101 Ways To Tame The Emperor

Chapter 19: Newfound Feelings

(Malik)

IT WAS two-forty in the morning and I had just finished reviewing and signing the last piece of document that Matthew handed to me. I need to wake up before seven to prepare for a meeting with the Ministers at eight. I also wanted to accompany Catherine in her daily schedule. But for that to happen, I would have to prepare sleeping for about three to four hours from now on since I won’t be able to work at daytime which means I will have a bunch of paper works to deal with at night.

I should be sleeping by now. But instead of doing that, I found myself walking on the opposite direction of my chamber. And it was towards Catherine’s chamber. I’m here at the garden and looking at her balcony for a while now like a fool. The lights were off. She must be sleeping peacefully at this moment.

I could not stop thinking about the anger on her face as I talked about the ‘Emperor’ on the dining hall. Catherine’s anger was real. Her eyes were so expressive that they reveal what she feels inside. In fact, I could tell that she looked angrier compared to the time when she was facing Lancelot and his dimwit squad. And I was caught off guard. I did not know what to feel. It was the first time someone gave me that disgusted look while I was being ‘Malik Montebello’. For a woman like her who was supposed to know nothing, it was bold of her to criticize a General so openly.

Seeing me had an effect on her, too. I could sense her attraction towards me but she deliberately shoved it away. As expected, she was not swept away easily. Catherine was aware of the vital role I play as the General and yet, she did not retract what she said at the hall and chose to side with the ‘Emperor’ instead. She passed the first test earlier. Matthew was there, too, and was secretly listening on the other side of the hall. The butler and the servants participated in the play he and I conducted.

All the women before Catherine never passed the first stage. They agreed right away to become the ‘General’s woman’. Most of the time, I didn’t even have to say it. They would offer themselves to me right away. But Catherine Peiris was a tough shell to c***k.

 A part of me wanted to feel glad that Catherine was willing to accept ‘me’ despite what she thought I looked like. I was impressed. I found myself smiling while remembering the expression she had regarding the chicken. She looked as if she wanted to pick them all up. She fought with the rebels without losing her composure that’s why it was hard to believe that she almost lost her composure over a chicken.

Matthew and the other employees laughed so hard after Catherine walked away with the head maid. The dining hall had never been that lively but from the very first moment she graced the Castle, I’ve heard everyone laughed a couple of times.

“That woman is gold, Malik, I tell you.” I remember Mrs. Rembrant saying after she reported back to me. She was the only one in the Castle who calls me by my name. Mrs. Rembrant was my mother’s friend and raised me along with her. “She has this beautiful light in her eyes. I like her. I could sense her sincerity while defending the ‘Emperor’. And she talks to the employees here with respect unlike the other ladies who thought so highly of themselves when they are not even that smart to begin with. This Catherine can be a good Empress. I can feel it.

“Other women would have normally never left your side after seeing you. They would have clung to you like the leeches they were and that include her half-sisters. Do you remember how they used to bug you so much? They literally offered themselves to you in front of me.” She grimaced. “But Catherine complained about you the whole time we were walking back to her chamber and wondered why His Majesty ever trusts someone like you.”

“Really? And what did you say?” I can’t believe there would come a time when I would be excited into hearing stories about a certain woman.

The things that you make me do, Catherine…

“Nothing. Because she said she was not talking to me, that she was talking to herself so I should not bother answering her. And she told me that in a rather polite way to make sure I will not be offended. That kid is funny. Would you believe that she bumped into the wall because she was so engrossed in whining about you?”

Matthew chuckled. “Really? Oh, no. I regret not escorting her back. I should have seen that myself.”

Mrs. Rembrant giggled like a child. “I was so worried because her forehead turned red. But do you know what she told me? She said, ‘Mrs. Rembrant, don’t look at me like that. I did not bump into the wall like what you are thinking. I did it on purpose, okay? I just wanted to test the wall’s strength. And it matched my expectations. The walls in this Castle are strong, very strong. I like them.’”

Everyone burst into laughter again after hearing that. It was the first time Mrs. Rembrant ever complimented a woman. The head maid was usually the first to castigate the women who visits the Castle. She was that strict. But after a few minutes of talking to her, Mrs. Rembrant could already vouch for her with a smile.

And who can blame them? Catherine just keeps on proving time and time again of how unique she was. She was the first to ever talk back to me without an ounce of regret. Yet, I let it pass. And maybe in the future, I will keep letting it pass because it was her. Not to mention that it was fun to tease Catherine. I was actually looking forward to seeing more of her, to seeing what her next reaction would be and to hearing what else she would dare say to me. I find her that fascinating.

I was about to walk away when I heard a sound. I hid beside the tree when I saw Catherine coming out of her room. She looks so dainty today. I am no painter. But looking at her gazing at the night sky makes me want to grab a canvas and a paint brush. She would have made a lovely subject. Should I have her portrait made tomorrow? I’m sure many artists would rush here to paint her.

It was hell being on the same place as her without being able to touch her. I wanted so badly to continue where we left off at the tavern but I’ve been controlling myself. There are many things I wanted to do with her. It sucks that I could not do them right away. What are you doing to me, Catherine?

I wonder what she could be thinking this late. What was keeping her awake?

I froze when I saw Catherine’s shoulders shook as tears fell down her cheeks. She covered her mouth with her hands as if she was trying so hard not to make a noise. Once again, I felt like someone was tearing my insides apart. Why… why was she crying? Who the hell was making her cry?

I wanted to run to her, give her a bear hug, and just… be there with her. But that would creep her out. We are not in the stage yet where I could freely comfort her. I never really had the desire to reach out to anyone the way I wanted to reach out to her. She was right. She indeed, had a mask, too. And she seem to wear it all the time but this morning, she did not put it on because I feel like seeing the real her.

I clenched my fist and forced myself to turn my back away from her. I feel like I will be prying too much in her personal space if I stay. I went to the stables and rode my black stallion to clear my mind. But it did not help me forget like it used to. The image of Catherine’s crying face still lingered in my head. After several minutes, I went back inside the Castle feeling more disappointed than ever.

I walked to the East wing of the Castle and stopped in front of my best friend’s room. Matthew opened the door after the third knock. He was in his pajamas and his eyes were still half-open when he bowed to me.

“Your Majesty-“

“Skip with the greetings. We have an emergency.” I told him before entering his room. I sat on the settee and massaged my temples.

Matthew’s eyes widened. He looked completely awake this time. “Emergency? How come? I made sure that everything was under control before I slept. There may be groups of people trying to cause a ruckus here and there to encourage the mass to side with them and bring you down but it’s nothing we can’t handle. The public is on your side, Your Majesty. Or is this about the news of the Jirin kingdom’s plan to launch an attack against us? If that’s the case, then I will summon the Knights right away for a military meeting and-“

“I saw Catherine crying her heart out at the balcony in her chamber, Matt. And it’s eating me up inside. I feel restless. I can’t sleep. I can’t stop thinking about her tears. I want to gather the people who hurt her, tear all their limbs apart and-“

“Wait. Are you saying that you woke me up at three in the morning only to discuss about Catherine’s tears?”

“Yes.”

“You mean there is no national emergency at all?”

 “What are you talking about? I just told you that I saw Catherine in tears. Isn’t that emergency enough? You’ve seen her, haven’t you? She is not the type to burst in tears but I just saw her crying so much.”

Matthew looked at me like he wanted to break my neck. “Your Majesty, can I hit you? Just once. Just one smack on the head.”

“Of course, you can. But that would be a crime.”

Matthew turned his back on me and went back to his bed to grab a pillow. He buried his face there. Seconds later and I heard him cussing. “Did you just cuss at me, Matthew?”