A SEA BETWEEN

Chapter 20: Theo's wedding

SUPRISEE SHORTTYY (goddamnit I should get off Tiktok).

Ugh, I needed to write this chapter and get it off my chest... so here is chapter 20...

P.s. When you reach the end; don't kill me please.. hehe.

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"No matter what I do. I cannot seem to escape this country" she sighed as she and Hermione were standing at the prow of the ship.

"It's only a day. Only 24 hours", Hermione reminded.

Her best friend was right. She just had to get through this day in Astella and then she could indeed go back... to the adventurous life she had there... London had done her good, finally Mara could have fun without guilt, or a sense of duty and she didn't care what others thought; even though she had had a not exactly 'subtle' letter from her mother telling her to 'return as she was making a fool of the kingdom'.

Tough luck then, she wasn't planning on returning, not for the foreseeable future. Had she not sacrificed enough for her family? For her country? What possibly could they want more from her, she was in her thirties and desperately wished to be only Mara. Not Princess of Leidal. Not former wife' from the Prince of Astella, just Mara.

She could finally discover herself without interference from people, without having to think about decorum, all kinds of rules where she had to constantly tiptoe around so as not to make mistakes and she was so tired of it. Tired of meeting other people's expectations tired of doing what her parents said, she wanted to be free and finally, finally she experienced that feeling...

That feeling of being able to set your own course even though you didn't know where the journey was going, making uncertain steps towards an uncertain future but at least they were her steps, not someone else's. It was also hugely frightening on the one hand, Mara had never been away from home for so long, on her own, on a different side of the world and yet she was glad for the process and that Benedict was with her for the 'ride'.

The ever always patient, sweet, Benedict who had kissed her again only yesterday, after weeks, when the carriage dropped him off at his home and they had to say their goodbyes.

"I hope you have a nice time in Astella" he had said, but it didn't come out very sincere and both could be aware of that.

"I'll be back you know" she had smiled.

"You better" he said with a small grin as he leaned forward to place his lips on hers. This time... she didn't flinch. This time she allowed it; this time she could tell she was enjoying the moment. He kissed her tenderly for a few minutes and she kissed him back gently, trying to reciprocate the tender way he was moving his lips.

When he finally pulled back, since he was starting to feel like he could lose control at any moment by pulling her into his arms and having his way with her and he knew it was too soon for that, she had gazed at him lovingly which made his heart flutter. In that moment he knew he was in love with Mara. The realisation had hit him like a lightning strike, and he could not downplay his feelings any longer. However, he had to be patient, give her the space she needed. Benedict fervently hoped that she would come back so that he could have the opportunity to make her his, in whatever way he could.

She waved at him again as the coachman signalled for her to leave and smiled to herself but then... somewhere deep inside that gnawing feeling came up again. The thoughts of him that no matter how hard she wanted to chase away, when she lay in her bed at night, he was always the last thought in her mind before she went to sleep, as she actively tried not to think about him but in the end could not escape it.

Mara had seen a picture of Claudette Bingham and she was beautiful; she couldn't make anything else out of it. With her blonde curls, piercing blue eyes and slim stature, she could very well understand why Draco liked her, why she could be a good 'candidate' as his second wife. In terms of age, the two were also closer every year while she and Draco were three years apart. When it came to character, she had read that Claudette had a spontaneous disposition and was usually cheerful and that she loved talking to people; also, traits that the 'serious' and introverted Mara lacked.