Consistently, Estelle got invitations from Nicolaus for straight three months. They go on dates privately, having meals, having walks, having conversations, laughing at each other's teasing, and cuddling whenever and whereever they wanted to.
Last month, they decided to cuddle in Nicolaus' chambers, in his bed. He got no sleep for straight three days and Estelle noticed it when they are having their lunch date.
"Your Majesty, I think you should rest for today. You look... tired"
Estelle said looking so worried at the pale complexion of her lover.
"I am fine"
Nicolaus immediately replied with a small smile to assure that nothing is to worry about him. But Estelle stopped eating and stand in front of him.
"I have a request, Your Majesty"
She seriously said looking so fierce.
"W-What is it?"
He nervously asked since he felt like he angered her.
"Bring me to your chambers. Now"
She said while smiling but her eyes were not. He immediately got up from his seat and they went to his chambers.
When they went inside his chambers, she locked the door and even instructed the butler not to disturb them until tomorrow noon. This actually added to the gossips of the servants.
"You are really a fierce one, Lady"
Nicolaus teasingly said when he and Estelle passionately kissed each other until she was able to bring him down in his bed.
"Of course. Especially when my special someone is not paying attention to his health"
She replied while being on top of the Emperor and gently flicked his forehead which made him giggled. He gently put her down beside him and caressed her face.
"I want this moment to last forever"
He said looking so worried. Four days before, he received a letter from Emperor Henry and this bothers him so much.
"What bothers you so much?"
She asked as she felt that her lover has burdens that he do not want to share with her.
"Will you... What if--"
He cannot bring to finish his words because of his possessiveness over her.
"I love you, Estelle. I love you so much"
He said before his heavy eyelids started to shut down.
"So do I, Emperor Nicolaus Vesper Ancetus II"
She replied with a smile before she got up to close the curtains, but she was not able to because she is now inside the embrace of the Emperor.
"Don't leave my side"
He whispered to her and tightly hugged her.
"I won't... I will just--"
She was about to reply but she was cut-off.
"No! You are not allowed to leave my side!"
He hystetically said. The calm Emperor that she and everyone knows lost his temper for the first time. He himself got shocked on his sudden burst of his emotions and immediately let go of her.
Estelle felt that he is strangely acting and confronted him.
"Please tell me what bothers you so much"
She asked but he did not give her a reply which angered her so much.
"If you keep your burdens alone, then don't expect me to be by your side forever as I do not want a man who hides something from me. I believe it is an act of betrayal"
Estelle said with a painful expression before she left Nicolaus' chambers. The Emperor regretted his sudden burst of emotions and for ruining the trust of her lover.
"Forgive me..."
He whispered while clenching his fists.
The next month, Estelle got no invitations from Nicolaus. They had no communication ever since that incident.
"This is so annoying"
Estelle thought while checking the formation of the new dance troupe that she is going to launch on the next grand event of the Empire. Her negative aura can be felt by all the dancers, musicians, and the staffs.
"What are you waiting for? Music!"
She shouted and started to point out every mistake she saw. After the spartan training, she was left alone in the training room until she heard two girls gossiping.
"Isn't it that our Boss is the Emperor's lover? Are you sure about that?"
"Yes... it was announced just today that he will marry the Crown Princess of the Southern Empire. I even saw her with him in the capital together with the handsome nobleman"
"Is she pretty?"
"Her beauty is out of this world. When I saw her, I felt like my soul was cleaned"
Estelle was so shocked that she cannot move an inch. She stayed in that standing position for an hour before she blankly left the training room.
She went home to her empty villa. She washed up, put her pajamas, and silently pitied herself for being so pathetic.
"I am tired"
She thought and put the eyepatch on her right eye. She started to play Chopin's Ballade No. 1 in her violin. As loud and intense the notes are, the silent cry of hers are getting more and more hurtful. She played and played until dawn, not even caring about her bleeding fingers as if she became numb of the pain.
"Ah... it's morning"
When Estelle woke up, she started her routine as usual and continued like a working doll just like she used to when she was Latrice.
She sleep, wake up, eat, work. Sleep, wake up, eat, work. Sleep, wake up, eat, work.
She thinks this is normal but it is not.
"You look tired, Estelle"
Karina commented but she gave her a smile.
"I am fine. No worries"
Estelle replied despite the continuous headaches.
"Guys, we are about to start! Gather first!"
She shouted and everyone gather around her. Karina's worries lessened when she can still shout like a tyrant boss.
"First of all, thank you for putting your trust on me as your mentor. You have come this far and I believe that all of you will succeed and will continue to succeed from this moment on. As you come up on stage, remember that passion you showed me before you enter Destiny. Show them your attitude, your passion, your individuality and your teamwork, and most importantly, your confidence!"
Estelle's encouragement gave courage and bravery to some of the rookies who are stiff and trembling in fear just awhile ago.
"For your Destiny!"
She shouted and everyone replied.
"For our Destiny!"
The concert started. The stage was set up outside the palace. The crowd is full of commoners and aristrocrats while the Royals are comfortably sitting on their grand chairs in the veranda.
This grand event is to welcome the Emperor of the Southern Empire and his delegates.
"Who is that lady?"
Duke Blanchett asked when he saw a lady who is fully covered from head to toe with high quality clothes. She is fully covered except for her eyes that has different colors. She is also holding two wooden drumsticks.
"She is known as the Eidolon, Your Grace. The best instrumentalist of Destiny, the name of the troupe. No one has ever seen the face of the Eidolon nor know her identity, except for the rumors that she is related to Emperor Ancetus II because of her ruby eye"
The informant said.
"Hm... how interesting"
Jerome said while smiling. Nicolaus may look so calm but he is secretly clenching his fists.
"I like her other eye more. It reminds me of someone very important to me"
Duke Blanchett added. Camilla looked at him with longing but Jerome did not noticed it.
All the performances were pefectly executed and it is different from other performances that were executed in operas. Emperor Victor and his delegates were amazed but that was later on changed when they saw Estelle on stage.
"Greetings to Your Majesties and Royalties. I am Estelle, the owner and mentor of the troupe, Destiny"
She said and gracefully curtsied. His father, sister, and Duke Blanchett also got up from their seats.
"Since we have special guests from another Empire, I would like to gift our guests a masterpiece of mine that I just recently created"
Estelle said and sat on the piano stool while gracefully placing her fingers on the piano's keyboard and her foot on the pedal.
She never performed her own songs. All her songs were performed by her artists but this time, she wanted to let go of her feelings through music.
She played a sad and melodic key before she speak.
"This song is called The Fallen Star"
The song was about that one moment in her life as Latrice when she started to lose hope and passion about music, her safe haven. On that day, the rain poured down and she started to pitied herself but as she looked at the dark sky, she saw a falling star followed by a red lightning and thunder. That's when she realized that despite darkness in the space there is still light and she want to be that fallen star who bring light to other people's lives.
Just like that day, the rain poured down that it added more charm to the song.
When her song was finished, the crowd cheered and they were also encouraged. It is a sad song but at the same time it is a song of being mentally strong.
"Estelle! Estelle! Estelle!"
The crowd called her name non-stop until the Royal Guards of the Southern Empire started to paved the way for the Emperor and his delegates to the stage.
"Estelle..."
Emperor Victor was about to reached her daughter but she stepped back.
"Protect the future Empress of this Empire!"
Nicolaus commanded from the veranda. His Royal Knights who outnumbered the Royal Guards of the Southern Empire, stand behind her.