Chapter 96
The sea was calmer now.
Not calm.
Just quieter.
As if even the waves were exhausted after everything that had happened.
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The ship rocked gently across the water.
Wood creaked.
Ropes swayed.
The cold wind carried the scent of salt across the deck.
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Everyone was waiting.
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Marco stood near the railing.
Arms crossed.
Eyes fixed on the distant shoreline.
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Chris sat against the mast, still recovering.
Guinevere stood nearby, silent.
Her eyes never left the direction of the ruins.
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marco looked at the empty sea.
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Marco : "She'll return."
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Captain Bochy looked at him.
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Captain Bochy: "You sound confident."
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Marco : "I just need to believe it."
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The wind passed.
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Vendetta looked toward the shore.
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Vendetta: "Well... that man said he would return the Princess."
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Guinevere immediately turned.
Guinevere: "Huh? And you believed him?!"
Vendetta stayed calm.
Vendetta: "His eyes didn't lie."
A pause.
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Vendetta: "And if I didn't listen to him at that moment... we might have lost our last chance to escape."
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Guinevere crossed her arms.
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Guinevere: "Fine."
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She looked back toward the shore.
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Guinevere: "Let's see how long we have to wait."
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A pause.
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Guinevere: "But if she isn't back by evening... I'm going to search."
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Vendetta nodded.
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Vendetta: "We are here to protect her."
Vendetta: "So don't worry."
Vendetta: "We won't return until the Princess is back."
Then—
Marco suddenly froze.
His eyes narrowed.
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Marco: "...Someone's there."
Everyone immediately turned.
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A figure was approaching from the eastern coastline.
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Slow.
Unsteady.
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Then the figure became clear.
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Princess Flora.
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For a second—
nobody moved.
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As if their minds couldn't accept what they were seeing.
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Then—
everything happened at once.
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"Princess!"
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Guinevere rushed forward.
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Marco immediately lowered the rope ladder.
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Several moments later—
Princess Flora stepped onto the ship.
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The moment her feet touched the deck—
everyone surrounded her.
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Questions erupted instantly.
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Guinevere: "Princess, are you hurt?!"
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Marco: "What happened?!"
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Chris: "How did you get here?!"
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Flora blinked.
Overwhelmed for a moment.
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Then she slowly exhaled.
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Princess Flora: "...One at a time."
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Silence followed.
Reluctantly, everyone calmed down.
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Guinevere stepped forward first.
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Guinevere: "Who saved you?"
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The deck became quiet.
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Flora knew exactly who she meant.
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A brief pause.
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Princess Flora: "...John."
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Silence.
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Chris froze.
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Marco's eyes widened.
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Captain Bochy frowned immediately.
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Guinevere's expression darkened.
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Guinevere: "...John?"
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Flora nodded.
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Marco clenched his fists.
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Marco: "That traitor?"
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Chris looked confused.
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Chris: "Why would he help us?"
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Flora lowered her eyes slightly.
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Images flashed through her mind.
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John.
Their conversation.
The way he looked at her.
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Princess Flora: "...I don't know."
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Marco's expression tightened.
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Guinevere: "Maybe it's a trap."
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Vendetta shook her head.
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Vendetta: "If he wanted us dead..."
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A pause.
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Vendetta: "...we would already be dead."
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She looked toward Flora.
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Vendetta: "And the Princess is here safely."
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Vendetta: "That means he kept his word."
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Captain Bochy frowned.
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Captain Bochy: "Isn't it strange?"
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Everyone looked at him.
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Captain Bochy: "He caused all this trouble..."
Captain Bochy: "Yet he saved her."
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The deck became quiet again.
Flora looked toward the ocean.
Questions continued circling inside her mind.
Princess Flora (thinking):
Why did John save me?
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How did he save us?
Did he defeat the Lord?
Princess Flora (thinking):
So many questions...
But all I have are more puzzles.
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Guinevere stepped closer.
Guinevere: "Princess, rest first."
Guinevere: "After that, we will discuss everything."
Flora nodded.
Her eyes stayed on Guinevere.
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Princess Flora (thinking):
And what is with Guinevere...?
Why does she know something?
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A pause.
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Princess Flora (thinking):
No.
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This isn't the time.
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Flora looked around.
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Princess Flora: "But first..."
Everyone looked at her.
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Princess Flora: "We need to leave this place immediately."
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Vendetta quickly nodded.
Vendetta: "I already ordered them to prepare the ship."
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She paused.
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Vendetta: "But..."
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Chris looked at her.
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Chris: "What?"
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Vendetta looked toward the ruins.
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Vendetta: "Isn't it strange how easily they let us leave?"
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Captain Bochy nodded slowly.
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Captain Bochy: "Yeah."
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Captain Bochy: "It feels like they're following their own plan."
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Flora stayed silent for a moment.
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Then—
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Princess Flora: "Whatever it is..."
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Princess Flora: "This is not the time to think about it."
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She looked toward the ship.
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Princess Flora: "First, we find a safer place."
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Marco nodded.
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Princess Flora: "What about everyone?"
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Marco's expression became serious.
Marco: "We lost a few..."
Marco: "But almost all of our soldiers are safe."
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Flora nodded.
The ship began moving.
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The sails opened.
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The coastline slowly disappeared behind them.
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Hours Later
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Flora stood at the side of the ship.
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She looked toward the endless ocean.
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She could hear everyone around her.
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But her mind was somewhere else.
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John.
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The Lord.
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The questions kept returning.
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Why did John save her?
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Why did he leave?
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And most importantly—
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Why did he tell me...
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Ask Guinevere.
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Suddenly—
Esabell: "Princess?"
Flora looked forward.
Esabell stood there.
Esabell: "I hope you are well, Princess."
She hesitated.
Esabell: "I was quite scared, to be honest."
Flora looked at her.
Princess Flora: "Why?"
Esabell smiled faintly.
Esabell: "Well... I thought maybe we were going to die."
A pause.
Esabell: "But I guess faith has its own plans."
Flora looked at the sea.
Princess Flora: "Yeah..."
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Princess Flora: "Faith always shows me so many of its ways."
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Esabell tilted her head.
Esabell: "Huh?"
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Flora sighed.
Princess Flora: "Nothing."
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A pause.
Princess Flora: "So what brought you here?"
Esabell became nervous.
Esabell: "I'm sorry."
Flora looked at her.
Princess Flora: "For what?"
Esabell hesitated.
Esabell: "I... I thought John really liked you."
Flora's eyes widened slightly.
Esabell: "Back in Stonehaven... when you were about to get married..."
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Esabell: "I really thought he cared about you."
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Esabell lowered her head.
Esabell: "So I helped him meet you."
Esabell: "I'm sorry, Princess."
Flora stared at her.
Then—
she laughed quietly.
Princess Flora: "You have been quite bold, haven't you?"
Esabell immediately panicked.
Esabell: "Huh?! I'm sorry!"
Flora smiled slightly.
Princess Flora: "Forget all that."
Esabell nodded.
Esabell: "Well, Princess... if you don't mind, can I ask you something?"
Flora nodded.
Esabell: "Do you really think he betrayed you?"
Flora froze.
Princess Flora: "You don't?"
Esabell shook her head.
Esabell: "No."
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Esabell: "I mean... I really thought his words were true."
She looked away.
Esabell: "I'm sorry."
Flora sighed.
Princess Flora: "I understand."
Princess Flora: "No need to bring that matter up anymore."
Esabell nodded.
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Then hesitated.
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Esabell: "Princess... can I ask one more question?"
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Flora looked at her.
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Princess Flora: "What?"
Esabell: "Miss Vendetta said someone saved you."
Esabell: "Did you see him?"
Flora became quiet.
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For a moment—
John's face appeared in her mind.
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She slowly nodded.
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Esabell: "Can I ask who?"
A pause.
Princess Flora: "John."
Esabell froze.
Esabell: "What?!"
Flora turned away.
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Princess Flora: "You should rest now."
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Princess Flora: "I have something important to do."
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Esabell quickly nodded.
Esabell: "Pardon me, Princess."
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She started leaving.
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Then
Esabell: "Princess..."
Flora stopped.
Princess Flora: "What?"
Esabell hesitated.
Esabell: "Don't you think..."
A pause.
Esabell: "His feelings were genuine?"
Flora stayed silent.
Esabell: "Because if they weren't..."
Esabell: "Why would he save you and let you leave safely?"
Flora didn't answer.
After a moment—
Princess Flora: "Esabell."
She looked at her.
Princess Flora: "I thought I told you to stop discussing this matter."
Esabell immediately bowed.
Esabell: "Pardon!"
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Flora walked away.
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Later
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Everyone gathered inside the cabin.
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A single lantern lit the room.
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Princess Flora sat at the table.
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Across from her sat:
Vendetta.
Marco.
Chris.
Guinevere.
Captain Bochy.
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Nobody spoke.
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Until finally—
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Flora broke the silence.
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Princess Flora: "You promised answers."
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Vendetta looked at her.
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A long pause.
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Then—
she nodded.
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...CHAPTER 96 ENDS....