Over a week has passed since the incident with the phantom island. Since then, business has gone back to normal for Glyn and the others on Jubert Island. With two more islands under his dominion, Glyn’s days are filled with more management than ever. Relying on some new subordinates elected to mayors of the islands as he directs more policies and resources among the islands. Thanks to streamlining the process and importing resources from other uninhabited islands, Glyn was able to construct more scouting vessels to go deeper into the archipelago.

Now he sits on the bow of one such boat, looking over the distance as he stares at the water. One primary reason for him throwing himself into this task wasn’t the ongoing war or the threat of an ever-encroaching enemy. No, while an escape, he wasn’t escaping from the dread of the battles to come. He was escaping from his love life.

“So, how many does this make?” Otso asks, sitting on the deck of the ship.

Miller and Zanrit sit beside him as the three occasionally glance at Glyn. “Their fifth attempt, I believe,” Zanrit says.

Miller sighs. “As her brother, I can’t help but feel frustrated by all this.”

Next to Glyn sat a small, albeit special, box that became the topic of conversation. Since his return from the phantom island, Glyn was met with not one but two love confessions. Mila’s confession, he expected. He was aware of her attachment to him and was planning around that, thinking of some way of letting her down gently when he felt it was necessary. He handled her carefully, not wanting to hurt her any more than he already had.

However, Tisha’s confession threw him for a loop. He had sensed some form of growing affection from the Elf. But felt her natural inclination for disliking Half-Elves would override any potential feelings she may or may not have for him. But she confessed and Mila did, too. There was no more running away from this moment. And so, he ran away, dived headfirst into work, and tried avoiding being alone with either of the two whenever he could help it.

But both of them tried their best to get his attention. Whether that was invading his room at night, interrupting his studying, or insisting on being near him while eating, it all got too much. So, to get his mind off everything, he jumped on the next planned scouting ship to avoid the pair for a few days.

Unlike last time, the ship was only packed with what it needed to set sail. Any other supplies would be teleported in at specific times. It had been three days since departure, and while some hands had changed, Glyn remained on the ship and forbade either of them from stepping onboard, stating their task was to watch over the island. But that’s where the box comes in.

As their meals were being supplied by the ones remaining in the manor, the girls hatched their plan. Special lunches were sent to Glyn and packed with all their ‘love,’ so to speak. Specifically, it was packed with items they found delicious to win Glyn over by his stomach. However, there was one glaring weakness in the two’s plan. Neither of them had any skill in cooking.

The meals Glyn received from them were mismatched messes of thrown-together food items. At first, he believed them to be cursing him before he read the notes attached to the boxes. In three days, they’ve sent five meals, three for lunch and two for dinner. Now Glyn stares down at the fifth lunch, unwilling to open it from its container.

“He could just toss it overboard,” Otso says.

“He wouldn’t dare waste Mila’s efforts!” Miller yells.

Zanrit nods. “If Glyn does anything. It’s respecting the attempts of others. That’s why, despite their lack of quality, he’s eaten every meal they’ve sent him.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

At those words, Glyn takes a breath and picks up the box. Opening it, the smell of the contents overwhelms him and he plugs his nose. Grabbing an included pair of silverware, he eats shoving the food down his throat hoping to outpace the menagerie of tastes and smells that come from the package. The three watch on with a mix of empathy and curiosity as Glyn finishes his meal.

“You, okay?” Miller asks, looking down at Glyn.

Glyn lies spread out across the deck, with Miller casting a shadow over him. “Fine enough.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want to report you got poisoned eating a meal my sister prepared.”

Glyn sits up and takes a deep breath. “Yeah, that’d be terrible. She’d likely get upset and cry or something. Gotta avoid that.”

“For someone who can’t decide, you care an awful lot about them, don’t you?”

“This isn’t about me deciding.”

“Then what is it? Most men would be thrilled to have two beautiful women pursuing them.”

“Speak for yourself,” Otso says. “I, for one, would never deal with the frivolities or romance.”

Zanrit shakes his head. “Life and love go hand in hand. I one day hope to meet a woman who will love me for everything I am and can be.”

“Oh, what about Tan, then?”

“Tan? She is a dear comrade and friend.”

“Friend, huh? Well, buddy, let me tell you this: she might be a flighty bird, but she seems grounded whenever she’s with you.”

Zanrit blushes. “I…. I have not noticed anything odd about the way she speaks to me…. I never considered.”

“Don’t let her know I told you, okay? She’d claw at me for weeks.”

“Anyway!” Miller yells, getting the group back on track. “What exactly is your deal here, Glyn? If you keep this up, you’ll only be bringing a disturbance to the group. As our leader, that cannot be allowed.”

“I know that, but….” Glyn puts his hand in his palm. “I never expected this.”

“What?”

“Earnest feelings.”

“Huh!?” Everyone yells at once.

He takes in a breath and leans back. “I figured Mila was just infatuated with me or something. I was, in her own words, her ‘first friend’. It would be wrong of me to take advantage of that position. I was hoping she’d eventually fall out of love when she gathered more people around her, whom she considered friends. That the infatuation would fade. Then I could let her off gently and try to stay friends, maybe.”

“And Tisha?” Otso asks.

“Unexpected entirely. I thought working with me would be all she could tolerate. But saying she loves me came out of nowhere from my point of view. But looking back, I should’ve seen the signs.”

“And now you’re in this mess.”

“Exactly.” Glyn takes in a breath. “I never expected honest emotions. Those are always the hardest to deal with.” He lowers his head. “The hardest to throw away.” He whispers.

Miller overhears him and opens his mouth, only to stop himself. He stares at Glyn, noticing the stern, serious expression on his face. Unable to speak, he turns away and looks out to the sea.

“Anyone got any ideas?”

“None,” Miller says.

“Absolutely nothing,” Otso says.

Zanrit nods. “The situation is indeed difficult.”

Glyn laughs. “I figured.”

“Something’s in the water,” Miller says.

Glyn shoots up and rushes to his side. “What?”

“It’s humanoid. And not moving.”

“Zanrit! Move the ship closer. Otso get ready for anything.”

“Right!” The pair yell in unison.

Moving the ship closer to the being, Miller scoops them out of the ocean and throws them onto the deck. Otso stands at the ready as Miller performs CPR on the nearly drowned person. All the while, Glyn watches over and shakes his head.

“Well, it’s been over a week. All things considered, I thought you would’ve lasted longer.”

Miller finishes and stands at Glyn’s side. “Whoever did this is a formidable foe.”

“Who is this?” Zanrit asks.

“This is Xia Bai, Queen to King Candidate Isaac Pearson. Although right now she looks a step away from being a corpse.”

Below them, Xia lies on the ship, half conscious and covered in fresh wounds. She struggles to breathe as Otso helps her lift.

“Calm down. You're safe… I think.”

Glyn nods. “Zanrit. Please have the ship brought back. We’ll return ahead using the teleporter to get her medical aid.”

“Right.”

“Glyn, what’re you thinking?”

“I’m thinking we’re about to involve ourselves in quite the mess.” He shakes his head. “Oh well, this should’ve been expected.”