As they boarded the small boat along with other passengers to the City Center harbor, Elishia couldn’t help but take in deep breaths, as she felt her heart might explode at that moment. It was beating too fast and she knew Mark could tell by their clasped hands—perhaps that’s why he was holding it so tight, as if constantly reassuring her that everything would be alright.

Elishia looked at the undulating waves as the boat drove away from the port.

She’s leaving. She’s really, truly going back.

Elishia fought her tears from falling, but inevitably couldn’t. She tried to remain silent, but small whimpers still betrayed her. She ducked her head and tried to hide when suddenly a jacket was thrown over her shoulders and she fell into an embrace. Mark’s other free hand encircled her small shoulders. He didn’t say anything, but the warmth of his presence was enough to calm Elishia.

She also encircled her arms around his waist, which stiffened for a few seconds then relaxed. She heard him heave a big sigh and tighten his hold on her. They stayed like that until the boat slowly came to a stop.

Mark lightly called her name and she lifted her head from his chest to look at him. Her eyes were red-rimmed, cute nose slightly red, and watery glistening eyes. Her appearance made Mark bite his molars hard. He waited for a few seconds before barely voicing out, “Princess, were you sleeping?”

Due to the commotion of the captain and crew escorting the other passengers offboard, Elishia seemed to sober.

“Princess, are you still there? Did you dream about me again? I know I’m irresistibly handsome, but try to control yourself,” he teased with a crooked smile.

Noticing that she was practically plastered to Mark, she hurriedly stood up, which unfortunately made her lose her balance and ended up again in Mark’s embrace as he stood up to catch her flailing self.

“Whoa there, princess. I know you want me to embrace you that much, but you only needed to ask and I’ll gladly do it.”

Elishia glared up at him and hastily steadied herself. “Who wants to be embraced by you?”

Elishia huffed and tidied herself, ignoring the smirking man.

—

Off the boat, what greeted Elishia was a huge harbor and an equally huge cruise ship which was dozens of stories high. She craned her neck and gaped. Mark chuckled beside her, holding their luggage.

“Princess, you should probably close that mouth, else a fly might fly in.”

So huge. Is this—

She immediately whipped her head to Mark. “What are we really doing here? Are we really going to board such a ship?”

Elishia searched his eyes with an anxious look. But Mark simply looked at her calmly—or perhaps there was some other emotion buried deep within his red-flecked golden irises. Mark reached for her hand again, but this time he brought it to his lips and gently, softly kissed it while maintaining eye contact.

Elishia’s heart skipped a beat, but now for an entirely different reason, and an unknown fire was suddenly burning in her that made her spine tingle.

“What—” she gasped but was cut off.

“I promised myself to bring you home, no matter the cost.”

Elishia’s eyes couldn’t help but widen and brimmed with tears very soon. Mark let out a helpless sigh and with an equally helpless expression helped wipe her flowing tears away.

—

The Katalina stood majestically before them, a floating palace of white and gold. The luxury cruise ship stretched nearly a thousand feet long, with fifteen gleaming decks that rose like a layered wedding cake against the azure sky. Crystal windows sparkled in the afternoon sun, and elegant balconies adorned the upper levels. Inside, marble lobbies with soaring ceilings welcomed guests, while crystal chandeliers cast rainbow patterns across polished floors. The ship boasted fine dining restaurants, a grand ballroom, sprawling pools, and even a small theater—luxury beyond anything Elishia had ever imagined.

The journey would take two weeks, sailing from Troas through the countries of Merva, Trilen, Octava, and finally to Finel.

Standing at the deck, overlooking the sea and feeling the salty wind, Elishia still felt that she was in a dream, and all that had happened so far was just a very long dream.

“Where did you get the money? Where did you get those fake IDs? How did we get in so easily?” Elishia fired questions at the silent man beside her.

“Mark—”

“Is it really that important?”

“What if you got into trouble again? What if your life will be endangered?”

“I’m always living near hell’s door, and just one mistake will immediately send me right through it.”

“So why?”

“I just thought it’s worth it. You’re worth it.”

This time he faced her properly, shedding all those fronts he had mastered while living through the alleys. On his face was a soft smile and eyes with the gentle light from the setting sun making them all the more captivating when stared at.

“I have never been more clear in my life than now. Never.”

Another wind blew and swept Elishia’s particularly soft, shiny black hair across her face, obscuring her clear vision of his handsome face. She instinctively wanted to comb back her flying hair, but he was faster than her. All she could feel was a soft caress across her eyes, cheeks, to the back of her neck, and an equally soft sensation on her lips.