Chapter 22 – The Celebration (Unintelligible Feeling)
Calux’s POV
I could not take my eyes off Ashleigh and to the mysterious man in the black masquerade mask.
I do not know how I feel or why I am angry. Am I annoyed because I didn’t get along with Ashleigh properly? I do not know what is happening to me. The man still catches her. Ashleigh didn’t seem to be able to move as the man caught her.
Heck! What is wrong with me?
“Calux!”
Even if I wanted to keep my eyes on them, I could do nothing. I turned to Diasspro and raised an eyebrow at her as if asking why she had called me.
“You’ve been quiet for a while… who are you looking at there?” said Diasspro while frowning.
I sighed and smiled at her and turned again in Ashleigh’s direction and at the man who caught her and turned back to Diasspro.
“Nothing, I just liked the moon tonight.” I lied and held her hand tightly while smiling at her.
“Aww, I like the moon tonight too… I really want to try some magic tonight but… there is still a celebration going on.” laughed Diasspro said and went back to talking with Fred and Madison.
I turned my attention back to the two of them. Ashleigh seems to be standing up straight and she also looks embarrassed to face the man.
I do not know why I get annoyed, every time she is with someone else.
Does it make me feel like a fool?
I want to come closer to find out what they are talking about. I want to approach her, to tease her because she making herself like a fool again because she always bumping into someone.
Ashleigh was so beautiful in her dress. Who would have thought that a fool like her would be so beautiful when she dressed and wore beautiful clothes? A good man should be able to match her! to stand by her beauty!
Ugh! What is happening to me?
I grabbed my hair tightly and restrained myself from getting mad.
I noticed that the man seemed to be inviting her somewhere and Ashleigh seemed to agree. So I followed them with my gaze.
And there I saw them come out of the balcony.
‘That’s it! I’m really disgusted! ‘
I whispered to Diasspro. “I’m just going somewhere for a while, wait for me. Okay?” I said and she just nodded and talked to Fred and Madison again.
I kissed the back of her hand first before I let go of her. I immediately headed in the direction in which they were going. And there I saw them standing on the side and staring at the sky. They seem to be talking about the moon and stars.
“Isn’t it beautiful here? You can see the starry sky?” the man asked her.
She suddenly turned to the man and smiled before speaking.
“It’s so beautiful, I can see the beautiful sky and the beauty of the beautiful moon.” said Ashleigh and looked up again.
I clenched my fist and bite my lip in madness.
‘Why are you so calm? Ashleigh?’
Ashleigh’s POV
I could not speak because of the shame of being caught by the man in front of me. His body is muscular. I could not take my eyes off his blue eyes. It was as if it was drowning me in his stares. Even though I can’t see the entirety of his face, I can say that he looks good.
“A-Ahh… Here… Let me help you stand up.” the man stammered at me and helped me to my feet.
“T-Thank you.” I said and then adjusted my dress.
“You know… you look beautiful.” he said to me and smiled.
“T-Thanks.” I said and then held my hand tightly.
“A-Ahh… Do you have anyone with you? I mean you know a partner in this celebration?” he asked me while smiling.
“I don’t have one…” I replied while preventing myself from looking into his blue eyes.
I grabbed my chest and turned back to the balcony.
“I’m sorry… earlier… because I wasn’t looking at what I was going through.” I said shyly and nervously laughed.
“No, I should be the one who should apologize. I’m the one who bumps you. I’m sorry I didn’t notice you while I was walking.” he said laughing.
I stared at him and smiled. He seemed to notice that I was staring at him so he stopped laughing and stared at me.
“Do you want us to go out?” the man asked and held out his hand while smiling.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
I blinked my eyes while looking at his hand.
“Don’t you have a partner tonight? In that case, I’ll just be your partner.” an angelic explanation of it while smiling.
I can’t answer, I’m embarrassed… this is the first time someone will take care of me at such celebrations. Back then, in my world… I never experienced anyone inviting me to parties… especially at the JS Prom and at the Graduation Ball. I always sit on the side while Janielle invites her to be her partner but she dislikes them and prefers to just sit with me. We just do that or sometimes just eat and watch others dance in the middle.
“All right.” embarrassed, I just agreed and held his hand.
“Let’s go.” he said and walked out of the balcony.
I just quietly followed him. Of course, this is the first time I will be with anyone at such celebrations. I also wanted to go out earlier so I just went along. When I came out, I looked up at the sky. The sky is so beautiful and all the stars can be seen especially the bright moon.
“Isn’t it beautiful here? You can see the starry sky?” he says.
I turned to him and stared.
“It is beautiful, I can see the beautiful sky and the beauty of the beautiful moon.” I said while smiling and looked up again.
I just kept quiet while looking up at the starry sky.
“I will never tire of seeing it.” almost in a whisper, I said while staring at the starry sky.
“Me too…” he said.
I turned to the man who had been staring at me.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing hahaha….” he said while laughing and looked up.
I looked down and noticed a beautiful garden.
“That garden is beautiful!” I said and pointed to it.
“Hmm… that’s not just a garden.” said the man.
I turned to him again.
“Really?” I asked him as my eyes widened.
“Yep, Do you want to see it?” he asked while smiling.
“Hmm, Sure!” I gladly agree with him.
He held out his hand again and I immediately accepted it and held him. He is actually a very gentleman. He slowly supported me to get down. There is a staircase on the side of this balcony that goes right below and to the place where the beautiful garden is.
I was even more amazed when we were right in front of the garden.
“It’s even better up close.” I said in amazement
“I told you… this garden has magic.” she said and my mother entered the garden.
I was even more amazed and at the same time nervous.
“This garden is a maze.” he said and helped me get inside it.
“Aren’t we going to get lost here?” I asked him.
“Don’t worry we won’t get lost here even if this garden has magic.” smiling it says. “Just hold on to me tightly, I will never let you go or let you get lost in it.” he added.
Suddenly my heart pounded because of what he said. I feel like I’m blushing with so much shame because I can literally feel the heat on my both cheeks.
“Come on.” we entered the garden.
Just like he said it was a maze. A maze garden full of flowers. there are different types of flowers to be found here. but more Moon Flower. They bloom gradually, especially when the moon is shining.
“Isn’t it very nice here?” he asked as we slowly walked inside the garden.
“Yes it is too breathtaking, and it is really magical. Are you sure we will not get lost here?” I asked him again.
“No. Ahh, here we are! In the very middle of this maze garden!” he said and parted the leaf vines.
“Come on in.” he said as he finally parted the leaf vines.
I was even more amazed when I entered. It has a large tree in the middle with a hanging swing surrounded by flowery vines.
Do you know the fairytales? Ugh! you know what? nevermind =_=
I wonder why he brought me here? he did not even know me and how did he know that this place is magical? incapable???
“Maybe the celebration will start. Let’s go back.” I told him and I was about to walk away when he stopped me.
“The celebration will not start without the party host.” he said and smiled.
I raised an eyebrow as I looked back at him.
“And how did you say that?” I asked him while still raising an eyebrow.
“I know Prince Demian. If he hosts a party it will not start until he is present yet.” he explained and sat on the swing. “Come sit here next to me.” he commanded me.
I do not know why I suddenly followed him. Maybe my feet have their own thoughts.
I don’t even know this guy very well yet but how relieved am I to him? maybe because he was kind.
“Are you sure about what you’re saying? Or maybe you’re just fooling me?” I said then frowned at him.
“I swear. Besides, I’m not lying you know.” smiling he said again.
I averted my eyes and turned to my left to hide my red face because of shame.
‘Why is this man’s impact on me so strong?!’
Third Person’s POV
As Ashleigh looked around the whole area,
She could still not believe the appearance of that place. for her, she’s really in a fairytale story. Even though she knew it was real, she still thought it was still a dream. The man in a black masquerade mask just stared at her quietly while mesmerizing by her beauty. And they did not care that someone was watching them in a secret place somewhere.
Calux’s face could not be painted as he watched the two talking. He wanted to shout at the two of them so that they would think that someone was watching them both. Calux could not understand what his reason was and why he followed the two. In fact, he has no right to follow them and to know what they are doing. Yet he still followed them. Is it because of his curiosity? or is there another reason?
“What exactly is my reason and why am I here” Calux asked himself as he messed up his hair.
He watched the two happily talking. in his mind… it’s easy to learn something like Ashleigh as a person. Suddenly she joins with the others even though she does not yet fully know them. He smiled and suddenly his face became serious again.
On the other hand. The two talked about the garden and how it turned out to be magical.
“Well, this garden is tricky sometimes. When I first came here I thought it was easy to get out. I was lost then. But later I also found its exit.” smiling the man tells Ashleigh.
“What did you do to find the exit?” the curiosity was obvious in the tone of Ashleigh’s question which made the man smile even more.
“There is an area here in the maze that has no flowers and is not exposed to the sun.” the man said to her and smiled especially.
She looked down to hide the redness on her two cheeks.
“And that’s what I used to get out. Just like I said this garden is deceptive, especially at night.” the man said seriously to her.
She looked up at the man and stared at him.
“A-Are you serious?” Ashleigh’s stuttering question.
Suddenly the man laughed and grabbed her by the shoulder.
“Sorry sorry hahaha are you scared? Hahaha!” the man laughed at her.
“Tell me the truth? Are you really serious about the story?” Ashleigh asked the man again.
Suddenly the man became serious and cleared his throat.
“Some of the parts of it are true… but don’t worry. I will make sure nothing bad happens to you.” she said to him and smiled again.
Ashleigh just smiled and nodded when suddenly the big palace clock rang. Signal that the celebration will begin.
“Looks like the party is about to start. I’ll just build a portal back to the balcony to make it easier for us to return. Maybe you don’t want to be late for the party, do you?” said the man and took Ashleigh’s hand.
Ashleigh just smiled and when the man, made the portal they immediately entered it.
Calux, on the other hand, teleported to the back of a large Flowery pot where he had been hiding before. Exactly when he returned, the two were still there.
“Let’s meet again, dear princess.” the man said to Ashleigh and kissed the back of her hand.
Though blushing and embarrassed, Ashleigh immediately answered the man.
“B-But, I’m not a princess.” she says.
“So what? For me you are a princess.” he said and smiled genuinely at her.
Ashleigh could no longer speak in shame.
“I would like to take you to your seat but… I need to leave. My friends need me.” he said to her.
“That’s okay, our spot is just nearby. Thank you for touring me in the garden. I’m happy to see that and to meet you…” said Ashleigh.
“You too, Milady.” he said to her.
He bowed to her first before walking away.
Ashleigh did not yet know the young man’s name. so Ashleigh would have stopped it just but it was gone.
She sighed and just went back to their seat. When she returned, Stheno stood in front of her while frowning and crossed arms.
“Ashleigh? You have an explanation to do.” said Stheno to her.
“I’m sorry…” Ashleigh said and looked down.
“Stheno… don’t be like that to Ashleigh… maybe she was entertained by the view outside the balcony.” Ember explained to Stheno.
Stheno sighed and stared at Ashleigh again.
“Let’s talk after this party. Is that clear?” Stheno said like a mother.
Ashleigh just smiled and nodded at her and sat down in her chair again.
Calux’s POV
“You thought I didn’t notice you were watching earlier?”
I suddenly turned around when I heard the speaker.
“Calux?” he said my name.
I bit my lower lip so hard and clenched my fist.
“You know. What you did back there is inappropriate.” obviously teasing he says.
I was even more tempered by what he said.
“What did you do to her?” I asked him without emotion.
“Why do you need to know? Who are you to her? Ahh… of course, you are just her bully.” he said sarcastically.
I restrain myself from and grabbed his collar and released a long sentence to him.
“Stay away from her, Demian.”
-The Heiress Mage