The sun was already scorching hot when they arrived at the Aratrika Forest. Despite its brightness, not a single ray of sunlight had peeked into the large branches of the trees inside the forest.
Since their departure from the duchy, the servant named Sitara has not taken her gaze off from the sleeping young lady across her seat. The carriage seat had very little space for the child to move, and she was afraid that one wrong move, Naraina could fall.
Deafening silence wrapped inside the carriage as none of Naraina's companions have yet to exchange conversations. Sitara remained tight-lipped. Her eyes never left the young child's figure.
"If you find this not rude, may I ask for your name?" The knight guard's deep voice graced the carriage.
The old ride made out of wood wobbled and Sitara was quick enough to stop Naraina from falling down.
Relief wrapped her face when she saw the child sleeping despite their wobbly movement.
"You may call me Sitari, Mr. Knight." Sitari's small voice was not too loud to wake Naraina but it was enough for the man in front of her to hear.
"It's a pleasure to travel with you, Miss Sitari. I'm Ashamiel. May I ask why you agreed to accompany the young miss? I have heard that the servants hold strong animosity towards the young Miss." His question, full of curiosity.
The knight guard thought that the woman would not give a response to his question, hence he averted his gaze outside.
"Because I can see myself in her. Though, the young Miss is still lucky that the Duke and Duchess permitted her to stay at the castle despite her illegitimacy." A hint of sadness coated Sitara's soft and mellow voice.
"How about you?" She looked up at the knight, "why did you agree to become the young miss's knight guard? I thought nobody from the knights liked her."
The knight guard named Ashamiel, crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back. "Some knights are not fond of her, especially the nobles, but the knights who have guarded the hallways were drawn to her cuteness. She is the only person who shows her beaming smiles everytime she greets us."
Ashamiel's lips arched into a soft smile as his eyes looked at Naraina affectionately. "Some may have gotten fond of her because of her radiant smile, but I have been watching the young miss since she started walking and talking. I have seen her in her different emotions. And after what I witnessed last night, the urge to protect her grew stronger. The reason why I am traveling with you two."
Sitari nods her head. She didn't expect that the man's reason was deeper than what she had in mind. She thought he was only going with them because he was offered a hefty sum of money, like what she had been through.
Though she respectfully declined the money and opted to be paid her usual salary as Naraina's servant.
The carriage was once again filled with awkward silence. But it didn't last as Ashamiel had spoken again.
"I wonder what Calenthine looks like. I have heard from my colleagues that the north is not a place suitable for such a frail person," his gaze landed on the sleeping child. "Why did the Duke choose to send the young miss there?"
"He must have a good reason. I can see that he cares for the young miss despite not showing it. I just hope that the Duke has prepared a valid reason if Young Master Alpheus throws him questions."
Ashamiel nods in response as his gaze lands on Naraina who is still in deep slumber. "The medicine given by the butler seems to be effective."
Sitara lowers her gaze to have a look at Naraina. Half of the day has already passed by and they are already near the port where their ship is waiting for them.
"They must have let her drink a strong sleeping medication," she mumbles.
The carriage once again fell into an awkward silence. Sitari, Naraina's maid, is not much of a talker in the first place. Ashamiel, on the other hand, didn't know how to approach the woman. And thus, opting to keep his lips shut.
The moment the carriage stops at the port, Ashamiel was the first one to get out. He reminded Sitari to stay in the carriage and to not open it…not until he comes back.
As the carriage was not made from sturdy materials, she could hear the noise from the outside. Men and women yelling like barbarians as they try to get their customers' attention.
Sitari parted a small gap on the curtain, and peeked outside of the window. Her eyes beamed with fascination as she looked at the crowded market.
She turned her head to look at Naraina, wishing she could wake her up for the child to see such foreign scenery.
It took awhile for Ashamiel to return to the carriage. And when he got inside, he saw Sitari looking at him expectantly.
"We will go down from here. But first, we must change our clothes. Apparently, the Duke has told the helmsman to keep the young miss' identity a secret. He wants her to act as a commoner."
Sitari turned to face Naraina, she didn't know what to feel for the young lady she would serve.
"Get dressed. We will depart in five minutes."
After Ashamiel gets out of the carriage, Sitari quickly undresses herself and changes into the clothes Ashamiel handed to her. Another set of clothes was hidden under hers. The size was so small that it obviously belonged to the young lady who was still fast asleep.
"Pardon me Miss but I need to get you changed," she mumbles slowly before she starts undressing the sleeping Naraina.
The clothes that were given to her were much more comfortable and easy to wear than the fancy gowns that nobles adore.
Sitari peeked a little at the carriage door and when she spotted Ashamiel standing near the horse, she quickly called his name out.
"Mr. Ashamiel, we are done."
The man was quick on his knees to run and open the carriage door. The coachman was also behind him.
Sitari got out of the carriage while Ashamiel went in to pick their young miss.
"Please follow us to the ship." Carrying Naraina in his arms, Ashamiel informed the coachman who took their luggages under the seat compartment.
As they were heading to the boat, Sitari couldn't help but roam her eyes around.
"I wished young Miss would have seen this," she mumbles to herself.
"She will. When we arrive at Calenthine's port. I have heard from the helmsman that Calenthine is famous for their seafood exports." Ashamiel, who had heard the woman's words, responded.
Sitari nods her head. Acknowledging the man's response to her. She then fastened her pace to match his.
The moment they arrived at the ship, a long wooden board was stretched out. "Climb in!" A man pulling the rope yelled at them.
Quickly, they boarded the ship and Sitari could feel her stomach twisting the moment she felt it wobble under her feet.
"Take this. It's a medicine given by the helmsman. It would help with your sea sickness as this is your first time traveling by the sea." Ashamiel handed a small paper to Sitari.
The servant gladly accepts the medicine and just like what Ashamiel instructed, she pops one into her mouth while striding closer to the deck.
Ashamiel was greeted by the helmsman who immediately guided them to the deckhouse after seeing the child soundly sleeping on the knight's arms. Once Naraina was settled in a much comfortable bed, Ashamiel and Sitari went out with the helmsman.
"I didn't know that the princess has a small stature," the helmsman uttered as he guided Ashamiel and Sitari to a table at the deck, overlooking the vast ocean scenery.
Sitari sat down. Her eyes were roaming around the surroundings even though all she could see were ship crews who were busy transferring large wooden boxes from one place to another.
"If I may not be too bold to ask this, what is the Duke's plan on sending his daughter to Calenthine in such a frail state?" The helmsman didn't hide his curiosity. He had known the Duke since he was a child as his late father would often bring him to the port to purchase newly caught fish. "I never would have thought that he could send his daughter away with just two servants."
"Had the Duke not informed you ahead of the young miss' identity?" Sitari, who did not intend to say a single word, spoke.
The helmsman shook his head. "All he had instructed me was to let no one know that his daughter will be using my ship as her transportation to Calenthine."
"Hearing as the Duke never shared our young miss' identity, aside from she is his daughter, we have no right to fill in your curiosity, Mr. Helmsman." Firmly, Sitari answered. If other people know that she is the Duke's illegitimate child, they might criticize her for having been born and might assume that Naraina might have caused chaos inside the duchy. Which in fact she had not done.
The child lived peacefully in the annex until she was six years old. And when she was seven, the Duchess was kind enough to let Naraina use the last room along the hallways. There, she still lives as quiet as she can be. She would only go out of her room when it was time to eat as the Duchess didn't want her to starve or eat inside her room.
The helmsman didn't pry anymore. Instead, he told them that it will take two days before they arrive at Calenthine's port before he excused himself as he is to instruct his men to prepare their dinner.
The blue sky disappears only to be replaced with an orange and pink hue.
"It's get—"
"Arghhh!!!!"
Ashamiel and Sitari were quick to their feets when they heard a scream from the deckhouse.
As Ashamiel got long and sturdy legs, he arrived first at the room only to witness Naraina slumped on the wooden floor. Tears were rolling down her cheeks.
He immediately kneeled down on his knees and attended to Naraina. "Young Miss!" Are you all right? Are y—"
Ashamiel could not continue his words as he was taken aback when Naraina clung tightly into his shoulder. Her small arms were light as the wooden swords he used to practice with.
"W-wh…where a-am I-I-I?" between her sobs, Naraina stuttered. She sniffled while burying her face into Ashamiel's shoulder.
"What happened?"
Ashamiel turned around when he heard Sitari's voice. He was patting Naraina's back to bring her down. But the child was still sobbing and he could feel his shoulder getting soaked from either her tears or her snot. "H-help me! I've never tried making a young girl come down."
Living in a small country located at the western part of the Azarra fief, Ashamiel has seen and heard young, little girls cry. And as far as his experience—though he was just an audience— he knew how hard their parents try to soothe them to stop. They cry endlessly and would only shut up when they get tired and fall asleep.
Sitari let out a small chuckle. Despite Ashamiel's bulky appearance, she never knew he could blush from just Naraina's embrace.
"Put her down on the bed." Sitari instructed and Ashamiel did what he had been told. However, despite her small arms, Naraina refused to let go of Ashamiel's neck.
"P-princess. Your maid will explain to you where you are. So please let go of me so I ca—"
"N-no!"
Both Ashamiel and Sitari heaved a sigh. They have never seen Naraina acting like this, yet they understand well that she might have just put on such an attitude as everything around her seems strange and unfamiliar.
To ease Naraina's worries, Sitari stood behind Ashamiel and rubbed the child's hair. "Princess, we are on our way to Calenthine. There you can recuperate better than at the Duchy."
Hearing Sitari's calm voice, Naraina raised her head and immediately, Sitari wiped her eyes and nose. "W-where i…where is brother A-Alpheus?
"He has not come with us as the Young Master needs to study hard. But he wishes you well and hopes that you recuperate faster so you can go back to Azarra."
"Please forgive me for lying, young miss!" Sitari thought silently.
Through Sitari's words, Naraina calmed down a little yet she still refuses to let go of Ashamiel's neck. Thus, all throughout dinner, Ashamiel was sitting while Naraina was still clinging onto him.
"You look like a real family," the helmsman commented and let out a loud laugh.
Hearing the helmsman's words, Sitari, who was drinking, choked on the liquid. Meanwhile, the spoon that Ashamiel was holding stopped mid-air, unable to reach Naraina's mouth.
"Pl-please don't joke around." Sitari muttered while she had a hard time stopping her cough.
"That was rude of you to say such words in front of the young miss, Mr. Ignhar!" Ashamiel scolded the helmsman who just ignored his words and continued laughing.
The dinner ended with crew men tidying the dinner table.
And after a long pleading, Naraina let go of Ashamiel's neck. She and Sitari settled inside the deckhouse to retire for the day while Ashamiel stayed outside, guarding the room.
With only the waves making loud noises, Ashamiel thought that everything would stay peaceful on the ship and gave in to his drowsiness.
Not knowing the danger that the ocean holds, especially when the sky is dark, the moon is shining bright and the night is deep.