The Pirate King's Daughter - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 14
Berto looked at me so sharply that his head snapped toward the tavern keeper with an audible whip.
But I didn’t stop.
“My father opposed it greatly. That’s why I ran away, but I’m afraid once we reach Balas Island I’ll be caught right away. I don’t know what to do.”
“You don’t seem like the type to cause such a commotion.”
The tavern keeper’s gaze turned toward Berto.
Berto stiffened like a soldier called to attention and avoided her eyes. He looked less like a fugitive and more like someone too tongue-tied even to confess his feelings.
“Even if he seems blunt, he does everything I ask of him. Sometimes it’s frustrating, but there’s something charming about teaching him, you know?”
“Well, that’s true. Miss, you’re quite shrewd for your appearance.”
“And actually…….”
“What else is there?”
I ran my hand gently over my flat belly.
“Oh my, you’re still not married?”
The tavern keeper seemed genuinely startled this time.
“Because I love him. I thought if I did this much, Father would give his blessing…….”
I bowed my head, swallowing down tears.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Berto—suddenly worthless in his panic—stammering in confusion.
‘This clueless man.’
I pinched his thigh discreetly, and only then did his stiff arm finally come up. The hand encircling my shoulder felt like a mannequin’s.
“D-don’t cry. I’m, I’m your love…….”
He attempted his lines, but he sounded like he was the one about to weep.
‘My love? Just call me by my name, for heaven’s sake.’
So Berto had never experienced romance before; apparently he thought lovers were supposed to use pet names like “my love” and “honey.”
“Still, regardless of what this young lady wanted, how could you? What were you thinking?”
The tavern keeper scolded Berto.
“……I apologize.”
Watching sweat bead on his forehead, I quickly opened my mouth to intervene.
“My father has already concluded arrangements with some nobleman. I had no choice but to run away. If I’m caught on Balas Island, I’ll be forced to marry that old aristocrat.”
At the mention of an old aristocrat, the tavern keeper frowned and fell silent in thought, then told me to wait and disappeared into the back.
I quickly grabbed Berto’s shoulder and pressed down, whispering in his ear.
“Get it together. You’re being way too stiff.”
“……Okay.”
When she returned, we were holding hands, fingers interlaced.
“Here. There’s an island marked where you can resupply before heading to the Orfena Continent.”
“Sister…….”
I took the Sea Chart from her hands and looked at her with genuine gratitude in my eyes.
“Honestly, that man of yours is clearly not right, but he’s better than some old fool. You’ve got a ship?”
“Yes. I stole plenty of jewels when I left home.”
“Good thinking. I hope you both arrive safely. If you two have children, they’ll be absolutely beautiful.”
“Thank you so much. I’ll never forget this kindness for as long as I live.”
“I should be thanking you instead—what a refreshing change from boring adventure tales. You need to rest well, especially in early pregnancy, so get some sleep.”
At her warm and caring words, I cradled the Sea Chart close and bowed deeply.
“Oh, one more thing.”
The tavern keeper clapped her hands together.
“Next time, teach your boyfriend some acting, will you? If someone who’s caused such a scandal blushes just from holding hands, what will people think?”
“Huh……?”
She gave me a knowing wink and went to attend to another customer.
Berto and I left the tavern in bewilderment.
Did she actually see through us? But if she knew it was a lie, why did she give us the Sea Chart?
“Well, we got it anyway.”
Honestly, I’d expected the plan to fail.
“Tatiana.”
Berto caught up with me, his expression unreadable, his lips twitching as if he was about to scold me for the deception.
“What? It couldn’t be helped. You know how hard it is to get something like this without connections.”
“That’s not it. I had fun.”
“What?”
Berto was smiling. His usually expressionless face had softened, drawing closer to me.
“Let’s go. You need your rest.”
Berto lightly pressed my head down and walked ahead.
* * *
After breakfast, I’d gone shopping with Serena and returned to the inn, where I ran into Kiyis and Perian on their way out.
The moment Kiyis’s eyes met mine, he snapped his head away and passed by. A dismissive snort came with it.
So he was still sulking.
“You’re back early.”
Perian, now familiar with this dynamic, spoke up with a smile.
“Are you two going to practice Swimming?”
“Yeah. I’ve been practicing, but it’s hard.”
Perian chuckled awkwardly.
Of course nobles rarely swam, so it was natural he couldn’t. Berto, a naval commander, and Kiyis, who’d spent long years on the battlefield, were the unusual ones.
Perian was the anomaly in his own way.
“At this point, I’d say it’s just a lack of talent.”
Serena looked at Perian with pity.
“I’ve simply spent most of my time at a desk, I suppose.”
Perian’s face was smiling, but something seemed to pinch him.
“Tatiana, when exactly did you learn to swim?”
They were attacking Perian and firing arrows at me.
“Stop chattering and hurry up.”
Kiyis, already by the door ahead, turned back and snapped at us.
I looked at him and asked.
“Can we go swimming later? I need to talk to you for a moment, Kiyis.”
“……Come on.”
I’d thought he might refuse, but Kiyis left the inn without hesitation, as if he’d been expecting this.
“Looks like it’s all settled already.”
Serena chimed in with Perian’s remark.
“Why was he sulking in the first place if he was going to forgive it that easily?”
I handed one of the paper boxes I was holding to Perian.
“Sorry for the disrupted schedule. I’m sharing this with Berto too. I’ll be back in a bit.”
The place where Kiyis and I arrived was the Central Plaza.
In the midst of the bustling space, a tall clock tower stood to one side, and a great fountain occupied the center.
We sat side by side on a bench and gazed ahead. The fountain’s water streams caught the sunlight and shattered into glittering sprays.
“I’m sorry. That day, I misspoke. I shouldn’t have talked to you like that when you were trying to help.”
We couldn’t stay in this cold stalemate forever.
“Hah…….”
Kiyis ran his hand through his hair roughly.
“That’s my line. I resolved to treat you with respect, and yet I pushed too hard based on mere suspicion.”
“Well, you did seem a bit petty, but I understand. The situation was difficult.”
“Petty?”
Kiyis turned to look at me incredulously.
I deliberately ignored him and quickly held up the paper box I’d brought.
“Want some Pudding?”
Kiyis gave a small laugh as if willing to let this go, then leaned back comfortably and asked.
“What’s with the sudden Pudding?”
“A peace offering. You like Pudding.”
“I do?”
“Yes. Don’t you?”
It wasn’t something mentioned in the original, just information in my head.
Back when we were close, he’d eaten Pudding frequently at a bakery we often visited.
“This one’s really delicious too. Try it.”
As I handed over the glossy, golden Pudding, Kiyis murmured softly.
“I thought you’d stopped eating this.”
“Huh?”
I didn’t catch what Kiyis said and asked again, but he shook his head.
“Never mind. I’ll enjoy it.”
I took out my own Pudding and spooned a generous helping into my mouth.
By the time I was nearly finished, I noticed a subtle satisfaction playing at the corners of Kiyis’s mouth and finally broke the silence.
“About Serena, you know…….”
“Why is that woman still shamelessly hanging around us?”
The moment I brought up Serena’s name, Kiyis opened his mouth irritably.
His hostile tone suggested persuading him wouldn’t be easy. In the original, he’d been wary but sympathetic enough to accept her readily.
“She has nowhere else to go.”
“That’s not our responsibility.”
“I’ve been thinking—you know how Krakens have been appearing in the sea lately? We don’t have a mage, so…….”
“No.”
Before I could even finish my excuses, Kiyis cut me off bluntly, clearly anticipating where this was heading.
“Wait, hear me out. I was caught by a humpback whale before. If we’d had a mage then, we wouldn’t have gotten off so easily.”
His otherwise firm eyes flickered slightly.
“Besides, we have you for Aura Usage, so it won’t be that dangerous. If she acts suspiciously along the way, we can part ways then.”
Kiyis narrowed his eyes at me and let out a long breath.
“I’ll… think about it…….”
“Thanks! Then I’ll go tell Berto to prepare Serena’s room!”
“Wait……!”
I didn’t listen to the rest and just ran off.
* * *
When word came that Kiyis had agreed, Perian didn’t look pleased but raised no strong objection.
Berto, needless to say, didn’t either.
And so, with Serena’s room prepared and renovations complete, the day finally came for us to depart.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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