The Villainess' Resolve

chapter twenty one: and they meet

[Scarlet's POV]

"Lady Celeste, how old are you?" The smiling little girl didn't took her eyes off of me and smiled even bigger when I asked.

"I'm 11. I'll be debuting next year." She energetically answered with sparkling  eyes. I smiled at her forcefully, feeling a bit awkward.

I took a sip of my wine and looked away. I can still feel her intent gaze at me waiting for me to look her in the eye and ask her a lot of stuffs. But she has this vibe that I don't like and thus I act as if I didn't feel her gazes.

'Why the hell did I met the female lead this early!?'

I didn't recall anything about Scarlet and Celeste meeting in the book. To be exact, they never ever meet!! That is because dear Scarlet died waaaaaaaay so early!!

"Are you with your kids, your grace?" I flinched the moment I heard her question. I have forgotten about my four boys!!

Horror run downs to my veins as my eyes roamed inside the banquet hall, panicking. How could I freaking forget about it? How could I freaking forget that the reason for the quantroplets shattered hearts was this young lady beside me!?

"I… Am. Unfortunately." I answered her, but whispered the last word so that she wouldn't hear it. 

'I wish this young lady would leave with her family before the boys find me.' I silently pleaded.

"Is it hard raising… your kids?" napatigil ang aking mga mata at tumingin sa kaniya. I want to raise my eyebrows at her the moment I saw her innocent smiling face. It's somewhat, creepy in my eyes now.

"Well, it's very hard indeed. I'm still young, and four is many. Plus, they are very… Energetic." I answered. Trying to give her a sweet smile, but I guess… I failed.

"I'm so sorry, Lady Celeste. I'm still tired. Shall we, continue talking next time?" pagpapaumanhin ko habang nakahawak sa aking noo sapagkat medyo sumakit iyon bigla.

"Ow is that so? Killing a snake rattle might have been heavy for you. I shall excuse myself then. I sincerely hope for your well being, so that we can meet again. Have a good evening, your grace." may ngiting usal niya at yumuko sa aking harapan.

"Thank you. A cup of tea would be delightful, wouldn't it? I shall send you an invitation, sooner." usal ko sa kaniya. Her eyes sparkled and her face shows excitement the moment I said those words and once again gave me her big and sweetest smile before finally turning away.

After I part ways with lady Celeste, I then started to roamed around the banquet hall to find my four boys. Latte as usual is with Kaiser at the corner of the banquet hall. 

"How's the banquet?" tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa ng makalapit na ako sa kanilang gawi. Inangat ni Latte ang kaniyang mukha at deretsong tumingin sa akin habang si Kaiser naman ay walang pasabimg lumapit sa akin at yumakap sa aking paa.

"Well, it's been really boring. Are we going home mom?" seryosong sagot sa akin ni Latte at tinanguan ko naman bilang pagsagot.

"S we look for your brothers together?" tanong ko kay Kaiser na mayroong ngiti sa labi. He looked at me and nodded, still with a cold expression.

Nagsimula kaming tatlong maglakad sa loob Ng banquet hall upang hanapin ang kinaroroonan ni Reg at Lineal. Halos ang mga mata ng kabuuan ay nasa amin at nakasunod sa bawat galaw na aming gagawin.

"Come on Commander! Let's go train!! Let's gooooooo!" napatampal ako sa aking mukha nang sa malayo pa lamang ay marinig ko na ang malakas na boses ni Reg.

"These young lads doesn't want to spar with me saying I'm too weak!"

"You know we can't do that young master."

"Then I'll go ask mom!"

"Ask me what?" alertong tumayo ng tuwid ang dalawa at mayroong seryosong ekspresyong tumingin sa akin.

"Can we go, spar mom?" nagdadalawang isip na tanong sa akin ni Reg ng hindi tumitingin sa aking mga mata.

"Do you know, what time is it already?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Bigla naman itong lumunok habang nakatingin kay Latte. Mukhang tinatakot niya ito.

"Let's go home. Commander Ferro, find Lineal."  utos ko. Tumango naman si Commander Ferro at aalis na Sana upang hanapin si Lineal nang hindi niya tinuloy, sapagkat kami ang nahanap ni Lineal.

"Mom! Brothers!" tawag ni Lineal sa amin kahit malayo pa ito at masayang naglakad papunta sa aming gawi.

"Are you ready to go home Lineal?"  tanong ko sa masayang si Lineal. He looked at me and nodded.

"I'm not, but I'll rest for now." napataas ang aking kilay dahil sa ipinapakitang kilos at ekspresyon. Mayroong malaking ngiti ang labi at tila ba lumilipad sa cloud nine ang kaniyang isipan.

"Alright. Let's go home now." lintaya ko at hinawakan sa kamay so Kaiser bago nagsimulang maglakad palabas ng banquet hall.

"Going home without goodbye?" napatigil kaming lahat sa aming paglalakad at napatingin ang lahat sa nagsalita habang ako ay napapikit nang mariin bago tumingin sa kaniya.

"Your Highness." bati ko sa kaniya.

Pilit akong ngumiti at hindi pinahalatang gustong-gusto ko na talagang umuwi para maiwasan ang pagkikita ng female lead at ng quantroplets.

"Congratulations on your win, Duke Schurke." usal niya nang hindi tumitingin sa akin sapagkat nasa mga bata ito.

"Thank you, your highness. It's because of your great words that fuel my muscles and bravery to kill my preys." pagpapasalamat ko sa kaniya.

He raised his head and looked at me. I raised my eyebrows at him without the public seeing it to ask him what's up. He just gave me a vague smile before nodding and took two step away from us.

"Little Lenden, wanted to meet your kids, Duke Schurke. Isn't that right, Lenden?" gumuho ang ulo ng isanng batang lalaki mula sa likuran ni Heraf at mayroong nahihiyang ekspresyong nakatingin sa amin.

Binatukan ko ang aking sarili sa loob-loob sapagkat tuluyan kong nakalimutan ang batang lalaking ito. Binigyan ko ng isang maliit na ngiti ang nahihiyang bata.

"Hello, Lenden. How are you dear?" malumanay na tanong ko sa kaniya. Dahan-dahan naman itong naglakad paalis sa likuran ni Heraf at humarap sa amin.

"I'm f-fine, Tita Scarlet." I wanted to freaking pinch that smooth cheeks of him, but good thing I'm good at restraining myself.

I was about to speak again and introduce my kids to the prince when someone came up to us. The thread of patience that I have become more thinner as I found the faces of these people familiar.

"Ah! There you are Marquess Fleron!" masayang bati ni Heraf sa isang matandang mayroong kula asul na buhok at begote.

"So sorry for the late greetings. My daughter, who recently visited the capital wanted to explore the banquet hall." pagpapaumanhin ni Marquess.

"I didn't know you have a daughter."

"She's been away to study abroad, and just recently came back. Celeste?" 

"Good evening, your highness. I'm Celeste Fleron." lumabas ang isang batang babaeng mayroong kulay asul na buhok at mata at magalang na yumuko sa harapan ng emperador.

"Why aren't you a lovely kid. Boys, don't you think so too?" tumawa si Hraf at tumingin sa limang lalaking mayroong nanlalaking matang nakatingin kay Celeste.

I let out a deep sigh without them noticing it and wanted to punch myself for being so slow on escaping this place.

Dahan-dahan na nagsitanguan ang limang bata at binigyan ng tango si Celeste.

'And they meet. The female lead, male lead, and the villains have meet at the early age of 12.'