The Starry Kiss
A few days have passed since the crew left the island and headed towards America. Everything was running smoothly, and no trouble had occurred these days. The captain was back to her normal self and everything seemed fine. Sophia never told anyone—not even Sib—about the conversation she had with Christina and Alexandra. However, Sophia felt that something was missing from the story they told her. She knew that she had to investigate more on her own if she wanted to know how Marina was connected to the chest.
...
"Pssst. Princess. Wake up."
A familiar voice whispered into Sophia's ear in the middle of the night.
The princess began to slowly open her eyes to see Sib standing before her.
"S-sib?"
She asked as she slowly rose up for the bed.
"Come with me, princess."
Sib said
"But why?"
Sophia asked. Suddenly, a loud shore made both of them turn to their left. Christina was sleeping soundly next to them. Thankfully, she did not seem to notice them.
"Shhh. Just come with me."
He whispered once more, looking her in the eyes.
She stared into his dark brown eyes for a few seconds before nodding and following him outside.
"*yawns* What's so important you had to wake me up at this hour?"
Sophia asked
"Here"
Sib said as he handed the princess an origami flower.
"I wanted to give you a real one but we haven't stopped at any islands lately."
Sophia hold the gift in her hand and smiled softly.
"No, it's fine. I love it. Thank you."
She said and hugged him tightly.
Sib blushed and hugged her back.
They stayed in each other's arms for a while until Sophia finally pulled away and kissed him. He pulled her closer by her waist to deepen the kiss. It was the first time they kissed since they were stuck inside the tunnels.
Eventually, the two had to pull away to catch their breath.
"Was this the only reason you woke me up?"
Sophia asked him as she layed her head on his chest.
"Well, we couldn't really meet up like this the past few days."
"Hm, You're right. Work has been extremely hard lately."
"I apologise for waking you up, my love."
Sophia pulled away and stared into his eyes in disbelief.
"Princess? What's wrong?"
"Y-you called me my love"
"Yeah? So what? Was I not supposed to?"
"No! No, I mean I didn't expect it that's all. I've gotten used to everyone calling me princess."
"Did you like it?"
Sophia blushed at his question. She looked down at her feet and slowly nodded her head. Sib smiled gently.
"I'm glad, my love."
"Stop it"
"Why? I'm not doing anything wrong, my love"
"Sib"
"What is it, my love?"
"Stop teasing me or I will-"
"Or what, my love?"
He leaned forward and whispered into her ear.
He pulled away with a smirk on his face looking at her.
Sophia became redder than she already was and when Sib looked her in the eyes once more she would feel her legs getting weak but she tried to play it cool.
"What's gotten into you? It's the first time you've acted like this with me."
Sib's smirk fell off immediately.
"I'm sorry. Did I overdo it?"
"Wait. Why are you apologising? I didn't say I didn't like it. It just took me by surprise."
"Oh. So that means it didn't upset you?"
"Yes. It did not upset me, dummy."
She smiled sweetly before pulling him into a hug.
He hugged her back once more.
"Phew. I'm glad you liked it"
She giggled into his chest. Sib put his hand on her chin and lifted it up so that she could face him. The moonlight reflected beautifully in the princess's ocean blue eyes.
"You're very beautiful."
He said before leaning forward once again to kiss her gently. She kissed him back, putting her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer.
"Oh for heaven's sake! Get a room!"
They pulled away immediately and turned towards the voice.
It was Christina standing a few meters away from them.
"Quartermaster!"
Both of them said
"Ugh, why am I always the one to catch both of you like that?!"
Christina exclaimed.
"W-why are you up so late?"
Sophia asked
"I woke up and didn't see you in your bed. So I came up here to look for you. Looks like a made a mistake."
Christina said glaring at them
"I'm sorry for worrying you, Quartermaster."
Sophia said
"Just finish your thing and go to bed.*yawn* I woke up for nothing!"
Christina mumbled and headed towards their room.
Sophia then turned to Sib. The two looked at each other and laughed.
"I think it's time for time"
Sib said
"You're probably right"
Sophia said, still laughing about the situation.
Sib took Sophia's hand and caressed it gently. He looked at her, smiled softly, and kissed her hand.
"Goodnight, my love"
He said. Sophia blushed at that word again.
"Goodnight, Sib"
Sophia said and then began to walk away but not before giving him one last kiss.
The two parted and went back to their beds.
Sophia fell asleep holding the origami flower in her hands.
...
At the break of dawn, as Sophia was sleeping, she was suddenly woken up by loud cheering from the deck above.
Christina was also woken up by them.
The two rose from their beds and looked at each other.
"Quartermaster, what's going on?"
Sophia asked
Christina stood up and answered
"I don't know"
She quickly ran up the stairs and onto the deck. Sophia followed soon after.
They walked up and they were met with the loud cheering of the crew.
Sophia spotted Eleonora and Alexandra on the forecastle deck.
She and Christina walked up to them.
"Captain, what's going on?"
Christina asked
"See for yourself"
Eleonora said as she pointed ahead.
What Christina and Sophia's failed to notice is the land a few feet away from them.
"America! We finally made it!"
Christina exclaimed
"How beautiful."
Sophia said as she approached the railing of the ship looking at the new land.
"Indeed it is."
Eleonora said
"But captain, I wanted to ask. Why was our destination America? Do you have any business to attend to there?"
"We've never been there before. I thought it would be a good idea to visit it once."
"You didn't think about it. I suggested it"
Alexandra said
"I thought, you thought, same thing!"
Christina and Sophia laughed while Alexandra rolled her eyes.
While laughing, Sophia noticed Sib in the crowd. She smiled and waved at him
...
A few minutes later they arrived at the dock.
They stepped down from the ship.
"So beautiful!"
Sophia said as she took Sib's hand and ran down the dock.
"Hey! Stop right there!"
Alexandra yelled at Sophia.
She ran to her, holding a cap with a hood and putting it over her.
"You're still a run-away remember?"
"Oh. Yeah. I forgot"
Sophia said
"Now, stay close to us. Sib alone won't be able to protect you if something happens."
Alexandra said, she and Baki glaring at Sib. He looked down at his feet and didn't respond to that. Sophia noticed that and squeeze his hand gently. He looked at her and she looked at him.
"I believe he can protect me on his own just fine"
Sophia said still looking at Sib, who got flustered by her words.
Suddenly, they were approached by a man in a suit, holding a clipboard.
"Aham. Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, may I see your papers and your payment for the fees?"
The man said
"Why yes. Here you go"
The captain appeared, all of a sudden, and handed the man some papers and payment for the fees.
He checked them and raised his eyebrow
"Is there a problem?"
The captain asked
"No. It's just that your ship looks nothing like most English ships."
"Does a ship have to look a certain way to represent the royal family? I have the papers so I don't see the problem"
The captain said.
The man looked at the papers again and then at Eleonora.
"Welcome to America, ma'am"
The man said handed back the papers and walked away.
Eleonora turned towards her crew.
"Welcome to America, darlings"
"How do you have papers like that?"
Sophia asked.
"Sleeping with the queen has its benefits"
Alexandra and Christina laughed while Sophia hit Eleonora's hand.
"Ouch! Don't hurt me, princess. You're gonna upset your mother."
Eleonora said acting hurt.
"Shut up!"
Sophia said as she turned her head and walked away with Sib.
"Don't get too far away! You might get lost!"
Alexandra yelled at her.
"Yeah yeah I know!"
Sophia yelled back