Paper Hearts (Nozel x OC)

46. The red carnation

Summary:

Helena spend the evening in the library with her hermanita Cecilia, but it's not really the end of the day for her.

Chapter Text

Cecilia's light brown eyes were shining as she was listening to Helena tell her about Noelle's Valkyrie armor.

"It was blue?!" She screeched excitedly. "And she had a crown?!"

"Yes, she did," Helena chuckled. "Her mama used to have the same type of armor and was called the Dancing Princess of the Battlefield," she made a dramatic pause leaning closer to her sister.

"Noelle is so cool!" Cecilia excitedly brought her fists closer to her face. "Can I meet her hermana?"

Helena smiled at her youngest sister lovingly. She leaned in and ruffled her hair.

"Once we get to Clover of course," she playfully pinched Cecilia's nose. "Just don't bother her too much, or she'll get scared of the monita that you are."

"I'm not a monita," Cecilia huffed, offended and crossed her small arms over her chest. "I'm a princess."

Helena just laughed and leaned back in her chair. She swept her gaze around the library and admired the high wooden bookshelves. They were filled with abundant and heavy tomes, each one of them carrying a different story. Helena spent hours and hours getting to know them, flipping through their pages or challenging herself with reaching the highest rows without using her magic. She needed to use ladders, but she did not mind. The library had a high ceiling and there was a mezzanine hanging over the entrance. Soft moonlight shone through grand rectangular windows, which revealed lavish gardens on the other side.

It was quite late and Cecilia needed to pack in the morning before they left for Clover. Besides Helena had something else she needed to do this evening. A dark shade crossed her features just thinking about it. She shook it off and smiled, Cecilia did not have to see her this way.

"Hermanita," Helena announced cheerfully and Cecilia's eyes shot up at her, "it's late and you have to go to sleep."

"Nooo," the girl whined. "One more story," she blinked her eyes. "Helenaaaaa."

"You'll hear all the stories, but some other time," Helena said. "Now correr (run), to your bed you go."

"Heeermana," she tried again.

"No," Helena shook her hand. "This is not up for discussion."

"Ugh," Cecilia groaned, but she stood up from her chair and pouted. Her big eyes were focused on the floor.

However she did not stay this way for long, because she raised her head and quickly hugged Helena goodnight. Helena embraced her back and brushed her fingers through the girl's hair. Cecilia nuzzled into her touch.

"I missed you, hermana," she said.

"I missed you too, monita," Helena spoke affectionately.

Her sister reluctantly pulled away and made a small wave before skipping away. She ran up to the door and pulled on the handle.

"Goodnight!" She shouted.

"Sueños dulces (sweet dreams)," Helena said affectionately.

A smile stayed on her face until the door closed behind Cecilia. Then as if struck, Helena's expression changed. Her eyes darkened, brows furrowed and lips pressed together. Tension was apparent all over her features. Helena curled her fingers into a fist only to straighten them out a moment later. Involuntarily they found their way to a strand of her chocolate hair and started playing with it. Helena was nervous. She was hopefully awaiting that moment, while dreading it at the same time.