"Now, young mistress, have you put on the sunscreen?"
"Yeeesss," the Admiral's granddaughter groaned, shifting her gaze from Belfast to the big blue expanse. She should've been there by now, dipping herself in the water if the maid wasn't so fussy.
"Good. And don't forget to stretch and warm up before going to swim...and don't venture too far from the shore," Belfast went on, choosing to ignore that the girl was rolling her eyes.
"Yes, yes, I understand. Do you know what's more important? Get Edinburgh to have fun. This is her first time going to the beach, innit?" the girl pointed at the spot just nearby, where Edinburgh was reading under the umbrella, and Belfast sighed. That was indeed the case, and even she understood that Edinburgh shouldn't allow that moment to come to pass just like that. Not when the weather was that sunny instead of capricious like London summer.
"Very well, I shall talk to her...but still, do be careful."
"Geez, Bel. I'm a big girl. Don't worry about me; worry about Edinburgh instead. Come on, get her," the girl laughed. Belfast bowed and excused herself, walking faster than she thought she needed.
"Oh, it's you, Bel. Aren't you going swimming?" Edinburgh looked up from the page she was immersed in when she noticed Belfast coming.
"I should be the one asking you that question," replied Belfast as she sat beside Edinburgh. Her sister had changed into a bathing suit, but now she couldn't help but think she just wanted to appease the young mistress' egging.
"Well...I'm not...uh, in the mood," Edinburgh coughed as if she suddenly choked on something. She went back to her book, but it was painfully clear to Belfast she wasn't even focusing on the pages.
"...Could it be...you're still remembering that day?"
Edinburgh slammed the book shut as Belfast looked on, at first bewildered. Then as she realized why, bewilderment became regret, then compassion.
"No hiding anything from you, huh?" she whispered. "Good thing we no longer need to fight...or I'll be useless. Because I would quake the moment I had to be in the water...or even outright seize up. Because I could never forget that freezing cold, clawing on my skin..."
Belfast only nodded. Suddenly Edinburgh's strange new habit of taking short baths made more sense now.
"But hey, don't let that spoil your day. I mean, you don't have to worry about me. Go swim with the young mistress because I'm sure she's waiting for you, " Edinburgh broke into a grin when she saw Belfast had become crestfallen. And she wasn't forcing it either.
"No," Belfast smiled. "She's waiting for us. And I'm not going without you even if she didn't."
"...But..."
"...That cold won't get to you anymore...because you'll have me to hold you. So, please...?"
"Bel..."
Edinburgh saw Belfast's hand was still reaching out to her. Just like her promise, that gesture was not only for her sake. She knew of the many summers Belfast had spent pining for them to be together again before.
This time, Edinburgh did not keep her waiting long.
The water felt cool but not icy cold. That was as reassuring to Edinburgh as having Belfast to hold onto and having her holding onto her—and the haunting chill now felt like a yesterday that never happened.
