THE NORTHERN CONTINENT'S EMPRESS

Chapter 16: At the Party (3)

Cale walked up to the floor where the location of Empress Helena's bedroom was located. He saw that the floor was still vacant from any maids or butlers, and wondered if Crown Prince Alberu put it like this to give her some privacy or something else.

When he was in front of the door, he didn't hear any movement from the inside. He hesitated for a bit, before knocking on the door, but there was no answer. he tried to do it another time, but still, there was no answer. 

He pursed his lips before opening the door and was left stunned in the doorway. 

Cale locked eyes with Empress Helena who just finished creating her dress with her ice magic and blue mana stones. 

"Sir Cale? What are you- eh..." Empress Helena slowly turned red on her face as she held her crown in both hands. 

Cale was silent, he just witnessed a new way of using magic and mana stones in creating a dress, and the sunset from the tall windows showed him her fine silhouette as she holds her ice tiara. 

he blinked twice and apologized to the empress, feeling a bit stunned and shy for intruding at the wrong time. 

"I-It's fine, do you need something?" She asked and walked towards him. He closed the door behind him and looked at Empress Helena.

Garbed in a shining ice-blue mermaid dress with a short trail from behind, it faintly glimmers when touched by the light and a pair of long sleeves hugged her arms. Her long curly aquamarine hair cascaded down to her left shoulder as she held her crown with both hands.

Cale looked at her eyes again and a thought passed his mind. She was beautiful, that is the fact. She's been trying to befriend and get to know him in the span of a few days, but he was too occupied with trying to steer away from trouble or death that he decided to investigate her background instead. 

His actions were not wrong, but he immediately judged her which made him feel bad inside.

"I'm sorry," Cale said as she stopped a few steps away in front of him. Empress Helena was confused, why is he apologizing for? 

"It's fine, you don't need to worry too much. Accidents happen," She said with a smile and invited him to take a seat first. 

"I heard about what happened at the Tea party," Cale started as soon as he was seated on the long couch. He watched as Empress Pauline paused before she resumes and sat on the opposite couch in front of him. 

"What did you find out?" She asked, staring at her crown and not looking in his way. Cale looked at her and found that her body language was a bit off as if she wanted to hide something from him. 

"The incident between you and the noble ladies, I heard they insulted you for a long while," He said as he looked at her face. 

"Oh... you mean that..." She said and faced him as well. Her eyes were clear with a confused expression on her face, he sighed, did she not understand where he was getting to from this conversation? 

"Why are you frowning, Sir Cale? Why are you apologizing for? If it's sympathy towards what I experienced, then save your words. I know what's my position in these foreign lands," She said with a small smile and stood up to walk towards the long mirror to wear her crown. 

Cale understood what she points out but he still feel bad inside. He looked at her as she took the pair of heels that she will be using for the ball later. He stood up from his seat and went towards her, gently taking the pair of open-toe shoes from her hands and telling her to sit down at the edge of her bed. 

Empress Helena looked down as Cale cleans her feet and slip the heels to her small feet. She can feel the warmth coming from his hands, his breath fanning her exposed legs as he propped them against his knee.

"S-Sir Cale-" Empress Helena leaned down to stop his hand and froze when their faces were inches away from his sudden action. 

"What is it?" Cale asked confused. Empress Helena felt embarrassed all by herself before she told him to let her finish it herself. 

"I can help you, it's fine, so just sit tight," Cale said but he saw her shake her head again with a flushed expression. 

"Y-Your touching m-me too much...and w-we're not romantically... together," She said embarrassed. Cale blinked twice and realized the actions that he just did. He apologized again to her, putting her legs down and moving away to give her space. 

"T-Thank you," He heard her say that and watched her finish up.

Cale looked at his clothes and realized late that he also need to get ready for the ball. 

"Is there anything else, Cale?" He heard Empress Helena ask him and he left with just one sentence.

"Wait for me at the royal garden, near the fountain," He said and left the room. Cale contacted Raon and teleported back to the black castle to clean up and change his clothes. 

 Ron helped him change while he requested Beacrox to find appropriate clothing for Choi Han and Rosalyn so that they could come with him to the ball later.

Choi Han loosened his collar before looking at Cale. He doesn't understand why they need to be there, it's a ball for the Empress, why do they need to accompany him there?

he felt a tap on his shoulder and found that Rosalyn was calling for his attention. 

"The Empress is alone, she needs a person to accompany her and a bodyguard. Even if it was not necessary, we need to be there to give some sort of protection or boost to her social standing in the Noble's Circle," Rosalyn said as she thought back on the intel that she got from the recent happenings inside the capital city. As a woman herself, she doesn't want anyone to tarnish her own name with such rumors, and being alone in a foreign land, was the worst state for the Empress. 

"Get ready," Cale told them as they entered the Castle grounds. The guards opened the door of the carriage and respectfully greeted the three of them. 

"Wait at the entrance of the ballroom, I will meet up with the Empress first," Cale told them and went in the direction of the Royal garden. Rosalyn played with her fan before nudging Choi Han who was next to her.

"I'm curious, let's find out the progress of their relationship tonight," Rosalyn said with a smile on her lips, with glimmering eyes filled with intrigue. Choi Han sighed and told her no, but what can he do to stop the powerful mage? Nothing. He was dragged in the path where Cale used to the garden.