A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 43

※A Matter Even Shellan Didn't Know※

Whoosh!

The pirate ship burned like dry kindling. The brilliant sunshine, rather than offering relief, seemed to act as the oil that fueled the blaze.

[Knight] "It won't be long before they start leaping into the water one by one. Ah, Your Majesty. On the off chance that any of them manage to swim this far, what should we do?"

[Black] "There won't be many. Dispose of them discreetly."

[Knight] "Understood."

The knights and the guards waited for the moment the pirates would abandon their scorched vessel.

Among the panicked crew, some fools clung to the masts, but strangely, no one dove into the sea just yet. Instead, following what seemed to be a command from their captain, several men scrambled down toward the lower cabins.

[Knight] "Wait, what are they doing?"

[Knight] "Are they trying to save their fresh water?"

[Knight] "They are an odd lot for pirates. Then again, showing up here in the first place was a strange enough move."

As the sails were consumed by fire, the ship’s momentum slowed significantly. The vessel that had been bearing down on them was now nearly stationary, listing heavily to one side.

[Knight] "Look... they’re bringing something out."

[Knight] "Surely they aren't mounting a cannon on the forecastle... wait. That’s not a cannon. It looks like... people? No, they’re too small. They look like children—"

[Black] "Children?"

Black’s brow furrowed. Before his mind could process the thought, his instincts took over. He snatched the telescope from the knight’s hand and pressed it to his eye.

The distance was still too great to distinguish facial features clearly. However, the moment he saw a flash of chin-length black hair and the fluttering of golden-brown curls—the exact shade of Liene’s—Black hurled the telescope aside and dove into the sea.

[Knight] "Your Majesty!"

[Knight] "What is happening? Why so suddenly?"

One of the quicker-witted knights cried out.

[Knight] "Get a boat! Quickly!"

---

[Dief] "H-h-h... Shellan."

It was terrifying. It was utterly bone-chilling.

His teeth chattered so violently that speaking was an ordeal. Nevertheless, Dief squeezed out the last of his strength to call her name.

He felt he had to say something. If he, the older brother, was this frightened, Shellan had to be even more so. He had to reach out to her.

[Dief] "A-are you okay?"

[Shellan] "...No. I’m not."

She answered in a thin, trembling voice.

[Shellan] "Very few people would be 'okay' in this situation. So, I think it’s fine that I’m not."

[Dief] "W-what’s going to happen to us?"

[Shellan] "I don't know."

At this, she could no longer maintain her composure; her voice cracked with a sob.

[Shellan] "I really don't know. To end up like this..."

They were bound securely to the bowsprit. Perhaps there was a specific pirate’s method for tying knots, for no matter how much they stared at the ropes, they couldn't understand how they were fastened. Even if they had understood, they wouldn't have been able to loosen them.

[Shellan] "...To burn... and die like this... Waaaaah!"

The tears finally burst forth. How had it come to this?

She had hated the idea of staying quietly in Nauk Castle as her father had commanded. Sneaking off to Blue Warren had been an act of rebellion she shouldn't have committed. Yet, at the time, it had felt exhilarating. She had wanted to show her father that no matter how hard he tried, he could never fully control her.

[Shellan] "This is all Father's fault!"

Even in their dire straits, Dief was shocked by her words.

[Dief] "Shellan, what are you saying? We were the ones who went to Blue Warren on our own."

[Shellan] "It’s still his fault! He and Mother went to Bellisa alone! If they hadn't, we never would have gone to Blue Warren! So it’s all—"

At that moment, the shadows of pirates flickered through the flames and the threatening plumes of black smoke.

[Pirate] "It’s already too late! Those cruel bastards don't even care—"

[Pirate] "Then... is there a way—"

[Pirate] "Gah! The fire!"

[Pirate] "Just jump—!"

The voices were so tangled and chaotic that no coherent sentences could be made out. The children screamed at the top of their lungs.

[Shellan] "Wait! Untie us!"

[Dief] "Let us go!"

Splash!

The only response was the sound of water. It meant the pirates were diving into the sea to save themselves, leaving them behind.

[Shellan] "Uwaaaaah! No!"

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Shellan began to wail like a child.

[Dief] "Shellan! Shellan, don't cry!"

He struggled and thrashed his body, but the knots remained firm. The heat from the flames was intense, and the smoke began to obscure their vision.

[Dief] "She... llan..."

[Shellan] "Hic... huff..."

Her crying subsided. Dief couldn't tell if she had stopped or if his own senses were beginning to fail him.

[Dief] "Where... where do we go if we die here? I honestly don't know what it means to be dead. How will Mother and Father find us again? Since we’re dead, will they have to wait a long time?"

[Dief] "Listen, Shellan. I’m more scared of that than actually dying. You always know everything, so you must know the answer to this, too. Don't say you don't know. You must know, okay?"

[Dief] "Please... tell me..."

[Black] "That is a matter even Shellan won't know."

[Dief] "...Okay... wait, what?"

Thud!

Suddenly, his body was free. As he began to slump forward, a pair of powerful arms caught him.

[Black] "Dief. Focus. Can you open your eyes?"

Miraculously, a familiar pair of blue eyes appeared before him. Dief felt as though the breath had been knocked out of him.

[Dief] "Uh... Father?"

[Black] "Yes. Shellan has lost consciousness. I cannot swim while holding you both, so you must hold onto me. Wrap your arms around my neck."

[Dief] "I... I can do it!"

Adrenaline suddenly surged through him. Dief moved toward his father’s back and clung tightly to his neck. His father’s body was heavy and soaking wet, smelling strongly of acrid smoke.

Creeaaaak!

The ship gave another violent lurch. Holding Shellan with one arm, Black gripped the deck with his other hand to steady them.

[Black] "We’re going to jump now. When we hit the water, hold your breath. Do not let go."

[Dief] "Yes!"

For a moment, it felt as if they were floating, and then they were plummeting. Dief squeezed his eyes shut and tightened his grip on his father. He was a little startled, but he wasn't afraid.

Splash!

The moment they hit the water, he held his breath just as his father had instructed. Thanks to that, he didn't swallow any of the salty brine.

In the midst of the chaos, Shellan regained consciousness.

[Shellan] "Wh-what...? Puh! What happened—cough! Father?"

[Black] "Keep your head up and stop talking. You’ll get sick if you swallow the seawater."

[Shellan] "Gasp! Yes!"

She looked as though she was about to cry, but she answered firmly and clamped her mouth shut.

Black, burdened by the two children, swam for a short while until the knights' rescue boat approached.

[Dief] "It’s a boat, Father!"

[Shellan] "Yes! It’s our boat!"

They shouted, their eyes wide with relief. In response, the Arsak Knights let out cries of astonishment.

[Knight] "Oh heavens... how could this be...? Is everyone safe?"

The knights reached out and hauled them onto the boat in the blink of an eye. By the time Black climbed aboard after them, the children were already being wrapped in several layers of thick blankets.

[Shellan] "Father!"

[Dief] "Father..."

As their eyes met, Black paused while brushing back his wet hair and let out a short, dry chuckle.

[Black] "So, you’re saying it’s all my fault?"

Instead of an answer, Shellan burst into a loud, sobbing wail.

---

The exhausted children fell into a deep, death-like sleep the moment they were changed into dry clothes. Shellan might have intended this; it was far too obvious that a massive lecture and scolding would follow.

[Liene] "They seem to be sleeping well. That is a relief."

Liene watched their rhythmic breathing for a long time before she finally pulled her hands away. Her fingers were still trembling. Black took both of her hands in his.

[Black] "Your hands are cold. Let me warm them for you."

[Liene] "I don't think that is something a man who just jumped into the ocean should be saying."

[Black] "Hmm... I don't want to believe it, so I have to ask. Are you angry with me?"

[Liene] "And why wouldn't I be?"

Her expression hardened as she glared at him. It was only today that she had learned the full extent of what had happened.

Black had ordered the pirates to be fished out of the sea, tied up in a line, and thrown into the warehouse. In that same warehouse, Fermos and his men—who had arrived late—were currently being held to await their punishment, venting their frustration by beating the pirates. No one knew what would become of them yet.

The reason was simple: Liene was genuinely enraged.

[Liene] "You told me you had stopped the children from coming? Shellan is right. This catastrophe is your responsibility, Fernand Gainers!"

His formal name flew from her lips. Facing him, her golden-brown eyelashes trembled violently, unable to contain her surging emotions.

[Black] "Liene..."

He swallowed hard.

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