Kabanata XVI
Journal

***

CLEOBELLE / SINCLAIR

A week passed by since our wedding and currently, I'm just managing the affairs in this dukedom. 

Looking at the budget and checking for the improvements I wanted to make.

For the past week, I've simply been observing things. I want them to let their guards down and show their true colors.

"Duchess, you called?" The old butler, Rigour, asked.

"Who's managing the finance in this Dukedom while the duke is fighting in the war?" I asked with a cold gaze.

He just sighed, not having the strength to look at me directly.

"I—It's the head maid, duchess," he responded while bowing his head.

I know, it's been the sixth time already.

Napangisi ako doon saka ibinaba ang mga papeles na binabasa.

"Have the knights drag her in front of me right now," I smiled at him sweetly.

Natigilan siya doon saka magalang na yumuko. 

"Masusunod, duchess," sambit niya saka umalis na sa aking harapan.

Maya maya pa ay narinig ko na ang malakas sa sigaw sa labas kasabay ng pagkatok sa pintuan ng opisina ng Duke, kung nasaaan ako ngayon.

"Duchess, the head maid, Koopal is here," they declared.

"Duchess! I deserve an explanation! What did I ever do?!" She exclaimed.

Napangisi akong sinenyasan ang mga gwardiya. Agad nila siyang pinaluhod habang nakatutok ang kanilang mga espada sa kanyang leeg na bahagyang nagpasinghap sa kanya.

Oh, how I love power. . .

Napangisi akong itinapon sa kanyang mukha ang mga papeles. Mga ebidensya ng ilang taong harap-harapang anomalya niya sa dukedom.

"Hindi ito totoo! Gawa gawa mo lamang ito sapagkat alam mong mas may impluwensya ako sa duke dahil ako ang nagpalaki sa kanya! Kaysa naman sa iyong hamak na bastarda lamang ng mababang baron!" galit na galit niyang saad habang nanginginig na hawak ang ebidensiyang itinapon ko sa pagmumukha niya.

Malakas akong natawa doon. 

"Who are you kidding? It doesn't even matter if I framed you or not. My background is out of the picture. At the end of the day, I am the duchess!" I declared. "How about you? Do you know who you are to have this big of a guts to betray the duke by giving information to the enemy and steal from him?" I stated.

This b*tch Koopal is the emperor's dog, planted to destroy him since he lost his parents. It came to the point that he'd even order her to give the duke's information to the enemy during the war.

"Hindi iyan totoo!" giit nito.

"I've heard enough!" the duke declared as he walked inside the office, in the middle of the chaos.

"Duke! Huwag kang maniniwala sa mababang uri ng babaeng iyan! Ako ang nagpalaki at nag aruga sa iyo!—" 

Hindi niya naipagpatuloy ang sasabihin niya nang sa isang iglap ay  nasa harapan na niya si Aslan habang nakatutok ang nagliliyab na espada nito.

He always had a soft gaze whenever he looked at me. I almost forgot that his eyes could be as cold yet blazing with fury as he is right now.

"One more word from you, dishonoring my duchess and I won't hesitate to kill you myself," he coldly stated.

Ngumuso ako doon. "Oo nga eh, sabi pa niya ay isa lamang akong hamak na bastarda at dapat daw sa akin ay mamatay," sambit ko pa.

"Hindi ko sinabi iya—"

"Silence!" Aslan shouted.

Napaatras doon ang headmaid at hindi na makapagsalita pa sa takot. 

"Take her to the execution ground!" His voice thundered.

"Curse you Aslan! You're a monster through and through! The demon child who killed his own parents! It won't be too long till you kill that woman!" She laughed as if she had already lost her mind. 

***

A few hours after that commotion, the maids had been talking about the incident non-stop. I lost my appetite, so I just decided to stay in our room.

Hindi pa din bumabalik si Aslan simula nang nangyari kanina.

"You found it?" I asked Elsa, whom I asked to find information about Vespera and the curse of Aslan, inside the Bloodthorne dukedom.

Nakatingin ako sa isang malaking vanity mirror at abala sa pagsusuklay sa mahaba kong buhok na abot hanggang talampakan, habang nakaupo sa isang maliit na stool.

I really glow differently when I'm in Glacialis.

"I didn't find that much, but I did find an old journal inside that head maid's room. There's bunch of those journals inside of a chest that seem to belong to the previous duchess," she responded.

Napatango akong kinuha ang nasabing journal. Napakaluma na ng itsura nito at maalikaboik na din. Mukhang mula nang mamatay ang duchess ay hindi man lang nabuksan dahil itinago ni Kupal.

"That one is specifically about Vespera," she added.

Napatango ako doon.

'To my dear little Duke Aslan,

While you were reading this, I am likely no longer with you. I wrote this journal to help you find a way in lifting the curse that Vespera bestowed upon you.

It's been a long journey for us since our search to find a cure. I wanted to beg for Vespera's forgiveness, so she'd remove the curse, but what I did to her was unforgivable.

I'm sorry my son, but I had no choice at that time but to betray her. If I hadn't done that, I would've lost you.

If I only knew that it would lead to your demise. . .

Everyday I prayed and prayed to find a cure, but it felt like I was searching for a lost ring in a vast desert.

We recently investigated Vespera's whereabouts and it seems like she cursed yet another poor child.

The Princess of Aurorium.

Do you know? In every curse a witch bestows, there's a huge consequence.

Vespera might be really weak by now so we're doing our best to find her and to ask her for the cure. Please wait for us a little more. . .'

I continued reading the journal. The duchess writes in great detail. Even what she had found out about the curse of the Princess of Aurorium.

I do know what's up with her curse though.

It was when I decided to destroy Lumina on my past life.

I was researching the origins of witches when I accidentally discovered something about the main character's curse.

I tried to research it as an experiment, but there's really no cure for it.

It's not really my business, so I didn't meddle anymore though. It's not really important right now so I disregarded the thought.

"Is that it?" I asked.

"I'll find more throughout the house. As of now, that's the only journal I found about Vespera," Elsa shrugged.

"Make it quick so I can leave here as soon as possible,' I stated.

"As if you want to—"

Binalingan ko siya ng matalim na tingin na ikinatigil nito saka naglaho na.

Kasabay nito ay ang pagbukas ng pintuang iniluwa si Aslan.

Natigil ako sa pagsusuklay at sinalubong ang tingin niya.

Nag-iwas ito ng tingin na para bang may naalala.

"Why are you dressed up like that when it's freezing here? Specially that you grew up in the south where it''s complete opposite of the weather here," he commented.

I looked at my night dress and smiled.

Kitang kita pa ang mga markang ginawa niya kagabi.

I don't really need to elaborate on what happened. We're married, it takes one plus one to know what we did last night.

"I prefer the cold weather," I winked.

Kumunot ang noo niya doon. "It's freezing, you might catch a cold."

"You have to take care of me then," I grinned.

"I've never taken care of the sick before," he commented.

"Just how you usually treat yourself when you're sick I guess?" I said.

Napaisip siya doon.

"I don't know, I've never been sick?" He stated.

My mouth formed an 'o'

"What a coincidence, neither do I," I shrugged.

'Because you're both not normal,' the ice spirit queen commented, which I just ignored.

"By the way, why are you here? You could've just asked for me," I asked.

Napa hawak ito sa kanyang batok.

"Nag-aalala lamang ako," malumanay na sambit niya.

Pumangalumbaba ako doon.

"So you're aware that you're too rough with me last night?" I teased.

Namula ang buong mukha niya doon at natulala na lamang. Iwinagayway ko ang kamay sa kanyang mukha pero mukhang bumalik ata ang isipan niya sa nangyari kagabi.

"I—It's not about that," he shooked his head.

"Are you sad that you have to kill that head maid?" I asked.

Ngiting umiling lamang siya doon.

"No. I knew she's one of the Emperor's people. I'm just letting her be to keep watch of the Emperor as well. I'm also planning to eradicate her one of these days anyways," he stated.

Napangiti ako doon. 

"Good."

He still seemed worried though.

"If it's about the headmaid, you don't have to worry about me. I am your other half. As your duchess, it's my duty to manage these things," I shrugged.

"What Koopal said is true, I might end up killing you," he sighed.

Napangisi ako doon.

"You won't." I said with a soft expression as I gently caressed his face.

I'm tired of dying and re-living my f*cked up life, so don't ever love me in this life.

Napapikit siya doong dinama ang kamay ko. 

"Sinclair. .  ." 

Seryoso niyang saad saka sinalubong ang mga mata ko.

I know Aslan is tired too.

"Now, kiss me Aslan. Don't you think I deserve a reward?" I grinned.

Aslan just smiled and scooted over to grant me a passionate kiss.