[Original] The Alchemist of Rozarre [Novel-Length] [Complete!]

Chapter 5

Cerise watched the Kingdom fade away into the distance as they left the harbor. Staring back at the castle, knowing her family would be safe there gave her a little ease, but not much. Because currently, she was already feeling homesick and seasick. Cerise lounged on the railing, feeling like she might hurl when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She sluggishly turned around and saw a handsome sailor staring back at her.

"Are you an escort of the Princess?" he asked, looking her up and down.

"Er, kind of," Cerise said, before she shook her head. "Actually, I'm married to her. Or going to be married to her. Or something."

"Married, huh?" the sailor said, before spitting over the side of the ship. "The married life ain't for me, kiddo. Especially to a Princess, of all people."

"Why is that?" Cerise asked, curious despite herself.

"I've been on many adventures, see, and I travel across the world on my trusty ship," the sailor said with pride. "Saved many damsels in distress. Princesses are the worst of them all, you see. Too high maintenance."

"Princess Roselle is different," Cerise said, wondering what made her compelled to stand up for the Princess at all. "But anyway, you say that you're on adventures a lot, right? Because you travel the world by ship. What are adventures like?"

"Well, they're fun and exciting, of course," the sailor said with a shrug. "I go on adventures delivering goods and retrieving artifacts and recording strange monsters that I see in the area for other people. Draw plant life in my journal and whatnot."

"I don't think adventures are exactly a thrill," Cerise said, before she finally hurled over the side of hte railing. The sailor patted her back comfortingly, before saying.

"It's all right, Lass, you'll get used to it. Now look sharp now. I'm going back to the wheel."

With that, the sailor departed, and Cerise was left looking gloomily at the ocean and hearing the raucous cries of birds overhead. The sun glared directly into her eyes and Cerise winced, trying to rub her eyes of discomfort, before Roselle approached her.

"Hey, Cerise?" She said a little tentatively.

"What is it?" Cerise asked.

"Forget what I said yesterday," Roselle said a little morosely, before looking over the side of the ship with Cerise. "From now on, you should keep my identity as a Princess and the Grand Duelist secret."

"I understand," Cerise said. "Though what's wrong, Roselle? I thought you were really proud of the title?"

Roselle looked away. "I'm starting to lose confidence in myself. I was practicing my swordplay and noticed it was way sloppier than usual. I can't stop thinking about that single loss that I have on my record."

"One loss shouldn't matter," Cerise said, feeling somewhat concerned that Roselle was taking failure so hard. "Sometimes your swordplay may get a little rusty, but just keep practicing.You practice everyday, don't you?"

"But I can't wrap my mind around it," Roselle said. "My footworks is clumsy. I almost tripped and poked my eye out while practicing."

"That's no good," Cerise said, feeling a little concern, but trying to quell it as best as she could. She mustn't get too close to Roselle. She couldn't fall in love with the Princess, of all people, despite the fact that they had an arranged marriage. Like Roselle, she wanted to marry for love, but this arrangement only made things more complicated. "Take care of yourself, Roselle."

Roselle smiled a little bit sadly, before she wrung her hands together. "Thanks. You're only saying that out of politeness, but it's all right. You know, Cerise..."