Captain – Chapter 126 – Love and Bargaining Chips

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

Cecilia wasn’t particularly surprised by this. She didn’t even need to guess who the “he” was that Roy mentioned.

The First Mate’s eager attention toward their captain was obvious to anyone with eyes, let alone someone like her who dealt with all sorts of characters and had an extremely precise grasp of people’s hearts.

In the tavern owner’s view, passionate emotions like love—as long as they weren’t shattered by a blade—would become one of the most reliable chains in the world.

No investment needed; just leave someone a thread of hope, and being loved would be a profitable business requiring no capital.

Knowing what the girl before her was thinking, Roy gently shook her head and said somewhat wistfully, “It’s not that simple, little Cecilia. With that guy’s stubbornness about feelings, he could never be satisfied with intangible hope.”

A lion is lazy yet powerful. Whether for hunting or for love, it has enough patience, but with its pride, it absolutely refuses to tolerate deception.

“Three days ago, I confessed my past to him. Do you know how he responded?”

Roy’s intoxication was rising, her dark golden pupils seeming to be covered with a layer of mist. She swayed slightly and said with a faint smile, “He said he would accompany me all the way to the journey’s end, until the moment the curse is lifted, and at that time, no matter what choice I make, he won’t regret having loved me.”

“And then?” the tavern owner asked at the right moment.

Reαd оn KαtRеaԁіոɡCаfе

“And then, there was no then. He seems to think it’s some kind of promise and truly intends to follow through with it. Isn’t that ridiculous?”

Though she was calling the First Mate ridiculous, the captain’s smile faded as she gently shook her head. “Actually, I originally wanted to use that opportunity to completely end his thoughts of me. After all, for pirates like us who might not see another sunrise or sunset with each voyage, emotions are truly a luxury.”

“And I’ve never wanted to be entangled by such feelings and have them affect my judgment. On this point… you should deeply relate.”

Seeing Roy lower her eyelids, Cecilia let out a light snort. “Don’t make being heartless sound so noble. Don’t I know you well enough? Your so-called vows, your so-called feelings and love, are nothing but bargaining chips to gain benefits.”

“Right, that’s why I told you back then that being lovers is nice, but marriage… to hell with that.”

The captain wasn’t the least bit ashamed of the tavern owner’s criticism. The corner of her mouth curved into a charming smile. “Little Cecilia, if it weren’t like this, if you and I weren’t the same kind of person, perhaps we wouldn’t have so many stories between us.”

“Stop jabbering. From your tone earlier, it seems this matter isn’t so easy to resolve?”

Roy stretched lazily. “Yeah, when he asked if I wanted to turn back into a man, I don’t know what came over me, but I actually said… I don’t know, maybe I didn’t want to see that guy disappointed? Just like I don’t want to see you cry. It’s really quite strange.”

People are always so complex.

The captain and the tavern owner were clearly both people who thought little of emotions and prioritized benefits, yet two years ago, hearing that fragmented declaration, Cecilia had almost shed tears. And after being punched by his woman, Roy had inexplicably had a change of heart and intention.

Rеαd оn КαtReаԁinɡСαfe

Perhaps… it was the same between her and Caine?

After thinking for a long time without reaching any conclusion, Roy sighed softly. “Do you think I’m a very contradictory person?”

“No, this is human nature, Captain.”

Cecilia took another sip of alcohol, feeling the heat rush straight to her head. She smiled, which was rare. “This is precisely why I love you so much. I love your decisiveness, your strength, your methods that can be either gentle or cruel. And after being together for so long, I’ve never seen you make a mistake.”

“So, this time is no exception.”

“Is that so? This is the first time I’ve heard such a thing.”

Roy seemed somewhat flattered, but quickly spread her arms slightly. “Actually, I have made mistakes before, it’s just that those errors… are insignificant before the great Captain Roy.”

Seeing that the tavern owner had no interest in hearing her boasting, the captain’s mouth twisted and her eyes shifted slightly, immediately changing her demeanor. “However, I do still have some concerns.”

“What concerns?” Cecilia asked curiously.

“Darling, you know, emotions are like a colorless, tasteless poison mixed into many cups of fine wine. The wine is so sweet, making people indulge and linger, but you don’t know after which cup you’ll suddenly… die from poisoning.”

Rеαd on KаtRеаⅾіnɡCαfе

This was also a monologue from an opera, but the tavern owner had grown up in Yadris from a young age and hadn’t been exposed to noble life like Caine had, so naturally she couldn’t recognize its source. She was only surprised by the captain’s sudden display of literary talent.

She found this novel expression quite interesting, so she propped her cheek on her hand and asked softly, “So… what are you trying to express?”

“I can’t be certain whether my First Mate’s love for me might become such a poison. So, I beseech you, beautiful Miss Joyce, please let me spend the night in your bedchamber tonight, to spare me from…”

Pushing the half-empty bottle of black rum toward the captain, the tavern owner stood up, the soft emotion on her face completely swept away, returning to her usual coolness.

She pinched Roy’s sideburn hard, leaving behind the words “I shouldn’t have wasted time listening to your nonsense,” before turning to leave.

“Wait, little Cecilia.”

Hearing the captain’s slightly trembling call, the tavern owner took a deep breath and turned her face slightly. “What else?”

“You said you’d give me another bottle.”

Roy swayed the bottle in her hand, her face full of a placating smile.

“Go to hell,” the tavern owner said, almost one word at a time.

Rеαⅾ oո КatRеаԁіոgСаfе

“Oh, women are truly heartless.”

Roy’s mouth twitched, and then she tilted her head back for a swig of alcohol before standing up and staggering toward the spiral staircase.

Holding the railing, Roy walked past the second floor, which was quieter compared to the hall, and past the third floor, which was already pitch black with only a few snores to be heard, finally arriving outside her and the First Mate’s bedroom.

Love… how much is love worth? Love without material things and security is simply hell.

Roy was feeling around for the key to open the door, wondering whether to give Caine some sweetness to make his indefinite promise more secure. But when she took out the key and was about to open the door, the movement from behind the door made her pause.

Pricking up her ears to listen carefully, she seemed to hear the First Mate calmly negotiating something with someone, while the raven that had returned to the room with him kept shrieking.

“Ingrate! Ingrate!”

Roy rolled her eyes, casually placed the bottle on the corridor railing, then pressed one hand on the curved sword at her waist while the other gently inserted the key into the lock.

Damn it, the one Alfie would call an ingrate, could it be…

That little bastard Richi?