"There is…a kingdom that spans a whole island off the coast of Southeast England," he said, rubbing his hands together. "It is called Lysteria. A prince has been missing from the land for about 6 years now; his name is Anthony Torrino. Well, I say he like he isn't sitting right in front of you. I chose to run away after my father was assassinated and have been at sea ever since."
She just hummed in response, slightly surprised but not entirely. Funny, how easily she was able to guess he was a fellow runaway, and a noble one at that. We really will get along, it seems.
"There is a bounty for my return that still stands to this day," he explained, thumbing at the edge of the knife. "That is why I was a bit nervous speaking of my past."
"Aeleis Rosia Fane Valhalla," she murmured, voice muffled by her arm. "Child of a well-known dutchess that went missing at a very young age. Said to have drowned after falling off a cliff."
He raised his eyebrows in surprise, scratching the side of his face.
"So we are one in the same, in a way," he said. "I am guessing I am not allowed to call you by anything but Fane?"
"No," she said flatly, then turned around again. "Your secret stays with me, and I expect the same from you."
He nodded, then realized she couldn't see it. "Yes, yes. Of course. My apologies."
"And why are you apologizing?" she inquired, not recalling anything that he had done that required an apology.
"I am….not certain," he said with a shrug. " Just felt like I should."
"Princy," she cooed, teasing him with his prim and proper ways.
"Lady Fane," he shot back, using her proper title.
(Had to look up what a child of a Duchess was called)
She curled her nose with disgust. "Ew. I haven't heard that title in forever. But it would be Lady Valhalla, if you want to get technical. It was my mother's last name. Fane is my father's."
"My formal title has become something to fear for me," he said with a shrug. "If the wrong person figures it out, I can get shipped off to my death."
She rolled over onto her other side so she was facing him. "Or, said person would find themselves suddenly unable to report you."
"I might have just sealed my fate already," he said with a shrug. "Someone could have been eavesdropping right there and are already going to the captain."
"And you're oddly unconcerned by that fact," she stated, "Which would cause some suspicion concerning your belief of that probability."
"It's always a possibility," he said. "But I am not that concerned because I know your crew respects and fears you."
"Indeed they do. Both a curse and a blessing. They wouldn't dare eavesdrop on one of my conversations, even if it was about what shape I see in the clouds." She buried part of her face into her arms again, leaving only her eyes visible as she peered up at Anto.
"And how would privacy on a ship like this be a curse?" he asked, reaching for the stone again. His hands had finally stilled.
"You avoid what you fear, no?" she questioned, raising a brow at him like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Well, I do not fear you," he said as he dragged the stone against the edge of the blade again. "Certainly respect you, but not fear."
"Precisely. They are scared of me, so, therefore, they do their best to put a 5-foot radius around me like I'm some sort of walking nuclear weapon." She rolled her eyes, then watched Anto. "But I'm glad you aren't one of them."
(Nuclear weapons didn't exist back then, imao)
"We have too much in common for me to fear you, now," he explained, bringing the knife close to his eyes to inspect it. "We are cut from the same cloth. Speaking of cloth, do you have a piece for me to borrow?"
(Whoops, then change that to explosive)
She hummed and sat up to rummage around her belt pockets. Once her fingers grasped one, she handed it to Anto without a word.
Anto laid the cloth on the bed and put the edge of the knife against it. He made a small, jerking motion, then set the blade aside and picked up the cloth. It was now two pieces of cloth, split clean as could be down the middle.
"Sharp as can be," he said, looking pleased. "Barely put any pressure on it."