The Pianist's Stunning Violets

In a quiet tone that was almost loud, Prince Mharl exclaimed, "What an amazing, breathtaking room this is. Filled with vast archives of documents and artifacts neatly stacked in museum collection storage." It was during this time that the king and queen conferred honor upon the excellency of the Philippines, President Reynam Devam. Of course, he knew them all. Doesn't he enjoy art at Tranegårdskolen now?

There was a large presence of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), uniformed men, and maids. In an instant, he suddenly turned his head as if he were trying to draw a circle with a compass. Everyone was preoccupied. While other visitors stared curiously at things at first glance, he slowly stood up, stretched his legs, and stood up with confidence. Boredom had already set in as he sat alone on a mahogany pastel couch in a corner of the room.

After walking through a long corridor, he reached the garden. The prince murmured cheerfully: "There are butterflies on the stem of the tree that looks like a cherry blossom plant facing the river." He walked quickly, ignoring the path as if he was trying to catch a fish in the river. Surprisingly, all of a sudden, he bumped into something. A light pain hit his chest.

The prince saw the short-haired girl, her back covered in dust, fall to the ground on the log near where he was standing. Her upper lip was parted and her only tooth was visible, even when she wasn't smiling. She was a hare-lip girl. In front of her were an old, wet rug and a small blue bucket with a yellow ladle that she was carrying.

"En sløv banan. «And the banana sløv. What's wrong with you? While investigating what could cause the bump, the prince, blushing the face, shouted: "You are not looking at your path!". He used his hands to brush the dust off his classic black suit. Her serious and stern demeanor says a lot about how serious he was about it. He unwittingly repeated his Danish expression when he was angry. This meant a slow and lazy person.

The girl still in her quiet, unstoppable stream of tears with wet eyelids felt her throat tighten and took steps to gather her things without looking at the prince. Her tears continued to fall down her wet cheeks like southwest monsoon rain. "Are you dumb? I am talking to you!" the prince angrily shouted as his pitch raised higher for emphasis. Without warning, he pulled her left hand to face him. When she had already gathered it in her hands, the blue pail fell again.

You'd better be careful where you step! Become awake, dreamy girl! " He said, grabbing her shoulders hard. His choleric attitude overcame him, "How dare you snubbed me! You're not that odd girl. Will you answer me?

Her short black hair covered her entire face as he bowed his head to check for her belongings. The pink cotton dress she was wearing was damp on the lower part, and her left side was full of dust. "Sorry!" the girl replied gently and timidly while tears continued to build up from her eyes and drip from her cheeks.

Perhaps the girl was three years younger than him, he estimated. "She is seven, while I am ten. She has an oval face, straight hair, and lovely eyes that complemented her beautiful complexion. The voice is nice. Her nose is prominent as just a Spanish model. Her apparent harelip, which had not yet been corrected, was the only thing that made her ugly. She is tall, but I'm obviously taller than she is, the prince pointed out."

Although he secretly wanted to apologize, he found a means to cover up his errors because he did not enjoy receiving criticism. When his reputation was on the line, he found a way to seem good. He gave in to pride.

"Hello! What is your name?" he growled.

In tears that almost blurred her vision, she managed to see the face of this handsome and good-looking but rude boy. He was a foreigner, and everything about him said so. Obviously, he came from a rich family. His clothes were elegant and expensive. Her only understanding of what he said is that he asked for her name. He had an accent, which she had already heard in movies she watched. It was as if a heavy bag was on her heart as she spoke. She collected the pail and dipper along with the rug.

"If you can excuse me, I rather go now!" the girl answered hurriedly. She turned left on the edge of the building without waiting for his answer.

"Wait!" the prince shouted. Even though she was only a few steps away, the girl decided not to look back. She was determined to flee from his presence.

Meanwhile, Prince Mharl turned around in anger. He raised his face to look at the butterflies that he saw a while ago, but they were no longer there.

"What did I do?" he asked himself as he walked back to the room. "How could I talk to her like that? Who is that girl? Maybe, she is one of the daughters of the servants here. What if she told them about the incident a while ago? Oh no!" he uttered anxiously suddenly aware of what might happen.

The uniformed man shouted, "There he is!" as he ran breathlessly toward some, who were apparently looking for him earlier.

Prince Mharl was curious about what had happened.

"Your highness, the king and queen were looking for you. It almost took us thirty minutes to find you in the palace. And it was fortunate that you ended up here. If not, some parts of the palace were hidden because of the vastness of the area. Come on, let's go your highness," the man in uniform said while bowing his head before the prince and extending his hand back inside.

Inside the library, the royals queried the prince about what he did.

"I didn't realize I was already near the river. While walking in the lobby, I was fascinated by the colorful butterflies, so I followed them and ended up here," the prince explained endlessly.

"Your highness, we need to go now," the tall man in PSG uniform told Prince Mharl.

They went back and used the shortcut in the middle of the building. They passed through three wide rooms before reaching the main room in the executive offices. The study, music, and parlor room. King Phil IV, Queen Viela II, his parents, the leader of Denmark, and President Reynam Devam of the Philippines soon appeared as they entered the room. They looked worried as they sat waiting for his return. Despite how they felt, etiquette had to be observed, so their gestures and emotions needed to be controlled regardless of their emotions.

"Oh, Prince Mharl, my son. "We have been searching for you for the past few hours already," the queen's worried face appeared as she hugged the prince.

"What did you do? Where have you been?" the king's worried face inquired as he stood from his executive chair.

"I was fascinated by the paintings outside, then saw a group of butterflies nearby and decided to follow them. "I ended up in the garden by the river," Prince Mharl explained, thinking that he had not shared the entire story.

"I found him near the river," one of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) members said.

"Alright! What is significant right now is that Prince Mharl is here. Since we were done, why not make our way to our lunch in the dining room?" President Devam suggested while smiling.

Prince Mharl and the queen held hands as the king agreed, "Well done!". President Devam guided them down the stairway instead of using the elevator to reach the ground floor.

"I decided to walk the three of you up the stairs, my highnesses, so that we could discuss the paintings on the ceiling, which I know Prince Mharl loved as you mentioned earlier. The painting shown here depicts a group of villagers at the fishing port. It was a typical sight in the country. That was made by Juan Luna, one of our national artists. This painting next to us on the ceiling is a landscape showing a man and a woman riding a carabao. It is almost vertically aligned with where we are standing. The painting is by Juan Luna," President Devan explained excitedly as he led the way.

The king paused for a moment and examined the painting intently with his keen eyes, as he looked at it with his own eyes. "This was awesome and meaningful!" the king exclaimed.

The next morning the tour happened. They enjoyed roaming around and being introduced to different unique and historical spots in the country. Night came, and the prince went outside of his room thinking that everyone had fallen asleep.

Now, he remembered that smallest thing he saw a while ago near the door. He needed to go to that room. He tiptoed and kept on turning his head as if somebody would see him any moment from now. The door was not locked as he opened it, and he was so happy that he even touched it. There was no alarm around except for the dim light above. He paused and debated whether to pursue his plan or not. Finally, he decided.

The next day at the airport the prince turned three times to see the country before going up against their private royal airplane. Their brief visit made him loved the country right away.

"Someday, I will be here again," he told himself confidently. His attendant led him to his chair as his parents followed him. When the king and queen entered, a close inspection was made by the uniformed men and royal guards.

Another letter of invitation from the Malacañang Palace arrived at the royal castle in Denmark. This was the second invitation they received a few years ago when they went there to give help. Soon, the royals were in the palace again. Now, the president wanted them to see some of the major changes that happened in the area.

As they walked farther, they were all amazed except for Prince Mharl, who was not in the mood to talk and his mind flew back to the castle. In his senior year, he was the one to lead the group in their class, and besides his crush was there. This made him want to go home right away rather than join the trip to the Philippines again.

They turned right. A glass door automatically opened and the four guards were at their post at the entrance to meet them. Now, the president stood still suddenly, bowed his head, and gestured for everyone to enter. They were now in the dining hall overlooking the river and the garden on the other side.

"Prince Mharl, why not look at the river now? Look! The amazing arch in the center has a picturesque dove flying around," the queen exclaimed.

"Yeah! So elegant and wonderful," Prince Mharl exclaimed. Though art was his favorite, deep inside he was sleepy, tired, and uninterested.

Soon, dinner was served and maids came to give their food while the uniformed men were on their posts watching for their safety and other errands. While the conversation still going on and waiting for more food to serve, the prince asked to leave for comfort room needs. A PSG and a few uniformed men escorted him. While on the way, he saw a lady with long black hair crossing the other way near to the comfort room he was to use.

"Where is she? She might be somewhere working," the prince thought as he now entered the cubicle of the room. "Wait! I guess I knew her," Prince Mharl uttered to himself while did wash his hands.

Back at the table, the conversation was lively and full of fun as the host showed a friendly, active, and cheerful accommodation. Because of this, the prince completely forgets his bad mood. Dinner was over, and the plates and other dining utensils were gathered as the president and the highnesses stood to watch the view of the windows facing outside. Prince Mharl could not hide his curiosity as he intensely took a longer look at the young lady as he turned back to the table. He suddenly noticed the girl when she gathered his plate.

The prince asked the young lady with long black braided hair. "Will you get me a cold orange, lemon juice?"

"Yes, my highness," she replied timidly while lowering her head as she bowed.

"Please bring it to the Azotea," he added while thinking of a way to get to know the lady. He was familiar with the face, but he cannot remember how and when she met her before.

The prince asked the president and his parents to go to the Azotea instead of joining them and they let him be accompanied by the PSG, uniformed men, and a few servants.

"My highness, your juice is here," the young lady greeted the prince and blushed when he stood all of a sudden and faced her.

Prince Mharl inquired the young lady about the event that he now remembered. "Are you the girl that I bumped here a few years ago? Thanking silently that he vividly recalled everything now. "How are you?" he seriously asked with concern in his sweet voice.

Marie was so shy to nod, and instead, she lied. "No, my highness! I did not remember meeting you before," she right away, defended and asked permission to leave.

His sternness and authoritative, but sweet voice were still familiar, though he was in his senior year. She thought of his tall height, handsome face, and a charismatic smile that sent her butterflies in her stomach and a fast palpitation, yet created a tickle in her heart.

"What I am thinking? No! Marie behaves well. What happened to you?" She told herself while washing her face and facing the mirror after she used the comfort room.

"No! I cannot let that happen again. This time you need to be strong Marie," she firmly told herself as she made her way outside. She cannot trust herself when a conversation needed to make, so she decided not to tell the truth.

Meanwhile, the prince wanted to ask what had happened to her after the accident. He knew she was the harelip girl he bumped before, but she already answered.

"That was a lie. What happened?" Her lip is now fixed now, though it still looks obvious when staying close to her told himself analyzing the changes he saw. He was upset because his plan to know her name did not succeed again. This time, he wanted to apologize for what had happened before, but it seemed that she avoided him.

"Can you bring me to another area of the palace?" He asked the team that was assigned to watch him. He smiled and felt inspired by the plan he needed to make.

"Yes, our highness," replied the PSG men, who led the group to attend to his needs.

They walked in the areas where he did not see before until they reached the place where he clearly remembered he and the young lady once made an incidental meeting.

"Great! The plant is still here." His eyes surveyed the area while making a soft laugh touching the trunk of the tree. "This looks like an old plant as the trunk obviously shows. Its flowers are beautiful. There is a big change now in the plants and the landscapes. It looks like one of the corners in their garden back to Denmark," he thought while turning his head slowly back and forth.

"Our highness, we have our man-made falls to the left side of that building," the uniformed man pointed to the other side.

Soon, they walked more and the prince was delighted to see the unique greenery placed to highlight the falls in the midst of a bamboo tree and a mini mountain.

"This is cool," he stretched his right hand to touch the water. The team answered some of his questions about the other stuff surrounding the falls. Now, as he made an exit, he noticed that there was a group of young ladies at the end of the way on the right side of the palace. He pretended to see the plants just to hear their conversation.

"Can we make some garlands, later?" the husky voice said. Then, a giggle was heard.

"I know you just want to see the prince," another voice of the lady said making a tease to the group.

Prince Mharl walked more and told in gestures the team to wait for him as he made a look at the rest of the area since they can still see him even though he walk fast away from them.

"I guess he is a good match for Marie. Marie is a the type of girl who does not have a boyfriend since birth," laughter filled the area.

The prince was amused as he listened intently to the young teens. Suddenly, he made a peek at the plants in their area. He pretended to touch the big leaf of a plant, but with a desire to look at them who probably working as he thought. There, he saw a group of young ladies, younger than him circling the hill of black soil. They were placing the soil in different pots.

"Where is she?" he wondered working his way to look more closely at them. He all saw the teenagers except for the one who sat still with her back on him. He noticed her long hair again as her right hand reached her back to pull her hair from her chest. The prince smiled at the thought of fulfilling his plan. He is about to approach them when the PSG man walked hurriedly and told him the news. Though a royal poise was still carried, a look of dismay enveloped him.

"Prince Mharl, we need to go back right away to Denmark," the queen told him in concern when he returned to their room.

"But why?" he asked absent-mindedly partly as his thoughts were still on his plan to work on later.

"Something happened to the butler," while reaching a paper on the table the king answered sadly. "Prince Richard sent him to the jail," he added.

"What? That is not fair. He is a loyal, kind, and helpful one," the prince exclaimed with a shock at what he heard. His voice echoed in the guestroom his parents occupied in the palace.

"Prince George, your cousin, was poisoned and they sent him to the hospital, "

"So, he is their suspect?" he angrily got the point now. "Mom, Dad, you know how faithful Rain Dee is in the castle. He served several decades, there already. Do they see it?" He clasped his hands while standing all of a sudden. "Something happens and I want to know it," Prince Mharl determined voice raised. He entered the comfort room a few minutes later, while the king and queen started to gather the papers on the table. Maids came when he opened the door. Their luggage was filled with their belongings again as hands worked hurriedly to gather their stuff.

While getting ready the prince was furious and in mixed thoughts about the unfulfilled plan he made. He promised himself to make it happen someday.

"Something is not right. I knew how Prince Gorge wants the throne badly," the prince fussed as he searched for his things in bed. While gathering them, a memory flooded her mind. That was one of his unforgettable memories of his cousin Prince Gorge. They played one day and their royal nannies were just watching.

"My father told me that I would be the next king, Prince Gorge told him while they were fixing their toy cars. I am fit to be the king because I have the leadership skills," Prince Gorge proudly uttered loudly enough for him to hear.

"Oh! Am I not the eldest prince's only son? You are wrong," straightforwardly Prince Mharl exclaimed as he stood turning his face red. That was the start of their silent rivalry since then. However, the castle did not mind any of the teases and petty arguments they made thinking that the two were still in their childhood years. Yet, Prince Mharl knew that it was a serious matter that needed to be mindful of now and then. He was smart and marvelously solved anything that bothered him far, so he closely watched his cousin's actions, so with his family.

Marie was in deep thought as she tried to find her things. She was in her melancholic mood. More than a decade already after she left Iloilo for good.

"If only I can go back to Iloilo now. I, perhaps still enjoy seeing the greenery, playing games, and talking with my friends and relatives. But my parents are here. They love their work. We are four in the family now. Hard to be the eldest. I need to finish my assignments, so I can watch my siblings outside." Marie thought while looking for her notebooks. She reached them together with her books on the upper part of the shelf, and an envelope appeared which was full of papers. She decided to arrange them. Then, she smiled when she saw a few pictures on the folded paper. She vividly remembered everything.

In San Miguel, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, the place where she spent her childhood years, she and Lou had memories she treasured now and then.

"I have enough. Want to add? Look at the other branches," Marie urged Lou, her bestfriend, who on the other branch of the Indian mango tree had settled while reaching the fruits. They reached the top of the mountain at the plain side overlooking their houses from the trees.

Mangoes were one of the fruits that can be found in the area. At the foot of the mountain, fields filled with root crops where there. Her grandparents and her father's parents did the work. Partly, the mountain was covered by "cogon" grasses, which can be alternately seen in every other tall tree covering the third part of the land.

The deep well was located near their house, and she found it easier to fetch when they need water for washing and other purposes except for drinking. This was one of Marie's favorite spots.

Her thoughts remembered everything about their former place. She smiled while holding the pictures and knew exactly what had happened every time a season of mangoes came.

"Good! We have gathered two plastics already. This is awesome. More mangoes are about to get ripe after three to five days. There are four mangoes in the branches near your left arm. Get it, Lou," urged Marie as she as well searched the nearby branches around her.

"Wow! This is mouth-watering. What a good smell and sweet taste undoubtedly!" Lou exclaimed.

"Well, mother will be happy about this. Usually you know, when fish is not on the plate, mangoes turn our pair to the rice!" Marie cheered loudly.

"In our house, too. Father tells us to look for mangoes if we do not have anything to eat. Or he may tell us to get some sweet potatoes. That becomes our rice and dish at the same time. And you know as well that my stepmother will be furious if I cannot make any food when they get home," Lou answered while coughing as she made her way from the upper branch and directly jump to the ground.

"That is the reason why mother wants to give us some of our food since most of the time you do not have rice in your house. Even with your cousin Amy. I always ask my mother and father to share something. Once in a blue moon, I recall that only they can afford to buy fish, egg, or meat," Marie continued.

"Lou, go home!" Elena, Lou's stepmother shouted in a distance thirty minutes later.

"Yes, Mother. Coming," she shouted back.

Soon, she was in their house, and her stepmother waited for her with a small guava branch in her hand.

"Where have you been? For almost five minutes I keep on looking at you. You left your siblings here. Did I not tell you to stay and watch them even if you are done with your chores?" Elena shouted while giving Lou a young guava stem spank on the buttocks as her punishment.

Lou cried hard and she sobbed and was heard even in Marie's house, a few walks away from them.

Elena shouted as she hit Lou. Lou cried and wanted to explain, yet her father suddenly appeared and hit her with his belt as well. Lou jumped a little from the pain and tears fell from her face as mangoes slipped from the plastic bag. They scattered now on the ground.

Meanwhile, Marie heard her mother as she arrived at their house. "You and Lou come to the mountain again. Now, she is beaten by her father. The two of you keep on doing this again and again," Le reminded her.

"Yes, we did," Marie answered while gathering some white plates to prepare for dinner.

"Even you need a spank if we are not here, especially when we find out that there is no food to eat yet. But remember that Lou's father is quite stern and stricter than your father. Next time the two of you go, be sure to be home early," Le lectured while getting the lamps made of empty bottles with cloth, using kerosene gas to give light.

Her father, Lan reminded her of what to do the next day. "Mar, help your Mamang to pull weeds in the ricefield tomorrow. She plans to replant some of the vegetables there. Tomorrow is Sunday and you have plenty of time to finish it."

Marie was the eldest of three children of the Sieran family at that time. The second was Gie and the third was Yen. After dinner, she washed the dishes and made her way ready to sleep. But of course, she cannot since she has to hear first her favorite radio drama. She was an avid listener of the DYMF Bombo Radio Station - from current news programs in drama. She even knew the radio anchor men and women and even the radio dramatists.

One day, while her mother taught her.

"Now, read the letter that I wrote!"

"Uh, M-m!" Marie uttered.

"What is wrong with you? I told you what the letter is already. Why you cannot recall?" Le angrily asked and suddenly reached for the radio and off.

"You are not listening or even focusing. No drama during study time!" Le shouted as she raised her voice for her to focus and follow.

Marie was hesitant to read anymore and felt bad not hearing the climax of her favorite drama. She had always forgotten how to read a letter. She wrote a little, but cannot read the letters. Because of this, her mother was furious and determined not to allow her to hear any drama from her favorite radio station during study time. The routine continued. Now, when Marie and Vangie, her grandmother, were on the farm the next morning, she told her to make chocolate when they got home.

"Our chocolate will be served when we return home. A ready-made cocoa, cacao!" Her Mamang comforted since she knew she did not want to work that day. Then, she smiled and talked about her favorite sugarcane.

"Mang, can we eat that violet sugarcane as well planted in your backyard?" Marie cheered as she answered her loudly. She was used to calling her grandmother Mang or Mamang same as her parents.

"Of course! We have a lot there. Meanwhile, let us finish planting the vegetables," her grandmother agreed.

"Marie, Von is crying outside," a voice suddenly made Marie wake from her deep thoughts back to the present. "Oh, thirty minutes passed," she hurriedly stretched her arms and legs as she made a quick glance at the clock on the wall. Then, she went outside.

While she cleaned the reception room the other day, she saw a new magazine left on the corner table in the room. Curiosity pulled her to open it for a while. She scanned the pages until she saw the familiar face, she was thrilled to see it again but hate it at the same time.

"He looks handsome and elegant. Oh! He is scheduled to graduate soon, as I graduate from my fourth year, too. But he was rude and stern, and besides he is a royal," disbelief overwhelmed her heart while continued her cleaning after.

"What course will you take? Le asked one day as they did the laundry. She thought of her father was now for several days busied working the greenery in the garden of the palace. He was the chef and a gardener as well.

"Don't worry. The president will help us. Scholarships are made to all of you who live here. Just think wisely about the course that you want to get," her mother consoled her as she looked sad thinking she cannot go on.

"Mother, can I play the piano in the music room later?" Marie remembered how she loved doing it since her elementary grades. It started when her music teacher introduced the notes and pitches to their class.

"I ask the head of the Music Room. I know you will make fun of it. I plan to buy your father a guitar for his birthday after your graduation. One day, your piano will be in your room. Your father can help you with that," Le said, smiling at the thought of their favorite family pastime.

Their family loved music and Marie witnessed how the family on her mother's side bonded to sing using the guitar her grandfather owned back in Iloilo. In fact, during her grandfather's birthday, they always sang his favorite songs using his own guitar.

"I guess I know already what course fits me," she smiled silently as she extended her feet to reach the web using the bamboo broom. After her routine during that Saturday morning tasks, she looked for her friend in the next room. Joe, the son of the couple servants, Rhea and Aljhon Cruz, was one of her classmates at Ramon Magsaysay High School in Sampaloc, Manila. He became her Lou after she left Iloilo.

"There you are. What are you doing with your work?" Marie happily greeted him at the door of their room.

"Yes. Got plans today?" Joe slowly stood as he placed the pails together on the wall of the last room in the maid's quarter.

"Hahaha! You always taught me ahead," she teased. "I know already what I become someday," Marie proudly emphasized as she walk fast to his side. "Guess what?"

"Well, you are good at music, making poems, and painting, too. I saw it when I visited your room many times when you are not here," he laughed loudly. "This will lead you to your desired course," he answered while he initiated the walk-in going at the back of their building that overlooked the river.