Chapter 7

In that moment when I fell, it never occurred to me that I was pushed down.

When I drop into the sea headfirst, and my vision turns black, only then do I remember that there was only him behind me then.

Contrasting the turbulent surface, the depths of the sea is so quiet you cant hear anything, and not just because my hearing is numbed.

The dark silent sea feels like space as seen in the movies.

Even if my body is being sucked into the middle of a vortex, my heart remains very peaceful.

The miraculous thing is that Im not at all afraid of death, just staring at the only hazy green patch in the darkness.

A few seconds ago, I was standing on the deck, thinking, Anyone who falls into a sea like this will die for sure.

Who would have thought that not only didnt I die, Im also surprisingly calm.

But just then, I feel an intense pain on my right arm, making me scream in spite of myself, I even thought that my arm would be pulled right off.

When I open my mouth, what flows in is seawater instead of air, not only choking my scream back in, but filling my throat and nose with salty water.

Now the pain is coming from my arm, then my throat and deep inside my nose.

Another force opposes the whirlpool, pulling me upwards. My own weight and the powerful force of nature trying to suck me up, all of it piles up on my arm. I pray to an unknown god non-stop, I have to hang on, Just another second will be enough, Cut off this arm and be done with it!

gah

When my face rises above the surface, all I hear is rumbling in my ears, and my body shakes violently with the waves.

I spit out the seawater, desperately opening my mouth like a dying fish, gulping in the air mingled with water spray.

Although I sink slightly several times, but I immediately float back up.

Because a wet rope is tightly wound around my right arm, someone is pulling me up.

Your Majesty.

I hear you.

I do hear something, proving that Im still alive. My eyes and ears work fine.

Hang in there! Fix the rope on yourself and hold on tightly! Wind it around your waist!

Right!

Im pulling you up, are you ready?!

Ye

Im about to answer, and as a result seawater into my mouth together with the cough going backwards. Vomiting water unstoppably, I start suspecting how much water I actually drank, my entire lungs feel flooded.

The rope around my waist goes taut, and my body starts rising slowly. In the process, I hit the outer shell of the ship several times, the bruises on my back and waist increasing continuously, but I cant complain about anything now, as long as I can get back onto the ship safely, thats already the best thing that could happen in this string of bad luck. Surviving a fall into such a turbulent sea, thats a miracle in itself.

No, I didnt fall, I was pushed.

Your Majesty!

Im practically carried over the deck rails. The word Survival is spinning in my head to a cheering song, and the font is a very idiotic yellow Times New Roman.

I was on the brink of death just a second ago, so why is my brain reacting like this?

By now even Josak has forgotten his usual cheerful tone, grabbing my chin roughly. I use m=the hand that doesnt hurt to touch his wet orange hair.

Your Majesty?

Calm down, Josak Im fine; I can breathe on my own You being clean-shaven made me think you were a girl, and I was so looking forward to CPR, heh.

Your Majesty Young Master, phew~

He releases a really long breath.

Thank goodness, I even thought I couldnt save you.

Dont curse me, relax, I was only in for two, three seconds, and I didnt drink too much water I didnt even get to see the Dragon Palace.

Some of the crewmen who helped save me grab the rails and the rope, watching me closely, and when the ship starts slanting they quickly regain their balance.

This ship isnt out of danger yet! They knew that Im from an enemy country, but they still risked themselves to save me.

Thanks, its all thanks to you that I

Seawater wells up as I cough, choking my throat and nose.

Ah~ Young Master, just look at yourself, your entire face is covered with snot, your handsome image is all ruined now.

I was never handsome. Tissue, give me tissue!

My hand wanders aimlessly looking for a luxury item that cant possibly be found here, but all I see are those light brown eyes in front of me.

Even though the sea is turbulent, the sky is clear as can be.

The sunlight shines on the water, making it sparkle, but those familiar eyes alone remain dark, clouded, even those irises and their silver glow cant be seen.

His expression doesnt reveal anything about his thoughts.

When our gazes meet, his mouth twitches a little, and he lifts a foot, ready to take a step forth.

I prefer tissue, because toilet paper will melt and become sticky. But why did I fall? I had Conrad by my side, and I still

Although he didnt understand yet, but Josak stiffens upon hearing that name suddenly and of course theres no way hell pretend this never happened.

From between me and Lord Weller, he says the truth with a husky voice.

Undoubtedly, he is seeking confirmation.

Was it you?

The other man doesnt answer, just grips his hands, and pulls back the feet that were stepping forward. His chin is slightly taut, his back against the wall.

You wanted His Majestys life? Has your conscience been eaten by the dogs?

The purposefully lowered voice is the more terrifying for it.

Im just thinking that Josaks speed, melding three steps into one, is so quick its worth admiring, but I didnt think that in the next second he would pull out a small silver knife and hold it next to Lord Wellers cheek.

When did he hide that thing on himself? And he can even reach it whenever he wants? He bring his face so close to Lord Weller he can feel the latters breath,

Lord Weller, you listen carefully! Im warning you, never get close to His Majesty again. If you dont heed my warning

After a long and heavy silence, he says in a voice so quiet I can barely hear it,

Watch out for your little life!

I force my wet and heavy body to stand, just in time to see them, standing diagonally in front of me, and their expressions.

But suppressing his anger, Josak actually smiles, thats the beast-like smile Ive seen before.

I never dreamed that I would one day speak like that to you!

And the smile of an intelligent beast, at that.

No Its a misunderstanding, I must have gotten it wrong.

Trying to calm this storm, I grab the spys sleeve even though Im soaked to the bone.

The white cloth is even stained by the paint on the deck.

Its a misunderstanding, Josak. I wasnt pushed, I accidentally slipped and fell.

The waves were beating on the deck, making it wet.

I was walking on the edge, paying attention only to the color of the whirlpool, so its not surprising that an accident happened.

Conrad wouldnt possibly want to kill me, right?

Im begging you, just nod. It doesnt matter if its real or fake, just nod.

But Lord Weller doesnt smile, he just shakes his head softly in denial.

You shouldnt be so stupid, right?

Right now I feel all the blood vessels heading to my brain expand. My face is burning, and my vision has gone bright red.

Though the pain burning from my temple is quickly stopped, but my instantaneously escalated heartbeat just cant be slowed.

Theres a sentence stuck deep in my throat that I really want to yell out.

And I even feel a ringing in my ears like the sound of metal.

If so

I force out my voice.

I keep telling myself to keep my cool, but its never succeeded before.

This is also my fatal weakness, all the way until now.

Although the Shou Shimaron crewmen and the shinzoku man we brought up from the bottom of the ship are watching us, I just cant control my own emotions.

If so you shouldnt have saved me back then!

Back when I was jumping onto the cargo ship, you shouldnt have caught me, you could have just left me to my own end.

That was all you had to do.

And when we were ambushed by the masked soldiers, if you hadnt stuck yourself out for me in that church, your left arm wouldnt have been cut off, and you wouldnt need to keep getting hurt for me.

All you had to was abandon me.

But why only now!

Damn!

I grab the cold stone on my chest, snapping the leather rope and tossing it to the ground.

My numb right arm makes a piercing sound when it knocks into something.

The maseki flies in a misshapen curve then bounces, finally falling onto the wet deck.

Even though I used so much force to throw it, it still didnt crack or break.

The stone glimmers on the sunlight.

Perhaps its psychological, but the color seems whiter than when I wore it on my chest.

Were all waiting for the other to say the next line.

Completely in the dark, the crewmen decide to continue watching, and the shinzoku man we brought out is just scared hell get caught in the mess.

Surrounded in the middle, the three of us want to make our own escapes, but we limit each other as we wait to see who will break the silence.

Just then, the one that breaks the silence is the creak of a door opening, and Saralegui, wearing a smile completely out of place in this mess.

In the corner of my vision, the shinzoku man shudders violently, even backtracking to the wall.

His golden eyes are wide and round with fear, his filthy forehead drenched in a cold sweat.

Looks like he knows that this boy with the noble aura, is the very mastermind behind their imprisonment at the bottom of the boat.

But the king doesnt even look at the shivering man.

Yuuri, the shaking seems to have calmed down a bit, maybe this is something like the eye of the storm

Poking his head out from the control room, Saralegui continues to consider the maseki on the ground and my expression.

What happened?

Not caring if his long robe will get dirty, he walks up to the stone, picking it up unhesitatingly with his white fingers.

It dropped?

Not by itself.

Then why So beautiful, its really very beautiful. I say, Yuuri, do you want to trade with me for it?

The young king says innocently, a childish desire rising on those petal-like lips.

I desperately swallow the words, If you want it, you can have it.

I wonder what I have on me to compare to this beautiful stone?

As though picking out the snacks for a long trip, Saralegui starts searching his front and pockets.

Lord Weller warns his current employer,

You cant trade.

Why? This is proof of our friendship!

Saralegui replies, tilting his head to a side. Even in such a horrible situation, his beautiful hair can still flow down his face and rest on his shoulders.

The movement he makes, pushing the stray hair back behind his ears with a fair slender finger, is still so graceful.

And then, when he sees his right hand in front of his eyes, his face blossoms into a smile.

Right, this should do. This is a precious gem that can only be found in Shou Shimaron, its the parting gift my mother gave me before we separated when I was a child.

He takes off the light red ring on his ring finger, trying to pass it to me. Instead of calling it light red, its more towards pale pink.

I cant accept that, I cant take something so precious.

Its okay, I want to give it to you.

Waa~ Its so pretty, let Gurrier touch it, please~?

The man who stands in between us speaking in a womans tone, puts both his hands together next to his face.

Perhaps happy that someone understands the value of the ring, Saralegui puts the ring on Josaks large palm.

Its really very pretty, too bad its just too small for Gurrier.

He thoroughly checks out the inside and outside of the ring in record time, trying to determine if there are any traps on it.

I cant help but admire him again, as an excellent soldier.

Saralegui doesnt notice the way the adult world thinks.

Those beautiful fingers of his that never lifted anything heavy, touches my right hand gently.

Those nails filed until they looked like sakura shells hold the tiny circlet, and I notice that theyre all the same color.

There seem to be some words engraved on the inside of the ring, but theyre not clear because the writing is too thin, and the outside of the ring is engraved with twining rose vines and quite a number of suns.

He takes my calloused finger, trying to put the pink ring on it.

Ouch!

The ring gets caught on my ring finger joint, breaking the skin and causing me pain.

A kings ring wont fit these rough hands used for plying baseball at all. The Shou Shimaron king hmphs mischievously,

Looks like you can only wear it on the pinky. After all unlike me, your hands look a lot stronger and braver.

Theres no such thing!

If I really was a brave man, I wouldnt have been scared witless upon falling into the sea.

Are you shivering, Yuuri?

Saralegui hugs me suddenly, he seems to be fonder of skin contact that his appearance would suggest.

And yet, since Ill start crying if I have to open my mouth again, his actions are exactly what I need.

Poor thing! You must be so cold, you should get into the room for warmth now.

Thats what I want to do, right now Id rather hide under the cover immediately. I wish to take a hot soak and wash off the seawater on my body, then immediately lie on the soft bed and sleep all I want.

My hair, now dry, keeps tickling my nose, even I know that Im dead tired now.

But I desperately resist the aching in my sore muscles, and leave Saraleguis embrace.

I cant yet, I found someone with navigation experience among the shinzoku in the bottom of the boat, and he even has experience crossing this part of the sea.

You released the slaves?!

No, Sara. Hes not a slave, but an experienced crewman. He can help steer, yknow! So I have to stay by his side and watch him, after all I have a responsibility to look after him.

Because I was the one who took him away from his companions, and brought him to a place where people looked at him as a slave.

So I have a responsibility to look after him.

Regarding that matter, I also

Didnt I tell you not to get close?

The loyal spy in the long-sleeved apron, holds the tip of a knife at Lord Wellers throat when the latter tries to approach us.

Dont, Josak! He

For some reason, Saralegui is waiting for me to finish that sentence with bated breath, only my throat hurts as though its swollen.

That person is the Shou Shimaron kings escort, and the ambassador from Dai Shimaron. I do not wish to create tension between countries over such a trivial matter.

My spy nods lightly, and withdraws his sword unhesitatingly, then turns around to ask me what I plan to do next.

Although weve entered a temporary respite, but were not out of the danger zone yet. Telling me to wait in the cabin and wait for it patiently Thats impossible~

He shrugs his shoulders in surprise.

I know, I know. Please bring my clothes and a woolen blanket, well coop up in the control room together, and carefully watch him steer the ship.

Im staying in the cabin.

Maybe feeling a little cold, Saralegui rubs his hands and shivers.

Ive had enough of being drenched by seawater, Im going back to the room and hugging a pillow to prevent any more damage to my body. Ill get someone to serve you some hot drinks, Yuuri. Dont push yourself too hard.

Josak gives Saralegui an appreciative look, because he can use this as an excuse to chase away Lord Weller.

Different babysitters have to stay by the children theyre in charge of.

My right arm supporting my weight is a little painful, though.

Maybe I strained a tendon, everything from the nerves in the muscles outside to the joints on my pinky is numb.

My arm hurts, if only Wolfram or Gisela were here now~

Cant you heal it yourself? Young Master, isnt your maryoku really strong?

I heard it was dangerous to use maryoku on human lands, and were approaching the country of the shinzoku no less! Murata and Wolf keep telling me again and again dont push yourself, Im sick and tired of hearing it.

Is that so~ Well, thats inconvenient, huh~

To test exactly how painful it is, I use my thumb and pointer to rub my arm a few times, and then force myself slightly to sway back and forth, left and right, if Im just a bit off controlling the force used, an intense pain will attack me immediately.

The agonizing pain puts tears in my eyes, but I dont tell anyone about it.

Still, if it can move, then that means its not a sprain. Im actually quite lucky, I just need a muscle pain plaster and some bandages for this degree of pain.

You wont cry, huh.

Me, cry?! I wont cry over a little bit of pain!

Then thats good. Though since half of that was my fault, let me lick it a little!

No thanks! Im not a puppy, it wont get better even if you do lick it.

Just imagining the spy who was crossdressing for a mission sticking out his red tongue, makes me smile bitterly.

Meanwhile, Josak closes the control room door with his back, making the room feel warmer.

I wonder if there are painkillers on board?

Come on~ Im an athlete, yknow! A baseball boy! A little injury like this is nothing to me. My body can take a lot of wear to begin with, just leave it and itll naturally get better. Right, lets get ready to ask that shinzoku.

I spread open the nautical map directly on the wet floorboards, and stare at it with the sailors.

Remember to signal with your hands!

This pain probably cant be suppressed with any kind of medication, I know that better than anyone.