then she sighed. "Are you mad because of that?"
Mabagal na umiling si Lara. "Not just because of that. I'm sad because she's starting to have no time for me. Bukas ng umaga pa raw siya uuwi."
 
"But you are used to it, aren't you?" Nanny asked softly.
 
"Yeah.  But I was expecting she could teach me to play chess."
 
"Is that so?" Her nanny smiled. "Why do you think you have a smart nanny?"
 
Lara's face turned from her forehead creasing to her lips forming a circle. Malawak ang ngiti niya nang lingunin ang nanny. She quickly stood up from her seat and looked for the trinket box her godfather had sent yesterday. She found it beside her bed. Dali-dali niya itong binuksan at kinuha mula rito ang chessboard. 
 
Nanny was putting the chess pawns into their squares when she noticed something missing before she could even put everything into place. "Why, Nanny? What's the matter?" Lara asked when she saw her nanny's expression.
 
"Stand up, dear. Something's missing." Lara obliged and stood up from the bed. Nanny started to look from below the blankets, from the floor, and even from behind the pillows but there was no white king and two bishops in sight. "Lady Lara, how did you open the chessboard?"
 
"Ikaw po 'yong nagbukas, Nanny," Lara nervously replied. Nakita niya kasi ang reaksiyon ng nanny niya nang walang mapala sa paghahanap. She took it as a big deal, for she didn't really know what's going on. "A-Ano po bang hinahanap niyo?"
 
Her nanny took the black king and its bishop from the chessboard, which she had put on the table beside the bed, and showed it to Lady Lara. "The whites are missing. The white pair of bishops and its king."
 
"We haven't begun playing, Nanny. How could it be lost?"
 
"Kaya nga, let's try finding it."
 
 And they tried but to no avail. Pagod na umupo ang nanny niya. She sighed. "Pasensiya na lamang, Lady Lara. Hindi tayo makakapaglaro."
 
"We still have the others, though." 
 
"No, dear," her nanny sadly answered.
 
When Lara understood it, she bit her lip and sat beside her. "Where did it go?"
 
Nang lingunin ang ginang ay nakita niya itong umiling. She even saw her scoffed. "Duke Cassano must have sent this without three of its parts."
 
"Huh?" nalilitong imik ni Lara "P-Puwede po ba 'yon? Eh, ibig sabihin no'n, baka ginagamit niya talaga 'tong chessboard." She pouted. "Baka hindi na 'to bago."
 
Nanny's brows arched. "Might be." She sighed. "He still loves making pranks, tsk."
 
Lara grinned. Now she was so curious about the man that she couldn't wait any longer for her ball to happen. Ginusto niyang makita si Duke Cassano. But there were still three days before it, so she patiently waited.

Inaaliw niya lamang ang sarili sa pagbabasa ng libro at panood sa mga gawain ng nanny niya.

 
SHE WATCHED as Helia instructed the other maids to beautify the manor's garden. Nang masilawan sa sikat ng araw ay pinasya niyang pumasok ulit sa mansiyon kung saan makikita rin ang iba pang mga katulong na pinapaganda ang bulwagan kung saan gaganapin ang ball. One of the maids approached her and bowed herself.
 
"Would you like some juice, young lady?"
 
Lara looked at her and said, "I'd like some coffee." Napaawang ang bibig ng babae, hindi alam kung anong isasagot sa dalagita.
 
"Come on." Lara smiled. "Mom's not here. Hindi ko naman sasabihin sa kaniyang pinainom mo 'ko, pangako 'yan. Ah, don't put any cream."
 
Napapeke ng ngiti ang babae, saka sinunod ang utos ni Lara. Nagpatuloy naman itong maglakad at palinga-linga sa mga pinaggagawa ng mga tao sa mansiyon. Nang mapagod sa kakatayo ay napagpasyahan nitong umupo hanggang dumating ang babae na may dalang kape. "Great. Thanks," natutuwang aniya habang inilalagay ng babae ang inumin sa maliit na mesang katapat niya.
 
"I beg your pardon, Lady Lara, but I have to say I'm afraid you can't have your noon nap later because of this," mahinang ani babae sa kaniya.
 
"Whatever." She almost rolled her eyes. "Besides, I want to be active the whole day."
The maid nodded and attempted to leave when Lara stopped her. "Sit, I want some company."
As soon as she obliged, Lara started asking her. "Would the ball be really crowded?"
 
"Ah, s-siguro po," said the lady. Hindi ito sanay na makausap ang dalagita. Lara rarely interacts with the servants except for her nanny.
 
"Why do you need to change the curtains? Maganda naman na," daldal pa niya habang nakatitig sa mga naghihirap ilagay ang mabibigat na kurtina.
 
"The duke ordered it, my lady."
 
"Tch. All hardwork for one night. Ibabalik rin naman sa normal 'yan 'di ba?"
 
The maid stifled her smile. She didn't expect Lara would be this talkative. "Yes but the nobles will arrive, my lady. The manor has to be sophisticated."
 
Natigil si Lara nang ilang sandali saka nilingon ang babae. "Is . . . the empress coming?"
 
"Hindi ko pa po alam," sagot ng babae. "If Her Majesty would receive an invitation, then. . ."
 
"Oh!" Lara almost shouted. "Is that why mom had to go to the palace?"
 
Bago pa man makasagot ang katulong ay nagulat na ito nang dagliang tumayo si Lara at nagmamadaling umakyat sa kuwarto niya, leaving the cup of coffee behind without even taking a sip.
 
Nang dumating sa kuwarto ay agad nitong tinungo ang bookshelves niya at pinili mula roon ang mga librong sinulat ng empress. Inilapag niya ang mga ito sa kama saka tinitigan. "Her Majesty must know I've finished reading all of this," masayang aniya sa sarili. "And oh, I should practice my perfect make-up when I see her."

She hurried to the mirror and started to tie her hair in a bun, put makeup on, and smile in front of the glass. "Your Majesty." She bowed lowly. "It didn't occur to me that you would come to my ball, but I'm . . . humbly welcoming?" She stopped. 
 
Lady Lara spent an hour rehearsing a greeting to the empress in front of the mirror until her nanny entered the room, for she hadn't locked the door. "Lunch, Lady Lar—" She stopped when she saw the books scattered on the bed.
 
"Nanny!" Lara called in surprise. "Nanny, I'll finally meet the empress!" She excitedly told her while she advanced her steps to the bed.
 
"Goodness gracious, what happened to your face?!"
 
Imbes na kumain ng tanghalian ay nauna ang pagtanggal ng makapal na kalorete mula sa mukha ni Lara. Kailangan niya pang maghilamos bago sila naupo ng nanny niya sa harap ng pagkain.
 
"Never do it again," her nanny told her with a disgusted voice. 

Lara pouted.  "Wasn't that pretty?"
 
Bumuntong hininga ang nanny niya. "If you'd like the empress to see you with red dots on the cheeks and lipstick on your teeth, I cannot call it pretty."
 
Lara sighed before deciding to eat. Sinabayan naman siya ng ginang. "What makes you think Her Majesty is coming, by the way?" she later asked, and Lara put down a spoonful of grain.
 
"Isn't it the reason why Mom went to the palace—to ask her to come?" Lara innocently asked.
 
Nanny stared at her eyes and then sighed. "Continue eating, my dear. You must be too hungry," she playfully whispered. Lara obliged, her forehead creased.
 
Mula sa pagkain hanggang sa pagdating ng gabi para matulog ay isip-isip niya pa rin ang sakaling pagdating ng empress sa ball niya. Kaya nang magising kinaumagahan dahil sa naramdamang may humawak sa buhok niya ay naiinis siyang nagmulat dahil maikli lang ang naging tulog niya. Ngunit nang makita ang nakangiting mukha ng duchess ay agad siyang napabangon.
 
 
"Mom," nagugulat na aniya. Pakurap-kurap pa ito bago inayos ang buhok niya. Her mother just smiled and stared at her. Hindi pa man nakalipas ang isang minuto ay nagawa na agad nito magtanong. "What did the empress say, pupunta ba siya?"
 
Napakunot ang noo ng duchess. "What are you talking about, darling?"
 
Napatikom si Lara, agad na nalungkot. She had already sensed that her bubble is about to burst. "Hindi po ba siya makakapunta sa ball ko?"
 
Patuloy ang pagkunot ng noo ng duchess. Nang maintindihan maya-maya ay umusog ito nang upo patabi sa anak. "Oh, I get it," anito at hinawakan ang ulo ni Lara. "You thought I was going to ask Her Majesty to your ball, didn't you?" Lara nodded with puppy eyes. "I was indeed going to . . . but I haven't because I saw Her Majesty was busy, as she has always been. And I was originally there to fill up a form."
 
Nagbaba ng tingin si Lara.
 
"Don't you want to ask what that form was for?" ani duchess na nakapagpaangat ng tingin ni Lara.
 
"Ano po 'yon?" she asked with an uninterested tone.
 
The duchess smiled. "I entered you into the list of the crown princess delegates."
 
Lara's eyes widened as she was still processing what her mother had just said. "And . . . victory would mean you will be living with Her Majesty in the palace as her future daughter-in-law. You get it, darling?"
 
Lara was too dumbfounded to speak after what she just heard. Just like that, her day started with a seemingly hard-to-answer question.
 
Should I be glad?

 
***
 

A/N: Thank you again for reading. Hindi ako magsasawang pasalamatan ang nagbabasa. I feel so alone writing this but once it's published, no matter how few the readers are, it feels like the world I created is finally welcoming residents. Lah? Oa naman. Pero sa true, ano pala tingin niyo kay Duchess Liria?