Song of the Winter Solstice (Gauntlet Series 1)

Chapter 5 -The Engagement

I come across the scroll on the worktable at the center of my room. There is one sealed scroll with a golden ribbon that's tied around it. A royal wedding invitation.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang unang mararamdaman ng dibdib ko. There is never excitement, for sure. Magkahalong kaba, galit at pangamba ang nagsimulang mamahay doon.

Ang mga kagaya kong elf, dapat ay sanay nang maramdamang isa akong mababang uri. Na isa lamang akong instrumento sa laro ng mga makapangyarihang nilalang. Pero may pagtutol sa sistema ko.

Hanggang kaipan ganito? Kailan mababago ang sistema? Kailan iikot ang tatsulok? Kailan magbabago ang ituktok ng tatsulok?

Wala akong magawa!

Three days.

It took them three days to come up with all the wedding plans. Now it is set to happen tomorrow. It's very conspicuous how they rush everything just for their hidden agenda.

I know what they're after. I may pretend stupid and uneducated in front of the royal court but my brain doesn't reciprocate the facade I am trying to show them. My father trained us very well in hunting, he taught us about life and its complexities and how to survive them rationally.

It's true that I am a lowly ranked elven but that doesn't mean that I don't think greater than the crowned ones.

I know what they want. The king wanted to secure whatever is left to me by the queen -a magical object, the invisible object in my hands.

But what it is all for?

What's in my hands?

Tatlong mahihinang katok sa pinto ang pumukaw sa pagmumuni sa malaking kwarto kung saan ako mamamalagi bago ang kasal. Muling pumasok ang tatlong maiden na umasikaso sa akin sa unang araw ko sa kaharian. They're at their usual routines and anti-social expression.

They're here to serve me not to talk about the lives of others. I heard one mentioned before I met the king and Prince Killan.

I continue to stare at the vast forest outside the window. Naglakad palapit sa akin ang maiden na may maikling buhok. She immediately loosens the lace of my corset. I feel so relieved. It's like an enormous number of rocks are taken out of my lungs. I can freely breathe.

"The room is ready Miss Rendin." Dinig kong sambit ng isa pang maiden na siya ding nag-ayos sa beauty room noong unang araw ko dito.

"B-bakit kailangan kong magbihis?" taka kong tanong habang ramdam kong kumakawala isa-isa ang mga lace sa metal holes ng suot kong corset. I totally feel naked now. Namula ang mga pisngi ko kahit na mga babae pa ang mga ito. I have never been so naked in front of three elvens.

"You will be meeting the royal families both minority and the ruling family. Tonight is the royal engagement celebration. The king of this house calls for a royal engagement night. It's a tradition."

"This tradition sucks," I whine under my nose. Anger still stirs in my gut and it's starting to burn.

"Sulk it in. You don't live here to be obeyed. As long as there are elvens who are ranked higher than us, all we are obliged to do is to obey."

"Obey and be stupid," I utter with sarcasm. Ito naman talaga ang dapat niyong asahan mula sa mga katulad namin. Ang sumunod. Ang matakot. Ang magpaalila. Damn!

"I like the witty sarcasm Miss Rendin, but I am not allowed to support that." Sambit ng maiden na may kakayahang tunawin ang mga pagkain at mga bagay na naisin nito.

I sigh so deep as I straddle to the beauty room. This tradition tortures me. What they chose for me slowly kills me inside. I hate it. I grunt at the thought.