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Chapter 3
“Shall I escort you to the office, my lady?”
Angelina nodded at the attendant.
She needed to say what she couldn’t say in front of the Empress to Alexei instead. And she needed to ask him—why, why did he agree to the engagement? If she threw a tantrum, would he lose whatever faint goodwill he still had toward her and change his mind?
Clinging to that small hope, she arrived at the Crown Prince’s office.
When the attendant opened the door, her betrothed was seated at his desk. He was reading a book with an elegant, distant air—his profile looked like a masterpiece sculpted by a palace artist.
One had to admit it.
Alexei was handsome. At least half the reason noble ladies envied her was because of the Crown Prince.
“I’m jealous of Angelina—she’s even friends with the Crown Prince.”
She had heard that since childhood.
Whether someone you barely spoke to could truly be called a “friend” was questionable, but Angelina never really denied it. He was like a brooch pinned to her chest—something shiny, something she could be proud of.
At the sound of footsteps, the handsome Crown Prince lifted his chin.
He stood.
“Why do you look like that?”
“What’s wrong with my face?”
“It looks terrible.”
Angelina narrowed her eyes at him. His expression was so indifferent she felt like she was less important than a book.
“Because of you, Alex.”
She pouted. His long fingers reached toward her brow.
Huh?
He brushed aside her bangs, then looked at her with a questioning gaze.
“…Did you cry?”
“Just a little.”
“Why?”
How was she supposed to explain the feeling of being betrayed by someone she trusted?
Thinking of how she had cried face-down on her bed all night, she inhaled sharply.
It was strange. Everyone loved her, yet the man she was supposed to marry didn’t love her. And if she refused the marriage because of that, it would look like she was begging for the Crown Prince’s affection.
Confused, she asked,
“Do you really not mind marrying me?”
“Yes.”
“So anyone is fine for securing the throne?”
“You were the one who said anyone is fine.”
“When did I ever say that?”
“When we got engaged.”
Their engagement had been arranged with nothing more than a single document—no ceremony, no celebration.
“I asked if I was acceptable, and you said anyone would do. That you loved yourself the most, so it didn’t matter who you married. That you’d never meet anyone more precious than yourself anyway.”
Alexei watched her blank expression quietly. She clearly didn’t remember.
For him, it had been quite a shocking statement.
Even if it were a beggar, she wouldn’t mind.
That had been the final blow. And yet she had said it without even realizing.
It had been a blow to his pride—but he hadn’t been able to stop it. After all, it had been decided by their families, he had told himself.
“I guess I might’ve said something like that.”
Angelina nodded, accepting it. It was possible.
Whenever she appeared in public, all eyes turned to her. Every small word from her made people smile. Every moment felt sweet.
“So it’s still the same now. You still love yourself the most.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“So it doesn’t matter who you marry, right?”
“Well, that’s… still…”
“Think of it as just a change of stage. You’ll be surrounded by even more people, receiving even more attention and love.”
“….”
“The wedding will be held on a ship. The court astrologer said that since our marriage lacks emotional warmth, it should take place somewhere with the energy of water. And since the Empress agreed, we’re following that advice. The Aurora is departing soon, so we’ll board it.”
Only then did Angelina realize something.
The only person who did not welcome this marriage was her—and her opinion had no influence whatsoever.
So the most reasonable choice she had left was not resistance.
“…Alright.”
Submission.
* * *
11:40 AM.
The sky was dark like ink spilled across a page, and an ominous wind blew.
Angelina looked at the unsettling scene with unease.
It hadn’t looked like this before departure.
Should she have stopped the sea wedding even if it meant conflict with her in-laws?
Just imagining having to hold another ceremony in a chapel afterward made her chest tighten.
With belated regret, she searched for the Crown Prince. He was at the bow with the captain.
“Shouldn’t we turn the ship back now?”
Those blue eyes met hers.
“Why?”
Look at the sky. Feel the wind.
“The ceremony is about to begin.”
“It looks more like it’ll end before it even starts.”
she snapped.
“That won’t happen. We’ll proceed as planned.”
He had said the same thing before departure.
Frustrated, Angelina turned away.
“The weather is always unpredictable. It will calm down soon,” the captain shouted, trying to sound reassuring.
She gave up and walked across the deck.
Everyone was focused on one thing and one thing only—they didn’t look at the sky or feel the wind.
The wedding of the Crown Prince and his bride.
“Miss, you’ll ruin all your preparations. Please go back to your cabin.”
Is this really going to be alright?
Back in her cabin, she fixed her dress. Lala placed a crown on her head. In the mirror, the Crown Princess looked breathtakingly beautiful.
But she didn’t smile.
“It’s a good day,” Lala said with a smile.
But Angelina did not smile.
There was no joy in a forced marriage.
2:00 PM
The ceremony began.
The sky and wind remained unchanged, while mist thickened over the sea. The ship moved at a sluggish pace.
Angelina stepped onto the red carpet and stood beside Alexei.
“…By divine will, these two shall be joined…”
The priest’s voice was swallowed by the wind.
The atmosphere was strange. Waves leapt like dolphins.
Even Alexei, who had insisted everything would go according to plan, now looked tense.
Angelina could not focus.
A storm? A sea monster? Or… Poseidon?
Still, the ceremony continued.
“…The rings…”
Alexei, hearing the priest’s faint voice, reached for the ring box and grabbed her hand.
Then—
A ship burst out of the mist.
A black flag with a skull fluttered from its mast.
“P-pirates!”
The captain shouted.
Soldiers drew their swords and surrounded the couple, but it was useless. Cannon fire exploded across the deck.
Screams erupted everywhere.
The ship collided again. Chaos consumed everything. Pirates swarmed aboard like a flood and quickly took control.
Total defeat.
“I am the great pirate Jean Blaskeda. Be honored to sail with me.”
The pirate captain rambled on.
“Throw the soldiers overboard and round up all passengers. Once we dock, we’ll send ransom letters for every single one.”
At his command, the crew moved efficiently. Soldiers were thrown into the sea. Passengers were lined up like captives.
Among them were Angelina and Alexei.
“Say you’re the daughter-in-law of the Devlia noble house,” Alexei whispered.
“But the Devlia house doesn’t even have a daughter-in-law.”
“One of the notorious pirate factions. We can’t reveal our identities. If news that the Crown Prince and his bride were attacked reaches the Torid Empire, it’ll cause a diplomatic disaster.”
“So we’re pretending? Then what about you?”
“Son.”
In other words, they would pose as a married couple with a fake identity.
“I’ll send the ransom letter to the Devlia house. They’ll realize it’s fake and mobilize the imperial army.”
It was a plausible plan.
A one-eyed pirate whistled and swung his blade lazily at the prisoners. Until then, everything had been fine.
At least, that’s what Angelina thought.
“Hey.”
She tried to ignore it.
“You there. The blond man and the woman in white.”
The pirate captain pointed at them.
His grin was unsettling.
“Those two—take them to the cargo hold.”
Resistance was pointless.
They were dragged below deck.
“Stay quiet.”
That advice would’ve been better if it hadn’t been accompanied by ropes binding them.
Clank.
Before they could understand what was happening, they were locked in the cargo hold.
Alone.
As newlyweds.
Her only companion—her husband—met her eyes.
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
This was not the honeymoon she had ever dreamed of.
