Was it me or the prince was somewhat attached to me even when he said that he’d definitely make the princess that’s supposed to be me as his queen. Maybe he’s playing dumb or he’s just fooling around like any other men. I noticed that Captain Kenny was quite irritated by the prince but I didn’t know that the prince’s appearance had brought a worse agony towards Fredrick.
“What are you so upset about, Fredrick?” I asked him cheerfully, not trying to annoy him.
“His attire and attitude are an eye-sore,” He said it while biting his thumb nail.
“What makes you say that?” I couldn’t help myself from being shocked by his dictions.
“Can’t you see that? He’s disgusting! He’s contaminating the image of a dream guy of all young ladies especially when he’s a prince! I can’t live in this kind of country with such prince,” He moaned with his hand clutching his chest which where his heart was located.
“You’re the last person I’d expect to hear that from,” I whispered to myself.
“Please answer my questions truthfully, Princess,” He finally got serious.
“What is it Fredrick?” I asked.
“Even though the prince and I are quite similar in some way I mean, we both flirt. Am I that disgusting as he is?” His face turned gloomy all of a sudden.
“No! Well, when I first met you, I had a thought that you’re my dream guy just like in a ‘certain’ novel. Though you guys are a bit similar in some way, you’re better than that disgusting pri....” Before I could finish my sentence, I could hear the prince’s masculine voice calling for me.
I quickly hid myself behind Fredrick and asked for his aid in not revealing me in front of that idiotic prince. The prince was in his silk night-gown and he was walking all along the corridor with that attire.
“Have you seen Ella, Fred? I was looking for her everywhere and I couldn’t find her,” He said briefly with a straight look on his face.
“Why bother her that much? Aren’t aiming for the ‘princess’? And please pronounce the rick when you mention Fred,” He replied half-heartedly or rather a bit pissed off.
“Sorry, I meant no offence but Fredrick is way too long. If Fred sounds that lame to you then your parents should remove the Fred and name you Rick instead,” The prince nonchalantly replied with a monotonous look carved on his face.
For some reason, a black aura that’s similar to Captain’s Kenny arouse to the air that was emitted from his body, “I’m sorry to disappoint you but I have no parents to start up with and the one who named me weren’t my parents.”
“No wonder. That guy must be a cabaret guy or maybe a Casanova since your name suits it very well,” He gave a smirk at Fredrick with the look of satisfaction.
Fredrick had it enough. He took out his pistol that was hung on his right waist and aimed it towards him. The prince whistled mockingly while saying, “You don’t mean that right? You do know how many soldiers I have here in the palace, do you not?”
I patted his back and shook my head hastily when his eyes were looking at me. He heaved a heavy sigh and put the pistol back to where it belongs. The prince gave a grin of satisfactory that the smile was very malicious.
“I better not waste my time here any longer. I better look for that fallen goddess. Adios westerner,” He turned his back at him and gestured a wave while fleeing away from the incident place.
“Even though I’m a blond with green eyes, I’m not a westerner! I’m raised in the middle-east!” He shouted from afar.
“Only low-life dogs would bark for that useless statement,” Henry popped out of the blue.
“My greatest apology, I’ll keep my behaviour better from now on,” He retorted a bit pissed off.
“I wonder why he was looking for me,” I finally revealed myself in front of Henry.
“I’m not sure about it but I did hear him spurting nonsense like sleeping with you and such,” He replied while holding his chin.
I put my right hand on Fredrick’s left shoulder and faced him with the look of displeased, saying, “I regret for restraining you from shooting him. From this time onward, I permit you to kill him.”
“Even without that permission of yours princess, I’ll do so whole-heartedly,” He replied me with a grin.
We then laughed to our heart’s content even though the laugh was kind of peculiar in some way that it sounded evil. Henry didn’t utter a word but just remained silent while watching at us with a weird look carved on his face. He whispered to himself, “They’ve lost it.”
“By the way Eleanor, capt’n said that you must ‘not’ sleep in your room. If not that womanizer prince will attack you if you don’t careful enough,” He retorted when he finally remembered what he was about to say.
“Then, where should I sleep then?” I asked bluntly since that I’m the only girl in the crew and there’s no way I could sleep with any of the guys.
“You’ll sleep in my room, don’t worry. Penelope will be guarding you and I’ll sleep with the children,” Captain Kenny finally arrived.
“Ah, speak of the devil,” Fredrick uttered.
“He is a devil,” I replied.
“Now, put this robe on and follow me,” Captain Kenny put a robe on me and pulled me quickly, leading the way towards his chamber.
All the way, we remained silent. I couldn’t say any words and my heart was thumping like mad. I couldn’t help feeling like this but why now? Why not later? My pace was light as his sturdy warm hand was holding mine firmly and I couldn’t think of anything else. I couldn’t concentrate at all and my mind went wild and I hated myself and I knew my love was a one-sided love.
“Eleanor, is something wrong?” He asked out of the blue.
I was startled by his sudden question and replied him with a single, “No.”
“If there’s something that’s bothering you, just let me know. Is there’s something that’s bugging you?” His voice was calm and somewhat charming in a weird way or it was just me who was thinking nonsense.
“No... I don’t have anything that’s bugging me. Don’t worry,” I smiled.
We abruptly came to a halt and his hand was still holding mine though he didn’t turn back facing towards me. “Don’t lie to me. Am I not reliable enough for you to tell me?”
“You’re the one who said that it was none of your business, wasn’t it?” I retorted hoarsely since I couldn’t manage to hide my feelings properly.
“Since when did I say that?” His volume went up a bit higher as he quickly faced me.
I didn’t realise that my tears fell that quickly from my eyes as I replied him while looking directly towards his eyes, “You’re the one who said that my love life has nothing to do with you.”
His eyes widened astoundingly. He faced away from me while saying, “Is that so? Sorry for burdening you that much. If you really like him, you should’ve told me sooner.”
“What are you talking about?” I couldn’t grasp what he was trying to say.
“It’s alright. I’m fine. Just pretend that I didn’t say anything towards you that night when we were at the balcony,” He started his pace again and released his hand from holding mine.
“What are you talking about?” I tried to stop from sobbing any further.
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s normal for a princess to love a prince,” He stopped half-way.
My heart was struck by a lightning. Tears streamed down like a heavy downpour and I fell on my knees sobbing as hard as I could, “Are you an idiot? Don’t play with me that way... I don’t want him and the one I like is not him! Why are you making me feeling this miserable? What have I ever done to you? Am I only a crew in your eyes?”
“Eleanor...” His voice lowered down due to my sudden outburst.
“Am I no good? Do you hate me that much? Is this feeling I have is just one sided? Am I really a burden to you?” I couldn’t stop myself from spurting out such questions.
“ENOUGH!”
I was silenced in a nick of a time.
“Enough already...” He hugged me hastily. “Sorry for hurting you that much. Yes, I am an idiot. I am an idiot for falling for you. I’m not playing with your feelings at all and it hurts me so much that I could die for making you this miserable. You’re not just a crew; you’re someone special in my life. You’re not good but you’re better and I don’t have enough guts to hurt the one I love most and your feelings is not one-sided and you are not a burden to me. Is my confession is making you felt any better now?” I could hear his heart’s beating irregularly as he tightened his hold around me.
I halted like a statue and I couldn’t believe my ears. When I finally got back to reality, I nodded as an answer to his question. He released me from his hold and now our eyes met. I could feel my heart was throbbing and thumping like mad. His hazel eyes were beautiful just like a sun that’s shining in summer’s day. My gaze became hazy and that’s when our lips finally touched for a few minutes and this time, I didn’t regret it. I was glad that he’s the one who got my first kiss.
“So, the rumour was wrong then,” A masculine voice suddenly reached us from a distance.
“Prince Lucius,” Captain Kenned stood up in alert and shielded me with his body.
“It’s okay. I’m not like my father. I hate that old geezer anyway for treating me like his toy. So you guys are literally in love with each other?” The prince questioned.
“As what you have witnessed,” He replied boldly.
“I see. I was thinking of trapping you and saved the princess but then I was wrong. You guys are destined together. You must now set sail before tomorrow morning which the king will soon arrive from his conference from the southern county. You better move tonight fast since the king will arrive tomorrow after dawn,” He retorted.
“Why are you telling us about it?” I didn’t understand. A second ago, he was plotting something evil on me and later, he was rescuing us from the danger of his own traps?
“Because nothing good comes from a forced marriage since without love, your life is just an empty space. You must fill the void in your life with love,” He answered briefly.
“No, I literally mean it. Why are you letting us go?” I asked for a confirmation.
“Because I’ve seen how a forced marriage killed my mother from within. Is that explanation good enough?” His eyes somehow turned very cold.
“Yes. Enough to answer our question,” He replied.
“Be warned not to take the southern route. Your ship has been moved to the northern part and please be quick,” He retorted, not looking at us.
“We owe you a great deal, my prince,” I bowed courteously.
“Yes, and do remember that for eternity,” He smiled gladly.
That night, without any more delay, Captain Kenny summoned all the crews and left the castle in the high tide wavy ocean. Our main destination was north heading towards Ele Kingdom, my birth place. The current was violent but we managed to go through it somehow in the dark night in the mercy of the wide blue sea.
