Celestiel sat on her bed, sorting out her new clothes. They were alot and she wondered if she would even wear them all.
Her thoughts went back to earlier that day. Sebastian had come into the clothing store, acting like nothing had happened, like he hadn't witnessed Leonore and Reagan holding a tortured, bloody man. They had shopped together and Celestiel had tried to act like she hadn't seen anything, even though somewhere at the back of her mind, she knew he knew she had.
Sebastian had helped her and Aletta pick out comfortable clothes for her. And honestly, the only reason Celestiel could hold herself together was because Aletta kept distracting her with stories and facts about pirates.
The woman reminded her alot of Alora. Even though obviously, Aletta was an eccentric person with an adventurous heart whereas Alora was quieter, more reserved, they both spoke about pirates the same way, they both had the same light in their eyes when they spoke about something they enjoyed.
Aletta's company only made Celestiel miss Alora's even more. And genuinely, Celestiel wished she could have female company like that again.
While Celestiel was still lost in thought, Sebastian walked into the room.
"My lord", Celestiel greeted with a small bow. She quickly began sorting out the rest of the clothes again. They really were many.
Sebastian took off his Captain's hat and set it down on his study table before turning towards Celestiel.
His black eye stared long and hard at Celestiel and immediately, her heart picked up its pace. He knew, didn't he? Was he angry? Was he going to do something to her? She hadn't meant to be nosy, she just...
"I do hope you enjoyed yourself today, my lady"
Celestiel paused. She had no idea how to answer. Was he trying to trick her?
She stared at him dumbly and only found her tongue when Sebastian raised his brows, expecting an answer.
"I..I did", she replied. Sebastian gave a satisfied nod. "The...town was nothing like I'd expected, it's much more beautiful than I had anticipated. And thankyou for the book and the clothes. Aletta was such a darling, I didn't expect pirates to be so welcoming to me...but they are and some of them might be a bit scary but obviously, they're good people and they're just like Icarthan villagers as well and..."
Celestiel stopped herself when she realized she was rambling. She really hoped her nervousness wasn't that obvious to Sebastian.
Sebastian had an amused look on his face as he stared at the princess. She really was a nervous mess and he hadn't even said anything threatening. He smiled, running his hand through his dark hair.
"You enjoyed the shopkeeper's company?", Sebastian had obviously noticed the instant friendship brewed between his wife and the loud shopkeeper from the clothing shop. And he wondered if Celestiel wanted to keep the shopkeeper as a companion.
"Aletta. Yes. I did. She's a wonderful person", Celestiel tried to calm her heart as much as she could, trying to convince herself that everything was okay. That she hadn't really seen anything.
"Why are you so restless? Is something the matter?", Sebastian asked.
Celestiel instantly shook her head. "I'm just thrilled"
Immediately she said that, her stomach rumbled. Her face reddened in embarrassment and she looked away, wanting to just die there. It wasn't even a cute rumble, it was a full-on roar.
Sebastian fought back an amused laugh and instead offered his hand to her. Celestiel stared at it for a moment before looking back up at Sebastian.
"Huh?", She stared dumbly, taking Sebastian's hand slowly.
Sebastian chuckled at the clueless expression on her face. "Do you plan to eat dinner in the room?"
"Oh", Celestiel jumped off the bed, her hand still in his. He was taking her out to dinner? "We're going back into the town to eat dinner?"
"Yes. I have one last place to show you", Sebastian replied.
⚓⚓⚓ ⚓⚓⚓
Celestiel stood beside Sebastian gazing at the night lights of Nycren. It was even more beautiful at night, Celestiel couldn't believe it.
Sebastian led the princess to a quiet food joint. It wasn't fancy and it wasn't shabby either, it was just right. And Celestiel loved it.
Once they were seated at their table, a waitress came over. She was beautiful, wearing a stunning, exposed waitress outfit.
"King Sebastian, good to see you again", she leaned in, smiling seductively at the king. Her voice immediately had Celestiel annoyed.
Sebastian stared at the woman, uninterested and unamused with her.
"What would you like to have, my lady?", Sebastian turned to Celestiel and asked.
"I've never had seafood before", Celestiel replied. She turned towards the woman and asked, "Are there any seafood?"
The woman's smile visibly fell from her face as her eyes set on Celestiel. This was the Icarthan princess the king had married, wasn't it?
"Yes, there is. Would you like some?", The woman turned back to look at Sebastian, even though she had replied to Celestiel's question. She leaned in more, exposing her chest to Sebastian.
Celestiel was surprised. Shocked even. At the outrageous behavior of the woman. She was trying to seduce a man in his female companion's presence.
"We'll take seaweed stew, seasoned squid and fish curry", Celestiel told the woman, a glare coming to settle on her face. Being bullied all her life as the illegitimate daughter of the king of Icartha, she knew when someone wanted to pick a fight. And this woman certainly wanted to pick a fight with her. Celestiel wasn't tough or strong but she knew if she let the woman walk over her like that in public, she would not only disappoint the pirates as their new queen, but also embarrass Sebastian as his wife.
That couldn't happen. She was trying to stay on his good side.
The woman fought the urge to roll her eyes. She wanted to pick on the princess. She was Icarthan, the pirates' nemesis. Not just an Icarthan at that, the princess of Icartha! Honestly, she thought the king deserved a strong pirate, a woman such as herself and it upset her that the princess had taken what she wanted without even trying. Icarthans were weak, spoiled people who couldn't go one day without their rose water bubble baths. And their princess is what she had for a queen? She was sure of one thing...a weak woman was not worthy of standing beside the king.
She was about to say something when Sebastian interrupted coldly.
"You heard the queen. Don't waste her time"
The waitress instantly stilled, knowing she had annoyed the king. Something clicked in her mind and she mentally face palmed herself. She was so stupid! He was probably starving. With this thought, she quickly turned and left to get the order.
Sebastian turned to look at Celestiel, who still had an annoyed look on her face. He certainly hadn't expected the princess to fight back, she looked like someone who would either ignore her offender or just get offended. He had wanted to see what she would've done next but the waitress was going to disrespect her in front of everyone and hell, if he would've let that happen in front of him.
The waitress returned with their food shortly. And Celestiel could barely enjoy her food. She almost couldn't believe how upset she was about the woman flirting with Sebastian in her presence.
"You should enjoy your food, my lady", Sebastian chuckled seeing how Celestiel wouldn't stop glaring at the waitress whenever she passed by.
Celestiel turned towards Sebastian, not wiping off the glare she had on her face. "She needs some humbling from someone"
"Would you like to do it? Or would you like me to do it?", Sebastian smiled.
Celestiel thought about it for a moment before sighing in defeat. "No...she didn't really do much. It's fine"
Sebastian tilted his head slightly to the side. "What a patient wife"
Celestiel reddened and she focused back on her food, suddenly aware that she was on a dinner date with the king of Calabran.
"Are you enjoying your seafood?", Sebastian asked her and she looked back up at him.
"It's delicious", Celestiel replied. "Thankyou, your highness"
Sebastian smiled. Their conversation flowed gracefully and Celestiel found herself even more intrigued with the king. He was a mystery, a strange light appeared in his dark eye whenever he spoke about the seas. His expression remained passive but Celestiel could see the light in his eye. It was unmistakable, he loved the seas. And Celestiel wondered how someone with so much love for the seas had earned the name 'the tyrant of the seven seas'.
Once they were done eating, the waitress sashayed over once again.
"Are you leaving already, your highness?", She smiled, placing her hand on his upper arm. "Why don't you stay and have desert? My treat-"
"I would request that you get your hands off my husband, miss", Celestiel glared at the woman.
The waitress turned to her with an annoyed scowl. "And if I don't?"
Her hand went to move up Sebastian's arm but before she could, Celestiel sprang up and grabbed her hair. She yanked it away, throwing the woman off Sebastian. The woman landed on the floor, earning the attention of the people eating at the diner as well.
The woman was shocked. She hadn't expected some small, frail-looking Icarthan princess to be able to throw her down easily. Outraged and embarrassed, she got up, fists balled and raised, ready to hit Celestiel. She stalked towards her and went to attack her.
She swung at Celestiel but before she even got close, before Celestiel could prepare to dodge, Sebastian caught the woman's hand by her wrist. And in one swift movement, snapped it.
Both women's eyes widened in shock as Sebastian let go of the woman's hand. It fell limp and it would've fallen off completely if it wasn't for the skin attaching it to the rest of her arm.
Silence engulfed the diner. Then suddenly, a loud, shrill, pained scream swallowed the silence. Even Celestiel felt the woman's pain. Before the woman could offer another ear shattering scream, two of the men in the diner grabbed her and took her away. She had disturbed the king and his wife, she had it coming.
Celestiel stared after the woman being taken away by the two men, still stunned. She suddenly remembered earlier when Sebastian had been talking to Leonore and Reagan while they held a half dead man. Sebastian had probably given that order to capture and torture the man. He was the same man who had just snapped the woman's wrist right in front of her, in front of everyone in the diner.
And it sure looked like Sebastian had a lot of experience snapping things.
But this was the same man who had bought her her clothes and the book she had wanted for such a long time. The same man who had taken her round her mother's hometown, showing her things she never thought she would get to see in her life. The same man who was treating her to dinner and had defended her.
The question was...which side of Sebastian was the real him? What side would she be seeing more often? And was she truly safe with him?