The Book Of Flowers
Captain Alice (4)
-- Hortensia Year 252, Freedom Calendar ---
Cyth was busy on deck at the time. Busy to distribute food
All crew members are increasing in number as the years grow. And when they realized, the number of crew members who were once small began to increase to 27 people. They were all gathered on the deck at that time for a meal because there was not enough room on the ship to load all these people
"Hey! Stop taking two bowls! H-ye! Don't spill it on my stupid shirt!"
He was busy at the time
Alice just laughed at Cyth who was overwhelmed and tried to walk around while jumping over everyone who was sitting
"He's very overwhelmed huh...?" Broke said as he ate the soup in his bowl
"It's her watch to help Amanda. There was no need to pay it much heed, uncle" Alice responded
Broke only laughed a little while shaking his head
"Well... Finally done..." Cyth said
He walked towards Alice and Broke with his bare hands. This makes both of them wonder
"Where's your soup?"
...
"WHO OF YOU TOOK TWO HUH!?" Cyth shouted
But no one confessed while he looked around. They all just laughed nosily at Cyth's annoyed face
Alice shook her head at the sight
"Ah, I saw something behind Walter!" Alice exclaimed
"AHA!"
Cyth approaches Walter, then picks up the bowl of soup he's hiding
"Ah, captain is not exciting"
"Should've just let him"
Hearing the disappointed cheers of her crew, Alice just put on a nosy face
"Captain is too dear to Cyth" Walter commented
The person who had golden hair and beautiful blue eyes caught the attention of Alice and Cyth
"They may be dating. Who knows, already..."
Everyone immediately cheered wildly as Cyth and Alice flushed. They even agreed to Walter's words
Walter also only smiled nosily because he was satisfied to see the reaction of the two people
"God! Look out for you!" Alice said with a flushed face, then approached to scold Walter
Cyth just silently pecked while still holding the soup in his hand
......................
Cyth kept his mind up about that morning. He felt ashamed, though not in a bad sense. Only, he did feel embarrassed because he was indeed interested in Alice
"When do I like the captain...?" He muttered to himself
Some of the crew were busy arranging the ship on deck. However, Cyth is not doing anything, nor does he see any empty work. Once these crew members grew in number, there was barely any work to do in that place as it was always filled up
Therefore, he also intended to just enter the inside of the ship, to lie down for a moment
No way he thought he found Erin and Walter busy peeking out from behind the door of Alice's study in the hallway
They both realized Cyth's whereabouts, then asked him to remain calm without a sound. They were busy peering out from behind that door
The curious Cyth also wanted to come with the two people. He took a comfortable place to find out what was going on inside the room they were sneaking a peek at
Surely, there are people talking there. Sounds like Alice and Broke
"Alicia... I told you we're doing this just in case. I'm old, and I won't always take care of you"
"I don't want to hear that, uncle! You will always be my right hand, whenever it is! There's no way you'll just leave!"
"!!!"
The three people gasped at the conversation. The atmosphere was very heavy, no matter what they were talking about with each other
Guard against. Right Hand. Deaths. Regardless of what it was, the topic did not sound pleasant at all at the time
"We have to choose a good right hand for you later. I'm over 50 years old, and all those young people are gonna do better in this place of mine"
"I don't want to hear, uncle! How many times do I have to say huh!?"
...
"Anyways, I don't want you to leave! This crew is indeed my family, but I am not as close to the others as I am to you! You are the person I trust the most in this world, and how can I let you get away from this crew?"
...
Alice then sounded grimacing. His breathing began to sound messy coupled with the sound of a choked nose
"... Alicia. I'm not going far. I just want to rest somewhere. Everybody needs that..."
...
Alice did not sound happy from the silence. Cyth himself felt guilty for hearing this talk
"I... If I were to say, maybe Walter and Cyth would be good candidates. Erin is indeed very smart and intelligent, but she is not as strong or close to you as the two people"
"T-Wait uncle!"
Everyone was shocked to see Cyth who suddenly showed himself
Walter slapped his forehead while Erin just smiled awkwardly at Broke for being caught
"Uncle is leaving? Where's where??" Cyth asked
"... Not far. Maybe in my hometown of Orion, Mintaka village. Not far from the coast, and also a comfortable place to live"
...
Cyth seems to want to reject him. However, Broke is also not wrong when asking to rest. He also asked Alice nicely
Alice wiped all her flowing tears, then said, "Close. Now give me some alone time"
He then went out without caring anything else, entering his room located not far away
...
"Uncle... Really going to go?" Erin asked
"... Yep. It's not necessary, but I want to end this. L'm... Coincidentally remembering something"
"What's that, uncle...?"
"... Alice's father, Alfi, once told me that when it was time for Alice to grow up and have many people around her, I had to release the child from my protection. He said that I also needed a break after 30 years of service to this crew. And it's been over 30 years"
Broke turned his head towards the three people standing nearby with a lethargic look
"I don't want to leave him either. It's just... The will of my friend before his death I cannot ignore...
I want at least one of you to replace me. You're young, but your abilities are already very skilled, even surpassing the adults in this crew. All those years we sailed together, I could see that"
The mood was silent again. There was no response to change Broke's mind at the time
"... Then rest, Uncle" Walter said in a sad tone
Cyth and Erin could only bow in response to Broke, as he smiled gratefully at the three children
......................
"the essence... Uncle Broke wants to go...?" Walter says. "To be honest, if I were him, I would still be by the Captain's side. I also wonder why the previous Captain asked him to rest" he added
Cyth and Erin were silent. They also wanted to say the same thing, but also wanted to oppose Walter's words
"You think so too, don't you? Uncle's attitude just pisses me off a little..."
"Don't do it, Walter" Cyth interrupted
...
"Huh? Don't tell me you just let go?"
"I didn't say that. I just want you to respect his intentions"
"... Why respect people who don't want to be with their families? You're weird"
"Group!"
"Cyth, just hold it!" Erin interrupts between the two of them
"... Forgetit. I didn't want to go too far either, so I just left. It's up to what that guy wants. The point is, I'm disappointed just like the Captain"
Walter stepped away before they could exchange words again
...
"Jaga your emotions Cyth. We can't make a noise while Captain Alice is calming down" Erin said
"I knew. Sorry"
Erin simply breathed a sigh of relief as Cyth lowered his head in agitation
"Walter did say in such a rude manner, but he also actually thought the same as us. Really, he also doesn't want uncle to leave after all this time we've been together"
"I know..."
...
"... You really love your uncle, don't you, Cyth?"
That was the obvious answer, after all these years together. And not just him, Cyth is convinced that everyone on this ship loves Broke
"... He took care of me when I joined. He was like a father to me. There's no way I'm willing to let him go like that out of my life"
Erin smiled bitterly
"The uncle has also said that he doesn't want to leave either. Although it was only because of the will, I also considered that it was important. All people in this world need rest. Uncle is no exception" Erin said again
...
Erin's right. Whatever it is, whenever it is, wherever it is, however, man will always need rest. It is useful so that they can continue to achieve tomorrow without major obstacles
"I would also like to ask that you persuade Captain Alice to make her feel better. But wait for the right moment" Erin said
Cyth nodded too. The two of them then continued their steps up the deck with hearts that still felt heavy
......................
-- The Night of the Day --
Cyth entered the room after knocking on the door 3 times. Although not allowed but out of concern, he went in there to ascertain Alice's condition
Realizing Cyth entered, Alice covered herself with a blanket
"... Capcaptain. You missed dinner. Your lunch is also untouched"
...
Alice just silently did not answer from under her blanket. Cyth immediately grew more worried about the kindness of his captain
"Captain, eat first"
"... Don't want to"
...
"Captain-"
"I told you I didn't"
"Captain!"
Cyth pulls Alice's blanket. Alice of course was immediately upset and woke up, but Cyth immediately held both of her shoulders so that she would calm down
"Captain! Eat up!"
"I don't want to!"
"Uncle will not be happy about this!"
"I don't care!!!"
"...!"
Alice just shouted out loud. It made Cyth surprised and immediately regretted, coupled with Alice's tears that suddenly flowed
"He can go! Whatever it wants! I don't care anymore!" He continued, then covered his head with both hands
Her tears could not stop. Cyth immediately began to shed tears because of it, but instead made Alice stop
"Cythe..."
"I--I don't want uncle to go either. I don't want--I don't want him to leave me after all this time"
Cyth rubbed all his tears rushing down his cheeks. Alice cried again, then slowly hugged Cyth. Cyth immediately returned the hug while crying on Alice's shoulder
They both cried for a long time that night. Go on and on, they shed their vexation in the form of tears together with each other
Broke who saw it from behind the door just gave them space for the two
Time passed, and the night was already completely dark. That's when they just finished spilling everything until they were calm at this moment
Calm back down without anything that comes to mind again while they stay close to each other
...
"Cythe..."
"Yes...?"
"Please don't go, too..."
"... I'm not leaving, Captain Alice"
Alice distanced herself slightly from Cyth, then shook her head
"Please call me Alice or Alicia"
"... There's no way I'm doing it" Cyth replied with a smile
"Even if I asked for it?"
...
"Alright, cap-I mean... Alice"
Alice immediately returned Cyth's smile, then touched his cheek slowly. Cyth also took hold of Alice's hand that touched her cheek while continuing to focus on her eyes
...
...
I don't know what happened next. After a long time their eyes were glued to one another, and touching each other's hands, their lips fused together. Their lips were fused together as if they had been sticky to each other for quite a long time...
Cyth begins to climb up with Alice. Alice, lying below him, slowly smiled and hugged Cyth's neck as if he were hanging there, while Cyth was on it like a huge roof
Their lips were fused again, as their bodies began to fuse with each other in the cold night air
......................
"Erm..."
Cyth woke. His head feels heavy. He was awake, but the sun had not yet risen
...
He turned his head slightly right, and found Alice, asleep on his arm without wearing the slightest shirt
He also remembered why his head felt so heavy. She spent the night with Alice in her bed. Their hair was completely messy at the time, and Cyth did not wear a single piece of clothing, just like Alice
They became one for the first time that night
...
Looking at Alice's face that was sleeping quietly, Cyth felt unable to slowly kiss her forehead
He did that as badly as possible
However, Alice somehow woke up, and not for long immediately looked at Cyth who was shocked to wake her up
"K-Captain. I'm sorry I got you up" Cyth said in a sorry tone
"... It'sit's okay. I can sleep again, right?" Alice retaliated
...
"Captain-"
"Eits~ I've asked you to call me Alice before, haven't you?" Alice cut her words while putting her index finger on Cyth's lips
"... Alice. Ye... Very pretty"
Alice chuckled at Cyth's flushed face
"I think you'd say what. He even threw a cheap appeal"
"That's Alice. Don't keep teasing me"
Alice pressed herself against Cyth's body, then planted her face there
"... You are already big, right? I remember when you were a kid"
"Said the man who was a boy"
"Hey. I'm 4 years older than you. I'm definitely higher in status than you are, boy"
Cyth just smiled lightly as Alice squeezed her nose and swung it slowly
"... You're 18 now. All those years I've been sailing, and I never thought that my first night would be with a boy who was far away from me"
"Now discussed? Besides, I'm an adult, aren't I?"
"You're still a boy to me, dear Cyth~"
...
"But nothing. After all, you are also someone close to me. Not a bad first experience, if I could add. You are an inexperienced boy"
Cyth blushed at those words, mixed in annoyance as he was once again being mocked by Alice
...
Cyth's eyes were then fixed on the necklace worn by Alice. I don't know why... He hadn't even removed the necklace since just now, when they were united
"Alice"
"Why?"
"I... Curious about the necklace you're wearing"
"... This clam-shaped necklace?"
Alice showed me the necklace. How shiny and beautiful the necklace was when it was hit by the moonlight that entered the room
"This is my father's necklace. Uncle Broke once said that he gave me this thing when I was 1 year old. My father said that this would be a protective talisman for me. 'As long as the necklace doesn't part from you, you'll always be safe and will always be a good captain for your members', or so he says"
Cyth listened to Alice carefully and kept looking into her eyes
"My father was also a pirate. Since my grandfather, our family has been full of pirates. That's probably why he was so afraid that something would happen to me, because we're the ones who don't obey the rules"
Alice looked at the necklace with a sad look, then kissed the necklace, and removed it from her hand
"He died when he killed an Orion noble who tried to do something to me. He only accepted his fate when he was forcibly dragged to the stake
But I realized, he did it because he wasn't supposed to kill. He considers that all one's life is precious, as small or as low as they are. Staining the price of that life, even depriving them, it was a wrong action
I fully understand his thinking. I understand why he was willing to do that without feeling the slightest bit of resentment. But...
I, on the other hand, like to be violent...
I don't care about it because we are also ostracized by the trash. I encourage everyone to act like stray dogs while being the one my father doesn't want me to make" Alice spoke at length
His sad tone, making Cyth feel confused and want to melt the atmosphere. Honey, she doesn't know what to do, seeing Alice still wanting to talk
...
"My father will be disappointed in me. Especially when I'm being selfish and defying his will..."
...
Cyth. The atmosphere between them changed. Even Alice's face also began to turn sad again, although she still smiled
Cyth also did not know what to do but to stroke Alice's hair slowly while holding her warmly
"Your father will not be disappointed, while you still have time to change. Uncle won't go far either. He will indeed be far from us, but their existence will always be stored in our hearts. That's what it's called a strong relationship, a family" he said later
...
Alice's eyes immediately sparkled hearing Cyth's words. Mixed with pleasure and sadness, he drew closer to Cyth
"... Thank you, Cyth"
They both held each other back. The warmth they share that day, they will never forget until the end of their lives. In the middle of the cold night, they began to fall asleep again, while continuing to share the warmth together
They wanted to stay close, and from that day on, nothing would be able to separate them
