"Ay kabayo!" Natakpan ko ang bibig nang mapasigaw sa gulat.
I heard someone chuckled and it came from the guy holding a wine.
Did I hear it right? Caspian chuckled?!
"Apologies, your majesty," I immediately bowed to Prince Aiden.
Narinig kong tumawa ito. "It seems like you were fascinated by this place?" Tanong nito at sinenyasan akong maupo.
Sunod naman ako dito at umupo. "Yes, your majesty. I've never been in a place like this so I'm a bit surprised," I looked down. Unang trabaho to, Mary. Huwag ka naman lutang, maawa ka.
"I see, well you should get ready then," the prince muttered. "Because, you still have a long way ahead of you." My heart skipped a bit for an unknown reason. That was deep for me.
"Sorry I kept you waiting, your majesty," Mr. Dane said coming from another room. Ngayon ay may dala na itong alak, nilapag niya ito sa gitna ng lamesa kung saan nasa harapan namin. Dali-dali namang umupo si Caspian sa isa pang upuan.
"No sweat, Mr. Dane," Prince Aiden replied. "So these two are the new products?" Tanong nito at tinignan ang label ng bawat isa.
"Yes, your majesty," sagot naman ni Mr. Dane. "The light one has a white cap while the dark one has the black," kumuha it ng tatlong wine glass at nilapag sa mesa.
Caspian opened the one with white cap and poured it to the Prince's glass. Nagsalin din ito sa kanyang baso saka iniabot sa akin ang alak.
"Pati ako?" I innocently asked.
"For the reviews," Caspian replied before taking a sip.
Napalunok naman ako. Sa totoo lang ay kanina pa ako nauuhaw. Gusto ko din namang tikman ang alak Kaya nagsalin ako sa aking baso at uminom.
"What do you think, your majesty?" Tanong ni Mr. Dane sa prinsipe.
"It's delicious," saad nito at muling lumagok. "Perfect for simple occasions at the palace."
Napangiti naman si Mr. Dane. "I'm glad you liked it, your majesty!"
It's true, napakasarap nito. Hindi gaanong matabang at saktong-sakto lang ang tamis. I admit, this is the most tasty drink I've ever drank.
Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Caspian. Ubos na nito ang alak na sinalin sa baso niya.
"Quit staring," napaiwas ako ng tingin nang magsalita ito.
"Who said I was staring?"
"I didn't say it was you."
If I could only punch a right hand of a prince right now, I would gladly do it without any hesitation.
Inirapan ko nalang ito at ibinaling ang tingin sa prinsipe. He is now trying the dark wine.
"Oh, this one's tough," saad nito. "Lahat ay masarap."
"Well your majesty, you can bring these two if you want to. You don't need to choose," Mr. Dane said. How considerate. "You could even bring whatever drink you want!"
"Are you sure about that, Mr. Dane?" Agad na tanong ng prinsipe dito.
"Well, of course your majesty!"
Hapon na nang makabalik kami sa palasyo at hindi lang dalawang alak ang pinadala sa'min kung hindi isang karton. Hindi naman siguro siya mahilig sa alak no? A carriage for delivery came with us to make sure the beverages are safe and sound.
Naiwan ako sa kusina para ibigay kay Lady Iona ang mga alak. "Saan kaya siya nagpunta?" Tanong ko sa sarili dahil halos labin-limang minuto na ako naghihintay sa kanya.
Si Caspian at ang prinsipe naman ay pinatawag ng hari, kung anong dahilan? Hindi ko alam.
"Lady Mary!"
"Lady Iona!" Sa wakas nandito na siya. "I was waiting for you!"
"My apologies, I had to check out the music hall," saka ko lang napansin na pawisan ito at tila hinihingal. Napaisip din ako, hindi ko pa pala napupuntahan ang music hall. Sa laki ba naman ng palasyong to.
"I see that you really work hard Lady Iona," I told her while handing her beverages. Nakapatong ito ngayon sa upuan at isinasalansan any mga inumin habang ako ang taga-abot nito.
Mahina itong tumawa. "As the keeper, I should be responsible for my duties," panimulang saad nito. "You see, it's hard to keep things in balance."
Napatango naman ako sa sinabi niya at patuloy na nag-abot ng bote ng inumin sa isang malaking aparador sa loob ng larder. Nang matapos isalansan lahat ay bumaba na ito sa upuan at nagpagpag.
"Siya nga pala kumain ka na ba ng pananghalian? Hindi ba't kararating niyo lang ng prinsipe rito?" Tanong ni Lady Iona.
Naramdaman ko namang kumalam ang sikmura ko. "Well, I haven't eaten yet, I was waiting for you actually."
"Oh dear, I'm sorry. Come with me," sumunod ako kay Lady Iona at tama nga ang hula ko. We're going to the dirty kitchen. Naabutan namin si Lady Lizzie na nagluluto ng pananghalian, I bet those are for the maids as well as other workers in the palace. Napansin ko din na may kasama itong dalawang babae at isang lalaki.
"Lady Lizzie! Lady Iona's here!" A lady in curly blonde hair yelled while wiping the table.
Napalingon naman sa amin ang dalawa nitong kasama na nagpupunas ng mga plato at baso.
"Lady Iona, Lady Mary, what brings you here?" Lumapit sa amin si Lady Lizzie.
"It's past one in the afternoon already Lady Lizzie, are you not done cooking yet?" Lady Iona asked.
"This is the last recipe Lady Iona, also the majesties already ate," Lady Lizzie replied and continued stirring the food in the pot.
"Alright then, I'll just let you take care of Lady Mary here, since I have so many things to do!"
I thanked her and sat down on one of the seats in the kitchen.
"Greetings! I'm Fern!" Muntik na akong mahulog sa kinauupuan ko nang magsalita ang lalaking kasama nila Lady Lizzie. "Oopsy, was I loud?"
Umiling ako at ngumiti. "No, I was just surprised. It's nice to meet you, I'm Mary," I said and we both shake hands.
"Good day Lady Mary, I am Diana and this is my sister Liana," said the blonde hair ladies.
"Hello ladies, I really love your hairs!" I saw how they smiled after I said that.
"Well, thank you. Let's eat together shall we?" Liana and Diana took the last food from Lady Lizzie and then Fern and I brought the other food.
Nasa likuran ko si Lady Lizzie nang magsalita ito. "I'm hoping you'll get along with everyone, Lady Mary," panimula nito. "Because if you don't, just call me and I'll put them in a pot." I laughed at what she said.
"Or I could roast them, you choose," She then winked at me.
"Thank you for being so kind with me Lady Lizzie," I breathed. 
"It's the least thing I could do, Lady Mary," she smiled. "Now let's eat!
The whole afternoon went so smooth. I had fun eating with them. It didn't take that long for us to get along. Hindi na ako pinatawag pa ng prinsipe kaya't tumulong na lang ako sa mga gawain sa kusina at paglilinis dahil wala rin naman akong gagawin.
Sumapit ang gabi at bilang na lamang ang natira sa palasyo. Habang naghahanda kami ng hapunan ay pinatawag ako ni Lady Iona.
"Bakit po, Lady Iona? May maitutulong po ba ako?" Agad na tanong ko nang makalapit ako sa kanya.
"Ah wala naman, Lady Mary. Nais ko lang sanang ibigay ito sa'yo," saad niya at iniabot sa akin ang isang basket na puno ng tinapay.
"Para sa akin po ba ito?" Tanong ko sa kanya at tumango naman ito.
"Ipinaaabot ng matalik mong kaibigan," panimula nito. "Iyong anak ni Mr.Chris."
"Si Castriel po?"
"Oo. Pinapasabi rin niya na hindi ka muna daw niya mabibisita dahil tinutulungan niya ang tatay niya."
Napatango-tango naman ako. Castriel never forgets about me. Napangiti ako.
"You can bring it to your room now.  Bumaba ka na lamang para kumain, make it fast, okay?" Sambit nito bago pumasok sa dining hall.
Umakyat ako papunta sa aking silid at ipinatong ang basket ng tinapay sa table bago naupo sa gilid ng kama. Nakakapanibago. Everything happened so fast. Tila panaginip lang lahat ng ito. Naguguluhan pa rin ako kung paanong ako ang napili, sa dinami-rami ng babae sa kahariang ito.
I miss Clara and Castriel already. Hindi ako sana'y na hindi sila nakikita bago ako matulog. Hays.
Nang makabawi sa pag-iisip ay tumayo ako at lumapit sa salamin. Inayos ko ang aking damit pati na rin ang mahaba kong buhok. "Masasanay ka rin, Mary," I cheered myself up.
"Just don't make mistakes and we're good! Iwas-iwasan na na'tin ang pagkalutang!" Bumuntong-hininga ako.
Paalis na sana ako nang makarinig ako ng kalabog. Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan nito. It came from the secret doorway.
With a beating heart I slowly reached out to the corner of the bookshelf when someone grabbed my hand.
He was staring at me intensely, with no emotions written on his face. I can no longer see nor feel his light aura the way I did before. I feel like I was talking to a different person.
Just then, his emotionless face turned into a playful one. "What are you planning to do, Lady Mary?" He playfully asked me while his lips formed a smirk.
"Prince Aiden..."