Chapter 405: Heart of A Man (1/2)
The issue wasn't that Eleven swung that way, but that of all people she could flirt with, she chose the coldest person in existence. Dia seemed unaware of the pirate's feelings, but she still scowled at her for approaching.
”Get away from my path,” the princess almost spat the words. ”Unless you want me to make an ice statue out of you,” as she said so, Diana waved her hand, and frost danced following it.
”That would be terrible,” Eleven took a step forward, and the gloves on her hand protected her from the frost as she held the princess's hand. ”Allow me to escort you out, then.”
Arthur and Dia were both stunned by her smooth and intimate actions. The pirate guided the princess outside before the latter could snap out of it and slapped her hand away.
”You insolent...!” Dia began, but Arthur hurried to step in lest she kills his next captain. It seems the pirate was surprised by the princess's attitude but amused nonetheless.
”Okay, that's enough,” Arthur said as he tried to separate the two, standing between them. ”We'll take the gifts you offered since we wanted to buy some things as well,” he said, facing the pirate.
”As you command, My Lord,” the pirate grinned and bowed comically. Of course, the nobility could see her actions as disrespectful, but Arthur only found them amusing.
”I don't want her gifts,” Dia said, glaring at Arthur, and he felt like he was placed in front of the muzzle. ”You two can have fun by yourselves. I'm leaving.”
From the princess's back sprung out wings of her blue flames, and she soared into the sky straight toward the west harbor. Arthur and Eleven both stood there stunned by the development of the event, as it seems Dia misunderstood the situation.
”Is she jealous?” Eleven scratched her head with confusion as she turned toward Arthur. ”I guess we are rivals now, My Lord,” she said with a grin.
”Shut up and stay away from her,” Arthur sighed exasperatedly, pondering chasing after the princess. He didn't want her to freeze the west harbor in her rage, but it might be better if she calmed down first.
”No can do, My Lord,” Eleven wore her hat and threw her scarf over her neck. ”The wheels of love are unstoppable, and not even the gods dare to interfere.”
”If I knew you had eyes for her, I wouldn't have agreed to let you be my captain,” Arthur sighed as he started walking toward the west harbor. ”If you want to die, then suit yourself.”
”How can I not fall for her? Have you even seen her, My Lord? I swear to the sea that I've never met someone as beautiful as her,” the pirate sounded helpless. ”If we weren't on land, I would have thought she was a mermaid luring me to my death. Ah, how beautiful women are.”
”Are you including yourself?”
”It's wrong to consider me as one,” Eleven grinned. ”For my body might be of a woman, but my heart is forever that of a man. That's the only way to survive in the sea, and no one dares to refute my claim.”
”Your heart will be forever frozen if you get too close to her,” he said as they passed through the streets, the chilly breeze of the sea kissing their skin. ”And I'm not talking literally: the princess isn't as emotionally available as you are.”
”We are all of the broken hearts, but have you seen the way she looks at you?” Eleven sighed with such emotions that Arthur suspected she fell for Diana ages ago. ”I want to have someone who looks at me in such a way, for her eyes soften when she looks at you as if there's no other in the world.”
”You are more of a poet than a pirate,” Arthur didn't want to comment on her words, but he clearly understood them. ”If you know as much, then back away.”
”Pirates and poets seek freedom just the same, but in different ways,” Eleven said as she skipped toward the harbor. A few of her crew came forward, but she simply waved them off. ”I have the feeling that you aren't solely committed to her, so I'm taking my chance.”
”Committed...” Arthur repeated the word, unable to refute her observations because he didn't want to lie. They were intimate with each other, but were they anything more than a platonic friendship?
”I can make her happier, but I don't know if she would choose anyone but you. Ah, how unfortunate that I didn't meet her sooner,” the pirate seemed to blame her stars.
”How did you know her identity?” Arthur was curious, but the pirate shrugged as if it was apparent.
”There's no one of her beauty and no other who can use flames and ice of that kind. If you didn't stop her in time, I would have truly been frozen. Although,” she grinned. ”it wouldn't be so bad to die by her hands.”