Chapter 11

Kyle’s hand rested on her arm.

“The railing is more dangerous at times like this.”

He did not lose his balance at all. Archel was startled by his touch and loosened her grip on the railing.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, the ship tilted again. Kyle caught her staggering body lightly. At last, she was getting farther away from the railing.

In a spur of the moment, she fell into Kyle’s embrace, causing her body to stiffen up. She was unwittingly nervous.

“You look anxious as if I touched your hand indecently. Should I let go of your hand then?”

He was a man who could speak in a smooth voice even on a rocking ship. Meanwhile, Archel couldn’t even open her lips as if she rode a horse running in a fast gallop.

Instead of answering, she held onto his arm. There was nothing to hold on to on this rocking ship anyway.

“I’m glad you’re not backing away from this sicko’s hand.”

But she had no time to ask as to why the Duke of this country was calling himself a sicko.

-Dururu!

Suddenly her surroundings turned dark. Certainly, they were currently in the middle of the sea, but when she looked up, the sky wasn’t visible anymore.

“Your Grace…!”

The clouds crowded around in the sky. To be exact, the surrounding sky was filled with dark clouds, quickly blocking out any light.

Then the lighting came along with the rain. The sun continued shining brightly above the sea not far from here, only the weather above the ship turned unusual.

-RROOAAARR!

Startled by the loud roar Archel unwittingly grabbed Kyle’s arm once more, strong enough to leave nail marks on Kyle, but he only looked down at her hand without a word. Instead, his gaze was directed toward the sea.

To be exact, to the newly encountered enemy.

“It’s a monster!”

A sailor quickly picked up a harpoon and rushed to the railing. It happened to be near where Archel and Kyle were.

“!”

His agility and the way he bent his body as he got nearer indicated that the sailor was a trained person. Pirates usually didn’t receive training and acted like boorish mobs, but this sailor was completely different.

Rather, he was like a knight.

“Ha!”

The sailor held his harpoon, stepped on the railing and jumped up. He jumped as high as he could and thrust the harpoon into the monster’s forehead.

-Kiiiiii-!

The monster’s screech shook the deck. Archel covered her ears with her eyes still wide open. In fact, she already knew that monsters appeared near Zenat Island.

The monsters were powerful, so the Imperial Family granted the House of Zenat full authority to deal with the monsters. The ancestors of Zenat knew that it was unfair, but they couldn’t refuse, so they started the pirate business and turned the crisis into an opportunity.

But she didn’t know that the actual monster was this big and threatening.

-Kiiik-!

The harpoon with a string attached to it was pulled back strongly. The deck shook like crazy when the monster squirmed around. So Archel tightened her grip on Kyle’s arm.

But the monster didn’t last long.

Archel did not know, but the monster had a third eye on its forehead which was a vital element for them to use magic. It was an instant death because it was stabbed precisely there.

“…!”

When the monster’s movement slowed down, the sailor caught the string attached to the harpoon. He grabbed the string and launched his body like an acrobatic stuntman and landed on the deck after stepping on the middle of the string once.

-Shing-!

Then he cut the string with a dagger. The ship shook again when the string that had been tightly connected to the monster cut off.

-Groooowl….!

The sky slowly brightened when the monster sank into the sea, leaving an eerie shriek behind.

Archel’s eyes turned to the sky. The dark clouds that had crowded the sky had disappeared.

“It’s over.”, Kyle spoke with a casual expression. Only then did Archel realize that she was holding onto his arm ever so tightly.

“Ah,”

This act was inappropriate in the aristocracy. Even if they promised to marry, they were still not married. In addition, there were many eyes watching, but Kyle didn’t seem to be upset, instead, he smiled softly when he looked at her.

“I wonder if you’re surprised by the arm of a sicko.”

“How can you call the Duke of this country a sicko?”, Archel asked the question that she couldn’t ask earlier. Kyle folded his eyes gently.

“Don’t you think someone who didn’t flinch to see blood is no better than a murderer?”

He pointed to one side of the deck and it made Archel open her eyes wide. Red blood splattered on the nearby deck. It was too dark and sticky, so there was no way it belonged to a person, even so, it didn’t feel less terrible.

It was the monster’s blood.

When Archel realized the fact, she couldn’t help but freeze. What she saw was real. She was in life-threatening danger. When she realized the size of this ship compared to the vast sea, plus the people that she didn’t know properly were risking their lives, she was struck by immense fear. Her hands trembled but there was no turning back.

“Are you scared?”

Then Kyle leaned his head toward her.

“Inlanders say pirates are irrational and vulgar. Have you made up your mind to be with them?”

Contrary to what he said, the reality seemed a bit different. The sailors, who seemed familiar with these monsters, returned to their post, and Kyle also looked calm. Even the sea was sunny as if nothing had happened.

Among them, Archel was the only one who was shaken up. So he was asking if she was confident to stay in such a place.

“…”

The sea was unfriendly toward her, more than what she read in the book. The sea did not welcome her. At that cold reality, Archel gripped the railing again. Unlike Kyle’s arm, the flake of wooden railing stuck in her hand and hurt her. However, she didn’t let go of her hand. She was determined to live through this strange place.

She didn’t know why she got so determined. But in order to survive and protect Michael, she had to endure it. Because that was her promise.

“Of course.”, she answered in a small voice. Her trembling voice reflected her fear, but it was mixed with her determination to preserve.

“…”

At Archel’s words, Kyle briefly nodded. For a moment, he noticed her hand that brushed against the railings, but that was all. His eyes soon turned to the deck. The other crew members had already finished looking around the surrounding area.

It was because the giant monster ‘Satin’ was often dragging his men around.

The eyes filled with alertness scoured the vast sea, but fortunately, he didn’t find any abnormality in the seawater.

“Chris.”

Kyle gestured to the man who had just harpooned the monster. As if nothing had happened after the bloody battle earlier, he leisurely munched a biscuit.

“Yes!”

But the biscuit disappeared from his mouth as soon as Kyle called him. He threw the biscuit into the sea as if he hadn’t had time to chew. Then he quickly arrived in front of them.

“Did you call me?”

He was a bulky man with a head that was two times bigger than Archel’s. After bowing deeply to Kyle, he greeted Archel briefly and turned his head.

“You’d better say hello.”, Kyle spoke briefly and as soon as he had finished, Chris stepped back and gestured to his crewmates.

The pirates, who received his signal, abandoned everything they were doing and gathered. Those who were on the stairs or in the cabin quickly rushed to the deck.

Thanks to this, Archel noticed that this ship was operating on a shift. There were some sailors who seemed like they just woke up. But even with those appearances, these guys seemed to be loyal to Kyle. They were bowing in a calm manner. But that was all.

“Chief mate, Chris.”

Scratching his back neck while introducing himself didn’t resemble a nobleman at all. He was the one who jumped with the harpoon after all. Then the second chief mate and other sailors started to introduce themselves. Kyle looked back at Archel when they finished their introduction.

“Would you like to introduce yourself?”

Or do you want me to introduce you? At that thought, Kyle smiled. The pirates didn’t seem to like the formality, so Archel opened her mouth.

“Archel De Leire.”

It was a short introduction for someone who should be prideful of her family name. Because no one would welcome her had she behaved in a manner that was commonly used among aristocrats.

People would be fascinated by her greeting. She had a subtle feeling about it. Earlier, the sailor jumped and harpooned the monster like a trained knight, meanwhile, he also behaved recklessly as pirates should. And the way he introduced himself was similar, but she was sure when she heard his greeting.

Their real selves were knights, not pirates.

“Soon, it’ll be Archel von Zenat.”

She finished her speech promptly. There was no reason to honour those who would be her subordinates or give a lengthy introduction.

“Zenat?”

Some of the sailors who heard the name looked at each other. The news of Zenat welcoming a new bride had yet to reach their ears. Only the chief mate, Chris, and a few other sailors were aware of that.

“Are you saying you’re taking an outsider as a bride?”

It seemed like the second chief mate did not hear the rumours. His eyes widened and he was terribly confused. It was clear that he couldn’t decide whether he should use his knights or pirates persona.

In front of an outsider, of course, they should put on their pirate persona, but their Lord already erased the restraints toward the outsider who introduced themselves as a Zenat.

Wasn’t it the Duke himself who allowed her to board the ship?

“Although we’re going to divorce soon.”

Archel opened her mouth. Kyle only glanced at the shocked faces of his subordinates, but he didn’t bother to explain. In the first place, he wasn’t a man who gave lame explanations to his subordinates.

“…?”

Archel added as she saw the bewildered sailors.

“In exchange for Leire’s water territory, the Duke guaranteed personal protection for me and my brother and sent him to the academy. The contract is sealed with marriage.”

Kyle liked the simple explanation and slightly nodded. After those words, Archel eyes were directed toward the shore.

“…But still, a stranger?”

The second chief mate was still in denial and only stared at Kyle for an explanation. Archel instinctively understood the meaning behind his aloof question.

His choice of words was harsh.

She squinted her eyes. She clearly showed her displeasure without hesitation.