The Amorous Mate

Chapter 25: What Must Be The Moon Goddess' Plan?

Gazing from the huge window with semi-folded curtain covering half of the pane, Chelsea sighed. She felt something was incomplete in her.

It was morning, and she seemed to have no plan to get away from her soft, comforting bed. The beam of the morning sunlight was striking through the window, causing the whole room to be filled with its glorious brightness.

However, despite its joyous surrounding, her aura suggests gloom and darkness. The hangover of the event that has happened to her and Lord Matthew last night was still engraved in her mind. Of course, it would bother her, perhaps give her more trauma, because it was a dire event she had experienced. In fact, it caused her not to get any sleep last night. Hearing a creaking sound, the door of her room slowly opened.

“Why, your highness, are you still laying in your bed?” the woman who entered in her room greeted. It was Venida. She was carrying a silver tray, and on top of it was a glass of hot milk.

Seeing Venida, Chelsea smiled. She sat on her bed, laid her back on the headboard, and stretched her body. A grunt escaped from her mouth before she answered. “Nothing,” she said, smiling, “I am just thinking of . . . things.”

She have decided that even though she was comfortable to the presence of Venida, she needed not to be too open to her. Thus, she does not want to tell her what happened to them last night.

“Things like . . . the reason why you and Lord Matthew arrived late at the hour of night?” just after that, Venida wiggled her eyebrows only tease the Princess more. She sat on her bed too, as if ready to listen for her gossip.

“It’s not what you are thinking, Venida!” Chelsea defended. She reached Venida. She lightly slapped her arms, desperate to stop her mockery.

“Then, what were you doing that it made you stay outside, past the dinner? It was so hard—miserable even—to think whatever reason I have to tell to the Queen why you are not around just to make sure she will not get mad at you .”

Princess Demeter smiled. “Thank you for helping me Venida. But that doesn't mean I’m going to tell you what were the things we have done,” she said.

Because her mind was tired from thinking—and she too lacking of sleep—she could not easily think of make-shift stories to fill and lie to Venida.

Disappointed from Princess Demeter’s claim, Venida sighed. She admitted the defeat of not acquiring any gossip from her. She stood beside the edge of the Princess' bed and started to smoothen the creases of her bed.

“Very well, if that is what you want. I cannot force to make the princess tell me what ‘romantically’ happened to her and the Lord during their secret date,” Venida said as she continued smoothening the creases on the cover cloth of the princess' bed.

“Venida,” Chelsea called. Her tone was synchronized with warnings. “There’s nothing ‘romantic’, as you emphasize, that has happened between me and Matthew.”

At that moment, Venida was dusting off the artificial flowers that was displayed, hanging on the walls. She shoot a sharp, suspicious gaze at the princess soon after she heard her defense. Then, without talking, she went back dusting the unreal flowers.

“Venida, I am telling you, there was nothing special that has happened between me and Matthew,” Princess Demeter again defended.

“Very well, if you say so,” Venida agreed, easily accepting her defense. She went towards the glass door of the Princess’s terrace, and she started cleaning it with a dry cloth.

However, despite admitting her defeat, Chelsea could still see how the servant was hiding the smile that was lining her lips.

She sighed. It seemed that she was the one who is defeated in this argumentative conversation. Thus, she decided to stand up.

“I hate you, Venida,” she whispered, and glared at the back of the servant.

Venida laughed when she heard the contempt of the princess.

“What is it, your highness? I already said I am believing your defense, don’t you know? I said, I believe you don’t have any . . . ‘romantic’ moments with the lord,” Venida said as she tried to suppress her laugh that was in the danger of explosion.

“Ugh! Whatever!” Chelsea exclaimed.

She rolled her eyes and ragingly stomped her feet. She saw the glass of milk on her table which Venida brought. Because of her ire to the servant, she grabbed the glass of hot milk and drank it until filled empty. The torrid heat of the milk seemed not hurting her throat.

“My heavens, your highness! That was a hot milk!” Venida panicked when she witnessed how Chelsea has finished drinking the hot milk.

“It’s not so hot anymore, it’s bearable to drink. Don’t worry,” Chelsea defended.

Venida sighed. “ Must you know, your Highness, that since the start I have decided to serve by your side, me and Vennett always had headaches and panics all because of your unpredictable moves. You don’t know how we always need to watch you carefully.”

From that, Chelsea laughed. “Well, maybe that is the nature of your work. Babysit a naughty princess?” she joked. The both of them laughed.

“Very well, your highness, I hope you don’t have a planned date to occupy yourself today, because the Queen told us that you would need to go to the Modiste for your gown fitting. Perhaps, you have other planned things to do today? You must cancel it.”

Chelsea remembers what had happened last night. She remembered the hideous forms of wolves that attacked her. She too remembered that Lord Matthew suggested that she shall not go back to the mansion unless the surroundings of it were free from the similar threatening creatures that has attacked them. Unless the place wasn’t safe yet from the threat of werewolves, she has to keep herself away from the danger.

“I don’t have any, to be honest,” Chelsea answered. She shook her head to forget the macabre images of the yesterday's wolves.

“Then the Modiste will be waiting for us today.”

“May I ask, Venida? What is the Modiste and the new gown for?” Chelsea curiously asked.

“Oh, have you forgotten it again, your highness? The first ball of spring hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Wetherby. It is only about two nights near!” Venida excitedly announced.

“Oh, the ball, I see,” Princess Demeter said. She nodded her head absentmindedly, and then idled at the far distant, vain place of her room.

On the other hand, Venida energetically went back in doing the morning chores she was doing on the princess’ room.

“Venida, can I ask you a question?” suddenly, Chelsea asked.

The servant cast her another glimpse, then she went back into wiping the glass door of the room’s terrace. “Why would you not, your highness?” she asked.

“Am I really not allowed to skip that ball?” Chelsea was hesitating to ask her the question, but she did it anyway. She needed an answer.

“If it was some other normal ball, perhaps attending wasn’t necessary. But this, your highness, it is one of the most remarkable occasion of the season. It is a big event for the Chesterfield city, and even to the whole nightingale kingdom. It is an enchant, next to the celebration of the first full moon of spring,” Venida explained.

“So basically, I am expected to show my face there,” Chelsea explained

“You are, indeed.”

As she heard the servant’s answer, she sighed. She went back into sitting at the edge of her bed.

“What was the matter, your highness?”

“Nothing. I am just . . . well, nervous going to that event,” she claimed.

“But why? You have been into noble balls for hundreds of time already, your highness. That ball shouldn’t be a sweat anymore.”

“Yeah, I know, it’s just that . . .”

Chelsea wanted to say that she has never been into a ball—not in her original life as Chelsea. She has never even had an opportunity spending her nights in party clubs or bars, just like other teenagers. Though a lot of people was awing her strength and courage, she was a loner; far from being a good socializer.

Though yes, she has been taught by Beatrix with the basics of the ball, such as the dances, but still, it felt as if what she learned from her was not quite enough to suffice her ignorance.

Silence covered in between her and the servant. She was thinking of possible make-shift story to use as a reason, so that she could feed Venida’s curiosity.

When she cannot think of anything, she was saved when someone consecutively aced knocks on the door.

“Sister, I suppose you are awake?”

From the outside, Chelsea and Venida heard Princess Demeter’s younger sister. Cassiopeia was calling her; asking if she was already awake.

“I am, sister. Come in,” Chelsea invited.

Not a second came when Cassiopeia entered the room with a big smile. She was wearing a white, simple dress; her hair was neatly tucked and clipped upwards, and; a light, elaborate-less makeup has enhanced her natural beauty.

“Morning, sister! Morning, Venida!” she greeted charmingly. She blessed the morning of the two women with her beam of bright smile.

“Morning too, Cassiopeia,” Princess Demeter greeted back. She too smiled at her.

When Cassiopeia saw the still unprepared state of her sister, she frowned.

“Why, sister? Have you just woke up?” Cassiopeia asked.

Chelsea awkwardly smiled at her. She scratched her head, and hesitantly nodded.

“I am,” she answered.

“Well then, what are you waiting for? Stretch and make haste before it was Andromeda who will have the chance to witness your still unprepared state,” Cassiopeia warned. “You do know how much desperate she was to turn every situation be in her favor, don’t you?”

“Huh? What? Why? Where are we going?” Confused, Chelsea asked.

“Have you already forgotten, sister? Every twice in a single week, we are to promenade at the Chesterfield square.”

“Promenade? You mean walk and parade yourself at the . . . the Chesterfield square?” Chelsea asked, still confused and bewildered.

Cassiopeia nodded. “Hurry now,”

“A-Alright, just . . . just give me a minute. I’ll take a quick bath and be dressed.” Even though she was confused and addled, she still stood up to prepare herself.

Cassiopeia smiled and nodded. “Just be in haste before that sly snake Andromeda sees you. She bits her fangs on her enemy’s neck, I’m warning you!”

Chelsea smiled. Had her hair wasn’t neatly tucked and arranged, she would have scuffled it already because she looked cute.

“Alright, Alright,” Chelsea answered.

************

At the Silver Feather Mansion, inside the biggest room, there Lord Matthew was laying on his bed. He was pale and weak. Cold pearls of sweat was trickling from his forehead and neck. He was shivering.

It was supposed to be silent, but it was disturbed when a knock sequentially tapped on the door. From it, Gwyneth appeared, entering the room. Bringing with her is a tray of food and water for the lord.

“How are you feeling, Alpha?” she greeted.

“Fine,” Lord Matthew answered. One could hear how his voice was weakly shaking. After his answer, a wimpish cough even escape from his lungs. He then pulled the bed’s comforter once again. He was feeling cold even though the sun was blistering the morning.

“You are not fine, Matthew. That is what I can see,” Gwyneth said. She placed the tray of food on the table beside Lord Matthew’s bed.

“I am fine, Gwyneth. None must be worried about,” Lord Matthew still defended.

“Was still, the Moon Flower are not having its supposed effect? It has been five hours since I gave you that last petal of my flower, isn’t it?”

“It will have its effect soon. Worry not,” Matthew assured. But Gwyneth knew that the lord was all but a pretend. Even his own self, he did not know what he has to do in order to tend his personal situation. He was surprisingly sick.

“Matthew,” Gwyneth called. It was noticeable that the way how she called Matthew was not in regard of being a lord, or even . . . an alpha.

“This is not the best time, my aunt,” Lord Matthew replied, revealing that Gwyneth was actually his aunt.

“As the she-wolf of the Silver Feather pack's Gamma, and as your Aunt, I was tasked by your Mama to guard and guide you in your responsibility,” Gwyneth said.

“And you are doing it very well, aunt. Thank you.”

“But what will your Mama say if by any chance she have heard about this . . . stupidity?”

“Stupid of me being sick despite the responsibility of being the pack’s alpha? Never worry, aunt. I will tell the pack to keep this misfortune a secret.”

“Matthew I—”

“Morning, Matthew. Morning, Aunt Gwyn.” Gwyneth was interrupted by someone who has just recklessly entered the room.

“Good Morning, Beatrix,” Gwyneth replied.

“How is the feeling of our Alpha?” Another man appeared from the doorway, entering the room.

“Still not fine, Beta Jullian,” Gwyneth again replied.

“Oh, morning, Aunt Gwyneth.” Jullian greeted her the moment he noticed she was also inside the Alpha's room.

“The Moon Flower’s juice hasn’t had any effect to him yet,” Gwyneth added.

“I told you, Aunt. It will, soon.” Lord Matthew defended himself once again. Still, his grip to his comforter was tight as he continued to shiver from the cold that only he was feeling.

Gwyneth sighed. “At the age of nineteen, the Moon Goddess blessed you with all the suiting abilities to be a perfect Alpha. She has blessed you too with your own pack, despite being young. But, Matthew, that does not mean that she too will grant you the ability to wolf-shift by the age of twenty! That is too soon!”

“But he just did, Aunt Gwyneth. You said you have personally witnessed it. And his wolf is a night wolf. A wolf that is extremely rare to our kind. A wolf that is beyond our strength,” Beatrix defended him. On her voice is a tone of fascination and awe. But she was serious.

“Indeed, I saw it. And I am certain that your fever, incurable with the Moon Flower, was because of that unexpected wolf-shift. You are supposed to have the ability to wolf-shift by the age of twenty one. One too soon will drain every bits of your strength. Or worse, it could lead you to . . . your death.”

The whole surrounding was conquered by silence.

“I will not die, fools,” said Lord Matthew in order to break the awkward silence devouring the room.

“If only you have let me escort Princess Demeter instead of you, this would not be happening,” Gwyneth added.

“Aunt, we can’t blame him. He was just a man, looking for a good space where he can spend lone time with the Princess,” Jullian joked. He laughed from his own remark, but when he felt the glaring stares of the people inside the room (and finding out that his joke wasn’t actually funny), he zipped his mouth.

“Sorry, Alpha,” he said, embarrassed.

“I was only trying to find more about that woman. About her true identity,” Lord Matthew said.

None from the three had negatively reacted from his word. It was because, all of them already knew the secret of the mysterious woman inside the Princess’ body. They already knew that a woman’s soul named Chelsea was stuck in the body of a noble princess. They were aware of it, because Lord Matthew had already told them the truth the day before the Princess be introduced to them and to the mansion.

It wasn’t only the Baron Lord who knew her secret. Everyone inside the room knew the mischief. Only that, the lord ordered them to pretend ignorant of the truth about her, so that she can be relaxed and comfortable around the house.

“What must be the Moon Goddess’ plan, and she involved such a clueless woman in our destiny? That is what I was trying to find,” Lord Matthew explained.