Albert noticed two men rushing to a locked room opening it; they were carrying buckets full of water and mops for cleaning. Albert asked one of them whose room is this and received a hurried answer:
"This is the room of her highness, the king's younger daughter."
And when the sailor noticed that he was speaking to the new officer he turned at him spatting with disgust:
"The king's scum!"
The man then went back to continue cleaning. Albert told himself that this was probably the nickname he earned on his first trip and wondered if it will accompany him on every journey he is to make? What with this duality of treatment? On the other hand, Vincent seemed to gain the men's respect after the skills he showed on multiple occasions. Albert thought that compared to the hatred the crew bore him, they didn't speak ill of the king's daughter; a closer member of the royal family who should deserve more disgust and contempt than a mere officer who was not blood -related to the king! It seems the young princess had a good reputation not only all around the kingdom but also on this ship as well .
The ship was heading to Laria, a beautiful rich province under the king's rule. It was an important place for trade that the king has assigned to his two daughters' command. Albert wandered what would the king's younger daughter do onboard the ship and what help could she possibly offer? Especially that she hasn't been seen that much in public, she'd isolated herself in a small temple; she was closer to a priestess than a hailed royal figure. And that's why aside from the whole royal family, she was truly respected by everyone, even onboard this infamous ship.
The island's port where the Amphitrite anchored, reflected the luxury the city's people enjoyed. There was no sign of the drought the kingdom was suffering from. Alex left his room with his pistol hidden on his waist under the black cape he wore, and ordered his men to wait for his return with the king's daughter. He said that he might be late until nightfall but the men didn't complain, and when he was preparing to leave the ship he found Albert standing with Vincent, a serious expression on the young officer's face. Albert demanded:
"I shall accompany you as well. I'm the king's representative and I shall witness everything."
Albert was determined to prove his authority as the royal officer and unlike his expectations, Alex didn't refuse Albert's company, merely shrugging the matter off with "You can do as you please.". Albert turned at Vincent and asked him to stay onboard the ship in case something was to happen. Alice rushed to Albert with a worried face, she said to him:
"Please be careful Albert, I have heard that the elder princess is a temperamental one... she's not easy to deal with!"
" I'll be fine. Thank you, Alice."
Alice smiled, her kindness easing Albert's fear. He knew that there were a lot of nice good people like her where he left; he couldn't let them suffer and strive with thirst.
The captain and the royal officer left the ship heading to the princess and the next successor's palace; they've sent a messenger before to inform her highness of the Amphitrite's arrival and to request an audience with her regarding the young princess.
The elder princess' palace style was completely different from her father's, revealing that perhaps the king and his daughter weren't that close after all and more disputes could be discerned from the symbols of power and grandeur she reflected in her province designs and throne room. At first, The king was preparing her to take his place after his death by granting her this small province to rule, but she completely took over it and hugged its power till one could tell Laria was an ally to the kingdom, not an integrated part of it or a follower. Despite this show of independence, there was a reason the king didn't do anything about the matter. Laria was a crucial trade center that the kingdom couldn't offer to lose or upset, it was the spring that supplied the kingdom with food, money, and other various needed goods. All of this vitality was in the king's eldest daughter hand, Hestia and she slowly became no less powerful or crucial figure to the royal family and the people than the king was. Cunning and strong, determined and wise, she surpassed her father's instincts and deeds by far, as few as they were. And in the shadow of her elder sister, Selene, the younger princess disappeared wisely and crowned herself with the robes of seclusion and piety.
A beautifully dressed chamberlain led the two men to her highness's hall where a woman in a crimson dress symbolizing the monarchy was waiting there. She had wide eyes, beautiful yet mysterious, never revealing their owner's true intents. Her brown hair was neatly risen by a small golden crown matching the brilliance of her green eyes. Both men bowed in front of her, a formality to avoid unnecessary problems more than a show of loyalty, mostly in Alex's case. But even while bowing, Albert couldn't move his eyes away from hers. The princess noticed this and granted a smile to the young man. A smile that was both beautiful and untrue. Albert had learned the hard way how beautiful a lying smile can be. Upon this brief exposition, Albert's eyes drifted back to the ground carved of marble. Giving the two men the permission to raise their heads, the princess finally addressed the man in the black cape:
"I was informed of your arrival at my port although your messenger was a bit rude, but nothing else could be expected from the furious men of the sea, especially captain Alex Walcott of the famous mighty Amphitrite and his crew. And you... you must be Albert Hudgson, his majesty's, my father's, representative."
The princess directed her speech to the young man and bowed her head in a little nod, an act of diplomacy no more. Albert could feel that she was totally independent from her father. His mention was of no importance to her and she might just refuse to give over her sister and assist them in their quest. At these morbid feelings, the royal officer spoke before the captain could utter a single word:
"Your highness, we were asked by your father, the king, to take the younger princess onboard the Amphitrite to help us obtain the sacred spring."
As Albert thought and feared, the mention of the king rang no echo in the hall. Hestia adjusted herself in her bejeweled throne demanding a reason, sounding already bored as she threw a glance at the mountain of paperwork waiting her consent or refusal by the simple stamp of a seal:
"Why should I?"
Albert's courage evaporated in the musk laden air. Considering the question on a literal level, he in all honesty had no idea what the young princess's role is in this game, and why she should travel with them. He was so focused on anchoring his authority and establishing himself as Alex's match that he forgot to inquire about the details to the stop at Laria. Now on a figurative level, he also could not grasp what the crown - princess was trying to convey. Having to patience to the cloud of thoughts that appeared on the royal officer's innocent face, she went on:
"I mean, it's not as though I'm affected. My people have enough water but only for themselves, that's why I couldn't help father in his ordeal and as for me, my province is my only concern.
Hestia declared without hesitation or a care in the world. Obvious to everyone in and outside of this trading center, the older princess's main concern was her province and its inhabitants, clearly put on display by her wandering gazes to the pile pf paper work, and the long line of merchants waiting an audience with her. She showed frankly till now no real interest in this meeting but that was not the whole story. Alex raised his head in understanding; the Wilshire had already made their move, they were probably trying to get rid of the priestess princess or at least convince her elder sister, who had the final decision, to hold her in the palace. He had to bring the princess to his side but Albert once again proceeded him and spoke his mind frankly to avoid the embarrassment of his ignorance of the matter:
"What about her highness Selene, what's her opinion?"
Alex looked at the naive young man chiding him from interfering any further, sending a chill down his spine that Albert refused to acknowledge. But Hestia wasn't bothered; she looked again at Alex neglecting the young man's question.
"What do you have to offer me, Alex Walcott? The Wilshire is a strong family and I can't just risk the life of my beloved younger sister. Why should I trust you?"
The princess adjusted her back on the throne once more, her eyes narrowing with a dangerous allure waiting for the answer that came so fast and so simple. Unlike the complex explanation or narrative she had expected to hear.
"Don't you trust the malice of a wounded man?"
Albert turned at Alex in surprise to find the latter speaking with dead seriousness. The captain looked at the princess who seemed to have liked what he said. For the first tine since the meeting began, a shine of excitement added to the beauty of her eyes. She reached to and held a red rose from a vase beside her throne thinking about the answer she'd just received:
"Malice is so capable and so strong; it can sustain a dying man with enough resolve to able him to cling to a ragged thread of life. But don't forget, Captain Alex, that a woman's malice can also last forever, and as a woman I can assure you, it's something to be feared."
"Your highness, that ragged thread of life you speak of is destroying that woman and her family for me."
Hestia's smile widened. She was so pleased that she no longer regretted granting this man the audience he demanded.
"That's furious, but when a woman's feelings become only hatred and malice, nothing can quell her thirst for revenge and destruction. You assume a gust of a beloved memory would cure it, using it as a weakness to your advantage, but it can also set these feelings even more on a fire that nothing can put out until it burns everything!"
Alex obviously didn't fear that fire, rather, he was ready to dive into it and burn along its flames. He was about to reply with sharp words when Albert exclaimed looking at the two of them with incomprehension:
"Our mission has nothing to do with this sick conversation!"
Hestia's pleased expression faded to clear irritation, but Albert didn't stop even when he realized that he had upset a woman he was better not to.
"Malice and the desire for revenge... benefits... I know how strong these things are and how deep rooted they can grow in a person's heart but when it comes to other people's sake, other people who has nothing to do with personal affairs, then these ill hateful feelings have to be dropped right away!"
Albert caught his breaths for a second before he continued. He spoke so bravely and sincerely. It was a lesson he had to teach himself before lecturing others. After all, his hatred for Alex dominated every moment of this journey, every thought and every wish. He needed to get over this emotion and focus on his noble mission to help the people of his homeland. So he needed to recite these words for himself to hear, before the princess and the captain.
"Someone who declines to extend a hand of help while he's able to just to protect his benefits and establish his power is a bad person..." He said this referring to the Wilshire family, then went on looking directly at the wide - eyed princess:
"But someone who links this refusal for his own self - satisfaction is much worse!"
Alex looked at Albert with firm eyes but Albert didn't turn at him. He looked at the princess who didn't seem happy about his assumptions. Still, he went on without hesitation:
"Your highness, on our way to this palace here, the only thing I could think of was how your people seemed wealthy and happy and how you must be such a good ruler, I thought how much the people of this province must truly love you. But the people of Panusarea are also your people. A lot of these people who adore you here have relatives and families in other parts of the kingdom, and a good ruler cares for everyone equally. I am certain if you help us today, the people of Laria will be grateful for your kindness before the people of the entire Kingdom!"
The older princess titled her head listening to the young man's speech, the smile of satisfaction crawling larger on her face once more. Just like any other man in power, she loved to hear complements, her ego and status thrived on this. But she was not a deluded ruler; empty words of praise meant nothing to her but she knew herself to be a good ruler and a perfect heiress. She knew how much the people of her province adored her, but this was not enough for her future role. Strengthening her ties with her people even further, and gaining support from the entire kingdom wasn't a bad deal, especially when ascending the throne. Albert felt the change in the princess thinking, if not her heart. So he continued regaining his self - confidence word by word:
"Your highness, I have left my mother thirsty and weak to accompany a man I hate the most, a man I can never forgive yet I followed him, you know why? Because I believed that by doing this I can help my mother whom a lot of people I know and don't know are suffering the same as her... Can't you trust such strength or does this sound like weakness to you?"
The princess's face expression changed from amusement upon hearing the first part, her emerald orbs shifting excitedly between the two men apparently on opposite sides yet with the same goal, to a look of contemplation as the officer went on about the people's suffering. She closed her eyes and sighed lengthy, a sigh of disappointment to Albert's ears while Alex's cold face said nothing. After few moments of heavy silence, that even the musk scent could not lighten, the princess opened her eyes addressing Albert:
"I fail to see why father sent you as the royal officer."
Albert's face turned pale, did he speak wrongly? Did he offend her by meaning to encourage her to do the right thing? Perhaps the elder princess was more sinister than she showed. However, her smile of satisfaction slowly returned to her crimson lips. She leaned her head on her hand, carrying on:
"You're naive but I'll trust your stupidity for a change. After all, everyone knows I'm independent form my father's decisions, I won't be affected nor harmed whether you win or lose. I shall not cut off my ties with the Wilshire nor help them, but I shall not support you anymore than that either."
Albert maybe actually naive as the princess had described, but merely consenting to send her sister with Amphitrite who was bent on conquering and destroying the Wilshire territory was a sign of cutting ties with them, if not of declaring war. Her side in the battle to come was clearly displayed but Albert believed she possessed enough wit to direct the Wilshire frustration with her in another direction, perhaps their direction, but it was not something that could be possibly avoided.
After the princess declared her decision, she clapped her hands, and a well - looking maid entered holding a pillow with two masks on it. She remarked:
"Tonight, I shall hold a masked ball as a goodbye to my sister, I expect your presence, the two of you."
Hestia said this and allowed the two men to leave the hall. It was an order more than an invitation. Albert followed the maid with Alex. He should be happy with his first accomplishment since the start of the journey, but the news of the prepared ball revealed everything. Apparently the elder princess has already agreed to send her young sister, she merely had this conversation for fun, or to discover what men were carrying her father's will. Either way, Albert felt belittled. He believed he shouldn't be ashamed of his declaration and speech. He took a quick look at Alex, nothing in his expression had changed, even after hearing how much Albert detested him, and how he never forgave him. Maybe he knew all along, and chose to ignore the matter. Maybe Albert was indeed a little fool, nothing he feels or speaks matter. He couldn't tell. He spent the entire afternoon pumped down instead of happy, as he imagined he should be after his little sincere speech.
The maid guided the two men into a chamber prepared especially for them to wait till the ball; it was an invitation that can't be refused. There, Albert laid on the soft bed eyeing Alex secretly every few minutes. Alex didn't take notice choosing to ignore him. He was leaning on the window's pane watching the port. Albert finally summoned some courage to ask him:
"What does the young princess have to do with our trip? I thought she was some kind of a secluded priestess..."
" That's why we need her; she has the knowledge and power to control the sacred spring of the Wilshire's island."
Alex didn't seem willing to explain any further, and Albert wasn't interested in having a long conversation with that man. This information was enough to make Albert understand how the young princess Selene was so important for the success of this journey.