chapter 113
The morning breeze drifted gently across the deck.
Princess Flora remained standing at the bow of the ship.
Her pale traveling dress swayed softly with the wind, while a navy cloak rested lightly over her shoulders against the morning chill. Sunlight settled upon her long orange hair, causing it to shimmer like threads of gold.
She quietly watched the endless sea.
Soft footsteps approached behind her.
"...Princess?"
Flora turned slightly.
Esabell stood a short distance away, nervously clutching a folded blanket against her chest.
She hesitated before speaking.
"...May I... stand here?"
Flora gave a small nod.
"Of course."
Esabell stepped beside her.
For a while...
Neither of them spoke.
Only the waves broke the silence.
At last...
Esabell lowered her gaze.
"...I was worried about you."
"I thought..."
She searched for the right words.
"...Perhaps you hadn't slept."
Flora remained looking toward the horizon.
"I did."
Esabell wasn't convinced.
"...Princess..."
"...About yesterday..."
Before she could continue—
Flora spoke gently.
"Esabell."
She finally turned to face her.
A calm smile rested upon her face.
Not as bright as before...
But peaceful.
"I appreciate your concern."
"Truly."
She paused briefly.
"But there is no need to worry."
Esabell looked at her uncertainly.
"...Are you certain?"
Flora nodded once.
"There are moments in life..."
"...when we simply need time to gather our thoughts."
Her voice remained soft.
"And once that time has passed..."
"...we continue walking forward."
She looked back toward the sea.
"I intend to do exactly that."
Esabell studied her quietly.
She couldn't tell whether the Princess was hiding her feelings...
Or whether she had truly found her answer.
Perhaps...
It was both.
Flora noticed the uncertainty in Esabell's eyes.
She smiled a little more warmly.
"You've always been kind."
"And I'm grateful for that."
"But..."
She gently shook her head.
"You needn't carry worries that belong to someone else."
Esabell blinked.
Flora's gaze remained upon the horizon.
"As the Crown Princess..."
"There are responsibilities only I can bear."
She said it so naturally...
As though she had already accepted that truth.
Then she looked back at Esabell.
"So instead of worrying about me..."
"I would rather see you smiling."
A small laugh escaped Esabell despite herself.
"...You always know what to say."
Flora smiled faintly.
"I simply say what I believe."
The sea breeze carried their silence once more.
This time...
It felt much lighter than before.
The silence between them lingered for a while.
Neither of them felt the need to speak.
The gentle sound of waves against the hull was enough.
After a few moments...
Flora slowly pushed herself away from the railing.
"We should return."
Esabell blinked.
"...Already?"
Flora gave a small nod.
"If I remain here much longer..."
"I'm certain Commander Guinevere will come looking for me."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"And then everyone else will begin worrying as well."
Esabell couldn't help smiling.
"...That's true."
The two began walking back across the deck together.
As they passed the sailors...
Several respectfully stepped aside.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
Flora inclined her head politely.
"Good morning."
Another sailor offered a respectful bow before returning to his work.
The atmosphere aboard the ship had become noticeably lighter than it had been the previous day.
Ropes creaked.
Wood groaned softly beneath steady waves.
The scent of freshly baked bread drifted from the galley below deck.
For the first time in days...
The ship almost felt peaceful.
Almost.
---
The sun slowly sank beyond the horizon.
Golden light faded into shades of crimson before giving way to deep blue twilight.
Lanterns were lit one by one across the ship.
Their warm glow reflected gently upon the dark sea.
Near the center of the deck...
Several sailors had gathered around a small iron fire pit.
A pot of stew simmered quietly while laughter drifted through the evening air.
A few injured soldiers sat nearby, talking amongst themselves.
Others played cards atop overturned barrels.
The long days of danger seemed, at least for one evening, far away.
Chris stepped out onto the deck with a long stretch.
"...Finally."
"I thought today's training would never end."
He rolled his shoulders before glancing around.
His eyes immediately landed on someone standing near the stern.
Guinevere.
She was speaking with two sailors while checking a list written across several sheets of parchment.
After that...
She walked toward a group of wounded soldiers.
Then toward the quartermaster.
Then toward the ship's officers.
Chris stared for a moment.
"...Does she ever stop working?"
He scratched the back of his head.
Then...
His expression stiffened.
"...Ah."
Last night.
The awkward misunderstanding.
The silence afterward.
"...Nope."
He immediately turned around.
"I'll just go this way."
Completely normal.
Nothing suspicious.
Before he could take more than three steps—
Marco's voice drifted from behind him.
"...Running away?"
Chris froze.
Very slowly...
He turned his head.
Marco stood beside a crate with his arms folded.
A grin had already spread across his face.
"...Who's running?"
Marco raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know."
"You tell me."
Chris looked away.
"I was just..."
"...Inspecting the other side of the ship."
Marco glanced toward the empty stretch of deck behind him.
"...The railing?"
Chris nodded confidently.
"Exactly."
Marco couldn't hold back his laugh.
"What an important inspection."
Chris frowned.
"...You're imagining things."
Marco's grin only widened.
"I haven't even said anything yet."
Chris opened his mouth.
Closed it again.
"...Forget it."
Marco chuckled.
"You know..."
"I've fought monsters that looked less frightened than you do right now."
Chris immediately protested.
"I'm not frightened!"
Marco looked toward Guinevere.
Then back at Chris.
"...Mm."
Chris followed his gaze by instinct.
Only to immediately look away again.
Marco caught it.
His smile grew even wider.
"...I see."
Chris sighed dramatically.
"...Can you not?"
Marco leaned a little closer.
"So..."
"When are you planning to speak to her?"
Chris nearly choked.
"...Speak to who?"
Marco simply stared at him.
Chris lasted exactly three seconds before groaning.
"...You're impossible."
From several paces away...
Guinevere glanced briefly in their direction.
She couldn't hear what they were saying.
But judging from Marco's expression...
And Chris's increasingly flustered face...
She had a fairly good guess.
The corner of her lips lifted ever so slightly.
Just for a moment.
Then...
She returned to checking the supply list as though nothing had happened.
Completely unaware...
Chris was still trying to convince Marco that absolutely nothing was going on.
Marco, of course...
Didn't believe a single word.
...CHAPTER 113ENDS...