The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER FORTY

Chapter Forty

Celine was speechless that her stares were stuck on the former emperor.

“When I was twelve years old, the palace was attacked and we were cornered with my mother. That bastard could have saved her but he let her die,” He said with a tone of sadness and anger in his voice.

“It was a hellish life when she died, my father became the coldest person I knew, he doesn’t want to see me because I hold no resemblance to his beloved wife and that I’m a useless son who failed to protect his mother. And I understand him for that, it’s the truth, I could never hide or run away from. My father died because of his illness well… that was what everyone knew about, but he didn’t die because of his poor health Celine. He died the moment my mother lost her final breath,” he added.

Celine remained silent.

“I couldn’t forgive them,” Nathaniel mumbled as his jaw clenched in anger, soon his grim expression on his face changed, “Oh, I talk too much, I’m sorry Celine,” he uttered and chuckled.

‘His expression easily changes as if he didn’t look ferocious a while ago,’ her mind uttered.

“…Its fine your majesty,” she replied, “It’s nice having a conversation with you but I need to go now, please excuse me,” she added and bowed her head.

“It's fine, you may go now,” Nathaniel answered and smiled at her, “It’s nice having someone listen to your story so I hope, someday, I could listen to yours,” he said.

“…Thank you, your majesty,” Celine answered and walk towards the door leaving him as he stared back at the painting.

“Even to my last breathes, there’s no way I could forgive them, mother. I’ll condemn them to hell,” she heard him say as she exited the room.

She continued to walk having a deep thought on the former emperor’s story. A sudden pat on her shoulder brought her back to her senses.

She glances at the man beside him.

“So, how was your stroll?” Lucas asks and smiled at her.

“It’s fine, there’s no sign of danger,” she answered.

“I’m glad to hear it from you,” he replied.

“Did the meeting already end?” she asks.

“Yes.”

“How was it?”

Lucas let out a sigh and look at her with a tired facial expression.

“He said that he’ll think about it,” he replied.

“Even if he knows the world will end soon?”

“Yes. He’s firm in his decision, his response is better than hearing him say no,” Lucas replied.

“You’re right,” she said.

“They’ll be staying here until the third month,” Lucas said.

“…I see,” she mumbled as they continue to walk through the hallway.

There was a moment of silence between them, not until she started to talk.

“Tell me, Lucas, is my master having trouble because of me?” she asks but didn’t look at his reaction.

“…There’s none Celine,” Lucas answered.

“Is that so?” she uttered and eyed him, “Are you hiding something from me?” she added.

Celine saw his bewildered reaction but soon he managed to compose himself in front of her.

“I’m not in the position to spill it to you, Celine. But please know, that if we hide something from you it's because we don’t want you to carry all the burden on yourself,” he answered.

‘I know, that’s why I’m asking because it seems like it’s too heavy for all of you,’ her mind commented.

“…I see,” she responded, “Lucas,” Celine uttered as she look away from him focusing her vision on the front view as they walk.

“Yes?”

“Could you tell me about yourself?” she asks.

“Why all of a sudden?” Lucas asks her back.

“Because I still don’t know you,” she answered.

Lucas chuckled.

“I’m the only son of Marquis Roberto Mcrovier, I love sweets but hate sour foods. I like the color white, I like star gazing at night and I like to read books,” he answered and chuckled after.

Soon, they saw Veronica in the garden with Brinton flirting with her, the royal princess’ reaction is clearly annoyed because of him. Celine glance back at Lucas who was already staring intently at Veronica.

The way he gazes at her with fire in his eyes, she can already tell.

“Tell me, Lucas, do you love the royal princess?” Celine asks bluntly.

“Huh?” Lucas replied in surprise at her question.

“I ask if you love Veronica?” she asks again.

“…Who wouldn’t love the royal princess? She’s kind and beautiful,” he answered and smiled like he’s describing the most beautiful painting in the world, “and she always lightens my rainy days without her noticing it,” he whispered and eyed Veronica back.

“Ah, so you’re really in love,” Celine responded.

He sighs in defeat, he knows that no matter how he denies it, Celine wouldn’t buy it.

“It's fine, she doesn’t need to know, someone like me doesn’t deserve her,” he uttered.

“And why is that?”

“Because… I’m only me…?”

Celine stops walking and pats his shoulder.

“Listen, Lucas, don’t be cliché, there’s nothing permanent in this world. The sun and the moon can’t be always in the sky, so if you love her, just go and get her before it’s too late. Is it fine for you to let another man snatch her away? Are you happy with that?” she uttered and distance herself away from him, “Go and talk to her,” she added as she continued to walk.

Lucas stared at Celine walking away from him and then glance back at Veronica who was already annoyed at Brinton.

He walks towards them.

“I told you, sir, please let go of my wrist,” she said to Brinton.

“But princess I just want to know if how soft your skin was,” Brinton whispered.

“Stop that or else I’ll call the knights,” Veronica responded trying to break free from him.

Suddenly Lucas grabbed his hand roughly making his hand let go of her wrist.

“Lucas?” Veronica uttered as she stared at the man clenching his jaw because of anger.

“Can’t you tell that the princess doesn’t like you?” he said as he glared at him.

Brinton took his hand away from his harsh grip and gently massage it.

“Relax will you? The princess and I are just having a nice conversation?” he replied and smiled at Veronica making her avert her gaze from him.

“Whatever your reason, you don’t have the right to make her feel uncomfortable like that, if she said that you’ll stay away, you need to stay away a thousand miles from her. Understand?” Lucas responded as his expression darkened because of an unpleasant sight in front of him.

“Hey, watch your word Mister, I’m one of the guests here. If his majesty will know about this I’m sure he’ll punish you,” Brinton uttered with an angry expression.

“What will you tell him? ‘That I tried to harass your sister and your bastard aide tried to stop me?’ What a shame, if his majesty would know that, I’m sure the punishment is yours,” Lucas replied and smiled at him mockingly, “Go on, tell him,” he added.

Brinton was taken aback and steps away from him.

“Never mind,” he said and walks away

“Are you okay your highness?” he asks and glance at her.

“…I’m fine, thank you, Lucas,” Veronica answered and smiled at him brightly.

“May…I take you for a walk?” Lucas offered and smiled after.

Veronica chuckled, “Yes you may,” she answered.

Celine who continued walking bump the leader of the dwarves on the way. She immediately bowed her head and greeted him.

“It’s you,” he uttered.

Celine lifted her head and stared at him. She observed that he was an inch taller than the man.

“Pardon sir?” she asks.

“I apologize but I saw you talking to the bastard a while ago,” Milan said

‘Did he mean the former emperor?’ she asks himself.

“That man,” she heard him mumble.

“For sure he told you his tragic past didn’t he?” he asks.

Celine did not respond and maintained her stare at him.

‘Why is he asking me that?’ her mind uttered.

“Do you hate the former emperor?” she asks.

“No,” he answered.

It’s glad that the hallway is isolated so no one could interrupt their conversation. However, Celine didn’t respond anymore.

“He’s only twelve years old that’s why I can’t blame him, but he knows, I didn’t let her mother die, heaven knows that,” Milan said and sigh while massaging his temple.

“Well, what happened then?” she asks.

‘This is confusing,’ her inner self commented.

“I didn’t let her mother die, however, it might be true that I abandoned her. Empress Arceli De Blanche, his mother, wishes me to let her be, and save her beloved son in the arms of the cruel sorcerers,” he said.

Celine, upon hearing his confession made her feel the sudden chill on her nape.

‘Is this the reason why Master is having a hard time telling his father that I’m a sorcerer?’ her mind said.

“When the empress died, it’s the darkest season of our lives, the bastard thought I let his mother die and then he tarnish the reputation of our tribe, banning us from entering the capital. It’s hard for us, we experience hunger and too much thirst making some of us suffered from illness and too much hunger. And that’s the time I give up the hope that maybe, our relationship could be fixed. A lot of us died because of his selfishness,” he said, “Maybe, I could understand his pain, but I couldn’t forget the pain and suffering of my people, enough for me to abandon our friendship. It never existed anyway,” he added and shrug his shoulder.

“Our friend, Elfan Argus, the leader of the elves didn’t communicate to us anymore because of our feud,” he continued to say, “The only thing that’s common to us three is our hatred to the sorcerers,” he added.

“…Why are you telling me this sir?” Celine asks.

“Because I wanted you to tell him that his selfishness drives us to this mess,” he answered and walk past her leaving her dumbfounded.

She remained standing there for a few minutes until she heard footsteps getting closer to her.

She eyed the person standing in front of her, upon seeing the familiar person, she could not help but sigh because of too much stress and pinch the bridge of her nose.

“Why are you here? The palace doesn’t allow outsiders… Lady Monica,” Celine said.

“Relax Celine, I’m here because the former empress needed my help,” Monica uttered and chuckled, “I can see that you’re very down today? The world must have been too little for you to hide right?” she added.

Celine blink once and stared at her with a placid expression, “Should I make it wider for me then?”

“Hah! Threat me as long as you want Celine, erase my existence if you need to. However, I hope you knew that I’m not the only enemy you have Celine. It’s the world!” Monica answered.

She couldn’t find any words to respond to her, she just stood there pitifully and felt dumb.

She tried to dig her mind and find the perfect words to say but she can’t.

“I told you before right? No matter what you do whether to satisfy the emperor or manipulate us all. Your identity will always bring you down! You don’t deserve to be here in the first place! A sorcerer like you doesn’t belong here!” Monica yelled.

Celine remained silent and couldn’t respond, she can’t understand what she felt, she always felt numb but this time it’s different.

She felt hopeless and evil.

“Did you hear me? A filthy sorcerer like you doesn’t belong here!—”

“What…did you say?”

Celine’s gaze landed at the man behind Monica.

Her emerald eyes trembled as she saw the former emperor’s surprised expression change into wrath.

She felt more hopeless.

“I ask you what you said?!!” he yelled in anger.