On the deck of the ship, Princess Genie looked out at the Arabian port, which was gradually receding into the distance.
Lady's attendant Park and Lady Han, too, stood beside the Princess, looking out at the Arabian port with bittersweet expressions.
Jade, who was sitting on a long wooden bench in the ship's corridor, was reading a book.
He lowered the book slightly and glanced at the Princess, who was gazing at the Arabian port.
In these eleven years spent in Arabia, the princess must have left behind countless memories that were unimaginable to those in the Kingdom of Hana.
Jade wondered whether his actions in taking the Princess to Hana Kingdom might have brought her sorrow.
He shook his head.
"No, don't worry about it."
Pulling his gaze away from the Princess, Jade forced himself to focus on his book again.
----------
It was the first evening on the ship heading to the Hana Kingdom.
The ship's crew rang the bell to announce dinner time.
Princess Genie, who had been chatting with Lady Han and Lady's attendant Park while leaning on the railing, eagerly got up and ran towards Jade, who was sitting on the long wooden bench, reading his book.
"Dinner time!" she exclaimed.
With a slight smile, Jade closed his book and stood up.
Before he could say anything, Princess Genie quickly walked toward the ship's dining hall.
Lady Han and Lady's attendant Park, watching the princess's enthusiasm, followed her.
Soon, they entered the ship's dining hall and lined up to receive their food trays.
With a generous helping of Arabian dishes on her plate, Princess Genie sat at the table at the front.
She waved at Lady Han, Lady's attendant Park, and Jade, who were still getting their food.
"Over here!"
The three of them chuckled at how quickly Princess Genie moved.
Before long, they were all seated at the round table and began eating.
As Princess Genie scooped a large portion of fried rice into her mouth, Lady Han said,
"Please eat slowly, Your Highness. You'll upset your stomach."
Genie shook her head.
"Slowly eating just doesn't suit me. Jade, do you eat quickly or slowly?"
In response to the Princess's question, Jade awkwardly replied, "I usually eat at a normal speed."
"I see."
Finding Jade's answer dull, Genie ate quickly without saying another word.
At that moment, the crew member who had rung the bell earlier entered the dining hall and shouted loudly.
"Tonight, since it's the first evening on the ship traveling from Arabia to the Hana Kingdom, there will be a ballroom dance for all passengers aboard."
The passengers responded excitedly to the crew member's announcement.
Princess Genie exclaimed with excitement, "Oh! There will be a dance tonight!"
She turned to Lady Han and Lady's attendant Park, her eyes sparkling.
"We're all going to dance, right?"
At her words, Jade held back a laugh.
Lady Han answered kindly, "I'm not very good at dancing, Your Highness. But if you go to the dance, I'll clap for you."
Genie frowned as if confused by this answer.
"Clap? It won't be fun if I dance alone."
She then turned to Lady's attendant Park.
"You'll dance with me, right?"
Lady's attendant Park laughed mischievously and nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness. I will dance with you."
Genie smiled contentedly and then looked at Jade.
"What about you, Jade?"
With her bright, expectant eyes, Jade awkwardly replied, "I can't dance, Your Highness. I think I'll just go back to my room and sleep early."
"Oh, no, that would be boring. Anyway, it seems like this will be the only dance on this ship, so if you don't come, it'll be a shame. I won't ask you to dance, but please come and just watch. Alright?"
Seeing her pleading eyes, Jade gave in with a small smile.
"Alright, Your Highness. I'll just follow along."
Genie beamed with joy.
"Great!"
Her energetic and innocent demeanor made it impossible for Jade to hide his smile.
----------
The grand ballroom, fitting for such a large passenger ship, had been set up.
By now, the ship was sailing through the dark night sea.
The hall was filled with the soft light of many candles, creating a quiet, beautiful atmosphere.
With the music from the traditional Arabian band playing, the passengers began to dance in the center of the room.
Jade glanced at Princess Genie.
Her earlier enthusiastic request to dance was gone, and now she was awkwardly watching the Arabians dance.
Lady Han said, "Your Highness, go to the center and dance."
Genie gave a small, awkward smile.
Lady's attendant Park mischievously said, "Yes, Your Highness, you should go out and dance. I'm ready to dance."
Genie replied sheepishly, "I feel a little awkward now that I'm actually supposed to dance."
Jade, leaning against the wall, found her endearing.
Genie turned to look at him.
For a moment, Jade became flustered and quickly wiped the smile off his face.
"Since Jade is a warrior, wouldn't he be good at dancing, just like he's good at martial arts?"
At Genie's unexpected comment, Jade awkwardly shook his head.
"I've never danced before, Your Highness."
Lady Han, sensing Jade's discomfort, tried to help him out.
"Your Highness, you're making Jade feel embarrassed."
Genie shrugged her shoulders and nodded.
"I understand. Anyway, since I insisted on attending the dance, I can't back out now."
She spoke boldly and then gestured to Lady's attendant Park.
"Shall we go to the center?"
Without a hint of shyness, Lady's attendant Park responded cheerfully, "Yes, Your Highness!"
As Genie hesitated, Lady's attendant Park eagerly led her to the center of the dance floor.
Following Lady's attendant Park's confident movements, Genie awkwardly bobbed her head and moved her knees as she danced in the midst of the Arabian dancers.
Jade, still leaning against the wall, watched her in a detached manner.
As he observed her awkward movements among the energetic Arabians, time seemed to slow for him.
Every smile of the Princess, every glance exchanged with Lady's attendant Park, was all Jade could focus on.
"Her Highness really has grown beautifully, hasn't she?"
Suddenly, Jade was startled and turned his head.
Without him realizing, Lady Han had moved close to him.
Embarrassed that he had been staring at the Princess for so long, Jade quickly turned his gaze away and stared at the empty space in front of him.
"Yes, she really has."
Jade replied awkwardly.
Lady Han, with a motherly smile, looked at Princess Genie.
"I hope that, when Her Highness returns to the Hana Kingdom, she will never lose that smile."
The words sounded slightly melancholic, and Jade slowly nodded.
"Yes. I hope that Her Highness will be happy in the Hana Kingdom as well..."
In a quiet voice, Jade answered.
'In the end, I'll have to take away the Princess's happiness…'
A shadow fell over Jade's face, which had previously held a smile.
----------
Another dark night arrived on the ship heading to the Hana Kingdom.
They had already spent more than ten nights aboard the ship.
There were still at least twenty more nights before they would arrive at the Hana Kingdom.
After the first day aboard, Jade and the Princess had barely interacted over the past ten days.
Their rooms were on opposite ends of the ship, and during the day, the princess, Lady Han, and Lady's attendant Park were busy chatting among themselves.
To Jade, it was clear that the three of them had become like family after spending eleven years together in a foreign land.
Though Jade sometimes wanted to join their conversations, he felt awkward and uncomfortable doing so.
Sometimes, the Princess would invite Jade to join their talks, but after a short time, they would all return to their separate rooms.
The only time he had spoken alone with the Princess was the night before they left Arabia.
One early morning, Genie, having woken up before dawn, opened the door of her room carefully, not wanting to wake Lady Han or Lady's attendant Park, and stepped out onto the deck.
Leaning against the railing, she felt the cool sea breeze and naturally fell into thought.
She remembered hearing about Jade's marriage eleven years ago.
'I wonder how many children he has now. Maybe he has a family by now?'
She wondered.
'Are his children like Jade? Or do they resemble the woman I saw back then? I bet Jade must be a wonderful husband and father.'
Lost in her imagination, she was suddenly interrupted by a noise from nearby.
Startled, she turned toward the sound.
"Why aren't you sleeping, Your Highness?"
Jade, trying to hide his awkwardness, asked playfully.
Realizing it was Jade, Genie felt relieved.
"I just can't sleep tonight."
She looked at his face, which was glowing faintly even in the dark night.
'Even on such a dark night, he still looks handsome.'
"Jade."
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"I have a question."
Genie was about to ask Jade about his marriage and family life when suddenly, there was a loud crash, and the ship shook violently.
"Ah!" Genie screamed.
As if in slow motion, she felt herself falling backward.
At that moment, Jade quickly grabbed her waist, holding her tightly to keep her from falling.
The ship tilted sharply to the right, and Genie felt herself about to be thrown into the sea.
"Your Highness! Hold on tight to me!" Jade shouted, wrapping his left hand tightly around her waist and grabbing the railing with his other hand.
Genie, terrified, clung to him with all her strength as they struggled to stay upright.
The calm inside the ship turned into chaos in an instant.
All the cabin doors of the ship opened, and people rushed out with screams.
Everyone clung to the obstacles on the deck, desperately trying not to fall into the sea.
Lady Han and Lady's attendant Park, too, were swept up by the crowd and clung to an obstacle at the far end of the ship's right side.
"Your Highness! Princess Genie!"
"Your Highness! Where are you, Princess Genie!"
While desperately holding onto the obstacle, Lady Han and Lady's attendant Park called out to the Princess until their throats hurt.
At that moment, the wooden beams supporting the floor of the ship, where Genie and Jade were standing near the middle of the ship, began to crack.
"Your Highness, hold on tightly to me!"
Jade shouted.
With one hand tightly holding the Princess's waist, Jade gripped the obstacle with his other hand and, with all his strength, moved toward the left side of the ship, the opposite direction from where the ship was sinking.
Terrified, Genie could barely respond and only clung tightly to Jade.
They passed the point where the ship was splitting and moved to the left side.
At that moment, the ship split exactly at the middle point.
The left and right halves of the split ship fell into the deep sea in opposite directions.
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Save us!!!"
"Screeeam!!!!!!"
The calm sea was filled with the screams of terrified people.
On the left side of the split ship, only Jade and Genie remained.
Unable to hold the Princess with just one arm anymore, Jade finally let go of the other hand that was holding onto the obstacle and tightly embraced her.
"Your Highness!!!"
Genie, tightly held in Jade's arms, felt her mind blur as she was engulfed in the chaos.
Into the swirling, cold sea waters, Jade, holding onto Genie with all his might, was swept away.