Chapter 33
He was skilled at acting.
“Smile, Ian. Everyone’s watching.”
He lifted the corners of his lips and softened his gaze. His eyes, after briefly meeting the front, dipped downward just slightly.
A polite yet warm smile was thus completed.
It was no harder than following a set formula. As long as he understood the situation, the people involved, and what they wanted from him, responding was easy.
“It’s an honor to be invited to such an event. Thanks to you, I had a wonderful time.”
He spoke the expected words, donned the appropriate expression, and offered refined courtesy. He was used to reading what people wanted to see and adjusting accordingly.
It was something ingrained in him from childhood. He had only ever been acknowledged when he lived up to someone else’s expectations.
“Ian, you always look so wonderful!”
That was how he conveniently won people’s favor. If trust never lasted long anyway, then using it while it lasted was easier.
Thanks to such well-practiced acting, pretending to be Kanoe’s lover hadn’t been difficult.
But.
“I think it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”
Would Kanoe realize that this wasn’t an act?
Did she know what those words—her promise of freedom—meant to Ian Frederick?
“……?”
Kanoe looked up at him with puzzled eyes. Ian gave a faint, bitter smile.
No, of course she wouldn’t know.
The only thing genuine in this web of lies was the promise they’d made at sea.
“For a while, I thought I’d just laze around in the Sea of Silence.”
Standing on the battered edge of the railing, I steered the ship. Through the thick fog, the silhouette of a familiar island slowly emerged.
“Sorry about this. The sea’s been restless lately.”
“It’s fine. This boat’s too small for the three of us anyway—I was thinking of stopping by an island.”
The boat had been meant for me alone. But after somehow picking up two extra crewmates, living space had become cramped.
The real problem was that there was only one cabin. I needed my own private space. That was part of my dream.
After I’d jumped off the ship Marina, the memories of that miserable drifting life were still vivid. Nights spent barely clinging to a log, trying not to die.
At least meeting Ian made things better…….
I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d truly rested. Honestly, I only began living like a human again once I’d reached Mui’a Island.
So this time, I just wanted to lie on the boat, eat shellfish, and relax.
……Besides, there were things I needed to think about.
The doubled bounty. The unseen navy. The image of Lev, whom I’d met not long ago, flickered in my mind, and I shook my head.
If he really was the one who raised my bounty, then hiding in the Sea of Silence would only buy me a little time.
Until then, I intended to use every second of freedom to the fullest.
That was the decision I made as captain of this ship.
“……I really am sorry, young lady. But if you drop me off at the island, I’ll get you a sturdier, bigger ship.”
Ansel seemed worried, maybe thinking I looked too serious. At his unexpected offer, I quickly spoke up.
“In that case, I’ll make sure you get there safely.”
“Ha-ha! Cheerful lass!”
Ansel roared with laughter. I upgraded him to VIP passenger and steered the ship faster.
A free ship upgrade!
Such opportunities didn’t come often. Right now, Ansel’s kindly smiling face looked like a treasure that had floated up from the sea.
Of course, I couldn’t let my greed show.
I put on the smile I used to wear back when I worked in hotels, entertaining guests.
“Rest easy, sir. I’ll personally see you safely to shore.”
“Much obliged. You’ve got such a good heart.”
His eyes glistened as he looked at me. From behind him, I heard hushed voices.
“Sis, that’s scary……”
“Master has never smiled like that before.”
I ignored them and kept smiling. Then, quietly, I passed the kids some of the food Ian had prepared.
“This is what he made for you, sis—mmp.”
“It’s for everyone, not just her.”
“Master, do you have anything bigger?”
Just simple fish cake rolls, but they were perfect for the kids. They chewed quietly, and at last I could breathe.
The salty scent of the sea brushed my nose on the wind. Ian, who had been staring at the stern, came over to us.
“Elder, what did you mean when you said the sea was restless?”
Ansel, reaching for a roll, turned toward Ian. When he heard that Ian had made them, he gave him a strange look before leaning toward me to whisper.
“Miss, you won’t find a more family-minded man.”
“……Right. True.”
“Elder?”
At Ian’s repeated question, Ansel popped the fish cake into his mouth, swallowed, and answered.
“Normally, the navy and the pirates kept each other in check. Pirates operated slyly, careful not to cross the line. They plundered, yes, but didn’t harm people.”
In fact, Mui’a Island had long been a place where pirates laundered their money, slipping beneath the navy’s gaze.
“But lately, more and more of them have started harming people. Whether they’re truly pirates, I can’t say……”
Ansel stroked his beard, trailing off. The way he darted glances around suggested the memory of that day still haunted him.
“Strange, isn’t it? Pirates covet treasure. But these ones, they only target people.”
“……”
“So I reckon the ones who attacked me were the same.”
Bandits threatened people for money. Pirates too. Unless they were bloodthirsty madmen, pirates only sought profit.
“That is strange.”
“Right? If it weren’t for your group, I don’t know what would have become of me……”
Listening while eating, Lucas tilted his head. He pointed at Ian with his finger.
“This is just my thought, but. Didn’t you crush the Raging Wave Pirates, bro?”
“Oh, so that rumor was true.”
“Rumors at sea are always true, mister.”
Grinning, Lucas bared his teeth at Ansel.
“Anyway! Maybe that’s why the other pirates around here are acting up.”
He mumbled around the last of his fish cake.
“When there’s no shark in the sea, even mackerels bare their teeth.”
We arrived at Mui’a Island.
We straightened our shoulders as we stepped off the boat. A few passersby glanced our way, but that was all.
“Perfect. No one will notice us here.”
Ansel beamed, satisfied.
I shut my eyes tight, then snapped them open. I recalled the conversation I’d had with him before docking.
“But are you sure you’ll be fine with those faces? The townsfolk must’ve seen the wanted posters.”
He’d been worried we might attract the wrong kind of attention.
“I’m curious—how did you move around the last time you came here?”
“Well……”
How else? We’d pretended to be honeymooners and mingled among the tourists.
I regretted mentioning that.
“M-mom.”
“Lucas. Keep your mouth shut.”
I kept my smile plastered on as I muttered under my breath. His little shoulders hunched.
I wouldn’t want a mom like you either! his lips mouthed, though no sound came. He twitched, clearly uncomfortable with me forcing his hand into mine.
“……Honey.”
“Yes, is something wrong?”
This time it was Ian calling me. He was holding Lucas’s other hand firmly.
That’s right.
This time, instead of honeymooners, we were posing as a happy family. We’d even dyed our hair, added sunglasses and hats, completing the tourist look.
“……But unlike last time, it feels strangely quiet.”
Ian’s voice was low as he scanned the area. I turned to look too.
There were people here and there, but strangely few. Not long ago, the place had been bustling with tourists snapping photos and merchants shouting for customers.
“……Did something happen?”
I instinctively squeezed Lucas’s hand tighter.
It was as if something had happened—something big—and the entire island was holding its breath.
