“Let me go! I’ll slaughter the lot of you! Just wait!” Hamford bellowed, struggling furiously against the royal guards who had him pinned. A few others lay on the ground nearby, bruised and battered, clear victims of the dwarf's fierce resistance. 

Ambrose and Nix arrived just in time to witness the commotion. Ambrose’s eyes immediately found the large naval ship docked on the coast, its sails bearing the crest of the Air Kingdom—pale grey, white, and sky blue, colors eerily similar to his own uniform. Without a second thought, he sprinted towards Hamford. 

“Stand down! Leave him alone!” Ambrose barked, his voice ringing with authority.

The soldiers, taken aback, hastily released the enraged dwarf. Hamford, too furious to notice Ambrose and Nix, sprang to his feet, glaring at the guards. “I’ll kill the lot of ye! How dare ye lay hands on me, you cowards!” he roared, fists clenched.

Nix hurried to Hamford’s side, trying to calm him. “Hamford, it’s okay! I think they’re here to help us.”

Hamford’s rage faltered when he recognized Nix. “Little Witch! What happened to you?!” His expression softened as he pulled Nix into a crushing bear hug. 

“I’m sorry to have worried you,” Nix managed, his voice muffled by Hamford’s grip. “I got lost, but Ambrose found me. I’m fine.”

Hamford chuckled, squeezing him tighter. “Wasn’t worried about that princely boy, but glad you’re alright nonetheless!”

Ambrose cleared his throat loudly, drawing their attention. “Yes, Nix is safe. Now, what happened here, Hamford? Why were you fighting the Air Kingdom’s navy?”

One of the soldiers, straightening his posture, stepped forward. “Your Majesty, we were merely trying to retrieve him for the boat's departure.”

Hamford snorted, shaking his head. “That’s a bloody lie! They were trying to arrest me without reason!”

Ambrose’s eyes darkened. “Arrest him? For what, exactly?”

Nix blinked in shock. **Your Majesty?** Why were the soldiers addressing Ambrose like royalty? His confusion deepened.

The soldier speaking was tall and muscular, his light grey eyes unwavering as he responded. “The dwarf is a suspect in your disappearance, Your Majesty. We were ordered to take him to Eoten for a trial.”

The revelation hit Nix like a bolt of lightning. **Ambrose… is royalty?** He looked between the soldier and Ambrose, trying to process this new information.

Ambrose’s face hardened further. “Hamford is no suspect. We were thrown overboard in a storm. There will be no arrest. I’ll speak to King Caelus myself.” His tone brooked no argument.

The soldier with grey eyes nodded reluctantly. Ambrose turned to Hamford. “Let’s go. My apologies for the stupidity of the royal court.” He gave the dwarf a brief bow of respect.

Though still fuming, Hamford nodded and fell in line behind Ambrose, grumbling under his breath. Nix, however, wasn’t so easily placated. He jerked his wrist from Ambrose’s grasp, wide-eyed.

“Y-you’re the prince?!” Nix’s voice trembled with disbelief. He stared at Ambrose as though seeing him for the first time. **The man who saved me… is a prince?**

Ambrose paused, his expression softening at Nix’s confusion. “Nix, I’ll explain everything. Let’s just get on the ship for now.”

He extended a hand, waiting for Nix to calm down. Nix hesitated, still reeling from the revelation, but eventually took his hand, allowing Ambrose to lead him toward the boat. The soldier with grey eyes watched them with a curious expression, as if contemplating something unspoken.

---

As they approached the vessel, the tension between the three of them lingered. Ambrose’s usual calm demeanor had shifted to one of sharp focus, his every movement deliberate. Nix struggled to keep up, his mind whirling with questions.

“Ambrose,” Nix finally asked, his voice low. “Why didn’t you tell me? That you’re a prince?”

Ambrose kept his gaze forward, his jaw tight. “There wasn’t a good time, Nix. And honestly, I didn’t want that to define everything. But we’ll talk about it soon—I promise.”

Nix exchanged a glance with Hamford, who was still grumbling, though a flicker of gratitude shone in his eyes. “I’m just glad you’re safe, Little Witch,” Hamford muttered. “We’ve got a lot to discuss, but for now, let’s focus on gettin’ out of this mess.”

As they neared the ship, its white and sky-blue sails fluttering in the breeze, the crew’s eyes followed them. The captain—a tall, stern man with a commanding presence—stepped forward. He bowed slightly before addressing Ambrose.

“Your Highness, we’ve received word from King Caelus regarding your disappearance in the storm. We were not expecting to find you here.”

“Yes, Captain,” Ambrose replied with a curt nod. “I need to speak with King Caelus at once. We also need to clear up the false charges against Hamford. He’s no criminal.”

The captain glanced at Hamford, who was still bristling. “Understood, Your Highness. We’ll set sail immediately. Everything else can be resolved once we’re back in the kingdom.”

The trio boarded the ship, and as they settled onto the deck, Nix’s mind continued to race. Ambrose is a prince. The thought repeated itself over and over. Everything suddenly felt different, heavier. He had more questions now than ever before.

Hamford seemed to relax somewhat, taking in the sight of the ship with a begrudging respect. “Didn’t know the prince was so… royal,” he muttered, his gruff voice tinged with both admiration and irritation.

Nix managed a weak smile. “Yeah, it’s a lot to take in. But at least we’re safe for now.”

Ambrose approached, his expression softer now. “Thank you, both of you, for being brave through all of this. Once we’re back, I’ll make sure everything is sorted out. For now, let’s just rest. It’s been a long journey, and we’ve got more ahead.”

The ship began to move, its sleek frame cutting smoothly through the waves as it sailed towards the horizon. The trio found a quiet corner on deck, the rhythmic sound of the sea and the creaking of the ship providing a calming backdrop to their thoughts.

Nix stared out at the distant horizon, still trying to process the weight of everything that had happened. Ambrose is a prince. Nix repeated the revelation in his head, but he wasn’t sure how yet. For now, they were safe, and that was what mattered.

Ambrose stood near the helm, his eyes fixed on the darkening waters, but his mind was elsewhere. Despite their escape, a sense of foreboding settled over him. Something told him the real storm was yet to come.