Chapter 50

I swallowed the bitter reality. Even if we rushed in recklessly, what were the chances of success? And we were in the middle of the sea with no escape.

 

“We hired skilled mercenaries, but the only ones among us who can actually fight are you and Fran—two people. And we have two non-combatants. They even have a mage on their side. Do you really think everyone can escape safely with the herbs in this situation?”

 

Ben bowed his head at my words. I watched his confused expression until the end. I flashed him a bright smile, for someone who was worrying about me more than himself.

 

“Do you think I’d die that easily? Instead of dawdling, you’d better decide quickly.”

 

“…….”

 

After swallowing hard several times, Ben finally lifted his head with a resolute expression, his voice low.

 

“I… I’ll definitely ask for help and come back.”

 

“I’ll wait. Thanks for accepting such an unreasonable request.”

 

The next moment, Ben’s silhouette before me vanished. Bringing him had not been a bad choice. I trusted that he, with that sturdy body of his, would get help for everyone. The mercenaries were seasoned, but so was he.

 

Especially his calmness—sharpened in moments when death’s blade hovered at his throat—was second to none. He had once been a renowned assassin. So of course, he believed he shouldn’t leave me behind. But if survival required him to escape alone, he believed that was the right thing to do.

 

I turned and stared blankly up at the ceiling.

 

“Ha… What now.”

 

Ben also must have known this was all because of my stubbornness. But… I had a duty to cure him.

 

“Miss… we can just live. That’s enough.”

 

Pat whispered in a voice barely louder than an ant’s. At some point, he had regained consciousness, and he smiled faintly.

 

“Right?”

 

How much time had passed? The knights woke up as well. We’d been locked up for hours with no idea where we were headed. Then a commotion broke out outside.

 

‘Ben did it.’

 

A flustered man threw the door open.

 

“Where’s the guy who was in here!!”

 

“L-Lady! Take your hands off her!”

 

Fran shouted, but the man ignored him. His face came close, veins bulging with rage. His rough breathing didn’t scare me. If anything, he looked frightened.

 

“Well? I don’t know. He said he wanted to save his own neck and ran off.”

 

I answered calmly.

 

“You expect me to believe that?! The herbs are gone too!”

 

Even in this situation, realizing Ben had escaped with the herbs made me laugh. My laughter made him even angrier, though he held it back.

 

“…Tell me where he is.”

 

“I don’t think I owe you that.”

 

I smirked. Realizing I had no intention of speaking the truth, he threw me across the room. Behind him, Apol appeared, his expression troubled.

 

“…Miss, I don’t want to treat you poorly. Where did the man named Ben go?”

 

“As I said earlier, I don’t owe you an answer.”

 

“……”

 

The room fell silent. One mercenary stomped his foot in frustration and shouted. His attempt at intimidation made the whole room ring.

 

“Stop messing around! You must think being some noble lady gives you something to rely on, but do you even understand that you’re kidnapped right now?!”

 

“You’re the ones who don’t understand the severity of this situation!”

 

Fran yelled from beside me.

 

“You’ve laid hands on a young lady protected by the Weiss Ducal House! Are you prepared to die for this?!”

 

The mercenary flinched. Outside, anxious voices murmured, worrying what they should do.

 

They were growing desperate. As if they were pressed for time.

 

Apol quieted them.

 

“Our objective hasn’t changed. We hand this lady over to them.”

 

His words gave me a hint. That they valued the herbs so much confirmed the empress was behind this. But…

 

“So, you weren’t ordered to kill me, it seems?”

 

Something felt off. The empress would have killed me immediately. A convenient “accident at sea” would clean things neatly—exactly the style she preferred.

 

But they hadn’t killed me. Meaning someone did not want me dead. The empress would never give such an order. Which left one possibility—someone else delivered the order to them, and that someone wanted me alive.

 

Someone who wanted both me and the full-moon silver lily.

 

Someone greedy enough to want everything.

 

After almost a week living among them, I knew this much: people drop information even in casual chatter.

 

*Who else was there?*

 

Suddenly, a bolt struck my mind.

 

I had asked Elsa once why she kept so many motion-sickness pills. She said someone had severe seasickness. But I was the only one who went to fetch pills.

 

And during meals, someone had once muttered that the stew tasted awful. I’d thought they were just sulking over bad food, but the atmosphere around it now felt different in hindsight.

 

Someone else should have been there.

 

Someone who got seasick. Someone who cooked well. But they were gone.

 

Kidnapped? Who could do such a thing? These people operated around the sea. Who’s dangerous in the sea? And who could deal with me cleanly… someone in the empress’s grasp who must obey her?

 

A hollow laugh escaped me.

 

The empress had a disposable pawn. And I had even requested that very thing from her.

 

To think I’d be stabbed in the back like this…

 

“Did pirates kidnap your comrades? And did they demand me?”

 

I wasn’t 100% sure. It was more of a provocation. But Apol’s startled eyes—and the sudden silence of the mercenaries outside—proved my guess was right.

 

‘Bingo.’

 

Realizing I had figured it out, Apol spoke in resignation.

 

“…You’re clever, Miss. But that’s not something good to say right now.”

 

Bastian was hunting down pirates these days—catching them, releasing them, tracking them—easy enough. And the reward the empress offered must have been enormous. Enough to make pirates lose their minds.

 

“I’ll tell you this much.” I said firmly. “Even if you hand me over, do you really think the pirates will release your comrades? You mercenaries should know better than anyone what pirates are like.”

 

Apol and the others flinched. They were unsure too. But with no other plan, they could only follow orders.

 

“I promise you—they’ll betray you.”

 

If they had been taken by pirates, they were probably already sold as slaves. But I didn’t say that. That would be too cruel.

 

“Don’t listen! Think of our captured comrades! We had no other choice… We’ve already made up our minds.”

 

“……”

 

Silence fell again.

 

“What else could we have done?”

 

“Captain…”

 

“We were told our comrades were taken. They told us… to accept the request. To hand over the item—and the person—they wanted. They were infamous pirates. I can’t forget the sound of their laughter. I suppressed the rage again and again. I wanted to believe they’d be safe. So yes… I intend to hand you over…”

 

I stared at him blankly. The despair in his voice hit me hard.

 

In a way, he was a victim too. He was breaking apart but still standing firm. My chest tightened. His resolve would not break.

 

Someone precious to him… I would’ve done the same.

 

“…We’re on a ship in the middle of the sea. There’s no escape. Search everywhere.”

 

“Miss! Are you all right?”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

I answered Fran weakly.

 

“The pirates are the bad ones. They took hostages.”

 

The closing door felt like confirmation that there was no escape left.

 

“But it’s fine. Ben got away safely. My father will collapse when he hears I’ve been kidnapped, right?”

 

I forced a smile, but inside, I was burning.

 

 

***

 

 

Dressed in a beautiful gown, Charlotte ran frantically, not caring if her dress or makeup got ruined. Her high heels clicked loudly across the hallway. She threw Alex’s door open.

 

Inside, Seban was tending to a collapsed Alex.

 

“Se-Seban! Is it true? Lep was kidnapped?!”

 

Seban swallowed his grief and answered.

 

“Yes… it’s true. The master was the first told—and he collapsed on the spot…”

 

Charlotte staggered. Seban dropped the washcloth to catch her.

 

“Madam! Please stay with us!”

 

“H-How did it happen? Tell me everything… No, wait…”

 

With a pale face, Charlotte rushed to the bed. Alex lay there groaning in his sleep, calling for Lepina as if trapped in a nightmare. Veins popped on Charlotte’s forehead. Her voice rang out, sharp and furious.

 

“Dear! Get up! How can you lie unconscious when Lepina has been kidnapped?!”

 

Alex jolted upright.

 

“W-Where is our Lep—?!”

 

“How could you ask me that?! We need a plan immediately!”

 

“R-Right! I can’t stay in bed at a time like this!”