The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER TWELVE

Chapter Twelve

Mathew wakes up as he saw one of the servants opening his window. While he sits on his bed he remembered the events from last night.

“Good morning your majesty,” the servant greeted as she bowed her head.

“Good morning.”

“I have opened the windows and prepared your bath. If your majesty needs anything else please let me know,” the servant uttered still bowing her head.

“Thank you but I don’t need anything else you may go now,” he replied to her as he stands up from his bed revealing his bare upper body.

Upon seeing his manly built the maid-servant’s cheek turned into light pink as she bowed her head again.

“Then please excuse me, your majesty,” she stammered as she walks outside the room.

Ignoring the lady’s reaction his gaze landed on his tattoo on his left arm.

          “I won't tell you not to fear because it is normal for the human heart but if ever you see yourself amid the         darkness, know that whatever cause that darkness, I will burn it for you.”

Remembering her words made his lips form a little smile.

“Shouldn’t a man say that to a woman?” he said to himself as he chuckled as he walks to the bathroom.

After he took a bath and put on his comfortable yet formal clothes a sudden knock was heard from his door.

“May I come in your majesty?” Lucas, his aide called.

“You may,” he answered as he fix his cravat.

“Greetings your majesty,” his aide said as he bowed his head.

“Good morning,” Mathew replied as he faced him.

“Your majesty I have come here to inform you regarding your schedule for today.”

“And?”

“There are no documents that need to be signed however the imperial palace sends a bunch of letters for you to read and to reply. You have also a meeting with the three kings before luncheon and the king of Leberion also requested for your time as his sparring partner this afternoon ‘if his majesty would allow it to happen,’ that is what King Rion said,” Lucas announced.

“All is fine for me,” he replied.

“Then your schedule is settled now, your majesty. Oh and by the way, breakfast is already been prepared, your majesty.”

“Okay but please inform the three kings that I have requested for them to have their breakfast with me. And, I shall go first to Celine’s room before I go to the dining room,” He said as he eyed his aide.

“Yes your majesty I shall inform them immediately,” Lucas replied as he was about to exit the room.

“Lucas,” Mathew called.

“Yes, your majesty?”

“Tell the kings that I have also requested for their aides to have breakfast with us,” he said as he smiled.

“Yes your majesty,” he replied as he bowed his head with a smile before he exited the room.

He soon exited the room minutes after Lucas left. When he exited his room he went to Celine immediately and stops on her closed door.

“Celine?” he called.

A servant opened her room and bowed her head to him.

“Good morning your majesty.”

“Good morning, where is Celine?” he asks.

“The servants have been helping her get dressed your majesty. She requested for you to be on your way,” the servant humbly replied.

“Then I’ll wait for her, here.”

“Your majesty the lady said that if ever you say to wait here, she wants me to answer that she will definitely come to you.”

He smiled.

“Fine, however, you must escort her to the dining room,” he commanded.

“Yes, your majesty.”

“Then, I’ll be on my way,” he said as he started to walk away.

He arrived at the big and grand dining room as the people waiting for him stands up from their seats and greeted him.

“Good morning master,” he heard a gentle mumble from behind him.

His eyes automatically landed on the lady standing behind him, he met her emerald eyes and was left speechless.

She was wearing a floor-length sage green dress imprinted with small butterflies on the upper part. It was a simple dress yet the lady standing in front of them made it look elegant and outstanding.

He cleared his throat to break the silence.

“Good morning Celine,” he replied with a smile.

“Greetings to everyone,” Celine announced as she eyed everyone in the room.

For a moment, the people who were stuck in awe were back to their senses and also greeted her back.

However, his heart skip a beat when their eyes met again.

‘Is my heart abnormal?’ he thought as he tried to compose himself in front of her.

“After you, master,” she said as she gestured her hand to the table.

‘Ah, shouldn’t a man do that for her?’ he thought helplessly as he stared at her.

While looking at her and held her hand which made the spectator’s eyes stared in shock.

“Let’s sit,” he said as he escorted her to her chair.

“Master,” she called him softly as her small feet tiptoed trying to whisper to him.

He bent a little and tilt his head to hear her.

“You shouldn’t be too caring to me or else others will misunderstand,” he heard her say as he felt ticklish because of her warm breaths.

‘Damn,’ his mind cursed as he closed his eyes and breathes which made his heartbeat erratic when he smelled her sweet scent.

‘Damn,’ his mind cursed again.

“Don’t mind them,” he managed to whisper back.

Allen cleared his throat and stared at them when they were seated on their chairs.

“It’s a good day to see you in a lovely mood, your majesty,” Allen uttered.

“Ah yes… the weather is… lovely today,” Mathew replied as he tried to calm himself.

“Hmm? But it’s raining your majesty? I thought you hated rainy days?” Nathan said as he look at him innocently.

“Hmm? Is that true master? Would you like me to stop the rain for you?” Celine commented as she eyed him.

“No…no thank you but it's fine,” he responded as he forced a smile.

“Are you fine your majesty? You look completely captivated,” Casis said as he smiled playfully.

“…I’m fine, let’s eat now or the food will get cold,” Mathew announced.

After their meal, Celine was given permission to roam around the manor since Mathew and the rest are having a busy schedule.

As she walks through the big and grand hallway, her feet brought her to the library.

Since it was raining outside and there is nothing for her to do she went inside even if she knows that the library is pointless to an illiterate girl like her.

The librarian smiled and greeted her which she also responded with a greeting and continued to walk.

She roams her eyes and was amazed by the books and how enormous the library was, as she passed by the bookshelves and long tables and was captivated by the comfortable atmosphere of the library.

She stops in front of a large window as she inhales the smell of old and new books. It made her calm as she stared at the pouring rain.

“Is there anything I could help you my lady?” she heard a voice behind her.

She look at the librarian she met earlier, his eyes met hers as he smiled.

“No thank you, I’m fine,” she replied as she glance back to the view outside.

“Then please call me if you need something, my lady,” he said.

“Yes, I will, thank you.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me,” the librarian uttered as he walks away.

She sits on a couch near the large window.

‘It’s a shame that I cannot do anything for now aside from staring at the raindrops and glancing at the books,’ she thought.

She leans her back on the soft couch.

‘Should I just sleep in my room instead?’  Her mind uttered.

She stood up from the couch and approach the librarian again.

“Excuse me,” she uttered.

The librarian looked at her and smiled.

“Yes, my lady?”

“May I ask if they're something like a picture book here?”

“Yes, there is, my lady. I could get it for you,” he said.

“No it's fine, I could go there. Please tell me where to find it?” she replied.

“Oh, it’s on the last shelf on the second floor my lady.”

“Thank you,” Celine replied as she started to walk towards the spiral staircase.

She immediately found the section she’s trying to find. She scanned her eyes through the books and tried her best to choose the good one to open.

However her emerald eyes were caught on a particular book, it has a peculiar cover and when she took it from the shelves there was dust flying in the air.

She sneeze when she tried to blow away the dust, and there she saw the book’s unique cover.

She tried to understand the letters on the cover but she failed.

Celine breathes in disappointment.

‘Did I almost forgot that I’m illiterate?’  Her inner self commented.

And when she opened the book, she saw some unique painted pictures on every page. She could determine that it was some kind of a children’s book.

‘Why would master have a book like this in his library?’ she thought.

“Hmm, it might be, because he is preparing himself to have a family” she whispered to herself as she turn the pages.

After minutes of just watching the pictures from the book, she didn’t notice that the rain stops. She was quite fond of how the drawings are colorful and interesting.

“Do you like fairytales?” a familiar voice said.

She lifted her head and saw Mathew’s hazel eyes looking directly at hers. The distance between them became lesser and lesser until his chest almost touch her nose.

Her heart started pounding heavily as if it was racing madly trying to free itself from her ribs.

‘When did he come here?’ she thought

“Uhm, master you’re so close,” she managed to say between her breaths.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said and widened the distance between them.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt your reading,” he continued.

“It’s fine, I’m just watching the pictures, though,” she replied.

“Do you want me to read it for you?” he asked as he smiled.

‘Ah, please don’t smile at me like that, you’re making me trap into some kind of strange feeling,’ her mind said, defeated.

“You don’t need to do it for me, master,” she declined as she closed the book.

“But it’s a good story,” Mathew uttered.

She blinks her eyes once and looks at him.

He chuckled when he saw it.

“It seems like no matter what I do or say, your face won’t give me any expression at all,” he smiled.

“Are you upset because of that?” she asks him.

“A little,” he answered.

“If I let you tell me this story will you still be upset at me?” she ask innocently as she raised her hand holding the book.

He laughs softly.

‘And now she’s treating me like a kid? How cute,’ his mind whispered.

“Will you let me?”

“If that’s what my master wants, then I’ll listen.”

“Even if it’s a long story?”

She glance at the thick pages of the book which made him laugh again.

‘Damn. We're in the library!’ his mind reprimanded as he tried to compose himself.

“Then, I will make it short for you,” he said as he took the book in her hand.

“It’s a story of a nymph who fell in love with a monster.”

“What happened to them?”

“A lot happened. Their love was put in many hardships because of their difference,” he answered.

“Did they end up together?” she asks as she glances at his face.

“Yes, and just like how every fairytale ended, they live happily ever after,” he uttered with a smile.

“Ah, so every fairytale is a happy story,” she responded as she glance at the window.

Mathew glance at the opened window as well.

“That’s why fairytales do not exist,” Mathew muttered and then gaze at her.

“Maybe,” Celine replied.

“We're leaving the day after tomorrow. Is there anything you would like to do?” he ask her.

She thought for a moment then laid her eyes on his face.

“Master, please teach me how to ride a horse so that I won't burden you anymore,” she said.

“… You were not a burden to me.”

“If I fly all the way my stamina would be in a wreck but if I ride a horse I can reserve my energy for future purposes.”

“You don’t want to share a ride with me anymore?” he ask as he eyed her.

“Master…Please don’t ask me any question I could not answer.”

He smiled.

“Then, I will teach you.”

“Master, are you upset?” she ask when she notice his darkened expression.

“Yes.”

“Did I said too much?”

“Yes.”

“Did I hurt your feelings?”

“Pretty well,” he answered.

“It's not like a ride with you is bad,” she uttered.

“That’s not it,” he replied as he look at her.

“…is it because I’m a burden? I apologize master.”

He sighs and glances at her.

“Celine, you are not a burden to me or to anyone here. We do not see you as a tool to be used, okay?” he said as he patted her thin shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“You shouldn’t apologize to me,” he replied.

She was out of words to say as she averted her gaze from him.

“Master, stop being so kind,” she whispered.

“…Celine, listen,” he called not hearing the words she whispered a while ago.

“I want you to be happy,” he said sincerely with a bright smile.

Suddenly, there was a sudden lump in her heart. A strange and bizarre feeling she cannot understand nor decipher.

‘Ah, I need to protect this man at all cost. I would do anything just to see that smile more,’ her mind uttered.

“Since it stops raining let's head outside now, I’d teach you how to ride a horse before I sparred with Nathan,” he announced as he put back the book into the shelves.

“Master,” she called making him stops walking.

“Yes?” he answered and returned his gaze at her.

“…Nothing, I just want to say thank you…Thank you so much,” she managed to say after a few seconds of being tongue-tied.

“Don’t be,” he replied with a sweet smile.

She walks beside him.

“Shall we go?” she uttered as she eyed him.

“Yes, we should,” he replied as they continued to walk.

She secretly glance at him, his hazel eyes, his pointed nose, and his lips forming a small smile.

‘You said you wanted me to be happy. But, if ever fate would give me a chance to be happy, I would wish for you to be happier than me,' her inner self said.

She looks away from him.

“Celine,” he called.

“Yes, master?” Celine replied.

“Riding a horse is not easy,” he said as they continue to walk outside the library.

“It may be, but it should be fine,” she uttered.

“Yes, it will be fine because I know you’re a fast learner,” he replied.

“Nope. I am not,” she said as she eyed him again, “It’s because you’re here with me.”

He smiled at her response.

“I felt pressured,” he said between his chuckles.

“Don’t be. You don’t need to be perfect, your existence is enough,” she uttered as her emerald eyes reflected calmness within it.