CHAPTER VIII

The cool wind was blowing from the opened window inside the Governor's room. It produced a kind of whistle that sounded like a shriek, perfectly expressing the feelings that the Governor was feeling but is determined not to let it show. The sound was rather eerie.

But the howling wind's sound was not the one to be afraid of. What made the Governor feel such fear to the point that he was rooted to his spot despite his embarrassing state was because of the woman in front of him.

The woman who was wearing a red satin nightwear is slowly walking towards him. In normal circumstances, he would have been delighted to be gifted with such a beautiful woman, presenting herself to him as he spread his legs, prepared for the unearthly pleasure that he would be feeling because of the service.

But as of now, he was feeling the opposite. He was afraid, yet, because of his stupid pride, he was unable to bestow the conditions that the woman has given him in return for his safety.

Celestine's beautiful visage was quite twisted to some degree. From her radiant playful smile earlier, her face has become taut, with a deep frown etched on her perfect brows which seemed to be forming a straight line as they are drawn together, her flower-like lips were pursed together as she gritted her teeth.

However, her pleasant features were not entirely ruined at all, instead, this kind of appearance only made her look like a demonic beauty, or maybe, a spirit of a vengeful woman, making her all the more alluring.

Thus, despite the fear that he's feeling, Ronald cannot help but admire the beauty that is in front of him, therefore, making him aroused, which was evidently seen as he was already spreading his legs.

Celestine was standing, slowly walking towards the bed as she watched, rather, as he glared at the man that was positioned in such an embarrassing state.

'It seems like those who are perverts will always remain perverts for life.' She thought. She can't believe that he still has the audacity to get excited despite his situation. It seems like he's confident that his life, or perhaps his little buddy there will remain intact.

She slightly waved her sword, making it glisten as the light hit its blade, this action made the old man swallow.

Raising an eyebrow, once again, she asked, "Are you sure? This will be the last time that I will be asking you." She said, holding the blade by her hand, looking towards the man with her sharp eyes, looking straight at his.

Ronald, still, was rooted on his spot, unable to talk nor move. He did not know what to do. He was used to being under pressure, given the conditions of his job, however, a weapon being involved was another thing, a whole other thing.

Though he was asked to train martial arts and swordsmanship by his deceased father, he ignored his suggestions, for he was confident that he will not be facing such circumstance as now given that he has hired guards to keep his safety at check. Yet, those damned guards were nowhere to be seen.

At the most crucial time, for some reason, they are not here to protect him, and from a woman at that. He knew about Celestine's hobby for he has seen her train for several days ever since she arrived in his residence to live. He can only curse the current situation at his mind. Right now, he was the unfortunate one between the two of them.

"I see." Celestine said shortly, taking his silence as an answer of yes.

As if she was as light as a feather, for a split second, from where she was standing, she was already at the bed, standing up in front of Ronald.

"Wha-What are you going to do?!" Ronald shouted, clearly alarmed. Because of his panic, he was able to move away just as Celestine was about to step on his most prized possession.

Celestine's eyebrow twitched dangerously.

'What was I going to do?! Is he even serious?' She thought, not believing what he just said.

"Isn't it obvious?" She asked furiously.

But Ronald acted obliviously.

"I-I have done nothing wrong!" He countered, making Celestine more upset.

With heavy steps, her bare foot digging into the soft mattress, she walked towards Ronald who was situated at the edge, the headboard of the bed.

As her foot was just by his private part, she grabbed his face forcefully, digging in her fingernails into his face.

"You did nothing wrong?" She repeated, just like he said in which Ronald replied with repeated nods.

She cannot believe that he's actually denying his bad deeds, she wanted to puke because of the unbelievably thick face the man has.

Angry, she dug her fingernails further into the man's face, wounding him in the process, droplets of blood now flowing from her fingers.

"You did nothing wrong?! You can't even remember what you have done?!" She screamed in rage.

She remembered the pitiful state of her friend when she found her stripped naked in the bath. Her crying face and her quivering voice that was begging her to not lash out against her perpetrator because of fear— fear of his standing and concern.

"Can you even remember Meira?!" Celestine asked, shouting, however, the man in front of her only shook his head frantically.

"The girl at the bath, a week ago!" She shouted.

Her information seemingly giving light to the old man's memory.

His face lit up, remembering the pleasant memory that has happened.

Ronald looked at Celestine, smirking. "I remember. If my memory serves me right, that girl was your maid, right?" He said. Seeing the look on Celestine's face, he knew that he was right. "That night was such a wonderful moonless night." He added, infuriating Celestine more.

"Scoundrel!" Celestine shouted, her fingers digging into Ronald's face more making him hiss in pain, but still, he continued to irritate her more.

Seeing other people's misery brings him happiness.

Not minding the pain from his face, he continued, "That girl was a bit like you. Oh, how she tried to fight but of course, I was stronger than her." He said, "And in the end, I got what I wanted. I was actually quite sad when she passed out on me, but then, that did not stop me from my advances." He said, smiling deviously. It was as if he was reminiscing on the most wonderful moment of his life.

His answer further infuriated Celestine. She harshly let go of his face but then slapped him, hard, the sound echoing all over the room.

The sudden impact caused Ronald to spit blood.

He was mortified. Nobody has dared to hurt him before, and apart from the wounds that Celestine has inflected him, now, she has slapped him, causing him to spit blood.

The girl was getting on his nerves. She has pushed her luck way too far.

Smiling, he looked at Celestine who seemed like she has still not noticed the group of guards behind her. He has brought them enough time to be able to finally regroup and come to his aid to rescue him.

It was all thanks to the girl that has left earlier during the silent war between the both of them. Celestine has made a big mistake in letting the girl go, thus, resulting in the now unfortunate turn of events for her.

"My dear Celestine. It looks like reality, once again, is catching up to you." Ronald said smugly, looking at the guards behind Celestine.

Hearing this from Ronald, Celestine suddenly felt cold. Looking at her back, she finally noticed the guards surrounding her. The entrance of the room was already blocked. She had nowhere else to go.

Frantically, she turned her head towards Ronald who was smirking. Oh, how she wanted to wipe the smirk out of his face. But now, she can't. She has wasted too much time. Instead of being direct to the point, she chose to entertain his and her childish behavior, with this being the result.

She has achieved nothing.

But still, she was determined. She did not want to go empty-handed. Not after all that she has done. Not after all the pain that she has experienced.

Suddenly, Celestine laughed loudly, making it resonate throughout the whole palace.

She was laughing at the unfortunate situation that she was in. Why does it seem like life was going against everything that she's fighting for? Are her objectives really that useless? To be hindered countless times, was she really supposed to stay quiet and do nothing but accept? Even if everything was against her will?

The guards and even Ronald became confused because of her sudden outburst of laughter.

However, in this split second, while the guards were not aware, she immediately moved towards Ronald, pointing her sword at his throat.

She was desperate.

She did not want to hurt anyone, but if this was her only chance to make him pay for his actions, she would gladly cut his throat.

She would be happy to see his blood dripping to stain his white bed sheet.

"Now, Ronald. What do you want to say? Any last words?" Celestine asked him, smiling when she noticed that he was already slightly shivering because of fear.

'That's right. Be afraid. This is just a quarter of what people have felt because of your selfishness.' She thought.

The guards, seemingly alarmed because of her sudden actions immediately advanced but were stopped abruptly by her threat.

"If any of you moves forward, by the time you get here, his head will already be rolling down the floor." Celestine threatened, with venom in her voice. She glared at the sweating guards who seem to be calculating her every move.

"D-Don't come near! Stay away!" Ronald shouted in alarm. He was already feeling the cold blade against his throat, and he knows that any sudden movement will be enough to cut through his jugulars.

"D-Dear Celest—" He was cut short by Celestine's shout.

"Don't call me that!" She screamed, further holding the blade near Ronald's throat.

In alarm, Ronald immediately apologized. "I-I'm sorry. I apologize." He stuttered.

He looked up towards Celestine. Seeing the look in her eyes, he knew, one wrong move and he will be finished.

He swallowed, feeling the blade against his adam's apple.

Just as he was about to talk, suddenly, a loud shouting voice has echoed throughout his palace.

"Celestine, please stop this nonsense!"

All of them turned towards the huffing man, it was Roux who seemed like he has run a marathon because of his heavy breathing.

His sudden entrance, however, did not help one bit towards his father's situation.

"Nonsense? Nonsense?!" Celestine shouted in pure rage, her brows twitching in disbelief. If only her eyes could shoot real daggers, all of the people inside the room would have been dead.

Roux was like his father, a person who knew nothing about valuing people other than himself.

"This person here, he's the one who doesn't make any sense!" Celestine shouted, her other hand, pulling Ronald's hair, out of anger, she pressed her sword further in his throat, resulting in a small cut that has bled instantly.

"Stop! Stop! Please stop, Celestine! Have mercy!" Ronald was the one to say that.

Answering sarcastically, Celestine retorted. "Have mercy? Did you show any mercy when you did that disgusting act towards my friend?! No! You even boasted about it earlier, remember?" She said, holding Ronald's hair more tightly earning a hiss from him.

He was entertained seeing Celestine's reaction towards his insults earlier but now, he deeply regretted it. He has miscalculated Celestine's actions. He underestimated her. Somehow, her conviction towards him earlier felt lacking, thus, he decided to push his luck, never did he expect that his insults would be the fuel to the now raging like fire Celestine.

Ronald cannot help but admit, indeed, he has acted idiotically.

Seeing that they are running out of time, with no other words to say, Roux opened his mouth, saying the first thing that he has in mind. "Celestine, I love you. Please, put the sword down and we'll accept your apology. All of us will act as if nothing has ever happened." He said, with his arms in front of him, offering them to Celestine.

Celestine, however, was only further infuriated by his words. "You love me? Well then, I guess I'll have to let you know but I feel the opposite. I hate you." She said, emphasizing each word, hoping that it will come across the thick skull of the man into his brain. "I would rather die than accept your love, scumbag." She continued, insulting his pride.

With a frown, she then replied, "And what do you even mean by an apology? I will not apologize, not to you, and most certainly not to your father." She said before forcefully making Ronald stand up from his bed, thus, revealing his whole body to the people in the room.

"All of you, feast your eyes on this horrendous man!" Celestine shouted, her eyes looking around, seeing the uncomfortable gazes of the guards.

Ronald's face was now red because of shame. He was confident of his power, and he knew that no one in Maylea will be able to humiliate him and yet, here he was, stark naked in front of his servants.

"And besides, who told you to act like nothing happened? I want you all to remember! Remember this man, who has made such terrible actions! I want justice to be served for all of his victims who have experienced such disgrace!" Celestine shouted, her eyes focused on Roux.

"And don't act like you have no wrongdoings, Roux. You know very well what you did to me." Celestine said, "I want the both of you to pay for your actions." She continued.

"Know your place!" Roux shouted, infuriated with her talk.

Ronald looked in panic towards his son.

'Why would you even say that, right now?! You can clearly see Celestine's reactions when what she's asking for is turned down. Why are you infuriating her even more?! Are you actually trying to save me?!' Ronald could only shout the words in his mind for he was too afraid to speak, his eyes being the only way to know what he's feeling.

"No! You should be the one to know your place. You have no right to order me!" Celestine retorted, shouting back.

But Roux only shook his head, not wanting to be defeated by her, "I do have the right. I have an official position higher than yours in society, furthermore, I am a man. Please be reminded of your bearing." He said, spitting out the harsh words. He was displeased by Celestine's earlier words, and now, her actions. Despite his love for the woman, he would not let her trample over him in front of his servants.

Celestine smirked. This man just proved himself to be unworthy of her. This was actually the way he looked at her.

"I am now reminded, thank you, Roux." Celestine said, acting sad. Slowly, she acted like she was about to let go of Ronald making everyone in the room eye her actions in anticipation.

However, just before her sword finally left Ronald's throat, she immediately brought it back, chuckling. "Now that I am reminded of my bearing, I have now finally decided." She announced, looking at everyone before setting her eyes back on Roux.

"Once again, thank you." She smiled sarcastically.

Patting Ronald on his head, Celestine calmed her voice down.

"I actually tried to file an offense against you, Roux, Sadly, I was informed by the Judicial Prison that they did not have the right to detain you." She narrated her from her memories.

Everyone in the room looked at her and listened as she was talking.

"Since even those who are supposedly the ones to fight and serve justice have no rights over you, then I guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands." She said, tightly gripping the shaft of her sword.

With no more words to say, all of them fell into a deafening silence. The air around them has gotten significantly colder and yet, all of them were bathed in sweat due to the extreme pressure and anxiety that they were feeling.

Closing his eyes, Ronald can only pray for some kind of miracle to be bestowed upon him.

Cutting through the deafening silence was the sudden loud shout that resonated throughout the whole palace.

"All hail, His Majesty, the Emperor!"