The Mistress of the Sea: It was Never a Ship

Chapter 3

Everything was ready for tonight. Gordon should have received the instructions from Stanley by now. Later tonight, Alec will create an opportunity for Delia to switch out the original knife with the fake knife. The fake one she had made was hidden underneath her dress attached to her thigh. She just had to make it through the night without to much attention on her. Last thing she would need is for someone to recognize her outside of this castle. The best she could do now was to wait for Charles. To kill the time she stood in front of the the balcony doors watching the sunset, getting lost in her own thoughts.

So this is the royal treatment. Having other people do ordinary everyday things for you, unnecessary beauty treatment like bathing in mules milk, and wearing tight, heavy dresses that takes a team to put on. Kinda makes me glad I didn’t end up in this life. If the crew could see me know. Some of them probably would go into shock if they saw me dressed like a princess.

Delia giggled to herself as looked down at the extravagant gown and rolled her eyes at the idea that she could actually be a legitimate princess. This wasn’t the life she was meant to have. She wondered how many times that Catherine, an actual princess, had actually worn this dress. It was a very beautiful even though it was so constricting. Delia reached behind her back to feel the laced up corset, wishing it was just a little bit looser. However, she didn’t dare try to loosen it. There was no way she would be able to fix it herself if she had undone it to much.

There was a knock at the door that startled Delia, she took her hand off her back and replied, “Come in!” The door opened and there was Charles in a nice formal attire that was like similar to the one James was wearing this morning. It was obvious he is a prince now. His hair was slicked back and his coat had a few metals on it. He was even more handsome in this outfit then the uniform Delia first saw him in. Any regular girl might almost forget about how he never mentioned he was a prince until he pointed out in front of a group of people, but Delia wasn’t a regular girl.

“Oh it’s you.” Delia said coldly.

“I can feel your excitement from all the way over here.” He said in a joking manner. He closed the door behind him and strolled across the room to Delia. Charles stood shoulder to shoulder with Delia and looked out at the sunset with her. He leaned closer to her and said, “You clean up very nicely.” She did not respond or even look in his direction. Instead she continued to watch the sunset in silence. “I was hoping to get here sooner so that we could spend a some time together before the ball tonight.” He tried again, hoping maybe she would start warming up to him

“Why? So we can REALLY get to know each?” Delia asked sarcastically.

“Your upset about this morning, I’m guessing.”

“Why would I be upset? It’s not like you failed to mention that you are the brother of future king when decided to help me and asked me to be your date. Which clearly isn’t part of a scheme to avoid being set up by your sister-in-law. Then pointed out how clueless I was about it in front of your buddies. ” Delia felt the dress get tighter after her rant.

Charles looked half way surprised at the attitude she was giving him. He replied with, “You make it sound like I completely misled you.” She gave Charles a steamy glare.

“Catherine mentioned you have a habit of making trouble. What I don’t get is why you weren’t just up front with me?”

“Because I liked that you thought I was just an average guy.” Delia gave him an unsatisfied look so Charles explained, “When people know your a prince they become fake and predictable. You have the same conversation and everyone responds the ‘appropriate way’. So your right, I was trying to avoid being set up with Catherine’s idea of an ‘appropriate lady’. Then I met you this morning and you were already more interesting in the first 5 mins then any girl that would be at this party tonight.”

“So you thought that you could pick up common girl from the streets, dress her up, and use her for your own entertainment.”

“You make it sound bad when you put it that way?” Charles said as he was scratching his head realizing he may have dug himself a whole.

Something snapped but unfortunately it wasn’t Delia’s corset. “I don’t care if you are a dam prince I am not going to allow you to get away with acting like a pompous a**hole!”

“Promise?” Charles likes how feisty Delia is. She definitely was more interesting then any of the women Catherine had in mind tonight

Delia, on the other had was frustrated but not just at Charles. She wanted to yell at him some more but couldn’t after the last out burst. It felt like the corset was strangling her lungs. If she didn’t get some relief soon she might pass out. She had put her hands on her hips trying to stretch her torso to give her some room to breath.“Hey are you all right?” Charles recognized the pale look on her face.

“It’s this dress. It keeps getting tighter.” Delia could barely get the words out.

“This happens sometimes. Here let me help.”

Charles turned Delia so that the back of the corset strings was facing him. He moved her long hair to one side over her right shoulder, trying to not mess up the pearl barrette. She barely felt his finger digging out each individual string and gently tugging the strings being careful not to lose all the tension in the corset. After he loosened the first few rows, she started to get some relief. As each breath became easier and the pain faded she could sense how close he was behind her. Each stringing he tugged on relieved some tension but his touch also made her tense up. Once he got down to the last row, Delia finally felt comfortable. Charles leaned over her left shoulder and in a gentle voice asked “Is that better?” The vibration from his words made her skin her neck tingling causing her to flinch a little. Now her face was almost touching his. There was only a small space between his mouth and her cheek now. In a quiet voice she responded “Yes, much better.Thank you.” Delia could feel her cheeks start to get warm realizing how close they were.

Get a hold of yourself!

“I need some air.” Delia said abruptly. She moved towards the balcony doors trying to hide the flustered look on her face. Her hair fell back behind her shoulders as opened the doors and she walked out onto the balcony. Charles followed slowly behind her and stoped just outside the doors to give her some space. Delia rested her hands on the railing looking out at the ocean trying to compose herself. Only half of the sun was above the water now. The sky was filled with shades of pink and orange. Their was a slight breeze that had a faint smell of the ocean air. Something about this scene gave Charles a calming feeling. After a brief moment of watching this beautiful woman watch the sunset, Charles joined her standing at the railing trying to enjoy the sunset as well. There was silence as the two watched the sunset.

“It’s a beautiful view.” said Charles

Delia let out a sigh before she replied with “I swear if say ‘but not as beautiful as you’ line. I will throw you over this balcony.”

He laughed at how quickly she shot him down after trying to be nice. Guess he should have expected that. His laugh made her smile and tension eased. “That’s the thanks I get for being so helpful today?”

“Your help always seems to have an ulterior motive.” She commented with a teasing grin, “I do appreciate you helping me today and just now. I have no idea how upper class women do this everyday.”

“You must not spend a lot of time around the upper class?” Charles commented.

“Not unless they are with a rich man on a big boat. Not very many women join their husbands at sea.”

“So your at sea a lot with your job?”

“Majority of the time. It’s very rare for me to be on dry land for too long.”

“Well the sea has been kind to you. Most people that sail that much are pretty grungy after a while, but doesn’t seem to have affected you.”

“I may have a few tricks up my sleeve, but none of which includes bathing in mule milk.”

Charles belted out in to laughter over Delia’s comment. Delia chuckled and said “Seriously, why is that even a thing?”

Charles managed to get his laughter under control to say, “Your guess is about as good as mine. I’m probably at sea as much as you are. I hadn’t heard of it until Dex and I were walking past some royal ladies earlier talking about how great the mules milk is for your skin. We both about lost it.”

“Really? Dex too? He seems so proper.”

“Don’t let that noble exterior full you. When that uniform comes off he’s like a whole different person. It’s like he remembers how to have fun again.”

“I’d like to see that. He seems like a genuinely nice guy. Alec on the other hand,”

“He can be a little too ‘nice’.” Charles finished Delia’s sentence.

“I was gonna say flirty.” Delia corrected. They looked at each other and grinned.

“Well we better get going. Are you ready?”

“I guess, there better be some good food at this thing..” Delia answered. Charles opened the door for her. “Is there anyway chance people won’t make a fuse about me being your date.” She asked as she put on the white gloves on that the servant had laid on the bed. “Unfortunately, that’s one down fall of having a prince as your date. Even if I wasn’t people would still be gossiping about the most stunning girl at the party.” Charles replied. Once the gloves were on and the balcony doors were closed, they strolled across the room to leave for the party.

“I was right, wasn’t I? You didn’t get into the navy because you were the prince did you. You got in because of your a** kissing skills.”

“Can you ever just take a complement?” He said reaching in of her to open the door to the hallway.

“What would be the fun in that?”

Delia smiled pleased with herself while Charles held the door open as he rolled his eyes at her. “Your a real smart a** aren’t you?” He said as he shut the door behind him and offered his right arm to escort her to the ball. “Better a smart a** then a dumb a**.” She replied

Charles lead her to the other part of the castle where the ball is being held. Delia tried to keep track of every turn they made just in case she had to find her on way back later. They went down one flight of stairs to the second floor then turned right down a short hallway. Delia could hear a loud muffled voice and music come from down the hallway. When she looked down the hall saw Catherine and James talking to a man in front of a large double door. Their backs were turned towards Charles and Delia as they talked to a man who seemed to be nodding to what they were saying. Charles and Delia walked right next to the royal couple.

“Cutting it close, Charles. Father just went.” Said James in his older brother voice and with one eyebrow lowered.

“So we are just in time then?” Charles replied playfully. At the same time, James rolled his eyes and shook his head. Catherine was shaking her head too but was smiling as if she expected nothing less from him.

“Cordelia, how would you like to be announced? As Sterling or Pratt.” Catherine asked as she pointed her eyes to the man in front of her. He must be the announcer. “Pratt is fine. Thank you.” Delia said to the announcer. He did a polite small bow then slipped through the one side of the large double doors. The two couples turned toward each other.

“Cordelia, that dress looks so much better on you then it ever did me!” Catherine complemented Delia.

“I have a hard time believing that. And please call me Delia. You however look like a queen.” Delia replayed the complement. Both girls smiled at each other. Catherine was wearing a gown more elaborate then the one she had on this morning. She had a tiara on and the colors of her dress matched the colors of James outfit. Delia looked over the four of them and realized they were all colors of the Baltonian colors. It was almost like she was one of them.

The James spoke, “I would like to apologize for my handful of a brother. He really threw you for a loop this morning with his antics. If I may, I’d like to properly introduce myself.” James took Delia’s hand, leaned over, and kissed the back of it. “Hello, I am James. Charles cooler older brother.” He said as gave Delia back her hand and stood up giving Charles a teasing smile. Delia grinned at his humble introduction. She replied, “And the future king of Baltonia.”

James then said, “Oh so you figured that one out already.” Delia’s eyebrows shot up and mouth dropped. She was surprised that the stiff brother from this morning was cracking jokes. Meanwhile, Charles is beside her resisting the urge to laugh. Catherine on the other hand narrowed her eyes and she smacked James side, who was grinning at his own joke. “Watch out brother, this one isn’t afraid of royals. She gave me a piece of her mind before we came down here.” Charles explained once he finished laughing. “So that was the why you were late.” Said James. The sound of loud trumpets came from behind the large double doors. James says“Well you two get ready, it your turn.”

Charles and Delia walked in front of the double doors waiting for them to open. Before they did Charles leaned over to Delia and asked, “Are you ready for this?” Delia leans his and said, “Do I have a choice?”

Both doors opened just enough for the two of them to walk through together. It was so bright that Delia was squinting. There was a balcony that wrapped around a giant ballroom and staircase in front of the double doors that lead down to sea of people. Charles escort Delia down the stairs to the top of the stairs as a loud voice said “Prince Charles of Baltonia, Son of King Simon the second, and Miss Cordelia Pratt.”

Well there goes keeping a low profile. Hopefully I won’t be super memorable.

They made their way down the stairs then walked between the table to the other side of the room where the head table was. At the head table was a man wearing a crown was sitting along with a women to his right wearing small crown and another man on the other side of her in different colors the the rest of the royal family was wearing. Delia could feel the eyes on her as people whispered among each other, mostly the women. Having people gawk at her was nothing new, so ignoring them was easy. Most of the eyes she felt on her were the usual envy, lust, or wonder, but she had a sense of malice that she couldn’t pick out in the crowd. She kept her eyes forward instead of trying to look around the room for who ever it was.

They made it to the other side of the head table. A servant walked up getting ready to pull out the chair for Cordelia, but Charles waved him away. Instead he went ahead of Delia and pulled out the chair for her. Then as she sat down as he pushed the chair in. He then sat down next to her leaving two empty spots between him and the king. Charles whispered to Delia, “Is everything alright?” Delia couldn’t feel the malice gaze anymore. She replied with, “Yeah, I’m fine.” Charles looked like he wasn’t fully convinced. He then turned towards the man with the crown. The king nodded to Charles and Charles returned a nod. They both turned towards the stair case waiting for the announcement of tomorrow’s king and queen.

Charles reached under the table for Delia’s hand. He held it and whispered, “If this becomes to much for you, just let me know.” He gave her a protective look. It was like he could tell something was off with her. She smiled and said, “I will be fine. I’m a lot tougher than I look.” Her words seem to soothe Charles and so he looked back towards the staircase. Delia noticed the feeling of energy surging into her from Charles hand.

Is Charles doing this? Is he not normal?

The trumpets sounds off again but this time louder and grander. Everyone stood as the announcer announced the the future king and queen. James and Catherine appeared at the top of the staircase. The crowd began clapping for the couple. Before the couple came down the stairs, James turn towards Catherine, cupped his wife’s face gently in his had to kiss her on the forehead and then the lips. This seemed to really please the crowd. One might say that this was a show for the crowd, but Delia could tell by the look on her new friends face that this was real. The two of them made their way down the staircase. The guest bowed as the royal couple walked through the ballroom. Unsure of the proper etiquette, Delia followed Charles move and bowed when he did.

When Charles and Catherine made it to the head table, they stop to embrace Charles and Delia. Then moved towards the king, where the king shook James hand and hugged Catherine. Once they were done greeting the head table, they say in their seats. As they sat down so did the rest of the room.

King Simon then rose from the table with a glass in his hand. “I am a little lost for words at the moment. As I look down at this table I see not one but two impressive young men. Tomorrow I pass down my crown to my oldest son, Jame,s like make father did for me when I was his age.” He turned to face James, “Son you have worked hard to be where you are today. I know that I can retire confident that the kingdom will be in good hands. You already have a lot more support then when I became king. You have your brother Charles and your brilliant wife Catherine who I love like my own daughter. It warms an old man’s heart to see the love the two of you have for each other.” James and Catherine held hands and smiled at each other before returning their attention to the king. “Charles, you have turned into a fine man and a strong leader like your brother. When the two of you work together there is nothing you can’t accomplish. I have no doubt that that you will be the greatest Chief of Naval Operations that this country has ever seen.” The king raised his glass to Charle and Charles raised his glass as well. Delia had no idea that Charles was going to be the head of the navy. This meant that Charles and Delia were practically mortal enemies.

Wow we really aren’t meant to be.

The king turned back towards the guest, “Now let us toast,” All the guest and the head table raised their glasses. “not only to the future king of Baltonia, but to the future of Baltonia. To the future.” The room shouted to the future and the sound of glasses clinking filled the room. Delia turned to Charles with her glass. He turned towards her and clinked glasses. They turned towards the rest of the table to give a sign of cheers. They king turned to cheers the left side of the table. Everyone one on the left side of the table raised their glasses to him and took a sip from their glass. Before Delia took a sip from her glass, the king made eye contact with her. He raised his glass and slightly bowed his head. Something about the look in he gave her gave off the impression that he new her.