Chapter 17

Chapter 17 When I got off the palanquin carriage I was riding in there were so many people in the royal palace. There are also officials and royalties from the palace and various kingdoms. They're sitting along the wide and big staircases where they are layered based on their status. Of course, the King and Queen are sitting on the highest spot. Slowly and elegantly I walked up a few steps of stairs where there were guests who were just staring at me. Pim just supported me and he told me something. "Imperial Noble Consort Ling, can you see the woman on your right near the queen's seat, she's been staring at you badly before." He whispered to me. "Pim, maybe he just looked like that, let it go." "If I only had the power I would really pull out his eyes!" He annoyed me so much that I grinned but I immediately stopped him and became serious again because they were all just looking at me. When I reached my throne where it was just one step below the seat of the king and queen I first greeted them with a bow. After I bowed I sat down. When I sat down, I caught a glimpse of the woman Pim was referring to, she was just staring at me. From his appearance and attire I knew he was a nobleman. We are of the same lane and level. If I am on the left side of the king, he is on the right side of the queen, so we will be honest with each other. "What's the problem with this gay man with me, does he want me to snatch his eyes from Pim ?!" I just sarcastically whispered to myself before I arranged to sit down. I glanced at Argus and he smiled at me while the queen just had a serious face turning to the gate of the palace in front of us where the arrival of Prince Ri was announced. "TRIBUTE TO THE RETURNING PRINCE OF MAINLAND PALACE, THE DEAR PRINCE RI OF THE EAST-WING PALACE! BIGAY PUGAY !!! " This was the loud announcement of the chief speaker of the palace at the same time that everyone stood up, even the king and queen, so I stood up before applauding because the carriage that Prince Ri was riding in had already entered the gate. Even before he reached us the palace guards who were lifting his carriage to lower him had stopped and I was startled by the bulk of the man rising from the palanquin carriage.M-Marro ?!" It was as if I had seen a ghost in what I had seen. I blinked again and again before I looked at Marro again. what are you doing here Marro ah I mean how did this happen! Why is destiny such a joke, why in the world are you still missing Argus' brother ?! A-no when I do it now! Should I run? Alas, not Sab, just stay on your post and don't make it public. You're done so you shouldn't be startled. Relax Sabina okay! Relax! I sigh comforting myself. That's why I was surprised again and my eyes widened even more because he happened to glance where I was. Gradually the smile faded from his face as he nodded at me. Even though we are far away from each other I know he still knows me and even if I look really different now with my clothes and with all the accessories from my head to toe. I can see him whispered my name in his surprised through his lips. I know, he just said 'Sabina' and so I with his name. Imperial Consort Ling, is what I heard correct, you mentioned maro, are you dreaming again?" Pim looked at me weakly and bowed slightly. ah Pim, w-that's all." I promised him recklessly while still staring at Marro who had earlier stopped walking up the stairs where the former king was waiting and the one who would appoint him as the Chief General of the armed forces of the empire as he had asked Argus. It's obvious that people because of his stop while just staring at me so I averted my eyes. I bowed slightly. He then continued to walk and tried to smile again at the people especially at his father and at Argus who then stood up and approached him to bless him after he was given the title of Emperial General Ri. Argus even gave him the empire badge as he is the new installed hand of the king. The celebration goes on so does the tension between us. We give and take glares at each other for the whole celebration even if we are far away from the seat because he is in the row of the former king and the former queen. After the public celebration with the palace people we had to enter the kingdom to celebrate as royalties for the sake of the long lost prince return. Pim and I were only able to follow Argus and the Queen as we entered the king's hall when I was stopped because someone suddenly grabbed my hand from behind. I immediately looked at that when I got startled. "M-Marro ?!" My voice stopped ejaculating as I stared intently into his eyes. I have to be strong and stay firm as much as I can so that I'll be able to survive this day. Sabina why? !!!" These were the words that came out of her mouth as her eyes dimmed. why ?!" Supposedly my response was indifference. P*tang*na! Sab, you know what I mean! Why on earth are you here being mistress ?! Why on earth did you choose a life like this ?! and why of all all men will you exchange me my brother yet ?! " He ejaculated softly but firmly and his grip on my hand tightened even more. "Marro … or should I say Prince Ri-- I'm sorry but I have to leave." I just coldly promised and would have turned my back but I faced him again because he didn't want to let go of my hand. So what now Sab ?! You're going to pretend you don't know me ?! You're going to avoid me? Do you think it will be easy for yo--" "If that's what it takes for me to sustain the path I've decided to take then yes Marro! We're done so stop doing this!" I angrily promised but his eyes only dimmed. but Sab … how about me? How am I supposed to live my life like this? How can I possibly live my life happily if every single day I'll be sleeping in the night and I'll be waking up in the morning knowing that the woman I loved the most is my beloved brother's bedchamber! how Sat. ?! " He dramatized his ejaculation while holding back his tears when someone spoke behind me.My Consort, Prince Ri, what's going on here?" Argus asked curiously, just coming out from inside. Marro immediately let go of me when Argus looked at our hands. ah, dear king, I beg your pardon but Prince Ri and I were together so I thought of introducing myself to him and so did he. P-I'm sorry too because I forgot that I'm not allowed to be touched by anyone men except you and shook hands with your brother. Never again. " I explained calmly and politely to Argus because he was still looking at Marro and me's hands. Then I'm glad to know that you've met in person but that's okay because we have to go inside." He smiled before coming even closer to me before he took me by the arm and guided me inside. I just shot Marro from my shoulder who was just standing behind us.I was only slightly attached to Argus' arm as he escorted me in. Pim was just quiet while observing everything going around. The night Pim and I got home in the carriage, I was able to breathe well. "Imperial Consort Ling, don't you want to tell me anything about the events I witnessed earlier in the king's palace?" Pim's curious promise as he dressed me in my bedroom. "Pim, I'll tell you at the right time too. For now just shut up first and keep what you know in your will." "If that's what you want, Imperial Consort Ling. But you will always remember that even though I was your trustee for a short time, I have all my allegiance to you so you can tell me what you want to share." He made another serious promise before smiling. "Good then!" My short response before I tapped him lightly on the hand from my shoulder causing him to stop combing my hair and say goodbye. Rest well Emperial Noble Consort Ling." He promised and bowed before finally leaving my room. I just sat in my dresser for a long time while staring blankly in the mirror when I finally got up so that I could go to sleep when I was overwhelmed by shock. Marro ?!" I exclaimed as I gasped some air hardly. Marro is standing along the white curtains hanging on my wide open widows. He's just staring at me. Sabina …" He murmured as he walked towards me.W-what are you doing here?" Hold your breath I promise. please, let's talk." A-what ?! Marro we don't have anything to talk about anymore. You're not allowed to do this!" I kept my promise but he came even closer to me. I know it's forbidden but I couldn't contain myself. Sabina after what happened to us that night--"Marro stop! Don't even mention it again … Do you understand what happened wrong ?! Wrong !!!"No Sab, it was made by love and it will never be wrong. This Sabina, this is wrong! How can you leave me just to become a bed chamber? Kabit? Second wife? Mistress? Huh? !!! Sab naman, what do you think m-- " Enough Marro! Whatever my status or position is, this is what I chose! This is my life now and no matter what way I live it it's non of your business PRINCE RI! "I said it! "EMPERIAL NOBLE CONSORT LING! THAT IS MY NAME AND THAT'S HOW YOU SHOULD ADDRESS ME FROM NOW ON! IF YOU CAN'T RESPECT ME BEING AN EMPERIAL CONSORT, THEN ATLEAST RESPECT ME AS YOUR BROTHER'S WIFE!" I firmly and seriously cut him off. He just swallowed it and his tears kept dripping which he immediately wiped away. "Sabin--"EM-PE-RIAL NO-BLE CON-SORT LING !!! YOUR KING'S EMPERIAL CONSORT !!!" I chanted firmly and slowly so he was stunned. I'm-- I'm so sorry Sab, I think I-- I can't accept that right now …" he cried in response. It doesn't matter anymore if you accept it or not Marro. Our situation right now is not gray, it is obviously black and white. Both sides are clear and this is the side I've chosen and still choosing to live. Now it's up to you if you call my choice white or black, it doesn't matter anymore, after all, I'm your brother's wife and that concluded everything that we had. "But Sab- Now, as the Madame of this palace and as the Emperial Noble Consort of his King, I command you to get out of Green Hill Palace and never come back again unless it's an official business and you came here as Prince Ri or as the Emperial General Ri of the empire !!! " I asserted firmly pointing out my window where he entered earlier. He could not speak yet. He just stared at me for a few seconds before he wiped away the tears so I spoke again. "Get out!" I promised again and I turned away. After a while I felt his departure. Only then did I shed heavy and sorrowful tears and finally fall to the floor by the side of my bed. I cried and cried while embracing my knees as my face rubbed against them. "What are you going to do, how can I scar your face because of your wound and your knee. Another thing is if you can't walk properly because of your broken leg, maybe that dear king won't accept you. You are now twenty-one and destined to enter the king's palace. When that happens, your father may not be able to handle it anymore. " The voice of a woman was full of concern. The woman just cried at what she heard so we entered. I even think about what I heard.How are you?" This was my calm opening when they looked at me.E-Emperial Noble Consort Ling, y-you are." He stopped the tears and tried to get up to greet me but I stopped him. You don't have to get up, just lie down and rest. I am here to check on your situation. " I calmly promised before sitting on the side of the bed. He just cried harder than I said. T-thank you very much Emperial Consort Ling, I am very grateful that you are there to help me."Nothing ummm, what's your name?" Oh yes, I forgot, I'm sorry. I am Lady Lawana of the sewing department of the empire. " He responded so I was surprised, especially when I looked at the equipment they were carrying earlier."If you came from the seam, why did you come with you? That's far from the center. " I examined language before looking at his companion.Ah s-he's Ploy my assistant." I was even more surprised by what he said. As far as I know, they come from low -income families, how can you help them? He is a real majesty, but the former king offered him to me as a thank you to my father who was the former chief general of the war minister of the empire. He is old so he now only lives in the outer palace as an ordinary citizen of the empire. " He gave a long explanation. Then I'm sure you have a reason why you came to the center." "She's the real majesty, in fact we just arrived with my assistant here at the center and didn't have enough knowledge about it and --- and unfortunately we met a woman who was going to hurt me." "What is the reason he hurt you?" I asked curiously. I'm not sure but maybe he heard Ploy and I talking so he got angry and dragged me causing my leg to break and after that he hit me with his antique fan before slapping me." Her storytelling. And what are you talking about your steward that caused him to hurt you? Maybe it's an important thing or a bad thing so he did that to you when he didn't know you. " I asked her intriguingly but she stared into my eyes before casting spells. "I-I don't know. I-I should say this in front of the second wife of the dear king but it's about the remarriage of the dear king." He stuttered and limited his response so I was surprised and stunned.Remarriage?" I repeated when he could no longer answer and again I was surprised when I heard the announcement of the coming king from his spokesman. TO BE CONTINUED…