The Pirate King's Daughter - Chapter 50

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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 50
I was turning back when Kiis pulled me toward him.
Thud—a heavy blow landed.
“Wait!”
Berto, gripping Dilshad by the collar, threw another punch at his already-split lip.
“Stop! Dilshad didn’t do this willingly!”
Kiis blocked my path with his body, keeping me from stepping forward.
“Let him go. I’m serious.”
It was unlike Berto. Of all of them, he was the most composed—he never lost his temper, no matter how insulted.
“Berto!”
At the sharp cry, Berto’s fist, raised high, froze.
“Didn’t you hear the explanation? Pudding, you didn’t tell him anything?”
“I did! I said it looked like he was being controlled by the Treasure. There was a strange aura about it.”
Pudding spoke as if wronged.
“Then why…….”
“That doesn’t justify everything. You still drugged us and kidnapped him.”
Kiis’s voice was cold.
I’d never imagined a reunion like this.
“I came believing you were at least safe. But look at you.”
I glanced down at myself.
Bandages were wrapped tightly around my exposed thighs, blood seeping through and trailing down my legs.
I didn’t need to see my face to know how haggard I looked.
“That’s…….”
I was wondering where to start explaining when Berto threw Dilshad aside and got to his feet.
“Hah, that really hurts.”
Dilshad lay sprawled on the ground, muttering.
Kai, who had defeated all the Living Armor, approached and spoke.
“Immediate departure looks difficult, so we’ll search the island. You lot should focus on treatment.”
Our quarrel seemed unimportant to him—a sailor’s pragmatism.
“Thank you for coming to rescue me.”
I gave a brief explanation of the island and warned them to be careful.
Kai was an Aura user and had already dealt with Ode, so I felt confident leaving the search to him.
“I’ll go with them.”
Berto, his anger unassuaged, left without so much as a glance back, setting off with the Kai Pirates.
“Is he dead?”
Perian looked down at Dilshad.
“Don’t poke him.”
“He took a beating like that and didn’t lose consciousness? Definitely a mage?”
I didn’t understand why Perian and Dilshad could be so casual right now—this wasn’t the time for banter.
“Dilshad’s badly hurt. He has wounds on his forehead, back, and all over. I’ve applied medicine, but could you examine him?”
Perian nodded readily at my words.
“I’ve only seen patients this severe on a battlefield. Since he seems the priority, I’ll treat him quickly and look you over after.”
“Thanks.”
Perian helped Dilshad to the Infirmary aboard the ship.
For some reason, Pudding quietly followed them, leaving Kiis and me alone.
“Kiis, oh!”
I opened my mouth hesitantly, but Kiis suddenly swept me up in his arms.
As I wrapped my arms around his neck, he walked with long strides and set me down on a large boulder.
……
Kiis said nothing, just slowly unwrapped the bandages around my thighs.
His brow furrowed deeply, and a grinding sound came from his clenched teeth.
“That…… the lunatic who owns the island I mentioned earlier—he made people kill each other in the name of a Game. So when I was trying to avoid some girl driving a Dagger down at me, it happened like this.”
I explained at length that it was absolutely not Dilshad’s fault, but Kiis only hardened his expression further.
“Any other injuries.”
The threat in his tone was unmistakable, so I quickly spread my hands.
“I got blisters swinging the Poker. My wrist hurts too.”
“Hah…….”
He gripped my wrist, examining it, then buried his forehead against my knee.
“What am I supposed to do.”
The emotion in his quiet voice ran so deep that I feared to unearth it.
“But you came to rescue me. You’ve done more than enough. Thank you, truly.”
He lifted his head. His reddened eyes rippled with fury.
“More than enough?”
“Yes…… that’s right?”
For a woman who broke the engagement with him, a Crown Prince arrived seeking passage on another’s ship and undertook a long voyage to rescue me.
“Then how far am I supposed to go? Does searching for three days suffice? After that, I just go my own way? Is that enough?”
Kiis grabbed both my arms and demanded, or perhaps pleaded.
“That’s not what I meant…….”
“Why do you always do this! You vanish alone, face death alone, help without sparing yourself—so why do you treat my presence like the charity of a stranger?”
My shoulders shrank. I couldn’t understand why Kiis was so angry.
‘But I sent Pudding to ask for help.’
Was it my disappearing alone that was the problem?
Most of it was beyond my control, so while I felt wronged, I also knew I’d been careless and powerless.
“I’m sorry.”
At my meek apology, Kiis faltered.
“I…….”
I didn’t say I’d stop being a burden. It seemed Kiis wanted to help me, but my troubles wore on him.
“I’ll be more careful.”
That was all I could manage to say, chosen carefully. I still had to act as his guide.
Kiis released his grip, exhausted.
“……How?”
His voice sank low and weary.
“How will you be more careful?”
……
I was confused.
I couldn’t stay idle—I had obligations to fulfill, and I could only move forward as I always had.
And I didn’t want to be like the original story, receiving help and causing harm. I wanted to be with these people on reasonable terms.
“You’re not sorry at all. You’ll act the same way again.”
Kiis stood.
Fearing I’d lose him if I let him go, I grabbed his clothes before he could step away.
“You doubted me. And if I act suspiciously again…….”
You’d abandon me. You said you wouldn’t return together. You said that, so why blame me.
‘I didn’t want to bear this alone.’
I’d sent Pudding, and when the servants caught me, Kiis’s face was the first to flash in my mind.
‘But…….’
Kiis occupied a position of complete victimhood. If I shared my burden with someone, that someone couldn’t be him—a victim I’d wronged.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t blaming you. I understand everything. Even I can see I’ve acted strangely.”
Too ashamed to meet his eyes, I looked down.
“But I might do it again. Not in league with the Empress or anything—I just, well, being abandoned in the Black Sea must’ve broken something in my head. Even I think I’m strange now.”
If I mentioned Lucas now, it would truly be over. Of all people, I’d asked a demon—not an angel—to save the world.
Standing before Kiis, I kept shrinking.
‘I behaved foolishly.’
I should have sent him a letter in secret instead of confronting Duke Fray.
Then I wouldn’t have been trapped underground, Kiis wouldn’t have drunk poison, and perhaps the Broken Engagement wouldn’t have happened.
“I’m sorry—and I mean it. Acting suspiciously, behaving recklessly, sending poison—it’s all my fault.”
A single choice, that foolish wingbeat of a decision, had brought ruin beyond measure.
“Why do you keep stirring things up now, of all times……!”
Kiis seized my wrist as I clutched at his clothes, then suddenly tilted my chin up.
I startled, eyes widening, and his calloused hand brushed against my forehead.
“Why…….”
He cursed under his breath, then swept me into his arms.
“I can walk, though.”
My face wasn’t thick enough to be held like this after we’d just fought.
“If you were in pain, you should have said so. How much longer do you plan to make me feel like garbage.”
“Ah…….”
I have a fever. My head feels dizzy for some reason.
Kiis went straight to the Infirmary and threw the door open.
“You scared me. Shouldn’t you be less on edge by now?”
Perian reproached him, but Kiis paid no mind, walking over to lay me on the remaining bed.
“Haven’t you finished treatment?”
Dilshad, bandaged and wrapped, had already fallen asleep.
“All done. His body was in terrible shape, but he held on remarkably.”
Perian came to my bedside while Kiis stood guard beside it.
“You have a fever. Your legs and hands are injured. Any other wounds?”
With him acting like an irate guardian, I quickly shook my head.
“……There’s a large scar on the inner thigh. It looks old—could you examine that too?”

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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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