One Chance For Redemption

Kabanata 14 - What's Wrong?

Kabanata 14

What's wrong, Duke of Brixton?

Tahimik akong nakasakay sa karwahe ni Dale pauwi sa mansion nila Aunt Mildred. We decided to leave the ball early dahil na din sa namamaga kong braso. Bumuntong hininga ako. I can see from my peripheral vision na tahimik akong pinagmamasdan ni Dale. Nakatingin lamang pero walang balak magsalita.

When he asked me earlier to go home, walang emosyon ang mga mata niya. He had his poker face on. I know why Gabriel helped me because Sir Adam immediately went where he is and told him about the incident. I don't really have a clue on his sudden change of mood dahil simula ng magwalk out siya ay ganoon na ang mood niya. Gustuhin ko man na magstay at kausapin pa ang kapatid ko ay hindi ko magawa. Dale was already in a very foul mood that I don't want to go against him. Maski si Gabriel ay hindi na kumontra ng ginusto ni Dale na umalis na. Gabriel only mouthed, "I'll see you soon." as Dale dragged me out of the room.

He looked so pissed kahit na makasakay na kami ng karwahe. Hindi ko alam kung galit ba siya dahil napahiya at nadamay ko ang pangalan niya o may iba pang dahilan. Whatever I do now, makakaapekto na sa pangalan ng grand duke because I'm his fiancée now.

Gusto kong unang magsalita pero baka lalong sumama ang mood niya kapag nag-open ako ng topic tungkol doon. Kaya ngayon, wala akong choice kung hindi ang manahimik na lamang. Ang kaninang mabilis na byahe ay tila naging mabagal. The ride way home felt like an eternity. The awkwardness and the silence were killing me. Then I decided na tumingin na lamang sa labas ng bintana. All I can see was trees na mahirap aninagin dahil sa dilim. While looking at the dark surroundings I tried to entertain myself.

This time nakita ko naman si Sir Adam riding his horse beside the carriage. He timidly smiles to me kaya naman ngumisi ako at kumaway sakanya. Narinig ko ang pagtikhim ni Dale but when he saw me looking at him, mabilis siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. Humalukipkip siya at saka marahan na pumikit. Indicating that he doesn't want to talk to me.

"Dale, is there's something bothering you?" I tried to strike a conversation, but he remains on his position.

I tried again, "Are tired? Do you want to rest quietly?" But he still doesn't answer.

Ha! If that's the case, then I also don't want to talk to you!

My mood was ruined ng makarating kami sa mansion ni Aunt Mildred. Nakapikit pa rin siya, I reckon he doesn't plan on sending me off. Then the door opened, and Sir Adam helped me to get down the carriage. I stomped my foot at inirapan ang karwahe kahit na alam kong hindi iyon nakita ni Dale dahil nakasarado ang kurtina nito. Mabilis akong nakapasok sa mansion. Ang tanging gising na lamang upang salubungin kami ay si Joanne at dalawa kong maid.

My two maids gasped as they saw Sir Adam. Their cheek reddens. Okay, someone is crushing on my knight.

When I peeked on Sir Adam, he is just wearing his poker face expression. Oblivious to the girls who are fangirling over him. Since Sir Adam doesn't seem to be bothered, hindi na ako nag-isip pa ng kung ano-ano at sinabi na kay Joanne na gusto ko ng magpahinga. I drifted to sleep as I think of why Dale was mad earlier.

Kinabukasan ay kusa akong nagising. Since sanay naman akong mag-bihis ng sarili ay ginawa ko na iyon mag-isa. Pagkatapos ay agad lumabas ng kwarto upang pumunta sa hardin. Sir Adam is already standing outside my room kaya naman ng lumabas ako ay agad din siya sumunod.

Pataas na ang sikat ng araw ng lumabas ako. I can see a few maids cleaning the whole mansion. Then a kitchen maid stops her track when she saw me and ran towards my direction.

"Miss Amaury, it's good to see you in the morning." Aniya sabay abot sa'akin ng supot ng cookies, "Kagagawa lamang po ito ng head chef. Dadalhin ko dapat ito sa kwarto niyo pero buti at nakasalubong ko kayo, Miss."

Ngumiti ako at inabot ang cookies sa kamay niya, "Salamat. And good morning din sayo."

I also told the maid to tell Joanne that I'll be at the garden and don't forget to tell her to bring some tea. With that I continued walking. Mabilis akong nakarating sa hardin nila Aunt Mildred. The whole garden has a different flower. I'm not knowledgeable sa mga bulaklak kaya naman ay wala akong idea kung ano ang mga ito. The only one who I can recognize was my favourite tulips flower, the rest was unknown to me. It was beautiful though.

Naupo ako sa upuan doon at inilapag sa lamesa ang bag ng cookies na nakuha. I can see Sir Adam looking at it. Nang tingnan ko siya ay agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. Palihim akong tumawa.

"Sir Adam, can I ask you a question?"

He looked at me and nodded, "As long as it won't count as a treachery to my Lord, I'll allow it, Lady Amaury."

Napangiti ako sa sagot niya. Dale entrusted him to me. Right now, the one he's serving isn't his Lord, but me. I am now his Lady. Pero ang loyalty niya ay nananatili pa rin kay Dale. Like how a loyal knight should be.

"Don't worry, Sir Adam. I won't betray your Lord." I said, "So, I just want to ask... How old are you?"

He was kind of taken a back sa tanong ko. Why? Is it rude now to ask kung ilang taon na ang isang tao?

Umayos muli siya ng tindig at tumikhim bago sumagot, "16, Lady Amaury."

"Huh?" Gulat kong tugon sa sinabi niya. I'm 2 years older than him kung ganon?

He was that impressive huh. A knight and sword master at the age of 16? Sir Adam is kind of talented.

When I opened the bag of cookies I got, I saw how his eyes glittered. I smiled then closed it again. Pagkatapos ay inabot ko ito sakanya.

"Here. You may take it." When I saw him hesitating, nagpatuloy ako sa pagsasalita.

"I actually not fond of sweets in the morning. Is this not to your liking, Sir Adam?" I cautiously asked. Even though halata naman na ang pagkagusto niya sa mga sweets.

Tumikhim siya at marahan na kinuha ang bag ng cookies sa lamesa, "No. I like it very much. Thank you, Lady Amaury" He whispered.

"You're welcome, Sir Adam. And you may call me just Amaury." I suggested.

He firmly said no to my suggestion, "I do not dare to be rude to you, Lady Amaury. That's why I'll call you as a Lady."

I shrugged and nodded. If that's what he wants then hindi na ako kukontra pa. I just want to be friendly to him because I can see the hostility of the people towards him dahil sa pinang-galingan niya. I thought he'll be too lonely without having a friend-like-person in this place.

A few minutes later, I finally saw Joanne arriving. Angelina was also walking towards me with her maid. The bright sun was shining on her. She was really pretty. I greeted Angelina as she gets closer. She smiled and greeted me too. Pagkatapos ay umupo siya sa upuan na katapat ko. Joanne quietly pour us some tea. I was enjoying my tea when Angelina spoke.

"The Duke told me yesterday that you two will go to the monastery to visit the grand priest in a few days."

"Oh? I haven't heard about that..." I simply answered.

She sighed and continued, "...he told me this last night. Well, that's all I know. I was only told to rely this message to you. You should just ask him the details when he visit you."

Ngumuso ako, "Angeline, is he mad when he said that?"

Tumingin siya sakin na nagtataka, "The Duke is calm when he spoke to me."

Ngumiti na lamang ako at hindi na muli nagsalita. He's calm huh? So, he isn't mad. He isn't mad at anyone, sa'kin lang. I rolled my eyes inside my head. That guy seriously. I don't even know why he's mad at the first place!

"I reckon the duke is rushing your wedding to him. You're going to the Grand Priest to have a blessing for your wedding."

Well, that's also that. When you want to get wed, you must seek blessing from the Grand Priest for a good marriage life. But if our wedding is purely business and political, what is the need for a blessing? That's what I was thinking when I felt a severe headache. Nabitawan ko ang teacup na hawak causing it to fall on the gazebo and broke into pieces.

Mabilis na sumaklolo si Sir Adam sakin, he caught me when I am about to fall on my chair. My vision is starting to get blurry.

"Amaury!"

It felt like someone is hitting me repeatedly on the head. Then everything went black.