The Wicked Crown

Chapter 4: The Prince

Chapter 4: The Prince

Ilang minuto ang lumipas na nasa loob lang ako ng maze. Now that I'm inside the castle, tila lahat ng plano ko ay biglang nabura at hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin.

Tumingala ako at pinagmasdan ang gilid ng palasyo sa aking harapan. Napakalaki nito, napakataas. The towers were menacing, looming, as if looking down on me.

The walls of stone were covered in intricate veins of ivy, and the windows were ceiling high, golden lights from inside washed the walls down to the ground.

Nasaan na si Demetre? Maayos ba siya? Wala ba silang nahalata?

I raised my hand to touch the thick green bush of the maze. Napadaing ako nang maramdaman na may tumusok sa palad ko. A drop of blood bead out of the rough skin of my palm.

A thorn rose bush. I should have known.

Sandali kong pinag-aralan ang posisyon kung nasaan ako. But Demetre didn't mention anything about the maze garden. Siguro ay dahil hindi pa siya nakakapunta sa parteng ito ng palasyo.

Inayos ko ang sarili ko. Suot ko ang itim na uniform ng mga lalakeng tagasilbi. Galing ito kay Demetre. I could blend in with this.

I was about to step out of the maze nang makarinig ako ng ingay. Quick as bolt, muli akong umatras papasok sa loob ng maze. Someone was coming.

Nagtago ako sa likod ng rose bushes. May pumasok sa loob ng maze. Dalawang tao. Someone tall, lean and for a reason, has an alarming dignified posture. Ang isa ay babae, wearing a silver ball gown shimmering under the moonlight.

They were talking about something. Hindi ko sila gustong marinig. But there's a bush between us, and if I moved, they might notice my silhouette behind the leaves.

"I could be anything you want... I could be on your side if you let me."

Umalingawngaw ang isang sampal sa maze garden. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makitang lumuha ang babae habang hawak ang kanyang pisngi.

The guy who raised his long slender hand readjusted his golden ring as though nothing happened. The lights from the windows behind them washed through his profile. His cutting jawline, the darkness of his eyes, the sharpness of his nose, and the lazy sly smile on his sully lips.

Even though the light was golden, he seemed to be reverberate the air of thunderstorm.

"You're a mere daughter of the People of the Halls. Know the limit of your belonging."

He walked away, the dark cape pinned on his shoulder swiped the ground as he left.

"But I own acres and acres of land!" desperadong sigaw ng babae.

Huminto ang lalake sa paglalakad at lumingon. From where I stood firmly on the grass I heard him scoff. For the first time I noticed a gold crown, glistening, like a crescent moon vested on his pitch-black hair.

"And I'm a prince."

--

Ilang minuto na ang lumipas mula noong pareho silang umalis sa maze garden pero nakatitig parin ako kung saan sila nakatayo kanina, hindi makapaniwala.

Sa harapan ko, kanina lang, ay isa sa tatlong prinsipe ng Nightcrest. All the horrible and enthralling stories about them since I was a child came crushing into me.

They're no evil, they're much worse.

Nanginginig ako. All the foolish bravery and stupid courage that made me survive the past few days were now evaporating fast like boiling water.