CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
1788 Words
Chapter Eighteen
“I don’t see myself in need to attend the banquet, master,” she answered.
“You should try it once,” Mathew suggested as he chuckled.
“Is that an order from you, master?” Celine asks.
“No, it’s only a suggestion,” he explained.
“…I’ll see,” she replied and shrug her shoulders.
“I’m expecting you to be there though,” Mathew responded as he smiled at her.
“Your majesty!” said a voice from behind them.
They stop walking and glance at the person standing from behind.
“Lady Monica? Is there anything I could help you with?” Mathew replied and smiled at her.
Monica glance at Celine then back at him.
“Your majesty, I… would like to help…Celine chooses what to wear for the royal banquet tomorrow,” she said and force a smile.
“Oh no, there’s no need for that, I don’t plan to attend,” Celine declined.
“You should try to go,” Mathew uttered as he chuckled.
“No thank you, my presence is not needed, master,” Celine replied.
“…Master?” Monica commented with confusion painted on her face.
“Don’t worry about it, it’s how she calls me,” Mathew replied.
“Oh, I see,” Monica responded and glance at Celine.
“As you can see Celine, there is nothing wrong in attending the banquet tomorrow,” Mathew insisted.
“…… Is this what you want me to do?” Celine asks him.
“…Yes,” Mathew replied.
“Then, if that is what you want me to do, I will,” she responded.
“Your majesty!” Nathan called.
Celine glanced at the three of them walking towards Mathew.
“Are you planning to go to the capital today?” Casis asks.
“Yes, actually, Lady Monica wanted to help Celine on choosing what to wear for the royal banquet tomorrow…And, I’m going with them,” Mathew announced.
‘What? I never mentioned that I’d go to the capital?’ Celine thought.
“Oh, it’s good to hear since Allen wanted to buy some cravat, it's best if we all go,” Nathan suggested.
“That would be great! The more the merrier,” Monica uttered with a bright smile.
“Well, it’s better if we stop talking and just be on our way, shall we?” Allen commented and shrug his shoulder.
“Yes, we should,” Monica replied as she chuckled.
Celine breathes in defeat.
‘What I want to do is just lay my body on my bed and just sleep. Why does everyone dragging me around today?’ her mind uttered as she walks with them.
Monica and Celine went inside the carriage while the gentlemen rode their horses. During the ride, no one was speaking and Celine was enjoying the silence as she glance at the view from the window.
“You seems close to the emperor?” Monica uttered.
“I think we’re not that close like you think,” she replied and look at Monica who was smiling at her.
But Celine notices, it’s only a forced smile. She knows the lady doesn’t like her presence near Mathew.
“We’ve been together since we were kids, I have been with the emperor and the three king’s side since we were kids,” Monica said.
“Oh, it’s good to hear,” Celine replied.
“Tell me, Celine, are you some kind of slave which the emperor saved?” She asks.
Celine glance back at the lady whose eyes are turning cold despite her smile.
‘What is she trying to know?’ Celine thought.
“I can be anyone you wanted to believe who I am, but the emperor’s impression on me is what matters. You can ask him yourself what I am and what’s my role,” Celine answered with a composed facial expression.
Monica laughs at her response.
“You’re trying so hard to be by his side when it’s clear that you shouldn’t,” she replied.
“Do I look like I am pushing myself to him?” Celine responded and shrug her shoulders.
“Yes you were and it’s not appropriate for a slave like you,” Monica answered back.
“You won’t get his heart by being rude to me,” she replied and eyed her with an empty expression.
“Don’t talk back to someone who has a higher status than you,” Monica responded as her face darkened in anger.
Celine did not respond anymore and ignored her rude comments.
‘Really, this is so cliché. The only difference is, she won’t see the expression she wanted from me. Poor girl, don’t be too rude to someone you don’t know, you might cut my patience and I might just decide to cut your life instead,’ her mind uttered.
After a few minutes, they have arrived at the capital, the coachman opened the carriage for them while Mathew escorted Monica from stepping out of the carriage and was about to escort Celine but was interrupted by her.
“It's fine master, I can get off on my own,” Celine said and pat his shoulders.
“Oh, if that’s what you want,” Mathew replied before he was pulled by Monica.
“It’s been a while, Celine,” Casis said and smiled at her.
“What do you mean? I’m with you the whole time,” Celine replied.
“Yes but it’s been a while since we talk at each other,” Casis uttered.
“Oh, yes, you’re right,” she responded and glance at him.
“It’s good that once again we speak at each other,” she continued.
Casis laugh at her words.
“Yes it is,” he said.
“Casis?” Monica called.
“Yes?” Casis replied.
“May I take your attention for a second?” she uttered as she eyed Celine.
“Please excuse me, Celine,” Casis said before he walk towards Monica.
Celine nods her head as she glances at Mathew and the three kings whose beside Monica smiling and chatting at each other.
She continued to walk behind them and roam her eyes. She was mesmerized by the opened shops and the number of people passing through. Celine even glanced at the kids laughing and running beside her.
‘What a cheerful kingdom,’ her mind commented.
“Celine?” she heard Mathew called as she felt his hand, hold her.
She look at Mathew who was already in front of her.
“Where are you looking at a while ago? You might get lost,” He uttered.
“It's fine master, I was only looking at the kids,” Celine replied as she glance at his hand gently holding her wrist.
“Celine, the capital is huge so please let me hold your hand,” he whispered in her ears.
“Yes, you may, master. But please be careful of your gesture I don’t want to be the source of someone else’s jealousy,” she whispered back.
Mathew laugh.
“What do you mean?” he replied between his chuckle.
“I heard from the lady at the tea party a while ago that a lot of ladies are admiring you. There’s a lot of ladies here, who knows?” Celine responded and shrug her shoulders.
Mathew laughs again and gently pulls her as they walk towards the others.
“It's fine, don’t mind them,” Celine heard him say.
‘Someone is having a hard time right now, and it’s me,’ her mind replied as she notice the deadly stares of Monica at her.
They continued to walk until they reach a boutique.
“Your majesty was here,” Monica uttered as she wrap her arms around his left arm.
‘Oh, this is getting awkward for them,’ Celine thoughtfully uttered as she glanced at the three kings whose eyes were widened looking at the three of them.
The emperor was holding Celine’s hand and his childhood friend Monica who held his left arm. Who wouldn’t find it awkward?
Celine cleared her throat and gently took her hand from his grip.
“Master, it's fine even if you don’t hold me, I won’t be lost,” she whispered at him.
“But.”
“It's fine, master,” Celine interrupted as she distances herself from him.
‘Master please understand that I am not doing this childish act anymore,’ she said to herself as she eyed Monica who was still giving her deadly stares.
They entered the boutique, the owner approach them upon realizing it was Lady Monica their avid customer.
“My lady, good day! Your majesties! Good day!” said the man with a feminine tone.
“Good day Lorenzo,” Monica replied with a big smile.
“You’re still so pretty my lady,” Lorenzo praised.
“Thank you,” Monica replied and chuckled.
Lorenzo glance at Celine and was star-struck at her beauty. Her emerald eyes met him as she tuck the strand of her hair behind her ears.
“Oh my! Who is this goddess?” Lorenzo cheerfully uttered as he patted Celine’s shoulder.
“May I know your name my dear?” he asks.
“Oh, I’m Celine,” she answered as she distances herself from him.
“My! What a beautiful name!” he replied with a big smile.
Monica cleared her throat.
“We are here to look for the perfect gown she will wear tomorrow at the royal banquet,” Mathew said.
“Oh my! We have a lot, your majesty!” Lorenzo replied.
“That’s good to hear,” Mathew responded.
“And, may I know what you’re buying as well your majesties?” Lorenzo said as he glance at the four men.
“Yes, we were looking for…something to wear as well,” Nathan answered.
“No, I’m only looking for a cravat,” Allen commented as he gives death glares to Nathan.
“My, my, Allen, we should go and look for perfect clothes for us tomorrow, we must make ourselves presentable…right?” Casis responded with a grin.
“And now you’re going with him?” Allen replied as he pointed to Nathan.
“There’s nothing wrong with that, Allen,” Mathew commented.
“…And now you agreeing with them your majesty?” Allen replied.
Mathew just shrugs his shoulder as a response.
“Gentlemen, there’s no need for arguments,” Monica uttered and chuckled at them.
“Yes, yes, there is no need for us to argue,” Nathan seconded.
Celine remained silent the whole time and glanced at the big window.
‘It’s a good day to get lost,’ she thought.
- Writer
