The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

22 : The Meeting

Esteban asked Princess Darya if he could offer help to her task for the upcoming hunting competition, but she respectfully declined him. Esteban is now thinking deeply, inside his room, he is intently looking at the newspaper where Princess Darya's portrait was printed. The news was about the Princess' plan on building two orphanages in the city as well as a school and public hospitals. He was mesmerized by how Princess Darya works as a Princess, like she is meant to do things for the Empire. It is just like what he perceived from his dream that Princess Darya will become the next Emperor.

Now, his problem has arisen and it is that man who would always lower his head in front of Princess Darya but would always look at her when she is not in front of him. It started when he had the glimpse of the future. He is very sure that Princess Darya will love him and will be infatuated and attracted to him but... who the hell was that man? He was never seen in his dream and Princess Darya never developed a relationship with such a lowly man.

"Captain Theobarlt..." He whispered the name of the man Princess Darya would always search for.

Why does the Princess smile at him genuinely? The Princess would only attach herself to the people who have something to do with the Empire so why would she need him?

Esteban clicked his tongue as he leaned his head to his seat to look at his dark ceiling. "You should not exist." He mumbled, thinking of a way to make Princess Darya not look for him.

While in the middle of nowhere, Esteban heard a knock on his door and his butler came in. "You have a letter, young master." The butler announced as he walked towards where Esteban was sitting. So then he put the letter to the table in front of him.

"A letter from Lady Kathika has arrived."

Esteban got silenced after hearing Kathika's name as he found himself looking at the letter with Kathika's pink seal. Later, he took it to read it. He felt like his eyes did not want to move further as he read the first sentence.

"It's been a while since I last saw you, Esteban."

He put the letter down as he cupped his head. Yes, it's been three months that he has not visited Kathika. He promised to her that he will be visiting her every month but what has he done? He started neglecting her. This is not right. He needs to see her at least, right?

The next morning, Esteban prepared himself to go to Summeria. After two days of travelling with a carriage, he had finally arrived at the town where she is living as he went to the place where they usually meet. Upon seeing the bridge to the top of the waterfall nearby the town, there he saw Kathika waiting for him.

Upon seeing Esteban, Kathika excitedly runs towards him as she jumps to embrace him. "You have finally arrived, Esteban. It felt like years to have seen you again."

Esteban was not able to react, he is suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "I missed our Lorenzo, too. It has been a month since Count Marshall took him. I want to see him." Kathika broke her embrace as she looked up to Esteban's face. She immediately noticed the gloom in his eyes.

She reached out his cheek and caressed it, "Are you unwell because of the long travel?" She took his hand and was about to pull him. "I will take you to the house-

"I am leaving."

She was cut with Esteban's sudden declaration. "Huh? Are you not going to stay like you used to? Don't you want to stay the night?" Kathika got worried about Esteban's condition as she felt like something was going on with him.

"You have seen me and I have seen you. I will be leaving as I have to check on the First Princess for the upcoming hunting competition."

After hearing the word 'Princess', Kathika's eyes slowly lost their spirit. She looked down, looking gloomy. She let go of Esteban's hand, feeling shattered in the heart. "I... I heard from my father that... you are going to marry the First Princess?"