There was a short pause before the captain responded to my plea.
"...Your Highness. Aboard the three ships we dispatched were two of my own sons. I pray with all my heart that they are still alive. But I am a naval officer. I cannot go against regulations no matter what the circumstances. Please understand."
"You're being irrational!"
"Your Highness. You've done enough. We can't—"
At that point, I hurled the receiver away in a rage.
Marc was about to admonish me for my reaction when the ship's doctor let out a frantic shout.
"Your Highness! It's an emergency!"
Someone had taken a serious turn for the worse. The instant I grasped the situation, I made a decision.
"Captain! Enter the harbor!"
"Y-Your Highness?! Are you out of your mind?! We haven't been given permission!"
"I know, but we need to get these people onto land and receiving specialized care."
"P-please wait! The grand duke will not be pleased! There are regulations! We are in their territory now. There are rules to be followed!"
"People will die if you do not follow my orders."
"But not the princess or prince! Only crew members who are of no political value! You want me to ignore Albatro's warnings and enter without permission for their sakes?! Albatro would have the right to open fire on us and sink our ship!"
"They won't attack as long as we have their prince and princess aboard. We are going to do everything in our power to save the lives of the people in our care. My order stands. Enter the harbor."
All of the crew fell silent after I repeated my command. Marc, however, leaned over and cautioned me in a whisper.
"You're pushing it too far now! Prince Leonard wouldn't be this insistent! In fact, he is incapable of such aggressive behavior!"
"Yes, I'm sure you're right. Your point is?"
"My point?"
"This is a good opportunity. As long as I'm acting as Leo, I'm going to give all of these people a favorable impression of him. They're going to come away knowing that once Leonard Lakes Aadler makes up his mind, nothing can stop him. That he's not just some do-gooding pushover. Even if he isn't actually capable of it, having that reputation will change the way people see him."
"But if you do that, Prince Leonard will be under pressure to make even more difficult calls in the future!"
"That's not a problem. He's my younger brother. There's nothing I can do that he can't."
I definitively stated my position to Marc then stared at him, daring him to respond. When he didn't, I brushed past him to confront the ship's captain.
The captain looked deeply troubled.
"I just want to be sure you understand one thing, Your Highness. You are correct that we will probably not be fired upon. But once we enter harbor, there will be no turning back. We will have no way to escape."
"I understand that."
"You will be the one in the worst position! If we enter without permission, you could be imprisoned for doing so illegally! What we ought to be doing right now is remaining at sea, stocking up on food and water supplies, and then continuing on to Rondine! There's no need for you to put yourself in danger for the sake of a few random people's lives!"
"Each of those random people is someone important and beloved to their families. Besides, when we saved them, I decided that I wouldn't abandon them. And if we did abandon them now, it would make all the danger we've been through meaningless."
"...You're involved in the conflict for the emperor's throne, correct? If this turns political, your chances will start to fall."
"I'll think about that when the time comes. Just consider heeding my order, Captain. This is your ship. All of the crew are putting their lives in your hands. Don't make me disrespect you by grabbing the wheel from your hands and steering the ship myself."
The captain spent a moment deep in thought, then gave a faint chuckle and smiled at me with relief.
"I always thought you were a pushover of a prince. Looks like I was wrong. I think I'm starting to like you. ...Attention, everyone! Prepare to enter the harbor! We're going in!"
The crew members all acknowledged the captain's decision. They raised the sails, and we started to proceed forward. Almost immediately, the Albatro ship hailed us again.
"Wait, Your Highness! What are you doing?!"
"We are entering your harbor. We can't afford to waste another minute."
"I cannot allow you to proceed! If you illegally enter the harbor, I will be forced to open fire on your ship, regardless of whether the princess and prince are aboard!"
Soon the Albatro warship was sailing alongside with their magical cannons trained on us. At the same time, sirens began to wail all around the harbor. I assumed they were signaling a state of emergency.
One after another, more warships began heading our way.
The captain then shouted to me from behind the wheel.
"Your Highness! I have an idea!"
"What is it?"
"We could raise the white flag."
The crew all looked shocked to hear that. However, the idea appeared to amuse the captain.
I, too, broke into a wry smile. It was certainly a surprising suggestion to come from a naval officer.
"I assume you know that the imperial navy has never before raised the white flag of surrender?"
"Of course. Quite the auspicious occasion."
"It's true they probably won't shoot at us if we raise the white flag, but is that really necessary?"
"Among that many ships, there will be at least a captain or two who aren't so understanding. It would be a precaution for our own safety, as well as an excuse for them to refrain from attack. As a captain myself, I understand the difficulty of being put in such a position."
"I see. All right then, raise the white flag. I'll do what I can."
Apparently, that was enough to convince the crew, because a sailor immediately started hoisting away.
Albatro's sailors reacted with great surprise. Adrasia was a powerful empire, and here they were raising the white flag to a small duchy like Albatro. Even if it was just one ship, such an act was inconceivable.
I decided to add to the surprise and raised the amplifier volume to its maximum level so I could broadcast a message to the entire harbor.
"To all those in the harbor. This is Leonard Lakes Aadler, Eighth Imperial Prince of Adrasia. We have shipwreck survivors from Albatro aboard our ship. Some are in dire need of medical aid, so we are proceeding to enter the harbor illegally. We have no intention of attacking. We request the cooperation of any nearby doctors and would also appreciate the help of anyone who can provide warm drinks or food. These victims have been through hell and survived. Please extend to them your generosity and care. And, to all the captains of the surrounding navy vessels. The lives of your fellow citizens depend on your judgment. As captains of your elite royal navy, we trust that you will make wise decisions."
My announcement was followed by a flurry of activity within the harbor and along its shores. The ships attempting to block our way in backed down, and we slowly passed by them as we continued forward.
"All those injured are to be given priority transport! And hurry!"
On my order, crew members began transporting the injured victims ashore. There was already a crowd gathered on land to assist, which wasn't surprising, since members of their own families were likely among the survivors.
"Hurry! We need a place with medical equipment!"
"My clinic is available! Follow me!"
"Here are some warm drinks! We have food, too!"
A warm meal awaited every survivor once they were on shore. We had fed them, of course, but the comfort of eating freshly cooked food on solid ground warmed their spirits as well as their bellies.
Everyone cried tears of joy and relief as they ate.
"Well, that's one big problem solved...but now we're prisoners."
"Yep. We did surrender, after all."
Listening to the sound of galloping horses in the distance, I looked up at the sky.
An ambassador extraordinary being taken prisoner was an unprecedented occurrence. Whether it became a story of scandal or a tale of heroism would all depend on what I did next.
"Let's go. We need to speak with the grand duke about the sea dragon. I'm sure he's eager to speak with us as well."
And so, with Marc at my side, I set foot on the land of the Grand Duchy of Albatro.