Albert stayed onboard the ship and did not go to the island where the ingredients for the antidote where supposed to be found, despite Vincent deciding on accompanying the priestess princess to get the needed plants. Even Serena went with them, after she changed her impractical dress with simpler male clothes borrowed from the sailors, claiming that helping them is the least she can do in return for saving her. Albert walked back and forth regretting that he didn't go with Vincent then convinced himself that it has nothing to do with him, but if his father had saved Alex's life, losing his own, shouldn't he honor his father's death and help saving the man he died for? And thus, he went in circles for hours without being able to figure what he was ought to do and what decision was right. Finally, he went to see Alice who was taking care of the sick captain as Howard had of asked her, although he really did not had to. She was to volunteer without being told to, seeming eager to do so, too eager for Albert's pleasure. That thought irritated the young man even more. Albert headed to Alex's room and saw her doing all she could for Alex's sake, changing his soaked sheets, placing the wet bandage regularly every half hour, and trying to fed him a light soup as best she could manage to force him. Albert watched realizing more and more that she was probably not doing this just for Howard... the way she rushed to the deck when Alex collapsed and the way she put his head on her lap looking at him with tearing eyes brought unease to his heart. His blood was boiling, as much as he hated to admit, at the sight of his childhood friend taking care of his enemy yet he refused to name the what he was feeling jealousy. At the captain's cabin door, he stood looking at the two of them for few minutes, not daring to knock and enter the room and not having the heart to remove himself entirely from the obnoxious scene, merely peeking like a guilty child, retreating every time Alice made a move away from the poisoned man's bed. But his game of hide and seek did not last long before she noticed him and questioned in surprise:
"Albert?! You're still here? I thought you went to the island with the others..."
" Why should I? Beside, that man knows well how to survive..."
Albert turned his face away; he did not wish for Alice to witness the hatred twisting his feature, although it his voice was dripping with it, easily discerned by anyone. He prepared himself mentally for a lecture, but the girl's answer was too simple and not related to his excuse, as if she chose to ignore what he said or not give it too much thought or take it on a personal level.
"I thought you wouldn't miss on yourself the chance to discover new places."
Albert was shocked into silence. He didn't know how to respond to this because she was right... he had always wanted to see the new places and wonders harbored beyond the seas but he totally forgot about this when the notion became related to the laying unconscious man in front of him. He left the room quickly, with the excuse of not wanting to interrupt Alice from what she was doing; claiming she was busy and didn't have time for him. So, he went back to the deck to soothe his inner frustration with some fresh air but not ten minutes later, he saw Alice leaving the captain's room, running while hiding her face with her hands and he could slightly hear a faint weeping. Alarmed, he followed her calling her name but she didn't acknowledge him until he held her hand, and truly, she was really crying... He did not if he should lash out at whoever caused her to shed tears or handle things more calmly. But found himself, involuntarily and insensitively, presuming the "worst" conclusion.
"What is it? What happened? Did he die?!"
He said this and turned at Alex's room but Alice didn't say anything about the tone Albert said the last sentence with, Albert felt upset and stupid and apologized. Alice did not care for his tone rendering Albert wondering what on earth just happened in these few minutes. Alice stuttered wiping her continuously falling tears:
"The captain... he was raving because of the fever and the poison... "
Albert didn't understand why this would make her cry; he tried to calm her down but she kept going on:
"He was raving with a woman's name... the way he said it... how he extended his hand expecting hers..."
She said this then rushed to her room and locked the door leaving Albert alone like a sole tree extracted by a stormy wind. He knew why she was crying yet refused to admit to himself... he didn't dare to go after her and he did not have the strength to withdraw from the spot he was left standing in... Alice was boarding this ship, working on it not for the dream they shared once, the dream that was turned by that accident and indirect confession idiotic and meaningless... she simply left her home and found herself a job at this ship as the cook to be by his side... by that man's side... not any man but the one he could never forgive or even force himself to look at him directly because the only thing he could see in him as was the man who stole his father, and now the man Alice chose this life for...
*****
Few hours later, the men rushed back onboard the ship guiding the princess to the kitchen, she took the herbs she gathered and entered alone, no one dared to disturb her as they waited worriedly. Albert watched them but didn't ask how things went; he was still tormenting his mind and heart with the facts he had just learnt. He stopped at the kitchen where Alice works... her sweet smell was around the place but she wasn't there. As he stepped inside the room he found the young princess preparing the medicine with her soft hands. she sensed his hesitant presence but chose not to speak, focusing at the task at hand. Although Albert was certain the royal princess could handle a thousand questions together. Almost finishing, he finally gathered some courage and asked her, trying to justify his presence here and absence from the trip to get the medicine prepared.
"Your highness, why are you doing this?"
The princess raised her head to get a good look at the asking officer, who did not hesitate to throw himself down to help her avoid an assassination, she knew what he meant but still waited for him to expand on his question. Albert got the hint and went on, a little impatient:
"Why are you helping someone you don't even know well? "
"Is this how you weigh things?"
Busying her hands again with the preparation of the antidote, Albert couldn't move, his eyes from her held captive in the charm of her gaze although she had turned her face away from him. Getting no answer, or more precisely, knowing he was not that type of person, she left the counter where she was grinding the ingredients and she looked directly at him, giving him no escape route:
"To help is something like the falling rain... it falls on the dead land to make it bloom; however, it may not be enough to revive it but this doesn't loosen from the raindrops beauty and purity. In the end, the rain maintained its beauty and purpose by trying to help the wasted land and wasn't tainted by the dirt of the soil."
Albert turned his face away, although the princess's words sounded true in his heart he just didn't want to bring himself to listen to them. He bowed to her respectfully and left the kitchen.
The raindrops he had seen was a flood that drowned his life cruelly to aid a rotten faded tree...
After a while he saw Selene giving the medicine to Alice who rushed back with it to the captain's room as the crew bowed thanking the royal figure sincerely, some of them even crying. That night, Albert left his room but avoided meeting Alice, she was busy anyway. Seeking solitude, he still bumped into his older friend Vincent. Thinking perhaps it was better not to dwell in his mind with the company of his shattered thoughts, he joined the man who was gazing at the skies. An awkward unfamiliar silence settled
between the two, promoting Vincent to start the conversation with the first thought that came to his mind.
"The captain is fine now but still a little bit tired."
"I don't care."
Albert replied stubbornly making Vincent smile because the way his younger friend spoke the words with sharp tone yet lacking any venom or hostility told it wasn't true. Albert watched with irritation the older man smiling, as if his actions or words were not to be taken seriously like a little spoiled child. But in reality, somehow, the princess's words had gotten into him. He was expecting another lecture on why he did not join the party to the island but Vincent was not that type of men, he preferred to leave everyone to discover his true nature by himself, offering advice when needed. He knew the turmoil Albert had been going through since his selection to be the royal representative at the Amphitrite and did not wish to press matters. The two men heard footsteps behind them and turned to find the whole crew standing, Howard approached from the young man who prepared himself for a fight, they probably forgot all about the Triton pass after refusing to help them on the island but Howard usual frowned that had ever been only directed at him was not there this time. Instead, he said with unusual and suspicious cheerfulness:
"We are all in your debt... I confess that no one onboard the ship had the enough courage to lead the ship the way you did through that death trap so, thank you and welcome onboard the Amphitrite!"
Howard said this and extended his hand for the young man ... Albert shook his hand strongly as the men said that he had become one of them... Suddenly, a third hand was pressing on the two shaking hands. Albert felt Alice's gentle smile before he could retain the touch of her tanned skin.
"You were so brave out there... so, let's celebrate Albert becoming a member of this crew along with Lord Vincent!"
Alice exclaimed, no trace of her sorrow revealed in her eyes. She was truly a brave woman, far braver than he could ever aspire to be. Even if this was a façade she had put, he was glad to see her smile again, promising himself he will make her smile more often.
The drink bottles were all of a sudden filling the place as some men got out some musical instruments and started playing... Albert turned surprised, he had no idea the furious crew of this mighty ship can turn into a bunch of merry goofy men... Alice pulled his hands and started dancing with him in the country style... some sailors rushed then returned with Serena and the princess who didn't object to this and did not need much pressing or formal invitation, she had chosen already to be part of this journey, her royal blood and lineage did not matter to her and she made this clear to everyone. Albert smiled at her when he saw her sitting between them, refusing any offers for more comfort. Vincent turned and saw Alex watching them silently from his room without objections then closing the door to let his men have their moment. Vincent's smile faltered a little before he was pulled again into another drinking contest with Howard. Albert turned around smiling gratefully to the men, and especially to Alice... merely seeing her vivid spirit was enough to give him hope and change the way he felt toward everyone onboard the ship in the beginning of the journey. It felt so warm like back there in his home, when he used to sit between his father and mother around the fireplace, his father telling him sorties about his adventures in the seas he had traveled... Albert looked at Alex's room, there was no one standing, and the door was closed and even seemed locked drowning the cabin in darkness... every time he recalled that incident, deep in his heart, he felt jealous of him... just thinking that his father chose him to take on that trip, and died to protect him through the storm... although it was childish, this feeling of jealousy grew with him inch by inch until now but this time, he smiled at the closed door... at that moment there was nothing to be jealous of Alex from. Being surrounded by these good - hearted people, being able to celebrate with them instead of distancing himself from everyone left no room for jealousy this night. Even regarding the incident with Alice, he promised himself he will do his best to respect her wishes, but that did not mean he was willing to give up on her, merely making her smile was enough for now.