CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
1948 Words
Chapter Thirty-Two
Lucas wearing his formal attire and was already walking in the long hallway of the palace while his injuries were slightly aching. He glance at the sky and saw that the sun is rising.
The former empress and emperor want him together with the other aides to join them for breakfast.
A few steps later, he reaches Celine’s room and knocks on her door but there was no response, so he knocks again.
“Celine?” he called but there still there was no response.
“Pardon my intrusion,” he announced and opened the door.
His eyes scan her room and saw her empty bed.
‘Celine is not here? She must be already at the dining room,’ his mind uttered as he closed the door again and went directly to Mathew’s room after.
As he reaches Mathew’s room, he immediately knocks on his door.
“Who is it?” Mathew asks on the other side.
“Your majesty, it’s me, Lucas. May I come in?” he responded.
“Yes you may, but make sure not to make loud noises,” Mathew replied.
‘Huh? What does he mean by that?’ his mind asks.
“…Yes your majesty,” he answered and opened the door.
As soon as he steps inside his room, Lucas' gaze landed on the bed.
His eyes widened stuck staring at the man and a woman sleeping on one bed. His eyes look at Mathew who gestured him to be silent.
‘HUH?!!!’ his mind screamed in complete shock.
Mathew gently took his arms pillowing her head and eyed Lucas.
“…Your majesty?” Lucas uttered in surprise still not breaking his stare at the sleeping lady and Mathew.
“Good morning Lucas,” Mathew mumbled as he smiled at him brightly.
“…Good…Good morning, your majesty,” he managed to reply and bowed his head.
“What is your business here?” Mathew asks.
“Oh, I just wanted to know your condition, your majesty. Are you fine now?” Lucas ask as his facial expression began to change reflecting worries in his eyes.
Mathew chuckled gently, almost as a whisper.
“Ah, yes, I’m fine now. It’s a good thing that my injuries are not hurting anymore. How about you Lucas? What about your injuries?” he replied.
“I am fine now your majesty,” Lucas answered, “…And breakfast has been served,” he added.
“Oh, we will just have our breakfast in my room,” Mathew said.
‘We?!’ his mind uttered in surprise.
“Oh, yes, I will inform them, your majesty,” he replied.
“And Lucas,” Mathew called.
“Yes, your majesty?”
“Nothing happened…okay?” he uttered and give him a meaningful smile.
“...Yes your majesty!” Lucas answered and bowed his head again, “Please excuse me,” he added and exited the room.
Mathew who saw his aide’s priceless expression couldn’t help but chuckle after Lucas closed the door.
He laid beside her again, his elbow on the soft mattress and his chin resting on his palm as he stared at her sleeping face.
He smiled sweetly at her.
“She’s sleeping soundly,” he whispered to himself as he stroked her hair gently.
Celine gently opened her eyes and saw Mathew facing her with a smile forming his lips, his hair was a mess and his bare torso flaunting in front of her.
She then met his hazel eyes.
“Did I wake you up?” he asks in a soft yet husky tone.
“Yes,” she answered honestly without breaking her stare at his face.
Mathew’s head lifted slightly as he laugh and eyed her back.
“I’m sorry,” he uttered between his chuckles.
“It's fine, good morning master,” she greeted.
“Good morning,” he answered.
She sits on the bed and scanned his room.
“Did I fall asleep here?” she asks and eyed him again
“Yes, it seems like you’re so exhausted,” Mathew answered.
“I apologize,” she replied.
“No, no, actually I’m glad to see that you’ve slept well,” Mathew uttered and smiled.
“Oh,” she mumbled and averted her gaze from him, “Then how are your injuries, are they still hurting?” she added.
“Surprisingly, they were not aching anymore,” he responded with a bright smile.
“That’s good to hear,” Celine answered, “Then I should go now,” she continued and was about to stand but Mathew stops her by pulling her back to the bed.
“Please stay for a little while, I have commanded Lucas to have our breakfast here,” he said.
“Lucas…was here a while ago?”
“Yes,” he answered shortly.
“Master, what if he misunderstands the situation?” she asks.
“I pictured that out,” he mumbled and shrug his shoulders.
“Master, I don’t want to tarnish your reputation here,” she said.
“You wouldn’t, don’t worry too much Celine, and besides let them think what they want to think about us, I don’t care,” Mathew uttered.
“No,” she answered, “and please wear something to cover your bare torso,” she suggested.
Mathew laughs while he leans his back on the headboard of his bed.
“Yes, I should,” he responded and stands up from his bed, he took his tunic out of his wardrobe and wore it.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
“Your majesty?” the gentle and sweet voice of Monica called from the other side of the door.
Celine glance at Mathew while he stared at the door with furrowed eyebrows.
“Lady Monica?” he uttered back.
“Yes it’s me, your majesty,” she answered.
“I’m afraid I cannot face you right now, I’m only at my sleepwear,” Mathew responded.
“It's fine your majesty, after all, I’m just going to hand you these fruits so that you can recover your strength as soon as possible,” Monica replied.
“Oh,” he mumbled as he walks to the door and opened it for her.
“Good morning your majesty,” she greeted smiling brightly.
“Good morning,” he responded and smiled.
Monica’s eyes roam on his body back to his face as her cheeks started to become light pink.
“It's good to see that you're fine, your majesty,” she said.
“It's good to see you as well,” Mathew answered.
“Here are the fruits your majesty,” Monica uttered and lifted her hand holding the baskets of fruits, “But it seems like your majesty is still recovering, where should I put these fruits, your majesty, I shall personally put them for you,” she suggested.
“Oh sure, Thank you, Lady Monica,” Mathew answered.
He steps aside giving Monica a pathway for her as his eyes glance back to the bed but Celine wasn’t there anymore.
‘She left…?’ his mind commented to himself.
“I shall put it here, your majesty,” Monica uttered putting the basket full of fruits on the circular table.
“…Thank you, Lady Monica,” he answered as he glance back at her.
“Your welcome your majesty,” she replied as she smiled at him, “It must have been tough for you during those times at the banquet your majesty,” she added as her expression changed into worriedness.
“Ah, I was never alone at that time so I can manage,” Mathew replied.
“Yes of course your majesty, but… you almost die.”
“I feel guilty for worrying you Lady Monica, but you don’t have to worry anymore,” Mathew uttered as he smiled at her.
“I guess I don’t have to worry. But please be careful next time,” she mumbled.
“Yes, I will,” he answered.
“Then I shall leave now your majesty,” she announced.
“Yes you may, it's good to see you, my lady,” Mathew replied.
“And you as well, your majesty,” Monica responded as she smile and gracefully exited his room.
During Monica’s walk in the palace’s corridor, she came across Veronica along the way.
“Greetings to the royal princess,” she said as she bowed her head.
“Oh, Lady Monica! It's good to see you in this good weather, as expected from you, you look dazzling today. May I ask why you were here in the palace?” Veronica replied.
“I came to visit his majesty and brought him some fruits your highness,” she answered.
“Oh that’s so sweet of you,” Veronica replied, “I was going there as well to check on my brother’s condition but I should visit Celine first,” she added.
“Oh, I heard she was badly injured as well,” Monica commented.
“Yes,” Veronica replied with a worried face.
“Then, if the royal princess would allow me, may I be with you to visit her as well?” she offered.
“You’re so kind to pay her a visit as well,” Veronica commented, “Then let’s go together,” she said.
“Thank you, your highness,” Monica uttered and smiled at her.
‘Of course, I am kind…very kind to the point that I didn’t say anything to the former emperor,’ she thought.
“Let’s be on our way now,” Veronica announced.
“Yes your highness,” she answered as they started to walk.
‘I always wonder why his majesty is always on her side, and now I know why. A sorcerer is a dirty creature who uses their power to manipulate others!’ her mind commented as her jaw clenched in anger.
“Ah, the weather is so nice good for having tea,” Veronica uttered glancing at the nice sky.
“Yes it's a nice idea, your highness,” she replied and smiled.
‘It’s a good day to make things right,’ her inner self thought.
Meanwhile, Mathew who was sitting on the corner of his bed was interrupted by his thoughts when he heard a knock on his door.
“Come in,” he announced.
“Your majesty,” Lucas uttered as he steps inside his room, “You called for me?” he added.
“Yes, I want you to prepare the necessary things needed for the guest we’ll have the day after tomorrow,” Mathew commanded.
“But your majesty, you should rest for a while it’s not good to push yourself too much,” Lucas suggested.
“Lucas, I understand your sentiment, but we should prepare everything and I need to fix things immediately. After this week will be the second month leaving us only a month before the world’s destruction,” Mathew responded, “and we have unknown enemies this time. We should be on our action now,” he added.
“…I understand your majesty,” Lucas answered, “Then I’ll be on my way now,” he continued and was about to exit.
“Lucas,” he called him again.
“Yes, your majesty?” Lucas answered and glance back at him.
“Where is my father?” he asks.
“The former emperor is at his office your majesty,” Lucas replied.
“Okay, I will go there first,” Lucas heard him say.
“Your majesty, may I ask why?”
“I will confess,” Mathew said and eyed him making Lucas stuck on his ground with a surprised expression.
- Writer
