CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
1375 Words
Chapter Twenty-four
It’s already sunset and after a few hours, the banquet will start. Celine who was in her room sitting on her bed heard a sudden knock from her door.
“My lady? May we come in?” said a voice from the outside.
“…Yes you may,” Celine replied.
After the servants heard her response they opened the door as they steps inside.
“Why are you so many? What’s happening?” Celine asks as she stands up from sitting on her bed.
“We will help you prepare for the banquet, my lady.”
“Ha? No, there’s no need to do that for me, I can get dressed on my own,” Celine replied.
“You can’t my lady, this is also a command from the royal family.”
Celine eyed the female servants lining in front of her. She disagree with Mathew once when he suggested a personal servant for her, and yet, despite this, she tolerated any female servant who came to her room every morning to assist her in preparing her bath and helping her in changing her clothes because there was only one servant who did it for her. Not these many.
Celine remained composed despite being displeased by the situation.
“Please let me do it alone, just tell the royal family that I requested to prepare everything by myself,” she uttered.
The servants eyed each other and then glance back at her.
“We cannot do that my lady.”
Celine stared at them still wearing her usual facial expression.
‘I couldn’t just tell them to get out in this room when they were only doing their jobs to help me out,’ she thought.
“…Fine,” she replied.
Meanwhile, Mathew who was in his room heard a knock from his door.
“Mathew?” his mother called from the outside, “May I come in?” she continued.
“Yes, you may mother,” He replied.
The door opened as Elena walks inside wearing a smile.
“Oh, my son is so handsome tonight,” she uttered.
Mathew smiled and face her, “Your flattering me too much mother. And you look stunning tonight,” he said and hugs her.
“Of course! Because I am your mother that’s why I look stunning,” she replied and chuckled as they break the hug.
Mathew laughs upon hearing her response.
“So, how was your day?” he asks.
“As usual, it’s very busy, and your father never wanted me to leave his side a while ago but I insisted since I wanted to see my son,” she said and then smiled brightly at him.
“It’s normal for a man to be like that to the woman he loves. Father loves you so much mother, and I love you too,” he replied.
She cupped his face with her both hands and smiled.
“I know and I love you so much,” his mother mumbled.
“How are you?” she continued to ask.
“…I’m fine,” Mathew answered.
“Oh, you can’t lie to your mother that easily, I carried you for nine months and took care of you ever since, I know everything from you Mathew so do not lie,” she uttered.
Mathew breathes in defeat as his face showed an apologetic look.
“I don’t mean to lie mother, it’s just that, I cannot put everything into words. I’m facing a lot these days and it’s really hard to find the perfect solutions for all of it,” he replied.
Mathew felt her soft hands gently patting his shoulders which made his tense shoulders loosen up a bit.
“Relax Mathew. There is no such thing as a perfect solution, everything takes time, and someday, everything will be alright once again. However, just a favor my son,” she uttered, “Do not bottle your emotions too much, loosen up a bit doesn’t mean you’re being careless or a sign of weakness, you’re not heartless Mathew,” she continued and hugs her son.
“I’m sorry if I cannot help you in saving the world but I’ll always be here for you,” she added.
Mathew hugs her back as his lips form a small smile.
“Don’t be sorry, mother, you’ve done a lot,” he replied.
“So, who will you escort tonight?” Elena asks breaking the hug.
Mathew responded to her with a smile.
The servants stared in awe at Celine when they finished her preparations for the royal banquet.
“My lady you look so beautiful,” a servant commented.
She looks herself in the mirror and then glances back at the servant.
“…Thank you,” she replied
“If you need anything my lady please don’t hesitate to call for us,” a servant uttered as they bowed their heads.
“Yes I will, thank you for all your efforts,” Celine responded.
“Then please excuse us,” the other said as they exited her room.
She glance at the window, it was already dark outside.
“I should be on my way now,” Celine uttered to herself as she walk towards the door and exited her room.
Her floor-length bluish gown and the accessories on her hair were uncomfortable for her as she walks down the hallway of the palace.
‘I guess this is really what humans wear when they have occasions to attend,’ she thought as she walks at a faster pace.
“Such uncomfortable clothes,” she whispered to herself.
Meanwhile, Shin who was walking in the dark forest near the imperial palace was suddenly bewildered when a portal opened near him.
His eyes widened when he saw the person who walks out from it, his pair of black eyes met his mint-green eyes. Shin immediately bend one of his knees and bowed his head.
“I’m glad that you can freely enter this world, my lord,” he uttered and glance back at him.
With the help of the moonlight, Shin saw his smile and how his eyes glimmered with intense emotion.
“How was the imperial palace?” he asks.
“The royalties and the nobles are having a royal banquet at the greenhouse, my lord,” Shin answered.
“Humans will always be humans. Even if this world will end soon, they still have the time to spend, that’s why they always end up as a fool because they choose their foolish desires,” Shin heard him say.
“I believe that the emperor didn’t publicly announce the end of the world yet, my lord,” Shin commented.
“Ah yes, I am aware of that. However, he shouldn’t worry about that anymore, the humans will know soon.”
Shin didn’t respond as he saw him raise his left hand, another portal opened.
His heart pounded nervously as he saw the two monsters walk out from it. Shin averted his gaze from them.
“I brought them, I’m sure the occasion will be so interesting if these two will also attend,” his master uttered as he heard his evil chuckled.
“Ragno, Anwar,” his master called.
“Yes master,” the two monsters replied in unison.
“Make this night interesting.”
“Yes, master.”
“Shin,” his master called.
“Yes, my lord?” Shin replied.
“The sorcerer?”
“The sorcerer is also at the imperial palace, my lord,” Shin answered.
His master didn’t respond but, Shin managed to have the courage to glance at him.
“My lord, will you be with us this time?” Shin asks staring at his emotionless face.
Their gaze met once again.
“It’s too early for that, I still want to play,” he said as his lips form into a malicious grin, “Don’t worry, I will meet them soon,” he continued.
“I’m glad to hear it from you, my lord,” Shin replied.
“Lead the way for these…three,” his master commanded.
“Yes my lord,” Shin uttered as he stands and glance at the two evil beings.
“Follow me,” Shin announced.
- Writer
