The Apology Gift

Sophia stormed into the captain's cabin. Inside were the First Mate and her cat Baki, the Quartermaster, and the captain.

They looked at her in disbelief.

She walked inside and shut the door behind her.

Sophia threw the book on the captain's desk and yelled

"YOU SLEPT WITH MY MOTHER?!"

The three of them looked at each other.

"Who told you that?"

The captain asked calmly

"That doesn't matter! Did you sleep with her yes or no?!"

Alexandra and Christina looked at each other and then at Eleonora.

The captain leaned back on her chair and crossed her arms. She looked straight into the princess's eyes and said

"Yes"

And with that Sophia slapped Eleonora.

Alexandra grabbed Sophia's hand.

"How dare you lay your hands on the captain!"

"Let her go. It's alright."

She glared at the princess and then aggresively let go of her hand.

Sophia looked the captain dead in the eyes.

"How could you?"

"Oh come on! You act like I killed her or something. You should be happy that I gave her something your father never did"

"Shut up! Do you realize what you've done!? What if my mother runs away with you after that? You didn't sleep with a random woman you slept with the queen!"

"Listen, I didn't do it 'cause I wanted to."

"What?"

"Have you not noticed that we travel freely all around England without having our cargo checked?"

"What do you mean?"

"I made a deal with the queen. Once a year, when the king is away, I visit the castle in exchange that my ship won't pay any

taxes."

"So you did that, just for the benefit of your ship? No other reason?"

"What? Did you expect me to say that I was in love with your mother?"

"No...I just- didn't expect that from my mother."

"Listen, I'm not sorry for what I've done but I did what was best for my ship."

Sophia didn't respond, just sat down on one of the empty chairs, holding her head in her hands.

Alexandra, Christina, and Eleonora looked at each other. Christina gestured to them to say something. Eleonora raised her shoulders while Alexandra looked the other way.

Christina sighed and then approached the princess.

"Princess"

Sophia looked up at her

"Look, there is no reason for you to beat yourself over it. So what if your mother likes to sleep with pirates? Her actions should not affect you."

Sophia didn't respond again. No one knew what to say to her. Eventually, Eleonora broke the silence and said

"Go to bed it's late."

Sophia just walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.

"Damn. She has some guts to storm in like that and slap you"

Christina said trying to hold her laughter.

"Shut up."

"No seriously, it was the funniest shit I've seen."

"Christina one more word and you'll be the next on hull duty."

Christina was still laughing and at some point, Alexandra couldn't maintain her serious face and burst out laughing as well.

"Oh, the hell with you two! I'm going to bed early!"

"Careful! You might get slapped again!"

Christina said

And with that Eleonora left.

The 2 of them calmed down after a while and Alexandra decided that it was time to go to bed too. Christina was about to go as well but she noticed the book the princess threw.

She picked it up and left for the room she and Sophia shared.

Before going to her bed, she placed the book next to the princess. She looked down at her but then walked away mumbling.

"Goodnight, Princess."

She whispered and layed on her bed.

Sophia woke up a bit and only saw her silhouette before noticing the book. She smiled softly and then went back to bed.

...

In the morning, Sophia woke up to loud banging.

"WAKE UP PRINCESS TIME FOR WORK!"

Sophia heard a familiar voice and slowly got up.

"Is it really necessary to bang on that pan to wake me up?"

She asked annoyed

"Yes"

Christina answered smiling.

Sophia stood up and walked outside

There, she saw Sib cleaning the deck.

"Oh good morning princess!"

He greeted her with a soft smile

"*yawns* good morning. "

"How are you feeling? I heard you yelling in the captain's cabin last night."

"I'm fine. I had a chat with the captain and we... cleared things out."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Sib smiled.

She smiled back

"TENSION THE SAILS BOYS!"

The captain yelled.

"YES, CAPTAIN!"

"What's happening?"

"We are making an emergency stop in Italy, princess"

"What why?"

"I don't know. Ask the captain."

Sophia turned around and approached the captain.

"Captain?"

"Yes? How can I help you, princess?"

"Why are we stopping in Italy?"

"You'll see"

"Huh?"

"It's a surprise. Think about it as an apology."

"Oh? Are you trying to make it up to me with a gift?"

Eleonora did not respond just continued to look ahead.

"Don't just stand there, go do your job"

Alexandra said while throwing the book at Sophia's face.

Sophia glared at her and then left the captain's side.

After a few hours, they arrived in Italy.

Sophia looked mesmerized by this new country she was seeing. Everything was new to her.

"You've never been to Italy before, princess?"

Sib asked

"I have never been anywhere outside of London. It was always a dream of mine to travel to other places"

Sophia said.

The ship finally stopped and right when Sophia was about to step down to the docks Alexandra grabbed her hand.

"Where do you think you're going looking like that?"

"But I thought I can come with you?"

"I'm talking about your clothes. Do you want everyone to know that you're a princess?"

"Oh, no but-"

"Put this on quickly and follow me"

Alexandra gave Sophia a cape with a hood that was able to hide her face when she put it on.

Eleonora, Alexandra, and Sophia got off the ship.

"Christina you're in charge while I'm gone"

"Ay ay Captain"

The 3 of them began to walk around the city.

Sophia stopped to look at every statue or building, it was so beautiful and new to her. She could not contain her excitement.

After a bit of walking, they stopped at a small clothing shop.

Eleonora opened the door for her and Alexandra and all of them stepped in.

There, a man with black hair and hazel eyes stood with his back turned away from them.

"Hello, how can i-"

The man turned around and was immediately surprised by who he was seeing before him.

"Well well well, who do we have here? Long time no see captain."

"Lorenzo! It's been so long."

The two of them shook hands.

"Oh First Mate Alexandra! You're as scarier as I remember you!"

The man said with a sarcastic tone.

"And you're as uglier as I remember, Lorenzo "

Lorenzo laughed.

"I see your compliments have gotten better."

The 3 of them laughed

Then Lorenzo noticed Sophia behind them.

"And who is this young lady?"

"She's one of my new addition to my crew."

"Oh, that's nice and what's her name?

"So-"

"Sonya. Her name is Sonya"

Eleonora cut Sophia off.

"You have a beautiful name, Sonya."

"Ah, yes, Thank you"

The man smiled as he kiss her hand.

"So, what brings you here?"

"I'm here to request a dress from your sister."

"Oh, how wonderful! Let me call for her."

Lorenzo excused himself as he went up the stairs.

"First Mate, who is that man?"

Sophia whispered

"An old friend of the captains. I believe he was an old crew member on the Mermaid's Heart."

She whispered back.

A few seconds later, a middle-aged woman with long black hair walked down the stairs together with Lorenzo.

"What is -"

The woman paused.

"Listen before you- "

Before Eleonora could finish her sentence she was met with a slap on the face.

"Okay I deserved that"

"You piece of shit! How dare you come in here again!?"

The woman said angrily.

"What did you do to her?"

Sophia whispered to Eleonora

"She left me alone at the docks after promising that she'll take me with her!"

"Come on, I send you a letter afterwards. I told you I was being chased by soldiers and had to leave straight away."

"That's not an excuse!"

Sophia and Alexandra just staring at them. Try to hold in their laughter

"Now now, Diona please calm down, she's here to request a dress from you, not to fight."

Her brother said

"A dress? For who?"

Eleonora stepped aside to reveal the princess behind her.

"And who is that?"

"One of my crew members. I'm here to request a dress for her. I need something that will help her move around easier than that long heavy dress she's wearing."

Diona's face soften and she said

"Why didn't you begin with that??? Come child, let me take your measurements!"

After a few minutes, Diona told them that the dress will take at least 2 days to be made.

Eleonora grabbed Diona to the side and handed her a bag of coins.

"Will this be enough to cover everything?"

"Since when are you so generous?"

Eleonora was pulled back by that question.

"What do you mean?

"Since when do you buy clothing for your crew members?"

"Well, I-"

Diona raised her eyebrow.

"No. No! Not like that! It's just an apology gift and she's way too young for me!"

"Mhm, whatever you say, Captain."

Diona said ask she crossed her arms and walked away.

Eleonora rolled her eyes at Diona's comment and just walked away.

...

"Well we will be on our way now, It was great seeing you both! We will be back in two days!"

Eleonora said

"Goodbye, my dear captain"

Lorenzo said while shaking hands with her.

He then pulled her closer and whispered in her ear

"But if you ever set up my sister again, I'll cut your fingers one by one"

Eleonora pulled away and laughed nervously.

"Aham! Hm, promise that won't happen again! Arrivederci!"

And with that Eleonora dragged Alexandra and the princess outside of the shop.

They walked in silence for a while before Alexandra turned towards the captain.

"By the way, Captain, the bag of coins you gave them, didn't it belongs to the princess?"

Alexandra asked

Sophia then turned to look at Eleonora.

"Shhhhh!"

Eleonora respond, putting her hand on Alexandra's mouth

"YOU GAVE THEM MY BAG!?"

"Now look what you've done, First Mate. Sometimes you have to shut that mouth of yours."

Eleonora said as she removed her hand from her mouth.

"How could you give them my bag??!"

"Hey! I didn't say I will be paying for your gift!"

"But you shouldn't give other people's belongings to someone else! It's wrong!"

Eleonora and Alexandra looked at each other before bursting out laughing. Sophia crossed her arms and said

"What's so funny?"

"Princess. We are privates! Does it look like we care about what's right or wrong??"

"Oh, you're right..."

The other 2 continued to laugh.

...

It was getting dark and the 3 were on their way to return to the ship but all of a sudden, Alexandra could feel someone following them.

"Captain?"

"What is it?"

"Something feels off. I think we should hurry back."

Eleonora looked around and noticed what she was talking about. There were 3 men following them. Eleonora pulled Sophia close to her and they continued to walk towards a small dead-end alley.

It was not a mistake. This was one of their tactics when knowing that they were about to fight.

It looked like the men have cornered them.

"My my, what a surprise"

One of the men said.

"Who do we have here? Captain Eleonora, First Mate Alexandra and if I'm correct that's the princess of England"

"H-how did you know that I'm the princess?"

Sofia asked

"How can I not recognize your beautiful young face, princess?"

Eleonora pushed Sophia behind her and put her hand on her sword. Alexandra was ready to grab her gun as well.

"Now now, no need to fight. We are here to make a deal with you."

"Like hell I'll make a deal with scumbags like you!"

Eleonora said.

"Hear us out. Give us the princess and we won't alert the soldiers that you're here. You don't want to be thrown in jail again, now do you?"

"As if I'm gonna let you get out of here alive."

"Fine, if you don't want to accept our offer then we will take the princess by force."

They took out their knives, and the man talking was holding a gun.

"Last chance. Give us the girl."

"Alexandra, please show these men how much I hate repeating myself"

"With pleasure"

Alex withdrew her gun and shot one of them right in the shoulder making him drop his knife.

Eleonora took out her sword and dashed towards one of them. Although her movements were quick, the man she was fighting still managed to dodge most of her attacks. While Eleonora and Alexandra were distracted one of the men managed to get a hold of the princess and put a gun to her head.

"THROW YOUR WEAPONS ON THE GROUND OR SHE GETS IT!"

Alexandra and Eleonora looked at each other and then at the man.

They dropped their weapons.

"Let her go."

"How about no."

Then the man began to drag Sophia out of the ally while the other two were pointing their knives at them.

Eleonora looked at Alexandra and nodded. The two ducked down and tripped the men making them fall on their backs. Eleonora grabbed Alexandra's gun and shot both of them in the head. Alexandra, on the other hand, grabbed Eleonora's sword and dashed towards the man.

She grabbed the man's hand and pointed the gun at the sky before he could shoot. She then pushed the princess away from him. Sophia fell to the ground. The moment she looked up she saw Alexandra slicing the man's throat wide open. Blood splashes onto her face.

It was the first that she had ever seen someone getting brutally murdered like that.

"Idiots"

Alexandra mumbled

"Come, we shouldn't stay here for long."

Eleonora said

And with that, they took the princess and ran back to the ship.

"Captain! What the heck happened to you three?!"

Christina said when she saw them.

"Thugs but we got away without any injuries, right?"

Eleonora looked back at Alexandra and Sophia.

"Yes, Captain"

Alexandra answered. Baki then jumped in her hands and she began to pet him.

"Princess Sofia, how about you?"

The princess didn't answer.

"Princess?"

Sib appeared and approached Sophia.

The princess finally looked up and answered.

"Oh yes, I have no injuries."

"Thank the seas you don't. We have no medicine to treat you if you did!"

Sib said as he took a napkin out of his pocket and started whipping away the blood from the princess's face.

"Pardon me but I think I'll go to bed early tonight. "

Sophia pushed Sib's hand away after and walked past him and to her room.

"What's wrong with her?"

Christina asked

"She witnessed us killing them. Judging by her reaction, it was the first time she ever saw death"

Alexandra answered

"Oh makes sense"

Christina responded

"Give her some time."

Alexandra then said

"Now, what do we have for dinner tonight, I'm starving"

Eleonora said while heading for the kitchen.

Everyone followed. Sib, later on, picked up some food and went inside the princess's room.

He knocked gently on the door.

"Princess?"

"Come in"

He entered the room and saw the princess on her bed reading her book. He left the food next to her bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright"

"Are you sure? You don't look alright to me"

The princess then put the book down and broke down. She confessed how surprised and shocking it was to witness all that. She felt so scared when she had that gun pointed at her head. Sib sat there and listened to her and hugged her back when she hugged him.

Sophia looked at him and he wiped her tears. She then got closer to him and closed her eyes. Sib did the same and before their lips touched

someone opened the door.

"Oh man im-"

Christina froze and just stared at them before yelling

"OH FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE NOT IN HERE!"

The two of them pulled away and sat on the opposite side of the bed.

"Sib get the hell out before I slice you up!"

"Right away, Quartermaster!"

Sib stood up looked at the princess and whispered "I'm sorry" then ran out of the room.

"The hell with you two. Go do that stuff in Alexandra's room next time"

Sophia laughed awkwardly and then began to eat her food.

Christina just layed on her bed, still mumbling.