After getting dressed in a pair of sleek black pants with a white shirt and a green jacket, Sean headed out with his guards to the dining hall. He hated getting dressed up all the time, but it was the curse of being a royal. Unbuttoning the golden buttons of his jacket, he adjusted his tartan sash with his family's clan colors. The guards stationed themselves at the door, allowing him to go in on his own. Inside the dining hall, Sean lifted his chin high like he'd been taught. From the table, Princess Verlaine rose from her seat and curtsied as she addressed him politely. "Your highness." Walking into the room, he found himself staring out at the many windows to the ocean. The dining hall had one of the best views. The wall on two sides were framed with large windows to show off the vast ocean in both directions. The thought crossed his mind to open the window to jump out onto the beach. Anything to get away from here. Moving to his seat at the head of the table, a servant pulled out his chair and he thanked her before taking a seat. Only after he sat down, did Princess Verlaine seat herself.

The moment she was seated, she asked him in a gentle voice. "Highness? I've heard that you plan to let the commoner stay here. Is that wise?" Sean tapped a finger on his glass to signal the servant that he was thirsty. Taking a deep breath, he informed her honestly. "You think its unwise for me to look after my people?" She shook her head, telling him with concern. "Certainly not. But you don't know if he is one of your people. I heard from a servant that he wears a pirate compass. He could be here to hurt you... This castle was once seized by pirates before. It could happen again." Sean held his cup while the servant filled it, telling the Verlaine nicely. "Captain Jones hasn't been seen for many years. My father took care of him. Besides, I think I'd know a pirate when I see one." Verlaine smiled at him and he had to admit that she had a very pretty smile. Raising her own glass, she told him with the bow of her head. "Then I trust your judgment, Highness. Maybe you can even give him a job at the castle. I also heard you had fun in the bath with him."

Sean narrowed his eyes playfully on the servants lined up by the wall as he said. "Did they now?" A few of the servants blushed and tried to hide their giggles. There was no such thing as privacy in a castle. Taking a sip of his drink, he truthfully told her. "I did. It's not often that I meet guys my own age. And... what has become ordinary for me, isn't for him. It's nice to see someone go through so much and come out so strong." Verlaine nodded, then reached out to touch his wrist. On reflex, he pulled his hand from her. It wasn't that he didn't like her. He found her company pleasant. However, her desire to marry made him nervous. He wasn't sure he was ready for that. He just felt nothing for her. As beautiful as she was... he felt no spark. No desire to have her. She winced, sliding her hand back with a sadness on her face. She recovered quickly though to disguise it, asking curiously. "I heard you playing a beautiful tune last night as you walked your dog along the beach. Where did you hear that?"

Sean looked out the window at the glittering calm ocean, upon answering softly. "I heard it on the beach of that island you found me on. I don't know why... but I can't get it out of my head." Sean slipped from his chair and Verlaine started to get up, but he gestured for her to stay seated. Walking to the window, he unlocked it and pushed it open. Sitting on the windowsill, he inhaled the fresh gentle breeze of the salty sea air and listened to the gentle waves crashing over the beach close by. If he leaned out the window more, he could see Verlaine's ship docked at his private castle dock. The sun was warm today and he wanted to be outside. From her seat, Verlaine chuckled out. "Most princes love hunting, fencing, fighting at the taverns. You are the first that prefers staring at the ocean all day. Why is that?" Sean leaned back on the frame, inhaling deeply as he told her dreamily. "Because there is nothing else like it. It looks so endless and has so many mysteries below that glassy surface. I've seen whales as big as ships jump from the water and dive farther than any man could ever dream. I've seen nights where the sea glows green with these little creatures. And just listen to that...?"

The sounds of the water sloshing over the sandy beach and the seagulls letting out soft calls made him smile. Looking back at her, he told her happily. "You don't feel that safe hunting or fighting. I'd take a sunset on the water any day." Verlaine giggled, telling him bluntly. "Careful. I hear that's how sailors feel before they run away to get lost on the sea. You don't want to become a pirate. Do you?" Sean rolled his eyes, staring back off at the sea as he softly replied. "I'd love to live on the sea. To have the freedom to go wherever the wind takes me. Just imagine all the things you could see in one lifetime." Verlaine's response was a little sarcastic as she said. "You'll see a lot of water. And smell a lot of men that haven't showered in years." Sean snorted, mumbling out. "That wouldn't bother me. I enjoyed sailing it and hearing what other sailors have seen." Verlaine's voice was a bit confused as she said. "But your ship suffered a horrific accident... You almost died. Why would you want to keep sailing on it?"

Sean shrugged, stating out flatly. "Why does anyone do anything? You always know what could happen. But sometimes... you take the risk because you love doing it. And it's better to go out doing what you love. Then to be too afraid to even try." Verlaine's voice turned soft when she replied. "What is it that you want to do, Highness?" Sean stared out at the sea. What he wanted wasn't going to happen. He was to be king and that meant planting roots and securing his future. He exhaled heavily, bowing his head, when Verlaine gasped. Jerking his head to look at her, he saw that Verlaine was staring off at the door. Sean got up from the windowsill to face the door. Anslo was entering behind the castaway. Sean's jaw dropped. The man cleaned up far better than he had expected. The man was dressed in a loose white tunic shirt with a black vest jacket and pants. The silver buttons on the vest jacket matched the diamond earrings in his ears. His straight black hair was dried and fluffy looking, his long bangs hanging over his dark eyes in a way that made Sean's heart burst from his chest.

He looked like the sexiest pirate he'd ever seen. Otherwise, he was certainly a mysterious sailor. The man blushed at the way everyone was staring at him. Anslo nudged the man, then sank into a bow. The man glanced at Anslo, then bowed to him like he'd been a royal all his life. Anslo straightened up, gesturing for the man to follow him to a seat. Anslo pulled a chair out across from Princess Verlaine, telling the man professionally. "You may sit here." The man walked up to the chair but stopped to look at Sean. Sean forced himself to close his mouth. He was completely blown away by the way he looked. He wasn't dressed like a royal. Anslo had only dressed him in fancy sailor clothes, but Sean couldn't think of a thing that would look better on him. Verlaine broke up the silence to say happily. "Wow. He cleans up nice, doesn't he?" Sean nodded, moving toward his chair. Slipping into his seat, Nate took a seat like he knew the custom that people only sat after the king did. Even Anslo was a little impressed.

One of the kitchen servants walked out of the side room, giving them a bow before informing them. "For lunch, the chef has prepared stuffed crab with sides of steamed broccoli and fresh lettuce washed in a light dressing. Accompanied with lemon and his special sauce. Along with a warm bowl of creamy shrimp chowder with just a hint of dill pickles and bacon. All to be served with a chilled white wine. Is this alright, your majesty?" Sean's stomach growled just hearing her list it, making everyone at the table chuckle. Sean blushed, trying to ignore his stomach's agreement as he told her nicely. "That sounds good, Coletta. Thank you." Coletta bowed, adding with a bright smile. "Yes, your majesty. I'll inform him at once and tell him you are eagerly awaiting it." After she left, Anslo and Verlaine chuckled more. Sean picked up his glass to sip the water in it, mumbling out mostly to himself. "Laugh it up..." Anslo removed his smoking pipe from his pocket, filling it with tobacco as he smirked out. "Must have worked up quite an appetite splashing around in the tub like a child."

Sean set his drink down, watching the man look over the shiny silverware. He seemed particularly interested in the fork. The man turned slightly to show the fork to Anslo who had just finished lighting his pipe to puff on it. Anslo looked down his nose at the man, stating out bluntly. "It's a fork. You eat with it. Do they not have forks where you come from?" Anslo then looked to Verlaine and Sean, telling him curtly. "They must have made this poor lad run around naked too. The boy didn't even know how to dress himself. It's quite concerning. I mean, if he came from one of our ships we should really look into-" The man touched Anslo's hand, looking closer at the pipe. Anslo raised an eyebrow, but turned to face him better, asking nicely. "Do you smoke?" The man carefully took the pipe from Anslo, looking at how the end was carved to look like a ship. Anslo smiled a little, informing him. "Do you like it? It's made from a white tree and was shipped all the way from-" The man cut Anslo off by putting his lips to the mouth piece and blowing into it as hard as he could.

The smoldering ashes of the tobacco burst up into Anslo's face. Coating his face in grey ash that made him cough. Sean snorted, covering his mouth as he tried not to laugh but his shoulders were giving him away. Across from Anslo, Verlaine giggled and covered her mouth as she uttered out. "Oh my..." Even the servants were chuckling a little. The man looked over the pipe confused, while Anslo's stony eyes looked at Sean. Sean cleared his throat, trying to get control over himself as he strained out. "So sorry, Anslo..." Anslo snatched the pipe from the man, glaring at him a bit as he asked Sean. "Dare I ask what you plan to do with this man?" Sean straightened up in his seat, informing them all truthfully. "Well... I was thinking of taking him to the village. Asking anyone there if they know who he is or where he came from." Anslo picked up his napkin to clean his face, exclaiming happily. "Splendid. But you don't need to trouble yourself. Send someone else to take him." Sean shook his head, retorting casually as the man looked at him with worried eyes. "I want to go with him. I was planning to go to the docks to buy a new ship to replace the ship I lost anyway."

Anslo groaned little, trying to caution him politely. "Your highness. It is dangerous to go to the village. I understand you love your subjects... but there could be assassins everywhere. What if you were to get kidnapped?" Sean rolled his eyes, grumbling out. "Anslo, I can't even go to the bathroom without four guards tailing me... How do you think anyone will get me when you always send six to twelve guards with me whenever I go out the door?" Anslo pointed a stern finger at him, saying firmly. "They are the reason you HAVEN'T been kidnapped or killed. Highness, you don't remember the pirates that drove your family out and claimed this castle as their own. Your father feared Blackbeard's son. And if you were smart. You'd do the same." Sean shrugged nonchalantly; he wasn't afraid of pirates. No one had even seen Blackbeard's son in years. Verlaine straightened up with some excitement as she asked to break up the raising tension between the men. "I keep hearing about this Captain Jones. What is his story?" Anslo sat properly in his seat, telling her nicely. "It's not a tale for a lady like yourself to hear."

Verlaine waved her hand dismissively, asking with more command. "Oh, spare me. You act like I don't know what pirates are. My father has fought pirates and I've heard about their savage ways. I'm not afraid of a good story." Sean shrugged, nodding for Anslo to speak as the servants came in with trays of food to sit before them in turn. Anslo inhaled, telling them in a clear voice. "Very well. This castle is built on the seaside as you can see. Making it valuable to pirates as a stronghold. The private dock alone provides a fast getaway, and the fishing here is rich. The Prince's family settled here because of these same reasons. However, when the Prince's father was young and newly married... Blackbeard's son discovered this place. While the King was away celebrating with the village. Captain Jones overthrew the Castle and claimed it as his own. The king was forced to go to a neighboring kingdom while he plotted to take the castle back. Captain Jones was fearless like his father. And like his father he was educated and was not easy to outwit. But he had one weakness..."

Both the man and Verlaine leaned closer with eager faces. Sean had heard this tale a hundred times before though. The suspense was lost on him. He was just waiting as his royal taste tester finished tasting his food and drink for poison. Anslo pointed to a painting on the wall above the kitchen doors, telling the others. "Her name was Vanessa. They called her the Siren of the coast. It was rumored that she practiced dark magic. The king sought her out. Trapped her and challenged Captain Jones to meet him on an Island not far from here... Only the king knew what happened out there... because he was the only one to return. He never spoke of what happened. No one knows if Captain Jones is dead. Or if Vanessa survived. All anyone knows is that there was a vicious storm that night... and after the Prince was born, the king started fishing more as a way to relax. Giving people this silly idea that he was hunting mermaids to find this 'Vanessa' that got away. Bewitched by her voice and all that silly nonsense. They should all know that Vanessa was no mermaid. She was just a woman with a lovely voice that vexed a fearless pirate and became his undoing. Commoners often exaggerate too much."

The man got up from the table, moving closer to the kitchen doors to get a better look at the painting. Sean watched the man with interested as did the others. Did he know the people in the painting? Looking up at the painting, Sean saw Vanessa standing on the beach with her back to a sunset over the water. She was dressed in a flowing black corset dress with a deep purple undershirt that hug off her shoulders. Her hair was as black as a night sky and hung down one of her shoulders. From her ears hung purple shells and around her neck was what he assumed was a nautilus shell dipped in gold. She was a haunting beauty with dark eyes as deep as the ocean. Standing beside her with his arm around her waist was Blackbeard's son. Many people wanted to remove the painting and burn it, but Sean liked it. Staring up at the pirate in the picture, Sean felt a little bad for their broken romance. The young pirate looked genuinely happy as his hand rested on Vanessa's stomach.

Written on a golden plaque on the bottom frame of the picture, it read; 'Vanessa & Captain Jones.' What made Sean smile was remembering the artists inscription on the back of the painting. The artist had titled the picture and the rumor was that Captain Jones loved it so much that he named his ship after it. The painting was called... The Jolly Roger. To Be Continued...