The Amorous Mate

Chapter 43: Under The Fireworks

Chelsea found herself staring at the crescent moon necklace Prince Nigel gave to her. The first time she saw it, she was already drawn to it. For her, it was exceptionally beautiful.

People may have seen the necklace as special because they all witnessed how the prince gave it to her, but for Chelsea, there is something more that made the item more captivating for her.

Her smile were inconceivable as her stare were stuck and focused only to the necklace.

Of course, Prince Nigel was delighted after learning that the princess was drawn to her gift. That must mean, he picked the best item which the princess liked. It was an achievement for him.

Even though they were already inside the square, and everyone was delightfully waiting for them, it could be seen that Princess Demeter was still drawn to the necklace hanging around her neck.

“The second princess of Nightingale, together with the Upper Prince of Winchester, Princess Demeter Nightingale and Prince Nigel Winchester!” The royal announcer of the event, the moment they entered, called their names for people to recognize their arrival. That was the only time when Princess Demeter removed her attention to the necklace and went back to the world.

She smiled as she heard the simultaneous claps of the elite and non-elite people surrounding the area. She waved her hand, as if she was feeling she was a celebrity or an idol in the city.

“I believe this will be a long night, your Highness?” Prince Nigel went near her ears, and spoke, for the noise in the place was too loud for a normal conversation to happen.

“I believe it will,” said Princess Demeter, copying the Prince’s way of talking.

As they enjoyed the claps and recognitions, they promenaded towards an elevated stage—next to the main stage—where the queen and Princess Demeter’s sisters were present.

“How dandy it was,” Princess Cassiopeia said, “you walked towards this square romantically, making me jealous of the chemistry in your existences.” She pouted.

“Shut up, Cassiopeia,” Chelsea returned.

Prince Nigel however, smiled. He led the chair for Princess Demeter as he answered Princess Cassiopeia. “Do not worry, your Highness. I believe that your destined romance was just hiding somewhere from here, inside this very cornered square. You will meet him at the right time.”

Cassiopeia pouted even more and crossed her arms on her chest. “But I cannot wait anymore.”

“That’s what you got from reading too much romantic books, isn’t it? You are in haste of finding love when you couldn’t even prepare for your own meal,” Princess Andromeda joined the conversation, mocking Cassiopeia.

“What is the connection of knowing how to cook meal, your Highness, to finding your destined soul?” Cassiopeia asked, trying to irritate Andromeda.

“They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I bet you have heard it already.”

“I . . . I do,” answered Cassiopeia.

“Then that means in order for you to get the man you deserve, you must know how to cook. That is I think the most basic thing you must remember among other list you must. Besides, you are just but eighteen. You are too young.”

From that, the Queen joined the conversation with a light chuckle first. “Your sister is correct, Cassiopeia. You must know how to take care of yourself before finding another soul to feed and take care of. You are still young. In love, there is nothing that must need to be hasted.”

“Then that means, you knew how to cook that time you married Papa, Mama?” Cassiopeia shifted her position facing her mother.

“Not just cook, I believe. I knew how to wash dishes, clean clothes, and even taking care of a baby,” the Queen answered.

“What? Then that must mean I have to do it too? But we are a royal. We do not need to do that, isn’t it?”

Chelsea smiled. “I think, one of the similarities that we possess to the commoners, sister, is our ability to work and learn. Though yes, I agree that royalties does not need to do such things Mama and Andromeda mentioned because there were servants who can do it, but isn’t it romantic if every morning, you would bring your husband a breakfast in bed? Isn’t it romantic if the both of you tried to clean your own clothes while playing with the bubbles of soap? Or isn’t it pleasuring to take care of your child without the need of other servants—just the two of you?”

Hearing Demeter, Cassiopeia’s eyes were about to twinkle in shine. This kid has been drawn too much of the concept of romance that hearing it being part of any sentence would make her curious and interested and this kind of affected.

She looked at Demeter. “Then that must mean, you knew how to cook, sister?” she asked.

Andromeda, without being asked for her opinion, snickered. “Haven’t you remember how she tried poisoning us once with the food she cooked? She is hopeless learning that thing.”

“Ah, indeed, I remembered it. She let me eat a fish that is charcoaled from frying.” Remembering the scene, Cassiopeia looked at Demeter with a disappointed, mocking look.

Chelsea without knowing what actually happened, rolled her eyes in irritation. The real Princess Demeter must have sucked cooking for food. “But I am not anymore,” she reasoned. She thought of a possible make-up explanation about her knowledge in cooking. “I have learned a lot of things when I was still in Saxton. Servants taught me how to cook.”

“Then would I be demanding if I ask you to cook for me? I do think I am craving for your cuisines,” Prince Nigel asked.

“Nah, Prince Nigel. You don’t need her food for even though she did not put something in your stomach, she already had your heart,” Princess Cassiopeia said so casually that the rest of them found it funny. They laughed.

The night has been so good so far. As the celebration for the night of the first full moon of spring continued, they watched various performances in the stage. Both were made by trained performers, and some elites have shown their prowess in art as well, hoping that they will captivate someone’s heart by doing such talents.

Chelsea was enjoying the nights. She was smiling and laughing of the performances she have seen in the stage, but little did everyone knew, something was bothering her.

She has been looking for a perfect timing to stand and get out from her chair, for she was to do something she has never told anyone yet. She swallowed the lump on her throat as she succumb in her worries.

She was afraid that Lord Matthew would be mad at her, for she was about to lose the promise she have swore last night. She has been roaming the whole square, hoping that she will see the Baron Lord, but it was as if finding a needle in a pile of hay, because there are a lot of people in the place, watching and enjoying theirselves.

She could not know what Lord Matthew will feel if she would not do the promise she said, and she doesn’t want him to get mad. That is why, she was trying to find a time wherein she would be able to look for the lord.

“What were you feeling uneasy of, your Highness?” from her beside, Prince Nigel asked.

Chelsea was surprised of it, that is why she stammered. “Wh-What do you mean, Prince Nigel?”

“I can sense it, Princess Demeter, you are feeling uneasy now. Even though you are smiling and laughing from those performances, you have been roaming the whole place as if you are looking for someone.”

Chelsea was surprised from how observant the prince was. Even though she has been hiding her worries, he was still able to read through the situation. That made her question herself if she was doing things good. She knew she was better in terms of hiding her emotion, for she has been doing it way back when she was still a Chelsea. She has been toughened by the situations in her life, making her able to suppress every emotions she deemed not going to work for her. Now, she wondered if her being in this place and being treated special by the people around her has softened her barriers for a little bit.

“I . . . I am fine, Prince Nigel. Do not worry,” she said, trying her best to smile.

“Is it about Lord Matthew?” Prince Nigel asked, causing Chelsea’s smile to fade. She avoided his stare, and went back watching the performances in the stage.

“I knew it,” said Prince Nigel with a weakened voice.

Chelsea bit her lower lips, trying not to get affected from Prince Nigel. But then, it seemed she could not handle it, that is why she sighed.

“Do not worry about it, Prince Nigel. It’s just some things about him and me. He just asked me to go with her because he will show something. Nothing remarkable,” she explained.

Now, on the center of the stage were royals standing proudly. All of them are young elites with pride and confidence shown in their auras. It was the time for the announcement of the elite’s coming of ages—an age where they will be legal for marriage. There is a custom in the Nightingale Kingdom that not until an elite reached the age of 21, they will be able to be married. Once one reached twenty one years old, and has been recognized by the Queen, they can now marry the partner they desire.

Her Mama told her that by the next year, she would be having her coming of age ceremony too. Once she reached twenty one, she would be obligated to find someone to marry—which she thinks as burdensome.

“But you have promised to him that you would be going, isn’t it?” asked Prince Nigel, making Chelsea unable to answer.

She heard the Prince sighing. “Must I work harder, I think,” he said, “for if I keep how I work the same as today, I will lose.”

“Prince Nigel—”

“None was your fault, princess. Even I can say that Matthew weighs something bigger for you, compared how I weigh for you. But until there is a chance, must I still fight. You haven’t had your final decisions yet, isn’t it?”

Chelsea could not answer. She only bit her lip, for she does not know what she will say, nor how she will react.

“As long as I have the chance, I will do my best to fight for your heart, Princess. Must you brace yourself.”

“I . . . I am sorry for hurting you, Nigel.”

Prince Nigel smiled. “I was prepared to be hurt, I must say, your Highness. But that doesn’t mean I will surrender. Not in the face of Lord Matthew.”

Chelsea smiled. Somehow, she admired the prince of his perseverance despite knowing the fact that he was being left behind. He was still doing his best fighting for her heart even though he believe he was disadvantaged.

Chelsea was not sure, however, of what she felt about Lord Matthew, and even to the Prince. All she know, she was comfortable and happy when one of them was beside her. It was as if she has long known the two, and has been her good friends, and if perhaps one was gone beside her, she would be genuinely sad.

“Your Highness, I think now is the time for you to find Lord Matthew,” again, Prince Nigel spoke.

“Huh? What do you mean?” she looked at the surrounding and noticed that the coming of age ceremony was finished. She had not clearly watched everything for she was occupied in finding where Lord Matthew was.

Now what she could see was the group of people—spectators—grouping in the middle of the square, finding each ither a partner.

She remembered that the last part of the program or celebration was a ball. Indeed, it was the perfect time for her to find the Baron Lord.

“Go, and I will cover for you,” Prince Nigel said, smiling.

Chelsea looked at her with a thankful nod. The prince returned the nod, and went towards where Princess Andromeda was. He will be inviting the princess for a dance, making Chelsea free from him.

When she saw that Prince Nigel and Princess Andromeda was going to the dance floor, she did not waste her time anymore, and started to look for Lord Matthew.

She can sense that he was in the square.

It was hard looking for him, to be honest. There were a lot of people in the area, and everytime she took her step, gentlemen would courageously ask her hand for a dance. She, however, would apologetically decline their offers.

She has been looking for him for handful of minute now, and she was losing the hope that she will be meeting the lord.

She noticed that she was already outside of the Chesterfield square, panting from tiredness, as she kept running and looking for the lord. She could not understand why, but she can feel the warm waters about to fall from her eyes.

She shoulders stiffened when she heard loud booming sound erupting in the dark, starry sky. She looked at it, and then saw colorful neon of lights dancing on the sky, lighting the darkness. She could hear everyone’s gasps and feeling of delight. She too was shocked and mesmerized.

She did not expect that such colorful fireworks would be the highlight of the show. She brushed the tears on her eyes.

“Whatever, Matthew. You are just the one who cannot wait,” she said, pertaining to how the lord cannot wait for her to finish her duty as a princess.

“Nonsense.” Suddenly, a man’s voice sparked at her back, causing for her to check to whom does it belong.

She saw a handsome man looking above the sky, watching the colorful sparks of fireworks. Chelsea could see the reflection of the fireworks on the man’s eyes.

Somehow, she could not stop herself to smile. She again wiped the unexplained tears falling from her eyes. “I thought you left, Matthew.”