Arisia Lives As A Villainess ✔

Season 1: Chapter 23

Season 1

Chapter 23

After my philosophy class, I took a stroll with Hilda. Pina-iwan ko muna si Davidron upang magbantay sa aking kwarto.

It will be hard for me if some spy went into my chamber. Though I know that there are countless spies at this palace, I ignored them and pretended to act that I do not know anything. Alam kong karamihan ay mula sa reyna at Ruvia. For Heiden, the palace is his eyes. For the others, I am still figuring out those who are trying to oppose me but nothing just come to my mind.

Binasa ko ang aking mga labi. Napatigil ako nang may mga pamilyar na mukha akong makita papunta dito. I blinked twice.

“Alluis?” I mumbled when he went towards me. He greeted me a big hug. Pinatpat ko ang kanyang ulo. My gaze went beside him. It was Lorves in a formal attire.

Mukhang galing siya sa prinsipal na palasyo.

I nodded at him. He did the same. Sumingkit ng kaunti ang kanyang mga mata. His lips rose a bit for the second there. It surprised me a bit how he is showing his expressions than before.

He sure is changing.

“Sister!” Pagtawag sa akin ng atensiyon ng aking kapatid. I gave him a smile. My eyes squinted.

“What are you doing here?”

“I miss you, Sister!” Maliwanag niyang sagot. His voice is so high that it was obvious he wanted to see me.

“I miss you, too.” I pinched his cheek. He showed a wide smile. “Si Ama?” Tanong ko.

If Alluis is here, that must mean that Father is here, too.

Alluis innocently looked at me.

“He went back to the palace to have a meeting with the officials.” He said in a gentle voice. Napatango ako.

“Want to go inside the White Palace, then?” He nodded and hummed.

“Yes!” He smiled. I chuckled of his cuteness. Napatingin naman ako kay Lorves. My head tilted as my brows furrowed to know why he is here. Kumurap lamang siya. Kanina pa nakatikom ang kanyang bibig.

Will he not say his purpose here?

I pursed my lips.

This is the problem of stoic men, they will not talk to you until you first ask them. No offense.

“What are you doing here, Lorves?” He lifted his head.

“To tag along.” He blinked and shortly answered. Sumingkit ang aking mga mata nang ngumisi ako.

“Did you missed me, too?” Panunuya kong tanong. Silence reigned for a while. Dahan-dahan siyang tumango pagkatapos.

“I wanted to hang out with you.” Straight-forward as always.

I nodded.

“There are too many eyes outside. It may start a rumor. Let us go inside.” They all agreed. We all went to the living room after. I shortly dismissed the maids once they finished assisting our needs. My brother was bugging me of how I am doing well all this time. Dahil sa pagkabagot ko na magsalita ay si Hilda ang sumagot ng iba niyang mga tanong.

As usual, Alluis is energetic and cheerful.

He said he wanted me to tour him around the palace but I ordered Davidron to be his guide. Hindi siya nakatanggi sa akin, ang kapatid ko rin. Nang makalayo sila at kaming tatlo lang sa sala ay pinaligiran ulit kami ng maiksing katahimikan.

“Thank you for looking out for my family, Lorves.” Pagbabasag ko. I sipped on my tea. Tumingin siya sa akin at tumabingi.

“What?” His voice in monotone. I blinked and let out a short sigh.

“I know you are secretly supporting us from behind. Was it okay, though?” I know Lorves had been secretly looking out for my family after I had gone here. Even though I did not ask a favor, he is really reliable. Hindi ko alam kung ang motibo niya ay puro dahil sa pagkakaibigan namin o hindi. Either way, it works well for me. Hilda is sometimes busy and may not do other things while Davidron is always with me to guard and escort me even in this place. I just cannot blindly trust the personnel of this palace.

“Alam mo.” He averted his gaze. His lips pouted a bit. I scoffed.

“If it comes to my family.” I retorted. Hindi siya sumagot. I parted my lips and gave him a reassuring smile. “Of course that does not mean that I keep an eye on you, too. I value other’s privacy.” I explained. Tumango siya. He excused himself when he shortly yawned.

It seems like he has not been sleeping well these days. Is he that busy? Being Rionsky’s knight is too tiring and restless?

Looking at him closer, I can see the bags under his eyes. It looked like he is gonna glued to the table any time since his eyes are being sleepy.

What to do? I kind of feel bad when he came here over his rest but I just cannot carelessly let him stay here.

“Come to me when you need help.”

“I appreciate it, thank you.” I nodded and forced a smile. I pointed out his lack of sleep but he shrugged it off saying it was normal for him. Alluis came back in less than an hour from his tour. Sinabi ko na rin na kailangan na nila na umuwi. Said that I might be a bother to them and that they also need to spend their time to rest. Lorves did not argue to it.

“Do well, Brother.” I kissed his forehead. My brother blushed a bit and pouted. Iniwas niya ang kanyang mga mata.

He must be upset since it has only been an hour since he was just with me. Not that it was inevitable since I was also planning on sending him back as soon as possible. After all, it might be dangerous for them to be lurking around here any longer. Reminding that this is Heiden’s palace. If he himself is dangerous, then so be his surroundings.

”I’ll come visit again, Sister. Hindi ko lamang alam kung gaano katagal.” Mababang sagot niya.

“It is fine. You can still send me letters.”

“But...” I patted his head. Napatikom siya.

“Besides, you have other more things to worry about.”

“Yes, Sister.” He nodded. I last saw them from the door.

There was no need to escort them since Lorves is there. Hindi ko na rin kailangan pa na mag-alala na walang kasama si Alluis at Ama sa kanilang pag-uwi dahil alam ko na ihahatid sila ni Lorves nang maayos at walang banta.

I yawned. May bumuong mga tubig sa aking mga mata. I simply wiped it off and sighed.

Shame. I thought there will be no bother this day.

I scoffed. My face rested on my palm.

“So, Gideon, may I ask what you are doing here?” A gust. A man suddenly jumped to my room from the big tree in front of it. He removed his cloak and it revealed his flirty face. His red hair is being shone by the sunlight. He greeted me with a dazzling smirk.

“Wow, lady. My cover is totally blown.” He chuckled. I rolled my eyes in a simple manner.

Either way, he cannot escape from Hilda. I would have him caught by her, anyway, if he runs.

“With your flirty presence, it is impossible to not to.” Sarkasmo ko.

There is no need to also hide my gentle appearance in front of this man since I know he has been keeping an eye on me since then. I did not try to be hide it since he will gain nothing at all from it. We are in the same page.

“Kailan pa?” He smirked that showed his white teeth.

“From the beginning.” I shortly answered.

He may be a veteran but so is Hilda. I may say that they are on par in overall temrs. “I knew your gentleman appearance was a facade.” He shrugged.

“That hurts. ‘S for some purposes.” He said and casually sat down on a chair. He placed his leg on top of other. My eyes squinted.

“So you approached me with a purpose? Was our first meeting not a coincidence, too?” In actual, I do not really know if it was really intentional or not but judging of his personality, it may be is.

“Well, I dunno.” His accent changed. Kumunot ang noo ko sa hindi pamilyar na paraan na pananalita niya. A suddent thought crossed in my mind.

I have read other kingdoms having different ways of speaking and accents but there are many for that. From what kingdom is he then?

My hand went to my chin and lips to think.

“Your way of speaking is a bit different. From the Lodia Kingdom, I assume?” I said the first thing I thought.

“C’rrect.” He clicked his tongue.

I see. So I was right,then. He is from the eastern kingdom of Astralis Empire. Frankly, I like their accent and way of speaking. Should I try it, too, for some purposes?

“Then why have you been keeping an eye on me since then, Gideon?” I asked in monotone.

“I wanna be friends, I think?” Hindi niya sigurado na sagot. Bumuntong-hininga ako.

Lying with a straight face, how brave.

“You think?”

“Ye’.” He tilted his head as he answered.

“Is that all?”

“Mmm...” He nodded.

“Then why should I?” I flipped my hair when I said that.

“Yer’ picky, I see.” He hummed. His gaze met mine and he smirked a playful one.

Good grief, he reminds me of Davidron back then. “Then, why’d ya’ send His Highness’ private letters?” My eyes squinted. Hindi ko napigilan ang pagkunot ng aking kilay.

Seriously, this busybody.

Napasinghal ako.

“You knew about that.”

“Improper, maybe.” He shrugged,. “Am ‘un of His Highness’ people, ‘f course I knew.”

“Hindi ko alam. Are you that special for His Highness?” I mentally smirked.

“I was youn’ when he saved me. Dunno if he finds me special but I do think of that. His Highness’s special for me. Well, how ‘bout ye’?” I uninterestedly gave him a look.

I do not care of his past. What matters is that he knows about my letters. Will this man blackmail me? Knowing him, the probability will be high but there is a least chance of not doing that.

“I told you, did I not? Whatever that is between us is nothing special. At least, I do think of the crown prince as my future brother-in-law.” I phrased and pointed out. Tumaas ang kanyang kilay. “They say family should be close with each other, is it not right?” A smirk rose from the side of my lips.

“Yer’ right. Ye’ should draw the line before that.”

“Was that an advise?” He smirked at my question.

“Yer’ wasted on ‘em. He isn’t interested in things like that.” Tumabingi ako.

This is the second time he is warning me. If that really is, then he must have also known that I was with Rionsky at the night of his birthday. It is a shame that I do not have Gideon by his side because of his stalking skills.

“I fully know that, Gideon.” I sighed. “So, you should now leave. You are being a bother, honestly.” I pointed at the window and forced a smile. He raised his brow and tilted his head. A smirk formed from the side of his lips.

“What’ll ye’ do ‘bout me?”

“I will let this slide.” I scoffed. “Next time, there is a thing called door, Gideon. If you sneak in again, my people will subdue you.” My voice hinted threat. Sumingkit ng kaunti ang kanyang mga mata. Napatigil siya saglit at napatawa. It echoed through my room.

“A’ight, lady.” He shrugged and was gone with the wind in a snap. I pressed my lips against each other.

Seriously, assassins do startle me sometimes. I wonder who ordered him do spy at me.

Muli akong napatingin sa bintana. I leaned there. Napangisi ako.

No, I think he was really by himself. For the reason, I know it well since then.

A knock from the door. I let the person in and he closed the door. He greeted me. His long, brown hair was ushered by the wind.

“Is he gone, Davidron?”

“Yes, Milady. Hilda went gone to tail him.” I hummed of his answer.

“Good, it is as planned.” Napapikit ako. I heaved a deep breathe of the fresh air. “His movements are actually predictable but I am one step above him.”

“Just being with him irks me.” Suminghal siya. I glanced at him. Hinawi ko ang aking buhok nang tinangay ito ng hangin. Davidron showed an irritated expression.

“I trust your instinct.” I reminded him. “Well, Davidron.” I playfully said. A sudden thought came to my mind. “It seems like you are going along with Hilda well these days.” My eyes squinted as I teased him. Kumunot ang kanyang noo.

“Magkaibigan kami.” He sain in a straight face.

Good grief. It even took him long to answer. He is hesitant. With this, Hilda’s dreamed romance with him will progress longer.

“Hilda will be hurt if you tell her that, you know.” He blinked thrice and let out a short sigh.

“I am aware, Milady. I just really see her as a friend, a companion.” Napahawak siya sa kanyang leeg. He averted his eyes.

This man is not really honest, huh? Or is he not conscious of what he feels?

Napapikit ako.

He somehow reminds me of Rionsky.

“Now that I think about it, how many times did she confess to you?” I asked without no teasing intentions. His lips formed a straight line. He was silent for a bit until I gave him a questioning look.

Hilda almost does it everyday, I think. There are just some exceptions. She is also being honest of what she really feels and she openly shows it to him. She is similar to Davidron but also different.

“I lost count.” I chuckled of what he said.

The two are interesting.

“You two are funny to observe. Well, I am rooting for the both of you.” I smirked at him.