CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
1801 Words
Chapter Thirty-Six
As they entered the dining room, Celine took her hand away from his hold. Everyone greeted Mathew while Celine greeted them who were already on their chair.
Both of them sits on their chair as she notices Monica’s secret glared at her yet she ignored her.
“You look lovely today my dear,” Elena uttered and smiled at her.
“Thank you, your majesty and you look stunning today as well,” Celine answered as she eyed the lady sitting beside her husband and directly opposite to where she sat.
The lady giggled, “You’re flattering me,” Elena responded and soon started to eat her food, “How are you Mathew?” the lady added after she chew the food inside her mouth.
“I’m fine mother, how about you?” Mathew asks.
“Oh, I’m fine,” his mother answered and smiled at him, “Even if your father keeps me awake last night, I’m fine,” she uttered.
The man sitting beside him almost choke his food and stared at her with wide eyes.
“My wife, you shouldn’t say vulgar words during breakfast,” the former emperor reprimanded and eyed everyone who was staring at him, he cleared his throat, “I apologize, please resume eating your food,” he added.
Celine innocently look at Mathew when he cleared his throat as well.
“Please don’t mind my mother,” Mathew announced.
Celine also notices Veronica’s slightly pink cheeks as she keeps on glancing secretly at Lucas sitting beside Mathew chewing his food, but when she averted her gaze back to the food, Celine saw Lucas glance at Veronica as his lips form a small smile then gazes back at his food again.
‘…Teenagers,’ her mind commented.
“Celine, are you free after breakfast? Monica and I will be going to the capital, want to join us?” Veronica offered and smiled at her.
“Thank you for inviting me Veronica but I’m afraid I can't, I have something else to do later,” Celine answered.
“Yes, she will be with me after breakfast,” Mathew seconded.
The three kings glance at Mathew then back to Celine but never utter a word.
“Oh, is that so brother? Then I guess I’ll just invite her some other time,” Veronica replied.
The breakfast was finished peacefully except for Celine who continuously received Monica’s glare until they part ways.
Walking behind Mathew and the three kings, she sighs which Mathew notices.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m glad that you’ll be with us as we plan our next move, Celine,” Nathan uttered.
“I hope I could be of help to everyone,” she replied.
“You already are, thank you for always helping us out,” Casis responded and smiled at her.
“I only did what I should do,” she answered and bowed her head.
After a few minutes of walking, they entered Mathew’s office.
“Please have a seat,” Mathew announce, “Prior to our goal for tomorrow’s plan, is our mission of saving the world, however when doing it, we must make sure to strengthen our defense and offense. I have sent a telegram to the highest priest and he will come here next month and discuss again the oracle we received from the god Omega and what we can do to stop that,” Mathew discussed as he eyed everyone, “Tomorrow the leader of the dwarves will come to hear our side we must do our very best to succeed and gain his trust, however, we must ensure everyone’s safety as well,” he added.
“Your majesty, it's best if we prohibit visitors and outsiders from coming inside the palace unless there’s an important reason for them for doing so,” Allen suggested.
“Yes it’s a good suggestion Allen, I will add that,” Mathew commented as he scribbled something on the paper.
“The knights should guard the entrances and exits,” Casis added.
“I’m sure the leader of the dwarves will bring some knights with him, what would be the best course for that? Should we allow their knights to enter as well?” Nathan asks.
A minute of deafening silence arouse in the room, Celine and Lucas remained silent waiting for an answer.
However, Celine cleared her throat to break the silence.
“If we prohibit their knights from entering the palace or at least permitted them to bring at least two or three it would only make things worst,” Celine commented.
“But if we let them, an assassination would possibly occur,” Casis replied.
“Please hear me out,” Celine uttered as she stands from sitting on the chair, “If our goal is to gain their trust, we should show that we believe in them as good citizens living in this world, I suggest to keep securing the palace however do not stop them from letting their knights come inside, let them do what they think is best for them. As for me, I’ll help to make the security stronger for our safety,” Celine added.
“You cant Celine, if you use your magic, your identity will be exposed,” Nathan answered.
“I know you would say that, but I can use my magic invisible to the naked eyes, it all depends on how I’ll use it,” she responded, “I’ll build a protection barrier against people who planned to hurt all of you and to the demons who intend to attack us from behind,” she continued.
“You’re doing this again, you shouldn’t shoulder everything Celine,” Mathew uttered.
Celine’s expression softened as she glance at him.
“I’m not, I’m only doing what I could do master. No matter how I strengthen our defense for everyone’s protection, the success of tomorrow's plan will depend on all of you. My magic would never be able to get someone’s trust master,” Celine said.
“…Then, what must we do to help you build that barrier?” Mathew asks.
“Its simple master, please lead me to the boundaries of the imperial palace,” she answered.
“Then, I will lead you the way,” Mathew replied.
“Your majesty,” Casis interrupted but was stopped by Mathew's sudden speech.
“Nathan and Allen, you have my permission to instruct all my knights and to command the knight commanders on what they must do for tomorrow,” he said, “Lucas,” he called.
“Yes, your majesty?” Lucas answered.
“Assist Casis on the important and needed documents we need for tomorrow’s important meeting,” Mathew added.
“Yes your majesty, but you must bring some knights with you,” Lucas responded.
“We have each other so don’t worry,” Mathew answered as he glance at Celine and back to the paper he’s holding, “We’ll be back before sunset,” he uttered as he finished writing on the paper and sealed it with his stamp.
“Yes your majesty,” Lucas replied.
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect him at all cost,” she whispered to Lucas.
“Please do, thank you, Celine,” Lucas whispered back.
“No problem,” she uttered making sure Lucas is the only one who could hear her.
“Let’s be on our way, Celine,” Mathew announced.
“Yes we should,” Celine replied as they both exited the room.
It’s almost sunset, riding a horse after they pass through the forest, they reach a cliff where the wide sea is visible. They halted and Celine immediately get off from her horse and Mathew did the same.
She walks closer to the cliff as she gazes at the wide sea.
“This is the end of the boundary,” Mathew said as he stands beside her.
“Then I’ll finish the spell immediately master,” she replied as her hand started to glow.
“Let me be to what I’m about to do, Let me be if that’s what I needed to. Let me build a light to protect the weak, let me build a shield against all the threats. Creatures from the dark will never come inside, their cursed will never break through the bright, ill intentions from the heart I will know, let me punish them under the verdict of my master for he owns, let me throw them out of the light if that’s what it means to protect the people from inside,” she chanted.
Suddenly the wind blew stronger than it seems, as Celine who can only see the light surrounding the imperial palace completely. She breathes and blinks as her eyes started to glow.
“This blessing will never be a curse, let this be the blessing’s curse” she continued completing the spell.
After finishing her job, Celine eyed Mathew who was already staring at the sea, she walks closer and stand beside him.
“Master, the barrier is done,” she uttered.
“Thank you, Celine,” he answered not breaking his stare to the sea.
Celine gazes at the ocean.
“There’s no need to thank me, master,” she answered.
“Do you find the sunset beautiful Celine?” He asks.
“…No,” she answered.
“Why?”
“It seems the end,” Celine replied.
“Sunset always reminds me that there are beautiful endings” Mathew uttered as his lips form a small smile.
“That’s why I don’t find sunset amusing,” she commented.
Mathew looks at her.
“Why?”
“Endings would never be beautiful, it’s a myth. The tragic ones, as expected, will bring sadness and scars to your heart but the happy ones are different, although they’re beautiful and bright, they make you feel the most. And then, it will make you stuck inside a pile of thoughts and desperation. Desperation to escape reality. Happy endings are sad endings as well, Master,” she said.
“Are you afraid of happy endings?” Mathew asks.
“No.”
“I see,” Mathew mumbled.
A moment of silence arose between them and only the impact of the waves they could hear from below.
“May I ask you a question master?” she uttered and glance at him.
“What is it?”
“Tell me, what is it that you feared the most in this world?”
The wind from the wide sea blows as she saw his hazel eyes calmly staring at the sunset and then met her gaze.
His hair was messily swaying with the wind as the sky was divided into night and day, she patiently waits for his response.
- Writer
