"Darling and I are getting married at Ithaca," Jacob announced while we were eating breakfast.

Everyone stopped eating at once and looked at Jacob and me back and forth with mouths gaped wide open. I giggled but nodded.

Neville cleared his throat and looked at Jacob pointing a butter knife at him. "Did you compromise her last night? I mean you can't take your hands off, anymore," he teased.

Now, it was my turn to gawk at his question. My face felt warm once more as I remembered the advances Jacob had with my body after midnight. Neville was a bit right. Jacob did ALMOST compromise me if he did not stop.

"I will marry her here on the ship. I need your help for the preparation. I need some of you to find a minister or a priest. I'll get the rings. Editha should be escorted to get what she needed as well," Jacob ignored Neville's teasing.

The crew cheered and teased. I guess they already knew that when Jacob avoids answering questions then he was implying the answer to be favorable to the inquiry so it was my job to correct any misunderstanding.

I cleared my throat, "I was NOT compromised!"

Puma looked at me with those playful, teasing, and knowing eyes, "Were you ALMOST compromise, then?"

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Why do I even bother? At my reactions, the teasing became louder and louder. I opened my eyes and shook my head. Jacob had his face resting over his fist and was staring at me the whole time. I shrugged my shoulders and he chuckled.

"So, who's escorting me?" I asked in an effort to change the subject.

Thaddaeus raised his hand while laughing, "I'll do it."

"I'll go too," Sandlot volunteered as well.

"ME!" Laurel said and stood up.

Jacob smiled, "There's safety in numbers. Just make sure my bride is back mid-afternoon. I want the wedding done soon and leave Ithaca right away. It is Beckforth's territory after all."

Elgo smirked. "Is that really the only reason why you want the wedding done sooner, Captain?" he asked and waggled his brows.

Jacob smirked back, "Don't make me hurt you, Elgo."

*****

It was a little past noon when we anchored in a hidden bay at Ithaca. Although it was one of Beckforth's territories that Jacob's crew helped in the past, I was told that most Ithacians were loyal to the monarchy. Thaddaeus, Sandlot, Laurel, and I went to the town square immediately to shop for some things I needed to prepare myself for the wedding. I do not need much. I planned on wearing the dress from Palavana, I doubt that there would be anything more beautiful than that. I just needed some flowers and bath oils and I will be all done.

We were going about our business but I couldn't help but notice some Ithacians eyeing us carefully then whispering. I placed my hood up just in case. When I got all the things I needed, I told my friends that we should go back to Labyrinth immediately.

"You could not wait to get married as well, couldn't you, Miss Darling?" Laurel teased.

Sandlot and Thaddaeus chuckled in response.

I shook my head, "It's not that. I think we're being watched and intently at that."

Sandlot and Thaddaeus immediately looked left and right. They looked at each other knowingly and were quiet after that. Then, they walked cautiously to my sides making sure that I was in the middle. I knew something was very wrong when they did that.

"Just in case something happens, grab Miss Darling immediately and I will serve as a decoy," Thaddaeus said in a protective tone.

"Make sure to leave a trail if you get caught," Sandlot replied, which Thaddaeus nodded to.

I swallowed and turned to Laurel. He was behind me and he quieted down as well. Then, what we feared began. I saw a woman pointed in our direction. She had in her hand a piece of paper. The guards that she was talking to, looked at me and nodded.

"WE FOUND HER!" The guard called and before we knew it, several guards and soldiers were running in our direction.

Thaddaeus immediately drew his weapon, pointed up, and fired. This caused confusion and the crowd went running about while screaming. I saw him take another thing from his jacket and threw it on the ground. It was a smoke screen.

"Hold your breath, Miss," Sandlot whispered to me as he quickly and discreetly dragged me away from the commotion.

"SEIZE THEM!" I heard someone ordered. I looked back and saw Thaddaeus fending off the guards with his weaponries. I saw someone fired at his leg and he got shot. He knelt down and a group of guards went to bind him.

"THAD--" I was about to yell but Sandlot quickly pulled me again and mixed in with the running crowd.

He somehow managed to take hold of a different hood and he quickly put it over me. "Don't look back. Don't speak. You will compromise our position," he told me.

I nodded and whispered, "But Thaddaeus got shot and Laurel… where is he?"

"They can manage, Miss." Sandlot replied.

He led me to a wagon that was moving nearby. He guided me as we jumped in it sneakily. Then, he struck the driver and pushed him off the wagon discreetly. Before long, I heard a soft thud on the sides and Laurel was beside Sandlot driving. He handed the latter the paper. I saw Sandlot crease his forehead.

"This is trouble," I heard him say.

Sandlot drove as fast as he could so we were able to reach Labyrinth in no time. We boarded the ship immediately. Upon seeing me, Jacob's face beamed but it vanished quickly after sensing that something was wrong.

"Where is Thaddaeus?" he asked.

In response, Sandlot handed him the paper. Then, he looked at me.

"Editha Alysse Carmen of the house of Pardue kidnapped by a bunch of pirates. Reward 50,000 gold coins. By order of the Prince of Beckforth, Eric of Daragiel," Jacob read out loud.

Jacob looked at me. His face showed confusion and then anger, "You're Editha Alysse Carmen of the house of Pardue of Francua? Queen Catherine's favorite?"

I nodded, "Let me explain.."

"You know Prince Eric?" Jacob asked me again.

I walked to him and held his face in my hands, "Jacob…"

Jacob's eyes narrowed, "Don't tell me… is he… is he the one your father was making arrangements with?" he shrugged my hold off him. "Is he your betrothed?"