The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Chapter Twenty-two

Nathaniel Blanche, the former emperor who made the foundation of the empire stronger than the late emperor, his father. The beloved husband of Elena Blanche and the father of Mathew, the current emperor.

“Greetings your majesty,” Lucas greeted the former emperor to break the awkwardness he felt.

“Greetings,” the former emperor replied.

“It’s good to see that you have recovered from your illness father,” Mathew uttered as he eyed Celine who was staring at them listening in silence.

“Yes I am glad as well that I immediately looked for your mother, where is she?” his father asks.

“I saw mother, in the library a while ago,” Mathew replied.

“Oh, I see. Goodness, your mother never really leaves her first love,” his father uttered.

“…her first love?” Celine mumbled enough to be heard by them.

Nathaniel glanced at her with a smile.

“It’s the books I am talking about,” he replied.

“Oh,” Celine uttered in response.

“Well then, I should be on my way now, its nice meeting you Celine,” The former emperor announced as he walks away from them.

Celine just stared at the man’s back and then glanced at Mathew.

“It’s nice seeing you after a short while, master,” she said as she walks towards him.

“Yes, it is,” Mathew smiled as his tensed shoulder loosen up a bit which Celine noticed.

She eyed Lucas who did also the same but Celine didn’t bother to ask about it. After all, she knew that she will always get the answer at the right time.

‘If he doesn’t want to open it up to me, then I shall not force him. After all, a weapon never asks,’ she thought.

“Celine,” Mathew called.

“Yes, master?”

“I’m sorry,” he uttered.

She blinks in confusion while not breaking her stare at him.

“Why are you apologizing to me, master?”

“It’s because there are things I cannot say to you yet,” he replied.

Her curious eyes became gentle while staring at him.

“Do not worry about it master, I understand.”

“Thank you, Celine,” Mathew replied as he smiled at her brightly, “However, may I ask a favor?” he continued.

“Yes you may,” Celine replied.

“Please do not reveal to my father or to anyone else that you are a sorcerer, I shall be the one who will inform them when everything is fine to reveal,” Mathew said.

“If that is what you want, then I shall obey, master,” Celine answered.

“Thank you, we should head back now, I heard the dinner is already been served,” Mathew uttered.

“Yes we should,” Lucas answered with a smile and glance at Celine.

They walk back to the grand corridor of the palace. Mathew was walking ahead of them while Celine and Lucas walks behind him.

“How was the capital, Celine? Did you enjoy it?” he asks.

“…I can’t tell, but it was interesting,” she replied.

“I’m glad that you find it interesting,” Mathew commented.

“A lot happened,” she mumbled.

“Really?” Lucas responded, “What happened then?” he continued.

“It’s a long story and if I summarized everything it’s a little messed up but it turned out well…I guess,” she responded.

“That’s a relief,” Lucas said.

“How about you Lucas? It felt like I haven’t talked to you for a long time,” Celine mumbled.

“Ah yes, a lot also happened. It’s also a mess but I have faith,” he replied.

“I’m glad to know that you have faith in good things,” she said.

Lucas replied with a smile as they continued to walk.

Mathew glanced at the almost dark sky with a mixture of the color orange. His hazel eyes stared at it before he glance at his front view where he saw Nathan waving at them while Allen and Casis were standing beside him.

The night pass by and then morning came, Celine was a little bewildered when the royal princess visited her early in the morning.

Upon hearing the servants’ announcement outside her door, she immediately opened it and Veronica wearing a smile on her pretty face, barge inside her room.

 “Princess, I apologize that I am still in my sleepwear,” Celine uttered as she closed the door.

“No, I should be the one to apologize for coming here too early,” Veronica replied with an apologetic look, “ But I wanted to see you today, I would like for us to have a good relationship and a cup of tea after we have our breakfast,” she continued bashfully.

Celine blinks once and stared at her.

‘Humans are strange there’s no doubt about it…And I don’t like the taste of tea,’ her mind mumbled.

“There’s no need for you to give so much effort for I see the princess as a good friend,” she replied as she bowed her head.

Celine heard a feminine and genuine laugh.

“You are really strange Celine, no matter how I look at you, you don’t seem to have an expression on your face,” Veronica commented.

 She did not respond and just glance back at her.

“Erm, I’m sorry if that was offending,” Veronica mumbled.

“No, it's not, your only saying the truth, princess,” Celine replied.

“Just call me Veronica,” she replied with a smile.

“…If that is what you want then I would be glad to call you by your name,” Celine uttered.

“I heard you met my father yesterday?” Veronica asks.

“Yes, your right.”

“So how was it?” Veronica uttered.

“….. it’s good to meet the former emperor,” Celine replied.

“I’m glad to hear it from you, I should leave now so that you could change. I’m sorry to disturb you,” Veronica said.

“It's fine…Veronica,” Celine answered.

The lady smiled when she heard Celine called her name.

“Then, I’ll excuse myself now and I hope to see you in the dining room,” Veronica announced as she smiled at her and exited her room.

After the servants help her get change, she exited her room and walks towards the hallway.

“It’s a good day to see you,” a voice said behind her.

She faced the person behind her, a lady with straight medium-length black hair, white skin, and a fit body, her small face is beautiful as her pair of black eyes stared at her with clear distaste.

“Good morning lady Monica,” Celine greeted with a blank expression.

“You seems carefree despite having a lower status than us?” she uttered.

‘Ah, here she goes again,’ she said to herself.

“Don’t be too full of yourself, it doesn’t mean that his majesty is on your side you can easily wander around freely,” Monica continued never breaking her stare at her.

Celine who shows no interest in her face did not respond as she finds it useless to talk back.

“You don’t belong here,” Monica mumbled enough for her to hear.

“Lady Monica, as what I have said if you wanted my master to be on your side, instead of insulting me you should prove yourself to him,” Celine replied with a composed facial expression.

“Are you implying that I’m bullying you?” She responded as her face reflects disgust and irritation.

“Did I state the obvious?” Celine replied and shrug her shoulder.

“Watch that filthy mouth of yours. Don’t you know that insulting a noble might get you imprisoned or worst get you executed?” Monica warned.

Celine did not respond.

“Hah! That’s right, know your place if you value your life,” she continued.

‘Ah, why do I have to encounter such a narrow-minded person like her? Did I become too good and too humble? Should I let this world be destroyed and watch her suffer? No, if I let this world ended, my master would hate me. So maybe I should just kill her?’ her inner self whispered.

She was about to use her magic but she remembered that Mathew doesn’t want her to reveal her identity as a sorcerer so she canceled the plan.

‘Too bad, luck is in your side,’ her mind commented.

“I don’t get it why his majesty treats you special? But I hope you don’t have high hopes, you are just convenient,” Monica whispered.

Celine remained placid and didn’t break the stare.

“Oh, Lady Monica, Celine, it's good to see you,” Celine heard Mathew say as her eyes gaze at the man standing behind Monica.

“Your majesty! It’s a pleasure to see you,” Monica cheerfully said as she faced him.

“Good morning master,” Celine replied and then glanced at Lucas, “Good morning Lucas,” she continued.

“Good morning Lady Monica…and good morning to you too Celine,” Lucas said as he smile.

“Good morning sir Mcrovier,” Monica replied.

“You’re just in time, why not have breakfast with us,” Mathew suggested as he eyed Monica.

“If it’s okay for you your majesty, I would be glad,” she replied with a smile.

“Of course it’s okay with me my lady,” Mathew responded with a smile.

Celine remained silent.

“Are you okay Celine?” Lucas whispered at her.

“…Yes I am, how about you?” she replied still wearing her unreadable expression.

“I am fine, it’s nice weather right?” Lucas uttered.

Celine glance at the blue sky.

“Yes it is, however, I feel like it's going to rain soon,” she responded.

Lucas glance at her, “I hope it wouldn’t.”

“Why not? Rain is good for the plants,” Celine said.

“Yes it is, but I feel like the sun should smile for just a little bit,” Lucas replied.

Celine look at him intently trying to understand what he meant.

“Celine?” Mathew called.

“Yes?” she replied as she eyed Mathew.

“Did you sleep well?” Mathew asks.

“Yes I did,” she replied shortly.

“I’m glad to hear it,” he responded with a bright smile as he walks towards her and hold her hand.

“We should head to the dining room now,” he continued.

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

Meanwhile, Shin who hid behind the huge trunk of a tree stared at them as they walks into the corridor. He focuses his gaze on Celine and saw her hair swayed as she gracefully walks beside Mathew.

‘You did put me in a risky situation, now I can’t let my master know that you helped me,’ his mind whispered as he felt like smiling but forced himself not to do it.

“However, I hope you understand that I should deliver chaos on your way right? As you said, you were still my enemy,” he whispered as he transform into his bird form and flew away.