In another first class suite, another woman of money and position was making herself comfortable for the trip. A gorgeous young bride with expressive eyes, a sweet mouth, and long red hair that shines in the light, shining brighter than the most rare and precious of rubies. She too was dressed quite regally and she moved with grace yet also with humility.
"Beautiful isn't it?" She said looking out the window, admiring the sunlight sparkling on the ocean's reflection.
"Yes. There's nothing in the world that could be more beautiful." Her husband said looking only at her serene face.
He was just like his wife. Young, beautiful, regal, but humble. He was also madly in love and determined to do anything to make his new bride smile. And she did smile, until she saw a young couple with a small child walking on the deck. A little girl who was being cradled in her mother's arms while her father kissed her cheeks and tickled her.
It was a tender and sweet moment, but the sight of it caused the woman's smile to fall into sorrowful longing and that caused her husband feel like a failure.
"I'm sorry Erza." He said. "I built this ship partially for you, I wanted our honeymoon to be perfect. I thought it would make you happy and take your mind off of...You know."
"Oh I am happy." Erza said feeling guilty for her previous expression. "I am so sorry Jellal, look at me, we've only been married for a week and I'm acting like an ungrateful shrew-wife."
"No. I was a fool to think a honeymoon could you make feel better about..." He paused. "About what the doctor said."
Allow me to take a moment to shed a little light on the situation. Erza Fernandes née Scarlet had been the fatherless daughter of a prostitute and during her childhood, while her mother was selling her body, Erza had been working in a mill. Although her mother loved her, that love wasn't strong enough to her to quick the bottle or the men. The only light in little Erza's life had been her kindly, old neighbor Wendy Acherley who lived in a beautiful manor house just next door to the shack Erza and her mother stayed in.
Erza could never attend school due to her job at the mill so Mrs. Archerly taught her reading, writing, and arithmetic. She also taught her how to fish and canoe, and how to dance and sing. She gave her decent clothes and toys that had belonged to her daughter when she was a child. And she would invite both Erza and her mother over for a hot meal.
"You're stronger than you think Erza." She would say. "You were not made to live a life in misery and poverty. Someday you'll rise above it and find something better for yourself."
Erza loved Mrs. Ackerly and took her advice to heart. She became bound and determined to become better than what she was.
Then Summer came and that's when her grandson Jellal would stay with her. She allowed Jellal and Erza to play together when they had free time and even though they were only children at the time, it was clear that the two were meant to be. There was almost no chance of separating them during the Summer time and once they reached the teen years, they were madly in love. Unfortunately Erza didn't see herself worthy of being more than a friend to Jellal. His father was a respected councilman and he was going off to college to become a successful shipbuilder, she didn't even know who her father was and her goal just to save enough money to buy her own house. What did she have to offer him?
"Kindness, courage, beauty, and love." His grandmother would say. "That's what makes you the perfect wife for my grandson."
But Erza just couldn't believe that such a fine, wealthy, and educated gentleman would ever love her or marry her. So while other girls her age focused on finding a husband, she focused on supporting herself the best way she could. Working hard and saving up her money. Then when Jellal's grandmother died and the mourning period had passed, he surprised Erza by confessing his love to her and asking for her hand in marriage. It took Erza by surprise and at first she still felt unworthy of his love, but eventually she accepted.
But before they were wed, they were given terrible news. Erza had never menstruated. She had never bled. She confessed this to Jellal one morning, after breakfast with his parents and they had spoken of future grandchildren. They went to a doctor to have her examined, and he revealed that Erza had amenorrheaa, a rare condition in which a woman does not menstruate. This meant that Erza could never become pregnant. She was devastated by these news and expected Jellal to call off the engagement. What good was a wife who couldn't birth children?
However Jellal loved Erza with all his heart and soul. He didn't care that she was a prostitute's daughter, he didn't care that she worked in a mill all her life instead of going to school, and he didn't care that she couldn't get pregnant. He loved her and he was going to marry her, or no one.
Their wedding was so lovely. Flowers, music, laughter, smiles, hugs, and kisses. It was the happiest day of his life and hers. They were married in England, but they were going to live out the rest of their days in America and in his grandmother's house. The place where they had met and fallen in love. No other home could have been more perfect for the two of them, and they were both so happy and so in love.
Still Erza couldn't help but feel sad that she'd never know the joy of motherhood.
"I'm going to forget about it right now." She declared. "This is our honeymoon. For the next few days we're not going to have any worries or sadness. Just you, me, and an endless amount of time to love each other."
She kissed him on the nose playfully. He smiled at her adoringly.
"I still can't believe you actually built this entire ship." She turned around to marvel at all the detail and design regarding the suite. "You were always so smart and creative, and I always knew you'd do something big but this..."
She extended out her arms and spun around the suite.
"This exceeds anything I could have ever imagined."
"I'm glad that the ship pleases you." Jellal said. "Do you like the suite?"
"It's beautiful."
"But not nearly as beautiful as you."
Erza rolled her eyes and smiled.
"We're married now Jellal, you don't need to go so heavy on the compliments anymore."
But Jellal just scooped her up into his arms and carried her about the room bridal style.
"Jellal!" She laughed.
"My darling Erza, I am going to spend the rest of my life worshiping you. You've made me the happiest man in the whole world."
He carried her into the bedroom and lowered her onto the bed they would share. They kissed each other with newly wed passion, then Jellal broke away from Erza's lips to plant many kisses on to her neck.
"Sweetheart it's the middle of the day." She protested with giggle. "What will people say if they hear us?"
"Let them talk." He murmured against her throat. "We're husband and wife, and we're in our own room. We're not doing anything wrong."
"True." She almost reciprocated his actions, then she remembered something. "But aren't we supposed to have lunch with the captain and that managing director?"
"Oh...Right." He said sounding disappointed. "Well we mustn't be late."
The couple then changed into the proper attire required for such a meeting and made their way toward the Veranda Cafe and Palm court. Joining them would be Captain Makarov Dreyar, his grandson Laxus, Mirajane, Precht Gaeblog the managing director of The White Star Line, and many other first class passengers. They entered with perfect grace and elegance, and sat down at the table while displaying the proper etiquette and mannerisms.
But while Jellal was respected and accepted by everyone in that room, only half of them felt that way toward Erza. Many of the people in Jellal's social class believed that he had made a very poor choice in marrying her. They pegged her to be nothing more than a gold digger who would only ruin her husband's good name and reputation. Jude Heartfilia was among those people. But there were others who accepted Erza immediately and found her to be delightfully charming.
Mirajane had been the first in high society to befriend Erza. They had met when Jellal's family held a special banquet in which he would announce their engagement but poor Erza was so terribly nervous because this was the first high class function she had ever attended and she didn't know how to act. Mirajane sensed this and because her heart was golden as her riches, she sat next to Erza and whispered advice to her.
"Don't sit crossed legged and keep a napkin in your lap. Drink the wine as slow as you can or they'll think you a drunkard. The little bowl of water is for washing your hands before a meal. And remember, you're not inferior to them just because they were born with money."
Ever since that evening, the two had become the best of friends. Trusting each other with secrets, giving advice, and occasionally having a friendly rivalry over which one of them was the most attractive. Mirajane even designed Erza's wedding dress and served as her maid of honor. And it didn't matter to either one of them that one was born into high society while the other married into it.
"Hello Erza. Hello Jellal." Mirajane said kindly, being the first to greet them. "Oh Erza you look simply stunning in that burgundy dress."
"Thank you." Erza replied.
"How are you Mirajane?" Jellal asked.
"Just fine thank you."
"I do hope your suite is to your liking."
"Yes. It's gorgeous."
"And comfortable." Laxus added. "You've out done yourself Jellal."
"Thank you. You're too kind." Jellal said and he then turned his attention to Makarov. "I trust that everything is smooth sailing so far, Captain Dreyar?"
"Indeed." Makarov confirmed. "Everything is working in perfect order and we're on schedule."
"Splendid."
Drinks were served and everyone at the table sipped from their glasses, thinking that the entire trip would be one of pleasure and with no worries. But they were wrong to make such an assumption. So terribly wrong.