I SIGHED AS I LOOKED AT THE CALMNESS OF THE OCEAN. I tried looking into it but it’s too deep that I cannot see the bottom. Strong waves keep hitting my body but I like how it reaches me. I can smell how salty it is and the ship is moving in a much calmer way. Now I just realized how big the world can be beyond the border. Before I thought that the next kingdom would be far and hard to reach but while riding this ship, I feel like I just can reach them with just my hand.
If I wasn’t born royal, I want to become an adventurer or a writer. I wish that I was not born as the princess of this kingdom, with no more lectures, no more pressures, and no more responsibilities that need to fulfil. If reincarnation does exist, I want to be reborn as an ordinary person. Simple life, small family, and most especially I want to be happy. Having a title is so damn hard. I have to always watch what words I will say, always prim and proper, and not have a mistake.
I sighed and closed my eyes, embracing the cold breeze of the wind.
“I heard what happened at the dining hall.” A cold voice said came from my back. I opened my eyes.
“Yeah, you have something to say?” I replied lazily. He probably came here to insult me again.
“No, not really, I’m here to breathe some fresh air too, just like you,” Leopard answered and sat next to where I sat.
“Yeah, if you say so,” I said and closed my eyes again. I just hope he won’t annoy me to the point that I might push him in the water.
I heard some loud horns in front of us making me opened my eyes and there I saw a lively wooden Island at the center of the sea. I mean literally. A floating village that is surrounded by ships. Large ships obviously from the pirates. I never really imagine that this was the Consair they’re talking about.
I mean, there is no cave or island. It’s just a floating wooden village in the middle of the sea. This is absurd, preposterous, but still, it’s wonderful.
“That’s the Consair. And yup, not an Island.” Leopard stated. Did he just read my mind or Am I that obvious?
“How the hell did they build that?” I asked but he just chuckled.
“Don’t know.” He replied. “I'm not interested in knowing too.”
“And oh, Valor.” He added that made me look at him in the eyes.
“You know him?” I asked and he nodded.
“Valor is the name of my father.” He answered. I  nodded. That makes him Valor Duke. I wonder what kind of relationship Valor has with this woman called Rina.
Wait.
“Perhaps, is your mom named Rina?” I asked but he just shrugged.
“Maybe, maybe not.” He answered and then stood up.
I tilted my head, trying to understand what he just said. I do understand him clearly and that made me more confused but again I did tell to myself to not dig with that matters anymore.
I didn’t ask anymore and let myself enjoy the scenery of the emerald sea and how marvelous this village is. It even erased my fear that it’s the cave of the pirates.
After a few minutes, the ship docked in the village meters away from the main. The ship lined together with the other ship and from my left, I saw a ship with a Skeleton Dragon as a symbol of their flag. Ours is an aquatic salamander.
“Lady Vienna!!”
I heard someone call me and there I saw Von and the little girl who was sold by her mother. What a cruel mother she is. I walked toward them but before I reached them I noticed the eyes that kept staring at me in the skeleton dragon flagship. There I saw a guy with blonde hair with a pair of crystal blue eyes. He looks like Lilian.
He just stared at me so I nodded at him acknowledging his existence and he just smiled at me. My guts keep telling me to stay away from that guy and not to mention my guts never failed me.
After that weird encounter, I approached the two who called me.
“Hey little lady, how are you?” I greeted her and she giggled.
“I am fine how about you Lady Vienna? I saw you jumped from the ship the other day.” She said with concern so I patted her head.
“Hmm, I am fine,” I answered. She smiled sweetly at me and hugged my legs and you’ll surely smile too because of her cuteness.
“What is your name cutie?” I asked her.
“Isabela. My name is Isabela Lady Vienna!” She said excitingly.
“What a lovely name you have Isabela,” I said and smiled at her. I saw Von holding something familiar.
It's my necklace.
“Oh yes, Captain said that this thing belongs to you Lady Vienna!” Von stated and handed me my necklace. I took it and examine if it was the one I own. And thankfully it is.
This necklace is a golden rose crest that Clara gave me last year. You can put a picture inside of the golden rose and my eyes widen when I realized that Drake has this all the time. I look at the back of the rose and check if the lid is still intact and thankfully it’s still done.
If the Captain saw the picture, he’ll know that I’m royalty, not just an ordinary one but the successor of the throne. But lady luck is with me as he never opened it.
“Thank you!” I thank Von. His face flushed red but still managed to smile at me.
I wear it and put it under my blouse so no one will ever notice. After that, we three both return to the hall since the crew started unloading the ship. I look back to see if Leopard is still there but he's already gone so I just let the two pull me.
We reached the dining hall and everyone’s been busy. They said that the Captain has some business here and the others are busily buying supplies. They said Corsair is like a trading shop. They’ll exchange the things they stole for gold and other essentials like medicines and foods.
And now, me, Von, and the Lennon brothers are assigned to buy some fabrics that are needed to make some articles of clothing most especially to build the ship's sail. I'm fine with it though.
“Are you sure you’re coming?” Samson asked for the third time in a row.
“Yes, at least I can taste what it likes to stand in that marvelous floating thing!” I answered. He just sighed and hand me a cloak, I looked at him after he gave it to me.
“This is for?”
“To avoid attention. You’re new and many will surely be interested in you because you’re the new apple of the eye.” He said and I sighed in defeat.
I understand what he wants to say. It’s not like I hate it it’s just uncomfortable for me.
“Don’t worry Lady Vienna Thompson and I will protect you!!” Von enthusiastically volunteered, Thompson smiled at me and showed me his martial art skill or what that thing called.
“Uhuh, I mastered martial art so you can count me, Ms.Vienna!” Thompson said too. What a cutie.
“Tommy, don’t strain yourself too much!” Samson said as he walked down the footbridge that is connected to the village’s floating wood.
“Yes, boss!” He said and cling to me when we all reached the floorboard then both he and Von ran towards the crowd which made me giggle.
“Goodness, they both said that they’ll guard you and now they’re nowhere to be found.” He said and sighed as we walked side by side.
“Let them be, maybe they just missed this place that much. And oh, if I run will this board be submerged in the water?” I asked him and he just laughed at me. It’s my first time seeing him laugh so it made me laugh too.
“You’re too thin to even do that, not even me!” He said and patted my head. I smiled at him and left him as I ran toward the crowd.
I fixed my cloak and looked around to find the two who ran first. I’m still fascinated with this whole thing when I accidentally bumped into someone.
“Oh goodness, I’m so sorry!” I said and bowed a little then lift my head to look at the one I bumped into. And there I saw a tall and bulk man look down at me.
“You better watch where you’re going little girl, you might fall in the water!” He said and continued doing his things. I sighed in relief when he didn’t do something to me. He's too big for me to handle.
I, again, looked around and saw Sam walking towards me so I just waited for him so we can go to the said shop. He showed me the right way to the shop named, FabRico. He said Rico is one of his friends so we can at least ask for a little discount.
The two are still nowhere to be found but when we arrived at the shop, they were the two who looks so exhausted.
“What happened?” I asked them and both of them looked at each other and laughed. I secretly smiled. Thank goodness they experience running and playing together. Thank goodness they’re not like me who’s locked up in a room full of books.
“We just played a little bit then there this old man who keeps babbling about something like he's looking for someone then we race to who can arrive here first and I win.” Von proudly announced.
“You cheated thou.” Thompson pouted.
“Alright, playtime is over. Let’s buy some fabrics now!” Samson said and entered the shop first. We followed him next and lots of kinds of fabric welcome us.
It may not be the highest quality of fabric but still, in the middle of nowhere, a shop full of fabrics. Wonderful. I touched the fabric and there’s soft, smooth, and rough style. It's nice, it’s my first time seeing something like this.
“Oh my, my dear Samson. You came back, the same fabric?” A gayish voice said and when I turned I saw a guy with long hair and wore all yellow suit style clothes.
“My who’s this beauty here, your inamorata?” He said and walks near me and even touched my cloak.
Goodness.
“No, we’re not,” I said and removed the hood of my cloak. His eyes widen.
“Oh my, I feel like I’m looking in the mirror!” He jokingly exclaimed and giggled.
“Rico, our fabric?” Samson asked impatiently.
“Oh right. Wait a little bit, my dear.” He said and run inside a room.
I sighed and look at Samson. He just shrugged and ordered the three of us to wait outside and we nodded. This shop is extremely hot. Much hotter than a sauna.
The two keep babbling about something and since I have nothing to do, I also tag along. All of us had been waiting for minutes already and the outside is much hotter than I thought, thank goodness I have the cloak.
“I’m hungry!” Thompson exclaimed.
“Me too!” Von replied.
“Me three!” I also replied.
Then the three of us giggled.
I feel like a kid again since I am surrounded by kids lately. Von who’s 16 then Thompson who’s 14 and now Isabela who’s 8.
“Should we eat?” I said they all looked tempting.
“But we don’t have any spare money though.” Tommy disappointedly said.
Right. I forgot how broke I am.
“Let’s find money!” I excitedly said at them. “You will never find one here!” Von replied.
Right.
“But I’m seriously starving!!” I complained.
“Want some?” An unfamiliar voice said showing me the red apple in his hand. Both Von and Tommy stood up and bowed a little when they saw the guy's face.
“Good day Captain Lucas!” Both said in unison. My eyes widen when I heard them calling him Captain. I abruptly stood up too and also bowed a little.
“G-good day Captain.” I was also greeted too.
I’m not used to doing this thing so I hope I don’t mess up especially in front of a captain or else, I’m doomed.