CHAPTER 43- DEVUNIAK II

LUNA VANESSA

I silently walk past through the corridors while watching the people doing their job. Light reached the half of the hallway and I feel it's warm embraced on my skin. My eyes wandered around. Fountains at the center, newly cut grass on the lawn, smelling the weeds were mixture with dying roots and twigs with soil.  Strong odors went straight to my nostrils. I past many rooms that were guarded with Eunuch.

Eunuchs were considered the most suitable guards for the many wives or concubines a ruler might have in his palace, and the eunuchs' confidential position in the harems of princes frequently enabled them to exercise an important influence over their royal masters and even to raise themselves to stations of great trust. The same like ladies-in-waiting job. they're inside taking care of the concubines to make sure they are fit to his Majesty. But who cares about them. We must find Vidiana fast.

I take a few glimpse on the light that brightened the world. I never get the chance to see the dawn. Since we're afraid to burnt alive. But now I can freely go out without fearing it. Day is not bad after all.

I went back to the maids chambers and saw Aldanard standing on the post, guarding the maids place, he  was assigned to secure woman inside since the rumors that there's a kidnapping of woman. It's been ten days since we've gone into Devuniak palace, these palace are loads with woman from a high class and the king has his four wives waiting for the birth of an heir. Two concubines are now carrying a child in their wombs.

I ignored him and put down the basket, a crisp of paper got my attention and I look back "Take this to the west hall Lady shen suffered a terrible illness the doctor prescribe this medicine, he wants you to nurse the lady while his checking with lady feng it was said that she's already in 3 trimester. I heard a gossip that almost woman died in this palace. Some say it's a curse, because even the newly born heir didn't survived hopefully lady feng will safely delivered her child"

"Curse? There's no such thing as curse Aldanard"

"Then how you explain those phenomenas?"

"I don't know, and I don't care!"

"You're an attendant of lady Han how come you.."

"Shut! I don't want deal with you or anybody around her" I growled under my breath and stared at him deep into his atoms down to his soul "We came here to get Vidiana not to be involved in such cases including the rumors of poisoning the heir!"

"Poisoning? You already know the caused. Funny for a woman who knows about medicine but doesn't wanted to lend a hand and help the people slowly dying on their bed, accepting their fate. Princess Esthelian would be furious.."

"Don't bring her highness into this!"

Few more weeks. the month of July is coming to end june. The harvest festival of Estheria is coming too soon. Wonder what her highness doing now on the east wing? I never doubted her for anything, even our first met I knew she is something, like a black stone and will turn into a shining diamond when polished from hardwork.

"The rumors spread on the palace that the ladies and concubines were suffered on the same illness, that is a curse no joke"

"I said I don't care! And it's not a curse. Siguro may nakain Sila o may ginagamit silang bagay na maaaring magpapababa ng kanilang buhay" I exclaimed and snatch the small box wrapped on a piece of white cloth. "Maybe I can help, a little" I said and left

"Be careful darling"

"Chee!"

"What's his deals with me, that man always pissed me.... Oppss" I almost flopped and a glimpse of memory came in an instant, it was the same day like this,

back then...

          Five days past, pa palit palit kami ng sinasadyang karwahe. Until Count Moreen help us and borrowed one of his uncle's carriage that was used to trade his sword to the capital. Luna Ziegler was the coahman together with Luna Crest. Emion is sitting on the roof, guarding. The carriages keeps rocking because of the unsteady ground and humps on the routes.

"Your highness have you thought about on how we enter the palace?"

"I've been overthinking those since day one but I had this one in mind to work on the palace"

"You mean act as a maid?"

"That's the only thing I had in mind, if you had other suggestions just say it maybe it's way better but Devuniak ruled by a King who has many mistresses and he has 4 concubines,struggling over the position to become his Queen, they must bare him a son as he always wanted"

"Four wives?" Sa pagka chismoso ni Emion sumilip pa ito sakin na nakabaliktad ang ulo.

"Am I hearing something because I literally heard four wives" he said, interested on the topic but I close the window.

       His darn womanizer. I can't understand why men can't handle their stupid lustful nature finding someone to replace the woman who love him dearly. Why can't they just love her, kesa maghanap na pwedeng ipagpalit no?

       Luna Quartz stroke her chin "So I act as a concubine now?"

"Gagi ano ka anak ng aristocrats? To be part as lady of the court and became the king's concubines you must be born loyalty, gets! And pwede rin Naman tayong pumasok na courtesan, pero wag masisira Ang buhay natin" she said and I  gave her a look of bakit Naman?  "Lend me your ears" may binulong siya sakin na kinamula ng mukha ko

       I turn pale while Luna Quartz was overwhelmed with excite. I must tell her now. "Pagka alam ko masarap ang pagkain ng mga concubines kase alagang alaga sila. What do you think your highness?" Luna Quartz suggestions, bored her highness May binulong naman siya at  Ngayon pareho na kaming tulala. She's shivering out of control and wants to barf "Terrible!"

"We have no chance but to enter the palace and become a servant, I heard back then, rumors spread in the palace. About five babies dies during childbirth and about 4 courtesans died on the same illness! And also laborers"

"Oh my that sounds like a curse" Xylldor reacted "Why would the king didn't act to this situation?"

       Her highness shrugged "I heard that he summoned the great  doctors to cure the people yet few ot em survived"

       Her highness sure are observant to everything. Devuniak is far from Estheria and yet the gossip spread fast across the sea and reach her "You knew anything about Devuniak?"

"Of course, that's my stepmother's childbirth place. She has a twin brother but he died on the age of seventeen because of malaria and same things happen the deseased spread like became a curse to Devuniak, My step mother was sent away from her home to protect her, she stayed on the manor with my mother who volunteered to sent medicines and doctors to Devinuak. But skip to that, his father married to a concubine, he has seven of them on a different places in the palace. His half brother ascend the throne. His name was King Shion Woo. He visited each room.. Which he amph...."

"Wow night by night he's having a party" Aldanard scratches his temple with a smirk "literally a man's dream isn't Emion" he knock on the roof of the carriage and Emion replied that made me shudder. They are perverted man!

      If  Ugana men and Remana joined as one the Moonsune will not be safe for virgins anymore.

"So what's your plan your highness" Count Moreen asked

"We must find job around town and find a way to be hired and work as maid in the palace. If we're lucky enough. The harvest festival will be celebrated in two weeks, we need to hurry"

"Why?" They asked together

"Because harvest festival ...." She tilt her head and her forehead drawn a line "Should I be worried?"

"About what?"

"Nothing, but after we finished this our next mission is Estheria, my home" she look outside the window and took a glimpse and my eyes burnt. The Ugana wasn't aware and I even step my feet and let them see how sensitive we are on the sunlight. I had no choice but to signed a contract with her highness.

       We arrived on the capital of Devuniak and woman dressed are different from ours. I've been around in about 5 kingdom but I never had that in mind to come here, and yet I'm here now, red lanterns were hanging above our heads and funny looking structures and statues are displayed in the towns streets. The women's and men turn their eyes to us and I thought going to that palace is easy but it turns out andito palang ako kinakabahan na ako. I saw those judgements eyes on how they look at us from head to toe.

       I saw a woman with a beautiful robe past us with her fan. She went into a large hall together with the two woman carrying her stuff. Naglalakad lang kami sa town Hanggang sa huminto ang mahal na prinsesa at tuminghala  sa nakasulat sa taas ng pinto.

        I squinted my eyes to the writings. What the hell is that words. Count Moreen pat my shoulder and went to her highness

"Can you read?" Xylldor asked princess Esthelian and she nodded her head. She's linguistic too! How lucky! She ascend the staircase and called us to follow her.  The man stop them but Count payed him a large amount of money and he let us enter the building.

       As we enter I was stunned to see such beautiful fabrics. The robes are made out of fine silk.

"This is hanfu, find something to wear we can't just walked around with our clothes"

"Hanfu?"

"Yup hanfu, this is worn by Devuniak My step mother always wore this every holidays and the people on the court didn't mind because she always leave them stunned by her unique fashion.

       Naglibot libot lang kami at may napili agad Ako. I was fund of Sangria. This robes matches my mood. Other payed the cashier and wore their hanfu. I wore it fast and I never been so satisfied because the silk was smooth to my skin. It's like the silk we used back on Zendalia.

       We bought some spare hanfu, and exploit the town. Many kiosks in the streets and men carrying baskets full of fresh harvest vegetables. I smell something luscious andheard my stomach belch.

"Hungry? Let's eat first" her highest invited us and Luna Crest payed the bills. He has moneybut he never even payed his debt on Remana.

       I never been amused to see her highness in hanfu, she looks more likely to be a Goddess when wearing one. Those jewels on her hairs did plays an important role.

       Something caught my attention and someone walk down the stairs." By the judgement how he dress, his like someone who works inside the castle" Her highness whispered. "Perfect timing" she lively said with a smirk and jumped on the man and after I could react, something fell on the floor, it's a vase!

"Move wench!!" One man pull her away  "Your highness are you alright...".

       The old man stop when the man started to look for Esthelian.

After those incidence the man payed us with a large amount of money. And wants to meet her tomorrow. And she took the opportunity. We found out that the man was actually an assistant of his Majesty the king. Medyo nakakatuwa kase may dala dala kaming gold sa box at may matutulugan din kami.

      Aside from that Luna Crest secretly pushing himself to be calm, by smiling. Even Esthelian couldn't see it but I can feel his silent. In his smile, he wants to attempt murder.

        And I'm afraid that day came. That man invited Esthelian to eat with him, beside the pond. A spot were payed only for VIP. I pour a tea and took a sip while my attention is on her highness and she looks so happy. Ano kaya Ang pinagsasabi nila.

"I'll be on the next table"

"Same here"

"Me too"

       Pinigilan kolang ang pagtaas ng balahibo ko. Nasa harap ko si Luna Crest na kagabi pang sabog at hindi maalis alis ang tingin sa prinsesa. His secretly possessive over her. Even his eyes wants to satisfy her alone. The cup crashed on his grip and that made me flinched.

      The waiter was shocked but the Count save us and payed the damage cup. I never thought that cup is so expensive.

       Nang matapos na kami naglibot libot Naman kami sa capital, Kasama yung lalake and his name was Tai feng. Natawa ako nung nalaman ko iyon pero di pwede. Baka mawala pa yung ulo ko. He was so happy to meet princess Esthelian and even hired her to work with him and he'll come back tomorrow to get her. He left immediately.

"Finally!" She said and turn her face to us "Count Moreen stay here with Xylldor"

"Why?"

"If ever makakalabas na kami may sundo na kami agad sa labas"

"Oww, sure you can count on us" he said with a cute salute. Everyone is excited. I misjudged her too much and yet the realization hits me. Shes special indeed. That's was sister Syrinx told me and the Empress agreed. I remember that she's that type of a princess who never leave the castle grounds.  She rarely show her face to the public. She's always hiding behind the king. But now those rumors are bullshits. I love this princess not from the gossips that ruins her image.