The Sea and The Sky

A Normal Happy Day

Cordelia was quiet; she didn't talk much as she was afraid of facing her feelings and others thinking what she liked was weird. As she was walking from her palace, she spotted her friend at the gate.

Astra: Hey, 'Delia! You look nice today!

She says it in such a soothing tone, and she couldn't help but believe it. Cordelia doesn't know how she ever ended up with her, but all she knows is that she'll always treasure her beautiful multicoloured eyed friend with the normal white sclara, sky blue iris, and storm grey pupil for her right eye, and the sky blue sclara, storm grey iris, and white pupil for her left eye. Cordelia looked at Grand Duchess Astra in all her beautiful and amazingly comfortable energy.

The woman was the most important and amazingly beautiful person she has ever met, with her multicoloured eyes, her just below-the-shoulder-length hair that is a mix of cloudy white and dark stormy grey going down that creates a fascinating ombre pattern with bangs that split in the middle between the two colours, her dark tan skin, and her usual work clothes that go on from sky blue on her soft flowy cloak to the short knee-length cloudy white flowy dress, and the stormy grey long skirt underneath it that ended just 7 inches below the white dress. Astra's crown was seen on her head; she rarely took it off—only doing so when she took a bath or slept—but Cordelia couldn't say anything because that was just part of Astra's charm, and Cordelia didn't take her crown off often either, but she did let her head rest from wearing one more often than Astra did.

She ignored the armour Grand Duchess Evania was wearing, as she knew this was also normal for those paranoid protectors to usually wear. Cordelia understood the need for armour and paranoia to spot threats, but she could never imagine living so paranoid each day that she was wearing armor every single day. Astra was also the 3rd most powerful of all the protectors: the 1st is Duchess Beaumont, the 2nd is Duke Beaumont—Lady Althe-no. Duchess Beaumont's brother—and then next was Cordelia, who was ranked 4th most powerful; in a situation of their power, she never understood the need for Lady Evania to always wear armour.

Cordelia didn't know what she did to ever meet and be friends with such an amazing woman; she is the only person Cordelia feels comfortable enough with to actually feel emotions and face her feelings around who isn't her sister, but she'd never tell Grand Duchess Astra Evania that.

Cordelia: Good morning, Sky and Peace Protector. You also look lovely today, Grand Duchess Evania.

Cordelia says in her usual monotone voice that she has always used around people: the fewer people she gets attached to, the better. She and Doris learned that lesson early on, and she never understood why Doris insisted that the later pain was worth the "amazing memories."  That was until Astra Evania came along. Future Grand Duchess Evania came out of the shadows she was in until her debut when she was 25 years old and Cordelia was at her debut party. The former Lady, now Grand Duchess Evania, specifically asked to have a dance with her as Cordelia was the most quiet but comfortable looking there, and Cordelia was hesitant at first, but after that dance, she and Lady Evania were good friends. That was 303 years ago, and they're both now 328 years old.

Astra: Delia! Just call me Astra; we're friends after all, right? Besides, don't go using that monotone on me, raindrop! I know practically everything about you, and you know practically everything about me! *Smiling happily at Cordelia*

Cordelia felt her heart skip a beat as Grand Duchess Evania said, No. Astra smiled happily at her; she wondered what she ever did to deserve to even look at this fine, lovely, curious, amazing, and beautiful woman. Everything in her mind at that moment was about how kind she was and how beautiful Astra is. She let her mouth form into a smile that she directed back at Astra; she didn't know why Astra blushed, but she guessed it was from the heat of this wonderfully sunny day.

Cordelia: I guess I can spare the formal language around you, Astra, but I was being honest; you really do look wonderful today. Would you like to have a walk at the beach with me this morning? She smiles and drops her monotone as she says it in a soothing tone that reminds Astra of the calm sea waters.

Astra: Of course, my lovely hummingbird! You didn't even have to ask, dearest!

Cordelia noticed the blush on Astra's face grow, and her face had become redder as she asked the question and smiled at her. She wondered if the heat was too much for Astra today and if she could still have a walk on the beach with her. As much as she would love to spend time with her friend, she wanted her to be okay and safe.

Cordelia didn't comment on the fact she was called "my lovely hummingbird" or "dearest" as Astra has called her that for as long as she could even remember and found the nicknames endearing and had her own nicknames for her too whenever Cordelia allowed her into her private palace—which was the one she just walked out of—and whenever they aren't in public view, as the reporters seem to be like the Feyfolk, whenever they ask to have your name, for a good but most of the time false story.

Cordelia: Are you okay, Astra? Your face is turning even redder, and I don't want you to get sunburn because you wanted to have a walk with me on the beach. *She frowns slightly from concern, and her voice was laced with it too.*

Astra: Ah, don't worry about me, Delia; I'll be fine; it's just that you look so amazing today that I can't help but blush. *Astra smiles as the blush on her face gets darker.*

Cordelia: Thanks for the compliment, my pearl.

Cordelia felt her cheeks become hotter when Astra complimented her, and after a few moments of the both of them standing there, they both decided to go for their walk on the beach. Nothing would happen, and they were well equipped for any and every emergency, from paper cuts to a world-domination-obsessed person. Today would be a nice day of hanging out, and no one could end her happy mood.