Natsui had drunk a lot of the fruit wine during the feast, and the alcohol was starting to go to his head.
Looking at the serious expression on Maya's face, no one could doubt she was being sincere, nor would they dare question her resolve. Feeling the soft warmth of her hand, another emotion began to cloud his judgment.
Alcohol and impulse slowly eroded his reason, though a small sliver of it still held him back.
In the distance, he could faintly hear music from the banquet hall. Ash and the others were clearly still lost in the celebration.
No...
This is getting out of control. I can't betray Sabrina. I have to leave right now...
But before he could say anything, Maya seemed to make up her mind. With a gentle tug, she loosened the sash of her robe, and the garment slid to the floor.
Staring at the perfect form before him, Natsui's eyes widened in disbelief, his thoughts freezing in place.
The two maids exchanged a smile, then quietly left the room, gently closing the door behind them.
...
The next morning.
In the banquet hall, Ash and the others were eating breakfast. Their luggage was already packed and stacked neatly to the side.
From the Whirl Cup to protecting Lugia, their journey here was finally over. They could at last continue their travels. Looking back, it felt like a lifetime had passed, even though it hadn't been very long.
They waited and waited, but even after they finished their meal, Natsui was nowhere to be seen.
Misty glanced toward the guest rooms, a little worried. "It's getting late and he's still not here. Should we go look for him?"
Erika shook her head. "It seems he didn't return to his room at all last night."
"You don't think something happened, do you?"
As they were talking, footsteps approached. They turned to see a smiling Maya and a yawning Natsui walking over from another direction.
Seeing them, Ash eagerly asked, "Natsui, did the succession ceremony yesterday go well?"
At the question, Natsui's expression immediately became unnatural.
Before he could speak, Maya answered gently, "It went very smoothly. It was all thanks to Natsui's help."
As a woman, Misty sensed something was different. Maya's attitude toward Natsui seemed far too intimate. At the very least, judging by her tone, their relationship seemed to have changed somehow.
Curious, she asked, "Miss Maya, what kind of ceremony was it exactly?"
Maya shook her head. "It is an ancient ritual. Only a select few Heroes of the Sea, those whose courage and strength have been recognized, have a chance to be chosen by the High Priestess."
"Is that so..." Ash looked hopeful. "Ah, I was so focused on eating last night. I wish I could have seen it for myself."
Cough, cough, cough!
Ash's words made Natsui choke.
Kid, that's not something you should be watching...
Sigh. But thinking about it now, impulse really is the devil...
Last night, emboldened by the wine, he had ultimately taken that step.
What could he say? A noble, beautiful, and powerful woman who had preserved her purity, now wholeheartedly wanting to bear his child with no strings attached and even offering to keep it a secret... it was a situation that would make almost anyone waver.
But in the end, it was his own will that wasn't strong enough to resist the temptation.
Noticing Natsui's pale face, Erika walked over to him, concerned. "You're just now arriving. Have you eaten breakfast?"
"Uh... I just ate..."
"You look like you didn't sleep well. Are you tired?"
Facing Erika's pretty face, Natsui couldn't help but cough again.
"Yeah... I'm a little tired, but don't worry. I'll be fine after some rest..."
Sigh...
Looking at the oblivious Erika, Natsui was filled with guilt and anxiety.
How was he supposed to face her now?
...
At the docks.
After leaving the Sea Temple, Natsui, Erika, Ash, Misty, Brock, Shuichi, and Ritchie were all saying their goodbyes.
Reunions were brief and happy, while partings were inevitably sad.
According to their plans, Natsui and Erika were heading to Cianwood City to challenge the gym. Shuichi was returning to Ogi Island, and Ritchie was continuing his training journey. As for Ash's group, they were also heading off to challenge the gyms they hadn't yet visited.
Maya had come with two attendants to see them off. She stood quietly to the side while the group said their final farewells, though she occasionally glanced at Natsui before quickly looking away.
"Well then, everyone take care. I'll be on my way!"
Ritchie waved to the group. He was the first to depart, both because he needed to head back to the Kanto region and due to time constraints
"You too, Ritchie! See you around!"
Natsui and the others waved back. After watching his boat leave, Shuichi untied his speedboat and hopped aboard with Ash, Misty, and Brock. Since they were heading in the same direction past Ogi Island, Shuichi could give them a ride.
"Natsui, we're off too!" Ash called out.
Natsui nodded at them. "Be safe. See you next time."
Their goodbyes were casual. They all knew their travel paths overlapped so much that they were bound to meet again many times in the future.
Once the speedboat had left the docks, only Natsui, Erika, and Maya's group remained.
Maya walked up to Natsui and said softly, "Like I said before, this won't be an easy matter. I'll probably have to trouble you a few more times in the future."
Though neither of them stated it plainly, they both knew what she was talking about.
Natsui's gaze drifted to her neck. Though hidden by her collar, he knew a faint red mark was there—one he had left in the heat of passion last night.
Sighing, he looked directly into her eyes. "I'll come back to visit often. If anything happens, be sure to let me know."
After what happened, even if Maya said he didn't need to take responsibility, Natsui couldn't just leave her to handle it alone.
Maya nodded lightly and smiled. "I understand. Alright, it's getting late. You two should get going."
From their exchange, Erika sensed something unusual, but she said nothing. Like Maya had a moment ago, she simply stood at a distance, quietly waiting for them to finish.
------------------------
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