The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Chapter Twenty-five

Celine was walking through the archway, the lamp posts were already turned on, and the darkest part of the rose garden was illuminated by the moonlight.

A few steps forward she already saw the greenhouse filled with lights inside.

‘Did it already start?’ she thought as she continued to walk.

“Celine?” a voice called behind her.

She glances back at the owner of the voice.

“King Asvan,” Celine uttered as her eyes met Allen’s gaze.

“I didn’t recognize you immediately,” he commented as he walks closer to her.

“Where are King Rion and King Rubia?” She asks.

“Nathan and Casis are already inside,” Allen replied.

“Oh,” Celine mumbled.

“We should go inside now,” Allen suggested.

“Yes we should,” she answered.

Walking nearer to the grand door, a servant approaches them.

“Good evening your majesty, may I know the name of your partner for tonight,” he asks.

‘Partner?’ her mind mumbled as she eyed Allen beside her.

“The lady’s name is Celine,” Allen replied.

“May I know her family’s name your majesty?” he asks again.

“It seems like I need to interrupt you, but Sir, I don’t have any family and King Asvan is not my partner….I don’t think I deserve the man beside me tonight,” Celine uttered with a composed expression.

Allen glance at the lady beside him as he chuckled. The servant in front of them was bewildered when he saw the King laugh.

‘He laughed?!’ The servant thought.

Reynald, the aide of Allen who was about to approach them was stunned when he saw the king he served for a long time just standing there and was laughing.

“You flatter me, Celine,” Allen replied.

Celine glance back at him with a blank expression.

“…I’m only saying the truth, King,” she replied and shrug her shoulders, “So your majesty, you may go ahead of me,” she continued as she bowed her head.

“If that is what the lady beside me wants then I’ll be going first,” he responded as he eyed the servant in front of them, “I’ll be going inside now,” he added.

“Yes your majesty,” the servant replied.

Allen landed his gaze on his aide who was standing a few meters away from him.

“Reynald,” He called.

“Good evening your majesty,” Reynald answered as he bowed his head to him. He also glance at Celine and bowed his head, Celine responded to him with a nod and averted her gaze from them.

“We should go inside your majesty,” Reynald continued.

“Yes, we should go inside,” Allen answered as they walk towards the opened door.

“King Allen Asvan of Asvante and his royal aide, Sir Reynald Llamontes,” the announcer said.

The two men entered the greenhouse, while Celine stood next in line. The announcer eyed her with a questionable look.

The servant whispered something to him as he gaze again at the unfamiliar lady.

“Excuse me,” Celine interrupted.

“Yes, my lady?” The announcer responded.

“There’s no need for you to tell my name to everyone, but may I ask, is there any other entrance here?” she asks.

“Yes there is my lady, it's right beside the big oak tree right there,” he said as he pointed the tree.

“Thank you,” Celine uttered as she walks to where the other entrance was located.

She walks inside successfully not getting attention from the crowds.

“The greenhouse is breathtaking,” she heard a lady comment to her escort.

‘Yes it should be, we’ve been through rough times just to make this place a masterpiece,’ her mind replied as she started to walk and stand in the corner.

“His Majesty the former emperor, Nathaniel De Blanche, and his wife the former empress, Elena De Blanche!” Celine heard the announcer say.

Everyone bowed their heads as they walk in the aisle walking towards their throne.

She secretly glance at them as she saw the former empress looking gorgeous on her golden gown and her husband looking majestic in his attire.

‘Hmm, what a good couple,’ she commented as her facial expression became gentle.

“Celine?” she heard someone call.

She glance beside her and saw Lucas who’s smiling beside her.

“It’s good to see you here, I’m quite worried that you might not attend,” he uttered.

“I thought about that but master’s mother wanted to see me here,” Celine answered.

“Ah, the former empress is always like that, I’m sure she will seek for you in a minute,” Lucas said.

“I doubt that, looking at them it looks like they have their world,” Celine replied as she eyed Elena and Nathaniel smiling brightly at each other.

Lucas chuckled, “Perhaps you’re right,” he responded.

“His majesty, the sun of the empire, Mathew De Blanche, and the royal princess, Veronica De Blanche!” The announcer declared.

Everyone bowed their heads again as a sign of respect, while Celine secretly gave a glimpse of her master.

She saw him looking undeniably handsome that she declared to her judgment that no one could be equal to him, his dark chocolate brown hair was neatly styled showing his forehead and on his head is his golden crown indicating the highest status.

When he walks in the aisle his floor-length red fur-lined cape was swaying making her imagine it as his wings. He wore a dark official military uniform, complete with a decorated, double-breasted frock coat with lapel pins attached to it which she can’t determine the meaning, a white trouser, and golden boots.

Looking at him, simply the word majestic, stunning or handsome cannot completely define him. In her eyes, he looks glorious.

Celine saw how his hazel eyes glimmered because of the illuminated lights from the chandelier as she notices his lips forming a smile on his parents who were waiting for them in the front.

She felt her heart beats faster, she averted her gaze from her master as she breathes to calm herself.

‘What’s this strange feeling?’ her mind uttered.

As soon as everyone stood tall once again she glance at Lucas.

“Lucas, I’m just getting some fresh air outside, please excuse me,” Celine uttered.

“Sure,” Lucas answered as he smiled at her.

“Thank you, I’ll be right back,” she replied as she exited the greenhouse.

Mathew on the other hand started finding Celine in the crowd. 

“Thank you for agreeing on my request to be escorted by you, big brother,” Veronica uttered.

“You shouldn’t, that’s what normally a brother would do for his little sister. By the way, you look beautiful,” Mathew replied and smiled at her.

“Please don’t flatter me, brother,” Veronica responded as she chuckled.

“Lady Monica from the Quinsley Family!” they heard the announcer declare as they both eyed the lady entering the venue.

“Lady Monica is pretty tonight right? I wonder what Celine looks like right now?” Veronica asks.

Mathew didn’t respond however, his eyes were secretly finding Celine in the crowds.

‘Where is she?’ he asks himself.

“Big brother?” Veronica called.

“Yes?” Mathew replied while his eyes were still finding her.

Veronica smiled as she looks at him trying his best to find the girl he wanted to escort for the event.

“Big brother, do you know why I wanted you to escort me?” she asks.

Mathew glances back at her.

“I’m sorry, did you say something?” he replied.

She glances back at Monica and then back to her brother.

“I said, that the reason why I requested for you to escort me is that I’m trying to kill the fire before it scattered,” Veronica said as her lips started to smile.

“What do you mean little sister? Is there anything I should know?” Mathew asks confused.

Veronica chuckled and hug her innocent brother.

‘Ah, my poor big brother. Your eyes are too much focused on your responsibilities that sometimes you overlook simple things,’ her mind said.

“Nothing, I just want my big brother to escort me. After all, someday, I will not be given a chance anymore,” she whispered at him and then chuckled after.