CHAPTER 3

LACY HAVENWOOD

"Sobrang ganda mo, Lacy."

I giggled when my Nana Feli pinched my cheeks. Kasama niya ako now sa great hall ng castle. There's a big feast happening because tonight I'm going to meet the man that I'm going to marry.

Yuck. I want to puke. I really hate this.

I can't count on my fingers how many hours I've been standing here and interacting with other people with titles here. Love ko naman ng gano'n, I love to talk to other people, pero I don't know ba. they're draining me for some reason.

I'm tired na rin because kanina pa ako nakatayo habang katabi si Nana Feli. Ginigreet namin ang ibang people. I already talk to some of them and if I'm worn out, nagpapaalam na lang ako na I need to go to the bathroom, pero the real reason is i want to escape from them.

The great hall in our castle is pretty big. Every event or occasion that we needed to celebrate, we held it here. The ceiling was so high; pretty rin ang design no'n dahil puro gold ang layout with the hint of purple.

There are also many big tables in the corner of the hall, doon nakalagay ang mga foods namin. Mostly other people are starting to have their own world na. May kausap na ang ibang invited dito at bihira na rin nakipaginteract sa akin.

As if they'll talk to me for a long time. Akala ba nila hindi ko know? I'm sure that they'll just backstab me. Sasabihin na I'm a disaster in our family.

I'm used to it naman and even though I didn't want to talk to them nor accompany them for the whole time, I know that I don't have a choice naman eh.

"Stop sulking, princess."

I took a deep breath and looked at Nana Feli. She's smiling at me, and mas nag tighten ang pag hawak niya sa hands ko.

"I don't want him..." I whispered to my nana.

Nana Feli just smiled at me. "Pagbigyan mo. Baka naman matipuhan mo."

Mas lalong nag drop ang shoulder ko. I shook my head. "Nana, no. I don't want him talaga. He's handsome naman, pero no talaga... can we get out of here?" I whispered.

I slightly peeked at the prince that is going to be my soon-to-be husband na hindi ko naman balak na gawing husband because I don't want to marry him.

He's tall. His nose is okay for me too, just slightly crooked. His body is perfect. Lean body type; his muscle is in the perfect place on his body. Maganda ang smile niya; it was perfect. Nang makalapit siya sa akin a while ago, he had a brilliant shade of blue eyes, parang ocean sa super ganda. While his hair? Golden blonde, just like mine.

He's handsome and I can't disagree with that. It's just hindi ko lang talaga gusto na maging husband siya! Bakit ba kasi nila finoforced na maging husband ko siya!?

I'm tired na rin, especially since I'm wearing this big, heavy, annoying sparkly purple gown. It was my mother who chose this. Lagi na lang sinasabi mother's knows best! I almost passed out because of this. I'm sweating too much!

Inayos lang ni Nana Felis ang hair ko dahil she's always my hairstylist and ang pretty ng hair ko sa tuwing aayusin niya 'yon.

"Hindi pa tayo puwedeng bumalik sa kuwarto mo, Lacy. Mapapagalitan tayo pareho ng mama mo."

"Nana Feli, you look wonderful tonight."

I looked at my side when I heard a familiar voice. I swear my eyes shimmered when I saw my favorite cousin standing beside me. He's wearing his dark blue tailored suit ceremonial uniform with white gloves on his hands. The gold accents on his collar were shimmering as the light from the gold chandelier from the ceiling was hitting on it. especially the royal medals that are placed on his left chest.

"Maxi!" I said in glee.

"Princess Delancy..." he called me.

I can't help but giggle as I approach him. Hinug ko siya ng very tight and kissed his cheeks. He chuckled before slowly pulling me away.

"It's been a while," he said, looking down on me. His hand went to my cheek and pinched it. "Don't call me with your weird nicknames. Just Maximillian."

I winced. "Stop mo na nga 'yan, Maxi!" nahuhurt na ang cheeks ko kakapisil nila!

"And I can call you Maxi whenever I want. It's cute, kaya!"

He laughed. "Maxi is not a suitable name for me."

I rolled my eyes. "Ewan ko sa 'yo..."

"What?" Maxi brows were furrowed.

While my Nana Feli? She's chuckling beside me. Of course she understands what I say to my dear cousin. Nakakaannoying lang kasi alam kong he's teasing me.

"Prince Maximillian, how's your day tonight?" It was my Nana Feli.

She walks to my cousin and hugs him before tapping his shoulder.

"As usual, busy with my duty," he answered. "I just got it here now. My mother and father went to Lacy's parents to talk."

Nag-nod na lang ako. I know naman 'yon and besides, it's a miracle na nakapunta ngayon si Maxi. Because I know how busy he is, eh. Super damning paperwork and everything!

Nagtalk pa sila Nana Feli and my dear cousin Maxi. All I have to do is answer them if they're asking or talking to me. I'm really tired na kasi. I can't take a seat pa because my mother is staring at me.

Laging nakabantay! I hate her!

It took a couple of minutes before Nana Feli and Maxi were done talking. Tinawag si Nana ng mother ko; that's why she bid her goodbye to us before going there.

I took a deep breath and crossed my arms on my chest.

"Need an air?" Maxi asked.

My lips curled into a pout. "Yes please, Maxi. Can we escape? I'm exhausted. Let's go somewhere where they can't find us for a moment."

He smiled at me and nodded. Maxi offered his arms on me and I hooked my arms there.

"Let's go to the garden then."

"Yes, please."

Sabay kaming nag walk papuntang exit para maka escape but unlucky us! May humarang na I think isa sa mga kasama ng family ng magiging husband ko. Argh! I don't want to entertain them. I think I'm on the verge of crashing out if they keep forcing me.

"Princess Delancy, my cousin is looking for you at the moment. He wants a dance again before we're heading back home—"

"I'm sorry, princess, for interrupting you but Delancy is not feeling quite good for a moment. Your cousin doesn't want his bride-to-be to be sick at their wedding, right?"

The girl eyes widened when my cousin spoke for me. Great save there, Maxi! Pinaka best cousin talaga!

"O-okay... umm," the princess looked at me. "Get well soon, Princess Delancy."

I gave her a small smile. Pretended that I'm sick. "Thank you so much, princess."

"Alright, we'll go now. Goodbye," paalam ni Maxi. "Enjoy the feast."

We immediately walked out to the great hall and went to the garden. Nag talk pa kami about sa ibang bagay. Kinukumusta ko rin ang life niya sa place nila because hindi na rin ako nakakavisit kela tita.

I can't even go out without a bodyguard at ang annoying na 'yon. That's why dito na lang ako always sa room kesa naman umalis alis pa. Aalis nga ako but there's a chaperone... I don't want that.

"Maxi, I don't want to be his bride nga!" I complain.

We're already here at the garden of our castle. Dahil gabi na, Maxi decided that we should talk at the gazebo rather than wandering off to the whole garden. It's super dark na rin kasi and we don't have a flashlight pa.

Maxi took a deep breath. "You don't have a choice—"

"Of course, I have!"

He laughed. "You're the only princess that interrupted me without hesitation."

"Bahala ka d'yan, Maxi. I have a choice to decline him. I don't really want to marry him." My eyes started to well up. "I don't want talaga... I don't want him... I don't even love him."

I can't control my tears na. I let it flow down to my cheeks while looking at Maxi. And Maxi is still there, watching me crying with the worry visible in his eyes and expression.

I sniffled and wiped my tears. Hindi na ako babalik sa great hall because I know that my makeup is already ruined na. Baka dumiretso na lang ako sa room ko at mag-take ng rest there.

I was about to talk again but naunahan na ako ni Maxi. His question stunned me and it feels like he already knows what my plan is that I've been wanting to do.

"Do you have a plan? What's your plan?"

My tears stepped back; umatras sila agad when I heard Maxi. Is he going to help me?

"Help mo 'ko?" I whispered.

Napamassage na lang si Maxi ng forehead. He shook his head while laughing softly.

"I can't understand you when you're speaking tagalog, Lacy. Help is the only word that I understand. If you're asking me if I'm going to help you. Of course... I'm willing to help you."

I swear... I feel like I can hear the angel singing around me. Feel ko nakikita ko na agad ang sarili ko na free... I feel like I have a freedom na to do whatever I want!

I stood in excitement and leaned towards him. "You'll help me, Maxi? You promise?"

He nodded. "Of course, I am. For now stand straight and go back to your seat. Fix your corset because you might expose your chest."

"What?" I absentmindedly lowered my gaze to my top. "Oppss... I'm sorry. It was my mother who chose this gown."

I fix my gown na agad and straighten my posture. I can't help but feel giddy. Oh my! I'll have my freedom soon!

I rested my elbow at the top of the table and put my chin on my two palms together.

"I'm planning to escape..." I whispered. "I already planned this for a longest time, Maxi. And I hope you'll help me."

Maxi took a deep breath. "I'll help you, Lacy. But there's one more thing I'm just nervous for you."

My brows furrowed. "What is it?"

"You're too naïve..."

My smile vanished. Hindi ko alam but why did my heart ache when he said that? Maxi was willing to help; I was supposed to be happy because of that. Pero bakit nahuhurt ako sa sinabi niya?

"It's dangerous outside... you don't know what other people's intentions are. I know this will hurt you but you're easy to fool." He took my hand and held it tightly. "I want to say this to you so you can prepare yourself when you escape here."

"Listen, Lacy. You're the kindest... sweetest... gentlest... and most selfless person I've ever met. And if you meet a wrong person or, let's just say, the opposite of what you are... they are going to take advantage of you."

My shoulder slumped. "Do you want me to become a bad person na, Maxi? That's bad, nga, 'di ba?"

Maxi let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "Of course not. It's just a warning, princess. I'm just telling this to you because I know that your mother sheltered you too much. In this world, not everyone is good to you... not every person that you meet has good intentions for you. So when you meet a new person soon, you should get to know them more, okay?"

I nodded. "Okay, Maxi..."

"And besides, you can feel if the person is good or bad," he added.

I held his hand tightly and smiled at him. Tumayo si Maxi and leaned closer to me. I automatically closed my eyes when I felt his soft lips on my forehead.

"Thank you for everything, Maxi. You're the best cousin I ever had..." I whispered.

He nodded. "You're welcome, Lacy. You're always welcome."

I couldn't help myself and went to him and gave him an embrace. Hindi naman siya nag reklamo; that's why Maxi hugged me back. It took a couple of seconds before he pulled me away and nag talk.

"Can you tell me what your plan is? "

SHANGPU