Chapter Text
Sig looked at the gold lined letter with confusion written on his face. He instantly recognized that the sender was the ocean prince (how couldn't he when he saw PRINCE SALDE written in bold golden ink) from the lingering smell of fish left behind by the letter. Sig was particularly fond of the ocean prince so his letters were always well received. The young fish likes to send letter after letter of detailed chores that his servants were suppose to do, which Sig never does because he never remembers them. It didn’t help that some of the tasks had words that he didn’t understand, but even so he still kept the letters.
Sig sat on a small stool next to his desk. His room was an odd mix of neat and disorderly. While books were neatly organized in the small book cover of his desk, his clothes were strewn around to the point of the faded carpet underneath was barely visible. On two occasions Amitie attempted to help clean his room, however when she returned she found his clothing in order but his books, homework and lose paper replaced them in obscuring the carpet.
She chalked it up another one of Sig’s many...uh “quirks” and helped him clean again resulting in the room reverting back to its original state. Luckily, by request of Amitie, he kept the desk clean and orderly, especially his letters which are all gathered in a small blue book. The book was filled with numerous letters from his friends (mostly from Amitie, some from Rider and Klug, one from Lemres on a cake recipe, an apology from Witch for using bugs in her newest “love” potion, and an angry letter from Randina on the nature of her name) and ocean prince was no stranger to it. However, when he ripped open the letter and peered at the contents, Sig realized this wasn’t any ordinary letter.
Good morrow, young servant of the lord, Prince Salde Carnal Shellbrick III. I request thine assistance for a task of the utmost importance. Be wary for thou must appear at my servitude by dawn. Thou must be befuddled by my sudden inquisition. Let mine tactful iteration bestow wherefore thy presence is requested.
Sig was only half-way done but was already exhausted. He never could understand what Salde was saying most of the time and relied on his butler's quick translations to avoid awkwardness. Sig thinks he should go talk to him later.
I, Prince Salde Carnal Shellbrick III hereby ask mine servant to gradually permit thy blessing for our courtship-
Courtship?
Sig had no idea what that meant. Salde used a lot of words that Sig didn’t understand, like “jobs” or “laws”, or “unionized”. Sig usually ignored things that wasn’t ‘food’ or ‘bugs’ but this seemed rather important. It would be rude of Sig to ignore it when Salde had gone to the trouble of contacting him.
...thy blessing for our courtship to begin henceforth. Consult mine butler for thine inquiries.
...After that, a name was signed on the bottom, but it was pretty much illegible to Sig. He assumes from the large sweeping brush strokes and messy lines it was signed by Salde himself.
Sig folded the letter and placed it deep inside his messenger bag. He scratched his head and furrowed his brow in thought.
Courtship, courtship...what could that mean?
This was something Sig could not figure out on his own.
So he went to his friends.
“COURTSHIP?!” Amitie yelled excitingly.
Sig couldn’t tell if Amitie was surprised because Amitie usually squealed about everything, but the doey eyes and large smile she had told that it was a good surprise.
“Yeah,” Sig replied in his usual monotone, “I got a letter asking for my..uh..courtship, what does that mean?”
“Wow! That’s great!” Amitie danced around Sig while giving him a large hug.
“Is it?” Sig wondered. I mean he was great before, how would being in this courtship improve his all around mood?
“Well yeah!” Amitie said as if it was the most obvious statement in the world, “Because that means you’re in looooooooooove”.
Sig took note of the way her eyes shined as she said “looooooooooove”.
Amitie was indeed excited. She would’ve never guess that Sig was seeing someone on the account of her believing Sig’s romantic attraction was practically non-existent. Amitie never really thought about it because the situation never presented itself, but seeing the letter made her think back and wonder if she’d miss something. Sig never had shown any signs of being attracted to boys, girls, or anyone really. Amitie was worried about it but Sig never seem to show a problem so she quickly dismissed her concerns. She was more concerned about the other things that deeply troubled her about Sig.
"I'm in love?"
“Well that and whoever sent that wants to...like date you and stuff!”
“Date?”
“You know-” Amitie stops herself because she knows Sig really doesn’t know. “It’s when two people are really really good friends, and-”
“But we were already really good friends-”
“I mean really REALLY good friends”
“We’re really good friends, does that means I’m dating you too?”
“NO!” Amitie yelled, her face turning pink.
Sig’s face scrunched together in irritation, “Amitie, I don’t think you know what that word means after all”.
Amitie sighed, “No it’s...it’s really hard to explain”.
Amitie was starting to believe Sig really had no romantic interest in him.
“Ok so you know about me and Raffine-”
“Who?”
“Raffine…?”
“Who’s that?”
Amitie sighed a bit louder, “Sig we’ve been over this, didn’t Raffine sent a letter about that?”
“That was Rachael”
‘“I...ok...well..you know about me and…’Rachael’ right?”
Sig looked a bit confused so Amitie continued.
“You know that we’re...uh..,” Amitie continued to grow more red, to the point that Sig was worried that she caught a very fast fever.
Amitie moved closer to Sig to whisper into his ear, “That we’re dating…”
“Oh” Sig said.
Amitie waited for a response before asking Sig, “Well, did that help?”
“Does that mean I have to be a jerk to you too?”
Amitie sighed for the third time defeated. Sig still doesn’t get it.
“Maybe someone else can explain it better than me…”
“Sorry”
“It’s ok!” Amitie said as her usual vigor returned, “I already know who you should ask!”
Sig was unsure about that but still let Amitie grab his hand and guide him away. Amitie was a very caring person, that much was obvious to Sig. She was someone that would go well beyond what was necessary for a friend. He knew that wherever she was guiding him would definitely have the answers he needed. Amitie wouldn't take anything less than that.
Once they reached the end of the path with bright streetlights and homely building ahead of them, Amitie gently pushed Sig towards the direction of a bright purple building. Sig could make out in bright yellow letters "coffee shop" adorning the store front. With that the two friends parted. Amitie waved to Sig as he went on his way, her cries of "GOOD LUCK!!!" getting softer in the distance.