Chapter 9: Sins of the Past II

Why did this happen? How did this happen? I keep asking myself. A secret deeply buried in one's grave. How did it come to light?

Why did the gods forsake me?

Cold sweats begin to cover my trembling body. I fall on my knees, weaken by the pain that fills my heart as tears streak down my cheeks.

"I am sorry..." I say in my soft, frail voice.

18 hours earlier...

"Having a picnic under a sprawling tree on top of a hill always brings happiness to my heart," Jay says as he spreads the blanket on the grass.

"I know you're lying! Hundred percent!" Sophia exclaims in a matter of fact tone.

"Why do you think so?" Camille asks. She and Chealsy are putting down the food containers Boris and Carmen bring.

"Simple! He doesn't have a heart!" Sophia replies.

"Ouch!" Leo utters, holding his chest dramatically.

"You're wrong!" Jay tells Sophia while looking at her eyes intensely.

She equals his intense gaze. She smirks.

"Care to enlighten me why I'm wrong?"

"Simple! If I don't have a heart, how can I love you!" he says coyly.

"Ooooooooh!" the others tease. Sophia suddenly looks away while Jay smiles playfully.

"Are you sure you don't wanna join us?" I ask Boris and Carmen.

"Maybe next time~" Boris replies.

"Thanks for the offer, but I have to go back to the mansion. Your younger brother might be awake by now," Carmen politely refuses.

"Hmmm... lazy bone!" I comment.

Carmen laughs.

"He pulled an all-nighter for his project," Carmen defends. I smile.

"Fine!" I say in a wave of pretense anger.

Carmen and Boris chuckle.

"But... it's true! He's been doing his best to be better at everything he does," Carmen says.

I smile. "I know."

"We have to head back to the mansion," Boris says.

I nod. They leave. Then, I turn to the lords and ladies.

"Enough of your teasing! Everyone... enjoy your lunch," I say. They cheer as they dig in.

"Do you often do this?" Stephanie asks as she eats a slice of ripe mango.

"Do what?" Ben answers.

"Having a picnic~"

"Ah... since we were little, aunt has been taking us somewhere to relax," Ron replies.

"Wow! You're different from what many people know about you," Primrose tells me with a big smile on her face.

"Like I am bitchy or beasty?!" I ask. They laugh at my question.

"You're neither, mom!" Mon defends.

"Yeah! You're scary... but loving at the same time~" Jay adds.

"Enough!" I exclaimed, raising my arms.

The lords just chuckle. Mon blows me a kiss while the others make hearts by their fingers.

"The lords and the prince are so lucky to have a loving person like you~" Sophia comments.

I am not so certain, but in a split of a second, there seems a glint of sadness--- no... more of anger, in her voice. She's smiling, but it lacks warmth.

Ignore it.

'Maybe... a painful memory flashed in her mind!' I think.

"What will we do after?" Letizia asks excitedly.

"That's a surprise!" Mon replies.

"You ain't killing us, are you?" Camille jokes.

"Let's see!" Leo says with a wicked smile. I laugh.

"Are you planning to take them there?" I ask.

They smile playfully. I shake my head while looking at the ladies' confused and worried look.

"Don't worry... you'll be alright!" I assure them.

After eating our lunch, we ride for almost 30 minutes until we arrive at the foot of a rocky mountain where the waterfall flows majestically.

"Are we going to swim there?" Camille asks while pointing at the inviting bowl of blue-green water in front of us.

"Nope! There!" Ron says as he lifts her hand and points at the pool of water on the third floor of the waterfall.

"Oh my gosh!"

"Are you kidding?!"

"No way!"

The ladies react as they look up.

"We can't go there with our horses. We have to leave them here," I say.

"Are we not coming back?!" Stephanie asks worriedly.

"Nope... it's a one- way ascent!" Mon replies.

"Everything's gonna be fine!" I exclaim as I jump from my horse.

I give Nightwish a hug. Then, I start walking.

The lords and I can't help smiling and laughing as we climb up the steep rock face as the ladies keep cursing and panting until we reach our destination.

"Is this your way of killing us?" Letizia complains, panting and holding her chest.

"Just look at what's here and beyond," Ben replies.

The ladies gasp as we marvel at the crystal clear blue-green pool, where the towering waterfall flows. The water glistens under the heat of the afternoon sun, contrasting the gray rocks around it.

Chealsy and Sophia exchange a tacit agreement as they remove their jackets and jogging pants. Then, they plunge into the refreshing water.

"Hey~ wait for us!" Letizia and the other ladies exclaim.

I just watch as the lords and ladies enjoy swimming and playing in the pool.

"Hey! Let's get going," I shout after an hour.

"Already? Can we~"

"No!" I tell Stephanie. They all sulk.

"Come on! Unless you want to spend a night here!" I say.

Then, we start climbing again. And here come the cursing and panting and complaining--- again.

It takes us 15 minutes to reach the summit of the cliff.

"And for the final view. Behold!" Leo exclaims as he presents the panoramic view from atop.

"Wow!" the ladies gasp as they look at the 180 degrees view of the landscape. The rolling hills, the jagged terrains, and the bustling community.

"Wow indeed!" I utter.

After taking some photos, we head back to the mansion by the car waiting for us.

"Go and change before you get sick!" I tell them as I go to my room. I take a shower and get ready for dinner.

After the scrumptious dinner, I go straight to my study room and do some paper works.

Knock.

"Come in!"

"Busy?" Jason asks.

"Not really? What brings you here?"

"Nothing! I just want to give you this," he says while handing me a glass of orange juice. I chuckle.

"Just put it there!" I reply, pointing at the table. He puts it. Then, he sits on the sofa.

"I heard that you went to the Devil's pool?" he asks.

"Yeah!" I reply.

"And you didn't invite me. Thanks, sister!"

I just smile at his childish reaction.

"I heard that you'll sleep at the penthouse tonight," he asks.

I nod.

"I have to fix the school's documents in father's locker for the renewal of the business permit tomorrow," I reply.

He just shrugs his shoulders, seemingly uninterested.

We chat for a little while before he bids goodnight.

As I get up, I notice the glass of juice. I just shrug, drink, and get out.

I start the engine when I feel dizzy--- my sight turns blur. Then, before blacking out, I see a person' s silhouette.