Eleanora, actually, did not like boats. In truth, she had never been on a boat before, but since she had never been on one, she naturally assumed that she hated it.
And it appeared that her initial impressions of boats and sailing were correct when they got to the harbor.
First of all, everything smelled of fish. Eleanora liked fish just as much as the next person, but…there was such a thing as too much fish. And this wasn't the nice, fresh fish smell, like in the kitchen when Sebastian cooked. This was a horrible, half-rotted, trash-fish type smell.
The sea was overrated. As Eleanora leaned over the railing, waiting impatiently for the rest of the passengers to hurry-up-and-get-on-the-damned-thing-already, she stared down at the water lapping against the sides of the ship. It didn't look at all appetizing—it actually looked a bit sickening. She decided, right then and there, that she was not the type of woman to become a pirate—which was actually quite a shame, as "pirate" had always sounded like a good back-up plan to her…if being a maid and a demon's wife didn't work out, that is.
Eleanora wondered if she would get seasick. She hoped not—that sounded terribly unpleasant and unprofessional. She absentmindedly glanced at the butler, who was standing a bit aways from her, staring out into space. He probably never got seasick. She wished that she could ask, but that would be rude and also show that she actually cared about him, which she most certainly did not. She wondered where the young Master was and if he was getting into trouble already.
Sebastian, meanwhile, was remembering the first time he had been on a boat. He didn't remember the place, but he remembered that he had panicked when he couldn't see land and spent most of the trip lying down in the cabin. It hadn't been fun for him, but his father had invented a drinking game where one would take a shot everytime Sebastian would turn green. So his father hadn't really spent much time sober—he had wandered around the deck in a drunken daze—drunk by unholy standards, of course. They hadn't gone on many cruises after that. Luckily, Sebastian had been able to overcome seasickness quickly; now he wasn't bothered by it. He wondered where the young Master was. Probably already getting into some form of trouble.
After what seemed to be forever, the passengers were finally all on, the luggage was safely stored away, and the ship was moving. Eleanora watched the land until it was out of sight. Then there was nothing around but water—disgusting, bad-smelling, seawater.
"Are you feeling alright?" Sebastian asked, standing next to her. She jumped; she had almost forgotten that he was around. He had disappeared before the boat had left.
"Fine. Where's the young Master?"
"He's lying down in his cabin," the butler sighed. "I forgot that he gets seasick."
Eleanora couldn't resist a grin; she turned her face away so that he wouldn't see.
"How soon will he recover?" she asked once she could say it with a straight face.
"Who knows? Soon, I hope. We have business to attend to."
"Oh, so this isn't a normal vacation cruise? I was wondering why the Earl insisted that I come…" She stared out at sea again. So far, she hadn't felt any ill effects from travelling. Maybe pirate was still a back-up occupation…
"Eleanora?" Sebastian said.
"Hm?"
"I want to make one thing very clear to you."
"Certainly. What?"
"I hate you."
Eleanora paused and turned to look at him.
"…What?"
"I just wanted to make sure that you knew," he said stiffly. "Just so you wouldn't get any…ideas."
"What ideas? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Language. And no matter what happens, I'll always hate you. And absolutely nothing will change that. We did not marry for love, and we will never love one another. We are husband and wife in name and legality only. Do you understand?"
Eleanora was at a loss for words for a couple of seconds. Then she regained her tongue and scowled at him.
"You took the words out of my mouth," she said icily. The butler nodded.
"Just as long as we're clear."
"Transparently."
Sebastian nodded again and left. Eleanora leaned against the railing again, furious beyond words.
"What the hell was that all about?" she thought. "He didn't have to go out and say it—I already knew that. He didn't have to be so…so…Why the hell did he even do that? He didn't need to say that to me—maybe…he just needed to say that…to himself? But why? No, that's not it. He's just an asshole, and that's it."
Eleanora spat into the seawater. So, this was going to be the whole trip. Just boredom and hearing the young Master vomit and the butler reminding her that he hated her. What fun. The trip had just started and she already couldn't wait for it to be over.