"Vincent, your feelings mean so much to me but I believe I've found my true happiness and it's not with you. Please forgive me Vincent... You'll always be the man I respect the most!"
She said this with sad eyes that still wouldn't cure the broken deserted heart. It would only pain it more because right behind that tint of sadness there was a happiness glittering like the stars of the morn. It wasn't long after his confession when he was forced to duel his best friend and also the man that happiness was contingent on, receiving a scar on his neck and losing a friend along a lover...
Vincent opened his eyes suddenly from his day dreaming and found his hand put on that scar... it had healed up long ago but it seemed fresh to his fingers when they touched it on the second morning of the battle.
The battle was flaring up and even the mighty fleet of the Wilshire didn't appear to have much chances against the water goddess allying with the royal fleet. But suddenly this ill alliance was disturbed once again when the royal fleet aimed his cannons at the mountains where the sacred spring was announced to be by her highness. Howard shouted at the royal's fleet messenger demanding an explanation, the messenger replied repeating the same answer like the trained parrot he was.
"It's his majesty's orders to efface everything that can give glory to the Wilshire, and that spot is the key to their might and fearful status!"
"But her highness is still there, along with your majesty's officer and a sailor of ours!"
Howard, barely able to control himself physically, shouted at the man. The messenger thought long before he hopelessly waved his arms around:
"Her highness Selene has been gone for an entire day, and I don't believe the ritual takes that long. If she had succeeded, we would have seen the mountains flood with water!"
"Really? How do you know how it is supposed to work?"
The messenger did not bother to answer the rude man's questions, not out of trivial knowledge but rather out of ignorance. Howard looked at him in disbelief. There was as high chance that the whole royal fleet did not know what is was doing, the doom it was calling for. They were even ready to sacrifice the second crown princess favoring winning the battle at any cost.
"Are you telling me you are ready to take responsibility for her highness's life?"
The man grunted in annoyance at Howard persistence, he was definitely in a tight spot, and the princess did not make it any easier by her departure. He worried at his lips almost tearing them to blood. He could declare the princess died accidentally during the battle, or at the ritual... she will be a martyr then... she will more remembered dead than alive. Howard mind picked on the latter's intention and picked the man by his collar, ready to swing him along the fired cannonballs:
"Are you insane? You will have this entire ship to face and to testify against you!"
"And who do you think the people will believe? The higher classes appointed by his majesty or lowly ill – famed men like you?!"
The answer was tossing the messenger at the island he desperately wanted to conquer but Vincent rushed at the scene and stopped the stupid act, calming Howard down and preventing him from soiling his hands with this bastard. He pulled the seaman away from the messenger and whispered in his ear:
"Do not commit a crime you will regret later, no one would believe a soul on this ship."
Howard tusked frustrated. They had sailed hailed as heroes, and now at the moment of truth, they were threatened and beaten down at every chance by people who had only showed when it was safe. Vincent went on to lessen the burden on the vexed man:
"Calm down, friend... nothing can stop these men. The only person they follow is the king; it's the princess's mistake for not caring about her popularity between the soldiers."
"But I have never abandon any of my crew before! And her highness Selene and Albert have become part of this crew!"
Howard exclaimed without hope. He wanted to do things his way, drown the messenger, shoot the royal fleet and save his friends while seizing the island but he did not have the means to do any of this. Vincent put his hand on the man's shoulder encouraging him:
"Don't worry Howard; I don't abandon my friends either! So, you try to procrastinate and draw their attention to the real battle while I go and try to get those three out. It's been a lot of time since they have left!"
"You're right, something might have happened to them there."
The two men turned at Serena who came to join them despite the open danger. She added:
"I'm going with sire Vincent; I might be of much help to you there on land since there's nothing I can do in this battle."
The two wanted to object but she was truthful in her feelings and desire to help so Vincent said nothing except a promise to protect her. While another boat was prepared to be set off, Howard approached the young lady and whispered something to her. She closed her eyes sighing, his wish was hers too so she answered him:
"I'll make sure to remind him, Sir Howard."
The boat was finally ready to go and while watched by the crew's worried eyes, Vincent and Serena went to the island in the direction Albert and her highness along with Alice had went.