He, who made you a princess

Chapter XII

     ~ goodbye, i love you, hello ~

     "Your majesty, what is her family name?"

     "I already told you."

Claude looked at the court official in contempt. As if having to repeat what he just said a minute ago was already disregard to his authority.

     "Obelia." 

Claude said in a firm a tone.

The official gave him a nervous smile, unsure how to proceed. The paper needed the lady's maiden name, however, the emperor was keen on only attaching his own name to hers and nothing else.

     "Then it is..."

Mumbles the official, afraid to continue. He hoped the emperor would say it out loud just to confirm.

But Claude only turned his back on the official. He kept an indifferent face, but his heart was pounding in his chest. Of course, the court official would never know this. Or would he?

Claude raised his hand to cover his face, and soon it expressed tension, as a long gone emotion crept up behind him.

He was feeling bashful to say the least, towards what the court official wanted him to say. There was a tickling feeling in his chest.

Claude now knows what it is, but this kind is different to how it feels when his daughter does something lovable.

It was something that he only got from one woman.

     "...Your majesty...?" 

The court official tried to lean forward to see the emperor's face.

But the emperor turned away once more. Clearing his throat, he once again managed to rid his face of any expression.

He was going to turn to look at the court official, but then decided not to at the very last second because his stubborn heart warned him of an oncoming blush as soon as he utters his words.

     "Diana de Alger Obelia...!"

Claude's eyes widen from his own words. As if he couldn't believe what he just heard himself say. He felt his face heat up as his heart raced inside his chest. And the butterflies in his stomach...

Goodness, how could a mere saying of one's name render him so?

     "I...I see." 

The court official smiled knowingly at the bashful emperor. Pretending not to see the blush on the ruler's face.

     Obviously, Claude tried to hide the giddiness in him from what he just said. But the court official was old and wise. However, he knew it's best to turn a blind eye on this.

     "Then your majesty..." 

He handed the emperor the paper. 

   "As soon as her majesty signs the certificate, it is indeed official."

     "Her majesty" 

Again, the butterflies flutter in Claude's stomach. His eyes are wide open, and his mouth is shut tight.

Claude's heart beat out of his chest once more. He had to take this to her? And ask her to sign it? Him?

But... that's basically proposing... And what if she says no? Can't he just make it official without her consent? He's the emperor.

He can, of course. But that wouldn't be fun for the chamber's officials now, would it?

These are the thoughts that raced through his head while his heart beat out of control. All the while keeping the same face on.