"Lady Lara, mapapatawad mo pa ba ako? Hindi ko talaga sinasadya. I—I didn't mean to hit you like that—no, I didn't mean to hit you in any way."

Lady Lara stifled her laugh as she saw panic creeping over Lady Kanye's expression. Kanina pa nalinisan at natakpan ang sugat niya sa babang braso pero  hindi pa rin ito matapos-tapos sa kakailing at kakahawak sa kaniya na siyang hinahadlangan naman ng prinsipe.

A significant portion of her skin was scratched. Her forearm had been scraped hard against the stone ground just minutes ago. There was a tingling sensation, but it didn't hurt that much. However, it was a bizarre feeling. It was the first time she had experienced blood coming out of her.

"It was so quick! Ni hindi na ako nakapagsalita. Ni hindi ako nakagalaw para tulungan kang tumayo," Kanye talked again. "Lady Lara, I really am sorry."

Lady Lara, sitting in a comfortable chair inside the royal physician's court, glanced behind Kanye and the prince, who were staring at his sister, and saw an attractive man in his thirties chuckling at Lady Kanye's indescribable worry. His beard moved with the movement of his chin as he took steps toward the scene. He uncrossed his arms before speaking.

"It was just a slight wound, Lady Kanye," the physician reassured, hiding his amusement. "Nothing to worry about."

"Nothing?" Kanye's pitch went even higher when she faced the man. "No," she softly declared, looking back at Lady Lara as if she were a baby. "She's too soft for this," she whispered, but loud enough to arch everyone's brows. "Again, Lady Lara, I'm so sorry. If only I didn't—"

"Geez!  When will you stop?" His Highness' agitated voice surfaced.

Natigilan ang lahat dahil ro'n. Muntik nang mapatayo si Lady Lara dahil biglaan ang pagharap ni Prince Rohan kay Lady Kanye, ngunit nang makita niyang nakaatras na ang kapwa babae ay tila nakahinga siya nang maluwag. His Highness' voice was so impactful that it even moved the physician.

"You're doing too much apology it only sounded fake," dagdag pa nito, humina na ang boses. Lady Lara couldn't see Kanye's expression dahil natakpan ito ng katangkaran ng lalake kaya minabuti niya na lang na tuluyang tumayo. She had a hard time reaching His Highness' arm due to the bandage she's wearing. But now she could already see the other lady scoffing.

"Fake?" Kanye's voice felt hurt. "I was genuinely apologetic.  What's the matter? Aren't you accustomed to receiving apologies?"

His Highness finally took a look at Lady Lara before sighing, calming himself. The young lady worriedly looked up at him. "Alright but you've said enough." Pinagbalingan niya ulit si Lady Kanye. "A single word could do before you ruin our ears."

Lady Kanye raised a brow. "A single word? Is that how it works for you?"

Nagugulahan naman siyang tiningnan ng prinsipe, pero hindi ito nakaimik.

She scoffed again. "Sa bagay, hindi ka nga marunong humingi ng tawad. That's why you don't get me." Ibinaling niya ang tingin kay Lady Lara pero bago pa man niya ulit ito mahingan ng patawad, iniangat na ng dalagita ang kamay niya.

And her palm closed the same time Kanye's mouth did. She smiled. "Apology accepted, Kanye. Naiintindihan kong hindi ka tumitigil kasi hindi rin naman ako sumasagot. "

Kanye bit her lip before releasing them to form a smile. His Highness had nothing else to do but watch the ladies exchange friendly gestures.

"Ah, Your Highnesses," the physician intruded in a careful voice. Napatingin naman ang tatlo sa kaniya. "If I may interrupt, I should now dismiss you. Hm," he sighed, and looked at Lady Lara. "I would just advise your ladyship to keep an eye on the scratch and make sure it doesn't get infected. If you notice any redness, swelling, or pus, then come back here." He smiled before bouncing back to walk toward his office table. Now, he looked shorter.

Tumango pa rin si Lady Lara kahit wala na ito sa harapan niya, saka niya tiningnan ulit ang prinsipe at nginitian ang tila masungit pa rin nitong mukha kaharap si Lady Kanye. When he looked at her, nagbaba ito ng tingin sa braso niya tsaka malalim na huminga. "Be careful next time," he softly remarked.

Nginitian niya ulit ito bago nila inunahan si Lady Kanye na makalabas na para bang walang nangyari. Lady Kanye also kept her distance trailing behind them, watching her brother assist the young lady all the way, na para bang paa nito ang may sugat. Mahina siyang napatawa sa sarili habang napapaisip. I've seen this play before. She then slightly shook her head as though in a sudden disapproval.

Lady Lara on the other hand found His Highness' gesture to be very manly. Her appreciation led to her excitement of their plan going to town, but in the middle of thinking about it, she failed to quickly notice that they're directed toward her chambers. Nang mapagtanto, tiningala niya ulit ang kasama. Hindi ito lumingon at prente lang na nakatingin sa harapan habang hawak-hawak ang nakaangat na kamay niya karugtong ang sugat.

Getting shy, she just turned her gaze to the hem of her dress. He probably want me to change this. Naalala niyang baka nadumihan rin ang likuran nito noong mapaupo siya sa lupa.

However, even as they arrived at the doorstep and could already see her ladies-in-waiting sitting on the couches, chatting, Prince Rohan had yet to give her a command. Sa halip ay inalalayan ulit siya nito sa pagpasok nang hindi umiiimik hanggang sa pagbitaw. Pawang napalingon sa kanila ang dalawang babae at agad-agad na tumayo upang salubungin sila ng pagyuko.

"Your Highness," pagbati ni Lady Iya na deritso agad ang tingin sa prinsipe. "We left the door unlocked because we were waiting for you." She sounded soft.

Habang si Rory naman ay napansin agad ang natakpan ng telang braso ng dalagita. Her eyes widened. "What happened?" She worriedly and curiously asked but she fought hard not to exclaim in the presence of the prince.

His Highness volunteered to respond even before Lady Lara could open her mouth. "She's wounded and she needs to rest."

Agad na napaangat ang tingin ng dalagita sa kaniya at binalingan niya naman ito. They exchanged questions through their eyes.

"Aren't we . . . going out?" Lady Lara tried.

Napaangat ang dalawang kilay ng prinsipe bago ito natutuwang ginilid ang labi niya. He shook his head, turning serious. "Let's reschedule that for another time when your wound has healed. It's not advisable for you to go for another stroll right now."

Lady Lara lingered a while more in His Highness' eyes, letting her disappointment pass. But even after His Highness had smiled and uttered his goodbye, she still waited for a shift in decision, but to no avail. Sinundan niya ng tingin ang paglabas ng prinsipe, hinihintay ang sakali nitong paglingon. She heavily sighed when he finally vanished from her sight. Nang maigalaw na niya ang ulo ay saka lamang niya napansin na hindi lang siya ang nakatitig roon sa pintuan. Lady Iya sighed too, her eyes as sad as that of Lady Lara's. Ngunit bago pa man maghari ang pagtataka sa isip ng dalagita ay nahadlangan na ito ng boses ni Rory.

"What exactly happened, young miss? Did you get into an accident?"

LADY LARA continued to brush her hair with her left arm, granting its curls with the ointment Lady Iya had provided for her. It was a cozy evening, but though comfortable from where she stood, she wished to see the moon alive outside, since her chamber had no windows. She knew it was there; Lady Iya went out without bringing some light source.

She wished to talk to it. She remembered the impact of Kanye's weight when she abruptly turned to her that moment, and she then felt down, sighing over and over again, over the idea that she was so fragile.

So this is how it feels being hurt. She smiled. It was weird but she smiled. I thought it would beat what I felt in my heart when Mom died.

She shut her eyes down, trying to erase that memory even for just that moment. When she decided to give her body its evening rest, she went directly to the lamp beside her bed. Pero bago pa man niya magawang patayin ang ilaw, binitawan na niya ito kasabay ng pagsalungat ng pawa niyang mga kilay.

Daglian niyang binalingan ang kabuuan ng sahig. She scanned it with her wide eyes.

Where are my things? She walked through it, and then she turned again, stopping so that she could think. She bit her lip. Prince Rohan arrived and . . . did I keep them right away?

Hindi na niya matandaan kayat minabuti niya na lamang lapitan ang mga upuan sa gilid ng kama niya. Sa gitna ng mga ito ay ang mababang mesa. It had two drawers whose textures felt unfamiliar to her but she proceeded to open them. She sighed in relief when she found her story board and her papers in there. Kahit hindi niya matandaang nilagay niya ang mga gamit na 'yon doon, pinaliban niya na lamang ang pag-iisip. Bukod sa bumibigat na ang mga mata niya, unti-unti na ring gumiginaw ang gabi.

Her pillows and blanket felt so soft that she wasn't disturbed from her sleep, and it  lasted longer than usual. When she had woken up, she rubbed her eyes before rising, trying to see the shadow being casted on the curtain drawn to gate her bed.

She sat up carefully, aware of her bandage. Binuksan niya agad ang kurtina at daglian namang napalingon si Lady Iya. Lady Lara sighed in relief, as if she hadn't expected her. Palagi namang siya ang naghahatid ng umagahan sa kaniya.

Like a trained pet, she stood up, tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled at Lady Iya. Hindi na niya ito hinintay na magsalita at dumeretso na siya sa banyo. Taking a bath should always come first. Kahit hindi man ito sabihin ng kapwa babae ay ito rin naman ang nagsasanay sa kaniya ng gano'n.

Unlike with Rory, her company with Lady Iya had always been silent. Lady Iya's smiles were as occasional as their eye contacts. She, however, didn't have a problem with that, especially when it makes her chamber's atmosphere peaceful.

When she was already clean, she silently walked toward the couches, where Lady Iya was uncovering the dishes she prepared, and sat. The utensils were the only source of sound in the moment. The towel wrapping her head felt heavy causing her to look straight ahead and not look up at the other lady's serious face.

Nang matapos ito sa ginagawa, she straightened her posture and looked at the young lady, and nodded. Before Lady Lara could stop the urge to invite her to eat too, Lady Iya found a seat in front of her, across the small table. She nodded again, prompting the young lady to eat.

"How did you wash that?" Hindi pa man nakakasubo ay kinailangan nang salubungin ni Lady Lara ng tingin ang kasama. "Young miss?" Lady Iya immediately added the address when their eyes had met.

Lady Lara subtly bit her lip inside and let down the spoon. She looked at her slightly wet bandage. "I . . . uh . . . I washed it as usual. But tender this time. I flinched when the soap touched it so I decided not to . . ." She slowly looked at the other lady. ". . . use soap at all."

"Is that so?" Lady Iya raised her brows. "I'll try to ask for a healing liquid soap from the temple then."

Lady Lara tilted her head, not minding the towel getting loose. "You'd do that for me?"

Lady Iya seriously nodded. "I'll do that to serve you." Then she looked at the side, squinting her eyes. "You know what, young lady? No one's against a child-like personality, but I just hope it wouldn't mess with your empress duties in the future." She looked at Lady Lara again, showing that occasional smile. "Or else you'd suffer from the untold."

Pinagkunutan siya ng noo ng dalagita. "What are you implying?" She failed to hide her offended voice.

Lady Iya smiled again. "Nothing heavy. Just avoid little accidents next time. Oh, and I beg your pardon if I leave now, His Highness requested an audience with me." Lady Lara didn't fail to see her quick grin. "Rory will be here to attend to you. Enjoy your breakfast." She stood up and bowed.

Wala nang ibang magawa si Lara kundi sundan ng tingin ang likuran nito. Without looking back, the short-haired lady spoke again as the door creaked, devouring her voice. "As you keep your self unscathed, keep your things in order too."

Lady Lara might had a weak physique, but her sense of hearing was second to none when it comes to strength. She watched the door shut loud before quickly looking back at the small table; the drawers below invited her to think . . . think . . . think and get nervous.

"What if she reports it to the empress?" tanong niya sa sarili.

"Oh, and I beg your pardon if I leave now, His Highness requested an audience with me."

"Or to His Highness? Ah!" She almost shouted, catching her forehead, the towel totally falling down the couch. "You're busted, Lara!"