Lady Lara was caressing the warm coat Helia made her wear when the horse abruptly leaped over a significant amount of snow, causing the carriage to tremble. Her intestines seemed to leap too. After she recovered, she peered through the glass window and saw the pine trees by the side of the road, coated with white flakes and barely showing their leaves. But she didn't see the snow pouring because it already stopped an hour ago.

Her ride had already been running for three hours. Saka niya lamang napagtantong gatas lang ang nainom niya kanina, ni hindi nabawasan ang pagkain sa plato niya. Her stomach began to rumble, and all she could do to distract herself was stare at the beautiful tapestry inside the carriage and tap her hands on the table between two couches. The carriage was too spacious for a single passenger. And it didn't help that the things she brought were not with her. They were crammed into another carriage after hers.

Minutes later, they passed through a village of houses and gardens. Lady Lara remembered what Ynara told her; the carriage's window would take away the boredom. But she couldn't quite appreciate the beauty outside. The houses seemed abandoned because of the snow that was covering them like white cloth.

Certainly, Lady Lara's ride wasn't fun until a beautiful sight greeted her as the carriage approached a gated farm. She found peace for a moment when the horse stopped running as it slowly walked inside the tall gate made of bricks that appeared to be a wall.

Mayamaya pa'y tuluyan na itong tumigil sa gitna ng isang gusali. Lady Lara peered through the window again, pero hindi niya nalinaw ang itsura nito. Thanks to someone who opened the carriage's door for her, she had stepped out of the transportation. While at it, she refused to take the man's hand offered to her.

Sinalubong siya ng napakalamig na hangin kung kaya'y namataan ng lalake ang pag-atras niya.

"My lady, let me escort you inside, where His Highness is waiting."

Tila hindi narinig ni Lady Lara ang sinabi ng mama. The first thing she saw when she looked up from the cold ground was the chimney located on the north of the building in front of her, but her eyes weren't locked on it. She let them access the sight of the tower carrying that chimney. It was a cylinder-shaped greatness.

"Is . . . this the palace?" she muttered.

Tumabi sa kaniya ang mama at napalingon naman siya rito. His cap dimmed the amused expression on his face. "No, my lady. We're not even halfway to it. But this is His Highness' house inside the dukedom."

Tulalang tumango-tango si Lady Lara.

"This way, my lady." The man gestured her to the entrance of the tower, and before she could decide to satisfy her eyes first with the height of the building, the other men went behind her. It made her feel an obligation to walk forward. She followed the first man, and the rest also walked behind her, carrying her bags.

They entered the tower through a three-meter dark, narrow passage whose end promised a bright room. Lady Lara nervously walked behind the man until their feet reached a wide enough space for a living room.

She looked around, observing the quietness of the place, the antiquity of every piece of furniture, and the abstract paintings on the walls, until a young woman- from a stair she didn't know was there even after she scanned the place with her eyes -made her way towards their direction. The lady's walk was fast-paced until she saw Lady Lara, and it slowed down. She stopped a meter from Lara and quick-scanned the young lady's appearance.

Hindi napigilan ni Lady Lara ang mapaatras dahil sa talim ng tingin nito sa kaniya at naramdaman niya na lamang na mabangga ang likuran niya sa isa sa mga lalakeng kasama.

"You're not supposed to intimidate someone when you haven't checked yourself first. Put those sleeves up, darling; you look as messy as usual," ani mamang kasama ni Lara sa babae. Lady Lara blinked twice while getting back in posture. Saka niya lamang napansin ang ayos ng babae. Tila kakagising lang nito kung pagbabasehan sa nakakalat na hibla ng buhok sa mukha at sa hubad na kanang balikat. "His Highness, where'd you left him?"

"Fireplace." The woman rolled her eyes. "He left me for the fireplace."

The man sighed. "Alright, you leave now," he sternly said. "Be gone."

The woman took a glance at Lady Lara again. "Too young," she whispered and smirked. She then sashayed away from them.

Lara was about to ask questions when the two men behind her started their chuckles. Nang lumingon siya sa mga ito, nakatanaw pa rin sila sa kaaalis lang na babae. What's to laugh about? She's gorgeous. Lady Lara didn't say it out loud.

"Good heavens-stop it, boys," saway sa kanila nang nakatatandang lalake. "Let's bring the young lady to His Highness."

Lady Lara was brought into an upper room through the curvy staircase. Nakabukas naman na ang pintuan nito kaya agad niyang sinundan ang mama sa pagpasok. The room was quite dark; the only source of light was the fire in a box in front of a couch, where sat a man whose back of the head was facing her. It was almost shouting at the other one standing.

"Don't spend another alibi. Go, behead her already!" Mapapangiwi na sana si Lara sa narinig nang mapamilyaran niya ang boses nito.

The prince. She supposed as she saw that man put his hand at the back of his neck. He was tilting his head left and right as if to gain complete consciousness.

"Y-Yes, Your Highness," kinakabahang sagot no'ng isang lalake. He was about to move away when he caught sight of Lady Lara. "Ah, Your Highness," tawag niya muli sa prinsipe.

"What? I said go, kill her."

"Your Highness, she has arrived," the man beside Lara interrupted. "Safe and sound," he added in a low voice. Sinenyasan nito ang kapwa lalake para makaalis na. He obliged immediately.

Hindi na nila kinailangang pang harapin ang prinsipe. He tardily rose from his seat, and when he faced Lara, he let out a sigh. Lady Lara's fingers beside her dress started to vibrate as His Highness slowly approached her. For the first time in a long time, she made eye contact with someone, someone whose eyes seemed blissful because of her presence. No trace of surprise could be found in His Highness' expression. Just plain . . . relief.

His Highness' eyes were like magnets to Lara's. As he went closer, Lady Lara's chin gradually faced up to maintain eye contact. The space seemed to revolve around her peripheral vision. It made her unaware of the other men walking out of the scene. Her neck had almost totally bent itself as His Highness' frame covered hers by a half meter. And she unbelievably didn't blink, even when the prince subtly bowed at her. He had to make a sound so that Lady Lara's world would get back to its normal pace.

"Those shivering lips might need some heat."

Lara immediately lowered her head. She gulped before looking at the prince again. She blinked multiple times now. The prince's lips formed a smug smile. "Let's face the fire." He reached for Lady Lara's back and ushered her to the couch. "Let me know if you need anything," he offered as they sat in front of the fire.

Lady Lara bit the insides of her cheek to stop her lips from trembling. Nilingon niya ang prinsipe. Nakapandekwatro ito habang naiilawan ng apoy ang mukha. The shadow cast on his neck shaped his jaw even better. He raised both of his brows when he caught the young lady watching him.

They stayed silent, so silent that the crisp sound of wood burning became vivid in Lara's ear as she felt goosebumps from a realization.

"Go, behead her already!"

Those words echoed in her mind while she stared at the prince's healthy lips.

"What? I said go, kill her."

She began palpitating. The insides of her knees started to heat. And even before he noticed it, she quickly stood up and ran from His Highness' presence. But before she could even leave the room, her forehead hit a pillar. It almost sounded like a gong, and it didn't take a long moment before she . . . fainted.

PICTURE A petite statue of a girl sitting while sleeping, and you'll see the young lady of Charlotte at the long table's end: arms hanging down, hair wet with sweats pushed back prince-style, lips opened showing two rabbit-like teeth, and thick eyelids pasted on her yellow skin as her eyes were closed.

Meters from her were the pair of eyes watching her angelic countenance. His Highness's hands were on the table, tapping while waiting for the young lady to wake up.

"Your Highness, should I-"

"Hush!" agap ng prinsipe sa nakatayong lalake sa gilid niya. "Leave us here, you should."

Shortly after the man obliged, the young lady's eyelids moved. Tila nabilaukan ito nang magising at agad na kaharap sa mahabang mesa ang prinsipe na deretso lang ang tingin sa kaniya. His Highness smiled at her indescribable expression. She blinked before looking at the table and its contents. Hindi pa rin ito nakaboses kahit sa pagkamangha sa dami ng pagkain.

"If only the broth wouldn't get cold, I wouldn't want to wake you up from a very good sleep," ani prinsipe sa pinakamagaang boses. "Have you dreamt?"

Lady Lara slowly looked up at him as she heard it in her mind again. "What? I said go, kill her."

Nabahala ang prinsipe sa ekspresiyong pinakita ni Lady Lara. Nakita niya mula sa kinauupuan ang pamamawis ng noo ng dalagita. Napatayo siya agad at walang pagdadalawang-isip na nilapitan ang hindi mapakaling kasama. "You're trembling. Was it a nightmare?" His voice sounded nothing but worry as he held the young lady's shoulder. Halos maramdaman na niya ang panginginig ng dalagita.

"K-Kill." Sinubukan ni Lady Lara ang magsalita habang kinakain siya ng nag-aalalang titig ng lalake. "You t-told him to k-kill somebody, t-to kill her, you told him to kill her."

Natigilan ang prinsipe. His broad shoulders fell down as he stared at Lara. He stood up straight and wiped his sweaty hands against his hips as he played with his mouth. He summoned all his nobleness not to laugh when he got it.

Lady Lara's fearful face froze as she watched His Highness walk slowly toward the middle of the table. Binuksan nito ang isang lalagyan ng sabaw at pinakita sa kaniya ang usok na nagmula rito. He smiled as he smelled the aroma. "This . . . is her," he revealed. "The reason why you fainted. Crap, I should've watched my pronouns." He heavily sighed. He hated explaining himself. "Uh, this is some female sheep. The butcher was . . . too worried there would be no other fertile sheep left if we would take her. But I insisted. I needed some food to put on the table to welcome you, and the snow hindered everything." He cleared his throat so as not to scare Lady Lara in any way. "P-Par . . ." He closed his eyes, concentrating. He never did apologize to anyone. "Let me make it up to you, let's eat first."

Tila nahimasmasan si Lady Lara nang matapos muna ang ilang segundo bago maintindihan ang lahat. Her anxiety was replaced with embarrassment. How could she think badly of the prince, His Highness, His Royal Highness?

"What's your full name?"

Napaayos ng upo si Lady Lara saka pilit na napangiti sa prinsipe na nakatuon ang tingin sa kaniya. "I think I have seen you from some other time," patuloy ng prinsipe. "Or maybe it was just the resemblance to your mother that-"

"Lara," Lady Lara interrupted, not wanting the prince to go on with the mention of her mother. "Asia Charlotte Ryo." She smiled without showing her teeth. But the prince showed his as a response.

"So your parents weren't poetic enough to lengthen it. But it sounds . . . like the empire, promising to be glorious." Natatangang pinakinggan ni Lady Lara ang prinsipe. "You are aware everyone will know you as the crown princess, right?"

Lady Lara gulped. "Y-Yes, Your Highness."

"If you want to stop calling me that, you can ask for my name."

"W-What's your name?" Lara obliged. The distance between them relaxed her for a bit. Iniisip niyang hindi nakikita ng prinsipe ang bawat detalye ng ekspresyon niya.

"Rohan Percival Davison Margarietto Grandé. No one cites my name, so I assume you never heard it," His Highness casually responded before slicing the meat on his plate. "But you can only stop calling me Your Highness in your mind and when we're alone, which I can hardly guarantee frequency. But my guards aren't nosy, so be comfortable." He looked back at Lara, who seemed to listen carefully. "And eat well, Asia."

Lady Lara looked down at the food. She took a deep breath before letting the situation sink into her mind.

The broth tasted strangely good. Lady Lara shook her head in disgust at what she was thinking. The flames of the candles standing all over the table send her goosebumps as she thought of a creepy scene from one of the horror novels she had read. His Highness looked like a vampire when his lips were wet from the water he just drank. Kumurap-kurap si Lara saka pinilit na pinagpatuloy ang pagkain. Their meal was as quiet as in a library until the prince lifted his eyes to look at Lara once again.

"The Empress will be talkative with you tomorrow. Never leave her questions unanswered."

***

A/N: Salamat ulit, ulit, ulit. Sana na-enjoy 'tong episode na 'to kasi nag-enjoy rin ako sa pagsulat nito. If you have some thoughts, let me see it in the comment section. Muah!