A choice to make

The bustling sound of the harbor filled Sheila's ears as she moved through the crowded docks. The scent of saltwater and freshly caught fish hung thick in the air. Ships of all sizes rocked gently in the harbor, and the calls of sailors blended with the creaking of wooden ships. Sheila felt a strange thrill in her chest. She was on the verge of escaping everything—her past, her royal life, the looming threats. But a lingering feeling gnawed at her.

The man at the bank...

She pushed the thought aside. There was no time to dwell on it. She needed to focus.

She took a steadying breath, pulling her hood lower over her head to avoid drawing any attention. She was just another traveler now. The heavy cloak around her shoulders helped to obscure her figure, and as long as she kept her head down, no one would recognize her.

She glanced at the ships again. Most of them were merchant vessels or fishing boats, but there were a few that looked promising—sleek, fast ships that could take her far and fast. Her eyes landed on a particular one—a tall, imposing ship with deep red sails. Its sleek design suggested it could handle any storm, and the crew looked like seasoned sailors, rugged and serious.

That one.

She made her way toward the ship, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and fear. The crew on board seemed busy, but Sheila knew that now wasn’t the time to hesitate. She would need to convince them to take her on, and quickly.

As she approached the gangway, a tall figure stepped into her path. Sheila froze. The man from the bank—he was here. He stood with his arms loosely crossed, a curious expression on his face, as if he'd been expecting her. His gray-brown hair was pulled back neatly, and his piercing eyes, despite their intensity, carried a warmth that softened the edge of his gaze.

"Princess," he greeted gently, his voice smooth and calm, "I wasn’t expecting to find you here, but I must admit, I'm not entirely surprised."

Sheila’s heart skipped a beat. The man from the bank—he had followed her.

"You’ve been busy," he said, his tone soft, almost amused, but there was a deep curiosity in his eyes, as though he were genuinely intrigued by her. "I imagine you didn’t expect me to find you so soon."

"I don’t know what you mean," Sheila said, her voice steady, but her pulse quickened. She could feel a bead of sweat form on her forehead.

The man tilted his head slightly, the smile on his lips warm but knowing. "I’m sure you don’t," he replied kindly. "You’re clever, Princess. But... sometimes, people don’t realize how much they leave behind in their wake. The smallest details. And I noticed you weren’t just any ordinary traveler."

Sheila’s grip tightened around the knife at her side, but she forced herself to relax. She couldn’t afford to act rashly.

“You don’t know anything about me,” she said, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice.

The man’s smile didn’t falter. “Perhaps not,” he said thoughtfully, “but I do know one thing: You’ve been planning something for a while. I’m curious to know where this path leads you.”

Sheila’s heart raced, but she kept her expression neutral. Was he talking about the treasure? Did he already know what she was after? If he did, it only made things more complicated.

“What do you want?” she asked, her tone less aggressive now, more uncertain.

The man stepped a little closer, his voice quiet and respectful, but there was a depth to it, as though he understood more than he let on. "I don't want anything, Princess. At least, not what you might think." His gaze softened. "I’ve seen a lot of people try to run away, try to escape their fate. It’s... understandable, really. But running away is harder than it seems. There's always someone watching, someone who knows more than you'd like."

Sheila frowned, her mind racing. “I don’t need your help,” she said firmly, though the words felt hollow. She wasn’t sure if she could do this alone anymore.

The man’s expression softened even further, his voice almost a whisper now. “I’m not here to trap you, Princess. I’m here because... well, I’ve been following your journey with some interest. It’s not every day someone like you decides to chart her own course, after all.”

Sheila glanced at the ship behind him, the red sails beckoning her forward. She didn’t trust him, but something in his voice—gentle, respectful, yet still knowing—told her that his intentions weren’t as sinister as she had first thought.

“So what do you want?” Sheila asked again, this time less defensive, but still cautious.

The man’s smile never wavered. “I’m offering you a chance, Princess. You’ve got a long road ahead, and while I’m not exactly a knight in shining armor, I can help make your journey smoother.”

His gaze dropped briefly to the ship, then back to her, as if weighing his words carefully. “The choice is yours, of course. I won’t stop you from going it alone if that’s what you want. But you should know—if you decide to go it alone, you may not have the luxury of choosing when and where you stop."

Sheila was silent for a moment, processing his words. She had thought she could just disappear, slip away from everything and everyone. But she was realizing now that it wasn’t that simple. The world was much bigger, much more dangerous, than she had anticipated.

“What do you want in return?” Sheila finally asked, her voice steady but wary.

The man’s eyes twinkled with something that almost resembled amusement, but his tone was still gentle. "Nothing more than an understanding. That’s all. If you find yourself needing assistance, my door is always open."

The kindness in his voice caught Sheila off guard, and she found herself considering his words. She wasn’t sure why she felt oddly reassured by him, but she knew one thing: he wasn’t here to hurt her. He was simply... curious.

“I’ll think about it,” she said, her mind spinning. “But I’m still going after the treasure. That’s non-negotiable.”

The man nodded thoughtfully, as if he had expected that answer. “Of course, Princess. I wouldn’t dream of taking that from you.”

He gave her a small bow, his manner still warm and respectful. “I’ll be watching your journey with great interest. I hope you find what you're looking for.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Sheila standing there, feeling both reassured and more uncertain than ever. Whatever his reasons were, this man was no ordinary ally—and his curiosity was far from over.

---To be continued!!!-----

YAYYYY IM DONE!!!

also, i change my style of writing

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