Remora sighed as she took three sets of Marina's locks, stroking and gently pulling them back to prepare a braid. She reached forward and wordlessly tucked some stray strands of hair behind Marina's ear. Marina felt her skin tingle at the touch, but her mood had drifted to that of silent mencholy once more as the silence stretched on, hardly being able to react to the sensation. She simply let Remora do her thing.

  Remora, on the other hand, felt like her mind was a twisting storm. The tiny ounce of envy and greed that festered in every human mind creeped in as she thought about the ring Marina threw away. Gods... what she could've accomplished with that tiny jewel alone... Then she remembered their argument... how she snapped at Marina... how Marina snapped back... The princess's words looped through her mind, and that growing envy and greed became snuffed out by a feeling she might regret... Empathy.

  "I'm um... sorry about earlier tonight..." The words simply spilled from Remora's tongue. She was beating herself up internally over the fact that she was apologizing to someone she believed to be spoiled and corrupt... but she pushed past it. She had to see the other side of things now, even if she didn't like it. Marina's eyes widened, but she kept her cool as tilted her head to the side, indicating that she was listening.

  "What I said about the ring... about you being greedy and pompous... about... Prince Camaro..." She watched with bated breath as Marina's hands clenched the fabric of her nightgown. Perhaps it was too soon to mention it... but it was too te to stop now... "I had no idea it was like that... I had no idea he was like that... Marina stayed quiet, and Remora sighed as she weaved her hair. "You know, in storybooks that us peasants read..." She put a little humor in her voice. "...We were always told the prince is... charming and dreamy... I guess I just... I didn't realize that those were sometimes just fairytales..." Remora's eyes went downcast. Maybe SHE was the prejudiced one... but still... she had her reasons.

  "And you know... my grandfather was a servant at the pace actually... But... one day he was fired because he had a tremor... and he had spilled wine on a visiting Duke. My grandfather... My Dziadek... He was a strong man and yet he just felt so... ashamed and defeated... all because his hands shook. He died that same year in the spring and... well, I ended up quitting my studies and getting a full-time job at the ripe age of 14 since Babcia was too heartbroken... too withered... too weakened to work..." Her voice was mellow as she continued braiding Marina's hair.

  "So... I'm sorry... I realized all these things that've happened to me... all these biases I carry... and just the fact I was born a peasant and you weren't... that... that isn't your fault. I shouldn't have taken my anger out at you..." She hesitated, her ribs felt tight around her lungs at her confession. "I'm sorry..." She repeated, releasing her breath. Marina was quiet... she was processing... and Remora fell back on the instinct to make humor about it...

  "But you know... SOME of you royal folks are real assholes... Like those guards back at the tavern-" She was cut off as Marina started shifting to face her fully. "Hey, hold on, I'm not done with your-" And her sentence once again fell short as she was met with the sight of teary, gleaming, blue eyes. "W-woah! I'm sorry... did I say something wrong...???" Remora instinctively put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. Marina simply sniffled.

  "Remora... I had no idea... it's no wonder... oh, you must hate me so terribly much..." She grabbed Remora's hand, cupping it in hers as she whimpered. She didn't think she had it in her to cry AGAIN tonight... but here she was... and it cause panic to hit Remora like a bullet to the chest.

  "Hey! Heyheyhey hey!!! I don't..." She watched a tear escape Marina and she wiped it away with her thumb. "I don't hate YOU... I just... kinda... dislike the CONCEPT of you..." Remora thought that was funny but it didn't help Marina at all as the waterworks were about to start. She groaned and put her hands on the weeping princess's shoulders. "See? Look." Remora then pulled her into a hug, wrapping her wider arms around her. "Not... hating you..." She had to fight the begrudging feeling in her gut from seeping into her voice. "See? It's okay..." She cooed softly, rubbing her back.

  Marina froze up at the gesture instantly, her weepy eyes widening and her breath being locked up in her chest. Her heart started to pump wildly at the proximity, the scent, the touch, the warmth of the other girl... She blinked her eyes rapidly a few times as her brain tried to catch up, before slowly melting into her. Remora smiled and rexed as she noticed how her crying suddenly stopped due to the embrace. She reached up and threaded her hand through the princess's hair.

  "Lords... I think I'm gonna start nicknaming you 'Eggshells', you fragile, sensitive thing..." She jested, still trying to soothe her with her motions. The comment got a short ugh mixed with a huff out of Marina and she pulled away, wiping her face. Her face was red, but if anyone asked, she would say it was from the crying...

  "I'm sorry... Sorry..." She took a deep breath. "I just feel horrible... I'm sorry I threw away the ring... I just didn't want..." She trailed off. Remora sighed and patted the top of her hand.

  "A reminder...?" Marina met her gaze, seeing the understanding in her eyes, and she nodded. Remora took a deep breath and put her hands over Marina's.

  "Well... then I'm sorry for being greedy... it turns out you can be dirt poor or stupid rich and still want something you can't have... I shouldn't have let that distract me from your pain... your suffering." Remora's expression was sincere and unbreaking. It made Marina's cheeks burn again.

  "Thank you... Remora." She smiled. No one had ever apologized to her in her life, at least not so genuinely... No one had ever seen her like an equal... and while just this morning it would've made her puke to consider a peasant an equal... she was starting to... not hate the idea...

  "Of course, princess." Remora broke her gaze to grab the hairbrush. Marina sucked in a quick breath.

  "Marina." She quietly blurted out. Remora blinked and met her eyes again, raising an eyebrow. "Call me Marina..."

  Remora's eyes widened slightly and a sudden fluttering filled her chest. She smiled and huffed with a teasing expression.

  "Sure thing, Eggshells. Now turn around, you didn't let me finish your braid." Marina gave her an aghast yet amused look at her antics, but huffed and rolled her eyes, obliging with her request.

  Remora returned to her hair, humming softly to herself. Marina wanted to melt right there. She didn't understand why but she felt so incredibly giddy and warm all of a sudden. Especially because... "Eggshells??? What a stupid nickname..." she thought to herself briefly. And yet, she didn't hate it. It was the first nickname she's ever had. This is the first time anyone has ever done her hair so gently and just for the fun of it, not because she needed to be presentable. The fluttering in her chest was so overwhelming and new... and she'd only felt this way once before... and that was with Jamie... a feeling so very brief and so very stolen.

  A maelstrom of thoughts hit her all at once at the memory of her lover... if she could even have called it that... She felt guilt for leaving her behind, a longing to see her again, and downright confusion as to why she was comparing such a lovely thing to this peasant girl?! Yes, Jamie was a peasant too, but... STILL...!!! And yet, the fluttering just wouldn't stop...! And what's worse... was she didn't mind it much at all. She didn't mind this feeling of... safety and calm.

  Of course, that feeling quickly disintegrated when there was a knock at Remora's door. Their heads shot up and their eyes widened as an electric fear struck them both.

  "Remoraaa?" Her grandmother's voice called. "I'm coming in and if I see a boy you're in trouble and if you're indecent you're in SO MUCH TROUBLE!!!" The doorknob turned. Remora practically bounded off the bed towards the door.

  "Wait! BABCIA, NO!" She protested. But it was too te... Babcia had already opened the door and passed through the entryway, holding two cups of tea. She startled as Remora appeared directly before her, staring up at her granddaughter.

  "Dearest of the Gods, Remora! I just knew it!" She pushed past her granddaughter and looked upon her bed, more specifically the new face she found upon it.

  "Oh! So it is a girl. Apologies for the startle, Remora told me you were shy. How do you do?" Babcia calmed and smiled politely, the wrinkles on her face creasing. Remora and Marina just stared at the elderly woman with bated breaths, waiting for her to suddenly realize exactly who was in Remora's room. Babcia then shot Remora a stern look.

  "Don't startle me like that! My heart's too old for your games, silly girl... Anyways, I brought some tea for you and your friend... It's chamomile. Perfect for a night like this!" She motioned the cups in her hands, before setting them on Remora's desk. Remora sent Marina a gnce, neither of them daring to breathe. Babcia then clicked her tongue, pnting her hands on her hips as she narrowed her eyes at her grandaughter.

  "You're still in trouble, missy." And once again, Remora felt her heart leap into her throat and she took a step forward in front of Marina.

  "Babcia... I can expin, really I can...!" Her voice shook with terror. Babcia groaned and turned around, picking up the bowls from the stew earlier that night from the desk.

  "Don't leave dishes around! How many times do I have to tell you? If you don't bring them to the sink right away after eating you forget to bring them at all!" Babcia scolded. Remora blinked at her in confusion. Babcia hummed at turned back to Marina. "Ah, apologies... I just gotta keep this one in line, you know? Reeeal troublemaker... and a bad influence!" Remora's voice died as she tried to protest, her heart hammering far too hard for her to make a peep. "Oh, I'm just kidding, Mora is a good girl. Just messy... anyways, what did you say your name was again?" Babcia blinked expectantly at Marina. Remora shot her a look of fright and shook her head, secretly hoping Marina wouldn't answer. Marina however, opened her mouth to speak.

  "Oh wait! You look so familiar...! Oh, oh, oh, wait... don't tell me... I bet I know who you are." Babcia covered her forehead with her hand, squeezing her eyes shut like she was trying to fish up her memory and mumbling. Remora and Marina felt their rapid pulses in their ears. Remora stepped forward, pcing a hand on her grandmother's shoulder, only for it to be met with a swat. "DON'T TELL ME, REMORA!" Remora backed off instantly... and they waited... praying to each and every God out their to protect them.

  "OH! YES! I know! You're that Wivret girl! That young dy who lived nextdoor!" She cocked her head and put her hands on her hips again. "Now... I thought you moved away? Whatever are you doing here?" Marina opened her mouth to find a response before Remora quickly stepped in.

  "Visiting! She's... uh... visiting." Remora wrapped an arm around Marina, shaking her in a friendly manner. Babcia hummed and narrowed her eyes.

  "Awfully cold and wet time of year to be visiting... But how sweet... Okay... I guessed your st name but you'll have to tell me your first because I simply just can't remember it." She shook her head in apology. Remora bit her lip and looked to Marina expectantly.

  "Uh..." Marina felt her throat go dry and she looked around the room for something... anything that could help her. But that scary old woman stare from Babcia was freaking her out, and her eyes nded on one of the paintings of the harbor that hung on Remora's wall.

  "Sea." She blurted out. Remora facepalmed. Babcia raised an eyebrow, letting the silence settle for a moment.

  "........Sea...?" Babcia repeated. Remora barked out a ugh.

  "Yes! Ci! Like... C-i." She motioned to the spelling. "Short for... Cecilia...?" She gnced at Marina who nodded her head eagerly.

  "Yes, Cecilia...! I... prefer... Ci."

  "She prefers Ci." Remora chimed in, patting her on the back.

  "I... see... Ci..." Babcia nodded slowly, wrapping her mind around the name. "That's right... you had younger parents... Young people love to come up with such odd names... No offense!" Babcia raised her hand quickly.

  "N-none taken..." Marina rubbed the back of her head awkwardly.

  "Well, miss Cecilia."

  "Ci." Remora chimed in.

  "Yes, miss Ci... you're welcome here all you like... Did you enjoy the stew?" Babcia folded her hands politely.

  "Oh, yes! It was very good, thank you." Marina nodded, keeping her posture poised and perfect. Babcia smiled widely.

  "Polite young thing... Remora could learn a thing or two from you." Remora grimaced and rolled her eyes. "Oh, and this tea I brought you is hand picked... though I put a lot in this time so let me know if it makes you too sleepy... or not enough sleepy, maybe I need to put more in and-"

  "Okay, Babcia...! I'm sure Ci would love to hear allllll about it another time but we are both very tired." Remora began coaxing her grandmother out of the room.

  "Oh, but..." Babcia tried to turn around. Remora let out a dramatic yawn and kept shooing her.

  "SOOO TIRED...!!! Thank you for bringing the tea and grabbing our bowls Babcia." Remora feigned incredible sweetness in her voice.

  "Oh, alright... well you girls have a good night then..." She turned and smiled to her granddaughter. Remora nodded and kissed her on the cheek, muttering some goodnight wishes. Once the door shut Remora turned back to her, releasing all the trapped air from her chest.

  "Sea...? Really...???" She deadpanned. Marina groaned and buried her face in her hands.

  "I'm sorryyy... I panicked...!" Her face grew hot as she shook her head. Remora snorted and plopped down next to her.

  "Well... hope you like it, cause now you're stuck with that name until we figure out what to do with you." She pyfully bumped her shoulder. Marina lowered her hands and looked at her, a frightened frown crossing her expression.

  "What... are we going to do...?" The question finally came to light. After all the adrenaline had worn off and she took a moment to breath, that creeping anxiety for the future had returned. Remora met her gaze, her eyes fshing uncertainty, before she schooled her expression once again.

  "I don't know yet... but we'll figure it out, alright?" She assured. Marina felt her breath shudder nervously.

  "You mean it?" She searched her eyes, trying to find a reason to fear for her life. Remora only returned her gaze with a teasing smile.

  "I mean it... Ci Eggshells Wivret."

  Marina deadpanned as the words hit her ears, but inevitebly, she broke out into a ugh, her cheeks flushing. What a horrible name...

  "I'm so stupid..." She shook her head. Remora ughed and pced a hand on her shoulder, giving her a gentle shake.

  "I think I like it."