Chapter 10

********

Gael went out first and reached out to her. Escorting ladies is only natural for noblemen, but Archel knows his other image. Perhaps, when he return to Zenat’s island, he’ll become the true outlaw of the sea.

Clasp-! Her hand was held gently. Archel arrived at the beach as he led her. The ship was much larger and stunning than she thought. And beyond that, there was only a horizon.

She couldn’t see anything beyond the vast horizon and the sight soothed her down immediately. The world seems to be halved into two parts: The sea and the sky.

“Island…”

The book stated that when the weather is nice, you can see the island from afar. But Archel couldn’t see anything.

“You must be wondering where you’re going to stay already,” Gael spoke and signaled her to stay still for a while.

*Splash* The man who walked carelessly into the seawater came close to the ship.

Then from the ship that she couldn’t see any crew in it, a much smaller boat was lowered.

The figure who quickly got on the small boat in front of her wasn’t the powerful guardian of the eastern sea, Duke of Zenat. But Archel thought it looked better on him. After shaking out his wet hair, he extended his arm.

“Come up.”

‘It’s my first-time to ride a small boat like this.’ Archel thought as she lifted her dress so that it wouldn’t get wet.

‘If I step on the wrong foot, I might fall into the sea.’

But as soon as she stepped into the small boat, a firm arm pulled her. In the end, she didn’t fall into the sea.

*Shwaaa*

Her surroundings were calmer than she thought, with only the sound of wind and water resounded in the air. The small boat with two of them onboard slowly drew closer and closer to the larger one.

*Thud*

The appearance of him gliding around the boat was very natural. He jumped several times from one place to another, and when the small boat reached the vicinity of the large ship, he quickly landed on the railing of the deck. As he moved something on the top, a loud sound rang.

*Gooooooong*

Archel was surprised at the moment and stepped back. The ground seemed to vibrate, but in fact, it was from the moving ship.

Soon, a huge wooden staircase descended from the ship, leading up to the water.

“Come this way.” Gael led Archel there.

As she stepped on the deck that looked so high, she could see the scenery beyond the sea a little further. The vast sea entertained her as if it was tempting her to come.

And she could see that the storm was more severe than she had expected, and the rushing tides were crashing the ship so that the deck trembles.

‘I’m going to the middle of that place.’

Archel clenched her fist as if making up her mind. Michael entered the academy safely and not long after they announced to the Principal of Temila that she’s Zenat’s bride, they would be preparing for their marriage.

After the wedding, she’ll become the madam of this sea. Of course, it was only a temporary position.

In the meantime, until Michael graduated from the academy and found the purpose of his life, Archel must do her best, too. So by the time Michael graduated, met a good woman, and settled down completely, he would be able to live happily ever after unlike what happened in the book.

The first step for him has been taken, and there’s no way back. Archel looked far away while holding the railing. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t see the island. There was nothing but a rough-looking storm in the eyes of the inlander.

“How does it feel to see Zenat’s sea?” Gael’s low voice tingled Archel. He then continued.

“Especially, the sea near Zenat’s island cannot get trespassed by anyone unless they are Zenat’s people. In short,”

He looked back at Archel, “The Eastern Sea wouldn’t accept the departure of these who I don’t approve of.”

The ship moved gradually. As the rope was loosened, the crew, that I’m not sure where they are all this time, began to move.

Even though it was a big ship, Archel flinched because the turbulence can be felt.

‘If I go to the sea, the only safe place would be here.’

“So now, you can’t get out of my domain.” Gael’s low voice rang as the ship was completely off-shore.

***

It was the first time Archel stood in the middle of the sea. Even before she possessed the body, she had never enjoyed the sea on top of the ship.

She liked to look at the sea from afar, but she couldn’t afford to take a boat. So it was her first time she had ever been on a ship and enjoyed the vast sea like this. She could feel  the wind tickling her ears.

“…”

She slightly flinched whenever the rough sea shook the ship occasionally, but it was bearable after a couple of minutes.

“The sea is a little quiet today,” said the unknown man on the deck.

Just like a sailor, the man with healthy tanned skin glanced at her then bowed his head to greet her.

It wasn’t a proper greeting toward a noble lady. But Archel understood right away when she saw the man wearing a white short-sleeved tee and comfortable long pants that made him easy to move.

The appearance that she would never see among the nobleman was the appearance of a real pirate that she saw for the first time.

Then the man of similar attire popped out and said the same thing. She didn’t know in which aspect did they assume it was ‘quiet’.

‘Did you say this is quiet?’

Archel’s gaze turned downward. The waves of the sea seemed unusual to her.

“Is this your first time seeing the sea?” Gael came up to her and asked.

Archel who casually looked back at Gael opened her eyes slightly. He took off his uniform and wore only a light white shirt, with three or four buttons on the top of his shirt loosened.

If your gaze landed in the wrong place, you could see the inside of his clothes. He didn’t seem to care about the exposure. His firm arms rested over the railing, he was so relaxed.

“…I’ve never been this far away.” There was no reason to lie about this.

Archel said, turning her eyes toward the sea, to avoid looking at his body. The distant sea looked dark rather than blue.

“I’m sure they haven’t seen inland people on board very often either.” Gael pointed to the crew running around the deck.

“…I think so. Because Zenat’s island people are exclusive from outsiders.” Gael smiled at Archel’s relaxed answer.

“I knew you’d say this.” Gael leaned over the railing and looked at Archel.

“If I ask you about how you knew Zenat’s secret, will you tell me?” He caressed his chin as if he’s worried. Archel shook her head as she saw his figure.

“What if I don’t want to talk?”

‘I’m sure you wouldn’t believe it anyway, so I’d better shut up.’

The man that she read in the book, Gael Von Zenat, was a man who wouldn’t try to cut her head right away, even if she shut her mouth. Moreover, she made a promise with her family name at stake. They are getting married.

When she was tight-lipped, Gael nodded slightly.

“Then I don’t want to be pathetically hanged. I’ll find out for myself.” As he leaned slightly, his lips came near Archel’s forehead.

The move did not seem to mean anything else. There was quite a wide gap, but it was close enough.

“In my land, there is no eternal secret.” What he revealed was clear confidence.

“…”

Archel nodded slowly. As far as she knows, the people on Zenat island are the ones who knew both “The Duke of Zenat” and “Pirate Zenat”.

Those who know the secret of the family. Among them were those who only dealt with information. Rather than targeting other ships in the sea, they were those who sought information about other ships.

Anyway, even if it’s about the ship, it is impossible not to use an outsider. They were one of Zenat’s valuable resources, collecting information and returning to the island through any route, whether they were porter of prisoner of a captured ship.

If somehow they were tasked with the work, they’ll be able to collect information about Archel de Leire down to the dust. Of course, no matter how much they’re digging, they won’t know about her being possessed.

“But.” Archel opened her mouth to change the subject.

Her gaze was directed at the other crew who were starting to run around the deck again.

“I heard pirates dislike women on ships.”

Her calm words seemed to reach the pirate’s ears because Archel saw clearly that one pirate stopped his movement. Gael nodded briefly.

“There’s a superstition that when a woman gets on the boat, there is a ghost.”

‘But how can you let me ride it?’

Archel looked back at Gael. Gael continued his speech without much change in expression.

“After my mother cut off about 20 of those heads and presented them to the sea, no one saw a ghost.”

‘His mother?’

Archel opened his eyes wide.

His mother, whom she read about in the book, was not a woman capable of doing that. Most of all, his parents couldn’t even carry on the family business because of their vulnerable nature. While she was bewildered, Gael looked at the crew instead of her.

“A worthless rumor will be buried in the face of overwhelming power, so,”

He finished with a low-pitched voice. “My bride, you don’t have to worry.”

The word “bride” in his icy voice seemed unfamiliar. It was when Archel was stunned.

*Thud*

The ship shook peculiarly. Surprised Archel hurriedly holding the ship’s railing. It was certainly not a calm wave. The ship tilted to the point of the slope as if a giant stone had fallen into the idle waters of the sea.

“…”

Nervous Archel seized the railing in silence.