CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
1957 Words
Chapter Thirty-One
As soon as they approach the crowd, Mathew lost consciousness and is immediately treated by the imperial doctor in his room. And the rest was also being treated after.
Celine was silent the whole time as the doctors put some bandages on her cuts, she was the last one who was being treated by the doctor, the three kings and Lucas tried to convince her to be treated before them but she declined and insisted to be the last.
She eyed the old man beside her and realize that it was the same man who treated her when they were still traveling on the sea.
“These might become scars, I’ll just give you some ointment,” he uttered.
Celine didn’t respond.
“It must have been tough for you,” he said.
She remained silent and the doctor didn’t try to offer a conversation to her anymore.
“…How was my master?” she asks and eyed him.
“Master? Oh—right, his majesty is fine now, he’s resting in his room,” the doctor replied and smiled at her.
She notices his stiff shoulders become relaxed.
“Thank you… for saving him,” she uttered.
The man smiled at her.
“That’s nothing compared to what you’ve done and what you will do. I should be the one who should be grateful because you’re here,” he said.
Her expression softens as she glances at him and snaps her finger. Suddenly, all the stress and heavy feelings the old man felt a while ago faded.
He looks at her with a surprised expression.
“Oh, you shouldn’t waste your magic on me,” he mumbled.
“That’s how I say thank you for treating my injuries,” Celine answered.
“I’m just worried that your body couldn’t stand from too much stress,” the old man responded forming a crease between his eyebrows.
“Don’t worry too much about me, I can manage.”
“But still, you should treat yourself gently.”
“…I’m afraid I can’t,” she answers and looks away from him.
The man didn’t respond anymore and just stared at the lady. Looking at how she looks so frail makes him worry more.
“If you cared to listen, every time I look at you, you look quite similar to my daughter,” he told her and smiled as he stared at the window with a small smile on his lips.
“Where is she now?” she asks never looking back at him.
“…She died two years ago,” the man answered with sadness buried deeply in his tone.
“That’s… sad to hear,” Celine replied unemotionally.
The doctor let out a sigh and stared back at her.
“I apologize if I’ve told you something meaningless,” he said.
“No, it's fine. After all, you’re partly correct, there is one thing we have in common but we are not the same,” Celine uttered and look back at him with her cold stares.
The doctor began to get confused about her words.
‘There is one thing in common yet not the same?’ his mind asks.
“Pardon…?” he managed to say.
“It's fine if you don’t understand what lies behind my words. It’s better if you don’t,” Celine said, “Then please excuse me, I’ll be back in my room now,” she added and exited the infirmary.
“Oh,” Lucas mumbled as they both stared at each other.
“How long have you been standing there?” she asks.
“Not for a while,” Lucas answered and smiled.
Celine saw his injuries being wrapped up in bandages.
“I apologize if I couldn’t help all of you back there,” she uttered.
“No, no, we understand your situation,” Lucas replied.
“You’re so kind to someone who almost failed to protect him,” Celine responded.
Lucas was speechless for a second but compose himself and let out a breath.
“...All of us almost failed Celine,” he answered back and patted her shoulder, “So don’t carry all the guilt for yourself, share it with me,” Lucas uttered with a gentle voice.
“When I heard from the king of Asvante that master took almost all of the attacks just to find its weakness, I was uncomfortable,” she mumbled.
“I arrived late at that time as well,” Lucas commented.
“It’s because you evacuated the guests and my master’s family. It's reasonable Lucas,” Celine replied still having no expression written on her face.
“I felt like I’m too slow to help him during that time. When his majesty is on the battlefield he always put our lives first before his own. We have known each other since we were kids, he was more than an emperor for me. He’s like a brother… The best brother I could have,” Lucas expressed and then glance at Celine, “And you were like a little sister to me,” he added and smiled brightly.
“So both of you are important,” Lucas mumbled enough for her to hear.
Celine patted his shoulder.
“You should probably correct the word little. I am older than you anyway, our age gap is decades,” she said.
Lucas chuckled at her words.
“Ah, yes, I will remember it,” he answered between his chuckle.
“Lucas,” she called and gaze at him.
“Yes?”
“Why were you waiting for me?” she asks.
“Oh, it’s because before his majesty sleeps, he said to escort you to your room,” he answered.
“Can I visit him?”
“I’m afraid to say but his majesty is already asleep Celine, and it’s already late at night, we should sleep and gather our strength back,” he replied, “You should rest your body,” he continued.
“…I understand,” Celine responded averted her gaze from him.
He smiled at her and after a while, they have reach her room.
Lucas opened it for her, “Good night Celine,” he uttered.
“Good night,” she answered and steps inside her room.
She heard the door closed and his steps walking away from her room.
“I’m sorry Lucas for disobeying you,” she whispered and snaps her finger.
Specks of golden dust surrounded her body and in a glimpse, she was already in his room.
Celine walks closer to Mathew’s bed and saw his sleeping face. She glanced at his injuries wrapped up in bandages, his arms and his bare chest down to his stomach.
She sits beside him and stroke his head gently feeling his soft hair on her hand.
“I almost failed you,” she whispered.
Celine touches his chest gently and as her hand touched his chest, it started to glow.
“I took all your pain away, but I didn’t heal you thoroughly because I know you wouldn’t want me to do that,” she mumbled, “You’re so selfless master, there’s nothing wrong of being selfish for once,” she added and took her hand on his chest away when suddenly Mathew grabs and pulled it closer to him.
Their faces were a few inches away from each other.
“Celine?” he mumbled upon seeing her face clearly, “Why are you here? Is there anything I could help you with?” he asks.
She pokes his forehead gently with her free hand.
“As expected from you,” she uttered.
Mathew’s eyebrows furrowed, confused at her words.
“How are you?” she asks trying to convert the conversation.
“I’m fine, my bruises are not painful anymore,” he answered not letting go of her hand.
She straightened her back to create distance but remained her gaze at him.
“I’m glad to hear that from you,” Celine answered and tried to stand but he pulled her back making her fall on top of him.
“Are you worried about me?” he asks as he embraces her.
Her eyes widened from the situation and her heart started to beat faster.
“…Master, please let go, you should rest now,” she mumbled and tried to escape from his embrace but she couldn’t.
“I’m happy that you’re worried about me,” he whispered in her ears.
Celine couldn’t respond, her mind is clouded with the thoughts of him.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you,” he said, “When I saw you struggling to stand, with lots of bruises and cuts on your body, I couldn’t stand to watch you, I was desperate to protect you but I couldn’t. I’m so—”
“Master,” she interrupted, “Why are you saying sorry to me? You shouldn’t. Any bruises and injuries are fine for me as long as I could keep you away from harm,” she added.
Mathew played with her hair with one hand but the other remained to embrace her waist.
“Shouldn’t a man like me say that to you?” he commented and chuckled.
His breaths on her ears coming from his gentle laugh made her feel ticklish.
“Master, a woman can also protect a man,” Celine replied.
She felt his chest’s movement as he laugh again.
“You never really failed to make me laugh,” he said in between his chuckle.
“I’m not joking, though,” she replied.
Mathew’s laugh was prolonged because of her response.
Suddenly she remembered Shin’s words during the fight as she leaned her head on his chest hearing his heartbeat.
“Master,” she called.
“Hmm?”
“I always believe that from the very start, I have nothing,” she mumbled.
“You had me, maybe not from the very start but you had me now, Celine,” he whispered.
“And since that I had you, will you abandon me too?” she asks waiting for his answer, “From what I’ve heard, if I’m not convenient anymore will you throw me out?” she added
She felt his embrace become tight and warmer.
“Who said that?”
“No one,” she lied.
“Celine, I ask if who said that to you?” he asks again gently laying her beside him.
She saw his jaw clenched and his hazel eyes darkened with anger.
“As I said, no one,” she uttered again.
“Listen, if I could just tie you beside me, I would. Celine, I don’t see you as a mere thing that I’d throw when I’m bored. Remember this, always, I’m a jerk sometimes but I won’t let go of you,” he said.
Celine blink twice, “It’s a surprise to hear you say that you’re a jerk,” she replied.
“I’m serious,” Mathew responded forming a crease between his eyebrows.
Her eyes became gentle and sleepy.
“You always are, but even if you’re not, I’d still trust you,” she mumbled and yawn while covering her mouth.
Mathew smiled.
“Good night Celine,” he gently whispered.
“Good night… Mathew,” she replied.
Mathew’s heart skip a beat upon hearing her mention his name for the first time.
‘Ugh, why are you doing this to me?’ his mind commented not breaking his stare on the sleeping lady beside him.
“You should say my name from now on,” he mumbled even if he know that she doesn’t hear him.
He caresses her face gently.
“Sweet dreams,” he whispered in her ears before he fell asleep.
- Writer
