177: Toss of the Sea

Toss of the Sea

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"What do you mean Emily is going west?!" 

The Mother Queen disclosed Emily's intention to voyage to the West to Lady Sophia a week later, whose face displayed a terrified expression, as though something grave had already occurred. 

"Sending young unmarried women out of the kingdom alone? I do not approve of this, Mother Queen," Lady Sophia said, shaking her head and carefully setting her teacup on its saucer. "They have little understanding of the outside world, not to mention, the world beyond our borders is unsafe, and one can never predict what might happen." 

"I understand your concerns, Sophia, but this is how we can help Emily," the Mother Queen stated, brushing off a bit of dirt from her lap, which she had picked up while in the garden. She continued, "You have seen how deeply she has been affected since that loser Nathaniel callously broke her heart with no mercy or consideration for her feelings. She needs to heal."

"If she truly needs to heal, then what better place is there for her than Versailles, where her family surrounds her?" Lady Sophia raised her eyebrows. "She has me, her brothers, and not to mention, you."

The Mother Queen smiled and remarked, "You might believe that I dislike flattery, but I do appreciate it. Nonetheless, it doesn't change the fact that Emily needs a change of scenery. Little birdies eventually need to leave the nest to lead their own lives."

Lady Sophia's eyes narrowed at her mother-in-law. "Just because you may have forgotten what happened many years ago doesn't mean I have erased it from my memory. Emily was kidnapped, hunted by the same person who took the lives of those other girls. There are nights when I wake up with fear that my children have left their beds and met a tragic fate. And Aiden doesn't make it one bit easier."

The Mother Queen placed her hand on Lady Sophia's, saying, "I acknowledge your concern, Sophia, but many years have passed since that incident, and Emily is now a grown woman. We've imparted all we could to her, and you should give her the benefit of the doubt that she will be fine." She took a deep breath and continued, "I know you care deeply for her, but I am also aware that you want her to find a life partner and settle down, and now seems to be the right time. Niyasa will be there with her."

"Oh, that menace!" Lady Sophia rolled her eyes and leaned back against the couch she was sitting on. "If we are discussing her meeting eligible suitors, there are some from Versailles whom she hasn't spoken to yet." 

"I am confident those gentlemen you have selected won't have any issue with waiting to woo our dear girl until the seasonal gathering takes place in the West," the Mother Queen stated, seeing that Lady Sophia was still finding it difficult to allow her daughter to leave the palace, where she would be beyond her watchful gaze. 

"And Maya agreed to this?" Lady Sophia questioned with a frown. Without waiting for the Mother Queen to respond, she continued as if answering her own question, "Why wouldn't she? She's aware that her daughter's actions within the palace have made it unlikely for her to attract any suitors."

Lady Sophia knew that her daughter would endure suffering once Nathaniel formed a bond with the woman he desired, which was why she had suggested giving their relationship another chance. Although Emily didn't voice it, the pain in her eyes was unmistakable. She spent most of her hours sleeping in her bed, as if her life had lost its vitality, and the only thing everyone could do was provide her with the time she needed to heal. She realised that if her daughter didn't form a bond with someone, she would continue to suffer, and in time, her mind and heart would corrupt themselves, which could eventually lead to her death. 

"Alright." Lady Sophia finally consented with great reluctance. She inquired, "Will they be travelling by land?" 

"By sea," the Mother Queen answered. "It is the fastest way to get to their destination." The older woman observed Lady Sophia tensing at the mention of the sea, knowing well that it stemmed from her fear of it. 

Once, in her youth, Sophia was on a journey when their ship crashed into a rocky outcrop during a stormy night. She had feared that she and her family would perish, but they were fortunate enough to find themselves washed ashore at Versailles. 

"I can hardly breathe!" Lady Sophia exclaimed as she let out a shuddered breath. "I thought they were going to host this season's gathering in the East." 

"I guess they found the West to be more fruitful and decided to go with it. There will be plenty of promising candidates for our Emily. I would have accompanied my granddaughters, but I have a feeling that things might go awry if I were to leave, especially when someone is expecting me and I am awaiting the news of my great grandchildren," the Mother Queen said in a solemn tone. Before her daughter-in-law could inquire about anyone else, she continued, 

"Sending Maya would have adverse consequences for our children's future. Dante and Anastasia have only just begun their rule in Versailles, and there's numerous matters that demand their attention and time. Aiden and Victor need to focus on learning and not slack any further than they already have until now, as they have crucial roles to fulfil within the kingdom."

"So it will be just the maids and the guards." Lady Sophia was already anxious for their safety. 

"Don't worry." The Mother Queen reassured Lady Sophia, patting her hand briefly before letting her arms rest on the armrest. She continued, "Dante has already made the necessary arrangements to ensure that Emily and Niyasa are in good hands. And if something happens, we have contacts both in Heaven and Hell." 

Upon the Mother Queen's words, the younger woman pressed her lips together in thought. 

Two weeks later, the princesses' trunks were packed with all the necessary items for their stay and participation in the seasonal gathering. 

"Don't forget to write to me, Lily," Lady Sophia urged while standing on land alongside her family, where the ship waited to depart. Along with her daughter, there were several other young women and their families, all embarking on the same journey. "Make sure to securely lock your doors and windows. Don't accompany any strangers if they beckon you, and don't d—"

"Mother," Emily quietly prompted her mother, indicating that she was well aware of her advice. Because her mother had repeated those very words many times before their departure from the palace. "Take care of yourself," she said to her worried mother before turning to gaze at Aiden, who said, 

"Don't worry about her, Lily. Focus on taking care of yourself and Niyasa." He added, "The weather this week is perfect for sailing."

"I am going to be just fine. I have survived, I am a survivor," Niyasa softly huffed from the railings of the ship, as she had already boarded, eager to leave Versailles behind in search of her future husband. 

"I hope where you're going and the people there can serve as a good distraction," Anastasia whispered as they hugged each other after Lady Sophia's embrace. She felt a pang of guilt for not being able to help the princess after all the support she had received from her in the past. 

"I hope so too," Emily responded, pulling away from the embrace and offering a faint smile. She then moved to the side, standing before her eldest brother, who was the next one to bid her farewell with a hug. 

"Migdre will visit you when you tear the envelope I've given you. Use it when you are in utmost need of it. If you require anything, let him know or send a message through him," Dante stated in a protective tone. He whispered only for her to hear, "And if you find it difficult there, we will arrange a ship to bring you home."

Deep down, Emily didn't want to leave her home for such a long period of time, but she knew that her grandmother had convinced everyone to get on board with supporting her in finding a suitable partner in her own time.

"Thank you, Brother Dante." Emily was grateful for his support. She knew if her father were still alive, she wouldn't have had the same opportunity, as a woman of her age was expected to marry. 

"Come here, child." The Mother Queen embraced her, gently patting her back. "You are a Blackthorn, with Dante's blood running through your veins. You too, you little monster," she added, addressing Niyasa. "You make sure you make me proud and stay safe. Don't forget that we love you." 

"I never got any hugs," Niyasa complained. 

"Who told you to climb aboard so quickly, like a monkey?" the Mother Queen asked, and Niyasa scowled at her grandmother. "Go on now. It is time to look far into the horizon and into the future." 

Emily held the front of her dress as she stepped onto the plank that formed a bridge from the dock to the ship. Stepping onto the deck, she made her way towards her excited younger sister. Shortly after the sail was raised, a responding horn blast echoed in the surroundings, and within minutes, the ship commenced its departure. 

She saw her family waving at them as the distance between them gradually increased, until they disappeared from sight. 

"How exciting is this, Lily? To finally visit the West." Niyasa grinned as she stepped away from the railing.

Four days passed since they set sail, and the sisters had now retired to their respective cabins. Emily chose to immerse herself in a book, seeking solitude as she wasn't in the mood for company. On the other hand, Niyasa busied herself by inspecting the new dresses that had been tailored for her but hadn't yet been worn. 

Emily turned the page of her book, her attention divided between her reading and her contemplation of her life. Suddenly, she felt a sinking sensation in her stomach, and it had nothing to do with her thoughts. The next second, she felt the ship tilting more sharply than before, causing her stomach to churn, and she quickly glanced outside the oval window, where the sky had darkened with rumbling clouds. 

Feeling anxious, she placed the book on her bed and was about to set her foot on the floor when she lost balance due to the ship's movement and tumbled to the ground. 

"Lily!" Niyasa entered her room with a bump on her forehead, as if she had hit her head on something. "What is happening?!" 

"I think it is about to rain," Emily replied, stepping out of the room with her sister and heading up to the deck where the captain of the ship was stationed. 

"Princess Emily. Princess Niyasa," one of the guards said as he offered them a bow. "You should seek shelter below deck, as this area isn't safe."

"Don't tell us what we can and cannot do!" Niyasa's eyes narrowed at the guard. 

However, the moment the words left her lips, the ship pitched down into the waves, splashing them with water. A second later, torrential rain began to pour, prompting them to scream, as they had never experienced anything like this before. 

"Everyone, grab onto something and hold on tight! The waves are about to get stronger!" someone urgently warned them, shouting at the top of their lungs. 

"Oh, dear God! We are going to die here!" one woman cried in a state of panic, who, like the princesses, was experiencing her first voyage. 

As water splashed on Emily and her sister, her hair obscured her vision, and she remarked, "I think I understand what Mother meant now!" She had heard and read about the unforgiving nature of the sea, but nothing could prepare her for this experience. Yet, strangely, the moment didn't scare her as much as it did the others. 

"Somebody turn the ship around! I want to go back home!" Niyasa cried out in terror. "Turn the sh—" her plea was cut short as her words were drowned out by the splashing water. 

Emily clung tightly to the wooden platform, where ropes were typically wound. The men's voices went unheard amidst the roaring sea. The wood creaked under the strain of the wind against the sail. When one of the guards tried to escort Niyasa below deck for her safety, the guard and her sister slipped and ended up sliding dangerously close to the edge, on the verge of falling off the ship and plunging into the deep waters below. 

"Niyasa!" Emily shouted her sister's name, who was dangling through the railings alongside the guard. 

"Lily!!" Niyasa cried out for help, her eyes losing all the pride and arrogance she had exhibited just a few minutes ago. When the guard lost his balance and tumbled into the sea, the younger princess's eyes widened with the realisation that she was going to die. "Help me!" 

Emily seized the chance when the ship surged upwards. She had already lost Maxwell, and she wasn't going to lose her sister too, no matter how childishly arrogant she was. Letting go of the wooden surface, she cautiously navigated the slippery surface of the deck, making her way towards her sister. 

"I am sorry!!!" Niyasa cried to Emily. "I should have been a better person and not scolded that man earlier!" Her face was filled with terror, and the thunder in the sky rumbled ominously. "I am going to Hell, Lily!" 

Emily silently acknowledged that her sister had done plenty of other things that might send her to Hell, but now wasn't the appropriate time to mention them. She also couldn't help but think that Aiden had the worst predictions when it came to weather! Or perhaps the weather had just jinxed itself! After all, the last time they left the old palace, they had encountered a sandstorm. 

As the ship heaved and the rain continued to pour, it took a while before a few guards spotted the two young women—one hanging perilously off the edge and the other still behind the railing. 

"Princesses!"

"AHHHH!!" Someone else screamed as they lost their balance, their earlier arrogance of not heeding advice to get inside the ship now replaced by fear. 

"Grab my hand, Niyasa!" Emily yelled to her sister as she hooked her other hand around the iron rod.  1

"I can't, Lily! It is going to slip!" Niyasa's eyes were filled with fear at the prospect of being swallowed by the water, never to be found again. She had embarked on this journey to look for a husband, but little did she know that death was lurking closely behind her! she thought to herself in panic. 

"I don't think you can keep hanging on like this any longer, especially when we don't know when the rain might stop! Just put your leg in the gap already!" Emily scolded her sister. When she looked ahead of her, she realised that the ship was heading straight into a storm, and her face paled. 

After Niyasa managed to place her leg in the gap between the rods, Emily exerted all her strength to pull her over the railing. The young princess whispered, "You saved my life, Lily."

Emily breathed a sigh of relief as she clung to the railing. She smiled at her sister and said loudly, "We should head inside."

Niyasa nodded and replied, "To think I was trying on my new shoes that I'd saved, and now they are all soaked."

The guards had reached them and assisted them in moving towards the entrance to the lower deck when an unexpected wave surged from the side, unleashing a powerful splash of water. With the slippery deck and Niyasa's new shoes, the younger princess lost her balance and rolled towards the side. 

In the next moment, Emily noticed her sister moving farther away from her, and just when Niyasa tried to stand, she lost her footing and fell backwards into the water. 

"NIYASA!" Emily screamed in horror, and when she attempted to walk towards where her sister had disappeared, she was stopped by a guard who cautioned her, 

"Princess Emily, it is not safe to approach the railing! We are about to head deeper into the storm!" 

For a moment, Emily questioned whether she was dreaming and would wake up at any moment. However, the frigid air clinging to her wet clothes and skin, along with the thunderstorm, swiftly reminded her that this was all too real and she had indeed lost her sister. 

When the storm temporarily subsided, the passengers on the ship conducted a headcount of the survivors and found out they had lost six people since the ship departed Versailles, including Niyasa. 

"We are sorry for your loss, Princess Emily," the passengers expressed their condolences, while she remained in a state of shock. 

Dripping wet with seawater and with dishevelled hair, Emily hurried to her cabin. Once inside, she quickly flipped through a book and found an envelope. She tore it open, and the imp materialised before her. 

"Good evening, Pr—"

"Inform Brother Dante that Niyasa fell into the sea during a storm. Return to me when you have any news of her, go!" 

The imp nodded and vanished. It promptly reappeared in the Blackthorn Palace shortly after taking a quick look in the sea, before appearing where Dante was spending time with Anastasia. It cleared its throat. 

"Master, I bring tidings. Your youngest sister has fallen into the sea, but Princess Emily is safe," it reported with a respectful bow. 

Dante and Anastasia frowned upon hearing this unexpected news, as they hadn't anticipated such a fierce storm to cross paths with the princesses' ship. The imp continued, "I attempted to locate her but it was hard, and the saltwater burnt my eyes." It turned slightly pink as it confessed this. 

"There's a way to ascertain if she's dead," Dante said before contacting the Devil using his demon blood and the vessel containing the necessary ingredients. 

"Dante," Viktor spoke, fixing his gaze on him. 

"I need to know if my sister Niyasa is in Hell." 

"With so many Blackthorns meant to be in Hell, it is going to get a bit crowded," Viktor hummed, his expression barely changing. After a brief pause, he added, "She isn't here yet. Not as far as I know, at least. She must be fine with a replaced position." A glint of amusement glimmered in his eyes before his face vanished from the vessel's liquid surface. 

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