In the night, Charles, holding a square glass of wine, stood on the balcony of the Governor's Mansion, watching the sea that had crept up considerably.
He couldn't sleep, his mind fixated on the mother and son he had met that day; Charles glanced to the side and saw his daughter reading a book in bed.
Shanshan seemed to need no sleep, engrossed in reading through the night.
Just then, dark-leaved vines climbed up to the balcony, and Bandages treaded upon them to join him. "Captain... are you... hesitating...?"
Charles glanced at him and poured another glass of wine from the table to offer it. "How did you know?"
Bandages took it. "The rest... has been too long... It's not right..."
Charles chuckled wryly, "You really do know me. In fact, ever since Lily was taken away by the Pope again, I've been wondering if I had made a wrong decision."
"I no longer have a home, and you all are my family. Yet, I keep putting my family in danger, which is incredibly selfish."
