The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Chapter Thirty-Five

The next morning, Mathew woke to suffer from a migraine. He didn’t have enough sleep last night thinking how he could get these through.

He pinch the bridge of his nose as a crease was formed between his furrowed eyebrows and stood up from laying on his bed.

Wearing only his trousers, exposing his bare torso, he glances at the door because of a sudden knock.

“Who is it?” he asks with his raspy voice.

“Your majesty, it’s the servants assigned to prepare for your bath today, may we come in?” he heard someone answer.

“Yes you may,” Mathew replied as the door opened, the lady servants came in but were stuck staring in awe at Mathew’s bare and broad back.

He glance back at them making the maid-servants back to their senses and bowed their heads.

“Greetings your majesty,” they announced in unison.

“Good morning,” he greeted back, “How many minutes will you prepare my bath?” he asks.

“Around ten minutes your majesty,” a servant replied to him.

“Make it less than five minutes, I’m in a hurry today, put my clothes on the table and then after you prepare my bath, you may leave,” he commanded and turned his back again from them.

“Yes, your majesty.”

The servants immediately did what they were instructed to do and were permitted to exit his room after completing their job.

It’s almost an hour as he finished putting his clothes on.

As he opened the door to exit Lucas was already waiting for him outside.

“Good morning your majesty,” Lucas greeted and bowed his head.

“Good morning Lucas,” Mathew replied as he force himself to smile.

“Are you okay your majesty? You look pale,” Lucas worriedly asks.

“I’m fine, I’m just having a migraine because of lack of sleep. We should be on our way now to Celine’s room,” he uttered.

‘Because I didn’t see her much yesterday,’ Mathew thought.

“Yes your majesty,” Lucas responded and smiled at him.

They walk along the hallway and unexpectedly bump Monica on the way.

“Your majesty…!” Monica uttered and gracefully bowed her head, “Greetings to the emperor,” she announced and then lifted her head.

“Your majesty it's nice meeting you today,” Monica said and smiled at him.

“It’s nice seeing you as well my lady,” Mathew replied.

“Greetings my lady,” Lucas speaks and bowed his head while Monica responded with a smile and bowed her head as well.

“It’s a surprise to see you here in the palace my lady, what brings you here?” Mathew asks.

“The royal princess invited me again to have tea with her and Celine, your majesty,” Monica said.

“Oh, it’s good to know that you’re having fun with my sister and Celine,” Mathew replied and smiled.

Monica’s smile faded and look at him worriedly.

“Your majesty, you look unwell, is your injuries hurting again? You shouldn’t push yourself to work,” Monica uttered.

“No, no, I’m fine, my injuries were better than yesterday they don’t hurt that much anymore. Thank you for your concern lady Monica,” Mathew answered, “Did you have your breakfast?” he asks.

“Not yet…The royal princess requested me to have my breakfast here as well,” Monica replied bashfully, “Are you going to the dining room your majesty?” she added.

“Yes we will after I fetch Celine from her room,” Mathew answered as his lips form a bright smile.

Monica’s good mood drop when she heard his words but soon managed to keep herself composed.

“Oh, mind if I go along with you, your majesty?” She asks.

“Is it okay for you? It's fine if you’ll go ahead with us my lady,” Mathew responded.

“No… it's fine, it would be nice if I stroll for a little bit before going to the dining room your majesty,” Monica uttered and fake a smile.

They continued to walk towards Celine’s room chatting about random things until they reach her door.

Suddenly it opened as Celine exited the room, her eyes met Mathew’s gaze and then glance at Lucas and Monica.

Celine was wearing a simple ankle-length peach dress with long sleeves and her hair was neatly braided looking simple yet elegant despite having no ornaments on it.

“Good morning master,” She greeted and bowed her head then glance at the rest, “Good morning Lucas,” she uttered then eyed Monica, “Good morning, Lady Monica,” she added.

‘Ah, she’s calling me master again,’ his mind uttered making him sad deep inside but tried to compose himself.

“Good morning Celine,” Lucas answered cheerfully.

“Good morning,” Monica replied irritated at her.

“Good morning Celine,” Mathew greeted back and smiled at her, “As usual, you look beautiful today as well,” he complimented.

Monica bites the inside of her lips as she glared at Celine.

‘She’s bewitching the emperor!’ her mind commented angrily.

“You look…unwell today, master, are you okay?” Celine replied as she stared at his face ignoring his compliment.

“Pardon Celine, you shouldn’t talk to the emperor like that at least say thank you to the emperor when he’s complimenting you,” Monica reprimanded.

Mathew chuckled, “There’s nothing to argue, Celine is naturally like that which is okay with me,” he uttered in between his laugh.

“But your majesty,” Monica insisted.

“It's fine with his majesty my lady,” Lucas interrupted and kindly smiled at her, “We understand your sentiment but the emperor clearly said that it’s fine to him. Thank you for always having concern for the emperor,” Lucas added and bowed his head to her.

“…Then, I guess it's fine,” Monica answered and look away feeling ashamed.

Celine glance at Monica and back to Mathew.

“The lady is correct, it's rude of me not to be grateful to the emperor for complimenting me. Please punish me for my rudeness,” Celine announced.

Monica stared at Celine with irritation reflected in her eyes.

‘Playing saint?’ her mind uttered.

“We shouldn’t make small things big,” Mathew said as he breathes in exhaustion, “Then shall we go to the dining room now?” he suggested.

“Yes, we should master,” Celine answered.

Celine walks behind them, silently listening to them.

“You’re oddly silent today?” Lucas asks.

“I’m always silent Lucas,” she answered.

“Yes you’re right…but something’s off about you today,” Lucas responded.

Celine glance at him.

“If you’re asking about my emotions? My answer would always be the same. I’m fine,” she uttered.

Lucas chuckled.

“Yes, maybe I’m just seeing things, I’m sorry Celine,” he responded.

“It's fine,” Celine answered as he glance back in front and saw Mathew already staring at her while Monica continued to talk not noticing Mathew’s loss of focus on their conversation.

Celine stops walking making them halt and glance at her.

“Celine, is there something wrong?” Mathew asks.

“I apologize for the interruption but master, may I talk to you personally for a moment?” she asks.

Mathew only glances at her and then at Lucas and Monica.

“You may proceed to the dining room, we will catch up to you,” Mathew announced.

Monica secretly eyed Celine giving her a kind of look as if she’s telling her that if she confess anything to the emperor, she’ll make sure to make her life a living hell.

Celine ignored her and remained her gaze to Mathew.

“Yes your majesty,” Lucas answered and bowed his head, “My lady, shall we?” he asks and look at Monica.

“Yes we may,” Monica uttered as they went on their way.

When there were only two of them left, Celine walk closer to Mathew.

“Finally I could do this,” she whispered as she tiptoed and stroked his unruly hair but at the same time, using her magic to heal him from his fatigue.

“You’re doing this again, you should reserve your strength,” Mathew uttered and smiled as he looks down on her face.

“It seems to me that my master is facing a lot. Master, are you having some problems because of me?” she mumbled and stared at his hazel eyes.

Mathew breathes and returned his gaze to her as he smiled back.

“…There’s none Celine,” he answered.

But she knows… it’s a lie.

She steps backward creating a distance between them.

“I understand if you cannot tell me just yet master, however, please remember that I exist to help and protect you and not just a display in this palace,” she said.

“Did I make you angry?” he asks.

“Master, someone like me couldn’t be angry with a kind man like you. The question should be asked by me. Did I cause you a lot of trouble?” she asks.

“…No,” he lied again to her.

‘What a hard-headed man, he shouldn’t protect someone like me,’ her inner self commented as her expression softened.

“…Then, that’s good to know,” she answered despite knowing his white lies, “We should go now,” she added.

“Yes we should,” Mathew answered.

As they walk, Mathew glance at her.

‘Did I make her feel not needed?’ he sadly thought.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled.

Celine looks at him.

“Pardon?” she asks.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel like you were left behind, I just don’t want to trouble you anymore since you already made a lot for me. The truth is I felt like the only thing I could do for you is to keep you away from too much trouble,” Mathew said almost as a whisper but enough for her to hear.

“I understand, it's fine, but please use me to make things easier for you. Your too selfless master, it's fine to be selfish for once,” Celine responded.

Mathew smiled.

“I’m sorry.”

“Please stop apologizing to me,” she uttered.

He chuckled.

“I’m so—”

“I just said it seconds ago,” she interrupted making him laugh.

“Fine, fine,” Mathew responded and eyed her intently, “Celine, I would like to ask a favor from you,” he added.

“What is it?” she replied.

“Be with me”

Celine stops walking and glance at him.

“I would like you to stand beside me as we discuss what we planned for tomorrow. And please help us do it,” he continue to say and smiled at her.

Celine blinks her eyes twice.

‘I almost misunderstand his words a while ago,’ she commented.

“Yes… Yes, I will master,” Celine answered.

He holds her hand and led her to continue their walk.

“But before that, we should have our breakfast first,” Mathew announced, “You should eat a lot, you should gain weight when you're with me,” he added.

“What does my weight have to do with the plan?” she asks.

He answered with a gentle laugh still holding her hand as they fasten the pace of their walk.