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Chapter 9
“Angel, put the gun away.”
“But this man…!”
Unlike the agitated Angelina, Alexei remained calm.
“It’s a lie.”
“A lie?”
“He made it up on the spot to mess with me.”
“Really?”
“If it weren’t, he would’ve denied it. No one would confess voluntarily while risking their life.”
“If you understand that, then could you please lower the gun?”
With an unconvinced look, Angelina lowered her arm and sat back down.
“Is that your warning not to ask further questions?”
Silence was answer enough. Alexei quietly closed his eyes before opening them again.
A drifter like him was bound to have a story.
Maybe it was better not to know if they didn’t want to get further entangled.
“Fine. I won’t ask until you decide to tell us yourself.”
“Once this job’s over, you can fill your pockets and go look for your hometown. I’m sure letters from foreigners reach the royal palace of Latria too, right?”
Franz answered playfully.
“I think I know why he keeps it secret.”
Naomi suddenly spoke up as if she had figured it out.
Really?
All three turned to look at her.
“He’s like me. Comes from a lousy background, but doesn’t want to look pathetic.”
“Hahaha.”
Franz’s stiff expression finally relaxed as he laughed.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Yeah.”
“At least I had a home though. Mister, you didn’t even have one, so you had to wander around?”
“A pirate ship was your home?”
“Of course. It had rooms, a dining hall, bathrooms… everything.”
“And it moved around?”
“And I could look at the ocean from morning till night.”
“Sounds like you lived in a better home than anyone.”
“Right?”
Naomi puffed out her chest proudly.
“Then why are you like this now?”
To Angelina, Naomi was nothing more than a bratty girl deep in her rebellious phase—a pirate’s daughter who could never truly be on their side. Franz seemed intent on coaxing her with kindness, but Angelina would sooner crack the whip harder than offer her a carrot.
“And you…”
“Crown Princess.”
Naomi pouted.
“Crown Princess, why are you here then? Leaving behind your fancy home?”
“Because of your father.”
The direct hit shut Naomi up instantly. Her face was full of complaints, yet she had nothing to say.
Good. That’s how it should be.
Only then did Angelina feel satisfied.
“Angel, try this.”
Alexei took the cooked ham off the fire, tasted it, then handed it to her.
Come to think of it, she had forgotten she was hungry.
The golden-brown ham stirred her appetite. The moment she bit into it, the rich smell of pork filled her mouth. The palm-sized piece disappeared into her stomach in no time.
But she was still hungry.
She reached for another skewer when an unexpected voice stopped her.
“I’m sorry.”
It was Alexei.
“I’m sorry you had to go through this.”
Angelina stared at him with wide eyes as he repeated himself.
This guy… apologizing?
In her memories, the crown prince was always looking down at her with disdain or disbelief. He was never someone who bowed his head first. Naturally, she had never once heard the word “sorry” come out of his mouth.
“It’s not your fault, Alexei.”
“You kept worrying before we even departed, and I ignored it.”
“I’m fine.”
Angelina truly meant it.
Even if she hadn’t held great expectations, this had still been the most important wedding and honeymoon of her life. Everything had fallen apart, yet she didn’t feel even a grain of resentment.
Of course, while tied up in the cargo hold she had cursed Alexei Werner endlessly in her head…
But that was only because it reminded her of the miserable death from her previous life.
“Still, my negligence played a big part. You must’ve been terrified.”
“I said I’m really fine.”
Strangely, the fear she’d felt at the beginning was gone. Instead, she felt exhilarated. Her heart pounded wildly.
At first she thought it was fear.
But it wasn’t.
It felt like dopamine flooding through her veins.
That sensation she had forgotten for so long.
The same damned thrill she used to feel while throwing herself around on film sets.
That was what Angelina was feeling now.
Which was why Alexei’s sudden apology failed to move her heart.
Just act like you normally do.
But perhaps her sincerity wasn’t reaching him either, because Alexei’s hardened expression didn’t soften.
“Don’t worry. As soon as morning comes, we’ll send a rescue signal. We’ll be rescued and return home.”
“…”
“There’ll be merchant ships or passenger ships passing by eventually. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s nothing.”
Even after the plan had fallen apart, he was already making another one. Such a rigid man…
She couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud.
Angelina looked up at the sky instead.
“The stars are insanely bright.”
“…”
She was still hungry, and sleepiness weighed heavily on her eyelids, yet the stars glittered like diamonds.
Why did this moment feel more romantic than all the days surrounded by expensive clothes and luxury?
Why did she feel so free?
“We’ll probably return tomorrow or the day after, right?”
“Of course.”
“We should. We have to.”
For their safety, and for the sake of rescuing the people kidnapped aboard the pirate ship, they had to return.
But did they really?
As Angelina struggled to understand her own true feelings, drowsiness finally overtook her.
She felt something being draped over her shoulders.
It felt warm.
And strangely romantic.
* * *
The next day.
The sun never appeared.
More accurately, it had risen, but thick clouds hid it from sight.
Contrary to Alexei’s expectations, it hardly felt like a hopeful sign. Because of this, the two men argued intensely from early morning over their escape plan.
“It’s better to wait for a rescue signal.”
“How long are we supposed to wait? With weather like this, the signal won’t even reach anyone.”
“Exactly why we should stay put. If we force an escape in these conditions, we could run into a storm. That little boat won’t survive it.”
Alexei’s reasoning made sense.
But still—
“No. What if the pirates catch us again? The sea’s always unpredictable. If we keep waiting for perfect weather, we’ll end up buried on this island.”
Franz’s opinion swayed Angelina more. In any situation, she preferred action over waiting.
Just like on the pirate ship.
“I’m hungry.”
Naomi abruptly cut through the tension.
“We’re having a serious discussion. Can’t you read the room?”
“What am I supposed to do if I’m hungry?”
“You can wait a little—”
Grrr.
Angelina’s stomach betrayed her with a loud growl. Naomi burst out laughing.
“Why don’t we circle the island first?” Franz suggested smoothly, easing the mood.
“Before we get too hungry to move.”
“Fine.”
Time to explore.
Their goal: find food.
Franz tied two thick branches together with straw rope. He carried a sack in one hand. Alexei and Angelina each armed themselves with a gun and knife. Naomi tucked a telescope under her arm.
The forest was deeper than expected, and the island wider than they had imagined. Strange trees and plants flourished everywhere, unlike anything they had ever seen in books.
“That looks delicious.”
Angelina spotted round red berries hidden among the bushes.
Naomi froze.
Red berries.
Dad said those berries eat people.
While Naomi hesitated, the future crown princess reached out her hand.
Gulp.
Naomi swallowed hard.
Surely eating one berry won’t do anything… And even if it does, what’s it got to do with me?
She glanced sideways at the crown prince watching Angelina.
Maybe it’d even be better this way.
A nasty woman like her doesn’t suit a refined nobleman like that.
The devil in her heart whispered.
Holding her breath, Naomi watched the woman’s berry-red lips part.
“Wait.”
Franz stopped Angelina’s hand.
“Don’t eat random things.”
“Why?”
“Because the prettiest berries are often poisonous.”
This time the crown prince stepped forward, removing Franz’s hand as he spoke.
Tch.
Pushed aside by the men surrounding Angelina like loyal knights protecting their queen, Naomi stood two steps away, chewing on her lip.
Would I get punished for saying I’m disappointed?
But it’s true.
If she were in my position, she’d do the same thing.
“That berry looked tasty.”
“It’s tempting you to eat it.”
Watching the clueless woman still looking disappointed, Naomi thought she looked stupid. What would a pampered noble lady know, one who spent her days being served by maids and dancing waltzes? Other than being born into a good family, she wasn’t any different from Naomi.
The bitterness swelling inside her spilled out before she could stop it.
“I could’ve killed you. What a shame.”
