"Then, Mr. Watson, would it be alright to call the story 'Heart of the Ocean'?"
Miss Princess suggested, her hair fluttering slightly in the sea breeze.
"Of course."
Shade nodded, then cleared his throat.
"Then I'll begin. This is a true story that happened not long ago, perhaps..."
The story of a great ship sinking, long circulated in his hometown, required very few altered details to tell, after all. The era in which it was set was not all that different from the present day.
Facing the sea breeze and watching Coldwater Port gradually recede into the distance, Shade slowly told the story. Miss Princess rested both hands on the railing, listening as she gazed out over the sea surface.
In the wind, her long golden hair swayed gently behind her. She had only wanted to pass the time before the auction and find an excuse to have Shade drink with her. But when Shade's story ended, the girl had completely forgotten about drinking.
"...She threw that sapphire necklace into the sea. The ocean swallowed it, just as it had swallowed her lover on that disastrous night many years ago. Watching it vanish without a trace, the white-haired old woman seemed to return to that night so many years ago, to that ship. She became that young Blonde Young Lady once more and, together with the man beside her, stepped into the ballroom filled with the beautiful sound of violins."
Shade's voice gradually faded as he brought the story to an end. He had been moved by the story himself and greatly admired his own storytelling ability. That was one of his strengths, after all. Beautiful stories held charm in any world.
He turned to look at his companion. Unfortunately, she was wearing a mask, so he could not see