The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Chapter Twenty-three

As Celine walks beside Mathew, she felt strange and automatically glance at the big tree near the garden, but she didn’t see anything.

“Is something bothering you?” Mathew asks.

“…Nothing master, I just felt weird a while ago,” Celine replied.

She glance at him when she felt his hand on her forehead.

“Hmm, you don’t have a fever, I think you need to rest. Tell me if you’re not feeling well and I will immediately call the imperial doctor for you,” Mathew uttered.

“…No need for doing that, I can manage,” Celine replied as she averted her gaze from him.

They entered the grand door and Celine saw Veronica and Mathew’s parents sitting on their chairs.

Elena smiled at her and she bowed her head with respect to them.

“Greetings to the former empress and emperor of the empire, and to the royal princess,” Monica said as she bowed her head and then smiled sweetly at them.

“Good morning Lady Quinsley,” Nathaniel said.

“…Quinsley?” Celine whispered enough for Mathew to hear.

“That’s her family’s surname,” Mathew whispered back.

“Oh,” she mumbled.

They started to eat the foods served on the table the moment everyone sits on their chairs.

“It’s good to see that you have recovered from your illness, your majesty,” Monica uttered as she eyed the former emperor.

“Yes, it is,” Nathaniel responded and smiled at her, “I’ve been worried lately since I’m slowly getting older, and then my son and daughter didn't give me any grandchildren yet,” he continued.

Elena chuckled, “Mathew, you should answer your impatient father,” she uttered as she eyed Mathew.

Mathew breathes in defeat and looks at his father.

“I don’t have plans…yet,” he replied and shrug his shoulder.

Veronica glances at her father and shrugs her shoulder as well as her response.

“Ah, seriously, you should let us see our grandchildren before the end of humanity,” his father uttered and lean his back on the chair.

Elena chuckled upon hearing her husband’s words.

“I didn’t know that the former emperor is humorous as well, no wonder the former empress always wears her beautiful smile,” Monica commented and chuckled as well.

“Oh, don’t flatter my husband too much, he might take it seriously and just joke on me every time,” Elena replied as she smiled brightly at her husband beside her.

“It’s not too bad to see you smile and laugh every time,” Nathaniel responded as he shrugs his shoulder.

Monica just smiled at them.

“How about King Nathan, Casis, and Allen?” Nathaniel asks as he eyed the three men sitting silently on their chairs.

“Ah, your majesty, as much as I would like to see my mini version but it seems like fate wouldn’t allow it,” Casis answered.

“Do not worry your majesty, if ever my fate would allow me to get married you will be the first one to know,” Nathan said.

“Marriage is not bad but, I just have too much on my schedule your majesty,” Allen replied.

“In short, there are no ladies whom they wanted to marry father,” Mathew added.

The former emperor laugh when he heard their reasons and his son’s silly comment.

“I see,” Nathaniel uttered, “Oh, may I ask Lady Monica what brings you here? The banquet will be this evening though,” he added.

“Oh, I’m here to help the royal princess and the former empress in preparing and decorating the venue, if they would allow me,” Monica answered as she smiled shyly at them.

“Oh, it would be great, I’m sure the banquet will be a success if you help us as well Lady Monica,” Elena uttered joyfully.

Celine who’s chewing her food remained silent and observed everyone.

“Celine?” Veronica called.

“Yes…Veronica?” she replied.

Monica glance at her with a surprised expression.

“You shouldn’t address the royal princess with just her name, Celine, it's disrespect,” Monica commented.

Everyone glance at the two ladies.

“I’m sorry if I seem to be rude, but I can’t stand her disrespecting the royal princess,” Monica announced.

“No, no, it's fine, actually, I am the one who requested Celine to call me by my name,” Veronica clarified as she smiled at Monica, “Thank you, Lady Monica, I am glad to know that someone would defend me if ever I was disrespected,” she continued.

“It’s what I should do because aside from your reputation as the princess you’re also my dearest friend,” Monica replied.

“It’s good to know that from you, Lady Monica,” Mathew commented as he smiled at her.

Monica’s cheek began to be light red as she smile at him, “It's nothing your majesty, it is what everyone should do,” she replied.

“Oh right, Celine,” Veronica uttered as she eyed Celine.

“Yes?”

“Let’s have some tea later,” Veronica said, “Would you like to join us? Mother and Lady Monica?” she added.

“Yes we would, but it would be best if we drink tea after we prepared the banquet. Would you like to join us, Celine? It would be fun if you’re there,” Elena suggested with a smile.

“…Yes, it’s a pleasure to help you, your majesty,” Celine answered even if she knows she couldn’t be helpful to them.

‘I’ll just figure things out later,’ her inner self suggested.

“How about you Mathew? Would you like to join us?” his mother asks.

“As much as I would love to help, but I have a meeting with the three kings later,” Mathew replied.

“My wife, I will be at my office, so I can’t help you there,” Nathaniel announced.

“Oh it’s fine, I understand,” Elena replied and smiled at them.

Their breakfast ended and the ladies proceed to walk where the banquet should be held.

“The banquet’s venue will be held at the greenhouse,” Elena announced at them.

“That’s a good idea, your majesty,” Monica commented.

“Yes it is, actually, it's Veronica’s brilliant suggestion,” Elena replied and eyed Veronica with a smile.

“You’re flattering me mother,” Veronica commented.

Celine who was walking behind them remained silent as they walk through the archway covered with ivy garlands. She glanced at the sky who was slowly starting to get cloudy and then she eyed the enormous rose garden beside them as they walk.

As they pass through the archway, Celine saw a grand and enormous greenhouse made of glass. They pass through its exquisite and big golden gate as the servants who opened the door bowed their heads to greet them.

Celine’s eyes roam on its interior design. It was spacious despite having a variety of plants and different flowers that were all blooming. The lamp posts aligned forming an isle were all turned off since the inside is bright because the walls and the ceilings are made of glass.

There were a lot of servants who were busy designing and preparing it for the big event in the evening.

“Okay ladies, let's do our best,” Elena announced.

“Yes we will,” Monica replied.

“Celine will be with me,” Elena uttered as she eyed Celine.

“…It would be my honor, your majesty,” Celine replied.

Everyone was busy as the servants assisted and did every command they would announce, Celine who doesn’t have any idea and was pressured on giving her thoughts whether what color or designs they should do to make the venue grand and sophisticated made her head, aches, however, no matter how stressful they were Celine managed to notice the former empress’ smiling face despite the sweats forming on her forehead.

‘She really loves what she’s doing,’ her mind commented.

After a few hours of preparing, they successfully finished everything. Celine glance at Veronica and Monica who were having a chat with each other and then she felt the presence of Elena beside her.

“Celine?” she called.

“Yes, your majesty?” Celine replied.

“Did you enjoy it?”

It took her seconds before she replied to her usual lie, “…Yes,” she uttered.

“Did you know, my husband’s mother build this greenhouse,” Elena said with a genuine smile.

Celine did not respond and continued to listen to her.

“My husband’s mother really loves nature, however, she died unexpectedly when my husband is only twelve years old. And since she build this place we named it after her,” she continued and glance at the ceiling where the sky is visible outside.

The sun came out from the cloudy sky and Celine saw how the ceiling reflected the sunlight through the glasses and made little rainbows from it.

“This place is called Arceli,” Elena uttered.

“…Such a wonderful name, a perfect name for a beautiful lady and a special place like this,” Celine commented still staring at the sky.

“I ask my husband the meaning of her mother’s name but he couldn’t tell, and I give up on knowing the answer because my husband always has these sad eyes whenever I ask him about his mother. If you knew the meaning behind the name, would you mind if I ask you for the answer?” Elena requested.

Celine look at her as her emerald eyes glimmered because of the sunlight and her facial expression became soft the moment their eyes met.

“The altar of the sky, that’s her,” Celine answered.

Elena smiled and wipe the forming tears from her eyes.

“Yes, it really is her. I’m sure my husband would be happy to know if I told her the meaning behind his mother’s name,” she replied.

“I’m glad to know that your majesty,” Celine uttered.

“Celine, there’s no need to hide your identity to me and to my daughter, Mathew informed us already, and it's fine for us, but I guess it would be better if you don’t reveal it to everyone yet. Especially to my husband,” Elena uttered.

Celine remained composed.

“May I ask why?” she asks.

“I’m sorry if I can’t tell you, it’s not my story to share,” Elena replied.

“… It's fine your majesty, you don’t have to worry,” Celine responded.

“Then, I’m hoping to see you at the banquet this evening Celine,” she said with a gentle smile as her both hands patted Celine’s shoulders.

“I am still trying to decide whether I should attend or not, your majesty, after all my presence is not needed at the banquet,” Celine answered.

“…Oh no, please do come, I would be happy to see you this evening, Celine,” Elena uttered.

“If that is what you want, then I will make sure to attend,” Celine replied.

“I’m glad to hear it from you,” Elena said as she smiled at her brightly.