The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

49 : The Light in Her Heart

Zale opened the door for the one who knocked as he expected that person to come. So then a smile formed in his lips upon seeing the Emperor's face again.

"Good morning, Your Majesty." He lowered his head and opened the door wider to invite her in.

"Good morning as well, Mister Zale." She comes in as she removes the hood of her cloak.

Zale was confused to see her alone. She usually comes with one of her consorts or with an Imperial knight. He followed her to his small living area. "You seemed to have come alone," he started the conversation.

"Yes and I would not take a while because I have to do something. I would like to ask you a question."

Zale nodded his head, still unable to look straight in her eyes because of the fourteen appearances he can see whenever he looks at her. This is his first time to have met a person with this number of lives. Now he wonders how she lived her life in different lives? And what is with that light within her heart? It is strangely comforting.

"About me being an apostle of a god, is there something unusual that you can see in my body?"

Zale flinched there as he avoided her gaze, obviously hiding something because she had guessed his curiosity. Seeing his reaction, Darya felt like she needed to do something to convince more.

"I... I have something I can hear within me. It's like my sub-consciousness. He keeps mentioning to you that you are someone who can take him out of my flesh. Do you know something about this?"

Unable to suppress his guilt, he blew air inside his mouth out of habit, making him look adorable in another way. Darya was worried but after seeing his adorable face, she could not help but relax and found herself laughing.

"You are adorable, Mister Zale."

This made Zale realize that he is making an expression that is supposed to be suppressed no matter what. But seeing Darya's reaction to it, he felt the reddening of his cheeks as he looked down to avoid her gaze.

"I-I am not. I am a grown man." He defended, shyly.

Whenever someone tells him that he is adorable, he feels like a child that is being pampered. He likes to be complimented but because many eyes were on him before, he developed a personality that he must act like a mature man to avoid criticism. He is aware that he is a grown man, specifically an adult at age, but he has this side that is innocent and child-like as he is someone who had never received care from anyone except Mister Hamana who had been there since he was young.

"Really? Can I know your age then?" Darya beamed, forgetting that she is actually needed in a ceremony.

"I..." Zale was hesitant to tell her. He thinks that he will be mocked with the huge difference of his age and personality.

"I am twenty years old."

"Oh," Darya's eyes widened, enthralled that it is her first time to have acquainted with someone the same age as her. "I am the same age as you!" She was so excited that she stood up to mess up his hair, feeling like all formalities between them are gone.

"You look so young. I thought you were somewhat sixteen or seventeen. I am glad we have the same age." Darya marvelled, feeling a lot better around him.

Zale was surprised to know her current age as well. She looked so mature that he finds her intimidating and worthy of respect. His cheeks flustered. It is also his first time to have been acquainted with someone the same age as him. And he also felt like he did not need to be too wary around her anymore.

He felt like his heart was being caressed with her gentle touch on his head. He felt like he was being cared about.

Darya sat back and this time, she looked excited to talk. "You have no need to be formal around me then. It is also alright if you become casual to me when I am around my first and third consort. They get along and they have no problem with communication. I bet they would also like you to be my friend."

He was surprised to hear 'friend', making him look at her smiling eyes. He wanted to ask why she mentioned that but he is afraid to ruin such good environment. And...having a friend... He had never thought about having one because he was always being surrounded by people who only come for their gain.

"Thank you," he got shy all of a sudden. It is novel to him to have someone regard him as a friend.

"No need to thank me. Actually, I feel refreshed whenever I am around you. I feel like I can talk freely without being cautious to be wrong. You know, becoming an Emperor is a lot of work and a lot of cautiousness..."

This is his first time to see her become this talkative. What should he do? Should he talk freely around her as well? Because he knows that he is also talkative around people whom he finds comfortable. And she is just here for a while, right? She still had many things to do.

He looked at her, thinking about something to do so she would not take long. They still have time to talk soon.

"Uhm,"

When he signalled to speak, Darya stopped talking to listen to him. "Yes?"

"About what you said earlier..." He still could not look at her eyes longer than ten seconds. "I can see light within your heart. It was supposed to be not part of becoming an apostle."

"My heart?" Darya touched her chest to where her heart rests.

"Yes. I feel like it is something affiliated with a god, however, I could not figure out what it really is."

Zale wants to say something more but he needs to uncover more personal information about her which is why he had to limit himself from asking something that might be sensitive to her. As of now, he cannot disclose the questions he had in his mind. He also needs time to figure it out.

"Is it the same god as mine?"

"I...am not sure." He shook his head.

Darya nodded her head and believed him. So then she stood up upon remembering what she needed to do.

"I understand. I would like to come back next time, may I?"

Imagining her coming back again, it made him happy. "Yes, Your Majesty." He stood up to accompany her outside.

He followed her to the door until she hopped to her horse. Darya turned to look at him and smiled, "See you next time."

"Yes, please be careful, Your Majesty."

Darya nodded and commanded her horse to go. Zale was then left there watching her. He had a smile on his lips until she was gone in his sight. So then he comes inside his house. As soon as he closed the door, he stood there in silence before taking out his precious necklace hidden behind his clothes.

He looked at the sapphire necklace that radiates in his deep blue eyes. As he stared at it for a few seconds, he began reciting a prayer until the sapphire glows. Few minutes later, the whole house was ignited with a light as he closed his eyes because it was blinding.

"It has been a while since you have called for me."

Upon hearing that mellifluous voice, he slowly opened his eyes to see the 'being' in his full white form. It had an appearance like a human. Its hair is white, along with its skin. It is wearing a white cloth, covering its full body. He had a face that no words can describe because no one would remember their actual face after a second.

"Huno," Zale called his name. "I would like to ask a few questions."

"Alright, my apostle's descendant."

***
END OF CHAPTER 49
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