“I've heard that the Queen and the girl in the song have never met. So there is no way she could have offended the Queen, is there?”
“Aha, is that so? Hmm… then how did Her Majesty come to know of the girl's existence?”
“The Prince might have chattered to his mother about the day's amusements, bragging about each and every day.”
“Oh… that may well be.”
“Yes. And moreover, the girl had absolutely no idea that the Prince was a prince. Or so I heard. They say the Prince never let slip a word. They simply played together purely, like commoner children.”
“But as a prince, wouldn't his appearance and character have been exceptional from the start?”
“Would he not have changed into commoner clothes when meeting the girl? Perhaps even mussed his hair a little. And pretended not to know things he actually knew.”
“Dear me, why would he go to such lengths?”
“Perhaps because he feared the girl would feel burdened if he revealed his status? It seems he disliked seeing her struggle. He likely wished to be sincere with her.”
“Ho… indeed. That is a reasonable point.”
Carlisle stroked his chin and nodded.
The corners of his mouth subtly curled upward.
“Do you have a mother at home, Sir Han? You are treating her well, I trust?”
There was something about the way he asked with sparkling eyes that somehow left a bad taste.
He looked rather sinister.
And why was he having this conversation with a stranger anyway?
Maru cleared his throat and straightened his posture.
“I do not particularly wish to speak of family. I shall retire for now. It was a lovely song.”
He looked toward the female minstrel seated at the far end of the performing area.
Ever since the song ended, she had been gazing at him with expectant eyes.
‘Is she asking for money?’
He immediately smiled and expressed only his gratitude for the lovely song.
He had no money to offer, being a beggar.
After that, Maru crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
‘What might Mother be doing about now?’
It was a journey that had grown needlessly complicated because of a song.
***
A salty tang drifted on the wind.
The mobile carriage that had finally arrived at Kiverton Port passed through farmland and dropped people off at the marketplace.
The moment he stepped off, Maru looked into the distance and smiled brightly.
Beyond the wooden buildings, the blue-green sea stretched far and wide.
And he saw countless ships.
“Fish so fresh and tasty that husbands love 'em to death! Get yours here! Caught just this morning and absolutely delicious!”
The marketplace, bustling with merchants' cries and people, was thick with the smell of salt and humidity.
Though he had just arrived, his skin was already sticky.
Shouldering his pack, Maru moved along.
But Carlisle's group followed behind.
“Where do you plan to go now?”
“Wherever my feet take me.”
“Did you not say your companions were waiting?”
Maru flinched and halted.
“Why are you following me?”
“Hehe, well, Sir Han. If it is not too much trouble, we would like to treat you to a meal. A very fine one.”
“I have no need. Let us go our separate ways.”
“Ha, Sir Han!”
Without looking back, Maru walked off.
Shortly after, he arrived at the dock.
Dozens of ships were anchored.
He went toward where sailors were rolling barrels across planks.
“I would like to see the Captain. Do you know where he is?”
“Go on up the ship. He's wearing a captain's cap.”
“Thank you.”
He crossed the planks connecting the dock to the ship and climbed onto the deck.
He met the captain and asked to be taken to Lavier Island.
At that, the captain looked at him as though he were a madman.
“You crazy? You got a death wish?”
“Pardon? Surely not.”
“Baby dragons live there. The island is swarming with dangerous monsters. You asking me to go die? If you wanna die, go alone.”
He was refused politely.
Lavier Island was known in these parts as an extremely dangerous island.
He went to another ship's captain, and then another, only to be rejected at every turn.
“You planning to send someone to their death?”
“I will pay double, so please take me just this once.”
“No! I don't wanna gamble my life!”
“What is the matter?”
A voice suddenly came from beside him.
He looked, and it was Carlisle again.
“Captain, whatever is this gentleman saying?”
“Well I'll be, he asked me to take him to Lavier. This fella must be crazy. If you know him, talk some sense into him. He's young and full of bravado, sheesh.”
The captain walked off, as if he'd seen every sort of strange person.
Carlisle looked at Maru with surprised eyes.
“L-Lavier Island? You intend to go there?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
Maru passed by him and moved on.
There were few remaining ships worth asking.
As he clicked his tongue, Carlisle annoyingly followed.
“You must cherish the life your parents gave you! Why would you go to such a place?”
“Why do you keep following me? Do you know me?”
“Ah, no. We are not well acquainted, but. Ahem!”
“Then do not follow me.”
Maru passed Carlisle and left with quick steps.
Behind him, Carlisle repeatedly shouted that it was dangerous and not to go.
Why would he do such a thing upon first meeting?
Maru could not understand.
“Hey, I heard you want to go to Lavier Island?”
Having lingered at the dock for some time, it seemed word had gotten around.
A young man about his age approached and spoke to him.
He had tattoos all over both arms and darkly tanned skin.
“I'll take you on my ship. How much will you pay?”
“How much to get there?”
“You just need to be dropped off?”
“It would be nice if you came to pick me up as well.”
“When?”
“Before sunset?”
“Hmm, just pay ten times the normal fare.”
“Three times.”
“Ten times. Going to Lavier Island is forbidden by territorial law. I'm taking you there in secret. Besides, it's not just me—several people will help, and you've gotta cover their share too. This isn't going in my pocket alone.”
The spirited young man extended his palm.
Maru hesitated for a moment, then took out his wallet and handed over two silver coins.
“It's a deposit. I won't haggle, but I'll divide the remaining sum into three payments: on the way there, when we arrive, and when you come to pick me up.”
The young man laughed, tapping his shoulder.
“Welcome, friend. My ship is that one. We have to prepare for departure, so see you in thirty minutes. If anyone asks where you're going, say you're helping with a fishing trip. Our ship is a fishing boat that catches fish for the Lord's table.”
The ship the young man pointed to was a fishing vessel smaller than the galleys other captains owned.
On the deck of the boat with a square sail, five young men his age were aboard.
All five were shirtless, eagerly carrying wooden crates of fish to the dock.
“It's a long, flat boat.”
Almost like seeing a Viking ship.
Maru watched the young man return to his ship for a moment, then turned around.
He needed to go to the market and buy some food.
“What would be good to buy?”
He should prepare for possible isolation on the island.
With such thoughts, as he looked around the bustling market.
The moment he passed by a shabby inn, someone appeared from behind, covered Maru's mouth, and dragged him straight into the building.
The strength was such that resistance was impossible.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
“Quick, close the door!”
Bang!
Click!
It was the lobby of a somewhat dim inn, curtains drawn.
“Tie him to the chair!”
Three men rushed at him and quickly bound Maru with rope.
Tied tightly to the chair, Maru looked around the room.
He saw five familiar faces.
It seemed they had rented the entire building, for there was no one else.
He looked up at the middle-aged man who appeared to be the leader.
“What is the meaning of this? Carlisle?”
“Please forgive us.”
Carlisle knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
The three men standing behind him and the woman also knelt as one and lowered their heads.
The woman was the minstrel from earlier.
“We are in fact a unit operating under orders to monitor the Prince's movements. During our mission, the situation was so urgent that we dared commit this grave discourtesy against the Prince. Please forgive us.”
“Please forgive us!”
Ah. Mother's people.
Maru bit his lower lip.
He looked at them in turn and opened his lips quietly.
“I don't recall seeing your faces at the palace. Anyway, untie me.”
“Our strict orders were that if the Prince were to part ways with the hero party, we were to immediately bring him back to the palace. Based on the overall situation, the Prince has parted ways with the hero party and is attempting to enter a dangerous island alone; therefore, we had to make a swift judgment and decision. Please understand.”
“And so? Are you taking me to Mother like this?”
“We only do our utmost for the Prince's safety. We shall assist you diligently so that you may return to the kingdom as soon as possible. Her Majesty the Queen also misses the Prince dearly. Please come with us.”
“...”
Maru fell silent, lost in deep thought, before speaking.
“Very well. Let us return.”
“Oh, you will come with us?”
“Yes, I am tired of living on the road, and I wish to go back now. First, untie this rope.”
Carlisle clasped his hands together in joy.
The others' expressions brightened as well.
“Untie him at once.”
“Yes!”
The ropes binding Maru were loosened.
Maru stretched his stiff body, tapping it with his fists, and rose from his seat.
“Do you happen to have any clothes prepared? These smell; I cannot wear them any longer.”
Carlisle approached with a smile.
“Of course. Your clothes look shabby, so hurry and follow Jamilla to change. She will attend to you meticulously.”
Maru looked at the female minstrel called Jamilla.
She wore a kind, gentle smile, as though she had become his handmaiden.
The two entered a nearby room together with the new clothes.
Shortly after.
Jamilla screamed.
“The Prince has disappeared!”
Carlisle jumped in alarm and rushed into the room.
The curtains fluttered in the wind, and the window was wide open.
“You had your eyes open and yet let this happen!”
“He said it was uncomfortable to change where I stood, and that he would change behind the curtain, and told me to turn around, so I...!”
“You fool!”
Carlisle immediately ran out of the inn with his subordinates.
In the distance, he could see Maru running away at full speed.
“Stop right there!”
During his time traveling with the hero party, Maru had learned one thing.
Various cooking skills?
Fire-starting skills?
Keeping his companions' moods in check?
All wrong.
It was the skill to run away and evade monsters.
So swift was he that even Carlisle and his subordinates, who were quite physically trained, struggled to catch up.
“Yoohoo~! Over here~, over here!”
When Maru arrived at the dock in a fluster, the tattooed young man waved his hand cheerfully, just in time having finished preparations.
He hurriedly boarded the ship.
“Depart immediately! Huff! Huff!”
“You being chased? What's the rush?”
“Your Highness! Please stop! Stop right there!”
The tattooed young man spotted Carlisle's party running desperately and broke into a wide grin.
“You go to dangerous islands and get chased by people too. You live quite the interesting life.”
He and his young comrades quickly raised the anchor, took their positions, and began to row.
The boat gradually moved away from the dock.
By the time Carlisle arrived, it was already too late.
There was no stopping a ship that had gone out to sea.
He stood at the dock's railing and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Your Highness! Your Highness! That island is dangerous! Your Highness!”
“Carlisle! Please tell Mother! I don't know how long it will take, but when my journey is over, I will definitely return! Tell her I miss her very much too!”
Maru smiled brightly, waving his hand, then turned toward the bow.
The boat with six young men rowing in perfect unison cut through the current, advancing powerfully.
The sea breeze was refreshing.
He stretched his arm toward the sky and spread his palm.
The sunlight filtering through his fingers was dazzling.
“W-what have I just heard?”
“That I will leave the kingdom.”
“Do not speak such dreadful words! What was lacking? What do you need? I shall give you anything, so tell me what you want quickly.”
“Nothing is lacking. Mother has given me more than abundant love all this time. Everything is satisfactory. It is only that I have found a goal in life. I shall travel with that child for the time being.”
“No! The outside world is dangerous!”
“I know. But would it not be good for me to achieve something while I am young, for the future?”
“You are destined to become King! What if you are hurt?”
“It shall be a great medal for me. I wish to build achievements that rival Mother's great fame. The people will find a capable prince who has piled splendid achievements on the battlefield far more admirable than a prince who spent every day sheltered within the castle under Mother's protection.”
“I do not need such a capable son! I only need you as you are now! I do not wish to lose you as well!”
“I disagree. I wish to defeat the Demon King together with that child. A prince who defeated the Demon King? That would be an achievement to take pride in until the day I die.”
“That will not do. You need achievements? Then let us go to war with the neighboring kingdom at once. They are ones with whom we have long harbored deep grievances anyway. We shall announce that you commanded and won. Leave the battle to me. Your mother was once called the Goddess of War, after all.”
“If you do that, I shall truly run away. I will never return. Never do such a thing.”
Maru, who had briefly been immersed in old memories, withdrew his hand wandering in the empty air.
The wide open blue-green sea.
In the far distance, Lavier Island, their destination, was faintly visible.
“It will not take long, Mother. Please do not worry.”