"HEAR YE! HERE YE! THE EVENT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR, THE OPENING OF LETTERS FOR THE CHOSEN PERSONAL ASSISTANT OF THE PRINCE!" All I can here was claps and cheers.
Napakaraming tao at halos mapuno na ang bailey. Nasa harapan namin ang kastilyo at napakalaki nito. It looks sturdy. Hindi katulad mo, marupok.
"PRESENTING, YOUR MAJESTIES!" Trumpets and drums owned the whole kingdom as the majesties showed themselves.
When the music stopped, all of us bowed and no one was making any sound. I slightly tilted my head to lay my eyes on the Royals. I only saw the king and queen. Where's the prince?
"YOU MAY ALL RISE," The king's voice was deep. Hindi ko reach.
"THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND PARTICIPATING," the king started. "AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A LITTLE SITUATION HERE ON THR CASTLE THAT IS WHY A HELP IS NEEDED," anito at tumikhim. "ESPECIALLY TO OUR SON, PRINCE AIDEN."
"LET'S NOT WASTE ANY MORE TIME AND KET THE OPENING OF LETTERS BEGIN," kumalabog ang dibdib ko sa hindi ko mawaring dahilan.
Nagpalakpakan ang lahat at kitang-kita ang saya ng mga kababaihan. May mga nag-ayos ng kanilang suot at buhok maging ng kanilang mga alahas.
Kung titignan, karamihan sa mga kasamahan ko ay napakaganda ang mga kasuotan. Ako lamang ang may pinakasimpleng damit.
Nilingon ako ni Clara at ngumiti ito. "Here we go!"
Natawa na lamang ako sa ekspresyon nito.
"LADIES! YOU CAN NOW HOLD YOUR LETTERS! LETS COUNT TO THREE THEN OPEN IT ALL AT ONCE. "
I can't help myself but to feel anxious. Come on, Mary. You are just participating. I convinced myself.
"READY!" everyone was cheering and I can saw Castriel cheering us up.
"One!" I looked at the letter in my hand.
"Two!" I traced down the embroidered name.
"Three!"
"It's me! Oh it's me!" Napatingin ang lahat sa sumigaw. Nagtatatalon pa ito tila hindi makapaniwala.
It's Audra? I didn't even had the chance to open mine. What a rush.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Clara. "It's her?" Tanong nito sa akin.
"Hindi ko alam," sagot ko rito.
"See? I told it's me!" Sigaw nito. Ngunit ang kinagulat ko ay nang lumapit ito sa akin. "You really think you'd be chosen?" She laughed.
Hindi ako nagsalita. If she's already been chosen, why still react like this?
"Are you sure about that?" Nabalibg ang tingin ng lahat sa nagsalita.
Nanggaling ito sa lalaking nakasandal sa rampart ng kastilyo.
The guy was wearing a black silky cloak and a full mask.
WAIT. ISN'T THAT... THE GUY I BUMPED INTO THE OTHER DAY IN THE MARKET?
"What did you say?!" Audra exclaimed, she seems so annoyed.
The guy cleared his throat. "I said, are you sure that you're the chosen one?" His cold voice covered the whole castle and it brought shivers.
Everyone was silent even the royals above. Would they just let this pass?
"And who are you to address me?! I am the daughter––––––" Hindi na natapos ni Audra ang sasabihin ng magsalita ang lalaki.
"I don't care who you are," napasinghap ang lahat sa sinabi nito.
Maging si Audra ay hindi alam ang gagawin.
The guy took a few steps towards us and people made way for him.
He stopped between me and Clara.
I can feel the tension building inside the bailey. It's suffocating. What's with this guy?
"Read your letter out loud," he coldly muttered to Audra.
"W-What for? I already said I am the chosen one!" Fear. I can see fear in her eyes. Is she somehow... lying?
"I SAID READ IT OUT LOUD!" His voice echoed in the whole place and everyone gasp.
Audra stayed silent.
"Should I read it for you?" The guy said and grabbed the letter from Audra's hand.
"Lady Audra," panimula nito. "Thank you for giving your full participation in this event. We are sorry to say that you weren't chosen for the place as the Prince's Assistant. Have a nice day, Mi'lady."
Mumbling was the only thing I could hear after hearing the letter.
Audra looked down. Tears were visible in her cheeks. God, I feel bad for her.
I was about to approach her when the guy looked my way.
"You." That single word was like a lighting. It hit different.
"Open your letter." He said with a low voice. "Among them, you're the only one who didn't open it." Natigilan ako. How does he know that?! There's a lot of ladies down here! Is he a spy or something?!
"U-Uh I ahm–––" I stared at my letter and I feel like all eyes are at me.
Clara stood beside me. "Open it, go on," she smiled.
Hesitant at first, I gently opened the letter.
"CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE THE LUCKY YOUNG MAIDEN TO SERVE FOR THE PRINCE! IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU AS ONE OF US, LADY MARY!"
Impossible.