Kabanata III
Begining

***

CLEOBELLE / SINCLAIR

I wish I could just remove that scenario in my mind.

What the heck is that man thinking? I'm assuming it's because of the amount of power he has, but I couldn't read his mind at all.

Maraming matang nakatingin sa aking gawi habang yakap ko ang sariling bumalik sa bulwagan.

Lahat sila ay nandidiring nagtakip ng ilong kapag dumadaan ako.

I've never experienced this kind of humiliation in my life as Cleobelle Samaniego. I was untouchable and I'm admired.

My parents love me so much. I have great friends and I have a successful life ahead of me.

Then suddenly, I became this pitiful character that serves as everyone's punching bag. 

How can I ever get over that fact?

"What happened to you?" Lorcan asked as he forcedfully gripped my wrist.

"I—I just fell into the p—pond. I'm sorry," nakayuko kong sambit.

He reached for my chin and raised it so he could stare into my face.

Agad ko iyong iniiwas saka lumayo sa kanya.

"J—just ignore me. . ." I acted scared as I said those word.

When the truth is, I'm utterly disgusted. 

Pareho sila ng Baron.

How could he lust over his sister? Is he f*cking insane?

Akmang hahablutin pa sana niya ako nang makuha ang atensyon namin ng nag-a-anunsiyo sa harapan.

"Baron Emberwood and his family!" They announced, since it's time for us to greet the Imperial family.

Matalim na tumingin sa akin si Baron, lalo na sa itsura ko ngayon habang sina Catherine at Solana ay kanina pa parang tangang bumubungisngis.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at saka nakayukong bumuntot sa mga Emberwood.

"Greetings, your Imperial Majesty and your imperial highness! May your reign be prosperous and enduring!" my father proudly greeted them as we all kneeled in front of the Imperial family; Not meeting their gaze.

"How dare you bring a beggar in here. I asked for your bastard and you brought some trash from the streets? Are you insulting me, Baron Emberwood?" the Emperor's voice thundered.

Natahimik ang lahat doon.

Nagulat na lamang ako nang bigla na lamang akong hablutin sa likod ng aking ulo ng Baron at pwersahang pinayukod sa semento.

"I sincerely apologize, your majesty! I ask for your understanding! My daughter has been suffering from her in-born illness. She has no mental capacity to think for herself. She looks like this simply because we took our eyes off her only for a second. This won't happen again!"

Ah right. . .  This scene happened in the book.Hhow I f*cking hate it, now that I'm here.

"Fine, I'll forgive you," the Emperor grinned. "If you sell her to me, I'll let you go with all of your heads intact," he added.

Naikuyom ko ang kamao ko roon.  I know that this will happen, but it felt awful.

"Your Majesty! Please reconsider! She's my daughter!" the Baron acted.

Napangiwi ako doon lalo na nang marinig ang nasa isip niya.

'I can't let her go! I can't do my plan if so!' The Baron said at the back of his mind.

Oh this disgusting bastard. I'd rather die—ah right, that's my plan from the very start.

"You dare to Disobey the Emperor's order, Baron?!" the Emperor's voice thundered.

Lalo pang napayuko doon ang Baron.

"No, your Majesty! I'm just thinking of your own good. Having my bastard will not benefit you in any way, so please reconsider!" He pleaded.

"Who are you to know what's good for me or not?" The Emperor laughed and swayed his hand.

Just like that, one gold coin appeared in front of the Baron.

"That Amount is enough for that lowly woman, you may leave," the cruel Emperor announced with a finality in his voice.

I just looked away.

I know why he is doing this. . .

Lumiwanag ang mukha ng Emperor nang magbukas ang enggrandeng pintuan ng bulwagan.

"Duke Aslan Bloodthorne!" His name was announced, causing havoc to people's minds.

Napalingon ako sa direksyon nito dahilan upang agad na magkasalubong ang aming mga tingin.

I'll finally be free from the clutches of Emberwood. . .

"To the Imperial Family, I offer my utmost respect and allegiance," his voice thundered at the quiet hall, as he kneeled in front of the Imperial family.

He's the Emperor's closest relative—a threat to the throne.

"My dearest cousin! You don't know how happy I am that you returned victorious!" the Emperor laughed, but he wasn't happy at all.

In fact, he wishes for the Northern duke to die or be stuck in the war forever.

Kanina pa ako naririndi sa tawa ng panot na Emperor na ito.

The duke offered the emperor his sword, and the emperor proceeded into giving him his sh*tty blessing.

"I was overjoyed with your victorious return, Duke Aslan. Your honorable achievement to our empire deserves an award!" he grinned then looked at me.

"This woman is—Woman, tell us your name!" he commanded.

Gusto kong mapatampal sa aking noo sa mga oras na iyon.

"S—Sinclair Emberwood," aktong kabado kong saad. "B—Bastard of Baron Emberwood," I introduced myself just like how Sinclair did in that chapter.

Hindi ko alam kung anong iniisip niya sa mga oras na iyon pero sa buong buhay ko bilang Sinclair ay isa ito sa mga nagustuhang kong linya niya.

Isang eskandalo, sampal sa bastardo niyang ama sa harap ng buong imperyo.

Malakas na napahalakhak doon ang Emperor. "At least you seem to know your place well, unlike your father," he grinned.

Hindi ako sumagot doon, habang ang Emperor ay muling ibinaling ang tingin kay Duke Aslan.

"This lowly woman is my gift for your sacrifices for the Empire throughout these years. A simple thanks for your achievements. Marry her, for no one would ever accept you. You're lucky that I have thought of that in advance and chose a beautiful bride for you at a low price that is," he grinned, then tapped the Duke's back.

Nagtawanan doon ang mga bisita.

Even though this is just a form of mockery, it's still horrible.

The duke has been in the warzone for nine years, since he was fourteen. Howevr, when he finally returned victorious, he was gifted with an lowly woman as his bride.

Binding both of us in a cage that there's no way out. We had no choice as the order is absolute and is decided by the cruel Emperor of Lumina, itself.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he answered, not even trying to go against the Emperor's words—tired and lifeless.

***

Just like that, we got married that night.

He brought me to the freezing north, the opposite of fiery Pyropolis.

It's all white and filled with snow.

The room I was assigned is in the opposite direction of the Duke's room.

He probably thought I'm a spy placed by the Emperor to report his every move.

The Emperor has always thought of him as a threat to the throne. Not only because he's also part of the Royal family, but because of the terrifying power he possess.

"Good night Duchess," malamig na sambit niya saka tinalikuran na ako.

If I were Sinclair, I'd feel hurt, scared and lost. However, I'll also feel relieved to finally sleep in peace at the new residence.

I was getting ready to sleep when I heard a commotion. I looked outside the window and saw that the Duke seemed to be in a hurry with his knights.

Right. . . The North is filled with Monsters, they call Fungus. The demonic entities that take control of every living being and turn them into terrifying monsters.

Tonight, while the duke is out, is the night I will awaken Sinclair's power. . .

***

I had a dream. . .

The dream I had consists of a woman with white hair and eyes the same as I have.

"Kill them all. . . Avenge me," that's what the woman in my dream said as she followed it up with some strange chant I couldn't understand.

After that, I suddenly woke up in the middle of the forest, barefooted and everything around me was frozen.

Even the monsters that tried attacking me, froze in mid-air.

Sa takot at gulat ay napaatras ako saka nagmadaling nagtatakbo at pilit na hinanap ang daan pabalik ng mansyon.

That's how I awakened my power.

I was later found by the Duke. However, he doesn't  seem to feel my newly found power at all.

I noticed how I am more sensitive to everything around me now. Especially since I have no idea how to control my power.

"Duchess Sinclair. . ." It's Duke Aslan's cold voice.

I've never appreciated Sinclair's name until it came out of the Duke's mouth.

"Do you dislike living here so much that you'd rather die here?" He asked angrily.

He looked away.

"Let's go back to the manor," Aslan stated firmly as he suddenly held my wrist trying to hold back.

He then teleported us back to the Dukedom.

"Duchess!" mukhang nagulat pa ang iilang maids ng dukedom nang makita ang kalagayan ko.

"Clean her up," utos ni Aslan sa malamig na tono at sa isang iglap ay bigla na lamang naglaho.

The maids cleaned me thoroughly and dressed me up.

Napasinghap pa ang mga ito nang makita ang mga pasa at latay sa buo kong katawan ngunit pinili kong huwag pansinin iyon.

After that, they took me to the Duke's room to wait for him.

Yakap ko ang sarili at hindi kumportable sa suot.

I feel exposed.

"I'm sorry you had to see how dirty I am," I mumbled as I met his gaze, trying to cover the scars all over my body.

Duke Aslan was dumbfounded, before he suddenly teleported right in front of me and gave me the most passionate kiss I have ever experienced.

As for tradition, we consummated the marriage that eventful night.

I never even once imagined in my old life that I will surrender myself fully to a man, but that night, I decided not to think about anything.

If I would be honest? It felt amazing. It's the best night of my life.

For the first time, as Sinclair, I felt valued, but I should've expected that everything was just a simple dream.

Just like in the tale, I became the ignored, powerless duchess. . . 

***

Sa limang taon kong paninilbihan bilang duchess kung saan ay malaya akong nakagagalaw dahil sa aking reputasyon; at dahil ni minsan ay hindi naman ako pinapansin ng aking asawa, ay matagumpay kong nagampanan ang aking karakter.

I started my journey as the evil ice witch, the strongest and most feared in Lumina. 

I once dreamt of being a prosecutor to convict murderers. However, in my role, I ended up taking countless lives, losing myself along the way.

I'm not Cleobelle Samaniego anymore. I've completely become the evil Ice witch.

Today, I will finally return and end all of my sufferings in this f*cked up world.

"Finally. . ." I muttered with a victorious smile as I ended the cruel Emperor's life with my own hands.

After that I went straight to the Emberwood Estate and ruthlessly ended all of them.

"Why do you look so surprised Baron?" I grinned, looking at the horrified face of my father as I offered him the heads of his so-called perfect family.

"Aren't you happy? Hanggang sa huli ay magkakasama-sama kayo ng pamilya mo," halakhak ko habang diretsang nakatingin sa kanyang mga mata.

"I should've killed you a long time ago!" he shouted but couldn't move anymore.

After all, I'm a lot stronger than him.

"Right. You should have," seryoso kong saad saka dahan dahang tumatagos sa kanyang katawan ang matulis na yelong kinokontrol ko na bahagyang nagpasigaw sa kanya dahil sa lubos na sakit gawa nito.

"My mother also died in this basement," I uttered. "You threw her into the trash as if she was just a simple toy you could discard," I scoffed. "You have multiple sins to pay, Baron Emberwood."

Malamig kong saad habang nagsisisigaw ang sarili kong ama.

I mercilessly killed my father with my own hands.

For the first time in my life inside the tale of The Shadows of Lumina.

I felt alive. . .

I'm tired. I wanted to return now, back to my original word.

I smiled when I felt the duke's presence.

"Ice witch!"

I really thought everything was over by then. . .

"You're really cute, if we were in that world, you're absolutely gonna be my type," I whispered. "But let's just proceed to the story shall we?"

Nagawa ko pang magbiro nang mga oras na iyon.

I thought that I'd be able to finally return after a very long and tiring journey of following the book's content.

After following my role. . .

Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata.

"Finally. . . I could go back. . ."

At the age of 21, Sinclair; I. . .  Died for the second time.

I was expecting that I'll return home, greeted by my family and friends in my original world. 

Yet, for the second time, what I was greeted by is a woman, who look exactly like my biological mother. 

She's bathing in her own blood, lifeless, yet her eyes remain open.

She's looking straight at me, and I,  lying right beside her. . .

"Sinclair!"

Here I am, back in the begining. . . Just what went wrong?