Calester continued his silence, tightening the knife and fork in his hands. The sound of their utensils dancing on the plate were the only sound present at the dining hall. Emerald, who was on the other side of the table, observed Calester's unconcerned face.
Emerald waited a little bit and saw no sign of Calester wanting to initiate a conversation. She continued cutting her meat, taking a few bites. Then, putting her fork and knife down. The man in front of her was so focused on the food he was eating, she might as well be invisible as he did not bother to look at her again. Emerald continued to observe Calester as he cut his meat. It was awkward for the two of them to start a conversation. But, Emerald couldn't endure the prolonged silence any longer.
"Cal?" Emerald approached carefully as if asking for permission.
As Calester continued to slice smaller pieces of his meat, realizing that he was getting full, he absentmindedly answered, "What is it?"
Emerald fidgeted a little, but soon opened her mouth and asked him, "I have something to tell you... can we take a walk?"
Calester glances outside the glass window. Clearly, the sun had already set as the moon had replaced the sun's glaring light to a soft cool glow. "It's late already. Don't you have to wake up early?"
Emerald, who ignored the disinterest manner of Calester's response, remained persistent in her approach. Emerald shook her head and answered, "It's okay. It's not as late yet... The breeze in the garden will be much nicer."
Calester put down his fork and knife, signalling that he had finished his food. He stood up from his seat unannounced and walked towards Emerald. This time, he finally took his eyes off his meal and gazed Emerald from her seat. He managed to look calm and compose, but he was trying so hard to refrain himself from revealing his thoughts and feelings towards the maiden. He walked a few more steps until he reached the corner to where Emerald was.
"Are you done with your food? If you are, then, let's go... We do not have all night. I still have work to do..."
Immediately, Emerald put down her utensils and rose from her seat as she nodded from Calester's sudden suggestion.
From the dining hall, they walked through the garden in the Central Palace. Both of them were followed by their servants. After a while, Calester ordered the maids and Roy to leave the two of them. Soon, they were alone in the darkness where the bright glow of the moon is the only source of light.
As the two of them continued to walk in silence, Emerald quietly observed the view of the garden in the dark. There were twinkling lights surrounding them as they walked through the garden's path
"They look like fireflies... it's beautiful even in the dark."
Calester laughed softly, but did not utter a word. It was a peaceful night to be walking. Maybe it was the only time that Calester actually had the chance to look at the garden more carefully and appreciate its beauty.
Emerald noticed his carefree laughed. It was the first time in a long time that she witnessed that smile. There it was; the traces of her childhood friend. Unconsciously, a smile formed in her face, she felt happy as if they were back to being their younger selves on a discovery hunt.
"There is a portrait in the west Pavillion that I have been searching for..." she said as she looked for a place to sit.
"And you can't find it... I assume."
Emerald nodded, proceeding in detailing the portrait to Calester. "She has long red hair all the way down to her back. She was beautiful like a saint..." her thoughts continued trying to recall the woman's features from memory, "... green eyes."
Calester's brows lifted in a light surprise.
"Do you know who she is?" He asked in curiosity, a curved form in the corner of his lips as he felt entertained.
Emerald shook her head in honesty as she had no idea who the woman was.
"It's my mother, Rad," he shortly responded.
Intrigued by the sudden discovery, she took Calester's hand in excitement as if they both found something interesting and fun. Her eyes lit up as it was the first time she had met the former Empress.
"Really?!" She asked for confirmation. Her voice raised a note in excitement, spreading a smile on her face.
Calester nodded and smiled. But, the smile on his face was not of joy or excitement as his eyes felt cold while it trembled a little. Was it just Emerald's imagination? It felt like a forced smile.
She blushed from her reckless approach after realizing that she was holding Calester's hand tightly and shook her hands off of Calester's as she turned around, trying to find a way to not make the conversation awkward and uncomfortable.
Emerald observed around the area of the garden. It was quiet for a few seconds before she finally suggested to sit on a bench.
In silence, the two of them contemplated the words that were exchanged between them as they sat by each other's side.
Emerald thoughts lingered to Calester's smile. There was something about his expression earlier that did not sit well with her, she thought, as her hands clasped together in nervousness and silence continued to grow between them.
Calester, who sat beside Emerald, secretly threw glances at the maiden as she sat and made unreadable expressions. But, glances quickly turned to stares. Each time his eyes landed on the maiden, it took him a little longer to look away.
"Did you ask the High Priest about Calisto's whereabouts?"
It was a sudden change of topic that interrupted Calester's stable heartbeat.
"I have..." he said carefully, his eyes now fixed on the maiden, who at the moment was oblivious of his attention.
Emerald looked down at the floor after absentmindedly staring at empty spaces. Her heart pounded at the thought of Calisto. She did not know what to expect nor what to hope for.
"Does he know where your brother is?" She finally asked, wrinkling her dress unconsciously out of habit because of nervousness.
" "if it's in your heart's desire, what you will seek, you will find.." "
Calester repeated the words spoken by the High Priest when he asked his brother's whereabouts. He dropped his gaze to the floor, now following Emerald's line of sight as he leaned back with his hands on the side where the distance between became closer.
"He must be really close... and we just have not realized it." He added, clenching his fist that was closer to the maiden as he suppressed his disappointment towards the High Priest indirect response. He felt conflicted as he recalled the High Priest's response. There was a feeling of guilt that suddenly rose within him as his heart pounded. Was his desire not genuine enough to find Calisto?
His eyes unconsciously moved the maiden once again, biting his lips in silence as he accessed his own feelings.
"Then... we just need to look harder." Emerald spoke in assertiveness as she recalled Calisto's sweet expression.
As the cool summer night deepened, the two became silent again as if they had run out of words to say. Onto another minute passing by, the night became colder as the breeze touched their bare skin, sending chills to their backs.
"Her Majesty... the Empress," Emerald initiated.
"... yes, what about her?" Calester threw in a question.
"Did she like the Garden of Eve?"
Calester scratched the back of his head casually, dropping his shoulder to process Emerald's words. 'where is she going with this?' he thought.
"It's a beautiful sight to see, especially in the Empress' quarter, the Jewel's Palace... I bet she liked it too and very much appreciated it every night before she slept."
Unexpectedly, Calester burst out laughing as if he just heard such a ridiculous joke. "Why?" He asked, his voice dropped lower. His eyes met Emerald's and clearly it said that it was a sensitive subject.
"What does the noble think of this garden, Empress?" Calester posted another question.
"I-I... I like it, your Majesty... this is where we spent time together when we were little."
"That's..." Calester looked away. It was not the answer he was expecting. He did not want to remember. He shook his head, retracting back the previous question.
"... I don't know if my mother liked this. But, I knew that she hated the Emperor and would cry before she slept."
His eyes focused on the direction ahead of them, counting in his mind on many steps they had taken to get to where they were sitting. Finally, Emerald uttered a few words she carefully thought of.
"... what do you mean?"
"Secret love affairs are common in a world of arranged marriage since, in most cases, love is never present. But, it's a different story if one of them is truly in love..."
"What?"
Again, he shifted his eyes to look at the maiden by his side as a smile curled on his lips. Calester stood up and did not utter a word, gesturing that it was time to head back as the maiden's body trembled next time him.
"Is it true... there is a law that prohibits the servants to speak of the Former Empress?"
Calester took a step away as Emerald rose from her seat. After a stride of few long steps, Calester turned his heels to face the maiden who was behind him.
"Yes... the Crown Prince did it. It's an order to kill if the law is ignored."
'Calisto?' Emerald thought. It was out of character for someone who's always been kind and genuine to push out a harsh punishment like that to the people of the Palace.
"Now, you know. Let's not talk about my mother..."
Calester broke his eye contact with Emerald. Afraid of Emerald's reaction, his hand turned cold and sweaty from the mention of his older brother.
Emerald quickly grabbed Calester's hand. As soon as she felt his cold hands, she pulled him back, in an effort of stopping him from walking away.
"Why?"
Calester turned his head to look at Emerald with his knitted brows. He waited for her to release his hand, hoping that she would not say anything about it. His action denied Emerald's burning question. The moment Emerald released his hands, Calester cupped her face, bringing his face closer. He placed his forehead against hers, realizing the loud beating of his heart.
"When the right time comes... I will tell you." He whispered with his low voice. "It's cold, Empress... let's go back."