The captain did his duty to stay by the Duchess' side. He watched as she stood by the window that overlooked the majestic body of water. His mistress enjoyed the sunshine that fell down on her,
How could such lively flower bloom in this lonely palace life? How could such a pure soul continue to thrive in this twisted palace court?
Her delicate hands touched the piano. The lieutenant closed his eyes as the sweet melody of the piano engulfed his ears. Lessons were conducted for the duchess' etiquette.
"Maari bang ika'y mahiram muna, Kapitan? Nag eensayo ang dukesa sa pagsasayaw, kung mamarapatin ay ikaw ang magiging kapareha niya?" the court lady asks.
He could not disagree with such a request.
"Maari bang ikaw ay isayaw, Binibini?" he asks.
He was already well versed in waltz and needed not to be told by the court lady on what to do. She reservedly gave her hand to him.
He placed his right hand on her back and held her right hand delicately in his left hand. The music then engulfed the room they were in.
He softly guided her across the room with grace and caution. Their trance-like state was cut off when Anastasiya stepped on his foot.
"P-Patawad, ginoo." she pipped.
"Ayos lang, hindi naman masakit. Ikaw ay nag aaral pa kaya dapat mahaba ang pasensya ko sa inyo." The captain smiled.
They continued on, with Lukas leading her again. Her floor-length saya swished as he led her around. Anastasiya glanced up at him: the captain was lost in those eyes.
He made a bold move as he spun her around. It was a move she had not been taught yet. She momentarily lost balance as he accidentally let go of her hand.
She toppled over the floor.
The captain attempted to make his move but Alejandro beat him to it. Holding out his hand to Anastasiya, he stood his wife up.
"Bastaría con bailar por hoy (That would be enough dancing for today)." Alejandro tells the court lady curtly.
"Ayos lang po ba kayo?" Lukas said as he made his way towards her. "Patawarin mo ako kung nabitawan ko ang kamay nyo." He said.
"Ayos lang, Kapitan. Hindi ko rin kasi nakita ang daan." Anastasiya smiles.
"Andito naman ako, Lukas. Ako na ang bahala kay Anastasiya, maari mo na kaming iwan." Alejandro says as he took his wife's hand.
He was left standing in the ballroom. With his world, bleak and stark. With a heart that cannot flee with the loving smile of his mistress. The hopeless dream should vanish; a love so foolish that is bound to kill him.
----------
Anastasiya stared at her husband while he checked her ankle. She was in his study after he stole her away from her waltz practice.
"Are you sure you are okay? Mukhang masama bagsak mo kanina." Alejandro asked.
"Ayos lang ako, Alejandro. Wag kang mag alala, at hindi masyadong malala ang pagbagsak ko." Anastasiya said as she held his hand tenderly.
"Es mejor estar segura.(Its better to be sure.)" Alejandro said.
Satisfied with no damage, Alejandro sat down next to her. Looking into her eyes, he spoke:
"I'm sorry, kung may pagkukulang ako sa iyo-" Anastasiya cut him off.
Her brows furrowed as she sighed deeply.
"Why would you say sorry? Alejandro, alam ko namang mahal mo ang tungkulin mo. Wag mo akong alalahanin, kaya ko ang sarili ko." Anastasiya smiled.
The general just chuckled as he pulled her closer.
"May tanong pala ako," the duchess pipes up.
"Ask away, mi querido." he answers while reading the papers situated in the side table.
"Hindi naman sa nanghihimasok ako. Why does the royal family live in seclusion? Ibang iba ang mundo nyo dito sa palasyo, taliwas ito sa modernong mundo ng Maynila. Kayo ay mistulang..." Anastasiya trailed off.
"Naninirahan sa nakaraan?" Alejandro says bluntly. "The royal family values tradition kaya pag pumasok ka ng palasyo ay maibabalik sa nakaraan. We're going towards modernization, step by step." He explains.
Anastasiya remained silent.
"Ang pagpapahalaga ng kultura ay isa sa hangarin ng pamilyang ito. Dahil para sa soberanya, ang kultura ang kaluluwa ng isang nasyon. Ito ang siyang bumubuhay sa isang nasyon kaya pilit pa rin itong pinapahalagahan ng soberanya." He added. "May I ask what this regards to?" he whispers as he noticed Anastasiya's silence.
"Wala naman, sumagi lang iyon sa isipan ko at hindi ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong maitanong iyon. Sadyang medyo naninibago lang ako, ibang iba ito sa Amerika." she said her sentiments.
"I wont force you to conform to this society." he quickly replies to her and cupped her face. "Hindi kita pipilitin na gawin ang bagay na hindi mo gusto. Just tell me, Stasiya: kung nahihirapan ka sa mga etiquette lessons which I deemed unnecesarry. I can get rid of those lessons."
"Ikaw talaga, purket natumba lang ako kanina. Kontra ka ng kontra, mas maawa ka kay Kapitan Ibarra. I stepped on his foot countless times." Anastasiya said as she rolled her eyes.
"Believe me, mi querido. He endured something more than you stepping on his foot." He leaned closer. "I believe, may request sa atin si Papa."
"Hindi ba dapat nasa opisina ka?"she questions as his lips came in contact with her jaw. "Alejandro!Balik sa opisina,now na." she said as she gave him a murderous look.
He scrambled towards the door but gave her a kiss on the cheek before he left.
------------
"Pugay 'may!" the captain of the royal guards saluted as the royal family stepped out of the car and headed to the Batasang Pambansa. The fourth Monday of July was one of the occurrences that the royal family is seen in public.
The emperor was to deliver the state of the nation address. It was to take place at the Plenary Session Hall with members of the court and to be broadcasted on national TV.
Unfortunately, a long event was a recipe for disaster for children. Maria Beatriz tugged on the skirts of her mother. Maria Contessina's gaze reverted to the youngest member of the royal family.
"¿Qué es?(What is it?)"Maria Contessina asks.
"Kelan ito matatapos?Gusto ko nang umuwi, Este vestido me pica(This dress is itchy.)" Maria Beatriz complained.
Carlos who was by his wife's side tore his gaze away from his father's speech and his whole attention was on his youngest.
"Nagbibigay pa ng talumpati ang inyong lolo, Beatriz. Maaring hintayin mo na lang na matapos ang lolo." Carlos said with a soft voice.
Maria Beatrix retreated and returned to her seat. But it was far from over, Maria Beatriz returned again. This time with a sour expression on her angelic features.
"Quiero el ipad(I want the iPad.)" Maria Beatriz says.
"Saan naman tayo kukuha ng iPad?"Maria Contessina said with indifference. "Hindi pwede."
"Papa..." Maria Beatriz looked at Carlos for pity. Her big brown eyes were filled with tears that threatened to fall.
Carlos avoided her gaze. Her angelic face crumpled into wail as she collapsed to the floor.
"Maria Beatriz! Maghunos dili ka!" Maria Contessina said with a raised voice.
"WAHHHHH!!QUIERO EL IPAD!" The youngest princess wailed.
The state of the nation address continued on, but with a few people turning heads and a few flicks of the camera. It was definitely not the image that the royal family wanted to be seen in.
"Tumayo ka diyan!" Maria Contessina tried to keep her cool as tension filled the air of the box where the royal family is designated in.
"Ayaw! Asan na yung iPad!" the youngest cried as big fat tears streamed down her face.
Anastasiya came into the rescue and enveloped Maria Beatriz in her arms. Trying to soothe the young princess, Anastasiya spoke in low tones.
"Shhhh... Wag ka nang umiyak, pahihiramin kita mamaya. Punasan mo na luha mo."Anastasiya said as the youngest's wails turned to sniffles.
Maria Contessina stood up and left the hall. Carlos attempted to follow her.
"Ako nang bahala kay Maria Beatriz, sundan mo na lang si Ate Contessina." Anastasiya says as the youngest nestled in her arms.
"Huwag siyang umasta na siya ang nanay ko. ¡Ella nunca fue mi madre! (She was never my mother!)" Maria Aleta grumbles.
It was spoken in such a low tone but Anastasiya managed to hear it.
"Mahal na emperatis." Anastasiya started. "Mas mabuting iuwi ko na ang mga bata," she suggests.
"Sige mas mabuti nga." Empress Evelina. "Sumama na kayo sa Tita Anastasiya nyo."
"Dito na lang po kame, sa inyo na lang po ako sasabay." Maria Aleta says.
----------
Carlos ran after Maria Contessina. It was raining heavily that night, the foggy atmosphere did not help either as he frantically searched for her.
Rain burst throughout the night sky, like a thousand aquatic stars. He found her in the middle, drenched in rainwater. He walked towards her and held her hand. That is how he is with her,
Out in the rain.
"Contessa..." he called softly.
"Kaunting respeto." Maria Contessina faces him lividly. "Yun lang naman hinihingi ko."
Tears fell from her face and she did not wipe it. Rainwater and tears cascaded down her porcelain cheeks.
"Hindi ako katulad niya. In what way do you want me to be her?" She asks and Carlos shook his head.
"Hindi." He said placidly. "Ginagalang ko kung paano mo disiplinahin ang mga bata, ngunit bigyan mo naman sila ng kaunting pagmamahal."
Maria Contessina stared at him, he could not read the expression she withheld.
"Tanggap kong hindi ako si Maria Contessina. Ako si Victorina, at kailanman ay hindi magiging si Maria Contessina." she said with conviction.
"Patawarin mo ako, pero hiram lang and katauhan ni Maria Contessina. Ano pati ba ugali gusto mo mag panggap ako?"he cut her off by claiming her lips in the middle of the raging rain.
Pretenses and grudges forgotten, Maria Contessina knew that words that he fell for were nothing. He ran his hands on her back as he dared not to break the kiss. He stared at her deceiving eyes, with lust enveloping the both. Was it a bitter mistake?
Every dead end that leads her back to him. Was it the heart who falls for the deceiving brain?
"Umuwi na tayo." He whispers.
She wondered how long will this last? How long will he fall for her deceiving eyes?
-------------
Anastasiya caressed a sleeping Maria Beatriz as she was assisted by Alejandro to go down the kalesa. He opened the door for her and she headed towards the guestroom. Silence engulfed the newlywed as Anastasiya tended to the sleeping infanta.
"May hindi ba ako alam sa pamilyang ito?" she asks.
"Huh? Anastasiya..." Alejandro stalls the conversation, knowing where this would end up.
"Don't bother lying, Alejandro. What is it with Maria Contessina?" Anastasiya asks.
"She's dead." Alejandro said.
His voice echoed around the guest bedroom, it took Anastasiya quite some time to Anastasiya looked at him, appalled at what he said. Her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Edi sino yung nasa- Heaven forbid, sino yung kausap ni Carlos?" she asks. Being conscious of raising her voice that it might waken the youngest infanta.
"An imposter," Alejandro says. "Alang naman hayaan nilang lumaki ng walang ina ang mga bata. The kids never really saw the real Maria Contessina. For some reason, she was locked up in one of the Casas. I never saw Maria Contessina without a black veil over her face. I don't know what she looks like." he remarked.
"Why didn't you tell me," her big doe-like eyes met her husband's gaze. "Kawawa naman si Beatriz, wala siyang ka-alam alam sa nangyari."
"Sana walang ibang makaalam tungkol dito, Stasiya." he said in low tone.
"You have my word," she said on the way out of the guest bedroom.
Laying down spooned into his arms, Anastasiya was deep in thought. She traced her index figure over his features while he slept. Everyone in the palace has their own skeletons in the closet. In order to hide those secrets, they all wear masks.
Do you have something to hide as well, Alejandro? Anastasiya thought before she drifted off to her slumber.