Kabanata II
Encounter

***

Three years later. . .

CLEOBELLE / SINCLAIR

"Who's that Catherine?" one of the noble young ladies asked while they're having a picnic in the  Baron Emberwood's estate.

I'm older than Catherine, but she's considered the first-born daughter of the Baron as she's legitimate.

Thinking about it, I was also seven years old when I lost both of my parents in my original world; same age as Sinclair's when she lost her mother.

"She's just a lowly maid, ignore her," she grined. "On second thought, we do need a target for our game," she added and then looked at me wickedly.

Sumulyap siya sa head maid na ikinangisi din nito, kasabay nang pagtubo ng mga vines mula sa aking kinatatayuan. Ito ay nagmistulang lubid na pumipigil sa aking gumalaw.

Catherine clapped her hands happily. "Love it!"

"Hey! I can't miss this!" Lorcan, my younger brother excitedly said, then looked at our youngest sister, Solana. "Watch us," he laughed with Catherine.

Bumuo ang mga ito ng bola ng apoy sa kanilang mga palad. "Isa. . . Dalawa. . . Tatlo!" pagbilang nila.

Kasama ang kanilang mga kaibigan ay sabay nila akong binato na bahagyang bumugbog sa mura kong katawan. 

Animo'y isa lamang akong hamak na laruang pupwedeng itapon kapag nasira.

"I have an idea!" Lorcan laughed as he picked up a stone and burned it.

Ibinato niya sa akin iyon sa tumama sa ulo ko.

Burnt solid rocks, hitting my body non-stop from the young noble children that only see this as a simple game.

It's not like they'll ever be held accountable for a lowly maid's worthless life.

"Dad!" my siblings cheered when they saw their bastard of a father.

Bagama't wala na akong lakas ay unti-unti kong iminulat ang aking mga mata.

Nakasalubong ko ang malamig na tingin ng aking ama sa gawi ko saka ito matamis na ngumiti sa aking mga kapatid.

"You seem to be having fun," he chuckled, then happily carried Solana and Catherine like he was such a great father, mingling with his children.

Funny.

"Did you see how accurately I hit the target Dad?!" Lorcan said enthusiastically. As if he's just talking about a mere target.

"I expect no less from my son," malakas na halakhak ni Baron saka nagagalak na ginulo ang buhok ni Lorcan.

Oh I f*cking hate these characters.

Noong una ay masaya pa akong nagbabasa, pero ngayong isa na ako sa mga karakter ay hindi na ako natutuwa.

Sa oras na makabalik ako ay ha-hunting-in ko ang manunulat ng librong ito tapos isasaksak ko sa baga niya ang nobela niya!

If he has traumas and issues, then seek a goddamn therapist! Why must that author have to pass it all on to his characters?!

Thinking about it. I wonder who shoved me into the sea that night? It's possible that it's one of my parents' enemies.

Who murdered me? —No, I know I'm still alive in my original world.

Kailangan ko lamang sumunod sa kwento at makakabalik na ako.

Sana. . .

***

Throughout the years inside the book, I've experienced horrendous violence and abuse on the Emberwood's Estate.

I just want to murder all of them once I get reawakened.

After everything I went through, I started thinking about how Sinclair must've felt in the book.

I started thinking about revenge myself, not just because I wanted to follow the story.

It's not surprising that she turned evil.

I must be patient. . .

I'm 16 now in Sinclair's body. Nine years since I got trapped inside the book.

"Five more years before Sinclair finally dies. . . " I whispered to myself.

Sinclair will die at the age of 21.

"Sinclair!"

Natigilan ako nang tawagin nila ang pangalan ko.

Kasalukuyan silang naghahanda sa gaganaping pagtitipon.

It's for the crown prince's birthday. . .

According to the book, the northern duke will return victorious from the war, at the crown prince's birthday.

The same day, Sinclair will be sold off to a marriage with the duke.

I'll be free from the claws of Emberwood from then on.

Sa tingin ko ay alam ko ang dahilan kung bakit ako ipinatawag sa opisina ng Baron.

He never even looked at Sinclair since I got here. This is the first time the Baron has called for me.

I was just bowing my head as I entered his office. I'm not meeting his gaze, acting just like Sinclair in the book.

Kahit pa hindi gaanong naitala sa libro ang araw-araw niyang buhay ay bumase lang ako sa isinaad ng libro kung paano ba siya umakto.

I also considered the fact that she has depression and trauma.

"I received an Emperor's order," he stated while looking at me seriously.

Pinasadahan niya ang kabuuan ko saka ngising dinilaan ang kanyang labi.

Nakakapangilabot. 

Lalo na nang mabasa ang nasa isipan ng t*rant*do kong ama.

"I just realized after looking at you," he grinned. "You look like your mother. . . No, you're far more beautiful."

He disgust me.

"W—what is an E—emperor's order, B—baron?" I acted like I'm stammering while saying that, keeping my head down to hide my disgusted expression.

"It seems like the Emperor found out about your existence. I don't know what he is planning, but you'll attend the ball with the rest of us tomorrow night. Don't you dare bring shame to Emberwood, your existence is enough embarrassment to our name, don't taint it any further," he hissed.

As if he's not the man who's the main reason Sinclair was even born.

***

Several sufferings later, we arrived at the Empire to attend the ball.

Every noble here was adorned in lavish ball gowns and tailored suits, while I found myself dressed in a simple, white dress borrowed from the Baroness' wardrobe.

If she hadn't interfered, I would be wearing rags just like how Baron planned since he never wants to spend any penny on his bastard daughter.

I'm like a commoner trying to fit in. . .

"Why did you have to bring that thing, Catherine?" I heard one of my sister's friends ask.

"I don't know why we had to bring that trash here. Father said it's the emperor's order," my sister groaned.

"Why would the Emperor ask for that useless b*tch?" Solana also commented.

"I don't know! Why don't you ask him yourself?!" Lorcan hissed, annoyed.

Akala mo naman ay hindi ko sila naririnig.

'Oh this would be fun,' I heard someone's thought.

Mukhang may binabalak na naman ang mga ito at nakita ko ang mga bruhang bumubungisngis sa gilid.

I'm used to it anyway. I'm ready to take it, whatever they're planning—but I'll never forget. . . I'm gonna follow the plot anyways, right?

I felt how my dress was burning. I acted surprised and scared, making all of them laugh out of amusement.

"That's what we do to witches! We burn them!" They yelled.

In the book, Sinclair entered the ball from the east wing of the palace. In a complete mess. Burnt dress and all damp, she even has weeds and flowers stuck in her head.

That's her state when she first met Duke Aslan Bloodthorne.

I'm assuming that this is the reason.

Nagtatakbo ako sa direksyon na nakasaad sa istorya at agad na tumalon sa pinaka malapit na pond para matupok ang apoy sa aking bestida.

Makalipas ang ilang segundo ay agad akong umahon. Ngunit pagkaahon ko ay tumambad sa akin ang isang malaking bulto.

"Ay Kalbong Baron!" napasigaw ako sa gulat.

Nanlaki ang mata ko roon at agad na tinakpan ang aking bibig saka inilibot ang tingin sa paligid.

Walang ibang tao, kung hindi ang lalaki sa harapan ko na nagpaatras sa akin.

The man has blood-stained armor and a huge sword. However, what caught my attention was the emblem carved into the sheath of his sword.

The northern dukedom's symbol. . .

Unti unti akong tumingalala upang matanaw ko ang kanyang mukha.

The man's eyes gleamed like fiery rubies, piercing through the darkness with an intensity that commanded attention. His hair, as black as the night itself, framed a face sculpted by the gods, exuding an aura of strength and authority.

His aura made me feel breathless and he's very intimidating, especially his gaze.

I can't be mistaken. . . This man in front of me is the northern duke and also the empire's war hero, Duke Aslan Bloodthorne.

Sinclair's husband. . .

One thing I observed was how the book's words failed to capture his true essence. He wasn't merely captivating; he's spellbinding.

It's no surprise that the ice witch is hopelessly in love with him, allowing only his sword to pierce her chest. Aslan, her husband and the only man she'd permit to end her life.

The man who'll end my sufferings in the pages of this life.

"You're beautiful. . . " I mumbled, looking directly in his eyes.

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya na mukhang narinig ang mga katagang lumabas sa bibig ko.

"Excuse me," malumanay kong saad saka agad na nagtangkang umahon sa pond.

Ngunit nalimutan kong mahina nga pala ang katawan ni Sinclair at ni simpleng pond na hanggang dibdib ko lang naman ay hindi ko pa kayang akyatin.

Mukha na siguro akong tanga dito habang nakasampa ang paa sa batuhan abot hanggang dibdib ko ang taas at sinusubukang umahon.

'Well this is awkward,' I whispered.

I'm not supposed to meet my future husband this way, right? What is he doing here anyway? Isn't he supposed to arrive later this night?

This isn't stated in the story!

Napasinghap na lamang ako nang bigla na lang siyang yumukod at hinawakan ang magkabila kong kili-kili saka madali akong na-i-ahon.

Well technically, it's easy since I'm malnourished. Oh, how I miss Jollibee. . .

Right now, he's carrying me mid-air while I'm doing an awkward T-pose. He even seemed to be proud of himself while raising me up in the air.

He's not even saying a word as if this is all normal.

What the heck?

"Y—You can let go of me now," utal kong saad.

I'm not even faking it this time. I feel so embarrassed!

Tahimik siyang tumango saka dahan dahan akong ibinaba sa lupa. Ako naman ay nag-iinit ang pisnging sinalubong ang nakakapasong mga titig niya.

"S—salamat, mauna na po ako."

Agad ko siyang tinalikuran at tila ba robot na naglakad pa layo.

Nakakahiya!