WHEN the element of surprise has subsided, the guests have also finally gained a quarter of their composure back. Malaya na nila muling naiaabot ang kutsarita para haluin ang lumamig nang tsa-a sa kanilang harapan at maging ang bahagyang sumandal sa kani-kanilang upuan ay hindi na nila ikinakahiya.

Gayunpaman, hindi lubos na nakalulugod ang pangangasong matutuldukan nang kay dali. At mukhang hindi lamang ako ang may ganitong sentimyento gayong ekspertong niloob ni Reinald ang kasalukuyang litrato.

"I already have Dr. Pherenn contacted, sir. The car is also ready should you and Mrs. Montelier decide to go home for the day instead as well," he courteously said as soon as he executed a graceful bow to his master, his right hand landing on his left chest.

"Thank you for the thought, Cortez. I think we'll need a chair instead," Caesar answered flatly as his eyes wandered to my wounded hand again.

Unlike how easily my employer laid his choice, the guest sitting beside Mr. Salonga seemed to feel otherwise. "With all due respect, Mr. Montelier. How are we supposed to talk about certain agendas with the missus⁠—"

"Is there even an agenda that the madame of the Familia de Montelier is not allowed to know?"

"T-That's..."

"Cortez, the chair. Now."

Hindi kinailangan ng boses ng lalaking katabi ko na dumugundong upang mapatikom ang bisita. Pawang ang sulido at kalmadong pag-uulit niya sa napili ay sapat na para mapagtanto nila ang impluwensya ng presensya ng 'Mrs. Montelier' sa lamesa.

"Yes, sir." The consigliere immediately whisked his hand skillfully, automatically calling a subordinate nearby to rush to the other end of the long table.

Normally, the guests would've to move so that the wife of a superior may sit closest to him, yet the chair was pulled and brought to Caesar's right as if it had always belonged there in the first place.

"Please sit here, madam," udyok ni Reinald sa akin nang maiabot sa kaniya ang upuan. "Do tell me if you're feeling uncomfortable in any way."

Sa bahagyang paghawi ko sa laylayan ng coat bago makaupo, he sneakily leaned toward me. "You've been dressed as a raven. Now be a raven," he whispered, and only when I was already sitting with my legs crossed did he let the chair go. Copy that.

Nais ko pa sanang magdagdag ng maikling pasasalamat ngunit hinablot na ng amo ko ang kahit anong pagkakataon kagaya nang kung paano niyang hinablot ang kaliwang kamay ko. "Thank you, Cortez. We can take it from here. You may leave now," ani nito nang nilalaro ang singsing sa daliri ko imbes na tingnan ang sariling tauhan niya.

Saglit akong napamaang sa pagsingit nito. Mas lalo na nang mahinang humagikgik ang matandang bisita sa may kanan ko. "My, my. Please don't tell us you've hidden your wife from everyone else and refused talking about it because you're trying to keep her to yourself."

"As she has said, maraming mga tuta sa tabi-tabi na hindi alam kung kanino dapat tumahol at hindi. I don't want her to be troubled when we just got married," Caesar responded, emphasizing the forsaken word while glaring at each of them and then smiling charmingly at me when he got to the last.

I was almost lured by that smile like everyone else. I was. Almost. Again. "Please don't let my first impression to your subordinates be embarrassing, dear devoted husband," I playfully replied as I shook my head, still a bit curious about what the elder noticed that I didn't.

Natitikhim na sumagunda ng pagkalawak-lawak na ngiti si Mr. Tresento, ang kaninang naputol sa kaniyang pangungusap. "Indeed, I didn't know Mr. Montelier has this side of him. Nakakapanibago," turan nito nang pansining kinakabig ang katabing binata sa tabi niya na umayon din sa kasalukuyang takbo ng eksena.

"C-Congratulations to the both of you!" he stuttered, and yet that's all he could say from the very mouth he used to slander Caesar. Alas, I cannot also blame him, for the elder on my right seemed not to pass the opportunity to warn the boy not to talk further, whether explicitly or not. In this case, with a cough.

Pinagmasdan ko ang bisitang ito, ang bisitang may matabil na dila na tinatabingan ang mga akusasyon niya gamit ang mga pasaring. Siya si Don Thomas Benitez, isa sa mga pinakamatandang eksekutibo ng Red Circle. Bagama't maituturing na niyang mga anak at apo ang ibang mga miyembro base sa edad, ni kailan ay hindi siya nagpahiwatig ng pagbibitiw sa awtoridad na mayroon siya. Siya siguro ang masasabi mong pruweba na ang masamang damo, huling sinasamo papunta sa hukay.

"Forgive the boy, madame. His father keeps sending him as a proxy to learn the ropes, and thus, he is still lacking," he explained as soon as he saw me eagerly observing how their gazes converse. "I assure you that he won't be staining the name of the Red Circle." After that, he'd reach for his teacup again and lower his eyes on it as if nothing could make him bend.

Those who refuse to bend breaks, though, sir.

"I do not mind." Ipinatong ko ang siko ko sa lamesa't ipinahilig ang ulo ko rito nang ngiting-ngiti. "After all, isn't he just like Sir Lawrence, Don Benitez? Your firstborn?"

Halos masamid ang nakatatanda sa pagbanggit ko sa ngalan ng anak niya at maging ang mga kapwa niyang usa'y hindi maiwasan na abangan ang reaksyon niya.

"It would be nice to see two Benitez aboard on the ship. Kumusta na pala siya?" pang-uusisa ko. "Sa pagkakatanda ko, mag-aapat na taon na siya roon. Isn't it the same institution the late Don Cromello chose for his only daughter, Lady Edeline?"

Kung kanina'y mabigat ang hangin sa silid, ngayon nama'y tuyo't lanta. Ang simpleng pangangamusta ko, hinigop muli ang hininga ng lahat. I watched how he refrained touching his cup after he heard me mention his son, for it will only call others to see his shaking hand.

"I'm grateful you're concerned about my son, ma'am," he turned to me, beaming as much as he could. "But he's simply of weak constitution, not some strange illness. It's quite a shame, really. I wish he'd be able to witness your beauty someday."

Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng underground ang tunay na kahinaang tinutukoy ng amang ito ukol sa anak niya. Isang kahinaang hindi niya matanggap at tingin niya'y masosolusyunan ng medisina. Subalit hindi ito ang balang dala ko, bagkus ang punla ng duda na tiyak kong sisira sa samahan ng tatlong usa.

"Anong klaseng institusyon ba ang tingin mong ipinapahiwatig ko?" I asked, pretending to be curious. "Hindi ba't ninong sa mga Cromello ang haligi ng sambahayan ng mga Heavelson na nagmamay-ari ng mga mahuhusay na ospital? Ah, did you think I'm referring to that kind of institution?"

Benitez's nose twitched, recognizing his unfortunate slip of the tongue. "Of course not."

Of course, it is. "Well, there's nothing wrong with it, anyway. What matters is the patient gets the help they need. There's no shame in that, right, mon amour?"

Caesar, taunting the man by throwing him a glance, lifted our intertwined hands from his lap and kissed the back of mine. "Hhmm. The people's prejudice is the problem, not the person in question."

"Y-Yes, you're right." Ang kaninang kay lakas magpasaring, unti-unting nanliit sa mga opinyong pilit niyang kinakaila. He was caught in his words and the topic of succession has always been a sore spot of his.

Is your son's sexual orientation even a crime for you to lock him up in an asylum?

I bet even at this moment; he's more anxious about me hinting at his past connection to the Cromello, a family from the North. And due to the long history of animosity between the two regions, the North never interferes with the Central and vice versa. Establishing a link with the other behind the back of their affiliated organization is a violation. A violation that may warrant an execution.

"If only we can visit him, we'll gladly bring gifts given how excellent his father is with his words. You've been a good friend to the family for years. It's such a shame we weren't able to visit him before." At dito'y pinahupa ko muna ang pag-atake, lalo na't mas hindi nakalulugod ang pangangasong ang inosente lang din ang matatalo.

"Please do not pay any worry. Both our families have been busy with the management of our respective businesses. B-But... if it's the missus' wish, then I-I'll let you know once he can accept visitors," and the elder retreated in relief.

"I'm looking forward to it."

He's partly doomed now, anyway. With how keen Julian is on sweeping traitors, a violator like Thomas Benitez would only have to fear one man in the end--- the executioner of their making, Caesar himself. And that very man is here in front of him, aided by the same woman who laid his secrets bare.

"Your marriage deserves a grand celebration. I'm sure Don Julian will be the one to give the most extravagant gift!" pagsagip ni Mr. Felipe Tresento sa usapan nang natitingin pa rin sa ngayo'y napipe nang kasama na ginoo sa panig ko.

These men wouldn't risk themselves being involved should proof of Benitez's connection with the North exist. The latter would later tattle to his father, and soon, doubt shall sprout between the two executives. And without the decisive ones, the fidgety other won't be able to put his balls to work.

The last Montelier scoffed at the empty flattery. "I bet he will, but as his humble right hand, there's nothing more I could wish for than his blessings."

'Di ko maiwasan ang mapabuntong-hininga, 'pagkat walang pangangasong nagtatapos sa malinis na rampa. Ang atakeng ginamit ko, patutumbahin isa-isa ang mga dominong maayos na nakalatag. Sa kalagitnaan ng pagninilay sa mga susunod na mangyayari, naglapag si Reinald ng tasa ng tsa-a sa 'king harapan. At handa ko na sanang ipalilingkis ang mga daliri ko sa hawakan nito kundi lang sa pagkakaalala na ang mga usa, may mga sungay pang natitira.

"Paniguradong kayo ang magiging sentro ng usapan sa darating na piging sa susunod na linggo!" Napapalakpak si Felipe, ang kanina niyang panginginig naglahong parang natapos na niyebe.

"Sa susunod na linggo?" Caesar's grip on my hand tightened. "Anong mayroon?"

Felipe cleverly imitated how I acted shocked and covered my mouth, his pangs clearly visible to us. "Goodness me. I should've said so first thing we came! Don Julian actually sent us here..." For a second, I caught him raising his brow at me. "...to hand you an invitation to the Queen of the Hunt."

F*ck. I just want to go to the bakery and eat some damn cakes. Why are these people making it hard for me to do so? 

******

BETA READER x AUTHOR CORNER

Us when Quin and Caesar are natural as being husband and wife:

How we imagine Quin's mind after hearing another shiz when she simply wants to go to the bakery:

Read. Like. Comment. Follow.

So ayern. May trust issues pa rin 'yong beta reader ko. Feeling niya buburahin ko na naman ang story na 'to. TT HUHU