The shadowed chamber was filled with intriguing figures, one of which laid a sleeping beauty in the middle of the rocky room. A dimly lit chamber was bright enough to reveal the beautiful maiden in her sleeping gown.
Her rags were removed and replaced with a champagne-white silky sleeping gown that matched her pinkish silver hair. Her handcuffs were removed and placed beside her. Her beauty was a whisper of divine delicacy, adorned with unwavering grace.
Despite her gaunt appearance due to malnourishment, her beauty remained and the manhunter looked as graceful as if she were a princess of slumber.
The dark figure sat in her vicinity, nursing Celena back to health, patiently waiting for her to wake up from her slumber. He stroked away the hair that fell on her cheek, used his fingers to part her lips and held a wet towel over her mouth to squeeze some water into her mouth.
It had been three days since Celena was seen fainting on the grounds of the quarry.
The handsome silver-haired man had been observing her for months since she was imprisoned at Endromeda, tailing her for a specific purpose. His eyes were red and glowing in the dark, making it easy for him to navigate his way within the mines.
Celena shifted and adjusted her body during her slumber, which was a relief to the man who saved her from her unfortunate circumstances. That would mean she was well rested and would soon be awake.
Celena opened her hazel eyes. Although her surroundings were pitch black, she felt a radiant heat that reminded her of the warmth of the sun at the surface. However, she knew she was still in the underground mines, and someone else was with her in this refuge chamber.
The man observed Celena quietly at a close distance, anticipating her next move. Celena touched the rocky platform that was layered with a futon mattress for her to rest on. The unexpected solace she received caused her brows to furrow in perplexity.
The situation was getting more and more suspicious around her, as she couldn't get any more information if she stayed on the mattress. Relying on four of her senses can only do so much.
Celena moved over to the edge of the futon, her legs cautiously placed on the ground, navigating the height of the rocky platform. Her bare feet touching the cold ground verified her suspicion that she was still in the mines. She took a deep breath in, exhaled out, and made a sharp clicking noise with her tongue.
At once, Celena turned to face the unknown man who had been sitting in front of her all this time and said, "You saved me, sir."
"I picked you up from the ground when you were unconscious. We are not out of the mines yet." The dashing man smiled while staring at the beautiful Celena.
"You were following me ever since I was imprisoned in the mines." Celena spoke, always aware of her surroundings as much as possible. She knew there was always a figure who kept his distance and stayed close to the walls, but never far from her. To think that she finally heard his voice, and was surprised that his voice sounded so soothing and calming.
"I am surprised to see that this extraordinary blind manhunter can actually 'see' me. I have heard of your tremendous feats when you were doing your missions under the assassination guild, and I have been hell-bent to recruit you ever since. Unfortunately, I was too late in approaching you before disaster struck your fate."
"Who are you?" Celena asked, curious about the fanatic that was sitting right in front of her.
"Quentin Azulon, nice to meet you, my lady."
With a delicate bow, Quentin reached out and kissed the back of Celena's rough hand.
Astonishingly, Celena's rescuer showed her unexpected kindness.
"Azulon?" Celena questioned while rubbing the back of her hand from the kiss. "Are you by any chance related to the Emperor Titus Azulon?"
"Why, yes! He is my brother."
"You are the first prince of the late Emperor Aurelius Azulon. You were the crown prince before the late emperor's demise."
"Yes. Which was your last mission before you were sentenced to Endromeda six months ago."
Celena's face paled when her past mission came to haunt her, even at the brink of her suffering. She jolted up in fear of guards surrounding the chambers, ready to ambush and kill her for the attempted assassination of the Emperor.
"Relax; I am not here to kill you. I am here to recruit you."
"Why would you recruit me? I was accused of murdering your father, which cost your crown." Celena asked, perplexed by the potential job offer.
"I believe it wasn't exactly your fault. Weren't you betrayed? That's why you were caught and thrown into this God-forsaken place." Quentin answered, looking around the mines, as his words echoed through the channels of the labyrinth.
"How did you know?" Celena asked as her brows furrowed in perplexity at the situation in which she was currently and her past mission.
"Of course I knew; just like you, my sibling betrayed me. We are more alike than you think." Quentin acclaimed.
"Our circumstances are different. You can still keep your freedom, while I was sentenced to be a slave and live her for eternity." Celena replied.
"Well, to be fair, I wasn't the one who tried to kill the late Emperor. But I was indeed betrayed all the same. So why don't we take a leap of faith with each other?" Quentin offered.
"Emperor Aurelius was a tyrant! His reign has cost us the prosperity of our empire."
"So, you are saying that my father deserves to die and my brother deserves the throne?"
"I am saying the monarch can kiss my behind for all I care. People are killing, and dying, children are hurt everywhere and if you patrol the streets, you can hear them crying helplessly for salvation. The monarch never cared. So, what do you want to hire me for? Are you really hiring me for a job in exchange for my freedom?"
Quentin held out his hand, expecting Celena to take it, which she did not miss and accepted his offer. He escorted her out of the chamber and walked up a staircase.
On the way, they were silent as they walked up between levels that were zigzagged. Even a normal person with perfect vision would lose their bearings in the maze mines. But she knew exactly how to leave this place if he were to do something despicable.
Celena's other hand started to touch the fabric that she was wearing, and she realized it wasn't in the slave robe that she was wearing three days ago.
She suddenly asked, "What am I wearing?"
"A satin nightgown."
"What?"
Quentin grinned, which Celena did not miss. She may not be able to see the slight smile on his face, but she could feel a slight, quick pulsation that calmed down quickly, indicating his delight.
"You changed my clothes?"
"Obviously, I could not let you wear that ragged robe that barely covers your curves." Celena's face flushed with anger that this man had disrobed her.
"Where are you taking me?" Celena murmured.
"Out of the mines."
"I don't hear guards coming to chase us. Why didn't they apprehend us right now?"
"This part of the mines is not under Endromeda Guards jurisdiction."
Celena didn't know that the mines could stretch so far and beyond the area that she had wondered about. She definitely did not wonder here.
"What do you want with me?" As Celena approached further, she could feel warmth as the atmosphere changed and the ventilation improved. She knew she was closer to the surface, which means closer to freedom than ever before, if only she could slip away from the prince and take a bee-line for her new-found freedom.
Both of them reached the opening of the cave that leaves the mines. Suddenly, Quentin asked," Will you marry me?"
He was down on one knee, holding Celena's hands that she had previously offered him, while he was anticipating her answer.