A/N: Bumabaha na nga rito sa Mindanao pero mapilit tong mga kamay ko, gusto talagang sumulat kaya heto, bago pa mawala sa isip ko. Salamat in advance sa pagbabasa.

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The Empress stole Lady Lara from Prince Rohan’s arm for the rest of the night, sending the young lady chills in the back as she was introducing her to everybody, repeatedly saying, "Isn’t my daughter lovely?". And Lady Lara would gulp, feeling all the strange sensations upon hearing Her Majesty call her ‘daughter’ and caressing her waist in the back.
 
The young lady met women of almost the same age and dress, but several of them were wearing different hats. She wasn’t sure if they were all nobles or if any of them were. Observing the way they talk, walk, and eat, Lady Lara smiled at the thought that they seemed simple. No one had intimidated her until she and Empress Celesta reached the front. Saka lamang siya binitawan nito. Lady Lara watched Her Majesty face the crowd and smile wide. Pumalakpak ito nang tatlong beses at napatingin sa kaniya ang lahat.
 
"Bakit napakatahimik?"
 
Lady Lara blushed when she heard the notable melody of the empress’ question to the crowd.
 
"Let me remind you, this is . . . a feast!" Her Majesty shouted with joy.
 
The sounds of laughter were scattered around the place. Lady Lara attempted to cover her ears when the empress turned to her and smiled. She quickly dropped her hands. "Let the dancing begin!"
 
The laughter faded when the lively music arrived. Men put down their glasses just after tossing them. Lady Lara watched as the wave of dresses and suits approached the center floor. When she witnessed males gently pulling women's hands, her eyes widened.
 
"I hired foreign musicians only for you, young lady," the empress whispered in her ears, and both of them looked at the group playing the instruments on two corners.
 
Lady Lara blushed again. But before she could utter her gratitude, Empress Celesta turned away from her to cross paths with a lady who appeared several meters away. "Iya, my dear. Come, come." The loud music devoured Her Majesty’s voice.
 
Her Majesty talked to the lady while they walked toward Lady Lara. "Darling, this is Lady Iya, one of my ladies-in-waiting whom I shall lend you," the empress loudly said. Tumango-tango si Lady Lara habang pinoproseso sa utak ang sinabi ng empress.
 
The short-haired lady bowed, causing Lady Lara to blink at the shine flashed by the diamonds on her headband. "Privileged to meet and serve you, my lady." They automatically smiled at each other when the lady lifted her head. Some of the strands of her wavy hair escaped from the hairband’s grip, crossing her forehead. Lady Lara saw its ends meet the lady’s tall nose. She gazed at her beautiful face.
 
"You two should dance," the empress suggested, pushing their shoulders to meet each other. Happiness glistened in her eyes as she stared at the two. “I've got two princesses now. Oh, life should be celebrated." Lady Iya chuckled with her.
 
Sinundan nila ang empress habang mabilis itong naglalakad patunga sa sayawan. Lady Lara looked at the girl again; she was quite taller than her. Nang ibinalik niya ang paningin sa harapan ay wala na ang empress. Nakita niya na lamang itong lumiwas ng daan patungo sa mga pagkain.
 
Everyone was smiling at her as they swayed with their dance partners. Lady Iya didn’t hesitate to take her hand and pull her to the center. Lady Lara started to get nervous as they stood there. She watched as the girl gestured something to the musicians.
 
"Here we go." The girl held Lady Lara’s hand up and clasped it with hers. She did so with the other one. Lady Lara froze for seconds. Sakto ay nagbago ang musika. Lalo itong naging mabilis. "You bow your right knee like this, and then the left one and . . . jump!" Lady Iya started to teach her. "Again, my lady, sabay tayo." Lady Lara tried to concentrate as Lady Iya guided her.
 
Seconds later, they just enjoyed the music, stepping even into each other, jumping, turning, clapping, and bumping shoulders with the other dancers. But not long after, Lady Lara started to get dizzy. She was pausing each time, watching Lady Iya shake her body with the crowd.
 
Nang matagal siyang mapatigil ay napansin na ito ng kasama. "P-Pardon me, my lady, are you hurt?"
 
"Uh, just a little . . ."
 
"Why did you bring her to dance? She’s already weary."
 
Lady Lara had nothing to do but watch the prince insert himself into the dancing crowd and run toward them. Napaatras si Lady Iya nang harapin ng prinsipe si Lady Lara. He took her arm and stared at the hairs standing on it. Mabalahibo si Lady Lara kaya’t napansin niya agad iyon. He took his coat off and put it on Lady Lara before both of them faced the other standing lady. Lady Iya lowered her head not as a greeting but as an apology.
 
"What are you going to do? Aren’t you assigned to bring her to her chamber?"
 
The music met its end. Lady Iya became unfortunate enough to be stared at by the people when Prince Rohan shouted at her. But His Highness gulped when he realized it. If only the music stayed, his voice wouldn’t have reigned just as he expected it not to.
 
The crowd waved off to watch them, and from it came another lady. She hurriedly walked toward Lady Iya and tapped her back as she looked at His Highness. "Apologies, Your Highness. We should be at service. The young lady’s room has been prepared."
 
Prince Rohan seriously nodded, eyebrows furrowing. Dahan-dahan niyang binitawan si Lady Lara na nahihiya at kinakabahang nakatitig sa dalawang babae. The girls gently took her and walked her out of the scene. Lady Lara tried to look back at His Highness, who was seriously watching them leave, but then the girls brought her to a turn, totally leaving the hall.
 
"I and Iya are very sorry, young miss. Ayos lang po ba kayo?" said the lady at her left while they continued walking.
 
"I’m not sorry. The empress told us to dance. Who would’ve known—" muttered Lady Iya at Lady Lara’s right. The other lady pinched her waist to stop her.
 
"You should buy some sense of shame sometimes, Iya," anito. "Uh, young miss, we’re really sorry," she sincerely continued.
 
Nahihiyang ngumiti si Lady Lara. She took His Highness’ coat off her, and the two distanced themselves a bit to the side. "Nothing to get sorry about," she said as she hung it on both her arms in front. She looked at the new girl and caught sight of her pouting. They are now walking on their way to another hall. "What happened there? I mean," she nervously chuckled, "He’s not mad, is he?"
 
"He is," Iya answered, shaking her head and sighing.
 
The other one rolled her eyes. "Never mind, young miss. Let’s bring you to your bedchamber. Her Majesty customized it—even renovated it for you a month ago. She said she couldn’t help being excited. Now I know why. Of course, you are special—"
 
"You haven’t even introduced yourself, and you’re being talkative already," Lady Iya interrupted.
 
"Oh," the lady reacted, pausing their walk. She smiled, almost closing her eyes. She took His Highness' coat from Lady Lara to hold it instead. "Well, I am Aurora, young miss. At your sweet service. Just like you, I was gratefully chosen to reside here."
 
"She is commonly known as Rory. But to new people, she wants to make it sound like a princess, kaya Aurora," Lady Iya wrecked and then rolled her eyes.
 
Lady Lara stood there like an audience of two cats silently quarrelling. She subtly moved backward as an amused expression on her face started to form. She forgot the tension she felt in the dance room. There was leisure. Hindi niya alam kung kailan pa kaya sila makakarating sa sinabing kuwarto niya. But she enjoyed watching the girls' pretty faces as they continued teasing each other. Rory seemed unmoved by Iya’s mad remarks. They unhurriedly walked through the corridors. The girls’ voices bounced off the walls, causing echoes.
 
Lady Lara felt tired, but she continued to walk behind the girls, who seemed to forget she was with them until they reached another wide hall. The girls turned to face a straight staircase, which carried a wide door behind a pair of pillars that are parts of a wall where cherubs are crafted. They walked Lady Lara up.
 
"Uh, I-Iya," Lady Lara shyly called when they reached the upper floor. "’Yong mga gamit ko pala. I have three bags," patanong na aniya.
 
Nagkatitigan muna ang dalawa bago siya sinagot ni Rory. "I’m sure they’re in good hands, young miss. We’ll bring them here first thing in the morning. Sa ngayon, pasok muna tayo sa loob para makapagpahinga na po kayo."
 
"Or not to sugarcoat," Iya began, "papalitan ng empress ang mga gamit niyo ng bago." She reached for Lara’s waist and ushered her inside as Rory opened the door. Lady Lara started to worry. No, those are my things—my books, my dresses. But she couldn’t argue now that she felt really sleepy. A shining room flashed in her vision. She blinked a lot to activate her scanning habit. Pero nang makita ang makapal na kama ay mabilis siyang napalakad papunta roon at napaupo. She untied her sandals, and when she lifted her eyes up, she saw Rory sigh. "Young miss, shouldn’t you change? I have prepared your bath," she carefully stated, but Lady Lara drowsily shook her head.
 
"Thank you for preparing everything," Lara managed to say. "Please . . . uh, go out now."
 
The girls stifled their chuckles and eventually obliged, and Lady Lara fell on the bed.

 
 
NANG MAGMULAT ay ang pinagpawisang bahagi agad ng pisngi ang naramdaman ni Lady Lara. She saw the lavender sheet extend a half-meter from her sight. She was in the center of a very thick bed, lying on what was supposed to be her blanket. She tilted her body to lie flat, and that’s when she saw the high ceiling, as white as snow. She rolled over on the bed before deciding to sit up and scan the place with her eyes.
 
The room had no window, probably because its location was in the inner part of the castle. But the elegantly framed paintings on the walls served just right. There was another door, a glass one, and Lady Lara supposed it was a wardrobe. A thick, shiny carpet covered a large portion of the wide floor, and on it was the bed, which was gated by a beautiful set of curtains, but they were tied so that Lady Lara could see the thick white couches at its left. On that part of the room were vases of fresh plants that stretched into almost half the high wall. And then, to Lady Lara’s delight, there were a pair of bookshelves behind the couch.
 
She bit her lower lip and decided to get up. Nilapitan niya iyon, pero bago pa man niya masimulan ang pagkamangha ay napalingon na siya sa nagbukas na pintuan ng kuwarto. She saw Rory smilingly walk toward her with a tray of food. Behind her was Iya, with such a serious expression. Pinanuod niya ang paggalaw ng mahahaba nilang mga saya papunta sa kaniya. Rory then served the food and put it on the short table at the center of the circular couches. She smiled when she looked at Lady Lara, while Iya proceeded to open the glass door and enter there.
 
"Good Morning, young miss. How’s your sleep?" Rory began. Tipid na ngumiti si Lady Lara bago umupo roon.
 
"It was good," she responded with a hesitant smile. "So good that I, uh, forgot your name. What was it again?"
 
Maarteng inangat ni Rory ang kamay para takpan ang bibig pero napigil niya naman ang pagtawa. "Rory, young miss. At ‘yong kasayaw niyo naman kagabi ay si Iya." Isinenyas niya ang pintuang pinasukan nito. "She’s preparing your bath."
 
Napaangat ang pawang kilay ni Lady Lara. "Oh," naiilang na imik niya saka tiningnan ang mesa. "So this is how it works." Patango-tango pa siya sa iniisip. "E ano na lang pala ang gagawin ko?"
 
Rory stifled her amusement at Lady Lara’s way of speaking. She raised her brows and then smiled when the young lady looked up at her, eagerly waiting for her response. "Young miss will meet the empress downstairs."
 
Lady Lara got excited upon hearing it. "Oh, right? Okay, I’ll start eating then." Rory immediately attended to her, completing her plate. "You cooked this?" Lady Lara looked up at her like a child again.
 
"No, young miss. Our chef did—"
 
"Hindi ko ‘to mauubos." The young lady looked at the food again. "Eat with me."
 
"It’s highly improper, young miss," Rory expressed.
 
"Just what?" Lady Lara looked up at her again with a confused expression. "Come on, I didn’t walk out of my comfort zone only to be alone." She chuckled as she took her spoon. "Rory, right? Sit, Rory, here." She tapped the space beside her.
 
Rory gulped and took a few seconds before she obliged. "I’m already full, young miss, and we only have one set of utensils."

"‘Yon nga lang," ani Lady Lara. "‘Di bale, umupo ka lang diyan. Marami akong gustong itanong e, kung ayos lang." She stared at Rory’s black eyes.
 
Rory nodded understandingly. "Of course, young miss."
 
Lady Lara looked down at Rory’s lap, where both of her hands were. "You’re so proper," she amusedly commented. Sinimulan niyang galawin ang pagkain, at matapos malunok ang naisubo ay tiningnan niya ulit si Rory. She was wrong with the thought that the lady was watching her because Rory was looking straight away, very formal in nature. "First of all, what are ladies-in-waiting? I mean, you look a lot more elegant than mere servants," she started.
 
Rory looked at her. "We are mere servants, young miss," she stated, then smiled. "But, with, um, more human-friendly duties," patango-tangong anito.
 
Lady Lara pouted and looked up, imagining. "Alright, maybe I’d get that clearer over time." She fed herself again. Surprisingly, the food didn’t taste foreign. As she enjoyed slicing the meat, she looked at Rory again. "I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen to me here in the palace. So please bear with my . . . overflowing curiosity." She sighed apologetically.
 
"It’s more than okay, young miss." Rory smiled again. "Her Majesty has taught us to look at you in an objective way."
 
"Oh," Lady Lara reacted. "How does that work?" tanong niya bago sumubo. She began to enjoy the conversation, considering it a prologue to her life in the palace. And Rory had no idea of anything the young lady’s mind advanced on thinking.
 
"We see you as the crown princess even before the coronation happens, and . . . we have no right to share our first impression of you as . . . Lady Lara."
 
Lady Lara mentally grinned, staring at Rory’s honest eyes. "Why did you choose me to be your crown princess, by the way? Can I ask that too?"
 
Rory inhaled while thinking. Then she smiled again for the nth time this morning. "It’s more of a . . . family thing."
 
Lady Lara tapped on her seat as she delved deeper into her own thoughts. "Like sympathy over my mother’s death?"
 
"Oh, it could be, Lady Lara." Rory sounded sorry. "But I’m certain Her Majesty thinks more than that. She does things with rationality. That’s why she has to talk to you today."
 
Lady Lara looked down, starting to feel her grief all over again. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Rory saw it and began to feel as though she had done something bad. But Lady Lara reached for her hands, heating them up with her own. Then she stared into Rory’s eyes. "Distract me, Rory." The young lady gulped, clearing her throat, and prepared to express more. "Look at me subjectively instead." She bit her lip. "Hindi ako pumunta rito para maging prinsesa. I came here . . . to find myself beyond grief. I feel like," she sighed, "you’re going to shelter me." She chuckled. "And I don’t want just that. I want to do things here. Distract me, Rory. Make me forget my grief."
 
"W-What do you mean, young miss?" Rory nervously asked, feeling Lady Lara’s grip on her hand.
 
"Anong mangyayari pagkatapos naming mag-usap ng empress?"
 
Rory gulped. "You can rest here, in your very own bedchamber," she assured.
 
Lady Lara sighed. "You see? I don’t want that."
"Lady Lara, I-I don’t get it."
 
"You do." Lady Lara smiled. "My lady-in-waiting, give me a tour. Show me the things this castle offers. Tell me stories. And I’ll ask the empress to add more to your privileges so that, for instance, you can eat the food you serve."
 
"Lady Lara," Rory slowly called, staring at the young lady’s face. "You are indeed . . . special," she stated with big eyes.
 
And that’s when Lady Lara began reaching her first goal: to impress the palace residents in order to be seen as more than just a princess. That way, she can bring up her real case and seek justice for her murdered mother.
 
"Lady Lara, in the name of being honest, to be the empress is not a piece of cake! You need to have advocacy so that people can comment well on you and not torment you—"
 
She hushed Helia’s voice in her head.

Justice, nanny. That’s my advocacy. And I’ll make my ladies-in-waiting help me execute that.
 

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