The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Chapter Forty-One

Seeing the former emperor’s ferocious facial expression made Celine fall into silence.

“Answer me!” he shouted out of anger that the veins on his neck are almost visible.

“Lady Quinsley…tell me… the truth,” the former emperor asks keeping his voice as gentle as possible when he talk to Monica.

“…Your majesty—”

“Just tell me!”

“Yes your majesty—Celine is a sorcerer,” Monica answered nervously while fidgeting her fingers and keeping her head low as much as possible.

Celine who’s still standing and staring at the emperor couldn’t find the strength to avert her eyes from him.

If only she could just erase the memories of these people so that everything would be fine until Mathew could confess who she was, she can’t. Sorcerers don’t have any magic to erase or manipulate someone else, or even fabricate their memories.

As much as she wanted to flee from them but if she runs where will she be? Will this problem just end if she didn’t here at all? Or if she is not who she was, will she be deserving to be by his master’s side?

A lot of thoughts clouded inside her mind, until she notice that the former emperor was already standing a few steps away from her.

“Why? How could you lie to me?! How could you just stay silent?!!” he shouted making her ears ache because of his loud voice, “Answer me!” he screamed in

She closed her eyes for a second and opened them again trying to stay composed.

“Your majesty please come down,” she uttered as her eyes met his gaze.

“Who are you to say that to me?” he replied and give her a deathly stare.

“I think it’s the best option, your majesty,” Celine answered but suddenly, she felt his palm colliding on her left cheek, and because of the impact she almost lost her balance.

Celine touches her swollen cheek and glances back at the man.

“The best option should be saying the truth to me earlier and not make me a fool!” the former emperor uttered, “You dared to stare back at me? How filthy of you,” he added.

“Your majesty, this is the reason why I cannot confess my identity to you,” Celine explained as she straightened her back and faced him again, “It’s not like I wanted you to look like a fool, it’s because I wanted to prevent worst scenarios like this,” she added.

“Liar! How long since you manipulated the emperor and the royal family?!” Monica interrupted as her fist clenched in anger, “If your truly cared, shouldn’t you just get lost?” she added.

“Lady Quinsley!” the former emperor uttered and glance at her with a cold stare, “Did I tell you to speak?” he asks.

Monica shivered in fear as she lowered her head again.

“I’m sorry your majesty,” she replied.

Nathaniel stared back at the lady in front of her with an unreadable expression.

His glare became darker because of anger.

“How can you stay calm like that? Are you having fun seeing me like a puppet being manipulated?” he asked.

“It’s for the better—”

She felt his slap again, and this time she fell on the floor.

“Father!” a familiar voice shouted.

Mathew walks at a faster pace and stands in between them. Lucas immediately helps Celine to stand.

“Are you okay?” Lucas whispered to her.

Celine just nods her head and looks back at Mathew and his father.

“What the hell are you doing?” Mathew angrily asks.

“What am I doing?! That wench dared to lie her identity to me… to us!” Nathaniel answered.

“Don’t talk to her like that,” Mathew replied as his stare became dark because of anger.

“Why are you on her side my son?” his father asks and then for a few seconds he laughs and brushes his hair forward exposing his forehead, “For f**k sake! You knew?!” he asks furiously.

“I told her not to mention her identity to you so don’t talk to her like that father, she’s innocent!” Mathew answered.

“Innocent?! Her kind killed my mother! Her kind made my life a living hell! Her kind took all of it! And you dared to tell me that she’s innocent?!” His father yelled in anger and pain.

Celine remained silent while Monica tried to calm herself because of the scenario in front of her.

Elena and Veronica who was a passerby immediately approached them.

“Goodness, what happened here?” Elena asks as she touches Celine’s cheek and then glances at her husband, “Did you do this darling?” she asks as she walks near him.

“That girl! She’s a sorcerer!” her husband answered as he pointed at Celine, “And your son knew about it!” he added as he glared at Mathew.

“I swear Celine, you’ll going to pay for this,” Nathaniel continued.

“Silence Nathaniel, please, just please calm down, let’s settle this in a peaceful method. Please!” Elena uttered almost crying.

“No, I won’t! That wench and her kind will be going to pay for it all!” Nathaniel yelled.

“If you’re going to do that father I swear—”

“Swear what, Mathew? What will you do to your father who lost his mother because of them!?” Nathaniel asks interrupting his response, “Tell me?!” he yelled.

“Nathaniel, please calm down!” Elena uttered.

“Father please, please let’s talk about it peacefully,” Veronica pleaded.

“Why are—you knew as well?!” Nathaniel asks in surprise and with a hurt expression, “AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN’T?! EVEN THE THREE KINGS KNEW?!” he added as he look at every one.

Mathew breathes to calm himself.

“Father please, it’s not like we don’t plan to tell you, were just—”

“You’re just making a fool out of me?” he interrupted as his jaw clenched.

“Well, it seems like you’re not the only fool here.”

Everyone’s attention focuses on the owner of the voice. They saw Milan together with his son and the three kings who just came, are stuck staring at them with eyes wide open.

“Hah!” Nathaniel mumbled and stared back at Mathew, “Justify yourself, son, make sure I’ll buy it,” he added.

“Father, can’t you just slip this out of your hand for a bit? Please! Please if you can’t forgive her kind, can’t you just exempt her?” Mathew suggested having a hard time.

Nathaniel laughs at his absurdity.

“I didn’t know you can also be stupid my son,” he replied as his smile faded, “If you’re in my shoes would you do that?” he ask bitterly.

“…Father!—”

“Answer me!” he shouted as walks near him and roughly grab his clothes making his Marshall uniform crumple.

“Father, Celine is not like them!” he yelled back and took his hand from grabbing his clothes, “Just calm down and listen to us!” he added.

“That girl is still like them, your majesty, you cannot deny that. Are your decisions being clouded by her?” Milan interrupted showing his displeased reaction.

“With all due respect sir. You don’t have the right to question his majesty’s decision,” Lucas replied with a stern face.

“Hah, it’s the truth!” Milan answered.

“Sir, stop meddling this instant,” Allen interrupted as he eyed Milan, “We have no rights to interfere,” he continued to say.

“Hah! It’s easy for you to say because you’re not in my shoes!” Milan answered as he punches him in the face while Allen attack him back, Casis and Nathan immediately stand on their way to calm them.

“Can we just all calm down?!” Veronica yelled forcing herself to calm, “Please!” she added.

“You want me to listen, Mathew? Then imprisoned her right now,” the former emperor declared.

“No,” Mathew firmly answered.

“Hah! And now you’re disrespecting me? Imprisoned her RIGHT NOW!” his father yelled.

“It’s my decision as an emperor, father, I see her innocent!” he replied.

“And now you’re bringing that you’re the emperor? I have the rights to meddle, your majesty, I hope you remember that I can strip you out from that rank as well?” his father warned.

“Try me father, just try,” Mathew answered accepting his warning without a single thought.

“Stop! Just stop!” Elena uttered as tears run down her cheeks.

“If you don’t imprison her, your majesty, you won’t receive any help from us and a lot of your people will die,” Milan announced, “And it’s all because you choose the wrong decision, your majesty,” he added.

“My people are capable enough,” Mathew replied, “And do not interrupt us, Sir, your opinion is not appreciated here,” he uttered as he glared at Milan.

“Hah!” Milan mumbled, “That tongue of yours surely is capable of causing war,” he continued to say.

“SHUT UP!” Mathew shouted echoing the place making Lucas shiver in nervousness, he’s worried that everything will be worst because of this.

“Don’t raise your voice when I’m here Mathew! I dare you to do that again and I will disown you!” his father declared.

“Father!” Veronica uttered while Elena was in great shock because of what she heard from her husband.

“I want you to choose between us! If you choose her, just forget me as your father and I will forget you as my son but if you choose me, imprison her,” Nathaniel announced.

There was a long deafening silence between them not until Celine stepped forward and look at the former emperor through the eyes.

“I guess this is the time I will interfere,” she uttered still wearing her usual facial expression despite her swollen cheeks, “There’s no need for my master to choose, I will surrender myself voluntarily,” she added.

“Celine,” Mathew mumbled in surprise.

“Master, please let me,” she replied as she glance at him with a softened expression, “Don’t worry,” she continued to say.

“When chaining her use this,” Milan said and throw a rope to Nathaniel which he successfully caught from the air, “It’s a cursed object, sorcerers couldn’t use their powers from that,” he said.

“No. Celine, don't interfere, this time this is a command,” Mathew said and eyed her.

“…I’m sorry master,” she answered, “please forgive me if I will disobey you this time, you don’t have to do this. Your father loves you and I know, above yourself, you love your family the most. Don’t sacrifice that emotion just because of me,” she said.

His eyes trembled upon hearing her words.

“Your majesty,” Celine began and stared back at the former emperor, “You said that someday, you would listen to me, maybe now is the right time for that. I understand everyone’s sentiments right now, and I apologize for the mess I brought,” she uttered.

“Even if you apologize and bleed in front of me, you will never be forgiven,” Nathaniel replied and tied her hands with the rope Milan gave to him, “Your kind took everything from me,” he said and distance himself away from her after he tied her up.

“But I didn’t take anything from you,” she answered making the former emperor flinch, “Your majesty, I will not plead for myself nor try to justify my reasons, however, please forgive your father for not giving you the love you needed, forgive your mother for not trying to fight for you and forgive yourself for trying to find the things you deserve in all the wrong places,” she said.

“Do not disown your son, and do not unlove the people who love you. In the darkest of times, the only thing you will have is, them,” she continued to say as the knights took her away leading her to the dungeon.