The main reason that Delita attended prayer was for Tetaâs sake. His sister, more shy and demure than Delita himself was, wanted to attend but felt too skittish to do it alone. Unable to ignore her sincere, simple request for accompaniment, Delita agreed to be with her there. In truth, all he wanted to do was crash on his bed. The day had sucked all the energy out of him, which was already a small reserve to begin with. Every day, Delita felt as though he was constantly attempting to catch up on rest, but inevitably his sleep would be restless. This place was too foreign and his mind was too burdened. His work hours, when they existed at all, were lengthy and arduous. It was nowhere near reliable enough for Delita to feel stable. Though he and his sister were getting by, he wondered when it would finally feel easier. These werenât things he would ever speak aloud, lest he make enemies of the people currently housing him, or offend Teta. Their parents had been their own brand of faithful, finding a spirituality that made them feel closer as a family. It never felt like a show, and it never felt like an obligation. Perhaps that part of Delita died along with them. For Teta, her faith didnât waver in the face of their death. It only seemed to strengthen, granting her a form of comfort that nothing else seemed to. Delita almost envied it. He wondered why he couldnât see things more similarly to his sister.
Following the line of people in through the church doors, Delita scanned the room and found that the pews were packed. It only heightened the discomfort he felt. After a moment, he saw Teta waving to someone who sat near the front. She turned to Delita, smiling shyly.
âI know I requested your company here today, but would you be very angry if I sat up front with Florens? Sheâs been kind to me and we have a lot in common.â
Teta looked a little guilty for dragging Delita to the church only to sit elsewhere, but he didnât mind. He didnât truly mind doing anything for his sister. She was all he had. She was all that mattered.
âGo on, I insist. Iâll find you after the service,â he promised, reassuring her with a smile. She returned it, and then happily made her way up the aisle.
This left Delita at the back of the room, where he shuffled uncomfortably until he spotted an empty space in the pew closest to the door. There were only a few other people sitting there, some already bowing their heads in prayer. When he sat down, Delita looked to his right and spotted a young woman there. She was younger than at least half of the attendees in the church; probably around his age. It was a relief to be near someone he felt he had at least an age bracket in common with.
Delita stayed quiet for a moment, unsure whether it was too improper to speak to her during the service. Throwing caution to the wind, he looked over to her.
âThis is only my third time visiting the church during a service, but I canât recall it being quite this crowded those times,â he said, keeping his voice low. He wasnât even sure if the woman would reply to him, but he felt the need to distract himself and continue speaking. âMy sister, Tietra, is seated at the front with a friend. She requested my presence here and yetâŠâ he left off, laughing.
After a beat, Delita sighed, sitting slightly more forward nervously rolling his sleeves to his elbows.
âI apologize for my restlessness. This is still new territory for me. Iâm sure you didnât arrive here today thinking that a stranger would ramble to you and interrupt your prayer,â he said sheepishly, still wearing a smile.
Perhaps sitting in the back was a bad idea after all, quelling her inner thoughts became harder in the silence. Sitting closer to the front would have pulled her attention. The church as quiet as it could be with murmurs of prayer being offered up to God only mad her more lost in thought. In a daze she hadnât noticed the young man take a seat in the same pew until she heard soft laughter come from him. It pulled her from her anxious trance and she offered a smile in return of his laughter- too shy to ask him to repeat fully what he said. She picked up some remnants from what he spoke.
Oveliaâs rolled the hem of her sleeve between her thumb and index finger. When he spoke to her, it was rather informal which took her by pleasant surprise. Brown eyes blinked in wonder as he spoke. Did he not know who she was? Was not so uncommon, the convent was rather far from the royal palace and the occasional person who knew nothing of her would casually speak to her. Heart pattering and climbing itâs way to her throat, these conversations made her heart swell with joy. For just a moment should could play pretend like a child would. Such a thought could make her laugh most little girls pretended to be a princess and she would pretend she was not one. Right now she was not Princess Ovelia, though it wasnât as if she werenât proud of that identity, she could be her. So often she was a Princess she often wondered who really was Ovelia.
 âIt has become quite energetic here.â Ovelia agreed in a whisper so soft as to not bring attention to this rare moment. Her eyes glanced over and examined the young man next to her. âItâs no bother to me. I think it would not surprise you that I spend most my day offering prayer so- no, I do not mind.â
Silence fell between the two, the awkward kind one could cut with a blade. The blonde, rarely often engaging in casual conversation, never knew what it was people talked about in their daily lives. In her mind she jostled around different topics the sisters would speak about. Mostly religion, how those who would stay here should turn to God. While she was thoroughly devoted to God, she knew He was not always the most thrilling conversation for all.Â
âAh... The season has been kind to us has it not? The weather has been so gentle and perfect for nature to grow.â She could feel her cheeks burning. Oh God, did she just give the awkward equivalent to âHowâs the weather out there?â She felt as if she could die and God could take her up right now. They could even have someone give a eulogy.
âWhat a horrible conversation starter, Ovelia. You were put through so many teachings for etiquette, for conversation.â Scolding herself mentally blonde felt herself shrinking in her seat.
âWell, I mean, that is to say... the flowers in the garden here are in wonderful bloom...â Soft voice still whispering and trailing off trying to save her conversation.Â