The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Chapter Thirty-Nine

As they entered the palace the guests brought with them, four skilled knights.  

She observed the dwarves. They all have red and curly hairs, the tallest of them is the man beside Mathew whose height was leveled only on his chest, and the rest are an inch shorter than him.

However, the more she observed them, the more she notices that there are only two of them who has different eye colors. She notices the moment she laid her eyes on them.

All the dwarves have a pair of dark eyes except for the two men beside Mathew who has rain-cloud colored eyes.

Celine glances at Lucas, “Who were they?” she asks.

Lucas bent his head a little, “The one beside his majesty is the leader of the dwarves, Sir Milan Vrontier, beside him is his oldest son, Brinton Vrontier. The four knights behind them are their generals,” he whispered.

‘Ah, that’s why they both have different eye colors. It’s because their status is the highest among their clan,’ she commented as she glance back at them as she saw the son of their leader was already staring at her and then back at Veronica.

After a few seconds their gaze met again while his smirk was palpable, he wink at her.

“What a playboy,” she whispered.

“Pardon? Did you say something, Celine?” Lucas asks and glances at her.

“Don’t mind me,” Celine replied.

All of a sudden, Brinton Vrontier approaches Celine with a flirtatious smile on his lips.

“I never saw such beauty in my entire life,” he said.

Celine glance at him.

“Ah, such cold eyes you have. Don’t worry I will melt your frozen heart,” he uttered as he wink at her.

“Thank you for complimenting me but I guess your father needs your presence, sir,” Celine responded and pointed out his father who was already glaring at him.

Celine observed the man’s face become nervous and then he cleared his throat.

“Very well, it’s nice talking to you, Miss…?”

“Celine,” she answered.

“Miss Celine,” he responded as he took her hand and kiss the back of it, then he walks away.

Celine stared at her hand and then glance at them only to find out Mathew’s stare at her and then averted his gaze away.

After a few minutes of walking through the big and long hallway, they have reached the meeting room. The knights guarding the room immediately opened the door for them.

“I hope you understand Sir Vrontier that your knights cannot pass through. I hope that you knew that already since I already inform you about this ahead of time,” Mathew uttered.

“Yes, yes. I’m already aware of it, that’s so nice of you to remind me, your majesty,” Milan uttered with a tone of mockery in his voice.

Mathew responded to him with a smile, making his mocking attitude fade.

“That’s kind of you to compliment me, sir,” Mathew responded.

Celine notices that Milan’s jaw is clenched in anger.

‘It seems to me that the leader of the dwarves cannot control his anger,’ she commented as her gaze landed back on Mathew who was still maintaining his serious expression until they walk inside.

She even walk backward a few steps away when Brinton walk past her almost bumping her shoulder making her out of balance but was suddenly held on her waist by Brinton.

“Be careful,” he whispered in her ears.

Celine managed to stand and distance herself away from him.

‘Ah, if I could burn this guy into ashes,’ her mind commented.

“…Thank you,” she said as she notices Mathew’s gaze at the man.

“Such a jerk,” Lucas commented.

“Lucas, hush your mouth, it’s not a good time for that. Don’t mind me,” she replied looking back at Brinton who fortunately didn’t hear Lucas’ word, and then she glance back at him with a soft expression, “But you can tell him that when everything is okay. Anyway thank you,” she added.

Lucas chuckled.

“You’re right, but why are you thanking me?” he asks.

“For calling him a jerk in my stead,” Celine replied making him chuckle again.

Meanwhile, Mathew sat on his chair while the others sits on their assigned seats making sure not to make a sound as possible.

“First of all, I would like to thank you for coming all the way here despite the distance,” Mathew announced as he glance at Milan and his son, Brinton whom he saw being flirty with Celine a while ago, making his blood boil but force himself to be compose for the sake of world peace.

“Don’t run around the bush, your majesty, tell us immediately,” Milan commented as he rest his chin on his palm.

“Sir Vrontier, please watch your manners,” Allen interrupted as he eyed the man with his cold stare.

“I’m just telling our respectable emperor to be straight to the point,” Milan replied and shrugs his shoulder.

“King Asvan, you're being rude. I don’t see my father being disrespectful to the emperor. I think you should know that between us here, you’re the one who needs us and not us needing you,” Brinton commented as he smiled at him.

“It’s not rudeness Sir Brinton, it’s what we call critic base on what we observed,” Casis interrupted.

Mathew sigh and massages his temple.

Nathan cleared his throat making the rest stop arguing.

“Please let us be professional and dignified inside this room. I know every one of us here is well mannered and knows how to respect, so let his majesty the emperor, finish what he has to say. Shall we?” Nathan announced and smiled brightly at them.

Allen cleared his throat and eyed Nathan with an impressed expression.

“Yes, King Rion is right,” he agreed.

“Thank you, King Rion,” Mathew said and smiled at Nathan.

Nathan bowed his head in response.

“Now, Sir Milan is right, I should be straightforward,” Mathew began, “As you can see we need your help to improve the imperial army’s defense and offense,” he added.

“Hah! Why your majesty? Are your soldiers not good at fighting?” Brinton commented almost laughing.

“My soldiers know how to fight, sir. I just want them to improve so that more lives will be saved and I want them to protect not just others but also themselves from a strong enemy,” Mathew replied ignoring his mockery.

“Why would you improve your defense and offense? Do you want to wage war? If that’s the case then count us out, I will not let you use us to kill lives,” Milan uttered as he leans his back on the chair.

“That’s not the case sir,” Casis replied, “The emperor including us doesn’t want to wage war and won’t ever cause such bloody thing,” he continued to say.

“Like you, we condemned the violence,” Nathan commented.

“Then why?” Milan asks as his eyebrows furrowed because of confusion.

“This is the most unfortunate news I will announce to you. The world has only three months to live,” Mathew uttered.

“What do you mean?” Brinton asks in great shock.

“The world is ending,” Mathew replied as he leans his back on his chair.

“I won’t buy your lies, your majesty, what is this? A prank?” Milan commented.

“Well I’d rather hope that it’s all a lie, but I’m saying the truth,” he answered, “However, do not fret,” he added.

“What do you mean do not fret?! The end of this world will end in three months!? Therefore we only have two months to live!” Brinton yelled in anger.

 “I understand your side but please hear us out,” he replied and landed his gaze on the door, “Lucas,” Mathew called.

Lucas entered the room holding a scroll in his hand. He bowed his head to everyone and stands beside Mathew.

“Please read the scroll for us,” Mathew commanded.

Lucas cleared his throat as he open the scroll.

“According to the oracle from the holy temple, Omega one of the high gods was able to send a message in a form of oracle saying, ‘I am going to burn one of my stars and let it fall from the earth. In that falling light where no one could grasp but the ruler of mankind, was the realm where the ace was hidden. However, never let your guard down. For in there was the great Asmon the monster of light slumbers. The world is in demise, for me and my brother will soon be defeated after this. May the light of your hearts strengthened you all,’ that’s the end of the oracle,” Lucas announced.

“So we still have to retrieve that weapon?” Milan commented as he eyed Mathew.

“No need, we have to retrieve it successfully,” Mathew replied.

“If you have it already why need our skills? Victory is ours in the first place,” Brinton uttered.

“Because the end of this world doesn’t end with calamities and disasters. The demons from the darkness will wage war against humanity, so we have to prepare for that,” Mathew answered.

The three kings remained silent as they watch the guests' shocked reactions.

“What will be your decision?” Mathew asks.

Meanwhile, Celine who was taking a stroll to check the barrier felt relieved when there’s nothing wrong with it. She kept on walking until she went back inside the palace and yet her feet brought her to an unfamiliar place.

There was an open and empty room, and there she saw the former emperor staring at the big portrait of a lady.

“You may come in,” the former emperor uttered as he eyed her and smiled.

“Good day your majesty,” she greeted and entered the empty room.

“How’s the meeting?” he asks.

“It’s still ongoing your majesty,” Celine answered.

“I see,” Nathaniel mumbled, “I hope that guy didn’t give my son a headache,” he added.

‘He must be talking about the dwarves,’ her mind commented.

“Why are you here your majesty? Are you looking for your wife again?” she asks.

Nathaniel chuckled.

“It seems like it’s the most iconic thing I always do. Don’t worry my wife knows that I’m here,” he said.

“That’s…good to hear your majesty,” she answered as she eyed the gigantic painting of a lady.

“What a beautiful lady,” she commented as her vision focuses on the portrait.

A lady sitting on a couch, the long skirt of her gown was neatly scattered on the floor, she was looking at the opened window where the sunlight is. She has a white skin tone, long and wavy blonde hair, and soft blue eyes as her lips form a small smile.

Celine’s gaze landed on the writings below it, however, she wants to know despite being illiterate.

“My beloved Arceli,” the former emperor uttered, “That’s the meaning of the writings below the painting. And the lady in that painting is my mother,” he added and smiled.

“Oh,” she mumbled.

“My father painted it himself for my mother. But when my mother died, his health became poor and later on, died because of an illness,” he uttered.

“If you don’t mind your majesty may I ask the reason of your hatred to the leader of the dwarves?” Celine questioned and glance at him.

Their eyes met, and then she observed that his gaze became cold and empty.

“He let my mother die,” he answered.