The Pirate King's Daughter - Chapter 79

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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 79
Perian froze at the sight of my tears, then hesitated and stepped back.
“Why should I tell you my secrets?”
“Tatiana, that’s…….”
“Because you could be in danger. That’s why I’m leaving you, isn’t it? What, you don’t believe that either? You’re afraid I’ll lower your guard so I can kill you?”
In my agitation, I moved closer to him rather than away.
“So what do you want me to do? Will you feel better if I die?”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m just concerned for you…….”
“Ha!”
Laughter escaped me. All this time, he’d pushed me so hard — out of worry, he claimed.
“You said I couldn’t, so why are you feeding me lies? Oh, is it because I’m a disgraced princess? You never believed that either.”
I’d thought we’d grown close.
So I could stand before the king, could endure crossing the jungle.
But when he showed me — like this — that I was alone, that even saving the world left me with nothing.
In moments like these, everything felt hollow.
“Now I understand. To you, I was just a princess you couldn’t respect, a liar who pretended to be imprisoned, a cheap woman who seduced the king with a pretty face.”
I could see why he disliked me.
‘He won’t try to understand me anymore.’
I wanted to rest now.
After clawing my way to survival and willingly performing for the king, what else was waiting?
I had no attachment to a life I’d already ended once.
“No, Tatiana. I’ve never thought that. Please, just listen to me.”
Perian clung to my arm with an urgent expression.
“Perian.”
With a calmer heart, I gently removed his hand.
“I’ll do as you wish.”
His eyes, dark as forest depths, trembled violently, as if anticipating what came next.
“I won’t board the ship tomorrow. Now leave me alone.”
“Tatiana…….”
“Stop.”
I cut off his words — words spoken behind a mask of despair.
“Our connection ends now. We have nothing more to say, nothing more to hear. If you don’t leave my room right this instant, Pudding will attack.”
But Perian didn’t leave.
“Tatiana, I was wrong. I know you won’t believe me, but I mean it. I’ve never thought of you that way, ugh!”
Perian gasped as poison coursed through him, clutching his forearm.
Fortunately, Pudding had held back — he didn’t look nearly as bad as Azael’s honor guard had the night before.
‘I’m such a fool. Even now, I’m worried about Perian.’
I opened the door myself and pushed him out.
“The others can’t know. Otherwise I’ll have to beg the king’s power.”
With those words, I slammed the door shut.
* * *
Captain’s quarters of the Jellyfish Pirate Ship.
“Sigh…….”
I sat at the desk and let out a heavy breath.
“Actually, Perian would probably prefer it this way anyway.”
Pudding, who’d been watching my mood the whole time, ventured a comment.
“I doubt that.”
I moved my hands again, writing across the paper.
I’d come straight to the ship after the argument with Perian. There were things to pack and information about trade routes and the Empire to communicate.
“He seemed really shocked when you said you weren’t going. He didn’t even drink the Antidote — he was knocking on your door again right away.”
“Pudding, do you want me to make up with Perian and go together?”
In truth, I was a little worried myself — I’d made the decision in anger.
But I’d planned to part ways at the next port after this one anyway.
“If the world falls apart, you’ll die too, Tatiana…….”
He was always fussing at me to stop playing guide for those incompetent fools, so this must’ve been his true feelings, not just a tantrum.
“I’m writing a letter explaining the situation so they won’t waste time looking for me — they’ll head straight for the Empire.”
If they wasted time searching for me, they’d all be dead.
“What I’m worried about is you…….”
If a Demon takes over the world, what happens to Pudding?
“Even a Demon can’t touch the sea, so I’ll be fine.”
Good. I knew it was thick-skinned of me to board the ship tomorrow.
“Why does that weakling think of you and that madman that way? He doesn’t even know what that bastard did to you yesterday.”
“He doesn’t know. He might think I caught the king’s eye.”
“Why are you defending him again?”
Fair point.
Looking back, I’d always tried to understand him. Said it was only natural not to trust.
“I’m not defending the weakling — I’m just trying to calm you down, Pudding.”
“I still hate it.”
Pudding pouted, puffing out his cheeks like a sullen child.
I laughed weakly and poked him gently with my finger.
“I’m not going to worry about it anymore. He’s someone I’ll never see again.”
“…….”
Pudding floated up and nuzzled his cheek against mine.
“I’m grateful you’re here. If I were alone, I’d be so scared. But now I feel like I can survive no matter what. Thank you.”
“Me too. Thank you for saving me and bringing me here.”
His form was filled with soft, fluffy bubbles.
“Is there anything else I should write?”
I looked down at the paper and asked.
The existence of the Demon, the Empress who joined hands with it. Their power, their purpose, their weakness.
The Demon sought to claim the world; the Empress wanted her son on the Throne.
They were allied now, but bound to splinter eventually.
‘And…….’
I’d said thank you.
Having written those words, I hesitated over the period, unable to finish.
‘I was so angry just now. Is it hitting me now that I’m leaving?’
I felt sorry toward Perian. He might carry guilt over this.
We simply hadn’t suited each other — he wasn’t fundamentally a bad person.
“You’re going back into the Royal Palace, aren’t you?”
I folded the letter neatly without adding apologies or reassurances to Pudding’s question.
“The banquet is being held because of me, so if I disappear, it’ll be difficult for them. I have to leave tomorrow morning.”
I gathered only what I truly needed and six months’ worth of money, and finished my preparations.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve been with them for almost half a year.”
But surprisingly, there wasn’t much to take with me.
There was a bittersweet feeling to it, but there was nothing that would change.
I’d already arranged passage; if I left the palace before breakfast tomorrow morning, everything would be over.
“Should we go, Pudding?”
“Yes.”
As I descended from the ship toward the Dock, I spotted the combat trio entering.
“You……!”
Seeing me in turn, they rushed over like debt collectors chasing down a defaulter, eyes blazing.
“What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean why! Every time we try to visit, you’re gone!”
Kies erupted in frustration.
“Did you have something to say?”
At my words, he dragged his hand across his face in exasperation.
“You really…….”
Instead, it was Berto who spoke.
“You know we worry. But just disappearing without a word, again and again — don’t you think that’s too much?”
He was the one who accepted everything I did without complaint.
“If you had breakfast with the king this morning, you should’ve told us yesterday. And even if you didn’t want to come on the ship, you should’ve said something first.”
Speaking so firmly was unlike him, and it caught me off guard. Inexplicable guilt rose in my chest.
Most of all, now we were parting. I wanted the memory to be of a smiling face.
“I’m sorry…….”
With that thought, I apologized readily.
They worried even about me coming to the ship alone — thinking of how I’d vanish forever tomorrow made me genuinely sorry. And.
‘It feels a little good.’
The troublesome princess they hated seeing was finally really gone.
“Enough.”
Dilshard pulled me toward him, putting distance between me and the other two.
“Tatiana isn’t a child. Don’t suppress her for your own peace of mind. She has no obligation to report to you.”
“That’s not it. I was the one who suggested entering the palace. It’s natural to worry.”
There was no time. I didn’t want to argue while we were still together.
“Let’s hurry and go prepare for the banquet. It should be fun.”
Berto, who’d been scolding me with a stern expression, shook his head as if he couldn’t help me, then stroked my hair.
Knowing this would be the last time I felt that solid touch, I found myself wrapping my arms around his waist and leaning into him.
“……!”
Berto’s body went rigid, and the other two started making a fuss beside us.
“What are you doing!”
“Let go!”
They’re all children, honestly.
After releasing Berto, I hugged Dilshard and Kies in turn.
“Why…….”
Dilshard flushed red and couldn’t say anything, so Kies stammered out words.
“W-what are you doing? Don’t think you can gloss over this like that.”
And the lecturing continued.
“You can’t go around hugging any man like that. Especially not men you’ve never had any kind of close relationship with.”
“This is a captain’s friendly embrace with her crew. And it was fine when you carried me away hugging — why isn’t it fine if I hug you now?”
But if I hadn’t planned to leave, I wouldn’t have allowed myself such unnecessary contact.
‘This much should be okay.’
I left them still stammering and spun around abruptly.
“Let’s go. Oh, that’s right.”
The combat trio, their anger completely melted away, grew indignant again at what came next.
“His Majesty promised to be my escort for the banquet, so don’t come to my room — meet me in the Banquet Hall.”

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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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