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Chapter 7 - The Blue Locket

Henriethasia strolled merrily into the hallway despite the coldness she felt. She turns left to a corridor, leaving trails of water dripping from her dress and hair on the carpeted floor as she leaves translucent wet footprints of her shoes on it.

She sniffles, and then her adorable sneeze echoed into the vast quiet corridor; she wonders where all the maids go, perhaps they're busy with the party, but despite the stillness, the design of this corridor is luxurious and sophisticated, some paintings hang on the wall, sculptures and flower vases on the corners.

It is also spotless as the maids clean it every day. She glances back on her trail and sees the mess she made on the carpeted floor; she felt bad for the helpers who tend here every day; Henriethasia thought she should tell her father to increase the maids' payment later.

Henriethasia then came back on her path and started humming to fill the quietness of the place; she wasn't going straight to her room like she told Sir Robert to; instead, the princess was going to meet her mother, Queen Anasthasia, couldn't wait any longer to give the present she bought for her.

She slides her palms into her pocket and takes the necklace out of it; she carefully examines it once more time and smiles as the blue heart jewelry glimmer when the light hits it, "I'm sure Mom would love it," She uttered to herself.

She halts in front of a grand deluxe double-door; she knocks two times before someone replies inside the room, "Come in," then she pushes open the door and reveals a royal bedroom bigger than hers; the room has a vibe of elegant and modern.

Henriethasia graciously stepped inside the room and shut the large doors behind her, and noticed the beautiful woman sitting by the surface of an open windowpane. She casually approaches the woman and stands halfway to her as she gazes at her.

A short breeze causes the woman's platinum white hair to flutter away from her beautiful features, eyelashes long as it can, gorgeous pink eyes similar to the color of a carnation flower, pointy nose, rosy cheeks, and red lips.

There is no uncertainty that this beautiful woman is the Queen of Azalia, the fairy-like Anasthasia Lily de Seacia Azalia, the replica of Henriethasia, her mother despite her age. She still has the appearance of a blooming beautiful young lady she used to be. As if she never aged at all, looking so beautiful and youthful at the same time.

She remained in that position for a moment, letting the wind caresses her pale skin, looking outside with sorrowful eyes like longing for someone. Then, in a blink, Henriethasia thought she saw a teardrop fall from her mother's eyes to her cheeks in a blink.

Anasthasia's thoughts were out of this world; she was spacing out, she didn't even notice her daughter coming into her bedroom and gazing at her. "Mom?" Henriethasia called her, clutching the necklace on her palms by her chest.

Anasthasia's gaze drifted to Henriethasia's position after hearing her dainty voice, there she snapped in reality as she saw her only daughter standing there with those pair of bright sapphire eyes looking worried at her.

Surprised was in her expression as she recognized Henriethasia, and taking an explicit aspect of her, she was drenched as she noticed the dripping water of her damp hair and dress to the floor. Anasthasia immediately stood up from her spot, grabbed a towel from a nearby drawer, and approached her.

"My goodness, Henrietha," She blurted. Then, although her voice is soft as a lovely tune could be, she rubbed the towel to Henriethasia's wavy hair she stared at her worriedly.

"Why are you soaking wet? Did you fall to a lake or something?" she shot several questions while inspecting at her, "Why are you here? You should've gone to your bedroom straight away after you got soaked; you'll catch a cold in that state if you don't change your clothes instantly,"

She was about to summon a servant when Henriethasia stopped her from doing so, "I'm okay, Mom. I just want to give you something before going back to my room," she responded with a beaming smile. Anasthasia can't help but smile too. How can her daughter be so beautiful and adorable at the same time?

"And yes, I did fall from the sea," she added and smiled again to show her mother that she was alright while emphasizing the word 'fall.' Her mother looked at her, wondering what she was doing outside the palace walls.

'Did she escape?' That's the first thought that occurred to Anasthasia's mind.

"From the sea? What are you doing over there?" Anasthasia asked before Henriethasia could reply; she proceeded, "That's so far away. Tell me whether you escaped the palace. I understand you adore the sea so much, sweetie, but that is too-" Anasthasia was cut off by her daughter's words.

"No, Mom, I didn't," She stated. Anasthasia seems relieved after hearing that but still, what is she doing there, "Actually today, Father granted me permission to go out the palace walls to buy you a present," She excitedly tells her mother, "Isn't that wonderful, Mom?"

Anasthasia stared at her daughter's beaming face and was bothered that someday that same smile she's giving would fade away once she knew the truth about the father she's calling now isn't her biological father. She felt terrible for not telling the truth.

'If ever that day will come, please keep on smiling, sweetie,' Anasthasia hoped on her thoughts, 'I believe you will meet your real father someday, Henrietha, on that day, please wear the same smile you wear today. I know your dad will love that smile.'

Henriethasia studied her mother's expression, looking bothered at her. She feels anxious and deemed possibly her mother was worried about going outside without guards or being harmed.

"Don't worry, Mom," She assured her mother, "Sir Robert was with me; he accompanied me on the trip. Father won't let me leave alone anyway," She said, giggling at her own words, "It was magnificent outside that I wanted to go back again."

Finally, Henriethasia saw her mother's lovely smile placed on her face, "Are you that thrilled to go out?" Anasthasia questioned as she settled the towel around her and sat on the bed close to them; she patted the beddings next to her, telling Henriethasia to sit down.

Henreiethasia nodded at the question before sitting down beside her mother, "It was marvelous, Mom. I never knew downtown was so boisterous; I thought banquets are the most noises. I suppose I never truly comprehend the outside world that much," She frantically tells her mother, "I didn't want to go home yet earlier, but I have to."

"I see; I'm glad you having fun today," Anasthasia smiled at her and willingly listened to her daughter's story. She was delighted that Henriethasia was able to step outside of the palace walls and experience new things.

Anasthasia remembers herself from her when she escapes the palace and meets her true love, Henry. She still reminisces how cold he acted the first time they met, his intense gaze from his unique, gorgeous sapphire blue eyes that give shivers down to her spine at that time. She can't help but giggle at that. Who would've guessed she would fall to someone as cold as he is.

Henry is indifferent and unfriendly at first, but as time goes by, he learns to love Anasthasia. She misses him dearly; she misses the moments they spent together; there's not a day she won't forget him or recall those memories of them together. Like every day, she thinks of him, how he is, and what he is doing now that she wishes he's happy and healthy.

But she understood pretty well she couldn't do anything about her feelings anymore, about her thoughts. She's not sure if Henry has already forgotten about her, but despite if he does, she promises herself to never forget and love him endlessly because she made a vow.

"Mom?" Henriethasia called. Anasthasia glanced and saw her sapphirine blue eyes shining brilliantly, staring worriedly at her. 'Your beautiful eyes are similar to your dad, sweetie, the color of crystalline sapphire.' She desired to say those words to her but, of course, she can't yet.

Henriethasia isn't quite ready to receive the unimaginable truth that her mother lied to her all of her life. Anasthasia's afraid that Henriethasia might get hurt and won't trust her anymore. "Mom, are you alright?" Henriethasia asked, "You're spacing out again. Is everything fine?"

Anasthasia instantly shook her head to evade such possibility, " I'm great, sweetie. Everything's alright seeing you well, and your bright smile makes me delighted as well," She assured her and gave a small smile. Henriethasia examined her mother's face as if studying for something.

Henriethasia couldn't help but feel concerned; she felt bad that she couldn't do anything about her problem as her mother never opened up. She is pretty close to her mother, although there are things that Henriethasia doesn't know about her and she felt distanced for that.

She also discerned that every year on her mother's birthday, she appears to be sorrowful, and her eyes show that she's yearning for something or someone from a distance; sometimes, there are times that her mother doesn't want to celebrate her birthday.

So Henriethasia was troubled that something might be wrong; she wishes she knew what it was. Then, therefore, she could fix it and obtain her mother's happiness again. Anasthasia gazed at her daughter's expression, "Don't worry, sweetie, I'm fine. Now, what was it that you want to give me?"

'Oh, that's right!' Henriethasia changes her expression and remembers why she was here for. She nearly forgot about the pendant in her hands, "Right, Mom. Happy Birthday!" She exclaims brightly as she shows the jewelry in front of her mother.

Anasthasia's gaze shifted to the necklace, her heart pounding; she was surprised and bothered by the necklace her daughter was holding; the blue heart-shaped pendant hangs on the silvery chain; it twinkles at the sight of the daylight.

Henriethasia was smiling brightly. However, she noticed her mom didn't say anything nor move, so she glanced at her mother's expression. Then, surprisingly the smile plastered on her face faded away as soon as she observed the tears dropping from her mother's eyes.

Anasthasia was crying; she reached for the necklace swaying in Henriethasia's fingers. She then stares at it delicately, examining every corner of it. Henriethasia doesn't know what to do except watch her mother's tearful appearance for a while, looking at the necklace that she gave.

This is the first time Henriethasia witnessed her mother weeping like that. Usually, Anasthasia displays her usual serious expressions when working, smiling elegantly when entertaining with people, and then longing for someone, but now Henriethasia was startled to see an unusual side of her.

Anasthasia was good at concealing her emotions and convincing everyone that she was okay, but somehow for Henriethasia, she can read her mother's expression even though Anasthasia was smiling brightly; she could tell it's false happiness and was acting to be enjoying making Henriethasia worried even more.

What could her mother's problem be that she's trying to hide and pretending to be okay? Henriethasia was still looking for answers.

She knew her mother quite well, but it was still a surprise for her to see her weeping just for a necklace; she felt anxious, so she moved closer to her, "M-Mommy?" She hesitantly called, quivering to touch her mother's clothes, but the latter didn't respond to her call; she was gazing at the jewelry in her hands.

Anasthasia's carnation orbs reflect the necklace in her palms; she still couldn't believe she would see this again. Then, finally, her gaze looks up at Henriethasia to ask, "W-Where did you get this, Henrietha?" her pleasant voice shivered as she uttered within her sobs.

"I-It was given to me by Madame Helaine at her store," Henriethasia said trembling, terrified that she might say something that can make her mother's tears flows even more, "S-She said that this would make an e-excellent gift for you, s-she gave it to me as a sign of her gratitude."

She then gazes down with a disappointed facial expression that she didn't give the right gift for her mother, "I-I thought you would like it, Mom, as you love the color blue so much."

Anasthasia studied Henriethasia's face with blurry sight because of the tears in her eyes. Then, she noticed her daughter's disappointed face, 'Perhaps she assumed I don't like it,' She immediately moved closer to Henriethasia and embraced her tightly.

Henriethasia didn't move at the immediate gesture of her mother. She is still damp from the sea she fell too, but she didn't think of it; Anasthasia was so thrilled that her daughter's present for her birthday was the same as her true love's, her daughter's real father, "No sweetie, I love it so much. Thank you!"

Hearing those statements makes Henriethasia smile in relief. She hugged her mother back then let go to question something, "Then w-why are you crying?" She asked, a little worried.

"I guess tears of joy?" Anasthasia replied and chuckled at her statement while wiping away her tears using her fingers. Henriethasia couldn't help but giggle also, but she was still not convinced about it; she just gave a smile to not let her mother worry even more. Anasthasia glanced at the necklace once again and smiled, "It is lovely, sweetie, thank you."

"You're welcome, Mo-" Henriethasia couldn't complete her sentence when she suddenly sneezes. She felt her nose tingle earlier but stopped, so she didn't suspect sneezing again. Anasthasia quickly gets a handkerchief from her pocket and wipes it on Henriethasia's nose.

"My goodness, Henrietha," She said worriedly as she carefully wiped her nose, "You should go back to your bedroom and change, sweetie, or you're going to catch a cold on that state of yours," and called the servants from outside, "You know how fragile you are."

"But-" Henriethasia's words were cut off as two servants entered the room; they bowed before the two.

"No more buts, sweetie, I don't wanna hear any more reasons. If you want to attend the party, go and change your clothes," Anasthasia declared, "I, too, will get ready for the party. What can a birthday party be without the celebrant, right?"

Henriethasia gleefully nodded; she didn't mind the scold her mother presented and smiled. Glad her mother is feeling better, "Now please escort Princess Henriethasia to her bedroom and get her ready for the party," Anasthasia ordered the two servants in front of them.

They nodded in response and curtsy, "Yes, your majesty," and looked at Henriethasia, "This way, Princess," they spoke as they gestured their hands to the door.

Henriethasia stood up then kissed her mother's checks, "Then see you later at the ballroom, Mom. Love you!" she said to her mother, smiling and nodding at the two servants, then she walked to the doorway.

"Yes, sweetie, I love you too," Anasthasia waved goodbye. The two servants opened the grand double door, and Henriethasia went out waving to her mother, followed by the two servants who closed the door behind them.

Anasthasia watched as her daughter disappeared through the closing doors, then her gaze shifted at the necklace on her hands, staring as if it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The sunset illuminated the entire bedroom into golden yellow and orange.

The light makes the brilliant blue heart pendant shimmer to its crystal. She reminisces about what Henriethasia said earlier to where it came from, then she smiles dismally, 'So she met Helaine, ha?' She conceived referring to the woman back at the jewelry shop that Henriethasia went to.

She flips the pendant around, showing the silverback of it, 'I guess fate tells me to tell her the truth sooner or later,' She stares at the one letter on the silverback of the pendant. The letter 'H' was written in a very calligraphic style. It settles before a half heart and broken hinge in the corner.

She smoothly touches it, feeling it to her fingertips. Anasthasia sighed, clutching the necklace tightly in her hands and holding it to her chest, where her heart was placed. She sighed. It was supposed to be a locket, certainly a blue heart-shaped locket given by Henry on her 18th birthday.

To be continued...