The Amorous Mate

Chapter 18: Planning

“It is a win-win situation, Matthew. You see, if you would help me become the Crowned Princess of the Nightingale Kingdom, then that white wolf will help me go back to my old life. And because I can go back, the real Princess Demeter will go back to this body as well. You would finally meet her again, and she would be continuing her life as a Princess, but crowned. Isn’t it f*****g simple?”

Chelsea and Lord Matthew is inside the Amoreaux’s. Sitting in front of a table, there stood two cups of cold beer sizzling on the container as they talked.

Many people inside the Amoreaux’s was shocked and surprised when they saw such noble one as the Princess entering the beer house. Amoreaux’s is designated for people who had been given a privileged life, but does not possess any noble rank in the caste. It is one of the crowd’s favorite place to drink, find peace, and unwind themselves from the toxic problems of the society.

There maybe some noble people who loves drinking in the place—such as Lord Matthew—but to see a Princess sitting on one of the chairs is truly unaccepted.

Truth is, Chelsea liked the calm ambience of the place. Yet, she was in no mood to drink beer or any alcohol today, because her mind was busy thinking about her dream. Only that, for the sake of Lord Matthew’s peace of mind, she had allowed herself to follow him into this place.

Lord Matthew sighed as he stares at his cold beer. Because of that, Chelsea’s eyes narrowed as he intently looked at the Lord who had seemed his thoughts is away from him.

“Are you listening, Matthew?” she asked.

When she received no reply from him, she slowly reached Lord Matthew’s side, on his belly, and hardly pinched the skin she was able to grab with her index and thumb finger.

Because of that, Lord Matthew’s eyes gravely widened. He was about to scream from the pain, but alerted that they were on a public place, he has done his best not to scream so that it would cause no more scandal.

“Now, are you listening to me?” Chelsea said along with a sarcastic smile plastered on her face.

“What are you doing, your Highness!” Lord Matthew exclaimed, but in whisper.

Chelsea saw the Lord’s face turning red because it has been long since he was trying to ignore her pinching. For her, his red-turning face is cute, but she does not want to be a total sadist, that is why she had freed him.

“I was just testing you if you are listening because it seemed like you’re not.”

“Well, pardon me, your Highness, but I am listening to your qualms. It is just that, my mind is too occupied with a lot of thoughts—but all those are all related to you and your situation!” as he said those words, he was trying to control his rages. He was even fuming in red while growling, which seemed somehow weird for Chelsea.

Knowing that Lord Matthew could not hit her, she had just mockingly shrugged at him.

“Well, sorry then. I thought you’re not because you never replied to me the moment we came here,” reasoned Chelsea.

“Princess Deme—” Lord Matthew stopped and irritatedly closed his eyes. “Pardon me, but I could not help myself calling you the Princess’ name knowing that you are not. Perhaps may I know what was the name of that someone inhabiting her vessel?”

“Chelsea,” she replied. “Chelsea Grace. That’s my name.”

“Indeed. Chelsea.” He sighed. “I was deeply thinking about your situation, as I have said. May I know again what was the reason why am I here?”

Chelsea grabbed a piece of fried slice of meat from their table. “I don’t know. You just said you wanted to help me right after you knew I had talked to that white wolf. You seemed interested to her.”

“I am, indeed.”

“Maybe I can know more about her if ever she would visit my dreams again.”

“I am in doubt. That wolf rarely appears to our dreams or in any way that she could. She is an epitome of mystery,” Lord Matthew disagreed.

“Do you know who she is?”

She shifted her body facing towards the lord. Her forehead is creased as she became curious from Lord Matthew’s knowledge of the wolf.

Yet, instead of answering, Lord Matthew averted their conversation away from her question.

“I am in deep thought, Chelsea, wondering what was the reason I am the first one whom you had asked for help,” Lord Matthew said.

He stared straightly to the eyes of Chelsea. Because of the intensity of the void, black eyes of the Lord, Chelsea has quickly avoided him with panic.

“W-Well, it was what she said. She told me that I can look for someone to help me with my problem. Someone who knows my real existence—my real identity. Guess you won’t be surprised who the w***e lord that wolf is talking about.”

After hearing her reasons, Chelsea has vividly saw how Lord Matthew deeply inhaled for breath, and holding it for a second. Because of that, his manly collar bone and the details on his neck became more prominent—more attractive for Chelsea.

“Then, may you clearly tell me what do I need to do to help you becoming the kingdom's Crowned Princess?” asked Lord Matthew.

Chelsea has smiled once again. For her, his question is a sign of good news. “Make me a real Princess—by how I move, by how I think, I speak, the do’s and don’ts; everything. I have to be as noble as the real Princess Demeter if I am to get the crown.”

From that, Lord Matthew nodded, agreeing to what she has proposed.

“Very well then,” he said, “I will send you a person tomorrow that will guide you to our rendezvous. Make sure you would wear something not as fancy and elaborates as what you are now wearing.”

“Why? And why do you need to send someone to pick me instead of you?”

“It will be an arrangement, Chelsea. I could not help you alone, but with few people I trust, it could happen.”

“But …”

“Do not worry. I will be there tomorrow.”

Chelsea bit her lower lip because of anxiety. Yet, because she now could not do anything about the lord’s plans—knowing that it would be for the better—she have just nodded in submission.

She looked back at Lord Matthew once again, and he had caught him in the act looking straightly at her lips which she have been biting because of utter worry. Quickly, the lord averted his gaze on another direction. He grabbed the cup of beer on his front, and with a deep breath, he chugged the until it became empty.

He then stood up while his hands are slightly shaking.

“Forgive me your Highness for being disrespectful and impolite, but I must quickly leave you for now,” he politely said.

Then, after he bowed in her front, he quickly went to the shop’s counter and placed a thousand bill too much for the cups of beer and a plate of meat they have just ordered. Not asking for his change, Lord Matthew has left the shop in a quick flash of seconds.

Chelsea was left sitting on their table. Confused and stunned, she kept blinking her eyes as she tried to analyze what has just happened.

“Okay, what was that?” she asked herself.

Soon after she recovered from shock, she was left no choice but to leave the Amoreaux’s alone. She could not believe that Lord Matthew has left her hanging and alone inside a place she was still unfamiliar with.

Luckily, the Amoreaux’s was just a near distance away from the palace. With that, she had not worried that she will be lost.

“What was the problem of that man?” Chelsea asked herself as she walks.

Raging, she was occupied with her own thoughts as she looked aimlessly on the ground. Her forehead was still creasing as she curiously think about the possible reason why he would just leave her without any clear excuse why.

“I know we’re just talking good and nice. Then out of nowhere, he would just leave me hanging? Hey, that’s very ungentlemanly.”

She sneered with irritation as she realized how offending Lord Matthew is. She crossed her arms and then she quickly marched towards the palace, bearing her anger and confusion.

“Well, if my wits are still unrusty, Princess Demeter, why are you outside?”

Chelsea stopped from her walking when an unfamiliar voice of a man appeared not far from her. It revealed that it was another dashing man the same age as her, and now he is walking towards her. His fashion is very different from the usual gentlemen she have been seeing in the surrounding. His was a metal-made suit of armor and boots; a sword sheathed and clipped at his left side, and a metallic helmet he was holding with his right hand.

“Oh, hi there.”

She does not know what she is going to do. Awkwardly, she greeted him along with a hesitating waving of her hand.

The man—which is probably a Royal Soldier, basing on his suit—snapped and stood straight in her front. She almost jumped from shock when the man quickly moved his hand and formed a salute.

Chelsea stood frozen, not knowing what she would do in that situation. Yet, lucky as she is (maybe), the Royal Soldier moved his saluting hands down. He replaced it with a warm smile.

“It has been a long time, my Demeter,” greeted the soldier.

“Huh? Ah, yes it is.” Chelsea awkwardly grinned at the man.

“Still as you, you are always frightened by the salutations of the Soldier. It was actually the reason why I chose being the kingdom's Soldier, indeed. I can never get bored by your expressions whenever I tease you,” the man joked.

Chelsea replied with a smile. She have no idea who is the man, nor had any thought of why he is talking to her as if they were close. She could not find any words to reply, making her think that the only way to escape from this confusing trap is to run away.

Yet then, as if sensing that she was in deep trouble, a familiar man appeared just beside her.

“My apologies, Sir Cedric Valhaullster. I am afraid that the Princess is not feeling well this very moment that she had no strength nor energy to talk.”

Chelsea looked at Lord Matthew who was intently staring at the Royal Soldier in their front.

“Was it?” The Royal Soldier named Sir Cedric asked. He looked at the princess with concern.

Sensing that it was the perfect time for her to escape the awkward situation, she quickly nodded to the soldier.

Now, she thought that Lord Matthew’s words are still not enough for him to believe. That is why she knew it was the right time to reveal her ‘great’ acting skill.

She over-actingly held her forehead, and with a quick turn of events, she let her body fall towards Lord Matthew. Knowing that the lord has quick reflexes, she was certain that the lord will catch her. Luckily, he did.

“Princess Demeter!”

“Your Highness!”

Both Lord Matthew and Sir Cedric exclaimed.

“Oh, I am fine, I am fine, worry not.”

Chelsea gained stood up from Lord Matthew’s arm. To add more effect to her acting skills, she even made her eyes looking drowsy and sleepy.

“I just need to take some rest,” she added.

“I can take you to the Palace as quick as light, Demeter,” Sir Cedric unhesitatingly offered.

“No, no. I’m okay. Good as horse. I prefer Lord Matthew to accompany me to the Palace,” Chelsea openly suggested.

“V-Very well. Much obliged, your Highness.”

Sir Cedric could now not do anything but to stare at them as they slowly walked towards the palace—Lord Matthew side-hugging the Princess for support.

“Your acting, Chelsea,” Lord Matthew whispered while they are in the middle of their walk.

“What about it? Are you surprised by my skill?” Chelsea asked. Though in whisper, the pride in her tone is still visible.

“It’s horrible. You would not even qualify in theater,” frankly admitted by Lord Matthew.

Hearing that, Chelsea rolled her eyes and grimaced at him.

“You’re just jealous because I can pull such trick.”

“I would not be, if the trick is of a jester’s,” snarled back by Lord Matthew.

“Whatever. I am still not forgetting how you had left me earlier at the Amoreaux’s.”

“I … uh, forgive me for that, Chelsea. I was … I was just acting out of my own impulse that time.”

“Still not a good reason for you to leave me there.”

“I would not do it again. It is a vow.” Lord Matthew whispered.

After a minute of walking, Sir Cedric was now nowhere in sight. Because of that, they had decided to pull off from their little acts—of she acting ill, and he acting to support the ill.

Composing themselves, Chelsea cleared her throat.

“Who was he?” she asked when they continued walking once again.

“Who?” Lord Matthew asked.

“Sir Cedric Valhaullster. That soldier earlier,” Princess Demeter answered.

“That man is a childhood friend of the Nightingale sisters. Meaning, he is close to you—and you should be too. He is the General of the kingdom’s army, and …” Lord Matthew partially stopped, “he is also the head of the specialized group of Vampires and Werewolf hunters,” he explained.

Reaching the Palace’s front garden, Lord Matthew stopped walking, so is Princess Demeter.

She looked at him with inquisiting eye. “So the rumors are true,” she said, “that there are vampires and werewolves lurking somewhere in this world?”

“I’m afraid I have to say yes,” Lord Matthew answered.

“That must be scary.”

“Only if you dwell in the woods, or in its periphery, it is. Vampires and wolves surely would not bother lurking in the center of a prosperous Kingdom, as this, I believe—and would attack for some people’s blood. It would be too risky for them, I am sure. They live in the secrets of the forests, or if not, who knows, maybe pretending as ordinary human-living people.”

After Lord Matthew’s explanation, the both of their spaces turned quiet and still.

“I believe this is where I could only bring you, your Highness,” Lord Matthew politely said, breaking the awkward silence that is building in their between. He turned politely speaking once again because he noticed that Andromeda, one of the Nightingale Princesses, is about to approach them.

“Ah, yes. Sure. Thank you for your company,” Chelsea said back, aware of the reason of the lord’s sudden politeness.

The both of them smiled to each other. Before Lord Matthew completely leaves, he turned to Princess Demeter and made a polite bow as a sign of recognition.

“What must be the reason that you have been keeping your company with that meager Baron Lord?” asked Andromeda. Her eyes are set to the back of Lord Matthew who was walking away from the palace.

“I think that is not your business anymore, sister,” Chelsea said.

She smiled at her sister, and with a slight bow, she then started to walk and leave the querying Princess.

“Though I must admit he is somewhat attractive,” Andromeda said that caused Chelsea to stop her attempt of escape. “I can always consider him as one of my man. I know he could not resist my charm and appeal—no man could. Besides, to have a night with the future Queen of the Kingdom sure is an honorable worth, don’t you agree?”

Chelsea sighed. She realized that it was just another trick of her sister in order to cause disarray to her name.

“Good luck to your plan with him, sister. Indeed, goodluck.”

Marching inside the palace, she left her sister defeated from her another sister-threatening attempt.