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Yes, your Highness! (Jane X QB)

K

Kyubey

Star
Joined
Oct 24, 2011
The Salty Hag corsairs and Al-Barus​

Theodore/Triton - A sailing corsair and the First mate of the Salty hag. A pirate under the command of Captain Melchior, Theodore is known best for his ability to take things from plain sight. Aside from being an accomplished sword fighter, many from the crew of the Salty Hag known Theo best for his jokes and his willingness to dive into the face of danger to save anyone. As a boy, he washed ashore right before the Princess of Alma Britannia. Treated with kindness, he did not forget her act and vowed one day to take her far beyond, to adventure in places unseen before. And just before the wedding, the boy named 'Triton' crashes the wedding.

Captain Melchior: The Pirate Captain of the Salty Hag, a Barusian corsair ship that plunders ships and ransoms captives. With only an eye out for the money, Melchior will rarely take the moral side of the argument, preferring to earn cash instead of doing the right thing.

Miselotte:

Pippin:

Maredith:

Saladin:


Alma Britannia​

Her Royal highness Leanne, Duchess of Leicester: Inheriting her mother's matriarchal society, following her ascension she imposed the Edict of Roses, further suspending the rights of all subjects born Male, both of the Gentry and the Common masses reducing them to a level akin to Slavery. Faced off with possible revolts, after the bloody "Night of Long Nails" , she had purged most of the rebellious male subjects who opposed her with the help of Saubure, a former long-time 'enemy' who pretended to rebel against her, yet turned against the rebels themselves. Years of austerity and public projects have increased her popularity amongst the plebians, the loyal Noble families having assimilated many of the lands taken during the Night of Long Nails consolidating her power and the right to her throne. Ruling the throne at the age of 37, she continues to dictate her country under a tyrant's reign.

Her Highness Georgiana Rebecca Winter - Serious, stoic, formal, rigid... a little uptight but imaginative, highly-educated and perhaps a little vain. Such words describes the heir to Alma Britannia quite excellently. Long had she forgotten the boy she had rescued, groomed instead to lead the prosperous nation of Alma Britannia. However, just before her marriage to the Earl of Perrins, she was kidnapped by a Barusian corsair named Triton.

Donna Burke: The head-servant to Georgiana, having raised her when she was a child who had just been weaned. Growing up grooming the young lady, she became almost like a daughter to Donna. She had given Triton an opportunity to escape, only to regret such an action when he had returned to kidnap her.

Jaina Arthuria Threepiece: The head of the Lumiere Knights, an order dedicated to the Queen and to protect her reign.

Eliza Walker: A friend of Donna and a chamber maid.


Miriam: A barmaid and owner. Secretly shelters Molderach's thunder. Despises the Queen for taking away her family.

Marianne Baskerville, the Marquess of Nottingham: Despite her impressive bloodline and prestigious family, she is modest, childlike, and innocent, without a trace of haughtiness in her. A pure-hearted and sweet-tempered woman, she can quickly become close friends with the most distant of strangers. Marianne does not believe in the use of excessive violence, often treating her male servants with respect and patience. She has yet to marry another man, thought courtly whispers claim that she would soon be bethroted to Master Charlest Monteblanc. She cannot stand being alone and has a special attachment to animals. Her personal maid, Roberta Bluesummers is her confidant and her bodyguard.

Roberta Bluesummers: Aside from her clumsiness, wide-rimmed glasses and her fondness for anything with the color pink, not much is known about Roberta, the head servant to the House of Baskerville. While many claim she is from the new world, it is obvious to everyone that she is not a Britannian nor a good maid: clumsy and prone to dozing off, many question Lady Margareth's decision to instate her personal chambermaid. Like her mistress, she is both kind and dreamy, perverted to some degree but diligent in her duties. Underneath her ditzy behavior lurks dark secrets that belie the sweet exterior the maid possesses.

Judith Wentworth, Baroness of Sudbury: Heralded as the 'Grandmother of Steam , her contributions to the research of Steam Technology greatly revolutionized Alma Britannia's standing in the world. A mysterious widow of few words, it is rare to hear her speak, much less smile or show any reaction other than apathy. In truth, her research was the work of her late husband Hubert Wentworth, a male noble who was purged under the Queen's orders. As to why she travels the world on the Railway, very few know. She thinks nothing of her noble status, even going so far as to loathe the current system.

Saleh: A slave damned to life serving in the hellish battlefields in Barus, his life was saved by Lady Wentworth, a wandering Noble who risked her life to witness the devastation of war. Owing the Noble his life, he serves her as a faithful servant, loyal even to his death. His experience as a soldier shows in his pragmatism, sparing few words for idle chitchat, always determined to fulfill his Mistress' wishes.

BLANK BLANK, BLANK: A daughter from the venerated House of Newgate, the family boasts dedication to Queen Guinevere, a powerful ally that had installed her onto the Throne of Britannia during the chaos that ensued after the death of the King. Haughty, Intelligent and refined, she is best friends with Margaretha, the Heiress and next in line to the throne. Like her mother, she shares the view that men are vile and worthless beings, mistreating her male servants for any slight infraction. Despite this, she secretly harbors feelings for Bartholemew ever since their first meeting in the grimy streets of Edinburgh. She and Margaretha were born at the same day.

Victorique De'blois, Countess of Orleans: The daughter of Antoinette De'blois and King Francival the 8th, by technical terms she is the new Queen of Saubure. Her parents abdicated the throne after a Bloody Civil war known as the Great Upheaval, resulting in the death of the Nobility who fought back and the rescinding of the Sauburean throne. Seeking asylum in Alma Britannia, Antoinette De'blois died in childbirth, her daughter raised in Britannia. Though sharp-tongued and blunt, she possesses intellect that rivals Courtly scholars. She is often ordering around her personal 'servant' , Kazuya.

Kazuya Kujo: Better known as Francis Magellan to the Gibraltans, he hails from the Far Eastern country of Ji-phen, having sneaked on board a trading ship leaving port. Kazuya was the youngest of 4 brothers, all with illustrious lives back in his home country. Wishing to make a name for himself, he traveled all the way to Britannia, only to fall into servitude to the Countess of Orleans, who had shown interest in his exotic culture. Fluent in the main European languages, he serves as Victorique's guardian, often accompanying and serving her.

Winston Smith: A Smith Butler, hailing from the distinguished institution that produced the finest Butlers in all of Europe. Renowned for taking in the abandoned children of the poor or the derelict, with no memory of his past life, from the age of 4 he was trained to become a Butler. Assigned to Queen Leanne, eventually he was tasked with overseeing the Heiress' education and wellbeing. Even though he has pledged to serve her every whim, he is known for his witty remarks, both seen as audacious yet insightful.


Schwarzivald Empire​

Commodore Galahan:

Duke Edwin Perrins of Aldersbrook:

His Lordship Bartholemew, The Duke of Knightsbridge: The brash, rough and reckless noble, Bartholemew hails from the disgraced House of Darcy, whose father head fled into exile at the first sign of trouble within the revolution led by Prince Rolf to the Schwarzivald Empire. Stubborn and headstrong, he refuses to acknowledge Queen Leanne as the ruler of Alma Britannia. Adventurous and open-minded, he journeyed down South into El-Nath, sailing as a Privateer to live an adventurous life in the sea. Despite his rough exterior, he can speak politely, if kept in line he would make an excellent butler.

Master Charles Albright: The son of a powerful Merchant, having ties into the Gibraltan court his ships travel the Royal Way, the safest route to circumnavigate the world into the Far East. Eccentric and joyful, he lives an extravagant lifestyle, one that is dangerously similar to the frivolous lives that the Nobles once lived. He is set to marry a woman within Britannia to strengthen the ties that bind Alma Britannia and Schwarzivald.

Master Sebastian Relius: The sole heir to a vast fortune made by his father, Thomas Relius, an explorer who founded New Juno in the New world, he controls all of the trade routes that go from the new world to the European continent. Controlling the monopoly of raw materials and ore trade within the new colonies, he holds a considerable share of power. Though antagonized by many due to his age, he has allied with powerful Merchants like the Monteblanc and even the Edelfelt family.

Ades Federation​

Her Most-blessed Catharina of Flores: The 'Second' daughter of Sara Auguste Florentine, the Queen-regent of Ades. The queen had given birth to twins and as to not abandon the other, she had declared that the two of them would rule Ades Federation. Though timid and aloof, Catherina tries to carry herself about as a Queen, studying hard to one day succeed the throne. She is with great terms with Victorique.

Her Most-blessed Katharina of Flores: The 'First' daughter of the past Queen-regent, she enjoys the company of her sister and serves as her 'guardian'. Though she is young, she is well educated and knows about the political arena and her role to determine the future of the Federation. She has grown attached to Meister Fransisco, whom she sees as an older brother who is ever watchful for them.

Meister Fransisco Rovira, Duke of Segovia: An Admiral, knighted by the past Queen-Regent herself, he was left to protect the two Princesses, as a guardian to them. A brilliant strategist, he had sent many frigates to the bottom of the ocean when he controlled the Magnificent Fleet, the most powerful armada of ships that fly the golden lion, the standard of the Ades Federation.

Meister Petrona de Arellano: The Minister of Foreign relations, Petrona was tasked with raising the twin Augustas after the departure of their mother. With motherly grace and kindness, she advises and helps the Augustas slowly mature, trying her best to stave off war and misery as to not depress them.
 
Georgiana, fair and brave
as a girl, a kiss she gave
to a boy of the seas
A right whipping, she received!

It had been years since Georgiana hummed that little poem to her maids-in-waiting; as a small, fragile-looking child, donning enormous dresses, she had bounced through her chambers, singing the rhyme over and over again until her voice had become as sore as her red bottom. As a teenager, when she grew stronger and healthier, the poem began to fade from her mind, and she sung it less often as her attention changed from intently gazing out of her seaside window, hoping to see another little playmate wash ashore, to learning how to be a monarch. Her teenage years were spent pouring through books, writing and painting, sitting in the House of Ladies and studying politics.
Finally, in her late, teenage years, when her mother was growing older and the people of Alma Britannia anxiously awaited a new ruler, she was betrothed to a gentleman she had met only once before at a small gathering. Her first impression was that of a flashy young boy who excited her; aroused her hopes of taming the closest cousin of Woman there was- Man. Beyond that, she hadn't thought much of him and continued her search for a suitor among the exceptionally limited pool of gentlemen.
As a young adult, the poem had been lost to age, and replaced with the sound of wedding bells echoing through the streets while women in yellow and red paraded through the town, giving away flowers in celebration that soon, a future Queen would be born to the young princess. Georgiana had become the beauty icon that her mother had once been; fashionable and well-educated, stoic and strong, a perfect idol for the women of Alma Britannia. Porcelain skin and a clear complexion complemented wide, mismatched eyes of blue and gold; an oddity that had earned her plenty a cruel moniker when she was young, but now gave way to the affectionate titles the people of Alma Britannia bestowed upon their little princess. The golden-haired beauty was a bonafide princess now, and she never looked more befitting the title than on her wedding day. Her long hair was twisted up in a formal updo, allowing enormous, diamond earrings to drip down her ears and spill onto her shoulders; an enormous, white crown sat atop a bed of flowers in her hair, attached to the sheer veil that exposed her face. Her shoulders, graceful as ever, hosted the long, white, ornate dress which pinched her tiny waist and fell into a languid, lacy train six feet long and carried by a lady-in-waiting- one she had known since her birth, who now wept with tears of joy at the young princess looking as beautiful as ever.
Georgiana dismissed the ladies from the room so that she might be alone to finish the small details. She sat at her vanity, humming a long-lost tune to herself, while her delicate hands admitted two soft, silk gloves, followed by a diamond and gold bracelet. Her wide, brilliant eyes stayed on her mirror, admiring her own beauty so closely that she lost herself in self-congratulations. It was only the sound of something crashing not too far from the chambers in which she had grown up that stirred her awake. The princess turned slowly to see the door fly open, and the song that she had sung as a child re-emerged for the first time in over a decade, blaring as loud as ever in her mind.
 
Melchior had Pippin and Maredith finish up the rigging on the ship. Saladin and Miselotte were cleaning out the bores of their cannons and preparing a delectable meal, respectively. Hidden beneath a cove run by an unscrupulous innkeeper they paid their dues and restocked. The presence of a darker-skinned Barusian was typical in the city; though not as freed people, but rather as slaves. As such, Melchior did not permit his crew to go beyond the secret docking area as instead, the barmaid and Miselotte went out to buy provisions. Unless of course, they wanted to be seized on sight and taken as slaves. But apparently, a certain Crew member didn't really heed his warnings.

"Where's Theodore?" asked Maredith, helping Saladin pull up a small barrel of pickled fish. She was often seen as the crew's older Sister, one that wasn't as cold and silent as Miselotte: always quick to give a pat to the shoulder, Maredith was always looking out for everyone, even going so far as forgoing meals just so someone could recover their strength. It was no surprise that she was rather concerned about him. "He's off doing something silly. Whatever the case, we sure won't bail him out like last time."

Saladin looked a bit concerned, but of course, Melchior's word was law. They spent enough buying out his freedom when he got caught in Ironsail Cove, surely they won't buy out his freedom now. "If he's not back by sundown we'll sail out! Maredith, help Miselotte bring up the provisions." he commanded. The faster they could get out of Alma Britannia, the better. News were that the Lumiere Knights stepped up their search for illegal coves and docking areas, meting out penalties for women and hangings for men.

Just that thought made the captain spit onto the floor. Disgusting place, this was.

<><><>​

"Mhmmm...this place sure is tight."

Theodore was his name to the Salty Hag corsairs, but he always referred to himself as Triton. Yes, that name a frail, blonde-haired girl gave him. The very girl who saved him from a watery grave. Even when others convinced her to simply put him out of his misery, she intervened. There was no mistake: even today he could remember opening his eyes to see a cute young lady, mismatched eyes staring right into his own, relieved that he was safe and sound.

He had to move quick, otherwise he'd end up bound and stockaded like last time in Ironsail Cove. Ducking underneath a small cart, when the coast was clear he jumped atop a few stacks of baskets onto the rooftops. The Lumiere Knights had not the strength nor the dignity to soil their gloves and try to chase him up here, so he had the advantage. Squatting for a moment, hand open to shield his eyes from the sun he scanned over at the horizon before him. There was no mistake: there was the castle, the splendid estate where she had lived. "Alright...here goes nothing. Alundra, watch over me." he said, kissing a soft cross trinket bound to his wrist as he jumped down, attracting the attention of a Soldier who had been patrolling not too far off. Drawing out his dagger, Theodore ran back, only to sprint forward, jamming the knife right into the wood, using it as a life line from an otherwise fatal drop.

"Almost there..." he whispered to himself, looking down to see towards the square. It was some kind of a wedding procession...wait a minute... "The Pumpkin Duke is getting married?! Wahahaha!" They had many odd nicknames for every nobility that comes up from the boards asking for the heads of some pirates, Duke Perrins was affectionately called the Pumpkin Duke because of how red he would get when he was angry. They had the fortune of clashing with him once, he remembered how flustered he was when they stripped him of his silken royal garments, spouting off how a Commodore would come and blow them out of the sea. But well, enough of that, the predicament remained: there were so many soldiers. The building was impossible to jump across to and walking in plain sight was tantamount to suicide.

Taking a look around, he then noticed a small farmer's cart filled with hay. "Ohoho...look at that." While he would have just LOVED to jump off and land into it's soft fluffiness, he instead took out a small kindlestick. Rubbing it against the stone roof, he threw the barely burning wand, watching the haystack immediately burst into a conflagration that immediately caught onto the wood of a villa. The soldiers and Knights scrambled off, leaving the Pumpkin duke to almost squeal and hug the Commodore's arm. "Fare you well, duke~!" he said to no one in particular, as he melded in with the crowd, now panicking to contain or even flee from the flames. The house of Ladies was not too far off and of course, the boy set his sights upon scaling it. "Just you wait, Georgiana...I'm coming to save you."

<><><>​

Donna was so proud to finally see her Highness Georgiana all grown up. So proud in fact, that she shed tears upon sighting just how marvelous she was. Like the bride Mathilde before the Sun god Solas, her splendor matched that of the virgin bride offered before a welcoming groom. And while she had joked with her highness about Duke Perrins, it was a romance straight out of a fairy tale. When dismissed, Donna was quick to walk out with the other attendants and her chambermaids.

Donna had gone out to assist the preparations, but had not seen a young white-haired boy sneak in from the inside. So busy she was, humming to herself the tune of Alma Britannia's anthem that she did not notice the boy elude guards, hiding behind pillars and ducking low. Given how the Princess desired to be left alone, no guards were posted, a ripe opportunity for the corsair to open the door and walk right in. Even though he could have worked on opening that door, especially now that the heavy bang would have attracted some attention.

"Whew. Those Knights never change." remarked the young man. This boy...he was familiar: brownish skin set a perfect highlight to his ruby red eyes, silver white hair held back by a black bandanna. Wearing a short fabric that looked like the combination of a shawl and a scarf, clad in leather outcoat and steel padded graves, the young man smelled of the sea and of a fragrance like none other, contrary to the barbaric portrait of pirates painted by the nobility throughout her education. The boy did not heed standard conventions much less respect her privacy, as he stepped forward just after jamming the doors shut with a candlestick to the handles. Good luck trying to get that thing opened!

For the first time in a decade, the two finally locked eyes. That very boy, the first who had told her that the mismatched eyes she posessed were gorgeous instead of repulsive. And to her, the boy who washed ashore, promising her a life of adventure beyond this kingdom. "I've come to take you away, Gia~" yet another teasing name, a short-hand form of her name Georgiana. While to him it seemed all too casual, it was sure to be insulting to anyone else.
 
For a second that felt like eons, Georgiana could not remember the name of the boy whom she had known so intimately, though it had been years ago; how long had it been? She remembered it was during her sicker days as a child... it must have been at least a decade. After that long moment, the word fell from her lips like the crumbs of a delicious pastry. "Triton," she murmured, her eyebrows raising in lazed surprise. Ever the stolid diplomat, Georgiana elegantly rose from her seat and motioned to a daybed by the window. "Please, sit," said the princess firmly, neither pleasure nor disdain in her eyes; rarely expressive, Georgiana was even moreso concretelike that she considered this a delightful but ill-timed intrusion. As the young lady raised her slender arm to indicate where he should sit, her silky, gloved right hand pushed back her dress so that she may step forward.

---

Once upon a time, ages ago, a young princess, sickly and joyous, had demanded of her attendant, Donna, to take her to the shore. She had seen a shadow wash onto the land, and hoping desperately to see first-hand the wreckage of a pirate ship from the times of the wars, she bolted to the beach with her ladies-in-waiting following far behind.

Instead, what she found was the figure of a rather ugly-looking girl, with darker skin than she and stark, white hair spilling around her face. Georgiana leaned over this girl, her head blocking the sun from the other's face, as the ruby eyes of the creature before her blinked tiredly. The young princess nudged the arm of the lost child, and blinked her wide, mismatched eyes. "Donna," said the princess, not once tearing away her eyes from that of the figure before her. "I think she's sick."

Donna quickly moved in front of Georgiana. "My princess, that isn't a she, it's a he, and I advise you to leave him as he was found!"

---

Georgiana, now a young adult, and healthy, less vibrant, and more professional, watched her visitor intently, with the same wide, curious, and strange eyes that had found a playmate by the shore years ago. His scent was the same; that of the salty air like a fish plucked from the watery depths of the sea. Her mind was racing through her questions, but instead of overwhelming him, and herself, she instead decided that the most diplomatic course of action was to treat her guest as a welcomed visitor, who, perhaps, willed her the blessings of the gods on her wedding day.
 
It was hard to imagine the image of a frail yet joyous girl in place of her own. She had grown to a very fine and beautiful woman, whose demeanor exuded control, command and elegance. A true aristocrat, unlike the girl who simply laughed when running revealed her knickers or making sand castles when she was young. But...she had grown, but from his estimates, she was an inch or two shorter. Even so, dressed in white, complete with an elegant silk crown and jewels that was the fantasy of a cheapskate pirate (Like Melchior) , she seemed almost like she was right out of a fairy tale. "Huh? Ah...okay." he said, simply throwing himself upon the plush and soft bed. He didn't even remove his shoes, leaving some grime on the rug and of course, onto the silken tresses of the mattress.

Ohh! "It's like sleeping on a cloud! This is great, Gia!" he said. He was rather rowdy and ill-mannered, typical of the boy who laughed at her explanations of things like tables manners and talking to ladies. When he noticed that she didn't seem the least amused, Triton dropped the playful act and sat up. Yes, she was a Princess now. No longer the sickly yet friendly Gia he knew, she was Her Highness Georgiana Rebecca Winter, the woman the innkeeper was talking about. "You've grown." he said, of course he couldn't help but stare at her modest frame, particularly at her breasts. Not too sizable nor too flat, it was just the right size for a woman of her stature. She was elegant and seemingly refined. "Is it true that your dress is woven from clouds?! Can I touch it?" Of course asking doesn't really matter when he began to feel the cloth of her train. His eyes sparkled, showing that he really was quite amused.

But when fun time was over, he sat down, ignoring a knocking from the other side. "Your Highness...is everything alright?" asked the voice of Donna, quite concerned that Georgiana a had locked her door, something that she rarely did. "I heard some noise there...do you require help?" Triton gestured to her, "Shhhhh~" as he hid beneath the bed, trying not to attract much attention. Of course, however, the grime of dirt and salt on the floor and bed really wouldn't help.
 
The princess's eyes had followed him, seemingly unamused by his antics and childish indulgences; still, reflecting on the past had caused her a small sense of warmth as she remembered her childhood playmate. Georgiana opened her mouth to scold him- how terrible he was at minding his manners!- when Donna's voice interrupted her daydream. Surely she was imagining this; perhaps he was an apparition, a ghost of the sea, come to haunt her for her wrongdoing. She deserved it anyway- letting him live was an act of mercy; befriending him was treason to her sex and nobility. Once he had slipped uner the bed, Georgiana shook the idea from her head; her nerves must be reacting. There was no Triton- he was a boy whom she had known once and wandered into the abyss years ago, never to be found again. As she held a fair wrist to her forehead, hoping to calm herself from this apparent fever, her eyes fell on the muddy grime traping across her rug.

Panic filled her for an instant- or maybe it was adrenaline. What exactly /were/ the consequences for having a male visitor in her room? Still, it was against her will, though her reaction may have been a bit too relaxed and cordial for such an intruder. A choked response emitted from her throat as she collected herself. "Yes," came the forced whisper, before she cleared her throat gently and said, more stately, "I'm fine, Donna." Georgiana floated slowly to the door and whispered, "Donna... I- I-..." Her voice trailed off as she came to a most troubling crossroads. Which could she sacrifice: her friend or her duty? Fear etched itself across the youthful features of the princess and for a moment, she bit down on the crook of her gloved finger as she contemplated.

"Yes, your Majesty? Is something the matter?" came the concerned voice from the other side of the door.

In an instant, Georgiana flung the candle from the doors and opened the doors to come face to face with the woman who had raised her; the princess said firmly, "Fetch the guards. There is an intruder in my chambers." Donna hesitated, opening her mouth to protest before Georgiana's cold look administered a look of frightfulness and obedience to the woman; she scampered off, leaving Georgiana still at the door, where she closed her eyes, stole a deep breath, and said coldly, "You have one minute before the guards arrive. I suggest you use it."
 
Donna looked positively and absolutely shocked. Even though she could not see the dastardly intruder, she knew right away that she was indeed in trouble. She tried to raise concern, but her lot in the world was to obey, and obey she did. "Y-yes, your highness!" she had no time left to cordially dismiss herself, as she immediately ran off, towards anxious bridesmaids waiting for her. "The Princess is in danger! Why isn't Jaina guarding her Majesty's room? Assemble the Palace guard, the Lumiere Knights, I don't care who!" Donna had cared for the young girl from the moment she was weaned by the wet nurse to the point where she now stood as a true princess. She absolutely would not let any intruder take here away! Taking a candlestick amidst shocked bridesmaids, even if she had to get hurt herself, she would not let anyone extinguish the light of Alma Britannia!

<><><>​

The decision shocked Triton, who could only lie and watch as she threw aside the candle and told someone, presumably a maid, about his presence. He immediately stood up, looking the woman right in the eye. So...it had really come to this... Triton stood up, as the doors were gently closed. Given how easy it was to sneak out...it seemed that they only guarded the perimeter, so he had atleast two minutes to do as he pleased, yet even that wasn't an awful long time. Triton was at a loss for words: what had happened to that girl who wanted to be taken far away from here, into a life on the grand seas?

He tried to look for even as little of a shred of that sickly girl into the Georgiana he could see now and sadly, he could find nothing. The man looked down, his jovial attitude all but gone, grim and quiet.

"That's okay. I'll just kidnap you then."

Such audacious words! Before she could even make another scream, he immediately tackled her down softly, securing her arms right behind her back with a pre-knotted rope handcuffs, forcing her wrists together as it was cinched. "Stay still, your Highness, this is for your own good!" he said, smiling jovially as he took a piece of cloth, more precisely, her handkerchief, rolling it up to form a knotted ball in the middle like a cloth-like ball gag, fitting it to her mouth just as she was about to make a response to his question. Tying her ankles a bit, he hoisted her above his shoulders. "Ayyyuuup~!" he said, smiling as he stepped onto the long train of her dress, tearing it off as he immediately took out a grappling hook. Overlooking the window, he saw a black-haired Maid stare at disbelief with a Barusian boy and the princess, bound and gagged onto his shoulder, above to descend from the roof.

"Y-you?!"

"Au revoir~!"

And then, he made the scale downwards. The female Knights burst into the room, about to dislodge the hook. "N-no! The Princess could be harmed! Alert the overwatch!" an elegant, tall and red-haired Knight spoke, her voice commanded much authority. This was Jaina Arthuria Threepiece, the grandmaser of the Lumiere Knights.

<><><>​

Knights were everywhere. The soldiers scrambled about and scanned every area. They arrested every single person with dark skin, holding them indefinitely until the investigation would go through. A pair of Lumiere Knights stopped a dark-blue haired girl, walking whilst she read a book, as a bronze-skinned boy with a turban languished, pushing a barrel as he collapsed, panting.

"Is something of the matter, Ma'am?" asked Miselotte, kicking the boy-slave near the kidney. "I must be getting this to my father. Worthless Barusian slaves, lazy and foul-smelling, aren't they?" she sounded so cold and demeaning, striking the boy once again, who refused to react. The Lumiere Knights passed, but not without one spitting at the boy's cheek.

When they were gone, the boy smiled. "You really saved me out there, Miselotte!" said Triton as he pulled off the turban, fitting the shawl back on. He was lucky to have found Miselotte wandering around, she had devised the plan to move the 'jewels' (She was unaware he had kidnapped the Princess of Alma Britannia) that he had secretly placed in the barrel. "Gladly, however, Melchior really isn't very happy with your disappearance. Did you want us to try and bail you out again?"

"Oh no no no! I wouldn't want to eat bread and drink dirty water for another week! I am sure the loot I took would really repay all that trouble! Two-fold!" the Darcsen looked leery towards him, yet said nothing more as he fixed up his turban once more, pretending to be the miserable boyservant to a condescending yet dignified Miselotte as they slowly made it back towards the harbor...

Now that the coast was clear, Triton was quick to remove the gaudy Turban he wore, pulling out his clothes from the barrel, making sure to wink playfully towards Gia. "Almost there~" he said, smiling as he closed the lid only a little bit to allow some air. Miselotte looked wary because to her, it appeared as if he was talking to treasure and trinkets stolen from royals. "Come now, let us depart. You kept him waiting for too long."
 
Georgiana had fought as best she could, but the art of combat was never something one learned from the very, very few books she had read on the subject. She kicked her feet and swung her delicate arms, not once actually hitting Triton, until she was tied up and thrown over his shoulder. The weight of her dress made her at least twenty pounds heavier, but when her train was torn off, she felt immediately lighter. "Mmph!" she protested in horror, upon realizing his plan to grapple down the wall. The entire ordeal rushed by her as adrenaline pulsed through her veins; she had never experienced such excitement before, such raw, primal exertion that even when she was thrown into a musty barrel, her endorphins ran through her body wildly. She slid into the barrel easily, though it was anything but comfortable with ten pounds of the heavy, ivory fabric sorrounding her in a white pool.

The princess stretched out her neck, settling into the barrel as comfortably as she could. For a few minutes she was still, and she thanked the gods for that. When the lid opened, and her offender threw her a wink, Georgiana narrowed her eyes and protested, only to be cut off by the lid capping the barrel again. If she had any doubts that this was Triton before, or perhaps an apparition of him, her doubts had been assuaged. This was exactly what the little white-haired boy from the sea would do on her wedding day. Had she ever had any doubts?

---

"Now, you'll be the pirate captain, and I'll be the barmaid who gets captured!" twittered Georgiana, weakly attempting to move the small, wooden table fit for a child. "Now this is the bar, and your ship is the rocking horse, and Donna is the Commodore Wellsley, who will find you and have you hanged for kidnapping me!" The tiny, feeble princess never looked so healthy as when she were playing with her favorite toy, Triton. "Oh!" she sighed dramatically. "Donna, you mustn't look so damned tired!"

"My princess!" cried a much younger and more exhausted-looking Donna. "Where did you learn such crude language?"

Without hesitation, Georgiana answered innocently, "Triton taught it to me. It isn't bad, Donna; it's pirate language. And /I/ want to be a pirate!" Donna shook her head and said, "Princess, it's dangerous to even say such things." Georgiana grinned from ear to ear and began singing, "I'll be a pirate, a pirate! I'll sail the fifteen seas! Pillaging and stealing and sailing as we go, and cutting off people's knees!"

---
 
Donna looked with shock, still persisting to look down from the window where she had seen the dare devil slide down, only to scurry off into the shadows. Jaina looked evidently frustrated. "Close down the entire place! Not a soul can leave without my permission! Arrest any dark-skinned freed-men or slaves. That rat isn't alone." Jaina said, as the knights assembled before her stood straight and saluted her, before dispatching. "I am afraid that you must bring this news to her Majesty, Donna." Jaina said, hand onto the maid's shoulder. The red-haired woman knew that it was quite a devastating blow to see a the Princess, who was pretty much a daughter to her, taken by grimy, unruly hands. "I-I understand..." As Jaina set off, Donna fell to her knees, unable to comprehend just what had happened.

This kindness she had given the boy...and this was how he repayed her?! How would she live her life knowing that in keeping him alive he had returned to steal her most precious Georgiana! "Why...why couldn't you have just died?!" she cried out to her soul, regret weakening her every fibre. For the first time, the strong-willed servant Donna broke down, unable to comprehend the karmic injustice done to Alma Britannia. Had it been wrong to let the boy free instead of facing justice when he was so young?

<><><>​

With a little help from Saladin, he managed to get the barrel up the gangplank. "This is pretty heavy a damn barrel for some treasure...what, did you steal a statue or something?" The man joked, kicking the barrel. Triton laughed nervously with him, thank goodness no one heard the squeal. Of couse, Maredith didn't really buy it. "What's in the thing, anyways? Is it a crown? And couldn't you have just hid it in something smaller?" she stroked her chin, looking towards the Barrel before Triton moved right between her and the barrel. "Ehehe...I-I'll take this down myself, we-we really should go..."

"Huh? But we just got here! Didn't you say you wanted to have a seat and eat some proper food for once?" Maredith questioned his sudden change of heart. After all, even the mightiest of privateers would sit down to eat a home cooked meal instead of salted fish or barreled pork that may have already spoiled. "Y-you know what, I change my mind! We should get going, before they might find us!" Theodore looked rather nervous, getting to push the barrel. That was strange. Why would he push that barrel instead of rolling it down to the galley?

He continued to push it, before a blade plunged right into the barrel. "Guhi?!" he panicked, looking right at Melchior, who stopped the push with his knife. Thankfully it didn't hurt the princess, but he was sure she was probably the last person who wanted to play stick the barrel where she was inside! "Besides, I want to inspect just what you go- Wait. what's that noise?" Triton knew his cover was busted when Melchior opened the lid and threw it down, watching a flow of pure silk fall...and the fair maiden that followed, mismatched eyes staring right into them with her fair wrists bound and her mouth gagged with cloth. The entire crew fell with surprise, Pippin in particular wanted a good look at the fair and beautiful maiden.

Melchior knelt down, stroking a fine strand of golden hair. He then grimaced, spitting onto her dress. "Pah. Lax, fat aristocrats. Pillaging lands while you sit fattening your asses! She'll make a mighty fine bounty, enough to make all of us and our future families wealthy...but I really question, just what the hell did you get us into, Theodore?" he asked, throwing his knife onto the floor, dangerously close where she was, pinning her by the dress. Triton laughed nervously, stroking the back of his head. "W-well...I just decided to kidnap her! That's all, she didn't seem well protected either! She sure is worth more than jewels, no?"

"But that would mean the entire fleet of Alma Britannia shall be chasing us down." Miselotte interjected, looking down at the girl with equal animosity as Melchior had, "They won't rest until we all dangle in Gallows wharf, don't you know that?" Of course Triton only laughed at this, nervously. Melchior sighed. Typical, always thinking his actions through ONCE he had finished doing them. "Unlatch the gangplank, unfurl the sails. We're heading to Ironsail Cove in three days time, unless we all want to face against the Britannian navy." he said, taking her up by her arms, not even caring when her dress tore up from the knife that pinned down the silk. "I'll take this bitch to the brig." he said, prompting a concerned look from Triton. Yet, even he knew orders were orders.

Pushing the princess roughly, he threw her inside a prison cell, right against the bed as he straddled her...taking her arms up from behind and tying her wrists to the head railing and blindfolding her with tatters from her dress. "Don't interfere." he said roughly. While her dress was suggestively torn and she was perfectly helpless, he found no satisfaction in raping a Princess like her. With that, he closed the door and immediately set off, watching his crew begin preparations to depart.

"Full speed ahead, and may Alundra give winds to our flight from this country!"

<><><>​

Even though Donna made sure to spank the suddenly unruly Georgiana, the little boy soon snuck from his confinement area and pushed the doors open, to see a lonely Princess looking outside, towards the ocean. The funny thing was, he would end up using the same path and he would find no one to hinder him! When asked what he was doing, Triton immediately grabbed Georgiana with the best of his might. "I'm kidnapping the bar maid, silly!" he said, with a smile, "The Commodore isn't here, so I'm going to take you away~" he said, placing her down gently when he grew tired.

Ah yes...smiles would never leave their faces, soon enough they ended up looking each other in the eye as they sat down while he told her stories of the ocean. "My daddy's probably sailing somewhere...he told me I'd be safe, but I am sure he's still alive!" Triton said, flexing his right arm, which happened to be quite scrawny. "Oh! I remember that he told me of this place known as Serovanna Cove, where there are fish that can really fly. Really! And...and...he told me that when the moon is up, they would jump from the water and sail, almost like a rainbow in the night!" he said, standing up as he looked towards the Ocean.

From the sea he came, and while he was nursed to life by a sickly Princess, he was destined to return to the ocean...such was the fate of a pirate like him. Even this saddened him.
 
Georgiana's eyes had studied the crew members before her with terrible disdain. The stench of the boat and rotten fish was the most horrible thing her delicate nose had ever smelled; she raised her bound arms and removed the gag with some difficulty, then put it to her nose. Her ivory dress pooled around her, creating a halo for her slender frame, and she wished she had the courage to scream. When Melchior's calloused hand reached towards her to stroke her hair, the princess pulled back, looking him over smugly. She stayed silent, though, stoic as ever, though excitement rushed through her body, creating a warm glow to rise to her cheeks. Though Donna may have attributed the rosy color to her temper flaring, only Georgiana knew it to be the arousal of an adventure that she had craved since she was a sickly child. Pursing her lips, she rose and allowed herself to be pushed into the prison cell. The moment he tied her wrists, the anticipation for an adventure succombed to the horror that she may be made unclean. A flood of relief filled her when she heard the sound of heavy boots clicking away.

Anger began to rise in the princess's mind, and her cheeks, once a faint, rosy glow, now became blood red. Her dress- the beautiful work of art a year in the making- was in tatters; her silk gloves torn, flowers ripped from her hair, jewels missing from her gown, and her golden sash hanging on by threads. She looked and felt like anything less than a princess, and as her anger rose and subsided within a few minutes, Georgiana turned her attention on trying to unbind her wrists from the hold he had forced her into. The young princess fiddled with the ropes, squeezing her small hands as best she could from her holds but to no avail. So, she waited; deepening her breaths as panic shook her bones, and a lump in her throat begged her to shed just one tear. Despite her best efforts to remain aloof and heedless to her situation, her brilliant blue eye began brimming with water. /I mustn't cry/, she told herself silently. /I can cry when I return home, but for now, I musn't cry!/

Her breath quickened, then slowed, as the time continued on, and the sobering conclusions of her situation passed. Eventually, the tears dried into dim marks on her face, and Georgiana found a comfortable-enough position, though her arms had begun to tingle. She rested her head on her shoulder tiredly; at the moment, the adrenaline had begun to wane, and she found herself wanting nothnig more than to sleep. Still, she stayed awake, awaiting the moment when she may negotiate with the captain for her release.

---

"No, I don't think I will leave him be," quipped the princess, turning to Donna, shielding her eyes from the sun. "Fetch a medic. I'll stay with the /boy/." The word felt so foreign to her; of course she had known of men in the past, after all, she was born from woman and man. Still, she had never thought of men as being children, like herself. Could boys make good playmates? she questioned, turning back to look at the child before her, panting and wheezing as he lay on the bed of sand, soaked through his ratty clothes.

"Your Highness, I do implore you to reconsider-" began Donna, her eyes lowering to the figure of the sea-ravaged boy; there was a look of crossness to her worn face; she knew that saving the boy would upset the Queen, but leaving him would upset the Princess. Still, the queen was often... unpredictable, whereas Georgiana was decidedly altruistic, playful, and affable- if a bit spoiled and demanding.

"I said, fetch a medic!" squealed the princess, her gaunt cheeks beginnnig to flash pink as her temper rose. "This instant!"

Donna immediately courtsied and rushed away, taking with her another maid-in-waiting, while the other two, young ladies circled around the princess and her catch. Georgiana had calmed down, seeing Donna hobble away like that, and had even giggled to herself before turning her attention back to the shipwrecked boy.

She plopped down beside him and folded her hands in her lap. "My name is Her Royal Highness, Princess Georgiana Rebecca Winter, Daughter of Her Royal Highness Leanne, Duchess of Leicester," she declared proudly. "And I've decided that your name is Triton. I think it will look lovely on a gravestone, in case you die."

--
 
"W-what?! Those Barus rats took away my Georgiana! H-how could they?!" Edwin was unable to bear the news, to have his beautiful and loving bride taken away from him...by dirty Barusians no less?! Wh-what if they decided to defile her?! Just that thought was almost enough for him to pull at his hair in fright. "C-c-commodore! You must arrest those miscreants! Y-you have to seek justice for me!" Edwins was almost always at the mercy of Galahan, more a mother than a guardian to the bumbling and arrogant Lord.

The Commodore, meanwhile, simply took his seat, sampling some of the salted fish served to him. They were enjoying peaceful chat and musings about Alma Britannian society when a black-haired Maid bowed before them. Even before he could make an offer for her to join him in bed she had delivered the news: a dark-skinned Barusian had forcibly abducted his beloved bride moments before the wedding at the Basil Cathedral. "Uwaaaaahh! Why has fate treated me so cruelly!" lamented the Duke, as the Commodore stood up. "Tend to his Lordship. He has not taken the news of her disappearance well." he said, calling out to his first-mate, Kenneth.

"Prepare the sails and alert Rear Admiral Marlon. We're going to flush out a few rats from their hiding holes.

<><><>​

Surely enough, they really weren't going to be welcomed back at that innkeeper's cove any more! They simply left, Saladin forgot to pull up the anchor so it ended up smashing the boardwalk leaving behind a confused Barmaid and an angry innkeeper. Of course Triton only stuck out his tongue as they sailed off into the deep blue, working hard to stabilize and re-tie the knots holding the sails together. Miselotte was doing the driving, but when Melchior emerged, he took the helm. Now, it was smooth sailing from here on out. And the weather looks quite favorable too. Had Alundra graced their blessings?

"Who is that woman, brother Theo?" asked a young Pippin. He seemed awfully interested in the young girl, this Maredith and Triton knew well. "Ahh...well she's a very important person to me. You see...she saved my life when I was younger...I owe her a debt." "A...debt?" Pippin looked rather confused as he helped Triton pull a rough length to keep it taut while he tied it off, "...Let's say I needed to bring her out for a bit..." he said, smiling for a tad.

"Well, I'm off for a bit, cap'n!" Triton waved out. "No fair! You spent all your time dillydallying!" Saladin called out, from the netting as he ascended to the Top mast, perhaps to take a look at what lay ahead. Melchior did not object beyond that, his silence presumably enough of permission to allow the boy to enter. The moment he went into the brig, his hand softly pulled away her blindfold and the gag, hand over her mouth to silence her. "Shhhh..." he said, slowly lifting away his hand as he untied her hands to the best of his ability.

This probably wasn't what she was hoping for when he said 'Adventure in the high seas'. The smell of sea water reeked from miles, though in time he was confident she may overlook this and instead smell the fresh ocean breeze. "Hey Georgiana? I'm really sorry for being so rough. Our captain doesn't really like anyone from Europa..." he said, "A-and...I was a bit too forceful...I didn't mean to hurt you in any way... "Triton didn't even seem to be apologizing for the fact that he forcibly took her away. "Besides, I took you away from marrying that creep! Aren't you glad?"
 
Georgiana grimaced when he laid his filthy hand over her mouth. She jerked her head away until he had removed it, then slapped his face with her hand as hard as she could- which was, honestly, quite delicately. She stood, folding her hands politely in front of her, and spoke calmly.

"I saved your life once before; I shan't make that mistake again, for when you are captured, you and your crew of miscreants will be tortured until you beg for death. Now," she said, straightening herself, feeling her exposed ankles catch the drafts from the ship and chill her bones, "I demand you take me to the- the Captain, I suppose, so that I may negotiate a reasonable ransom." The young princess looked Triton over for the first time in so long. He was hardly recognizable, but there was a unique glow about him- a childish innocence that permeated through his adult age. It was that aura that Georgiana had so admired as a child, because it matched her own. How unreachable that time seemed! The princess's mismatched eyes studied every inch of him... and hesitated on his left cheek, where, years ago, she had placed her lips on the soft skin and pulled away quickly enough to catch the attention of Donna, who would have tattled to the queen if she knew such an event had taken place.

/Oh, Donna!/ thought Georgiana. /If only she had disobeyed me, and let the boy die- I would be married by now! And I certainly wouldn't be aboard this foul-smelling ship with the creatures who inhabit it with Triton!/

--

"Your Highness," began Donna, courtseying as she did, "I have... most tragic news. The princess has been kidnapped." And, lifting her eyes to steal a glance of the Queen's reaction, Donna felt most disappointed.

The Queen remained still. Has Lady Threepiece dispatched the proper forces?

"Yes, your Majesty," answered Donna with another courtsey.

Who are the perpetrators?

Donna lowered her eyes again. "A chambermaid claims to have seen either a Barusian or a Krugisian boy."

There was a small moment in which Donna fought alerting the Queen to her callous tone and slow responses. As she looked up, the sheer gargoyle-like seriousness of the Queen caused Donna's maternal instincts to arise. The servant courtsied to the Queen and said, "What are your instructions, Your Majesty?"
 
All this kindness, and a slap? He rubbed his cheek with his face expressing surprise, but he was quick to become cheery as he smiled. "You talk pretty funny now, Georgiana." he teased, softly poking at her nose, a cute gesture that he remembered her do, especially when he had been unconscious upon the beach that time. When she did say that she would not repeat that 'mistake' she made, Triton didn't seem the least bit dismayed or offended. "Then, we just have to be sure not to get caught and no one has to get tortured or killed, right?" Oh so naive, he was. Triton always thought only of the best scenario, often this would result in the oversight of potential risks that he could not face.

"Oh, Melchior? He's not gonna want that." When she asked that she be brought to their captain, Triton only shrugged, "From what I've heard he's planning to kill you and sacrifice your blood to Alundra so that he can be granted a wish." Of course, this was all a lie: Barusians worship Alundra, the goddess of the moon and supposed creator of the Earth. To anyone else, Alundra was the epitome of Barusian morality: gluttonous, cannibalistic and utterly cruel. Such misconceptions would bleed out to the outlook of Barusians: even today some believe they were cannibalistic, witless bushmen living under rocks and leaf huts. When the answer obviously affected her, Triton only laughed and fell back on the bed. "Wahahah! I'm kidding. But yeah...Melchior really won't listen to you. We've already planned that you would be turned over in exchange for money and jewels. So just sit tight and enjoy the ride~" he whispered, leaning in to kiss her at the left cheek. Almost like a repayment of that kiss from his younger days that instantly set his cheeks alight...and earned the indignation of the maid constantly taking care of her.

The boat was mostly stable, save for a few moments of rocking here and there. Triton sat on the bed side, stroking her gentle, fine golden strands of hair. "Besides...aren't you happy that I took you away?" he asked, "From what I've heard that Pumpkin Duke wasn't a great guy: he's too show-offy, arrogant and totally womanizing. Who would want to get married to him? I know Miselotte and Maredith wouldn't." Triton joked, softly lying on the bed, head turned towards her. "Remember back then, you were so scared that Donna would scold you for wetting the bed and I'd sleep with you and you'd wake up dry?" Oh yes, such sweet and cute memories. Afraid of all sorts of noises at night, he could still remember a teary-eyed Georgiana asking him to sleep with her and scare away all of the boogiemen that haunted Lancashire Castle.

"Well...do you want to repeat that night?" he asked, softly stroking her cheek. Just when had he become such a fine gentleman...strong and able to stand on his own two feet?

<><><>​

Donna trembled, afterwards, unable to look at that woman's cold eyes. Her Majesty Leanne was a woman who spoke so little words, yet the entire court hung on every little letter she uttered. The Wise and powerful Queen of Alma Britannia...yet she had been a dismal mother and an even worse wife. While talking about the Queen in such a negative light was a one way trip to the Guillotine, Donna disliked her highness: one time her Georgiana fell with the low Fever and the only thing that the Queen was worried about was whether or not it would damage her womb and her appeal for marriage. What kind of woman would think of her daughter in such a way?

The Queen's eyes shut close, as if...deliberating on her next action. "...Sound the march. Alert Admiral Charlotte: the navy sails tonight. Teach those dark-skinned cockroaches a lesson they shan't forget so soon." The entire court fell to applause, "Make sure you impart a horror so real to them that no longer will a Krugian wink at any Britannian citizen in jest!" Donna's heart sank. Her words were that of a warmonger who had little compassion or sympathy for her stolen daughter. The applause died off, but Donna, deciding to risk her life for the girl she raised as her own, raised her voice. "But what of her Highness Georgiana, your majesty?!" she sounded. Leanne raised her eyebrow while the entire court fell to silence. What's this, a Commoner speaking out of turn before the Queen? The soldiers tensed, only to be stopped by the Queen's cold stare.

"You seem to misunderstand you place in my court, Commoner." The Queen coldly spoke, "You do not stand before my presence. A woman of common birth has no place to rise before me unless I so beckon it. You are the kind to always have her head near the ground, crawling for breath and tasting the earth beneath you. Know your place, Peasant." she said, as Donna fell to her knees, bowing her head in repentance. "F-forgive my outburst, your highness."

"And secondly, we are to impose a day of mourning: we shall say that her Highness was Raped and killed brutally by a gang of Krugian bandits. I have no use for a woman like her, who was impregnated by a dirty bronze-skinned cockroach." she said, causing Donna's eyes to widen. B-but...she could be alive?! Why was she almost too eager to declare she was dead? Oh yes...the purpose of this all along was to forge trust and alliance with the Schwarzivald empire. Rather than risking their dignity and effort to recover her, the death of the Princess at their hands was reason enough to level Krugis to the ground. Her daughter never mattered once...all that mattered was for the flags of Schwarzivald and Alma Britannia to fly side by side. "You are dismissed. However, I believe that a day in the dungeon will reinforce just where you stand in this kingdom. Do not think yourself superior to me, Commoner." she said, even as Donna did not resist being hauled off by Jaina herself and her loyal knight Andrea.

A servant went out to inform Admiral Charlotte, as Donna soon recovered her posture and walked with the Knights. "How brave of you, Donna." Jaina spoke, "Yet, how overly foolish." Yes, it had been a foolish outburst. No one could stand on their own will before the Queen, only those she deems as her 'equal' could stand without her permission. "Yes it was, but as a mother, I am willing to risk a trip to the Guillotine if that meant that the Queen would act to save her Highness." Donna said calmly, even as her wrists were locked with manacles, marching to the Dungeon bravely.

"Georgiana...please be safe." she prayed silently, as the cell door locked, leaving the maid in a dank and dark cell...
 
Georgiana slapped his hand away and froze. She hadn't made such a brash and childish move since she was- a child... a friend to the now adult laying beside her. The young princess stood, straightening the tatters of her wedding dress as best she could and said firmly- in order to regain her composure from that swat- in a most royal tone, "You stole me away from my wedding day in order to ransom me; do not mistake this act of villainy for heroism." She almost expressed her small interest for the Duke, but such words were none of this grimy pirate's business, so she refrained. To feel his hand on her cheek, that warmth that she so rarely experienced from anyone but Donna, gave her a sense of relief, and she allowed herself just a moment's enjoyment from that sense. As quickly as it had begun, Georgiana confidently pushed him aside (like a child pushing a rival- she did need to come to her senses!) and made her way to the door, a look of determination in her mismatched eyes- the gold and blue of her mother and- perhaps her father? She really had no inclination to research where her gold came from, though it had been so long since she felt self-conscious about it. Folding her hands indignantly, it took her a moment to realize that she was waiting on a maid to open the door, when no such maid was around. So, she extended her gloved hand and pulled it open, her heels making the wooden steps groan with seeming pain as she rose to the deck of the ship, ignoring the yelps from her friend- no! He was not her friend. He was her assailant, and she reminded herself not to forget that.

---

"I don't think I hate my eyes anymore," said a young Gia, seated parallel to Triton on a piano bench as her tiny fingers gently pressed each key with a feeling of dismay- anger that her piano lesson had interrupted her playtime with the boy. She smugly added, "I know that I'm pretty in all other aspects, but I always hated my eyes until you told me... Well..." Georgiana paused. "Anyway," she sighed, glancing sideways to him to steal a quick look for his reaction. "No, no, no," she insisted, plucking his hand from the D chord and placing it on the C. "One, two, three; one, two three; one, two three. Honestly, Triton, if you'd just learn to listen to my playing, instead of running your mouth all the time, you'd keep the pace!" Her scolding never did influence him too terribly. He would continue mashing down the key at his own rthym, a blatant disregard for the classical piece that Georgiana was desperate to teach him; not for her own interest in music- Alma Britannia was years behind the Schwarzivald Empire in terms of the auditory arts (though theatre was unrivaled in the entire continennt). Still, seeing Triton struggle with the keys as he attempted more difficult melodies always made Georgiana giggle; and she would correct him over and over again until she was sure he would lose his temper, then she would demonstrate with a soothing ballad to calm him again, like a lullaby- like the feeling of her back against his back as she laid in bed and felt confident no ghosts would haunt her tonight.

---

By nightfall, the cries of mourning had subsided to the call to arms; every woman, child, and servant in the capitol had heard the news of the Her Highness's abduction by the Krugians, and the sound of drums filled the chaotic air of the night. Black banners were hung in the cobbled streets in the capitol, and horsewomen carrying news of the princess's capture flew to their destinations as quickly as their horses could carry them. It was a day of misery, triumphed only by the determination to extinguish those filthy Krugians. The sound of bells hummed in rythym with the drums; before the sun had set, a procession of commonwomen had flooded the streets, weeping into their handkerchiefs and laying flowers at the gates of the palace. The white dresses had been replaced with black, and the traditional birdseed had yet to be swept from the streets before it was crushed beneath the bootheels of women honoring their vows to protect Great Alma Britannia from the scoundrels who threatened Her.

A war had begun.

Her Majesty smiled.
 
"Waaaait a second. You Wanted to marry the Pumpkin Duke?! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" For a brief moment it looked like Triton was really serious, but he burst out laughing, falling onto his back in raucous laughter. It was impossible to even consider the two being married; she was considerably shorter than him. Not to mention, when you add two very arrogant people together there would be shouting at ever turn when they spent their time together. Triton soon sat upright, trying to keep the mood jolly. "Oh come on...you are totally not his type! He prefers the more subservient girl. Like you know, slaves or something." While the topic of slavery was a touchy issue especially when he brought it up around Miselotte or Maredith (Darcsens and Barusians were almost always enslaved) , Triton rarely watched his tone anyways. Besides, he was catching up with a good friend of his!

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Triton called out. He rushed onboard the deck, where the endless expanse of the sea could be witnessed: outside the city, where there was little light, the stars shone brightly in all of it's splendor, like jewels in the sky with the Moon beset at the center like the largest pearl taken from the sea. "Uwahh...so beautiful." he said. "Oh hey, let's go up to the top mast: I can show you all of the star-signs..." he said, even though he really didn't care for her response as he scooped her up, her stomach on his shoulder as he climbed up, hand on the rope netting. "Shhh...don't panic or struggle...I've climbed this many times, you'll be fine~!" he said, "Maybe some day you'll learn how to climb too!"

Deftly climbing up the ropes right after he applied some dust onto his hands (Cheral dust always prevented rope burns and callouses from forming) , he climbed up, putting his strength forth as he ascended to the top mast. Often he would take the spyglass and look straight ahead, but it was the closest to the sky they could see. Without the sails obstructing their view, the full majesty of the night could be seen. He even handed her his spy glass. "Come now, take a look! There lies Orvalis, the Snakehead...and over there, Sarasatvi, the twin daughter." pointing her to many such stars...as he traced the shapes with the stars as the guidance, under the smooth sailing the sky was so very magnificent...

<><><>​

"Who would hate it? Is it that snobby pig-tailed girl again? If she says anything, lemme at her!" No matter how many times he was told never to hit a girl for any reason, Triton was always so eager to defend Georgiana from insults or even anyone trying to play with her whenever the other noble children would come. Often he would be called a 'slave' by the other children, but he really didn't mind it. As long as he was here with Georgiana, nothing else mattered!

Of course, however, his idyllic days were sure to end. So, beneath Donna's watchful gaze, he snuck inside the music room, staring in awe and wonder at the device she called a Piano. The music...it sounded so drab alone, but even playing two sounds at once...it was so melodious. Of course, all he did was hammer away playfully at each note, earning the indignation and a gentle scolding from Georgiana. "But this is so cool!" he said, playing away, though feeling her gentle hand against his own made him stop in his tracks.

He followed her, the opposite of their days when he, the fitter of the two, would always run on ahead only to stop and backtrack to help the little Georgiana. With his eyes closed, he 'listened' to the sound of the melody and his hands moved. When the piece was through, he looked with wonder to his own hands. "I...I did that?" he remarked, "Thank you so much!" he said, softly hugging her. Whenever Donna wasn't around, the two were quite physical, often hugging each other, to mimic the love stories they read about...

Such idyllic, halcyon days. Days that he would never forget, no matter how many years pass...

<><><>​

Where grieving was not, plotting was in order.

"This oppression has gone for too long...Queen Leanne has to go!" a man declared, raising a pint. Many other men assembled did follow. The Stubborn Boar bar was operated by a woman named Miriam, a woman who so disliked the Queen for executing her husband under false suspicion during the Night of Long Nails. She lent her secret basement to a collection of men who plotted against the Queen, determined to bring her down.

"We have supporters among commoners...some in the military go to us...we even have a few in the very Royal Guard that keep the Queen safe! We shall turn the knife to that bitch and cut away her life! We of Molderach's thunder, shall sound our fury!" "HUZZAH!" more cheering came, as the assembly of men cheered forward. They did not ask for revenge, for recompense or slaughter of women...no, they only wanted their freedom.

A tall, woman, cloaked in black, sighed. Even though she sympathized with their goals, these men were idiots. A handful of turncoats meant nothing to the Queen...in fact, even she knew that the Lumiere Knights would make their move soon, but even though she warned Keynes about this, the rabble rouser didn't listen to her.

The Baroness sighed, as she watched their leader, Keynes celebrate himself amongst his comrades. Even though they spoke of massive strides towards independence, this very room would not be full had it not been for the assistance she had given. "Hubert...I will get revenge for you. And for Julia..." she thought quietly, her hand tightening into a fist.
 
Georgiana had been taken aback; ever since she read of the love stories of pirates and maidens, princesses and male knights, the fairy tales that were almost extinct, she had dreamed of sailing away with Triton, staying forever on the wooden deck of a ship as it cruised through the rough waters wildly, lost, free from the responsibility of roya-

"Uff!" she grunted as Triton scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder. Frightened that he would drop her, she did as she was told, staying as still as possible, despite the feeling of vulnerability that nagged at her conscience. Once set down, the princess stared at the spyglass; she had never held one in her hand before. For a long moment, she considered shoving his hand away and demanding he take her down, but Georgiana knew better. Triton was as stubborn as she was, and the more she contemplated, her reasoning settled on the idea that if she were decent to him, then perhaps he would put her in good favors with the Captain... But did she truly want to depart, when she had just revelled in the majesty of the night sky at sea? It was better than she had ever expected- so much more calm, as the wind whispered in her ear, stay.

Georgiana gingerly took the spyglass from his hand, glancing between it and the man before her suspiciously. She placed it to her eye and tilted her head back, strands of golden hair falling to her shoulders, buds from her flower crown drifting to the deck below. Then, impulsively, the young princess mused, "It always seemed funny to me that the prodigal son appeared in the night sky when you left." Suddenly, a sense of sadness filled her; a sense of loneliness and emptiness- the same, miserable feeling she had experienced ten years ago.

---

"Where is the boy?" asked Donna politely, seated across from Georgiana at the breakfast table while her mother was abroad, leaving just the three of them- minus Triton. "He's never one to miss a meal."

Georgiana pushed a potato around with her fork, her head lowered to prevent Donna from seeing her tears. She remained silent, prompting Donna to pose the question again, at which point Georgiana's tiny shoulders began trembling, her lips parting dryly, and the knot in her throat threatening to burst forth a flood of tears. "I don't know," she whispered hoarsely.

---

"Donna!" came the high-pitched whisper of a maid-in-waiting. The young woman was cloaked in black, with scarlet underneath; the colors of wartime in Britannia. Donna rushed to the gates, expecting release, but Lady Threepiece had not arrived, even as the sun began to rise in the east.

"Eliza, is that you?" asked Donna, narrowing her eyes to adjust to the light of the candle the opposite figure was holding.

"Yes- but I have only a moment!" The red-haired young woman lowered her hood and cupped Donna's hands through the gate warmly. "You're freezing!" she exclaimed in her same whisper.

"Please, tell me what news you have- is the princess safe?" choked the servant.

"I have no news of her, but of her search!"

"Yes? Tell me!" begged Donna quietly.

The redhead leaned in close, her lips brushing against the iron bars of the cell. "The Schewarzivald Empire has joined forces with Alma Britannia- sadly, it is only a rumor."

Donna sighed heavily. "The war-mongering, bloodthirsty queen is not of my concern!"

"But wait!" continued Eliza. "The Duke Perrins, her Betrothed, has dispatched Commodore Galahan to find her!"

Donna clapped her hands together joyously, only to be hushed by the redhead. "Then there's hope!" she whispered.
 
His smile slowly disappeared when she mentioned 'that night'. Yes...he had been asked to vanish, given reprieve by Donna to flee away and to perhaps save himself from a worst fate. When asked why, Donna only replied that it would pain her to find out that he had died by someone's hand...it would be better for him to have vanished than to march to the gallows. He had left without even telling her...to have vanished without a trace, only to abruptly return without any warning years later...

"...I'm sorry." he whispered. His face, usually animated and easy going, looked sombre and solemn. "I left...because I feared for my life. Donna gave me an opportunity to escape. I vowed that I would return one day..." But, the one thing he had dreaded all that time came to be: she had fallen in love with another person, she had forgotten him as Triton, a boy who washed up on the shore barely clinging on to life. "If...if you really love the Pumpkin Duke...I promise I will get you back safely, even if it costs me my life." In a strange turn of events, Triton admitted that he wouldn't mind giving her back. "Besides...a friend only wants the best for them, right?"

He tried to say that with a smile, but could not force his smile any further. Triton really wanted her to be with him...but if that only kept her away from her love, was it no different than confining her in a palace, all alone looking to the sea day by day wishing for a hope to wash up in the beach; Hope that left her and never came back for many years? He didn't want that. But...the best he could do was to eat with her, for memory's sake.

"Let's go back down. Just remember to never overstep your descent: do it one footing each time. When you get used to it, you can go as fast as you can!" he said, trying to advise her as he scaled down the netting, hoping that the cloth would stop the roughness of the rope. Once they got down, Pippin emerged from the cabins. "Ah, Brother Theo! The pot's all boiled up!" "That's great! I'll be right there!"

Pippin looked nervously towards Georgiana, flustering gently. "I...Is she coming too?" he asked nervously. Of course, Triton smiled, drawing her closer to him. "Of course, of course!" Pippin left the scene, presumably to go off somewhere. "Oh, about a Pot boil? It's the hot water we scoop out of when we take a bath!" he said, "Prayers, meals and even bathing is communal here. Don't worry, none of us are perverts..." he teased. "We also have some fine clothes that we looted from a shipwreck months back...we couldn't pawn a few things so maybe you'd like to wear those! Meet me back here if you want to bathe!"

<><><>​

"Your Majesty...is the news of her Highness Georgiana's death wise?" The Queen raised a brow. Her most loyal subordinate would rarely raise doubts, always obeying every order without hesitation. "Have we been too hasty in declaring her dead to Alma Britannia?" Leanne's eyebrows fell as the Knight looked outside the window, watching the torches lit in the distance. Yes, Jaina has always doted upon Georgiana when she was younger, even though she had been older by 4 years. But she had not known that the Princess was alive; if anything, only that maid and a few nobles would still believe she was alive.

"Ah. I apologize for speaking so callously in your presence. Do forgive me, Your Majesty." she said, prompting a hasty bow, from which the Queen bid her to rise with a motion of her hand. "Lady Jaina...there is no need to concern yourself with something that had passed. While my heart as a mother mourns for my loss, I must keep strong...the enemies of Britannia are always looking for an opportunity to undo all the gains we have achieved...it is too late to simply revert back to the gluttonous, destructive rule of men."

Jaina could not agree more. Yet, having heard from her mother, Queen Leanne had been assigned to the same fate: married a man she did not like in secret, impregnated and dismissed her husband away. "We must never let the light of Alma Britannia fade. Even if she had been gone...we must keep the light burning in our hearts...even if we must raze a kingdom to do so, I am willing to get more blood in my hands to keep this country safe." Leanne ended the sentence on a sad note.

That's right...she too had given up everything to serve this country. She did not inherit the throne to be served...no, she had given up many things in her life to serve this country. "Words most wise, your Majesty..." Jaina replied, earning a scoff from the Queen herself. "I envy you, able to so quickly drop your sympathies. Did you not dote on Georgiana when you were younger?"

"Yes I had, your Majesty. But now, I only seek to impart vengeance to those who have killed her. I will make them beg for a death more gruesome than that of what they gave to her."
 
The princess had listened to him, but remained solemn as usual. She reminded herself that to feel heartbreak over his departure was silly- and that he would lie to her about it? Could she expect anything but dishonesty from a male, a pirate, a Barusian? Georgiana's lips pursed slightly, and she followed him down the rope ladder, stopping for a moment in fear as she glanced down and saw the enormous drop. She had never been at such an unprotected height, and the vertigo was making her head spin. Just when she felt her sickest, like her head would implode, a particularly cool wind brushed against her temples, swirling her blonde locks around her, and chilling her exposed ankles and calves. She took comfort in the wind, as it seemed to cradle her as she descended- or was it knowing Triton would catch her? No, of course not, she reminded herself. He had changed; he was no longer the innocent troublemaker he had been in the past. Georgiana inhaled sharply.

She grimaced when he pulled her closer; remembering the past had made her find him disgusting, vile, untrustworthy- it angered her how he had caused her such misery, and then lied to her in order to reconcile. Years of wondering where he had gone- and every day her heart sank further and further, until Donna's lullabies began drifting away as she grew older; eventually, the pain stopped, but the curiosity nagged at her. These epiphanies were creeping into Georgiana's mind, and the more she remembered, the angrier she became, until she was almost red in the face- a tantrum brewing.

"No," she said through a clenched jaw. "I won't abide your barbaric habits. I would rather bathe in ice water than bathe with you." The princess lowered her head, forcing herself to peel her eyes away from him lest he catch her glaring.

---

"Such a foolish act! Don't you agree, Catharina?"

"I do, dear sister. Don't you, Meister?"

"On the part of whom, Your Majesty?" asked the Admiral.

Katharina waved her hand, signaling that no more fanning was needed to the petty servant boy, who wielded an enormous bouqet of feathers. He bowed, then stepped aside, to be called when needed.

"The Krugians, of course!" twittered Katharina, folding her hands in her lap.

The study room of the young rulers was vacant, but for the two sisters, their confidante, and the servant boy. Catharina nodded in agreement. "The Krugians made a very foolish act, indeed."

"Very foolish" chimed Katharina. The Admiral remained silent and stoic.

"You're always quiet whenever you don't agree, Meister," said one.

"Always so predictable!" cackled the other.

"If I may, Your Majesties," he began with a small bow. "I do not believe I am inclined to accept that the Queen of Alma Britannia would join forces with the Scwarzivald Empire in order to conquer Al-Barus."

"Why not?" they asked jointly, surprised.

"Al-Barus is a country, rich with civil wars and turmoil. Alma Britannia's Queen's Guard would be enough to conquer it with little difficulty. Why would she join forces with the Schwarzivald Empire? It would be like carrying a huge sledgehammer for a tiny nut." The Admiral paused, then added, "Any spoils of war would be split between Alma Britannia and Schwarzivald. I am curious as to the Queen's motives, if only for the sake of our most honorable Ades Federation. If the Schewarzivald Empire becomes one with Alma Britannia, they would be... a considerable reckoning." Fransisco bowed slightly. "These are only the musings of a mind at constant war. Perhaps, I am overthinking it."

The two girls exchanged glances, a hint of worry in Katharina's eyes, but strangely lacking in her twin's.
 
"Ice water? Nonsense, the water's hot and all! You'll love the feel of the warm water after a whole day of-" he grasped her hand and suddenly...felt the hostility rising. He was always the idiot, unable to grasp, for the most part, the impact of his actions. He was always smiling like an idiot, pretending as if everything was going to be just alright! He really did mean that he was sorry...his pledge was all too real, like the feelings he had for her. "...Georgiana..." he said, breathlessly as he drew his dagger, an ornate knife with an emerald on the end. He had stolen it from an Adean privateer back at Razorfen Cove, as a bet whether or not he'd get the dagger or lose his hands as punishment for stealing.

"Take my life." he said, his gaze dead serious and set right into her eyes. He placed the knife onto her hands, closing her fingers around it with his hands onto her own hands. "...I never really deserved to live since that day...I should have just resigned to my fate, dying by your side rather than to run away without you...as a coward would." warm, silver tears fell from his eyes, yet as best as he could, he tried to smile. "T-this will make it up for everything...o-okay? So please...don't be so sad any more..."

This time, he wasn't lying. He really didn't care for his life: all these years he spent as a Privateer was to become strong enough to take her away from her captivity...if he only moved her from one cage to another, then all these years had been for naught. His only true absolution...was for her to end his life.

Miselotte watched closely, resolving not to intervene in the tense situation. She wasn't planning on bathing together as well, but so curious was she to their relationship that she could not help but spy on them as she steered the ship...

<><><>​

Petrona was waiting right outside. "You deserve a rest, Petrona. All that diplomatic missions you keep taking are going to wear you out." Meister Rovira said, as he motioned for the guards to leave. "I will gladly do anything to serve the Augusta and you should know this." Petrona had the smile of a mother, having been the previous Augusta's most trusted confidant she entrusted the schooling and grooming of her children to the woman.

Rovira smiled, as he beckoned to walk with her. The Adean capital of Castille was a beautiful sight in such a peaceful morning: tall spires and a bustling city life, merchants sailing to and fro, bringing spices and cargo from leagues beyond the Federation. "What is the news from Gibraltar?" he asked, nodding off to the guards that opened the door for them.

"They have agreed to repeal the levy, but in all, we have made little progress. They believe a union with Schwarzivald may be in their best interest, especially as their navy presses forward aggressively in the new world." Rovira sat on the chair, hand onto his forehead. Things were just piling up, one after another.

"There is also, of course, news of the situation in Krugis. It seems Queen Ismail is working tirelessly to diffuse the situation, yet she has had no progress with the Schwarzivaldian court and the Britannian homeland refuses to hear her out." the woman said, reading from the notes she had taken. "Which means..."

"Yes. It won't be long until she lands in Almerla." Petrona only said the following in due formality, though the two knew just what the outcome would be: to risk Alma Britannia and the Schwarzivald republic to come down on them at a time when separatist sentiment in the Roman provinces at an all time high would prove unfavorable for them. "Do not let that woman meet with the Augustas. I fear she may move them with pity and her desperate plea to save her people. Instead, I shall talk to her."

"Understood." It was cold, Petrona knew this, but it had to be done: better for the blood of Krugis to be spilled than for the work of the Augustas before them crumble beneath the fanfare of cannon fire.
 
"Georgiana, fair and brave
As a girl, a kiss she gave
To a boy of the sea
a right whipping she received!" Georgiana chanted, again and again, the rhyme falling from her lips as she twirled, around and around and around and-

---

"I feel much better now, Donna, thank you," replied Georgiana politely. Her small frame looked like a mistake among the heavy blankets laying across her in the monstrous bed; she felt crushed by their weight, but feeling warm was a luxury in her weaker days.

Donna laid beside her, stroking her hair. "Would you like me to sing you a lullaby, princess?" she asked quietly, a tenderness in her voice like a mother to a newborn- and Georgiana was not too dissimilar from a baby, vulnerable and sickly, tiny in the hands of her caretaker. She nodded; though fully awake, Donna's gentle melodies always soothed her to weariness. Whereas Donna could hypnotize the young princess to sleep, Triton had always been one to stir her awake, and the woman was thankful he had been dismissed.

Donna sang at a pitch no higher than a murmur; the fading words of a sleeping child with a mother's voice. It had always comforted Georgiana, and brought her to a state of tranquility that she desperately needed.

"Child, rest
Child, rest
I wish you
all the best.
Sleep for me now
Sleep for me
In your dreams you have
the world to see..."

As Donna sang, the young princess's eyes felt like lead, and her entire body sank into the soft, feather bed. When she would awake, Triton would be by her side, sleeping on his stomach and snoring just gently enough to create another little lullaby for her to fall asleep to. Mere moments before she returned to her slumber, she would nestle in closer to him, her back to his side, and revel in the warmth he provided.

---

The princess hesitated. How dare he challenge her like this! Did he not think she had enough wrath to execute such a crime? She pressed the knife to his throat, pressing into it just firmly enough to nic him, and draw a drop of blood.

Yet, as she saw his tears, Georgiana hesitated. Should she forgive him for cowardly running away? Was his life not worth the joy he had bestowed upon her? All the nightmares that vanished, the teasing that stopped, the playfulness that had erupted inside of her...

She sniffled, pulling away one hand and wiping her eyes. "Why would I want your life?" she asked, a flimsy demand. "You're worth more to me alive than dead." Georgiana hiccuped, tearing the knife away from his neck and throwing her arms around him instead. Sobbing silently, she squeezed his neck tightly and allowed herself respite in his arms. "I've missed you."
 
Triton was scared, as any man would, feeling the edge so close...just one quick motion and she would sever a critical artery and have him bleed to death in mere seconds. Yet, Triton tried to hide his fear from his eyes, determined only to be absolved by his death, for the broken promise to stay with her...and taking her away from a marriage that she may not have been opposed to. Yet...he could not help but cry, closing his eyes unable to hold back the sadness and grief. All this time...Triton had been worried that the sickly and frail Georgiana existed no longer. Yet here she was...wanting the dark-skinned boy to wash ashore yet again, to keep her company for all the days of her life...a promise he had never kept up to this time. Even as tears fell to her shoulders, he pressed her close to him, in a loving embrace.

"...Yes, I missed you too, Georgiana." he whispered, softly keeping her secured in their embrace. "Shh...it's alright. Just cry...don't hold it in any more..." he whispered, his own tears wetting her scalp. He cared so much for her...he was willing to throw away his life to earn back the trust she had in him. And yet, he too shed away the tears that he had been holding back for so long. Miselotte only watched on, mesmerized...like two lovers torn apart only to be rejoined...just what was the story behind those two? "Ohoho, I see Theo is really cryi- Mff?" Miselotte quickly placed her hand to cover up Saladin's mouth, even as the man walked out with a towel draped on his shoulder clad in a simple tunic. Saladin looked, only to watch in silence as the two embraced each other so lovingly.

Just what was that boy's connection to that girl? Was he some slave before he became a Corsair? But enough of that. Triton didn't really notice the two watching on, but he softly parted away from their embrace. "Hit me." he told her, walking back for a moment, "Feel free to mar my face for doing something so brash." he told her, perhaps a beating from her would be enough atonement for now. "But...no matter what happens or what the Captain decides...I will get you back home. I promise this." And this was a promise that he surely won't let slip.

Miselotte's heart skipped a beat. Like a forbidden love story, her cheeks softly flushed as Saladin whistled in amusement. "Wonder what happened between those two. They're like lover birds. How cute." he said, "Weeeeell, I'm off to bathe. Meet ya in the steam room!" he said, waving goodbye to the Darcsen as he headed down.

Triton turned towards her, the prospect of a bath still nagging in his mind. "If you want, I can bring you a towel and some clean water to wash yourself off." he said, "I can also bring the clothing set that we plundered to the brig if you want to wear it..." After all, her clothes were suggestively ripped, a peak more and her knickers could be seen...

<><><>​

"A fine sight, is it not, Kenneth?" Asked the Commodore Galahan. On board the Batomys, the elaborate Galleon that the Commodore heads. From the distance, the small island of El-Morroc burned, the city set ablaze and it's many ships sinking. Even as ships loaded with refugees soared a white flag, cannon fire silenced the screams of innocents, plunged to the sea by the merciless fleet. Yes, this was Schwarzivald's own doing: purging anything that never took their side, sinking many ships as they trampled on the weak and vulnerable.

"Ay, a mighty fine bonfire ye gave em." spoke the Eiran Sailor, "Perhaps then they can lead deir dead to the skies, ohoho!" The joke made the Commodore chuckle. "Indeed so, these cockroaches need to be purged. There is no need for pirate scum to pollute the water we sail onto."

The commodore looked at the small frigates, leading many prisoners near the starboard side. With a puff of smoke, the bodies soon fell into the water. He made his message clear: spare none of the Dark-skinned, as a clear message that not a single Barusian will smirk at a man from the Empire without suffering the consequences. "An' of the women?"

The Commodore smiled. "Satisfy yourself. Take to bed as many as you please, but don't give these dirty women the privilege of taking your seed. Slit their throat if they resist."
 
Georgiana felt comfort, nestling into the young man's embrace, her cold cheek pressed against his neck. The aroma of the sea was no longer repulsive to her; instead, it was comforting. She wondered if she should be pleased for Triton that he was to escape and live the life he so desired, even if it was at her expense. No! She would not pity herself any more. The time for pity was over, and the reunion of two childhood friends had yet to be exhaulted.

"Don't be so hasty to return me home," remarked Georgiana, pulling back as well and wiping her tears with her silk gloves, leaving dark marks on the white fabric. "I- I fear the worst," she admitted. "Perhaps it would be best to hear what news Alma Britannia has released before sending me away. My Queen is..." the princess paused. Ever the diplomat, she carefully murmured, "...unpredictable." She continued. "Either a fleet of ships is coming our way and you will be slaughtered in her wake, or my Queen has ulterior motives- and has announced me a traitor, fleeing my wedding out of cowardice. If this is true, then a fleet of warships is coming our way, and we all will be slaughtered." Georgiana had a thousand predictions electrifying her mind, but she presumed to look at it from a strategist's perspective. In this case, the Queen would admit to the princess's abduction, and utilize it as a chance to war against whomever she accused, with the Schwarzivald Empire by her side. Yet, she could think of no empire that her mother envied, except, perhaps, the Ades Federation.

"May the gods have mercy on us," she whispered, bringing her hands to her face anxiously. She needed more time to think- and to think of a safe harbor for them to dock while she anonymously collected rumors. The idea of a bath had never sounded more appealing. "Yes," Georgiana finally said. "I- I haven't bathed with you since we were children, both innocent; perhaps we could discuss my concerns, if you promise to remain a gentleman towards me." She smiled to herself. When had Triton ever been a gentleman?
 
Triton was quite surprised when she told him to slow down. However, she held truth in the words she said. The things she said did weigh heavily in his mind. How would he break the news to Melchior? The man was pretty much all about money. With a sigh, he took the clothing set, mostly second hand because Miselotte tried them once but refused wearing aristocrat clothing. When she did say she wanted to, he smiled. "Of course! We have very strict rules for bathing. We never look below the neck or we're not allowed to bathe for awhile!" he said, almost on a cheerful note as Saladin patted his back as they walked inside the bath area.

A pair of hands touched Georgiana's shoulder just as she was about to follow him there. "The females undress in a seperate area from the men." she said, "It's strange how we bathe in the same room yet undress in different places." she sounded rather drab, as if...she wasn't interested in anything at all. No animation to her voice, just a hollow depth. "..Ah. Forgive me. My name is Miselotte." she said. She took the clothing that Triton had handed to her before he walked in with Pippin, as they entered to an area where Maredith was already undressing, the rounds of her firm breast visible. To come think of it...even Miselotte had more rounded breasts as she slowly unfurled the ribbon on her hair, removing her tunic.

Maredith looked at Georgiana, frowning with her hands at her waist. "You're quite short for a girl." she said, though she did open the door to a the steamy bath area. Saladin and Pippin were soaping themselves near a trough of water that ran in the center, the warm pot still steaming up near the end. Melchior was near the pot scrubbing his arm pits, while Triton looked right into Georgiana's eyes and waved.

Miselotte took her place facing the wall, softly rubbing her slender legs. Maredith stood up, cleaning her shoulders, her chest as she looked towards Georgiana. "How do you know Theodore?" she asked, "It's like you know who he is, but I've never heard of him talk about you. What's the deal with that?" she asked, softly soaping away the curves of her waist. She didn't seem the least bit embarrassed being in the company of men, yet not a single gaze would focus to their private parts, so mostly there was some form of security there.
 
She frowned when hearing Maredith's criticisms. Georgiana was due to remind her to watch her tongue, but she held her own and retorted, "And you're rather large, but I don't doubt that's the primitive standard of beauty for a Barusian." The insult slid off her lips before she could catch it- only a few minutes with Triton and she was reverting back to her childhood impulsiveness that had taken years to control. Pursing her lips, she decided not to apologize; after all, she needed to establish herself as a Princess, one deserving respect and admiration- not as a weakling.

While the other women bathed, Georgiana remained clothed, keeping her eyes peeled away from them; she had never before seen a naked figure, and it caused a red blush to grow faintly in her cheeks. Barusian custom, yes, but it was definitely no ritual from Alma Britannia, the far superior and more evolved culture, in her modest opinion. She hesitated, then removed her gloves, plucking the fingers from them one by one and twisting them in her small hands. "I... I met him when we were very young," she answered quickly. "Are there no attendants to help us undress?" asked Georgiana innocently, her eyes meeting Triton's worriedly.

---

Lady Threepiece gave the running boy a silverpiece and took the letter from his grubby, little hands. Seated at her desk in the strategy den, the tall and stately young woman looked no more than a child amongst the elegant and overside decoration that adorned the room; medals, suits of armor, giant tapestries and larger-than-life paintings of war amassed the throne room-sized chamber, and yet Jaina conquered its web of intricacies with such purpose as if the riches meant little more to her than paperweights.

She opened the letter, glancing immediately to the bottom, where a signature- a looped 'x'- and a code for the next letter's encryption were held. Jaina pulled out a sheet of parchment and ink pen, and when she had decoded the letter, she glanced over it with a satisfied sigh.

Lady Threepiece-
The sisters have assembled a small fleet on the outskirts of the Ades Federation. They await war. Rumors that a diplomat from Gibraltar has met with Rovira.
Your humble servant,

X
3983=A, 221=E

Folding up the letter, the young knight turned and tossed it in the fire. The numbers would remain steadfastly locked in her memory; her young spy was adament about using encrypted codes for insurance against be tried for treason. She contemplated what she had read for a long moment, suddenly realizing the Ades Federation's reasoning. With this epiphany, she stood, carrying her helmet on her hip, and left the cold, dark room, to meet with the Queen in her private study.
 
"Huh? What did you say?" Maredith looked rather insulted, walking right up to Georgiana had it not have been for Melchior's arm, barring her entry. "Let the brat run her mouth." he said, as Maredith grumbled going back to soap her tanned skin. Miselotte looked rather interested, keeping her gaze towards Georgiana's mismatched eyes. The bath looked rather quiet this time around, the introduction of a 'guest' made the atmosphere tense. "Yeah! She even kissed me once!" Triton said in addition, beaming widely. Of course Pippin asked in disbelief if it had been true. Triton only smiled with kindness.

"No, your highness, you can strip on your own." Maredith barked out with quite some attitude, "Or is it 'civilized' to never bathe?" It didn't take much to know that Maredith really didn't like Georgiana, not one bit. "Woah woah, settle down, ladies." Triton said, trying to stand between them without looking right at their private portions or exposing his. While Maredith would have loved to break her little neck, she relented upon seeing Theo and went back to adding soapy oil on her hair to clean it.

Miselotte heard her question and said "I can help you disrobe." she said, speaking not much more than that as she slowly pushed her back inside the dressing area for the ladies. She began to undo the strings behind her worn-out corset, slowly pulling away the dress and the skirt. Her hands...worked so tenderly slipping down her fine undergarments.

She was stark naked, with another naked female behind her. Miselotte's hand softly wandered to her stomach, softly rubbing her tummy. "They say the first man and woman were naked. There is no need to be ashamed..." Miselotte had the inclination to softly fondle her right breast, but she slowly led her back inside the shower. Maredith scoffed, but did not take her spot. "You see, our cleaning products are slightly different: we haev a soap made out of Sea weed and a bit of lavender and our hair cleansing will help it look silky and smooth." Miselotte said, taking some of that oil and spreading it on her scalp. She acted like a servant, yet...she almost wanted to be near her.

Triton explained the situation with his captain, who only sighed. Ah yes, the sigh. "The premise is the same, no matter what. We will land at Palmacosta. Hopefully we can bring her back home so we have one less mouth to feed." he said, disdainfully even as Pippin squeezed into listen. "Theo, you are to watch the brig and ensure she is not hurt. Theo obviously accepted.

However, Miselotte was giving her some help in trying to bathe. When she noticed just how slowly she was, Maredith sighed and took her own bar. Then, she began to create suds, right at the road when Maredith softly stroked her chest rubbing the soap against her gentle, modest body.
 
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