Rietha, The Pirate Princess

Chapter 6 - Goodbye for now?

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Chapter 6 - Goodbye for now?

Rietha didn't know what occurred after Iris flick her fingers. Then she felt a breeze brushes her face, in an instant, she recognized the vast sky with its glamorous shade of cerulean and coral as the sun is almost down.

Everything was stolid, she felt uncertain about why she saw the sky overhead when suddenly, a realization hit her that she was falling. "AHHHHHHHHH!" She screams at the top of her lungs. All the folks in the port of the sea's coast look above and witnessed a lady falling from the sky.

They murmur while worriedly watching the girl falling. Rietha felt the wind underneath her, forcibly pulling her down to fallen rapidly making her platinum white centipede locks lose its ribbons, she struggles and swiftly facing downward where she viewed the deep blue sea.

When she saw the sea beneath, she knew then that she was in jeopardy, she was falling from the sky to the blue wide sea. Iris wasn't exaggerating when she said that Rietha will be there in a snap of a finger but Rietha didn't deem that this is what she intended by it.

She shuts her eyes close preparing for the impact of the ocean when a light was shown in the corner of her body. "Rietha!" Someone called her, it was nearby her that it seems like the person who says that was close to her and it was no doubt, she felt someone grabbed her waist and face her to him.

Her sapphirine blue orbs meet his familiar deep red eyes. The breeze blows his jet black hair away from his face, exposing off his forehead making him extra handsome than ever. When Rietha recognized the person's face in front of her, she felt ease and relief that he's here.

"Jarez!" She called back.

Before the other person spoke. They sensed the cold water touches their bodies, a splash was heard after then and they were drowned in the sea. Everyone in the port who noticed them gasped when they sink in the waters and murmurs began again.

Jarez and Rietha were underwaters. They went up above the waters and Jarez noticed Rietha struggling to swim in the ocean. He swims near her and clutched her by the waist and began swimming to the nearest port in the Zaiteril Town's seashore.

He carries her up above the ocean to put down on the wooden port, Rietha sat there not moving a muscle. Jarez energy has drained after swimming plus he uses a portal earlier to quickly went to Rietha so he rested beside her, catching their breaths. They were exhausted.

People are watching them worriedly and some hesitate if they should approach them but the pair didn't even recognize the attention they gain from the people nearby them in the port. Rietha didn't budge on her position at all, gazing at the wide sea.

Jarez notices Rietha beside her remaining still and was just gazing at the sea in front of her. He scans her while still lying on the wooden port, her hair was loose and down, long platinum white wavy locks that cut waist-length. It was soggy due to seawater.

He sat up to examine closely at Rietha's appearance and there, as he slowly looked at her, he didn't comprehend why but he stops by his position and astonishingly staring at the beauty in front of him. Rietha was fascinated by the sea in front of her that she didn't notice Jarez gaze.

Jarez observes as the water drop from her platinum curls to her dairy white skin dazzled by the sunset behind her. He didn't think anyone could be this gorgeous by the sunset. He was in awe, enthralled by her beauty.

The scenery was indeed stunning to watch. The sun looks like it's gradually receding into the waters below. The sky was vivid with its color blue and orange. Rietha's sapphire eyes seem shimmering as they witnessed the wide azure sea making it more appealing as they reflected them.

Without a thought at all, Jarez reaches his right hands to Rietha's face. As the motion of his hands make Rietha notice him, she looked at him wondering. Jarez face was serious as he strokes a strand of her locks away from her face and puts it back behind her ears. Jarez hands brush her rosy cheeks as it moves, it was smooth and feel warm.

The pair find each other's eyes and gazes at it for a while like looking for something on those beautiful orbs. They felt everything pauses at that moment, no one moves and not a single noise can make except for their loud heartbeats that seem like it's going to burst out by their chest.

Suddenly Rietha felt her nostrils itches and a cute sneeze was heard after then. Jarez snap-in reality as Rietha sniffle, he stared at her worriedly, "Are you alright?" he questioned as Rietha was wiping her nose edge using her forefinger.

She nodded and sneeze again, covering her nose with her hands, "I'm sorry, excuse me." She said embarrassingly looking away from Jarez and hugged herself from the cold, she's feeling.

"Can you wait here for a second?" Jarez suggested as Rietha glanced at him, "I'm going to get you a towel," He said and without further thoughts, Rietha nodded and smile brightly at him.

"Yes, please. Thank you." She replied. Jarez stared at her with an expression of disbelieve. He can't believe that this young lady in front of him can still maintain a smile nevertheless the cold she's feeling.

"Then please stay here for a while, I'll be right back." Once Rietha agreed to that, Jarez stands up and dash off to get a towel for her. Rietha was left behind hugging herself while gazing at the direction where Jarez run off to.

The people near her looked at her and wonder who she is. Some recognize her and start gossiping that "It's the princess," one said and everyone who overhears that glance at her position. They looked at her worriedly as the princess is soaked and they were about to surround her when someone called her.

"Princess!" Henriethasia glanced in the direction where a familiar voice called her and she saw Robert running towards her position with some royal guards accompanying him. As he arrived in front of her, he panted and kneel to let his height matches hers.

"Goodness, your highness," Robert examines the princess with his pair of grey eyes, "Are you alright?" he asked with a voice tone of worrying as he noticed the princess's drenched hair and clothes.

Henriethasia looks at Robert's concerned expression. It is her first time seeing Robert worrying about her that much. She only witnessed Robert's stern-looking features and assumed she couldn't make any other impressions at all but today she witnessed two different sides of him and that's something improving to their relationship.

She always wanted to be close to Sir Robert since the first time she meets him. She was close to the other servants, guards, and knights but never Sir Robert as he saw constantly by the side of her father. She didn't get an opportunity too, whenever the king is occupied, he is too. But today, she got that chance.

Instead of responding to Robert's question, she beamed a smile to him as if it was nothing of her being soaked up and greeted Robert, "Hello, Sir Robert," and felt her nose tingles then she sneeze again. Robert immediately takes off the cloak his wearing and coat it on the princess, "Thank you," she stated in her breath.

Robert stared at her worriedly, seeing the princess shivering by the coldness of the water make him wonder why she could smile brightly like that. He was astonished by her smile a moment ago although he was inquisitive why the princess got soaked in the first place.

"What happened, your highness?" he asked with a bit of curiosity.

"Oh, I just occurred to be falling from above the sea," she answered truthfully with a cheeky smile on. Robert was puzzled about what she implied by those sentences 'falling from above the sea?' and then Henriethasia suddenly pulled a little of Robert's sleeves and give off that puppy eyes with her crystalized blue orbs.

He looked at her wondering why the sudden gesture, "Sir Robert, please don't tell father about what happened today, please," She pleaded and sneeze again. She was certain if her father questioned about the trip today, Robert will eventually tell the entire accident without even hesitation so she begged him first not to.

If the King finds out about the accident today, she's quite convinced he will get furious and command her not to step out of the palace walls anymore unless she will attend some royal business or important parties although she won't have an enjoyable time, it will be tedious for her if she knew knights are everywhere around her to guard her.

Finally, Robert nodded at her request which makes Henriethasia smile even brighter although he was not certain if he will. Robert was a faithful knight to his majesty, he can't picture himself lying to him and on second thought, if it's for the princess, he guesses he tries.

The royal guards that had been accompanying Robert a while ago were now encircled themselves with the pair.

"Pardon me, Princess Henriethasia," Robert uttered, Henriethasia looked at him dumbfoundedly when suddenly Robert's arms embrace them to the princess, one arm under her legs and the other to her back for support, and swiftly she was lifted from the ground.

She realizes that Robert was carrying her-princess style, she then recalled that it was the second time she was being carried this way today and Robert began walking towards the carriage that is waiting for them while the royal guards circled them on their way.

The people made space as they passed in front of them while their wondering eyes watch Robert and Henriethasia and murmured about the princess is being carried by a knight. She sulks herself under Robert's cloak to prevent more rumors.

As they arrive in front of their grand carriage, the coachman opens the door and Robert settles Henriethasia down on the couch inside. She started sneezing again as she sat comfortably and shivering, feeling cold. She snuggles herself in Robert's cloak.

"My apologizes, princess but we must return to the palace at once," Robert said as he rides inside the carriage and sat at the opposite couch, in front of the princess, "If you have anything else to purchase, your highness please do inform me so. I will buy it personally later."

Henriethasia looked at him and shook her head to say no, "There is nothing else, Sir Robert thank you," and smiled. Robert nodded to her and order the coachman to leave now when Henriethasia sensed something missing from her then she realizes.

The coachman was about to sling the horses to went on their way when Henriethasia stop him, "Wait!" She exclaims in dismay, "T-The necklace," and was about to rise when something slipped off from her pocket.

She peered down and saw a sparkling blue object on the floor, she examines it closely and her eyes widen when she recognizes it. It was the necklace, the blue heart-shaped pendant. She hunkered down to pick up the necklace, she gazes at it delicately.

"When did he-?" Henriethasia pauses halfway as she wonders when did Jarez put it in her pocket, she gasped when she remembers the time when Jarez introduced her as a Nightflame member, it was that moment when he slips the pendant inside her pocket.

'Why didn't I felt it before?' She thought and can't help but smile, 'I guess he's not that bad after all.'

"What's wrong, Princess?" Robert asked her while glancing at the necklace she's holding and to her. She looks at him smiling then shook her head.

"It's nothing, let's go?" She responded as she sat on the couch comfortably again and gazed at the windowpane outside as the carriage started rocking its way when she noticed Jarez standing on the wooden port searching for someone while holding a white, clean towel.

She touches the glass of the window where it transparent Jarez's figure, she felt apologetic for leaving without telling goodbye, she sighed. She doesn't know if it's goodbye or there will be next time, she then averted her gaze in another direction.

Robert stared at the princess in front of him and thought about what she was thinking as she seems unhappy while watching outside the windowpane. It's like she doesn't want to leave. Though he was relieved that she's alright despite being wet, she might get sick but at least she didn't get injuries or something.

He doesn't know what to explain the king on their trip to Zaiteril Town or the princess being soaked up due to falling from above the sea as Princess Henriethasia begged him not to. He breathed in frustration if only he never takes his sight away from her even merely for a moment.

He blames himself for it but Robert was inquisitive about how the princess got wet from the sea in the beginning, it doesn't appear to be the princess is graceless as she learns etiquette and was skilled at it, it also seems eccentric that she ended up sitting alone at the wooden port, soaking wet while looking far away at a distance as if like watching at someone.

Could it be someone rescued her from drowning in the ocean? as he remembers the princess couldn't swim as she spends most of her life reading books and practicing her skills. If that is true, he is grateful for that person who kindly saves the princess. Whoever he or she is, they just save an important person.

When Robert arrived at the place where Henriethasia is, he didn't notice anybody except the princess looking drenched up at all. He wishes he saw the person who saves her if there is any though but he was still thankful that the princess is safe and sound.

If it weren't for the words of Madame Helaine, he wouldn't know where to locate the princess so he was very grateful to her as well. The statement of Helaine makes him think of going to the seashore as he remembers the princess adores the sea so much and without any reluctance, he found her.

He knew Henriethasia can also take care of herself as she is not an average princess to start with, she can use her powers to protect herself but he can't help to feel concerned at all.

The princess is still training to control her abilities with her cousin as Henriethasia didn't receive any teaching of it, to keep it a secret, to avoid everyone from knowing that the princess is extraordinary, to evade any danger at all cost.

This is his first time feeling worried about the princess, himself. As they are not that close to per se. After today's escort, the princess is friendly towards him as if he is a long-time friend as to how Henriethasia addressed him well.

Soon after, they reached the Azalia palace. Robert helped Henriethasia, who is still shivering from the cold, climbed down the carriage and close the door behind her. The coachman sling the horses once more and went off to the stable near the palace walls.

As Robert sent the coachman away, he uttered, "Your highne-" Robert's statements were cut off when Henriethasia hand the cloak she's wrapping earlier back to him, he glanced at it and back at Henriethasia's face, he then noticed the bright smile that was forming on her beautiful face at him.

There as Sir Robert stand, he was found himself dumbfounded by that smile. He didn't imagine that the princess could be this adorable or that he will get struck by this cuteness and gestures of her.

"Thank you for accompanying me today, Sir Robert, I certainly much appreciated it," She said between smiling and with her dainty tiny voice, "I hope you will escort me again in the future, Sir Robert I had fun today."

Robert didn't even notice that he already took the cloak, he was very enamored of the princess' cuteness, he snapped, "Ah no princess it's alright, you can have my cloak. It's yours now, your highness is still wet and cold from the sea, please accept my cloak."

He was about to offer the cloak back to her, when Henriethasia shakes her head in response, "No, thank you, Sir Robert," she then smiles once more and again Robert was attacked by it, "I will go now and prepare for mother's birthday party instantly. Good day to you, Sir Robert," she curtsy at last.

"Ah yes, good day to you as well, Princess," Robert couldn't do anything but promptly bow after her and saw the princess's hands waved at him as she walks on her way to the palace entrance. Robert watched as the princess disappears from his sight.

He didn't understand why he's feeling this but he has an urge to protect the princess away from danger at any cost.

to be continued...

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