Heart of the Sea

CHAPTER TEN

“Oh, Thalassa, the cake you had made for me was the best gift I had received!” Aeras exclaimed the next morning as Thalassa visited her in her room.

Thalassa smiled at her sister who was looking at the mirror as she brushed her hair. “But- my dear Aeras, that was not my gift,”

Aeras looked at her, clearly confused. And Thalassa’s smile grew more as she walked towards her sister and gently took the brush off her hand and started brushing Aeras’ hair. “You see, my dear sister, my gift for you had been the prince. It was my sole purpose for even suggesting we have a ball,”

And her smile only grew once more as redness flooded Aeras’ cheeks as she looked down at her hands. Thalassa may not have been spending time with people and such, but she knew love when she sees one. Though, she was not confident she knew what ‘love’ really was. All the love she knew was the love for her family.

“Thank you, Thalassa,” Aeras replied sincerely as she composed herself once more. Then, her eyes lit up when she had remembered something. Then, without a warning, she turned around to face her younger sister. She took Thalassa’s hands and carefully pulled her down so that their eyes were in the same level. “The prince had invited me to have tea with them,”

Thalassa nodded, happy that Aeras did rekindle her friendship with the prince. Though, what she did not understand was that there was a glint in Aeras’ eyes that told Thalassa that there was more to what she was saying.

“My dear sister,” Thalassa interrupted. “Do not doubt me, I am happy for you. But- I have to be honest, Aeras, why am I suddenly afraid?”

Aeras laughed at her sister’s witty answer before she smiled innocently at her to assure her her next words were innocuous. Though, it had the opposite effect when Thalassa nervously took a step away from Aeras.

“Really, my dear Aeras. All I meant by inviting the prince was good. There is no need to punish me for it,” she pleaded- her voice shaking a bit.

Aeras could not help laughing at her sister. She knew Thalassa really meant no harm, for Aeras had confided in her. But- she also knew that despite liking the palace, Thalassa was really not one to willingly go to a place she knew nothing off.

It was different than inviting her for a walk through the woods. For the wilderness calms Thalassa down because it was familiar but the palace was not. She knew the place- heard about it even. But- it was still something new.

“Thalassa, there is something I must ask of you,”

Aeras could clearly hear Thalassa debating with herself whether to humor her or not. So, she smiled angelically at her sister and gave her the begging eyes. She knew, she horribly knew, that once she looked at Thalassa with those round, sparkling eyes her younger sister would comply.

With a low groan, Thalassa inquired about what her sister must want. But- Aeras was not taking chances for she made Thalassa swear that whatever she ask of, Thalassa must comply. Now, curious about it, Thalassa did promise willingly.

“You must accompany me to the palace, my dear sister,” Aeras announced with a winning smile as Thalassa’s eyes grew huge with shock.

“Must I wear this?” Thalassa asked as she grudgingly spun softly on her heels so that her mother would see how the white dress looked on her.

The white dress was soft and silky. Its upper part hugging her gently and its skirt were loose and danced with her movement. Its end covered with white, fluffy cottons that added a childish charm to it. It reached Thalassa’s ankle, perfectly showing off her white sandals. Her hair was braided into a bun, hiding the blue parts of it.

“Of course!” her mother exclaimed as she clapped once. She would rather it storm outside than let her daughters go to the palace underdressed; especially that Aeras had caught the prince’s eyes. As her sister, Thalassa must also be dressed accordingly.

“But- what about the sun, mamma?” Thalassa protested.

Her mother gave her a charming smile as Mr. Haskell entered the room with a parasol in his hands. He gave it to Thalassa before planting a sweet kiss in his daughter’s forehead.

“We had this parasol made especially for you, my dear daughter,” Mr. Haskell said as he took his position besides his wife.

Thalassa gently opened the parasol and she felt tears brimming at her eyes. It was beautiful. Whoever designed it had perfectly caught the feelings of looking at the setting sun as it vanished behind the sea. It was nostalgic, it was magical, and most of all, it was calling to her and she longed to see the sight personally once more.

But- Thalassa noticed something more about the parasol. It was heavier than a parasol should have been. She touched it and realized that it was a thick fabric that could guarantee protection even from the midday sun. And its stick was made of pure steel and its handle, which was decorated with a single sapphire stone, was- she noticed, could be removed.

Baffled, she looked up at her father in question. Mr. Haskell laughed before he told her, “I’ve also added something I know you’ll like,” he ended with a secretive wink.

Pure joy and excitement lit up his daughter’s face as she jumped and gave her parents a hug. “I’ll use it well, papa,”

Suddenly, the door of the living room opened and Aeras came in. Thalassa’s eyes sparkled as she saw her sister. Aeras was dressed in the same kind of fabric that Thalassa has. But- instead of white, Aeras was wearing a royal blue dress that suited her to perfection. Its top was corseted that somehow made her looked fierce. Her slightly, wavy hair cascaded to her back- completing her looks.

“You’re beautiful, Aeras,” Thalassa greeted and Aeras thanked her before returning the compliment but Thalassa did not smiled as Aeras thought. “This is merely something mamma forced me to wear,”

“Now, come on ladies or you’ll be late!” their mother scolded as she guided Aeras and Thalassa outside where their carriage was awaiting them.

They bid their parents goodbye and the carriage set off for the palace. Aeras, despite sitting perfectly calm, was positively anxious. There were so many ‘what ifs’ running in her mind that it was almost impossible to not turn around and ran back home.

It’s merely an invitation for tea, Aeras.

But- even though she told herself that repeatedly, she still could not deny that she felt nervous. Prince Nicholas might have been a friend of her when she was still young- it had not changed the fact that they are both adults now. And he stirred some feelings inside her that made her warm.

Just the thought of him brought a tinge of redness in her cheeks. She had prided herself for not showing whatever she did not like to show and yet- just the thought of him brought those control over the edge as she reacted unconsciously.

It was new. It was refreshing. It was something she does not know how to react too.