Thankfully the pill did not take too long to arrive. The young black hair princess accepted help from the maids. Thankfully she calmed down from the medicine they gave her; it helped her stomach not to be so upset with all this... Then walked to the bed with slow, careful steps until she reached the bed and sat there. Aravis felt her head getting heavier and heavier with each second that passed by. She felt her eyes turn a lot until she closed them. As the movements passed and Aravis finally relaxed, she let herself lay on the warm bed with the fluffy blanket and pillows that had duck feathers which she missed the sense of it. She had the same pads back in her bedroom; she hardly could recall those senses, but something deep inside her mind that kept locking all the reasons was telling her it was a familiar one.With her eyes closed, she let her spirit and mind be set in peace finally and not cause any troubles for the day to the young Duke. That is the thought she slept with. She would try her best to make the life of the only man who could protect her and offer her true freedom, easier.The maid smiled as she watched over the Princess.

The two maids looked at their princes with worried faces until a soft snoring echoed. A sigh of relief escaped from their mouths. Lily turned around to face the other maid with the kindest expression a woman ever had.

"Thank you, Helena. I won't need any more of your assistance. I will call you if I need extra hands," she kindly said. Helena bowed to her with a smile and returned to her duties, leaving the two young women alone.Lily's sapphire eyes looked at the sleepy princess, kindly brushed her hair then, gently rubbed her back and then gently wiped her lips, removing what remained from the unpleasant symptoms of being seasick. "Rest, Princess. You had a rough day. I will stay by your side." The maid said reassuringly.

In the meantime, Richard talked with his people all over the ship, asking about the vessel damage. Of course, the condition of the wounded was also in that discussion. It was heartening for him to learn there were no casualties and the damage was insignificant. Quickly, the usual rhythm of work returned on the ship, and it seemed like the Mermaid's attack was already forgotten as they were fulfilling their regular duties.The Duke walked to the front of the ship, his men peeking at him curiously, wondering why he was standing at the very bow. The man stared at the horizon, listening to the waves crashing against the ship. Feeling the shell given by the mermaid in his pocket, he pondered about the war she mentioned and Aravis's role in it. There was regret in his heart for accepting the king's deal. The trouble she caused and the gold orbs he used for her sake made him question whether his payment was worth it. However, the sense of honor was more significant in the young noble. He will protect Aravis and give her a good life, as promised.  It will not be as easy as he thought, but he never could back down when things get complicated. Even though things seemed calm, Duke ordered double night shifts to prevent potential attacks or surprises. He was not fond of experiencing failures twice in a row. Before heading to his quarters, Richard rounded the ship, checking the cargo and his staff. He did not find anything of concern. Duke considered checking on Aravis but did not want to see her. He was still upset about her borderline stupid behavior. Richard just stopped at the princess's bedroom doors and stood there for a minute before walking to his room. He changed clothes and fell asleep there, hoping things would be more pleasant the next day.

Lily looked outside the window and saw it was already night. "Time sure flies when you are busy," she mumbled, then looked at the young sleepyhead. Lily locked the room and changed into her nightwear behind the screen when it was late. Afterward, she dimmed the oil lamps and rested in her bed.
 

The night on the ship was somewhat calming for everyone ... Except for Aravis. She didn't have much of a good dream. A gasp echoed in the dark room, and she looked dizzy around. She rubbed her eyes to clear the vision; after that, her tiny, fragile body turned around and carefully moved from her bed. She took a deep breath and walked outside, wearing only her long white pajama dress. Attracting the crew's attention. They wanted to advise her that it could be best for her to return to the bedroom, but none knew if anything should be done. She was under Duke's care and still a Rotalty, so it was hard to decide if they should tell her to return to her room and let her be. For now, they kept an eye on her.

Aravis headed to the up floor of the ship, where she sat somewhere without bothering anyone. The young black hair princess was looking at the calm sea. Slowly those dark deep, yet scary waters started to get filled with beautiful lights. Jellyfishes. Suddenly, Aravis's diamond eyes shined, and her hazy face excitedly brightened. Slowly she sat near the edge of her seat to take a better look at them. They were swimming too close to the ship. That peaceful moment warmth her lonely heart but at the same time, it ached her.

 

"....."

Memories of her past appeared like a movie, as if she was reliving it. The screams, the cries, how they begged for mercy echoed in her mind, making a tear roll down her cheek. Suddenly her voice echoed, captivating the crew as if she was a mermaid herself, but they knew better not to lose focus on their jobs, but it was hard to resist listening. The lullaby for the dead.

" We stay on the front lines.
Facing our own human race
Ready to commit our sins again
With sons and daughters pay
The blood on our hands
But it could change if we stand up firm and take the lead
When I was free, I was named
A generation unafraid
For the king to come, be brave
And fight on the battlefield
 Even on the darkest night,
 We will be our sword and shield, our guardian
 And God ours
 Screams and cries ring out
 We may be the first to fall
 Everything will stay the same, or we could change it all
 If we burn the battlefield. "


Through those lyrics, with her eyes closed, she remembered how those kings, dukes, and princes treated their slaves, the families and the villages. It made her heart ache. She couldn't understand why this was happening. If they were seeking peace, then... 'Why would they fight for it? Was it worth it? All those losses would they remember them?'

"To sing such a sad song with your sweet voice seems like a sin." He spoke kindly with a deep voice.
Aravis's thoughts stopped as she heard the man's voice. She turned around to face him.

Her eyes shined like diamonds under the moonlight.

"I-I think i-it is a s-sin to ki-kill pe-people ....rather si-singing for th-the dead," she explained, then softly stood up as she stopped looking at the jellyfish. A sad smile formed on her lips when she saw it swim away. The man listened to her carefully and had difficulty believing such a thin, delicate lady could take a life. Not only due to her weak stature but also the kind heart she demonstrated when watching the jellyfish

 "A-And I ki-killed many... I-It is the on-only thing I-I could d-do for th-them..."  "And I killed many... It is the only thing I could do for them..." Afterward, she bowed to the sailor and spoke with her angelic voice once again without giving him a chance to answer. "I-I wish yo-you a go-good and pe-peaceful night."

"Rest well, milady."

 With those words, the young princess returned to her bedroom and the old sailor back to do his duties.
The night passed peacefully without any attack from mermaids or any other creature. Even the sea was so calm that the water's surface looked almost smooth, like a mirror. As the sun started to poke through the horizon, the crew woke up and prepared for their duties. The tired and sleepy night shift was replaced and allowed to rest finally. The maid who was watching over Aravis also woke up. She yawned softly and stretched before standing up and checking on the Princess. Aravis slowly opened her eyes when the sunlight touched her closed eyelashes. The diamond eyes opened up and shined. She was getting used to the bright light, which was good for her. She yawns and stretches up her arms. Her messy black hair simultaneously made her look cute and funny "....hmm?" She looked at the maid.

"Good morning, Princess." The woman spoke softly and bowed as the girl gazed at her. The woman was still in her pajamas, but her hair remained neat and straight, unlike Aravis. "Have you rested well?" She asked after raising her head and looking into the diamond like-eyes.