Chapter 97
“The Final Firework”
A strange feeling came over me.
Holding my breath, I followed him quietly.
All around the cruise ship, parties were happening under the dim lights, in tune with the mood of the elegant night. People were drunk, laughing, enjoying themselves.
The masked man slipped quietly into one of the noisy party rooms.
I hurried after him.
The moment I entered, the sharp smell of alcohol hit my nose.
The room had a glass ceiling, so even from inside, you could see the fireworks.
Candlelight flickered faintly while groups of people chatted away.
The time for the final firework was drawing near. The lights in the room were kept darker for the mood.
But while my eyes moved toward the crowd for only a second—
the masked man vanished from sight.
‘Where did he go?’
I searched quickly, but the room was dark, with too many pillars. Finding him wasn’t easy.
“Excuse me, sorry…”
I asked people sitting close by as I looked around.
Just then, someone blocked my way.
On the sofa ahead sat a man, waiting for the fireworks.
‘Prince Ellus.’
I froze.
A masked man, a dark room perfect for crime, and the prince…
‘This is it.’
That strange instinct of mine told me something was about to happen.
Even without instinct—wasn’t it already suspicious?
This wasn’t a masquerade, yet someone wore a mask and came straight to the prince’s room.
And there had already been incidents where masked men attacked people without reason.
I glanced at the prince, who was laughing with a champagne glass in hand.
One thing I had learned in countless battles was:
“It’s better to act than to hesitate.”
Even if my instinct was wrong, acting fast was always better.
“Your Highness!”
The prince turned his gaze toward me.
And I was right.
At that exact moment, a sharp dagger flew toward where his head had been.
“…!”
Knights of the Ignis Order rushed in to protect him.
I immediately ran toward the source of the dagger, pulling back a curtain—
The masked man was escaping through the window.
I grabbed a decorative sword from the wall and gave chase.
‘Should’ve torn this dress earlier…’
As I swung at him, I only managed to slice the edge of his cloak.
He slipped around a corner and disappeared.
‘Where did he go?’
I strained my ears, trying to catch his footsteps. But—
“Woooaaah!”
The ship erupted in cheers.
Above the glass ceiling, the night sky lit up.
‘…The final firework.’
Cheers filled my ears. Dazzling light filled my eyes.
For a moment, I was completely overwhelmed.
“Knight! Sir Knight!”
Someone called to me. I snapped back to my senses.
It was one of the Ignis knights guarding the prince.
“His Highness is asking for you.”
Before I could move, the prince himself strode over.
He grabbed my shoulder, his face filled with emotion.
“Truly, thank you, Sir.”
The knights around him also bowed in gratitude.
But this wasn’t the time.
“We need to catch him quickly!”
Another firework burst overhead.
“Please, order the fireworks to stop!”
“I wish I could, but they say it’s impossible.”
Apparently, once the fireworks started, they triggered in a chain reaction and couldn’t be stopped halfway.
“The ship will return to port as soon as they’re done.”
But the masked man was still out there. He could strike again.
“Don’t worry. The Imperial guards are already searching.”
The prince looked calm, though sweat on his forehead revealed he was shaken.
“You’re a knight too, aren’t you? I’m sorry to make you work even at a party.”
I blinked. Did he just apologize for making me work?
What an understanding prince.
“No, Your Highness.”
I lowered my voice, hiding my emotions.
“Which order are you with? You look young—like a cadet—but your skill is more seasoned.”
It felt like he was checking my ID at a bar.
I still regretted letting the masked man get away, but this prince was… genuinely kind.
“Serdin Vivi of the Elche Knights.”
“Good. Sir Vivi, enjoy the fireworks now. I owe you, but you’re safe with these knights.”
Prince Ellus thanked me once more before returning to his quarters under guard.
Only then did I notice I was still holding something—
The torn edge of the masked man’s cloak.
I handed it to one of the Ignis knights.
“Please investigate this.”
“We’ll report back, Sir Vivi.”
I stepped outside.
The night breeze was colder now.
Fireworks still burst in the sky, dazzling and grand.
Everyone around me gasped in awe.
‘Beautiful… but… something’s missing.’
I thought of Roitz’s words:
“Serdin, sometimes you need this—sharing warmth, giving and receiving true kindness.”
Why was I remembering that now?
“Wanting those moments isn’t wrong. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Another firework burst, fading into glowing streaks.
As I stared at it, I realized—
“I don’t want to watch this alone. I want to see it with someone.”
The thought shocked me. But I couldn’t deny it.
Fireworks kept painting the sky as I moved.
While others stood still in wonder, I ran—through colorful dresses, through suits and tuxedos, searching.
‘Where are you…?’
The fireworks show had passed its halfway point.
But the deck was crowded with strangers.
‘Wait. Didn’t Roitz say he preferred quieter places? Then…’
My steps carried me to the ship’s left side, near the restrooms—a place few people gathered.
And there, I saw him.
“Ro—”
Roitz stood, his face faintly red, gazing at Lucike.
Lucike smiled brightly at him.
“Stop smiling at me.”
“Will you make it for me yourself then?”
“…Would you dislike receiving something I made myself?”
“How could I? Who would ever dislike a madeleine from you, Commander?”
They were talking about Madeleine Day, a tradition like Valentine’s or White Day.
Giving a madeleine meant giving your heart.
‘So… he wants to give her one.’
Another firework exploded, drowning their voices.
And then—the grandest of all soared upward.
A huge red-and-white flower bloomed across the night sky, surrounded by tiny white sparks like baby’s breath.
It was breathtaking.
But I turned away.
While they stood beneath the final firework, I ran in the opposite direction.
As if fleeing.
I kept my lips sealed, holding back words I didn’t even know how to say.
And then—bam. I crashed into someone.
“Ah, sorry.”
“Noona? You were on the cruise?”
“Cute?”
Cute grabbed my shoulders, studying my face.
Then he sighed deeply.
“Your face… you look terrible.”
“What? Why?”
What was wrong with my face?
He glanced behind me, then turned me gently away.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
He smiled lightly, tugging me along.
“There’s not much left. If you’re going to watch, let’s at least see it from the best spot.”
