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chapter 31
Since confessing that she was a mermaid, everything had gone surprisingly smoothly.
Ananta’s condition recovered at an astonishing pace, and thanks to Pearl ferrying messages between the sea and the ship, they reached the harbor in no time.
“―We’ve arrived.”
No sooner had Ananta finished speaking than the busy footsteps of sailors moving below deck echoed through the ship.
On the sailors’ faces, as they hurried up and down, was a mixture of relief from a long voyage ending, excitement at setting foot on land again, and a subtle sense of longing.
The harbor shimmered faintly in the dim light of early dawn.
The red sun rose beyond the horizon, revealing distant castle walls and golden spires emerging from the mist.
The ghost ship, carrying ordinary sails like a normal merchant ship for the first time in a long while, quietly dropped its anchor on the calm sea.
Rinka stood at the end of the deck, taking in the unfamiliar scenery.
The Empire.
This was the first new land they had reached after leaving the small harbor of Cadder.
It felt like the first page of a new story had just opened.
“Where is this place?”
“Belfort Harbor. It belongs to the Duchy of Belzert.”
“The Duchy of Belzert?”
“Rinka, you really know nothing, huh? Are you sure it’s okay to just send you there like this?”
The sailors who had been answering her questions sighed and began gathering things to hand to her.
“I wonder if anything’s changed since before.”
“Before?”
Before she could ask, familiar footsteps approached, and more sailors came forward one by one.
“Rinka.”
They all crowded around her, hugging her tightly or holding her hands.
“While you were here, your clothes were always clean, and the meals were delicious.”
“……What will we eat now?”
“Our life is over now……”
No, it wasn’t that dramatic.
They had only ever grilled meat or cooked stew, so it was a little embarrassing to hear such words.
“Next time we sail, make sure to call us. Your abilities are meant for the sea.”
“Of course. And from now on…… you’re one of our crew.”
It had only been a few months of sailing, yet for some reason, parting from the crew felt sadder than when she had run away from Cadder.
But Rinka couldn’t live at sea forever.
Every time she used her powers with water, something restrained her… some presence.
Knowing that, her choice was inevitable.
“Same here. When I settle on the continent, come visit my house……”
“But then Rinka would have to live in Belfort first, right?”
Though said playfully, a bitter smile passed among the sailors.
“Alright, that’s enough joking around. Unload the things you need at the harbor and rest on the island.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Rinka, wait a moment. We’ll take you there.”
Why did they need to rest on the island?
Belfort Harbor had plenty of inns. Yet the sailors, saying no more, finished their goodbyes to Rinka and returned to the ship one by one.
Not to resume the voyage.
After unloading only some of the items bought in Lavanto and the sea monsters they had hunted, the ghost ship raised its sails again.
“Rinka, we’re off then.”
“Come visit us when the captain boards later.”
“Then please let us know, Captain, and we’ll come back for you.”
Ananta waved casually, as if it were routine, and sent the ship off.
Rinka stood by, staring blankly at the departing ship, and asked,
“……Aren’t they going to the Empire?”
“Hmm.”
Ananta replied briefly, but gave no reason.
“Why not?”
Instead of answering, Ananta quietly gazed at the sea.
His expression carried a familiar silence and an unexplainable weight.
“……There’s an island in Belzert. We let them stay there because they can move freely.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.”
There was an unspoken reason lingering in the air, and it quietly pierced Rinka’s heart.
“Even if you know, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
He said it lowly, and Rinka did not ask further.
A short silence passed between them, then Ananta shook his hand.
“Shall we get going now?”
“Where to?”
“Can’t just leave you stranded at the harbor, can we?”
“Could it be……?”
Rinka’s eyes sparkled.
“Are we going to the capital together?”
Ananta smiled and shrugged.
“Of course.”
“Wow…….”
His silver hair, tied in a single ponytail, swayed lightly in the breeze.
After a short wait, a carriage adorned with an elaborate crest slowly arrived in front of them.
Rinka knew this kind of carriage well.
The one Mackard Cadder used to ride……
“……A noble’s carriage?”
Before she could close her gaping mouth, a man dressed as a high-class servant stepped down from the driver’s seat.
“Your Excellency, I’ve come to escort you.”
“Long time no see. Just bring the goods as usual.”
“Yes. And this is……?”
Ananta gave instructions as if accustomed to it, using the title “Your Excellency.”
Rinka, stiff in surprise, couldn’t even think to call him by name.
“Ah.”
Ananta smiled, clearly expecting this reaction, a picture-perfect expression.
“My guest.”
Rinka sat in the lavish carriage, sulking and refusing to look at Ananta.
Should I calm her down, or not?
He was about to explain anyway, but her haughty profile was so cute that Ananta lingered a moment longer, enjoying the sight.
“Rinka.”
“…….”
Even hearing Ananta’s voice, Rinka pretended not to, looking out the window.
It was one thing that he was a noble.
But shouldn’t he have told her before getting off the ship?
Judging from how he acted as if she would accompany him to the capital from the start, this had clearly been part of the captain’s plan.
But hiding the fact that he was a noble until now…… wait, come to think of it.
Rinka paused, blinking meaninglessly at the window.
The use of “Your Excellency,” and the fact that the sailors couldn’t disembark but could stay on a Belzert island, were clues.
“Belzert……?”
“Hm?”
From a faint memory she had almost forgotten:
“Even with a harbor, Belzert is rich. Cadder’s such a rural backwater.”
A phrase from young Mackard Cadder’s complaints surfaced in her memory.
“Captain, surely not……”
“Surely not?”
A playful voice answered, seemingly wanting her guess.
Rinka, restraining the urge to tug at his beautiful silver hair, asked again,
“You’re not the Duke of Belzert, are you?”
She hoped he would say no.
A duke. Just thinking about riding in a carriage belonging to someone with such a burdensome rank made her stomach churn.
Please, not him!
But contrary to her hopes, the captain smiled brightly and answered,
“Yes.”
Ugh.
“I want to get out.”
