The first Ventura
The Queen of Astrolia. A beautiful woman with long black hair and eyes dark as the deepest parts of the sea. She holds the small body of her newborn son, with pale skin and black hair, he doesn't wail. She's unable to cry, unable to smile, nor frown, as she stares at her child. She feels nothing but shock and dread settling at the pit of her stomach. She lets out a shaky breath, her newborn son is not the child of husband, the King of Astrolia.
"Lily..." Her voice is calm and shaky and she looks at her personal maid, with fearful determined eyes. "...he is..." Her worlds fell flat and the maid looked over the Queen's face before looking at the baby. It is clear, the baby veins run thick with the blood of Captain Killian Calnick Maverick.
The people of Astrolia have come to hate the false "hero" and any sign of him or pirates, resulting in newfound anger from the usually tame townsfolk. "I do not wish for my baby to die at the hands of angry people.... I ask that you take him...."
Lily plays the role of child murderer and with the child within a basket and food for her and him. She escapes Astrolia, simply because the Queen asked. The Child's name would be Calen Ventura, and he would be raised within the continent of Cornelia.
The first Ventura of Cornelia.
"Memories and memories and thoughts upon thoughts and fears upon fears. The ship moves closer to the island, closer to a change for both strong independent kingdoms. A new era was upon us."
Cosmo makes the speech with a wide grin, his speech strikes the hearts of everyone and as he stands on the stage, you cannot help but admire him. He is the next king, the future rests in his palms and he accepts his duties with pride. I lean back in my seat, listening to the speech the prince wanted to deliver on our last night, cause the moment the sun reached the middle of the sky, would be the moment foreign feet within 300 years would touch Astrolia soil.
"Our guests have made this trip worthwhile! And we bring peace and companionship. A new age of technology."
Cosmo was proud of his nation, proud of his people, immeasurably proud to hold the title of King. Proud to be the next nation's ruler. I clap along with the others. Adam, Lord Ventura, and Lord Rhodon sat at the same table, clapping at the amazing words of the prince. Minds hopeful, hearts optimistic, and bellies full, it seemed like the perfect evening, and was.
I walked along the empty deck, my eyes out onto the waters. I was alone. A part of me was worried, worried that the siren would appear from the depths and drag me down, but as I looked out into the sea, nothing was there.
"Majority of the creatures exist below the water. You will not see them."
"You always know what I'm thinking." Not glancing behind me as Lord Ventura's shoes clicked upon the wood floor, before standing beside me. He answers with a small shrug.
"You are easy to study," He exhales, "but all individuals are." I look up at him and cross my arms as I lean against the railing.
"Ya' only say that because the only thing ya' do is read people like books." I glanced behind me as Lord Rhodon walked up with a small wave and grin. Standing beside Lord Ventura with a gentle shove.
"Previous times I checked, that was directly attached to my work." Ventura retorts, and I shake my head with a smile before my body jerks forward as Adam throws his arm over my shoulder with a wide grin.
"Crazy to think that this time tomorrow we'll be living in the Palace, but as guests." He whispers the last part in my ear.
Unable to contain my excitement, we would be able to attend balls that didn't require us to prepare and clean, nor guard the palace. "What y'all planning?" Our maniacal laughter came to a stop as Lord Rhodon leaned back, still holding the railing, looking at us. While Lord Ventura, the sadist, rolled his eyes.
"The two speculate that since they are visitors, they no longer have to work. They are still then as servants and will still have to execute tasks every so often."
Lord Rhodon roared in amusement at our shocked and disheartened faces, while Lord Ventura got satisfaction from ruining our high hopes.
The sea air is warm as our voices meld in with the breeze.
Cosmo watches from a distance. Flexing his hands, he watches from above. His gaze observes Ventura intently. Maybe it was pure coincidence, but Ventura looked identical to the Queen that ruled nearly 300 years ago.
"Prince Cosmo."
The prince's theories are interrupted as a man attired in a black and white penguin tuxedo, he had short black hair pulled into a tiny ponytail with sideway curtain bangs with one side longer than the other; they looked like a poor attempt at cutting curtain bangs, leaving a long piece of hair that stood out from the rest that covered his left ear. The ends of his hair fade from black to white.
"Edwin. What is it?" The butler bows, his white-gloved hand over his heart.
"The creature has continued to follow us. Though it has created space between it and the ship and has made no effort to contact the ship, it has not ceased its chase." Edwin spoke calmly and nonchalantly, looking at his master with a small smile that seemed stuck on his face.
"Has the Coast Guard noted anything?"
"Nothing aside from the normal routes. This creature is one that can pass through the calm belt effortlessly." Cosmo looked from Edwin and down to the group of four that chatted noisily amongst themselves.
Cosmo pulled away from the railing and turned to his butler fully. "Leave it be for now. If the creature lands a single hand or scale on the ship, we will take care of it."
"Yes, Prince Cosmo."
Just as everyone aboard had all hoped, by the time late morning, the large iron ship neared the harbor. The sea air turned tropical as I leaned over the barrier. The town along the beach was made of beautiful cobblestone houses and pathways. Each house has a different colored roof and a chimney protruding from the top. A group of onlookers waited eagerly for the ship, cheers for the prince resounded loud in my ears and I felt myself drowning in their unending excitement.
A palace of white stone with dark blue roofs loomed over the town, standing proud and tall, unphased by the tropical island sun. Like a dream that I sketched into my mind. Unlike the crowded city of Corte, Astrolia seemed open, with like blankets of jungle as you moved closer to the enormous mountain.
"This is the Capital City, Anero. Eastward is farmlands, and the city of Akern. West holds smaller villages. North are the mines, with the small town of Tierno, and where South is where we dock."
Cosmo pointed in each direction, standing beside me with a grin. Adam walked along all sides of the ship, trying to get a view of all of it, unable to sit still. While Ventura remained in his bedroom, making sure that he had all his belongings, while Lord Rhodon, unable to stand, still helped the crewmen with the ship.
"I wished for the initial day of your trip to be fun. So I had planned a ball for unification, but due to some things I had not foreseen, we will do a ball later within your visit. But as for now, a carriage will drive you to your own private castle and you will rest there for the month, as requested of King Henry." Cosmo pointed to his left, to a small white stoned villa located on a cliffside, far from the Castle and City.
"King Henry suggested it for privacy. To avoid tension."
I nod in understanding. The castle-like villa had a red roof, and an obvious path from the house and down the cliffside onto a private section of the beach, which somewhat worried me.
"We, of course, will have servants, guards, and a few chefs in the castle. So, you need not worry. I assure your safety."
"You are truly kind." The words leave my lips as I look up at him with a smile. Cosmo's eyes go wide for a millisecond before his cheeks flush red and he clears his throat.
"I must—uh—I must make sure the anchor lands correctly—yes." He fumbled over his words, making up an undoubtedly fake task and rushing off. I can only laugh.
The massive ship pulls into the dock, the anchor plunging into the ocean and an enormous staircase is pulled up to the boat. The crowd waits impatiently and screams and cheers for the prince in pure, unfiltered excitement; the air is filled with their voices and claps and screams of pleasure. Cosmo, dressed to his finest, stands at the top of the stairs, waving his hands randomly, saying hello to the several 1000 citizens of Astrolia. My hands grip my bag silently before with a wave Cosmo sent the crowd into complete silence.
A common move amongst royalty.
"I have returned, but I have not returned alone! The Kingdom of Astrolia and Cornelia within a month's time will be allies and that of family. I ask that you treat the Cornelia guests as not foes, but everlasting friends!"
They cheered, and Cosmo waved for us to follow. I fall in line behind Adam, while Lord Rhodon led the way behind the prince. The people of Astrolia are kind and are loyal to their king, even those who didn't agree with their king. They remained silent and withheld their displeasure.
Which, to me, was a little odd.
King Henry isn't per se the nicest king, and often his decisions were not the best, and many times the town's folk complained in outrage. Some were sent to the cells, while others faced public punishment, yet even that didn't silence the town's folk.
I wonder what punishment made the Astrolia people so compliant.
A carriage made of steel painted white and gold, pulled by two white horses with black leather harnesses, each stood tall and elegant. The white wooden doors soon were opened for us, by a man, who I learned was Cosmo's personal butler, Edwin, a man with the same monotone voice and a diminutive smile on his face. He opened the door, allowing the prince to climb first, me following, then Adam, Lord Ventura, and lastly Lord Rhodon.
The inside of the carriage was tall and wide, allowing spacious room between each person, the seats velvet and red that made you sink further in. "Astrolia is as amazing as you said."
Lord Rhodon spoke genuinely as he gazed out the window with evident astonishment. Lord Ventura remained silent, gazing out the window, and the carriage slowly pulled off. Cosmo beamed in pride, while Adam, who had been unable to speak coherently since our arrival, from pure excitement, fell oddly silent, not crowding the air with his incomprehensible words, before lowering his pen.
He says nothing, but it was as if he came out of a spell. His gaze flickers to me and I silently understand. Our gaze moved out the window, watching the foreign buildings move by, as people went on with daily lives.
"My father works hard to make Astrolia perfect."