Kabanata xxii
Acquaintance

***

CLEOBELLE / SINCLAIR

"What was that?" Aslan asked, breaking the silence between the two of us.

"Oh believe me," I paused with a tired expression on my face and met his gaze. "I don't know either. . ." I added.

Napatitig lamang siya sa akin na tila ba ay may gustong sabihin ngunit hindi magawang ibuka ang kanyang bibig.

"Sinclai—"

Pinutol ko ang sasabihin niya at tumayo na mula sa aking kinauupuan. 

"Kung iyon lang ang sasabihin mo ay magpapahinga na ako," seryosong sambit ko.

"Sit down Sinclair, I'm not done talking to you," he said in a serious expression.

The way he looks at me appears like he could devour me at any moment now. It made my knees feels weak.

"I'm done talking to you Aslan," I hissed.

"Would you rather sit on my lap duchess?" he frowned with a grim expression on his face.

"What's wrong with you?" I exclaimed.

"I'm worried about that energy I felt that time. We should get you checked," he said in a serious tone.

"What energy?"  I asked.

"Who did you meet when you left that day?" he asked with a dark expression. 

How did he know I met someone?

"No one," I answered firmly.

"Then how did you suddenly have that dangerous energy within you that time? You've never had it in our past li—" he halted.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko doon. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit bigla siyang nagkakaganito.

"I never had what?" I asked in an irritated tone.

Aslan just sighed harshly. "Nothing. You can rest now," he looked away.

Aslan is different in this life due to the changes that I did, but somehow I can't remove the feeling that something is up with him.

***

Iyon ang nangyari sa kanyang opisina matapos ng insidente sa mga fungus. Tila ba ay wala ding maaalala ang mga kasambahay o nakakita man lang sa akin bukod kay Aslan. 

Sa kasalukuyan ay abala si Aslan na ayusin ang barier na pumuprotekta sa dukedom, kung kaya't hindi na kami gaanong nakapag-usap pa.

Napatitig ako sa aking repleksyon habang nasa loob ako ng aming silid saka marahang hinaplos ang aking pulsuhan.

Mula nang mangyari ang insidente ay sinusubukan kong ilabas muli ang enerhiyang iyon, ngunit bigo ako sa bawat pag-subok.

If I remember correctly, that mysterious man named Titus seem to have done something to me before he vanished. I almost lost my mind back then, and when I got home, the dukedom's barrier mysteriously got broken.

I closed my eyes trying to remember what I felt that time. Then I felt something surging within me.

I opened my eyes and was caught off guard when I met that mysterious gaze from the mirror that suddenly got broken. 

The eye isn't on my wrist this time, but on my forehead, tearing up gold. . .

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko doon at sa isang iglap ay muli na naman itong naglabas ng nakabubulag na liwanag.

Ang liwanag na iyon ay dinala ako sa isang lugar.

'I have no idea what's happening. . . ' I thought hysterically.

Kinapa ko ang aking noo at naramdamang wala na doon ang matang iyon, na sa siyang nagdala sa akin dito. 

I looked around, and it seems like I'm not in Glacialis anymore. Rather, it's a place filled with beautiful flowers and a very tall wall.

The flowers somehow reminded me of a friend I had in my original world; Elvira.

It seems like I got teliported to a kingdom. If I remember it correctly, this is the Kingdom of Aurorium. 

Specifically, the palace where the cursed Princess, Liora, resides. The main character of that book.

At that same moment, I felt someone is coming, so I immediately hid myself.

However, the last thing I expected is seeing a very familiar face of a friend. . . The same friend that I had on my original world.

"Elvira?"

Lumabas ako sa aking pinagtataguan at tinawag ang kanyang atensyon. 

"Cleo?" I heard her call my name. 

Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman sa mga oras na iyon lalo na nang tumakbo siya sa kinaroroonan ko at mahigpit akong niyakap.

Bigla kong naalala ang itinuran sa akin ng Saintess. . . 

She told me there's four of us transmigrated to this world from my original world. Who would've expected; one of those people is my friend, Elvira?

"Paano ka napunta rito?" takang tanong niya. 

I'm not sure if I should tell her what Vespera had told me about. The person who purposely had us transmigrated in this world. . .

It's probably best not to tell her since even I, am not too sure about what this mastermind's real identity.

Ngayong nalaman kong nasa katauhan pala siya ni Liora ay dapat niyang malaman ang patungkol sa sumpang ipinataw sa kanya ng aking walang kwentang inang si Vespera.

So that's what I did.

I warned her about what was coming and I told her the truth about her curse. 

I didn't tell her about Baroness Melissa helping Vespera, though, as Melissa was also a victim of Vespera's evil schemes back then; or maybe she's just plain stupid.

Dahil talaga ito lahat sa ka-bitter-an ni Vespera.

Lumabas ako mula sa palasyo ng Aurorium matapos umalis ni Liora upang komprontahin ang Hari at Reyna ng Aurorium patungkol sa kanyang sumpa.

It's their family matters, so my job is done here. 

I just wonder why the heck did that mysterious eye growing on my body take me here?

Natigilan na lamang ako sa aking paglalakad palabas nang may makitang isang pamilyar na pigurang tila ba ay may hinihintay.

Butler Righour. . .  

I forgot to interrogate him because I got distracted after the incident.

The old buttler politely bow in front of me the moment I reached him.

"Duchess Sinclair—" he halted. "No. . .  Princess Cleo, let this lowly being take you home,"

Doon ako natigilan at saka madilim ang mukhang binalingan siya ng tingin.

"What do you know and who are you?" I asked, trying to calm myself. I can fel it, he's not from this world. 

Rather, he's more familiar with the spirits.

"You're a spirit too are you? How did you manage to hide your presence?" I asked in a serious tone.

Elsa seems quiet and won't come out at all. What's up with her?

Tumingin ako sa paligid at napansing wala ni isang Lumins ang naroroon. 

"Reveal yourself before I lose my patience and kill you," I hissed.

"Masusunod mahal na Prinsesa," ngisi niya at sa isang iglap ay binalot ito ng matinding apoy.

Matapos iyon ay ang kanyang pagbabago ng anyo. 

The old butler transformed into a young man with bronze skin and an irritating grin on his face. His eyes glowed like fire.

"Fire spirit king. . . " I stated.

He grinned and dramatically bowed like a Jester; it's annoying. 

"My name is Ifrid, my lady," he winked.

'Would you look at that? Your ex!' I laughed at Elsa behind my mind. 

Gusto kong matawa nang hindi nito magawang sumagot sa akin.

"I was simply chilling on the north, as I like feeding on the flames of the cursed duke. Then suddenly, I was suddenly assigned a task by my lord," he stated.

"Who's your summoner?" I asked in a serious tone

"You'll know when we get there," he smiled and suddenly and politely offered his hand. 

Suddenly, a fiery carriage arrived. I blinked seeing a three headed horse pulling it.

"It's time for you to finally go home; to your rightful place, your highness. . ."