Tyler’s ship sailed into the tranquil waters of a bustling port, the island brimming with activity as rchants and adventurers moved about with purpose. The crew anchored their vessel, and Tyler, along with Lily, made their way onto the island, blending into the crowd as they headed towards the heart of the town.
The town was alive with comrce, and the sounds of haggling and chatter filled the air. Tyler and Lily, dressed as rchants, navigated through the crowded streets until they reached the imposing structure of the ’Golden Mariner rchant Guild’. The guild was known far and wide as the hub for adventurers seeking quests and for rchants looking to buy or sell valuable information.
As they entered the grand hall of the guild, they were greeted by the sight of adventurers and traders negotiating deals, exchanging maps, and bartering over rare goods. Tyler and Lily approached the counter, where a middle-aged man with a sharp gaze and a shrewd smile stood ready to assist them.
"We’re here for information," Tyler said, sliding a pouch of coins across the counter.
The man’s eyes flicked to the pouch before he nodded, pocketing the money. "What do you seek?"
"We want to know why the pirates are after a girl nad Astrid," Lily said, her tone serious.
The man’s expression shifted slightly, a sign that the information they sought was not sothing trivial. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "The turmoil in the Rosefall Kingdom has everyone on edge. Word on the seas is that Astrid is no ordinary girl. Her full na is Astrid Rosefall."
Lily’s eyes widened slightly, though she quickly masked her surprise. Tyler remained composed, but the significance of the na was not lost on him.
"Rosefall... as in the royal family?" Tyler asked, his voice calm but probing.
The man nodded. "Exactly. She’s part of the Rosefall bloodline. With the Crown Prince missing and the throne in dispute, I don’t understand why they are trying to capture this girl."
Lily crossed her arms, her mind racing with possibilities. "She might be more than just a pawn in their ga."
Lily exchanged a glance with Tyler . "It could an that the Nation Hero isn’t her aunt."
Tyler considered this, his gaze thoughtful. "Well but it seems like she is closer to the Nation Hero."
They both knew that this revelation complicated things. Protecting Astrid wasn’t just about shielding her from pirates anymore—it was about keeping her hidden from those who would use her to seize power in the Rosefall Kingdom.
"Thank you for the information," Tyler said, sliding another pouch of coins across the counter as a tip.
The man nodded, pocketing the additional coins. "If you need more information, you know where to find ."
Tyler and Lily turned to leave, their minds now filled with the weight of what they had learned. As they stepped out of the guild and back into the bustling streets, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the island.
"Any news?" Back on the ship, Mana asked.
"Princess Astrid Rosefall?" Tyler called out.
Astrid smiled bitterly. "Oh... it looks like my identity is beginning to spread."
Tyler just nodded and asked, "Well, never mind. The ship will stay here for a day. Do you really want to go?"
"I just wanted to ask her a question. I want to know about soone," Astrid said while she touched her locket.
The thing is, Astrid wants to et soone. It’s not a big problem since Astrid is in disguise, but what Tyler is worried about is, "Is that person trustworthy?" Tyler asked.
"She is. In fact, she is Aunt Evergreen’s mother," Astrid said.
A few minutes later...
Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Mathilda, Lily, Tyler, and Mana were playing ’Rock, Paper, Scissors.’
Tyler flinched when he realised he had won.
"Wow... how lucky. You’re going on a date with an angel," Mathilda teased him.
In fact, there were many things to take care of on the ship, and they had decided to send only one person with Astrid. They decided to select the person through a ga of ’Rock, Paper, Scissors.’
"All right, all right."
Mathilda quickly dragged Tyler to the corner. She then locked her arm around Tyler’s neck from the side and whispered in his ear, "Hey. If possible, don’t try to eat her. From what I heard, she already has soone in her heart."
Tyler caught a sweet scent from her. Her fragrance entered his nose, and her whispers tickled his ear.
"I would rather eat you," Tyler whispered back, leaving Mathilda dumbfounded.
"Huh... why are you blushing?" Silvia asked.
"Huh..? What do you an? I only like won," Mathilda murmured and ran away.
┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉
A small village lay nestled in the farthest part of the island, and Tyler and Astrid were on their way there. Thanks to Tyler’s Flying Boat, they would reach the place in just 30 minutes. The boat, which appeared ordinary on the outside, was anything but. It was engraved with a Floating Array and other arrays that Tyler himself had crafted, allowing it to be controlled effortlessly by divine sense.
As they travelled, Astrid and Tyler sat opposite each other, an awkward silence between them. The hum of the boat’s magic-filled the air, but it was clear Astrid had sothing on her mind.
"Umm..." Astrid started, her voice hesitant.
"Huh?" Tyler responded, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing," Astrid quickly turned away, unable to find the words.
The boat soon arrived at the village. It was a humble place by the seashore, where small children played and fishern worked tirelessly. The villagers briefly glanced at the newcors but quickly returned to their tasks.
Tyler and Astrid made their way through the village, stopping at a modest house. Astrid hesitated for a mont before knocking on the door.
"No matter what happens, don’t let your emotions get the best of you," Tyler warned, his voice low and serious.
"Don’t worry. I have self-control," Astrid replied confidently, patting her chest. The mountains jiggled - a motion that made Tyler quickly avert his gaze. Astrid didn’t notice it.
The door creaked open, revealing an old woman.
"Grandma," Astrid whispered, but the tears she had tried to hold back began to fall freely.
"What happened to self-control?" Tyler muttered under his breath, gently pushing both of them inside before closing the door behind them.
The three of them sat around a small wooden table, sipping tea. The cozy room was filled with the warm aroma of freshly brewed herbs, but an air of tension lingered.
"Who is this man?" the old woman asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Tyler. Astrid had already removed her disguise, revealing her true identity.
"Hello, I’m Tyler White. Just an ordinary rchant," Tyler replied politely, offering a small smile.
The old woman’s stern expression softened into a smile. "Thank you for taking care of my granddaughter," she said warmly. Then, leaning closer to Astrid, she whispered, "You didn’t hook up with this man, did you? I thought you were going to marry my grandson."
’I can hear you,’ Tyler thought inwardly, his face remaining neutral despite the awkward situation.
Astrid’s face flushed, and she quickly changed the subject. "Oh, yes... I’m here to ask about Lutz. Do you know where he is?"
"Lutz is in the kingdom now," the grandmother replied, her tone more serious. "But I don’t know what he’s doing at the mont."
They spent so ti chatting about trivial matters before Astrid, her disguise back in place, bid her grandmother farewell with tears in her eyes. As she and Tyler prepared to leave, the old woman stood at the door, waving them off with a sad smile. The Flying Boat lifted into the air, carrying them away from the village.
The grandmother watched until the boat disappeared from sight, then turned back inside with a sigh. She walked to a small, dimly lit room and opened the door.
"Are you sure you don’t want to see her, Lutz?" she asked gently.
"Not now, Grandma. It’s not ti," replied a young man with brown hair, his expression sombre as he stared out the window at the now-empty sky.
"Who is this Lutz?" Tyler asked out of curiosity as the Flying Boat soared above the treetops, cutting through the sky with ease.
"He’s my childhood friend," Astrid replied softly, her fingers gently tracing the edges of the locket she had just opened. Inside was a small, faded picture of herself and a young boy with brown hair, smiling brightly at the cara. "This is Lutz. We grew up together."
As the Flying Boat glided smoothly through the air, Astrid began to share her childhood mories with Tyler.
Tyler listened attentively, offering the occasional nod or comnt.
After a while, Astrid turned the conversation towards Tyler. "What about you?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. "What’s your story?"
Tyler raised an eyebrow, a small grin forming on his lips. "Didn’t the girls already tell you?" he asked, his tone teasing."Huh... Well..." Astrid looked away awkwardly, clearly caught off guard.
"Wait... what exactly did they tell you?" Tyler asked, leaning forward with a playful suspicion.
"They said that you’re a very good guy," Astrid answered, trying to suppress a mischievous laugh but failing.
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