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The Unofficial Empress - Chapter 16
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Marco cleared his throat. “Although you’re an informant, but news hasn’t been spread about your new princess,” he said. The young man is still pondering what he heard when a man full of golden bangles on his hand and large rings on every finger bumped Agatha.
“Watch where you’re going, lady,” the man said as he showed his fingers emphasizing that he has authority and power over civilians in the area. He wore an expensive pair of slacks and barong with a silk draped over his shoulder.
“Count Esper, it seems like you forgot to add a crown on your head to complete the accessory,” the young man spoke as he wrapped a protective arm around Agatha who was terrified.
“Count Casino, it’s very rare to see you loitering in my turf,” the man eyed them one by one. Marco didn’t cast a single glance at the flashy count as he read the reports and evidences pertaining to corruption, especially on Esper which he heard was his name. The count felt insulted as a commoner dared to disrespect him, not even greeting him while knowing that he is the count in charge of that area. He squinted his eyes as he approached Marco who was three steps away from him. “Young man, if you value your own life, then you should know what to do,” he said.
Marco coolly turned to the proud count. The count was waiting for greetings but his servants suddenly bowed down and placed their right palm on their chest upon seeing the third prince in person. “We Greet the empire’s sun, Your highness, the third prince,” they chorused.
Count Esper frowned as he turned to his annoying servants. “How dare you speak nonsense?!” he scolded but no one dared to move in front of the prince without his permission. “Darn you! Useless rags!” he burst and was about to cane the nearest person when Marco spoke.
“Lino,” he called out so Count Casino turned to Marco.
“Yes, your highness. Your order is my command,” he said with head bowed and palm on his chest. Count Esper paled instantly as he slowly turned back to Marco.
“My prince, what can I do for you?” he asked shaking in fear. To be able to see the cold-blooded prince in person is an honor at the same time a horror. This unpredictable and brutal prince according to rumors is said to be the toughest among the princes. He is said to be more suitable as a crown prince than the present crown prince.
Marco grinned coldly enough to freeze everyone who saw him. Lino just tapped Agatha’s shoulder without letting her go. Agatha looked at the young man who is focused on the prince. Then she lowered her head upon turning her head towards the prince. “One thing is enough for now,” Marco spoke which made the count’s face turn paler. His lips even quivered.
“Yes my prince. Please say it.”
“Get out of my sight and don’t pollute the air. I don’t want a terrible sight,” Marco said coldly and turned away. Then the terrified count told his servants to leave immediately. “And one more thing,” Marco added so they froze again to listen to his words. “I don’t wish another bloodshed and I don’t want to hear stories of torture,” he said emphasizing word by word. It means that he does not want to kill as much as possible. If he did, the casualty would only be the count. And he wouldn’t want to hear that the servants were tortured due to their mistakes.
“I-I will remember it, your highness,” Count Esper said and immediately left them.
“You can take Agatha with you to tour the place. Let her enjoy the festival. I’ll have to spend time alone with my wife,” Marco told Lino.
“Yes your highness. But what? Your wife…She…” Lino was a bit confused but suddenly realized what the prince said so he paused and pondered for a while. “Your highness,” Lino spoke and bowed his head and greeted her with the same respect as he greeted the prince. “I shall take my leave. Come then, miss,” he said as he offered a hand to Agatha.
“Did you plan this ahead? I thought you’d make an enemy with just one word…”
“You’re right. I wouldn’t come here without proper preparation.”
“But this all seems as if you were not prepared,” Alexandra said and observed how relaxed the prince is. Marco just shrugged before standing straight right in front of her. “You deserve your title.”
“As a third prince?” he asked although he knew what she was talking about.
“A cold-blooded prince,” she replied and looked away. He hid his left hand behind his back and flashed a sideway grin. Then he nudged her chin so she turned to him irritably but didn’t expect his surprise attack. He kissed her and her feet reacted as soon as he released her chin.
“You missed the timing, princess,” he said upon catching her leg. Then he carried her in his arms. “Let’s enjoy the festival,” he said and walked effortlessly.
“Sir, we’ve been walking endlessly for about an hour now,” Agatha spoke her mind as her feet began to ache. Lino stopped by a street shop that sells cheap jewelry then faced the young maid.
“I was told by his highness to take you somewhere to enjoy. But ever since we started walking around the streets, you didn’t even look interested,” Lino sighed and scratched his head.
Agatha was surprised. She didn’t expect that this young count would be so considerate. She thought he was just walking in his leisure while dragging her that is why she didn’t take fancy to the products displayed by the many stalls they passed by for several times already. “It was my mistake, sir,” she said blushing because he was looking at her intently.
“Sir? Is that my name? Well we didn’t have a formal introduction. By the way, my name is Paulino Casino. You can just call me Lino as others do. I won’t mind,” he said casually as if he was not talking to a mere maid but with a lady with an equal status as him.
“I can’t do that sir,” she said and lowered her head. Lino let out a hearty laughter making her more uncomfortable. “Nothing is funny sir,” she commented so he stopped and eyed her seriously.
“To be fair, let me know your name too,” he said and was about to kiss the back of her hand but she pulled it back to her side. “Well?” he urged without taking any offense.
“Agatha Maya sir,” she said and curtsied.
“Come on, Agatha! Let’s enjoy this festival!” Lino said and dragged her away. Lino took her to food stalls. He bought her cotton candy, ice cream, cookies, and a few more sweets. It was nearly sunset when they shared the chocolate-filled pandesal he bought. They sat down on a smooth rock and watched the children playing nearby. “You really love sweets. Aren’t you worried you’ll gain weight?”
“Gaining weight is not important as long as I can have food,” Agatha answered and was about to put into her mouth the last piece of pandesal she has when Lino grabbed her wrist and put it in his mouth instead. “Sir, you ate mine,” she said with wide eyes.
“I intended to. Ah, and this is really sweet,” he said wiping the tip of his mouth with his thumb. “I’m not fond of sweets but I like this flavor.”
“I can give you more if you like. Besides, this is your money…”
“It’s yours,” he said as he prevented her from taking out another bread. “You know what?” he asked as he pulled her up, taking the paper bag from her and putting it aside. “You’re my type and it is high time for me to get married.”
“Then, you should find yourself a wife sir…” Lino pressed a finger on her lips.
“Lino. Call me Lino.”
“Lino,” she echoed so he smiled and wiped the crumbs from her lips.
“I don’t think you get what I’m saying so I’ll make myself clear. Will you marry me?”
“What?”
“What?” Alexandra echoed with Marco beside her. She even accidentally dropped the doll that is customized to look like Marco. Marco picked it up and pulled her away in order not to disturb the two.
“Did I hear the…”
“Focus on me,” Lino immediately blocked Agatha’s path when she was about to look around.
“But sir…Lino, this is too sudden! How can you propose to someone you just met?”
“It’s not like this is the first time we met,” Lino said and caressed her cheek. It was a gesture her mother does whenever she gets agitated. And she only told someone about it once. “Five years ago, outside a bar. A man got beaten up by gangsters. He was about to take revenge but a lady came to rescue him thinking he was badly injured,” Lino narrated every part of the past which made Agatha stare at him blankly.
“You were that boy?”
“Excuse me? You are younger than me,” Lino cleared his throat but then hooked her waist with his arm. “Anyway, it’s not just that. I’ve also been observing you for several months before you signed up to be a palace maid. You let me in the house when I was undercover as a woman. I know your hobbies. And a part of your past,” he said and cleared his throat as he slowly turned red. “You…You’re…” his eyes wandered towards her chest and looked away. He saw a smug smile from the prince who is standing by a tree few feet away from them.
Agatha is like a tomato as she remembered those times, a week before she met the boys. She let in a stranger during the night. ‘She’ looked like a homeless stranger. No wonder ‘she’ was weird. ‘She’ was tall and ‘her’ voice was sometimes coarse or high-pitched. Agatha even invited ‘her’ to swim by the river and she took off her clothes in front of ‘her’. No wonder ‘she’ was uncomfortable and was nagging her to at least leave a piece of cloth on her body. “You…!” she pointed at Lino and covered her chest with her hands.
“I’ll take responsibility. Now please calm down and listen to me first,” he said thinking she was angry. When Lino turned to Agatha, she is already crying. “Oh no. I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry. It was…”
“I was at fault too. Please don’t mind taking responsibility,” Agatha said wiping her tears. “I was just disappointed at myself for not being able to discern anything even when I was told by my mother to be careful.”
“About that incident, I am very sorry. I was about to tell you the truth before I left but for your kindness’ sake, I had to keep it to myself rather than shatter you upon leaving. I didn’t think I’d be able to see you again if not for the prince’s task for me.”
“Did you have to go too far as to investigate everyone’s privacy?”
“I’m sorry again for that. But for palace security and I am sure you were briefed when you first entered the main palace,” Lino confessed.
“I was called immediately to serve the third prince’s chambers before the official appointment of palace maids.”
“Oh,” Lino smiled. “Anyway, we’ve come this far knowing each other. Do you have an answer now to my proposal?”
“No. It’s too sudden.”
“Okay. I’ll give you time. Let’s head back to my apartment. Don’t worry, I gave a map to the prince if he could not find the place,” he reassured her. Even so, she was still reluctant to leave. What if this man takes advantage of her? As if he read her mind, he took out something covered in black leather from his belt and gave it to her. She unsheathed a cute but sharp and shiny knife. “For your peace of mind,” he said and winked before he offered a hand.