CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
1603 Words
Chapter Twenty-six
After his welcoming speech to everyone who attend the event, Mathew sits on his throne as he eyed everyone.
“Your majesty,” Lucas uttered while standing beside him.
“Lucas, where is she?” he asks.
“She said that she needed some fresh air outside your majesty,” Lucas replied.
“Oh, I see,” Mathew mumbled.
“It seems like Celine is not comfortable with social gatherings,” Lucas commented.
“I can tell,” Mathew replied as he stands up.
“Your majesty?” Lucas asks in surprise by his sudden action.
“I shall find her,” he said.
Lucas responded to him with a nod and then bowed his head to him as he went away.
“Where is your brother going?” Elena whispered to her daughter.
“Ah, let him be mother, he’s trying to find the moon tonight,” Veronica whispered back.
“…The moon?” Elena mumbled as she eyed Mathew’s back slowly disappearing through the crowds.
“My wife, you shouldn’t worry too much on your son, a man seeks and shall find,” his husband uttered.
“The both of you. What are you talking about?” Elena asks confused.
Her husband and her daughter just give her a meaningful smile.
Mathew was walking against the crowd while his hazel eyes roam around trying to find Celine.
‘Where is she?’ his mind uttered.
“Your majesty!” Nathan called.
“Oh, Nathan,” he replied with a smile.
“How’s the night your majesty?” Nathan asks.
“It's fine,” Mathew answered and smiled at him.
“The former empress and the royal princess really did a splendid job in preparing this venue. It's beautiful,” Nathan commented.
Mathew glance back at his surroundings, aside from the flowers blooming, the tables were organized and the foods and drinks were carefully chosen. There was a spacious part of the greenhouse where everyone could have their dance later, and there’s a small stage where the musicians are playing music.
“Yes, my mother and sister are the best especially when they do the things they love,” Mathew uttered.
“By the way your majesty, it’s seems like you’re looking for someone? Maybe I can help,” Nathan offered.
“Ah yes, I am looking for Celine, did you see where she went?”
“I apologize your majesty but I didn’t see her, but maybe Casis saw her,” Nathan answered.
“Thank you, Nathan, enjoy the night,” Mathew replied and pat his shoulder, “Please excuse me,” he uttered as he continued to walk.
A few walks, he saw Casis standing and having a conversation with a noble.
“Your majesty, good evening!” Mister Voneriaz greeted as he bowed his head.
“Good evening mister Voneriaz,” Mathew replied.
“Good evening your majesty,” Casis uttered as he smiled at him.
“Good evening Casis.”
“It's good to see you in good shape, your majesty,” the noble uttered.
“Yes, and you too, mister Voneriaz,” he responded, “However, may I speak with King Rubia for a moment?” Mathew asks.
“Yes of course your majesty, after all, I should go to my wife as well,” Misted Voneriaz said as he bowed his head.
“Thank you,” Mathew replied.
The man excuses himself leaving Casis and Mathew behind.
“Casis,” Mathew called.
“Yes, your majesty?”
“I apologize if I interrupted you.”
“It's fine your majesty, it’s my honor that his majesty is looking for me, how may I help you?” Casis asks.
“I’m just going to ask if you have seen Celine,” Mathew responded.
“Celine?” Casis mumbled as he roam his eyes trying to find Celine in the crowd but instead, he saw Reynald and Allen.
“Allen!” Casis called.
After a few words with his, aide Allen approaches them leaving Reynald behind.
“Good evening your majesty and to you, Casis,” Allen greeted, “However, you shouldn’t just shout my name in public, Casis,” Allen continued as he glared at Casis.
“I’m sorry,” Casis replied with an apologetic face, “His majesty just wanted to know if you have an idea about Celine’s whereabouts?” he added.
“Hmm, Celine. Ah yes, I have seen her a while ago before I entered the venue, but after that, I didn’t see her anymore your majesty,” Allen answered.
“Thank you, I should go now, please excuse me,” Mathew uttered as he left them and continued to find her.
“Your majesty?” a voice called behind him.
Mathew glanced back, “Oh, Lady Monica? It’s good to see you here,” he uttered and faced her.
“Good evening your majesty, it’s also good to see you,” Monica replied.
“Lady Monica, I need to go, I’m searching for someone right now, please excuse me,” Mathew uttered as he was about to walk away from her but suddenly he felt her hand grip on his wrist.
He looked back at her.
“Ah! I’m sorry your majesty, I was rude, please forgive me,” Monica said.
“No, no, it's fine lady Monica. Do you need something from me?” he asks.
Monica was about to answer him but she was interrupted by the sudden change of the musician’s music indicating the start of the dance.
“Your majesty… May we?” Monica mumbled as her cheeks started to get reddish.
He always believe that it’s unkind for a man to decline a woman’s request especially if a lady requested him to be her dance partner. However, for the first time, he wanted to be selfish and just decline her offer.
But he knows he can’t, even if he wanted, he should not.
Lady Monica Quinsley, the daughter of the most respected noble in the kingdom. If ever he declines her right now that’ll make her feel humiliated in the public, then it would be another problem for him.
‘However, the lady is still a good person that she doesn’t deserve to feel embarrassed in the crowd. I shouldn’t give in to my selfish desires,’ his inner self whispered to him.
“…Then, may I have this dance my lady?” he replied as he force himself to smile.
Meanwhile, Celine who was standing outside for a few hours avoiding any possibility of someone inviting her to dance started to walk around until she saw a gazebo near the lake. She slightly lifts up the hem of her gown and walks faster and reaches the place.
The gazebo was lighted up with small lamps hanging on its ceilings that were made of glasses. The pillars were covered with ivy garlands and the water from the lake was just a few meters away from it.
It’s been a few minutes after she discovered the place, her feet started to ache.
She sits on the dusty floor of the gazebo facing the lake ignoring her gown being dirtied. She can’t see the moon in the cloudy sky, but she focused her gaze on the lake as she rest her chin on top of her both palms.
‘I didn’t know there is a kind of place here in the palace,’ she thought.
“The mother of the former emperor, did she also build this place?” she whispered.
“I did,” a voice coming from behind her responded.
The chilly wind started to blow making her hair sway with it as she glance back to see the owner of the voice.
The moon was to be seen again while its light reflected on the water’s surface. Their eyes met and she immediately stood up from sitting on the floor.
“Master,” she mumbled.
“Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Mathew replied as he walks near her.
“Oh, I just wanted to have some fresh air. Did I upset you master?”
“No, I’m not,” he uttered as he chuckled making his shoulder move up and down.
“…Oh,” she mumbled and averted her gaze because her heart started to pound faster.
‘Please don’t laugh my heart is behaving strangely right now,’ her mind whispered.
“However, I’m quite disappointed,” he uttered as he walks nearer to her.
“Why is that?” she asks as the distance between them became lesser.
He holds her hand and pulls her gently to him as he holds her waist.
“It’s because I missed the chance to dance with you,” he whispered in her ears.
“Master, I can’t dance,” she whispered back.
“That’s not a problem,” Mathew replied.
“I might step on your feet,” she mumbled.
“Then let it be,” he answered.
“There’ no music master, I can’t just let anyone think ill thoughts about you,” she responded.
He smiled, “Let them be,” he uttered.
Her heart skip a beat when she heard him start to hum a tune as they started to sway gently in the gazebo feeling the chilly night.
“Celine I almost forgot to tell you,” he uttered.
“Hmm? What is it, master?”
“You look unequaled tonight,” he whispered as he continued to hum again.
Her eyes became gentle as she rest her head on his chest.
“Thank you,” she whispered back.
- Writer
