CHAPTER 57- FESTIVAL

A L E X

A piercing screamed their heart at the same time. Witnessing something dreadful that would end the population of Estheria. The workers almost burst into tears. They turn their back and blame the Earl for his undoing, this bombs are enough to collapse the entire city.

What is she thinking? She's gone mad for killing a large number of my people. That woman!

"How could do this to your own people! How could you!!" They bellowed but he just laughed, like he was possessed by some demons. His out of his mind. Laughing like some serial killers, satisfied with the looks of their prey cornered. I can tell his no mere human anymore. And he was just covering his identity with a mask.

"We need to removed this all at once. One by one" My heart is at race glancing the numbers of bombs inside, filling the place.

"I-it's impossible your highness" said the waitresses

"Take your pick, leave these here and let the Esther town will be vanished and buried to the ground together with your love ones" those words are enough for them to shut their demands " Or carry this out so we can save them, your friends, families, colleagues are up there, they're walking on the bomb! This is no time to loose let's drag them away"

"Your highness let me call the towns people to help us carrying this bombs away and report this to the Queen.."

"No, no one should know about these, there are many spies and traitor among us, if we do that, this bombs over here will be used against us. No one can help us even the prime minister. We'll be framed and there will be no exemption, worst we'll get executed for the crime we didn't commit, we must not alarmed the scouts and anyone, specially the people inside the castle"

"What are talking about are you suspecting your own family"

"Just listen to me, I'll answer them all, but we have no time to loose. Mahirap ipaliwanag pero I don't trust my stepmother, for now I want to know the truth but before that let take this thing away from here fast before the celebration we can't afford to waste more time"

"That's tomorrow your highness. This loads of explosion are impossible to be carried away, our numbers wouldn't make it over night while the scout are all over the place" the waiter said the beads of sweat had appeared on his forehead. His hands were trembling and couldn't take his eyes of the bomb, but I know he agreed.

The soldiers came and they bowed their heads before speaking "First tunnel your highness, leading to the Great hall"

"Second are in the king's study"

"Third or fourth are the tunnels near the river and other are outside the border of Estheria. This must be the reason that they sneak on this kingdom without the Marquise noticing"

"Seven your highnesses is a cell, I saw people inside" the soldier said

"The eighth are headquarters"

"Headquarters?" We all asked the same question.

"I saw a map of Estheria and this tunnels are their only way to sneak in, that's why we never find them. We already captured five of them" I waited and the drag men in front of me "These men are the lunarian" They are tied back to back. They are wearing a cloak and a mask covering their faces. I removed it and turn my face to the soldiers and pulled out the scabbard , drawing the blade to the criminals and they remain nonchalant.

"You have mistaken, these people are no mere lunarian, these are the people who was under the commands of other aristocrats" I said and shifted my gaze to the Eal and he turn his gaze away "Diba Earl Grey kuran or should I say clone!"

"You are believing her? You people are crazy, she's the one who put this bombs here and put the blame on us...."

"Will thy hastily shut one's loquacious mouth! Thus you as a discrete individual show such atrocious behavior in everyday actions!" I bellowed and when he chuckles I shut him with a slap.

"Ouch ..." I saw the others feel sorry for him

"Lead me to the cell now!" I said. they walked me there and saw the people inside. Not just any beggars or commoners those people are the aristocrats. They ran and shake the cell, screaming, begging for us. I took the torches and move it to see their faces. "Your highness your alive!!"

"Your highness save us.."

"Your highness..." Sigaw nilang paulit ulit sakin. I saw familiar faces behind the bars and I sighed in relief. And I turned my face to the Earl with a satisfying smile of success.

"Even if you save these aristocrats you'll be late to save the ..." His head fell on the floor. Spurting bloods scattering, like red wine spilled. Eyes were shocked and didn't expected it. But before they could react his body vaporized and disappeared living a strand of hair glowing in the dark. Narinig ko naman ang pagkataranta ng ibang kasamahan niya. The workers are traumatized and hid behind but still wanna see the situations.

Even the prince himself was shocked to see his fiance murdered someone. I'm tapping the tip of the blade and the blood slowly drop to the floor.

The fake lunarian were terrified but they just chuckles to cover their fears.

"Aww you thought you could just messed around with me, Any last words from any of you?" The other one spits on me and shouted at my face, Inavie almost hit him but I want to feel the moment and confronted the one who spits on me and wipe his saliva on my cheeks. He cursed me and I almost barf " Your breath stinks, eww"

I slashed him in half and slice them easily like I'm just cutting a raw tuna.

Nakita ko naman ang iba na inaamoy ang hininga nila kasama na duon si Inavie. The body slowly  vaporizes and one of the soldier picked the strands of hair and they were puzzled when the blood became purified.

"What in the world?" They all gasped "

"I need some answers now" I heard them but no one came to me and they smell their breath first.

"Those aren't human but a mere clone. Ginagamit nila ang buhok ng mga tao upang magbalat-kayo. This is a work of a witchcraft and that certain person are living in the castle, and you know who I'm referring to" I said. Parang nakilala nila sino ang tinutukoy ko.

"The scouts are patrolling. If I told them about the bomb, it'll cause a massive shock and panic to my people let's just slowly move them away bago tayo maunahan ng mga kalaban"

"Count Moreen recruit my soldier. And lead those explosion out of the capital. We must hid them and away from any casualties, this bombs can be used as the evidences before my queen ascend the throne"

"Inavie naman, I'm still not a queen"

"Soon" he said and just kiss my forehead "Let's get to work" he whistled, him and his men lifted the bombs away. I tried to help and I pulled up my sleeves and I began to lift it. That moment I realized that it's better for me to volunteered raising the lantern to deal with the darkness than be a nuisance.

Whatta rip off! This bloody hands are way to weak to carry that bomb. Kung tingnan lang parang hindi mabigat pero nung binuhat ko gagu parang 30 kilos. Medyo natagalan pero laking tuwa ko ng parami na nang parami na ang pumasok na kawal ang tumutulong sa pagbubuhat.

Hanggang sa napanatag akong Wala na ni Isang explosive sa paligid at pinacheck ko pa ang ibang tunnel. The moon still on its highest peak and yet we manage to send it away.

"The captived are now released" said the other soldier and I saw the familiar faces of the prisoner and he bowed his head. The other aristocrats we're over the moon to find out that their princess is alive and return home. The workers of the tavern were puzzled and confronted the man, rug clothes and dirty face, they poked him

"Earl grey? Is that you? but we saw you die"

"I died? I've been on this cell since her highness Esthelian is 14 old"

"Oh my goodness.. "

"So tell me your highness that Earl grey earlier is not him but a clone? That witch"

"That woman has to go!" The old couple curse the person who did such crime.

"But there are no witchcraft anymore it was almost a centuries past, the people burned them alive" said the bartender

"Ano sa tingin mo ang nangyayari ngayon?" Manahan kong tanong at hindi na sila sumagot "You see, all of you here have your own clone, not you" turo ko sa mga nagtatrabaho sa tavern " You aristocrats are been clone, and those copies of you are the ones who is now running the kingdom and the innocent people were driven out, many of my people will be starved to death. I can't afford loosing lives, I'm gonna end it here... Teka lahat ba kayo andito ay sabay sabay na kinulong?"

"No your highness, The chancellor is the last one to be here" the walked sideway and he can't even make an eye contacts with me. Maybe because he failed to protect and maintain the balance and peace of my kingdom.

"We need to get outta here" I said and Inavie agreed to help my people in settling a temporary camp with guards protecting them. A meadow near my kingdom, the space is enough for everyone. I can let them stay on the chateau of the Viscountess. Baka mas magkagulo pa.

Huli na akong lumabas kasama ang chancellor. We ascended the stair and someone lend a hand and it was luna crest. And haul me up effortlessly. Anxious was written all over his face yet he covered them with a smile and wipe my face.

"Thankfully I called him to find you. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything.."

"You told Inavie to find me?"

"Yes" tipid nitong sabi. "Excuse me your highness.." he just leave then someone held my hand and lead me to a barn and saw the piled of bombs inside.

"The other explosive are already delivered Bel' air for safe keeping" I sighed in relief and embraced him. I'm panting and I can feel my hands. He pat me and that calms me down.

I finally released my arms and he wipes my face and pinched my cheeks "My beautiful Queen "

"Invaie I told you I'm still a princess"

"My queen " he solemnly said and kiss my forehead once again and then to the back of my hand. " I couldn't wait to marry my queen, Walking you on the aisle is my greatest fulfilment in life. But I can rushed you now, your kingdom needs your first" I've been pitted my future husband. I head a fading step behind the door but I drawn my attention to Inavie "Let's kick some criminals"

"Tomorrow will see their reactions if the explosive didn't work and they found out that the explosion are gone they'll be a laughingstock"

"I'll send soldiers to guard the tunnel"

"Inavie you're so kind I owed you my life"

"Anything for my queen and you don't need to owed me as long as your safe then I'll carried all the duty just to keep you away from threats and does my breath stink to you?"

Ayyy gagi....

I heard a metal clang whining of donkeys nearby. I peered behind the door and saw many soldiers coming, carrying the bombs to the wagon and move out. Lumabas nadin kami at nakita ko ang mga lunarian at masaya akong niyakap at kinikiss ang pisnge ko at iniwanan pa nila ako ng laway sa pisnge.

"Your highness you save us" masayang sabi ng lunarian.

"Not yet, di pa nila alam na alyansa ako ng Zendalia. I'll talked to them back to Bel' air after the celebration. I want to see my father and my sister too. I want Luna Crest to report to my ladies-in-waiting to ensure that my families are sister and if anything goes wrong they must flee, they're in danger.. oh nga pala saan so Luna crest?" I asked and they shrugged their shoulders. Saan na naman yun pumunta?

"Luna crest!! Luna crest!"