This story features Al, but it is written from a third-person perspective. I couldn't express it well in first-person, so I went with this approach.
"Everyone... live... keep living..."
Julio clung to the small boat attached to the ship and shouted these words. His throat was already starting to dry from repeating them so many times. Still, Julio continued to speak, believing it was his duty.
Around him were dozens of crew members. The injured were given priority to board the small boat, while others clung to the boat or debris.
"Your Highness... should you also get on the boat..."
"It's fine... I'm still okay..."
Despite saying this, Julio had no room for composure. It had been over ten hours since the ship broke apart and they were thrown into the sea. They had survived the hellish night, trembling from the cold and fear, but no help was in sight.
No one had imagined this would happen.
When they were informed that the Sea Dragon might have returned, Eva and Julio set out to investigate. They brought three warships as an escort, out of caution. No one underestimated the Sea Dragon. It just turned out that even the utmost caution wasn't enough.
They were only supposed to confirm whether the Sea Dragon had returned. Their father had told them this. They were chosen because they could use sound-based magic innately, making it easy for them to explore the sea.
The miscalculation was that the Sea Dragon heard their sound and came. They had provoked it.
The Sea Dragon caused a storm, which destroyed all the ships. Fortunately, it retreated when the ships were wrecked, but that offered no comfort.
"Whaaat?? A monster?? There's a monster on my leg??"
"Calm down! It's just a fish!"
The surviving crew members were fighting many fears.
The fear of death. The fear that no help would come. The fear of dying from the cold. The fear that sea monsters would come and eat them.
These fears piled up, and Julio and the other survivors were exhausted.
Still, Julio raised his voice.
"Help will surely come...! Think of your families...! Live, everyone...!"
By saying this, Julio continued to encourage the survivors. It was also a way to convince himself.
However, the usual Julio wouldn't do such a thing. Or rather, he couldn't.
He was a person who couldn't assert himself. Just because he was a prince didn't make him act superior.
Eva was always the one who led Julio. But now, Eva was sleeping on the small boat.
When they were thrown into the sea, Eva had protected Julio and was knocked unconscious by the strong impact.
Since then, Julio had continued to act bravely, thinking he had to live for his sister.
The sense of responsibility that emerged in the emergency situation made Julio act like a prince.
Still, no matter how much Julio encouraged them, it was like pouring water on a burning stone.
"Help won't come... It takes more than a day to get here from where we set sail at night..."
One of the crew members voiced their despair.
This was what everyone was thinking.
The Albatross Principality's rescue ship probably wouldn't make it in time. However, Julio had hope.
"Considering the scale of the storm, it's possible that the Empire's ships were also caught in it... Prince Leonardo will surely come to our rescue..."
"The Empire helping us? We've been aiding a country at war... While they were spilling blood, we were profiting from it... They won't search for survivors in such a dangerous area..."
"Prince Leonardo is known for his kindness and for not abandoning those in trouble... It'll be okay! He will definitely come to our rescue!"
"Even in a situation where an ally would abandon the rescue, will he come...?"
"I'd leave as soon as the storm passes... I don't want to stay in an area with a Sea Dragon..."
"Everyone..."
Everyone's spirits were breaking.
Julio was no different. He tried to stay strong by looking at Eva, but his physical and mental strength were at their limits.
Physically, Julio was far weaker than the other crew members. He was the one most likely to give out first.
Still, he had held on by sheer willpower. But that willpower was fading, dragged down by the despair around him.
Maybe it was over.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw something in the distance.
It was definitely a ship.
"A ship...! There's a ship...!!"
"Yes!! We're saved! Hey! Hey—!!"
Their fading spirits were revived.
Everyone shouted and waved their hands to get noticed.
After a while, someone whispered.
"It's an Imperial ship..."
This information made them stop waving.
The Imperial flag was flying.
From its shape, it was likely one of the two Imperial ships they had met the day before.
If it was here, it must have been caught in the storm.
Being here also meant it had been pushed off its usual route. Everyone knew their destination was Rondine.
Would they take the time to rescue survivors when they were already behind schedule?
Moreover, the Sea Dragon was still lurking, and it could attack at any moment.
All the reasons not to help were present.
For a moment, the Imperial ship changed its course.
Despair washed over Julio.
But then a voice reached his ears.
A voice amplified by a magical device.
"I am Prince Leonardo Lax Arthor of the Empire. Our ship is currently rescuing survivors from the Albatross Principality. We will rescue you in order, but those who can swim to the ship are requested to do so. Those who cannot, please hold on a little longer. We will definitely save you."
Hearing this, Julio felt tears streaming down his face.
But he quickly wiped them away.
"Everyone, let's go! We'll get medical attention for the injured soon!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Let's go! It's just a little further!"
And so, Julio and the others hurried towards the Imperial ship, which was a short distance away.
■■■
Al, playing the role of Leo, put down the receiver of the magical device that amplified his voice and sighed.
"I hope this makes the work easier."
"It's difficult. Most of the survivors we've rescued so far couldn't climb aboard on their own. They've been drifting for a long time, so it's understandable."
"I know... Captain! I want to allocate everyone to the rescue efforts, leaving only the minimum for monitoring!"
"Again with this...! What if the Sea Dragon comes!?"
"If we spot it, it'll be too late. It's better to finish the rescue quickly rather than monitor."
"What about other monsters!?"
"There are no monsters nearby. No monsters approach immediately after the Sea Dragon has passed."
With that, Al went to help with the rescue.
Leo would do this. Al wanted to stay back and give orders, but he reminded himself that he was Leo and joined the effort.
They had just rescued a group of four or five people. Everyone was shivering from the cold, and Al covered them with the prepared blankets.
"You did well. You're safe now."
"Thank you... Thank you so much..."
Seeing the crew members cry in gratitude, Al understood how terrifying and painful their experience had been.
Just then, Al received new information.
"Many survivors from the left! There are fifty of them!"
"Fifty!? There's no room for that many!?"
They had already rescued over a dozen people, and fifty more would exceed the ship's capacity. The ship's usual crew was less than a hundred, and there was no way to accommodate fifty more.
Al was forced to make a decision.
What to sacrifice.
"What should we do? There are more survivors than expected."
"I had a rough idea... Three ships on their side, one on ours. If they were lucky, this was bound to happen."
"Do you have a plan?"
The middle-aged knight asked hopefully.
Al's expression was grim.
It was the worst decision for Al, but it had to be done.
"Throw everything except the food in the warehouse overboard."
"Even the gifts for Rondine?"
"Everything."
The middle-aged knight was speechless.
This ship belonged to Leo, and the items on board were more valuable than those on Al's ship. The latest weapons and treasures intended for Rondine.
Al decided to throw everything that could ensure a lifetime of luxury overboard.
"Is that okay? To do such a thing?"
"It's already not okay. We can't go to Rondine with so many survivors. We don't have enough food or water. We have to head to Albatross for supplies, which will cause a significant delay. Moreover, the Sea Dragon is still in the area. Who knows when we'll reach Rondine. But we've decided to help. Now, the only thing I need to protect is Leo's reputation. I will save the survivors no matter what. This is absolute. Don't spare the treasure, spare the lives. I won't let a single person who is alive now die. Understand?"
"Y-Yes, sir..."
The middle-aged knight saw the determination in Al's eyes and hesitated.
He was overwhelmed by the authority.
Recalling that day, the middle-aged knight remembered Al removing his bracelet for Elna.
Elna had been participating in the Knight Hunting Festival for Al. For her, disqualifying Al was unacceptable. So, Al disqualified himself to give her the freedom to act.
It was a noble action.
One that didn't fit the image of a "washed-up prince."
And now, he was perfectly playing the role of Leo.
His orders were precise.
"You are indeed a capable hawk..."
"Did you say something?"
"No. I'll leave the disposal of the supplies to the Royal Guard."
"Thank you. Continue the rescue! Save as many as possible! I'll take the responsibility!"
While giving orders, Al saw the approaching group.
On the small boat were the injured, including Eva. Nearby was Julio.
"The princess and prince are safe... This gives us more leverage with the duke."
Thinking this, Al threw a rope ladder to the approaching Julio. But Julio didn't grab it.
"Prince Julio! Climb up quickly!"
"Please take the injured first!"
Julio pointed to the injured on the boat.
Rescuing the injured, who couldn't climb on their own, would take time.
This meant Julio and the others would be delayed, but they all preferred to prioritize the injured.
"Understood! Please wait a moment!"
The rescue of the injured was carried out quickly.
Crew members helped the injured onto the ship.
Meanwhile, more survivors were being rescued from other areas.
Once the injured, including Eva, were on board, Al threw the free rope to Julio.
Julio grabbed it, but the relief of being saved made him lose his strength.
His willpower was exhausted.
"Prince Julio!?"
Seeing Julio lose consciousness and slowly sink, Al acted instinctively.
Just like when he saved Fina, without any calculation.
Al jumped into the sea, where the Sea Dragon might still be, and managed to pull Julio up.
The Imperial crew was alarmed.
"Prince!?"
"The prince jumped in!"
No one, not even the crew, would jump into the sea, even if they were told there were no monsters or Sea Dragons. Fear was fear.
But seeing the prince, who should be protected, jump in, the Imperial crew also decided to jump in and help with the rescue.
"Throw me a rope!!"
"Here!!"
The middle-aged knight threw the rope.
He wrapped it around the unconscious Julio and pulled him up.
Al then started climbing the rope ladder.
When he reached the top, a hand was extended to him.
It was the middle-aged knight, looking exasperated.
"Thank you."
"No, I'm used to pulling you out of the water."
"What do you mean?"
"It's understandable that you don't remember. You were unconscious at the time."
"What are you talking about?"
"When you almost drowned in the Duke's bath, I was the one who pulled you out. I used to serve the Duke's family."
"...Really?"
"Yes, I became a Royal Guard when the captain did, but I never expected to be pulling you out of the water again as a Royal Guard."
"Don't make it sound like I did something. The first time, I was pushed in, and the second time, I was helping someone. I don't think I've caused that much trouble."
"You're right."
Seeing the middle-aged knight's wry smile, Al sighed.
He couldn't sincerely thank him for the past favor because he was from the Duke's family.
After a moment, Al realized something.
"By the way, I never asked your name. What is it?"
"I am Marc Tiber, the deputy captain of the Third Knight Squad. Please remember me, Your Highness."
"I see... I hope our association is short-lived. Marc."
"Yes, that would be best."
Both expressed their hopes, knowing the situation wouldn't end soon.
After that, Al didn't miss a single survivor, often stopping the ship to rescue them.
In total, they rescued over eighty survivors and then headed for the capital of the Albatross Principality, the largest port city.
I quite like this story.
I wanted to write a scene where Al helps people, so I deliberately set it at sea.
If you enjoyed it, please consider adding it to your favorites.