Kidnapped At Sea

chapter 21

Mero sat below deck, she sewed fabric that was  gifted to them by the elves (another part I did not mention TwT). 

sometimw into her sewing, Mero was interrupted by a knock on the door before it slowly opened, 

"can I come in?" Shoto asked gently, Mero nods as Shoto sits across her.

his hands fiddling nervously in his lap. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but the words seemed to stick in his throat.

He cleared his throat and tried again. "Can I... ask you a question?"

"sure" she says as she continues to sew

Shoto took a deep breath, his eyes watching the way her nimble fingers moved across the fabric. "That moment... earlier... did you... I mean..." He struggled with the words again, the question stuck in his throat.

"Did you..." He took a moment to try and gather his thoughts. "Did you mind it? What I did?"

Her face went red. "I...I didn't mind it...."

Shoto's heart leaped at her words, a wave of relief washing over him. He hadn't quite known what to expect, but her response filled him with a strange sort of happiness.

"You...You didn't?" he asked, just to make sure he had heard her correctly, Mero nods again "I didn't...but we shouldn't had..."

Shoto's happiness dimmed a little. Her words were like a cold bucket of water splashed on him.

"Why not...?" he asked quietly. "Why shouldn't we have?"

Mero stood up, placing the now finished dress on a rack " your...a royal of the Todoroki family... and i'm...."

Shoto's heart sank even more as Mero explained her reasoning. He had not expected her to bring up their social classes.

"Is that all?" he said, an edge of bitterness in his voice. "That's the only reason? Because I'm a prince and you're..." he waved his hand, unable to say the words.

"A Pirate"

Shoto's shoulders slumped, his heart heavy. He should have known. Of course, it was about class and status. He was a prince, he could have anyone he desired, yet...he found himself wanting the one person he could never truly have.

"And I suppose princes like myself should only be with princesses, right?" he said quietly, his voice filled with resigned acceptance.

"you deserve so much more then me your majesty.... there is so meany Princesses that would kill for you, the more pretty, regal, wealthy ones" she spoke heavy hearted as she made her way up-deck

Shoto's heart clenched at Mero's words, the resignation in her voice cutting through him. He could almost hear the unsaid words, the I'm not worth it.

But he refused to accept it. He got to his feet and closed the distance between them in a few quick strides, grabbing her arm to stop her.

"And what if I don't want them?" he asked, his voice firm. "What if I want you?"

"then you'd have to made one of the most impossible... reckless, responsible decisions" Mero stopped, she turned to face him

 " I don't want to be the one who ruins your chance to be a ruler... a leader, but I guess I have to be..... were does your loyalty lye.... your kingdom... or with us"

Shoto took a moment to mull over her words, his heart torn in two. On one hand, loyalty to his kingdom, duty to his people. On the other, this strange, unexpected feeling he had discovered. For the first time, he truly understood the phrase "a rock and a hard place."