Time Slip Romance - Chapter 6 Capitulo Vi The Snakes Skin Has Been Torn

After some time, Silverio who was in the middle of thinking about his sister’s doing had managed to talk. He retracted his arrogant aura and face the young lady.

“This Lady, what nonsense are you spouting? Why would my sister Anna, do something like that?”

He then arrogantly walked towards the girl and circled her. He said, “Lady, aren’t you a bit delirious? In this city, everyone knows that my sister has a gentle temperament. She helps other people and is so kind-hearted.” Silverio said.

Hearing his words, the crowd nodded their heads in agreement. Yes, that is right. Indeed, Lady Anna is kind-hearted. Even though her family was famous for being tyrannical and cruel. Lady Anna was different, she was kind and very helpful to others, giving the poor food to eat and jobs to feed their family. So all the foreign lady had said caused them all to fall into disagreement with her.

Because of this, Silverio grew even more confident. He continued to confront the young lady. “I don’t really get why a foreign lady like you, wants to taint my sister’s good reputation?”

The crowd turned their attentions at the young foreign lady. With the complicated looks on their faces, they look at her as if she was some kind of a sinful person destroying the purity and holiness of an innocent angel.

Despite being judged by the crowd, Aya was still feeling confident. What other people think about her, it does not matter to her at any slightest. Even though she is was being named or seen as a liar by many, she does not care about it. No matter what, as long as she knew herself, she won’t be swayed or be sad about those things. For her, there is one thing she is sure about and is determined to achieve, it is to punish the guilty and to uncover the truth.

Aya just gave them a crisp laugh. She laughed ’till she almost cried. “Indeed, a cunning big brother and a pretentious little sister surely came from one family.” Aya took a step. She stared directly at the man’s eyes, wearing her infamous evil smile before her lips got closer to the man’s ear. From the other’s perspective, that gesture looks like the foreign lady was just standing beside the man.

Aya then said in a hushed voice, “Gentleman, I know you are a smart person, but since you choose to turn a blind eye and tolerate your sister’s evil deeds. Then do not blame me for tearing her perfect mask in front of this many people.”

Silverio was taken aback by her, his body instantly froze when that cold voice entered his ears. Anna on the other hand, frowned. Because of the crowd’s response and her brother defending her despite her wrongdoings earlier brought back her confidence. She wasn’t feeling nervous anymore, but the moment she saw her brother’s reaction towards the foreign lady’s simple gesture, she suddenly felt an ominous feeling that something bad is about to happen.

Aya straightened her body; she face the crowd. A confident smile appeared on her face as she walked towards Anna, who was currently feeling nervous.

Staring at the figure slowly approaching her, Anna’s hands were sweating endlessly, not only that, her body was sweating too.

When Aya arrived beside her, she did not took a single glance at the lady but face the questionable faces of the crowd.

She said in a not so loud but not so quiet voice. “All of you, I want you all to bear witness as I uncover the truth behind the lost ring of your beloved Lady Augusto, Anna.” This time, she turned to face the now pale faced girl beside her. She revealed a cunning smirk as she asked her.

“My lady, would you describe to us the appearance of the ring which is said to be stolen by that young man?”

“Oh! I want the you to tell us every single detail in that ring” she added.

Anna heaved a sigh of relief. She really thought this freak will gonna expose her. All in all, it was just her imagination. How would a foreign stranger like this one knows her secrets. With that kind of thoughts in her mind, Anna immediately complied to Aya’s words.

The ignorant little Anna described the ring’s features without any restraint. Not knowing that her words might gonna bring her to her impending doom. Without anyone noticing, the corners of Aya’s mouth drew into a smile. The smile was playful but it also emits a certain kind of evilness.

“The ring was brought by my father when he visits my uncle in Spain. It was given to me for my birthday. It was especial and is one of a kind because of its unique gold embellishments and my name was meticulously engraved on it.” Anna proudly stated.

The ring was one of her proudest possessions. She heard it was made by the most famous craftsman in Barcelona. It basically symbolizes how noble she is; and because of that ring, she was envied by most of her el circulo de amigos [1].

“Oh! The ring was an important piece and you always wear it, right?”

Anna nodded.

After getting the owner’s “Yes”. Aya turned her body and scan the crowd. “Is there any one of you who have seen Lady Anna’s ring? If there is one, then kindly step forward. I just want someone to clarify some things for me”.

Not long after, two girls came forward. These two are one of Lady Anna’s associates and companions in the gatherings.

In ancient times, women were turned into objects of suppression. Believed that women should only stay at home. Thus, women’s role attached to the home. Her duty was to become an obedient and respectful daughter, a good wife and mother. A typical “Maria Clara” [2].

The only time when they were allowed is when there is an official gathering where government officials can bring their sons or daughters, or a simple meet-up’s between friends and families; that’s the time when all of the ladies in this city would be gathered.

“Are you two sure that you can recognize the ring when you see it again?”

“Yes” the two ladies nodded in unison.

The series of events frightened Anna to a degree that she wanted to run away and escape. She did not know what to do. She has to run away from this place before it was too late.

But before she could even take a single step, a hand suddenly caught her arms. That hand’s grip was so tight that it almost break her thin arm at any time. Another hand is quickly moving towards her body, pulling away those hair strands that was covering her neck.

Now, a shiny necklace can be seen hanging on Lady Anna’s snow white neck.

In a far view, you might think it’s just a simple necklace. But when you look carefully, you will find that the pendant which was hanging on the siver chain is a beautiful golden ring.

Now that the ring was exposed, Anna was now afraid of what this lady will do to her. She looks at her with fear in her eyes. Aya saw this; she leaned closer and softly whispered to the girl’s ear.

“Oh, Lady Anna, Lady Anna… Don’t you know that; ‘While coveting ahead, one should be aware of the danger behind?’ [3].

Doing your evil deeds without batting an eye, even framing a person who is innocent and beating them to death. Now that your doings are known. With plotting and scheming, you sure are courageous… But it appears that your heart is not brave enough to face the consequences of your crime.”

Silverio saw her sister’s painful expression and wanted to pull the foreign lady away from her, but he instantly freezes when he saw that shiny little thing on her sister’s neck.

Wait! Isn’t that the ring that was stolen by this lowly man? How come-

Silverio wasn’t the only one who is surprised, the two ladies as well. They were now staring at Anna’s neck area with wide eyes.

“T-That’s the ring!” the girl in green gown exclaimed.

“Right! I just saw it yesterday. She even brags about how it was made by a famous craftsman to us. So I can not go wrong, that’s the ring.” the other girl said.

Indeed, that thing on her neck was the ring.

When it was proven, the crowd was in disorder. Noise covered the whole area. They all became confused.

What is this situation?

If that ring on her neck was the stolen ring, what about the thing she said that the poor young man had stolen?

Lady Anna was agitated, she does not know what to do. Previously, all she knew was to plot and to scheme on someone’s lives. Now that she is faced with this kind of situation, coupled with the crowd’s judging face, her fears and anxieties dominated her whole being. Her mind became muddled, and she started to say things without thinking.

“I-It was all just a simple prank! T-That lowly man rejected me so-”

Before she could say anything inappropriate, Silverio pulled her and brought her into the carriage.

Even though, the crowd was still shocked!

A simple prank?

Beating a person to death can be considered a simple prank?

Not just that! The most shocking thing was, the dignified daughter of the Augusto family fell for a servant’s son. But, just because the young man rejected her, she plotted a scheme against him and accused the innocent young man of stealing her ring.

She even asked her brother to beat him.

They all thought that this Lady Anna was good, but all of it was just a complete pretense to fool everyone. Some men from the crowd admired this gentle lady from the Augusto’s, so they became even more frustrated when they saw her true face. They never thought that the lady they once fantasize to marry was a scheming snake.

Inside the carriage, Anna’s face became even more red because of shame.

AAarrgh !!

She really felt humiliated. She did not know what to do. She was so angry.

Now, everyone in the city knows her secret. They now know her true nature.

They knew that she was not really kind as others have thought about her.

Why is this happening to me?! Why?

She turned her head and saw the face of the girl whom she mocked and named as a lowly creature.

Anna nerves nearly blew-up when she saw that smirk on the girl’s face.

The Nerve of this lowly creature! Anna felt a surge of anger welling inside her.

‘Just you wait, you lowly girl. When this lady comes home, I’ll surely find ways to deal with you for disrespecting me.’

Silverio entered the carriage, and not long after, the carriage has left and the poor young man was brought into a nearby hospital by some charitable people in the crowd.

Seeing that all of her suffering today produced a good result, Aya felt satisfied.

She let out a smile that is as bright as the morning sun in the sky. She then started walking away feeling happy.

Unknown to her, a dark figure was secretly observing her. All the time, that figure just stood there silently as he observes all of her movements and expressions.

Just as the girl walked away, that figure instantly disappeared without any traces.

[1]. Spanish for Circle of Friends.

[2]. Is the mestiza heroine in Noli Me Tngere, a novel by Jos Rizal, the national hero of the Republic of the Philippines. Her name and character has since become a byword in Filipino culture for the traditional, feminine ideal.

In Filipino, it means “mahinhing dalaga”. Being a Maria Clara means that women can no longer loiter around, run along the meadows, and swim in rivers or climb trees as children. A girl who is reserve, elegant, obedient and respectful.

[3] A mantis stalking a cicada is unaware of an oriole behind.