Sixteenth day with Vienn

My Roman Empire

The 16th day of May

"It's been a while since I last saw even the strand of your hair, isn't it tiring to be locked inside your office for weeks?" I glanced at my close friend who spoke with a hint of disappointment in his voice. As he said, i've been chained to my chair for a couple of days now because of some cases that need to be done before it's due.

"It can't be helped, I have to finish my workload before taking the time off." I said with a monotone voice and sighed.

"This isn't even time off, we're literally only attending this celebration because you wanted to investigate a case that is connected with that family. " I faced him with an annoyed look that made him freeze in his spot, I rolled my eyes before clicking my tongue.

"It's just a coincidence, I don't have any connection with that accident, they changed their lawyer."

"You're just bitter." He said mockingly and laughed like an idiot.

Maybe I am bitter. I closed my eyes and rested my body on the comfortable sofa I'm sitting on. The cold breeze under the night sky gives me solace.

I looked at the person next to me, Asher Wilde Hawthorne the person I was destined to be with till death do as apart. Is what our parents said, personally, we both see each other as siblings, and this guy in front of me is inside a chained closet. No matter how I try to open it, without the right key, he will never be able to come out of it.

I saw him stare at a guy from the other balcony beside ours. So bad at hiding it.

"If you want him, go get him." He quickly looked my way with shock written all over his face, I smiled at him mischievously.

"Pinagsasabi mo!? I'm not gay." A tint of redness behind his ear became visible as he glanced back at the man from the other balcony before glaring at me.

Oh sweetheart, that won't work on me.

"Penguins can fly too." I mumbled before turning away from him, a woman with dark black hair caught my attention. She looks familiar.

I froze when she looked at my way, her ocean orbs, had a spark of curiosity. I couldn't help but examine her, her style is effortlessly chic, a blend of classic elegance and modern sophistication. Her slender frame possesses a subtle strength, evident in the graceful lines of her posture. Her stature is neither imposing nor diminutive, but rather a perfect balance that commands attention without demanding it. Her hair shines brighter under the moonlight, making it shine more than the sun could ever do, illuminating the world around her with its gentle glow. I couldn't help but look at her lips, full and inviting, curved into a soft smile that speaks volumes without uttering a word.

Wait smile? She smiled?

Then I met her alluring ocean eyes, like the depths of the ocean, they are a mesmerizing shade of cerulean blue, reminiscent of tranquil waters reflecting the sky above. That alluring orbs is looking straight at mine with a hint of amusement and curiosity.

Then I realized, I realized she saw how I looked at her. A burning sensation began to succumb to my being, making me feel the redness on the back of my ears. How embarrassing.

I looked away and met my best friend's eyes that was full of questions. "You, why are your ears red? Have you gotten sick?" He asked worriedly and even tried to check my temperature by putting his hand on my forehead, I avoided his hand and glared at  him.

"What? What did I do? I was just going to check, I don't want you to get sick, I'll be killed when we get home if you were, I was the one who brought you here!" He said in a worried tone.

I heaved a sigh trying to calm myself and forget about what just happened. "I'm fine, don't worry about it. I just felt hot for some reason." I said to assure him, he looked at me like he didn't believe anything I said, I didn't mind him and walked out of the balcony. I think I need to get away from there.

I heard my phone rang twice as I found myself walking in the empty corridors of the Hawthorne's Manor. It is Mrs. Hawthorne's birthday today and the family are having a grand celebration for her. Knowing the influence of such a family, there are a lot of guests inside and out of the mansion.

"Ma'am, Sir. Asher has been looking for you." I stopped walking when I heard a woman's voice, I glanced at her and saw that she was one of the workers here.

"Tell him I have to do something po, I'll find him once I'm finished." I said and immediately walked away from the scene.

As I was in deep thoughts I suddenly felt something hit me and almost fell, but a couple of slender hands caught me and did not let me fall to the ground.

I looked up and was met with those alluring ocean orbs I couldn't stop thinking about since the first time I laid my eyes on it.

"Be careful you might fall, it will hurt badly if no one will be able to catch you if you did." I dazed off after hearing the softness of her voice, my heart started to beat faster than time. Those  lips, when she speaks, they move with a fluid grace, shaping each word with precision and care.

"Are you still here?" She asked and smiled with amusement that made me realize the situation I'm in, I immediately stood up properly and cleared my thoughts.

I smiled at her with a hint of redness in my face due to the embarrassment I'm feeling "Thank you for catching me."

"I'll always catch you." Natigilan ako dahil sa salitang binitawan niya, this woman never fails to surprise me with her honey dipped words.

I smiled at her, not minding the loud banging of my chest wanting to scream at the chaos of my mind to stop taking all my sanity away and be once again defenseless in front of this woman, "You didn't catch me a few times before, you have no right to speak of those words." I said with the remaining strength I had in my system and turned my back from her and walked aimlessly through the furnished halls, not even turning once back from the woman who once became the center of my world.

I kept walking, but what she said was not able to escape my ears even if I tried to cover it.

"I was not strong enough to catch you back then, if I did— then who will help build you up when you fall, when both of us have fallen into agony?" I turned back to where I came from and saw that she was not there anymore.

On the 16th day with Vienn, I fell to the depths of the underworld— I rose from the ashes of hell and built my own empire.

An Empire where she still will forever reign Empress.