The Amorous Mate

Chapter 41: Order and Promise

“Good Morning, Venida. Good Morning, Vennett.”

Chelsea went down the stairs with a bright beam peering on her face. She was skipping her feet happily and humming a happy song, as if she was a 7-year old child who is about to meet her friends.

Venida and Vennett both smiled at her. “Pleasant morning, your Highness,” they simultaneously replied, and together, they bowed in her front.

Chelsea went passing through them with her attention focused on the food displayed on the royal table.

“Wow, so much for the morning again. I think I miss this,” she said, picking a piece of apple from the fruit basket, munching it with delight.

“We are glad to see your joyous energy back again, your Highness,” said Venida, smiling.

Chelsea looked at her. She returned the smile Venida and Vennett was giving, and then she nodded.

“So this was the feeling of someone who were finally out from the cage? It feels refreshing. It feels as if I have to cherish and take care of the freedom I have now, because it is freaking the best.”

Venida and Vennett chuckled soon after hearing the princess’ remark. They continued the preparations they were doing in the table as the princess continued to munch on her fruit.

“You were finally allowed to get out from your room, your Highness,” said Vennett.

“Yeah, I am not grounded anymore.”

“Didn’t I tell you, your Highness? Days will just pass and you will be able to do back the things you have been enjoying.”

Chelsea did not answer, instead a smile only curved on her lips. Indeed, she was happy to this very day, for she was finally able to set her foot outside of her room. She has been grounded for days by her Mama, the Queen, who was anxious that bad things might happen again to her if she would not protect her at all cost. It was a painful decision which resulted to Princess Demeter’s suffering, but she knew that the Queen only did the thing which she knew would be better for her daughter’s sake.

Chelsea understood her Mama’s cost. However, she was only upset by the fact that she could not enjoy the things she was doing as a princess for a period of time. Well, now that the restriction has been lifted, she was now treating what happened yesterday as a miserable past she should not remember anymore. All she cared for now, is how glad she was for she would be able to do things she wanted to do back again. Among the list was enjoying the abundance of food prepared in the table every time they would eat their meal.

“Perhaps it was too early than usual for you, my daughter, to be in the table.”

Chelsea looked at back and followed the source of the voice. From the doorway, she saw the Queen walking towards her, smiling.

“Pleasant morning, Mama.” She stood up, bowed in the presence of the Nightingale’s ruler.

Her Mama sat down on the Queen’s seat of the table. “How was your morning, Demeter?”

“It was divine, Mama,” Chelsea answered with a smile.

“I am glad to hear that. About what I did to you . . . Demeter . . . I wanted to apologize from that scornful act. I do not want to make you sad or mad by restricting you to be only inside your room, but it is the best thing I know that could help you be away from the danger.”

“I understand, Mama. Though I have to be honest, I was mad because I cannot do anything inside my room. But you see, now that I have my freedom back again, I am good.”

“I’ve heard your sentiments from your sister Cassiopeia. Indeed, I am sorry for—”

“Forgive me for interrupting the Queen’s words, but I have already said I am fine, and there is nothing to be discussed anymore. Nothing to be sorry about.” She smiled, encouraging the Queen not to be guilty from what she had done to her, knowing that she only decided to do it from the fact that she was only worried of her daughter’s welfare.

“Ah, Sister! Finally you are out.”

She heard her sister, Princess Cassiopeia, calling her name, coming towards the royal table. With her beaming smile, she ran towards her, and sat on the nearest chair beside.

“Morning, Cassiopeia,” she greeted. She looked back again at the doorway, for she saw that Princess Andromeda was also coming. “Morning, First Princess Andromeda.”

“Pleasant Morning, Sister,” Cassiopeia greeted back, but the usual for Andromeda, she did not reply.

“Say, sister, how was the feeling of finally having your freedom back?” asked Princess Cassiopeia while in the middle of their meal.

“Divine,” answered Chelsea.

Cassiopeia chuckled. “I know it feels great because you will have the chance to explore your romance back again.”

“I am not interested in romance, Cassiopeia,” Chelsea answered.

“Not even Prince Nigel or Lord Matthew?”

Chelsea reached the glass of water quickly as the food she swallowed clogged on her throat. She quickly drank the water, hoping that it would ease her suffering.

“Do not be too obvious, sister,” said Cassiopeia, trying her best to suppress her crisp laughs. If she would explode while they were having their meal, then surely, their Mama would punish her.

“I do not think of anyone of them, Cassiopeia. Will you please stop—just for once—all your fantasy about romance?” Chelsea asked, acting mad and offended despite her cheeks blushing in red.

“I’m sorry, sister. I have been occupied with my fantasy again,” Princess Cassiopeia said. She leaned closer to Demeter, and whispered. “Well, I do not betray you sister even though I know the fact that Lord Matthew was visiting your room for the past previous nights of your restriction.”

Chelsea paled. She quickly glanced at her sister. “What do you—”

Cassiopeia winked, “worry not, sister.”

“Talking about Prince Nigel,” the Queen interrupted the conversation. She was slicing the tender steak on her plate. “He will be attending tonight’s celebration.”

Their Mama’s words caught the attention of Princess Andromeda who was not speaking, not until the moment she heard the prince’s name.

“Did he pick his date yet? I am very much available, Mama,” she enthusiastically announced.

“Indeed, he requested someone to be his company,” the Queen answered with a smile.

“Celebration?” it was the time when Chelsea asked.

“Have you forgot, sister? Today is the celebration for the first full moon of Spring,” Cassiopeia answered. “That is also the reason why Mama lifted your restriction. Everyone would need to celebrate and thank Your Almighty for the abundant blessing of the Spring. It was a festive night of two”

“Ah,” exclaimed Chelsea. “Really? Was it today? Ah, surely, time passes so fast. I lost the track on it,” she reasoned, trying to hide the fact that she had no idea what the celebration was for.

“Must I prepare, Mama,” Princess Andromeda said. She was about to stand up and leave the table. “I want to look dandy in front of the prince.”

The Queen apologetically looked at her daughter. “Forgive me, Andromeda, but it was your sister Demeter whom he had asked to be his date,” she said.

“Me?” surprised, Demeter asked. Well, considering all the fact about Nigel, Chelsea should not be surprised that the prince asked for her presence. She knew that he was interested to her—to Princess Demeter, not on her being as Chelsea. Perhaps, she would be glad to accompany him, only if she was not already occupied for the coming night.

She looked down the ground and recalled what Lord Matthew asked him last night.

He had visited him once again in her room. For the past remaining days of her restriction, she had not felt any sense of loneliness anymore, for every night, the lord was visiting her, bringing different things from the outside, eating Kingdom’s delicacy while they were having conversation.

That night, Lord Matthew brought colorful flower-shaped desserts—sweet biscuits—that instantly melts on the tongue once eaten.

“Tomorrow will be the lifting of your restriction,” Lord Matthew said, looking at the nearly complete shape of the moon.

“Yes. You don’t know how excited I am, Matthew. I was like secretly wishing that you will not stay late tonight so that I’ll have more time to sleep, because I want to wake up early tomorrow.”

Lord Matthew chuckled. “Are you subtly trying to shoo me away now, Chelsea?”

“Maybe I am?” Chelsea answered, chuckling as well. “It’s just that . . . damn it, I can finally go out tomorrow. I feel like I have developed claustrophobia in this room, so I won’t be coming back for a period of time. That kind of thinking.”

“Claustrophobia?” Lord Matthew asked.

“Ah, it’s a word for the fear on closed, tight spaces.”

“But your room was too big and bright for you to develop that kind of fear,” Lord Matthew chuckled again.

Chelsea roamed her sight on her room. Indeed, she realized how big it was, and she even come up to the point wherein she felt thankful for having the chance to experience such kind of luxury.

“Indeed it was big.” She shrugged. “Well, maybe I was just overreacting for having that kind of fear.”

“Sure you did.” Lord Matthew picked a red-colored flower biscuit, and gave it to the Princess. Princess Demeter accepted it without hesitation. She even devoured the food with only a single bite.

“Do you think . . . you can spare me your time . . . tomorrow night . . . to be with me?” Lord Matthew, far from the topic of their conversation, suddenly asked. The way how he said it, was weak and as if he was embarrassed—as if he was hesitating to tell it to her.

Yet, Chelsea heard it clear. “Tomorrow night? I think I am free. Restrictions to me will be lifted tomorrow, did you forgot?”

“Then, must you join me.”

“To where?” Chelsea asked.

Lord Matthew avoided her stares. “To Silver Feather,” he answered. “I am aware that having you outside of the city is quite a difficult risk. I am aware of it, but, somehow I have this urge and decision of showing it to you.” Finally, he gathered his courage to look straight on her eyes once again.

Chelsea’s eyebrows met. “Show me about what?”

“Something . . . about us. Something about wolves. I know you have been curious of what we are, Chelsea. And, I think tomorrow night is the best time for you to learn about us.” Lord Matthew answered. He then blinked multiple times when he realized that Chelsea was only intently staring at him, and not answering. “Th-that is . . . if you would allow me to take you back there. If you do not want, th-then there is nothing that I cannot do.”

“Are you kidding me?” she asked, “that’s one hell of opportunity to see, whatever it was!”

“Then I suppose you are going with me tomorrow?” Matthew asked.

Chelsea smiled and nodded. “That is a promise.”

“Tomorrow night, then,” said Lord Matthew. After that, he had set his departure from the Princess’ room.

Now, learning that there will be celebration later of the very night, Chelsea was stuck between her promise to Lord Matthew, and accepting the order of the Queen. She wanted to say that she was already occupied for the night, but she knew her mother would only say to cancel whatever it was, for the Prince’s presence is more important than anything else. The Queen too would be curious what she was up to, and she could not just say that she will be watching and learning something about wolves. That would cause her Mama to faint.

“Do you mind accompanying the Prince, Demeter?” The Queen asked.

Chelsea bit her lip. She does not know what will happen, but for the sake of responding to the Queen, she nodded. “I will, Mama.”

“Then everything is settled, I presume.”

Chelsea showed a smile to the Queen. Just as she showed it, she had also caught through the corner of her eyes, of her sister, Andromeda. She was looking at her, and her expression was mad and furious—as if saying she had stole another thing she should not have. Chelsea sensed trouble.

‘Not with you too, Andromeda,' Chelsea thought. ‘I already have problems with Nigel and Matthew. Do not add more to the burden.’

She pretended she did not feel the anger of her sister. She gave her a smile, which turned out to be awkward, and what worse could be, was, the First Princess thought it was her sister’s way to provoke her.

After awkwardly smiling, Chelsea went back eating her food with worries and hesitations clouding her mind.