[SCENE II: OLIVIER GRIMALDI]
Believing that I've been having concussion or something, they called the Capital's Doctor. The twins left for some urgent meeting. What's left are the servants, the butler, the doctor and this flying man from before whom I don't even know the name yet.
However, it seems like the twins and the servants are used to his presence, they're not even shocked when he flew towards my direction earlier. Nangangati na dila ko para alamin kung anong klaseng tao si Cossete outside the script at kung anong klaseng ng mundo yung kinatatayuan ko. But first of all, this man.
I looked at him with my furrowed brows. "Who are you?" I directly asked him.
Just by looking at him, he seems like at the same age as the twins. Now that I see him in front of me clearly, without void and blurry lines, I can see that he's taller than the two. He had this blonde hair na mostly sa KPOP idols and foreigners ko lang makikita, a messy one, probably because he flew from a distance. His eyes are in oblique or slanted shape with hazel green pupils, an upturned nose with a long flicked lashes and a little freckles on his face.
Like for real? Wala bang panget sa mundong to? Siguro kung natransfer lang ako dito, with my original body, ako na yung pinakadugyot.
He smiled at me while flying around the room, the blue pixies keep on spreading. Parang sanay na sanay sa kanya lahat ng tao dito. Nobody even mind him despite the fact that he keeps on getting biscuits on the plate na sineserve ng maid. He faced me while eating a piece of biscuit he got from the maid, still floating. He tilted his head and fly around me as if he's doing inspection.
"What? You're going to answer or not?" I'm getting impatient and restless just by looking at him. I furrowed my brows while trying to calm down. Hindi ba sya napapagod kakalipad? He appeared in front of me again, now our face is just inches away.
"Aside from the fact that you're still pretty, you seems to change in just one single night." He placed his forefinger and thumb under his chin. He's smiling playfully while staring at me intently. Kung sa normal na situation lang to baka kinilig na ko na parang teenager.
But considering this circumstance right now, I absolutely doesn't have the miniscule of time to waste, knowing that I still doesn't even know what's really 'beyond and behind' Aminour.
"You're not going to answer my question? Who are you?" I looked at him kinda annoyed. This conversation is getting a little longer, ni hindi ko pa nga alam mga pangalan nila. If this is the Tale of Artajerjes hindi na ko magtataka kung hindi ko talaga alam kung sino sino pa yung ibang involve sa story, especially the extras. But looking at him, he doesn't look like an extra at all.
"That hurts a lot, Cossete. We've been together for how many years, yet you just forgot me? My heart hurts just from thinking that we spent the night together, sweating under the moonlight and you just forgot my existence!"
I stared at him for a few seconds before I realized kung anong ibig niyang sabihin. Nanlaki ang mata ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. My jaw almost dropped as I clenched my cloth and covered my chest with a pillow.
Napatawa nalang yung doctor sa inasal ng kausap ko. I glared at the man while trying to compose myself.
"We've been doing 'that' thing for how many years already." I blushed when he quoted the word that which probably indicates the meaning, which is prolly kinda pervert.
"A-are you out of your mind?! Who in the right mind will have a sexual intercourse with someone they don't even know?!" I'm still hugging myself while looking at him, he still had this very playful smile which I really find attractive, at the same time, very annoying!
He just stared at me bago mahulog sa sahig yung kinakain niyang biscuit dahil sa pagbuka ng bibig niya, he even faked a cough before he turned his back on me. Kita mo 'tong bastos na to, di pa nga sinasagot tanong ko tatalikod na agad. Napakabastos.
"Calm down, my lady. We're not yet done with the physical examination, just a little bit longer." The doctor said. Inayos ko naman ang pag-upo ko while he's pressing his fingers on my wrist. A typical way of checking the vitals of a patient during medieval or renaissance time.
Come to think of it, dahil sa kakulangan ng kagamitan for medicals before, nagkaroon ng pandemic, at maraming namatay.
If I remember it correctly, it was Spanish Flu year 1918. It was the most severe pandemic in recent history. As for this world, I just don't know.
Probably the worst problem of old era tackles about hygiene issue, kaya kahit siguro inuubo ka lang, you will be burn as if you're a witch or a person with very contagious disease.
Powerful men often proclaim baseless accusations to be a 'witch' which is really absurd. Medyo nalayo nanaman utak ko.
"...ssete. Lady Cossete, " nagising ang diwa ko dahil sa pagtawag sakin. Both of the doctor and this floating man are staring at me with a little bit of worried expression.
"According to the vital examination, you're not in a critical condition. Your heart beat is stable and normal and your mana seems to be doing a little bit better than the previous test." I nodded my head as a sign that I understand his statement.
Well except for that mana thing.
Maybe I really need to gather information before other proceedings. He grabbed his suit and bowed before leaving the room.
Now I'm alone with this flying man since the butler and maid left the room right after giving the tea and biscuit. He turned his back once again.
I tucked myself on the bed properly in a half sitting position and crossed my arms on my chest. Nakatalikod pa din yung lalaking 'to sakin. I sigh in exasperated way, three times in a row just to catch his attention. Pero ang siraulo, hindi pa din lumilingon kahit na anong gawin ko.
I faked a cough, a very loud one. Ineexpect ko na lilingon sya pero he seems so busy to even just spare a few glances at my direction.
"Earth to you, flying man! Sana di masarap ulam mo, lumalabas na yung baga ko kakaubo kahit wala akong tuberculosis. Spare some attention here, we still have some interrogation to do." I flicked my finger, parang nagtatawag lang ako ng manok sa ginagawa ko ngayon. Well, yung kulay ng buhok niya ngayon, malapit sa kulay ng broiler na sisiw.
He slowly turned his head to my direction. Still have the playful smile plastered on his face before lowering himself down and casually walked to my direction. He sat on my bed before tucking in few strands of my hair to the back of my ear.
"Cossete... My Lady Cossete." he mumbled those words as if he's talking to someone he really love. I hurriedly grabbed his hand and pushed him using my right foot. I looked at him in one authoritative manner, yung tingin na ginagamit ko kapag pinapagalitan ko yung mga pinsan ko. I just wish that I look intimidating right now.
Hindi ko pa nakita yung itsura ni 'Cossete' since sobrang daming nangyari, but according to the script description, she had this cerulean eyes, in which by just looking at the twin, having this kind of hair and eyes seems to be authoritative.
"Eyes here, mister. What you're doing right now is a complete crime. Don't you think that touching someone without their permission is considered as sexual harrasment?" I looked at him intently while telling him the rules of my previous world. His eyes widen for a little while and then smiled again. He sure knows how to mask up his face.
"Scary... and seems like you're a very strange person right now." he mumbled while running his hand on his blonde hair.
"Anyway my lady, where do you like to go right now?" he seems so happy, he float again while those blue pixies keep on spreading.
"Yo, have you forgotten something? You're not answering my question. It's been an hour since I asked you that question yet you're diverting the topic." I looked at him before fixing my dress to cover my exposed thigh.
"What's the question again?" he scratched his head before showing me his child like expression.
"May utak ka bang pang senior citizen?" Kahit saan tingnan, walang mapupuntahan 'tong conversation na to.
"Woah, don't be mad," he laughed and roam around the room. "You really forgot who am I? We've been talking last night, and the other night, last day, last month, last year and the previous year.
Are you really sure that you haven't fell from this room down to the corridor? You seem so out of yourself, my lady." he keep on laughing as if he's watching a clown embarrass himself.
How would I know? Kamamatay ko pa nga lang tapos malalaman kong nakapasok ako sa katawan ng ibang tao. Wouldn't that be so annoying. Plus I'm clueless what to do here, my brain is still unorganised. I still have some questions.
"Sasagutin mo yung tanong o hindi?"
He sighed so deep before looking at me with a serious expression.
"I'll answer your question. But before that, promise me that you'll answer mine too." I nodded my head as a sign that I'm agreeing to this deal. Though might be a little unfair since I'm just asking for his name, but I'll probably can gather information from someone who's been living their life in this world.
"Go on." I raised my hand to let him speak.
He stood up on the ground once again, grabbed my hand, bow before me, and placed his lips on the back of my palm. Looking at him right now, he seems like a very formal prince asking a princess to dance with him in a ball.
Hihilahin ko na sana yung kamay ko since I really find it a little bit uncomfortable since no one in modern world do this kind of thing. But then, I suddenly remember that most of the royalties in fantasy movies do this kind of thing as a sign of respect or something related to that. Feeling royalty lang ako.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, young lady. I am Olivier Grimaldi. I will always be your guide, whether it's a day or night." he looked at me still bowing. No matter how much I try to squeeze my memory, hindi ko makita at maalala yung pangalan na Olivier Grimaldi sa script. He doesn't look like an extra to me.
One thing I can be proud of despite dying dumb, is I have a photographic memory so hindi ko nakakalimutan kahit isang character na nasa pinakaunang page ng script na binasa ko, or maybe I'm having a concussion?
"N-nice... Nice serve." I mumbled before pulling my hand from his grip. I sit up straight and composed myself. If this is not a dream, if this is actually real, I need to study from the basic etiquettes down to traditions, laws, and basic geography.
"Now for my question, my lady. Allow me to ask few of the curiosity I have in mind..." If I'm correct, this is probably connected to previous 'Cossete' change of attitude. If this is right, then how should I answer.
Sasabihin ko bang hindi ako si Cossete, then what will happen? Will I be killed? Will I be imprisoned, and be exiled? Will they burn me and put me on the cross and accuse me as a witch? I have few possibilities in mind. But what will happen if I lie?
At the end of the day, my identity will always be expose as to what reason did a bacon-cooler and intricate lady became an unsophisticated one? My doom flag is always waiting for me. I might be living in a noble society, someone elite, someone in high class, but this is never me.
Iniisip ko, aside from what I read on the script, ano pa bang personality ang meron si Cossete? All of her decision are valid, but no one prove that it is right. She's a villain who's destined to die. I sighed deeply before giving him the permission to speak again.
"You can ask your question now." I would be lying if I say that I'm not nervous, because I really am. My hands are slightly shaking thinking about the possibility that I might die again no matter what answer I will choose.
He looked at me in a serious manner, contrary to his usual expression he seems like there are lots of questions he wishes to ask.
"My lady..." he started.
I swallowed my saliva and hold my breathe for a couple of seconds and closed my eyes.
"Do you wish to study the basic etiquette for today's lesson?"
I suddenly open my eyes and looked at him only to find out he have this playful expression once again. This time, my instinct is wrong, for the second time. I'm sure, he's going to ask something about the sudden change, but I was wrong. I can't read him...
"Call the maids for me, and wait downstair. Guide me to where my lesson's gonna be held." I stood, acted as if I'm staring outside, and reached for my chest.
It's beating so fast and I'm not sure whether the reason is that I'm afraid if Olivier finds out that I'm just pretending to be her lady, or I'm just excited as to what will happen in this enchanted adventure.
I looked at him to check if he went out already but he's still there, kind of hesitating. He looked at me and flashed his sweet smile before bowing and reaching for the doorknob. He pushed for a moment.
"Lady Cossete..." he mumbled something right after my name which I cannot understand since I can't clearly hear his voice. "It's nice to meet you." he said and smiled at me before proceeding to exit.
I let out the breathe that I'm trying to hide, rubbed my forehead as my sweat is building up, and stare at the open window. The fresh smell of the wind blows, a grassy mint and mellows.
"I guess I just had another difficult journey." I mumbled before the maid went inside the room. Until now, I'm not yet sure if I can live as Cossete Syldonia.
A woman with a tragic ending, who will die because of the false accusations and due to her extreme behaviour that everyone secretly hates.
Would it be also fine to assume that what they're showing right now to this Cossete is a facade of their esoteric abhorrence?
I pressed the back of my head on the quartz tub and closed my eyes as the maids rub my body with a soft cloth.
Maybe this is what it feels to be at the top of the society. People with a silver and golden spoon and old money won't worry for a single thing, and those at the very bottom will suffer.
What a funny thing.
"This is your life now, Kaira... endure." I told myself before the sleepiness succumb my whole being.