The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Chapter Eleven

Asmeira is a large land without a big body of waters dividing it, that’s why traveling to the three continents will only take two days when riding horses and three to four days by land transportations such as carriages.

It is still sunset when everyone got off the ships, there were few people below waiting for them to prepare the horses.

The port was located a few miles away from the capital which will take those twenty-three hours to arrive. And since it’s almost night, Mathew decided to stop at the Manor De Blanche which is only two hours of travel through a horse.

Everyone immediately ride their horses as Mathew spotted Celine still on the ground staring at the horse.

“That’s a horse,” he said to her.

Celine glance at him.

“Oh, it’s strange. I think I’ll just fly,” Celine uttered.

Mathew let out a low chuckle.

“I understand that you do not have any idea how to ride it,” he said as he gets off his horse and walk towards her.

She stared at him confused when both of his hands went to her waist and lift her on the horse. Both of their eyes were staring at each other, as she saw his soft lips form a playful smile.

“Instead of flying why not share a ride with me,” He said.

“Master please do not flirt with me,” she whispered still no change of facial expression.

He chuckled.

“I’m not flirting, I am offering you a good option,” he said as he sweetly smiled at her.

“Yes, I can see that, but the rest are thinking otherwise,” she said as she eyed Lucas and the three kings who are awkwardly staring at them.

Mathew also gazes at them and then looks back at her as he laughs.

“That’s fine,” he uttered and grin.

As he ride his horse with her in between his arms, he immediately took his cape and wrapped it around her body.

She was about to complain but she stops when she felt his breath on his ears as he whispered.

“I could tell that you do not have anything underneath my shirt.”

Her heart began to beat faster that she decided not to respond to him, as she let out a heavy breath.

She heard him signaled everyone to run their horses, Celine felt nervous when Mathew’s horse started to run as well.

 “Are you fine?” he asks still focusing his eyes in front.

“I am,” she lied.

“Don’t worry too much,” he gently said to comfort her, but she didn’t respond anymore.

She felt the wind against them as the horse’s speed became faster, her eyes roam in the environment as the night sky started to appear.

She glances at the full moon.

“Are you enjoying the view?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Do you like it?”

She stared at his face and saw that his hazel eyes were only focused on the front view while she heard the gallop of the horses. She find it hard to answer his question as she tried to understand the meaning of the word ‘like’ however she felt her heart being empty.

“I cannot tell,” she simply answered still looking at him.

“It's fine,” he replied as he smiled at her.

 She saw him smile, the light from the moon behind him made his eyes glimmered as he stared back at her emerald eyes. While his hair was gently swayed by the wind, her inner self urge her to touch it, just to feel his hair’s softness once again. At this very moment, for her, it felt like she was watching a masterpiece. Looking at his smile, made her felt relax as if her worries were thrown away.

Suddenly she felt an arcane feeling inside her chest as she forced herself to end their staring contest.

Her heart was racing that she felt confused.

‘What’s this?’ she thought as she touch her chest.

“We will arrive soon,” she heard him say.

Soon, they reached a grand gate and was hurriedly opened by knights standing from the inside. As they walk inside the two knights who opened the gate salute at Mathew and the rest.

Manor De Blanche is large as they walk down a big pathway towards the entrance of the manor the aligned lamp posts were turned on, she saw the manor’s old yet elegant exterior design, and half of the walls were covered with ivy garlands.

Mathew took her hand as he lead her towards the door where the butler and the maids were lining up.

As they walk inside she notice the interior design of the manor was bright and simple yet elegant, she felt the shiny floor on her bare feet and was astonished as she look at everyone’s reaction behind her.

It was visible on their faces that the view was pretty normal for them. And then, she looks back at his hand still holding hers, her expression softens as her emerald eyes gaze at the back of his head.

‘His hand is warm and rough because of calluses yet his hold feels so kind,’ she said to herself.

She breathe and tried to be composed as she tried to feel her beating heart again, she realizes it was still empty with emotion.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“Yes,” she answered shortly as she stared back at him.

“Butler,” Mathew called.

“Yes, your majesty?”

“Guide the guests to their respected room and then lead the knights to their dorm,” he said.

“Yes, your majesty.”

Celine saw the stares of the maids at her. She was only wearing her master’s white long sleeves that are oversized for her, she was barefooted and her hair was slightly messed up. But she did not feel anxious and embarrassed because her heart was empty all the time.

She suddenly felt a gentle poke on her forehead as she look at the man in front of her.

“Care to share your thoughts?” Mathew asks.

She gently took away her hand from his gentle hold.

“It's nothing important master,” she answered with a blank expression.

He stared at her for a few seconds and smiled.

“Where is the head maid?” he called.

“Yes, your majesty?”

“Kindly guide Celine to her room. Her room would be the room next to mine. Oh, have you prepared the things from the letters I sent you?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

“Then, you should go now,” he said as he gaze at Celine.

“Thank you, master,” Celine uttered as she look at him.

“No need to thank me,” he said as he smiled.

“Then, please excuse me,” she said as she walks toward the head maid who was patiently waiting for her.

Mathew only looks at her, as she walks away from him.

“Lucas.”

“Yes, your majesty?”

“Prepare the documents on my table, I will finish all of them tonight,” he said as he landed his eyes on his aide.

“I have already put them on your table, your majesty,” Lucas answered.

They began to walk silently through an exquisite hallway.

“How were the three kings?” he asks breaking the silence.

“They were already in their rooms your majesty.”

“That’s a relief.”

Soon they entered his office, it's clean, the room was filled with books and papers yet it was neatly arranged, while his table is located near the large glass window.

He sits on his chair.

“You can rest now,” he said as he eyed Lucas.

“Thank you, your majesty, then please excuse me,” he replied with a smile as he exited his office.

He then started to read the documents as his eyebrows furrowed when he read every sentence and paragraph written on it.

Meanwhile, Celine was speechless as she saw her extravagant room.

“Your majesty has requested this for you,” the maid said as she smiled at her.

“I have also prepared your bath,” she heard her say.

“Uhmm, thank you but I can take a bath by myself.”

“I understand if your uncomfortable miss but if you need anything you may just call me. I am Sofia the head maid.”

She looked at her face. Since Celine’s age was older than anyone else in the manor, for her, she is young, she was fit and her hair was neatly tied in a bun. Celine looked at her eyes, she knew that the girl has no bad intentions.

But the only problem was, she don’t trust strangers.

“Yes, I will do that.”

“Then please excuse me miss,” she said as she exited her room.

As the door closed, she walks towards the bathroom and took off her clothes as she peacefully took a bath.

After minutes of enjoying the mild water, she walks outside and wears the nightwear she found on her bed.

It was a comfortable ankle-length dress with a white blazer.

She notice the clock, however, she can’t be able to read it for she even forgot how to read and write, or maybe she was illiterate.

She cannot remember anything about her at all.

It was already past midnight, and Mathew just finished his work. As he stood up from his chair, he rolled up his sleeves and arrange the documents on his table.

He pinch the bridge of his nose as he let out a heavy sigh. Despite the works he finished on his table there are still pending works waiting for him at the imperial palace.

He exited his office and went on his way as he passed through the door of her room, he stops and stared at it.

‘She must have been sleeping right now,’ he thought as he continued to walk and entered his room.

After bathing himself, he steps outside the bathroom wearing a bathrobe. His gaze at the bottle of wine he requested from the servants as his hand brushes his wet hair revealing his forehead.

With a glass of wine he walks towards the balcony, the moon was still visible and the night is cold.

They will stay at the manor for two days, he felt stressed remembering the things he needed to do and pressured thinking the heavy responsibility on his hand.

‘Will it be okay if it’s me? If I was not the emperor will everything be fine?’ he thought as he took a sip of his wine.

“You look tired,” a familiar voice said.

His tired eyes landed on the woman standing on the balcony railing, her hair and the hem of her white dress were swept gently by the wind as her mysterious emerald eyes were staring at him.

He was out of words as he stared at her.

“Are you okay master?”

Without a word, he walks towards her and holds her hand as he lifts his head to look at her beautiful face.

“Did I wake you up?” he asks as he smiled at her.

“No,” she replied as she sits on the railing, “Are you okay?” she ask him again as she look at his hazel eyes.

“I am,” he lied.

She did not respond however she bent a little as she slightly lifted her hand and poke his forehead gently.

He began to feel at ease like all his stress and worries were erased.

“I can tell that you’re not,” she said and pat his head gently.

He chuckled.

“I can’t run away from you, can I?” he said as he grin.

“You can but no matter where you go, I will be with you,” she shortly answered.

He smiled at her response.

“Are you afraid master?” she asks as she looks at his eyes.

It took him seconds to reply as he put both of his hand on the railing, placing them on her each side.

“I am,” he said as he look back at her eyes.

She did not respond as both of them was lock in each other’s eyes.

The moonlight made her more beautiful than the moon through his eyes.

“Aren’t you going to ask what am I afraid of?” he continued.

“I am not worthy to know my master’s weaknesses and fears, however,” she said as she lock him with her embrace which startled him.

“I won't tell you not to fear because it is normal for the human heart but if ever you see yourself amid the darkness, know that whatever cause that darkness, I will burn it for you,” she whispered to him.

He was deeply moved by her words.

He was still lock in her arms as his tense shoulder loosen and became relaxed. He inhaled her scent that made him calm as he felt at ease like he can believe that everything would be okay.

“I didn’t know that you can also be a great comforter Celine?” he said as he smiled sweetly at her.

‘I wish that I am the only one who’s allowed to see this side of yours,’ his mind said.

“Am I?”

He chuckled as he look at her face.

“Thank you,” he said as he cup her face.

“Anything for you,” she replied.

“Did you just fly just to come here?” he asks and notices the great distance from his balcony to the balcony of her room.

“Yes.”

“You could just knock on my door. My room was just beside you though,” he uttered.

“That sounds inappropriate.”

He laughs at her response.

“And seeing you standing on the rail of my balcony is fine?” he joked still laughing.

“It’s natural for me and I’m just worried,” she said as she shrugs her shoulders.

He stops laughing as his hazel eyes tremble with awe.

“You’re worried?”

“Yes.”

“About me?” he asks with excitement.

“Yes did I make you confuse master?” she said as she look at him.

“No I’m just surprised,” he said as he smiled at her.

“Then next time I’ll make sure not to surprise you.”

“I don’t hate surprises if it’s from you, though,” he said as he chuckled.

“Are you okay now?” she uttered still looking at him.

“Yes, thank you for coming here. I think you should rest now,” he said as he smiled at her.

“Then excuse me,” she said as she stands up on the railing again, but he hold her hand to stop her.

“Don’t fly away from me,” he said with gentle eyes looking directly at her.

“I don’t understand what you mean, master,” she responded as she steps down on the balcony rail, “But if you wanted me to exit your room using your door then I would do it,” she continue as she felt the cold floor on her bare feet.

He only smiled at her.

She felt his big hands on her waist as he lifts her and carried her like a bride.

“Why didn’t you wear your slippers?”

“I forgot.”

“I’ll just carry you to your room,” he said as they walk towards the door.

She opened the door for him and despite him wearing only his bathrobe they exited his room without a doubt.

“Are you fine wearing only that?”

“I don’t mind,” he answered shortly.

She didn’t respond until they arrived at her room.

“This far is enough, thank you, master,” she said as he put her on the ground gently.

“Then good night, Celine,” he said.

“Sweet dreams master.”

“I’m sure I’ll have because you said it,” he answered as he smiled at her and walks away.