Kabanata XVIII
Competition

***

CLEOBELLE / SINCLAIR

'That was close!' the ice spirit queen exclaimed.

Kararating ko lamang mula sa Holy Kingdom at agad kaming nagpalit ng anyo ni Elsa.

Napailing na lang akong tumayo at lumabas na ng study.

Pagdating ko sa kwarto ay naabutan ko si Aslan na abalang nagpapalit ng kasuotan.

Pinagmasdan ang kabuuan niya.

Aslan has a muscular frame and his body is filled with scars, making him look rugged.

'Laway mo tumutulo,' bulong sa akin ni Olaf, na hindi ko na lang pinansin.

Mukhang nabigla pa si Aslan nang makita ako.

"Why are you filled with bruises?" I asked, acting confused when I know for a fact that I'm the cause of it.

Napaisip pa siya doon. "Nadapa lang," sagot nito.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko doon. "Bobo ba you?"

"Ha?" tanong niya.

"Wala," sambit ko saka lumapit sa drawer para kumuha ng gamot.

"You don't have to excert efforts. I'm used to being wounded, it would heal on its own," he stated.

I rolled my eyes at him. "It will heal, but it doesn't mean it's not painful. Let me tend your wounds. I'm your wife after all," I insisted.

Marahan akong umupo sa kanyang tabi at saka masuyong ginamot ang kanyang mga galos. Napapikit pa siya doon. 

'Talk about abusive. Ikaw naman ang nanakit sa kanya in the first place.'

Bakit ba ang epal nitong si Elsa? dapat pala Epal ang ipinangalan ko sa kanya.

'Do you want me to take you to Ifrid's spirit world?' I spat back at her through telepathy.

'Oh please! You know how I hate that bastard!' Elsa hissed pertaining to the fire spirit king.

'But you used to be lovers didn't you?' I teased.

Mahilig kang mang-asar ha.

'I don't want to remember that!'

Naputol na lamang ang pag-uusap namin nag bigla akong hawakan sa baba ni Aslan na ikinatigil ko habang ginagamot ang mga galos niya.

"What's on your pretty little mind?" he asked while looking directly into my eyes.

I cleared my throat to remain in my calm composure. "Uh, dinner I guess?"

Aslan let out a heartily laugh due to my answer. 

Saglit pa akong natulala doon.

"I'll ask the maids to cook a great dish for you then," he smiled.

Ngunit biglang sumeryoso ang kanyang mukha at diretsong tumitig sa akin. 

"For now focus only to me, Sinclair. Just me and nothing else," he uttered in a serious tone as if he's the old Aslan that I knew in my previous lives.

Napakurap ako doon saka nagtatakang tumango na lamang. "Okay?"

"Good," he uttered while still looking at my eyes, then my lips, down to my neck.

Napalunok pa ito doon at nag-iwas ng tingin saka dinampot ang baso ng tubig sa bed side table.

"Wanna have s*x?" I asked casually.

Naibuga niya ang iniinom na tubig doon.

"You should stop surprising me like that." Sambit niya saka pinunasan ang bibig gamit ang likod ng kanyang palad.

"Why? You don't want to?" I grinned. 

Nanlaki ang mata nito roon. 

"O—of course I do! D*mn it!" He groaned.

Agad siyang lumapit sa akin at tinawid ang pagitan namin saka niya ako ginawaran ng masuyong halik.

Napatakip pa ang spirit summons ko doon sa kanilang mga mata kahit naka buka naman ang ilang daliri. Pasimpleng sinenyasan ko na lamang silang umalis.

Right. This is who Aslan is in this life. Yet why do I feel uneasy? It's like something isn't right?

Was I just used to how my relationship was with Aslan before?

***

A few weeks later, an annual hunting competition was held in Nocturna. If I remember correctly, the place where the competition will be held is one of the oldest places in Lumina. 

They call the forest Land of Cresia, as this forest was gifted by the first emperor to his empress before he died.

I felt like meeting Catherine again after some time, so I asked Aslan to take me here.

"What happened?! You're wanted all over Lumina!" Catherine whispered histerically as soon as we were alone together.

"Relax. I just played a bit of a petty prank on the Emperor, that's it," I giggled.

"Petty?! You turned him into a disgusting slimy frog!" she frowned.

Mabuti na lang at walang nakakarinig sa amin.

"Well it's funny isn't it?" I winked.

Napanguso na lang doon si Catherine.

"By the way, how's your life being the Baroness?" I grinned.

Napabuntong hininga siya doon. "Mahirap. Lalo na ang makipagplastikan sa mga hipokrito. Pero mas mainam na ito kaysa dati na wala akong kalayaan."

Napangiti ako doon.

Matapos naming mag usap ay bumalik kami sa aming tent kung saan naroroon ang iba pang mga binibining galing sa mga maempluwensyang pamilya. 

"Andito pala ang bastarda," sambit ni Solana kahit wala namang nagtatanong ng opinyon niya.

"She's the duchess, Solana. Pay your respects!" Catherine said irritably.

"So? Just some time ago, she's the dirty rat in our basement!" she laughed.

Natawa doon ang mga kasama niya.

"Solana!" mapagbantang sambit ni Catherine na nagpatalim sa mga mata ni Solana.

"Let her be Baroness, she's still young. Young people tend to be brutally honest sometimes," another pest commented, trying to be funny.

"With all due respect, Viscountess. The way I discipline Solana is none of your concern. Additionally, being young isn't an excuse to tolerate her actions," Catherine hissed.

Nakita kong naikuyom ng matandang hukluban ang kamao doon.

"You've gone too far Baroness!" She hissed.

Natawa ako doon na kumuha ng kanilang atensiyon.

"It's fine Catherine," I smiled.

"Totoo naman ang sinasabi nila tungkol sa akin." dagdag ko pa.

Natawa ang matandang hukluban doon. "Alam mo naman palang lumugar—"

"Pero kahit ano pang salitang bitawan nila ay ako pa din ang duchess. Isang salita ko lang ay kaya ko silang ipadakip at paputulan ng dila dahil sa kanilang kalapastanganan," hagikhik ko saka sumeryoso ang mukhang napatingin sa kanilang lahat.

"Sa tingin mo Catherine? Kaninong salita ang mas mabigat?" matamis ang ngiting tanong ko.

Gusto kong matawa nang makitang namutla ang kanilang mga mukha. Lalo na nang sumenyas ako sa nakapaligid na Knights. 

It's an act of treason to insult a member of the imperial family. Bloodthorne is still part of the sh*tty imperial family, next in line to the throne if the current imperial family are to be eliminated.

No matter how much society loathes us, the power that our position holds is still incomparable to those pests.

"W—we we're just having fun. Joking around to ease the mood. I hope you don't take it seriously duchess," one of the noble women said.

"How unlucky," I chuckled. "I don't really do jokes. I take everything seriously," I uttered.

"A piece of advice. . ." I elegantly sipped my cup of tea and smiled at them.

"Watch your mouth—" I paused for a bit looking at their tensed faces. "No, you better watch your backs," I giggled.

Natahimik silang lahat doon. 

Maya maya pa ay nagsidatingan na ang mga kalahok ng hunting competition. 

"Duchess! Please accept my offer!" One of the warriors said, offering me an orc. 

Tumango lamang ako doon. 

This is a tradition on each hunting competition, where each gentleman will catch a monster and offer it to the woman that they think is the most beautiful woman in the place.

"Why would someone offer her their catch?! She's not that beautiful compared to me!" I heard Solana whisper to herself.

Lalo pa siyang nanggalaiti sa galit nang makitang halos lahat ng mga kalahok ay sa akin ibinibigay ang mga nahuli nila.

Maging si Catherine ay dinagsa din ng mga kalahok upang ibigay ang kanilang mga nahuli. 

I think it's a disgusting tradition, but it boosts the ego of the noble ladies.

"My lady! Please accept my offer!" One of the warriors seemed to pitty Solana and gave her his catch.

"Are you serious? A goblin?! Who do you think you are, offering me that ugly and weak thing! Get out of my sight!" she shouted almost like a tantrum.

Nailing na lang ako at napatayo nang matanaw si Aslan.

Bilang imbitado siya ay kasama siya sa mga kalahok. 

If I remember correctly, he's supposed to catch a demon wolf. However, what caught my attention was the monster he's currently dragging, completely different from the monster I he caught on my past lives.

Napatayo din ang lahat nang makita kung anong nahuli niya.

The heck?

"No way, he caught a dragon!" I heard the nobles murmuring, looking at Aslan dragging the dragon as if it was nothing to him.

Nagkasalubong ang mga mata namin dahilan upang lumiwanag ang malamig niyang ekspresyon saka agad na lumapit sa kinaroroonan namin. 

"My lady," he smiled at me handsomely. "It would be my utmost honor if you would accept my offer," he added.

Natahimik ang lahat doong hindi pa rin makapaniwala. 

Ako naman ay napakurap saka ngiting tumango at masuyong ibinigay sa kanya ang aking panyo. 

One of the traditions is that the lady will give her handkerchief in return, to the man that she thinks is the strongest.

"My pleasure, Duke Aslan," I smiled. 

Nakita kong nag-init ang pisngi niya doon at tila ba nagyayabang na tumingin sa ibang kalahok na nagbigay sa akin ng kanilang mga nahuli.

"This is so unfair!" Solana hissed as she finally walked out.

"Solana!' Catherine groaned and went after her.

Ngunit bago pa man siya makalayo ay siyang biglaang pagsulpot ng mga halimaw dahilan upang mapasigaw ang lahat.

"Monsters broke out! Run!" Someone yelled, causing the nobles to panic.

"Aslan, Catherine is in danger," I said calmly.

"I'll take you to a safe place first," he said.

Umiling ako doon. "Dozens of your knights are here. I'm safe so just save them," I commanded.

Aslan was hesitant and glared to his Knights.

"If I see even a scratch to the duchess, I'll kill all of you," he hissed and sprinted towards Catherine and Solana's direction to save them from the monsters.

The Knights diligently did their duty to protect me. However, I felt an unexpected attack hurling towards my direction.

I was about to dodge it when a tall figure suddenly emerged in front of me, distinguishing the ball of fire effortlessly with an unusual light magic.

I didn't even feel his presence, as if he was a ghost.

Our eyes met each other. He has long platinum hair and his eyes are so clear, it resemble a crystal.

It's the first time I saw this man and yet he felt familiar. . .

"Sinclair!" Aslan teleported right beside me and looked at the mysterious man coldly.

"Who are you?" Aslan asked.

The man just smiled. 'We'll see each other again. . . Cleo,' he said through telepathy.

Napakurap ako doong pinanood siyang maglaho.

That man knows who I am. . .

***

Note: Hi! It's been awhile! How are you guys? I was so busy at work I don't have much time to write. 🤧