Captain – Chapter 208 – Freedom and Responsibility

Establish… an engagement?

When hearing the governor’s proposal, Roy’s first reaction wasn’t to find excuses to decline, but rather to feel slightly dazed.

In essence, an engagement was just a form of contract—a promise to the other person, proof of feelings between two people, but also a constraint restricting freedom.

It was different from the hundreds or thousands of recruitment contracts Roy had signed before, carrying a more intimate and distinctly important meaning.

Signing an engagement meant she would become Caine’s fiancée, thereby needing to shoulder responsibility toward the young man beside her, the governor before her, and even the entire Howard family.

Such a weighty responsibility was entirely different from managing the affairs of the Mermaid. To the captain accustomed to freedom, this seemed no different than chains wrapped around her, marking her with an indelible impression.

Under normal circumstances, the girl would do everything possible to avoid such a thing. She would distance herself from or even flee from people who might bring her constraints. After all, as a pirate, freedom held significant meaning alongside wealth, fine wine, and women.

Because that was their only dignity and pride.

The candle burned quietly, and the captain’s cabin fell silent after the governor’s question.

Roy lowered her eyelids slightly, seeming to hesitate, but more like being immersed in bewilderment. Naren patiently and silently gazed at her, as if no matter what answer she gave, he wouldn’t be surprised, nor would it change his opinion of her.

“Father, I think an engagement isn’t really…”

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After an unknown length of time, just as Caine couldn’t help but speak up, wanting to break this somewhat oppressive silence, the captain finally spoke.

“Let me think about it for one more night.”

The girl’s voice was faint, devoid of any emotion. After saying this, she regained the composure and assertiveness of the Golden-Eyed Devil, smiling at the governor and saying: “By tomorrow, whether I’m willing or not, I’ll give you…”

Roy turned to look at the young man: “…and you a definite answer. Now, let me be alone for a while. Alfie, see the guests out.”

“See guests out! See guests out!”

Hearing the girl’s seriousness, the raven flapped its wings and flew back to its perch, calling loudly to Caine and Naren. It was as if at this moment, there was no First Mate or the First Mate’s father in its eyes, only the captain herself.

“I look forward to your answer.”

The governor rose from the table, nodded with a smile at Roy, then walked straight toward the door without any hesitation.

After pushing open the wooden door of the captain’s cabin and returning to the night sky after sunset, returning to the public eye, all tenderness instantly disappeared from this man, leaving only lion-like majestic dignity.

“Everyone, return to the ship immediately.”

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By now, the Mermaid and the warship had passed through the path cleared by merchant vessels and sailed side by side into Elvet’s port, anchoring in waters not far from the pier.

With the governor’s command, the soldiers moved quickly. With enthusiastic help from the Mermaid’s crew, as if sending away an ill omen, they soon all returned to the warship via the gangplank.

“You go too.”

After pushing the First Mate out of the captain’s cabin, Roy raised her chin toward Naren, who was still standing at the ship’s railing, as if waiting for something.

Feeling Caine’s questioning gaze, the captain pursed her lips and said impatiently: “What are you standing there for? I’m not driving you away. After this parting, who knows when you’ll be able to return to Auran again. Take this opportunity to have a good reunion with your father. As for us…”

She paused, leaning against the doorframe, and said softly: “We’ll have plenty of time in the future. But at least tonight, your identity should be more of the young master of the Howard family, the son of Governor Naren, and not just my First Mate.”

“At the same time, it’s also giving us space to calm down, allowing me to sort through and think carefully about everything that’s happened recently… and the future beyond.”

After speaking, the girl raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a mischievous smile, exactly like her expression after completing that childish prank when they first met: “Hurry along now, my young master Howard?”

“I understand. Then, see you tomorrow, Captain.”

Watching the First Mate’s silhouette receding, observing him boarding the gangplank with the governor and disappearing behind the railing of the nearby warship, Roy finally withdrew her gaze. She closed the wooden door, then hummed a little tune as she sat back on the bed. Her face showed nothing but contentment, without any trace of difficulty or struggle.

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“Captain, are you abandoning him?”

Seeing this, the raven flew down from its perch, landing beside her and looking up to ask, its voice low, as if very disappointed.

It had witnessed such scenes too many times before—seen the captain make promises to tearful girls, then leave without saying goodbye after leaving a letter and a few pieces of jewelry. This time seemed no different.

She hadn’t even left a “parting gift” for the officer who had stood by her for half a year.

Seeing the raven fly to the bed, the young dragon also leaped nimbly, finding a position on the captain’s other side and coiling up. Its amethyst-like eyes gazed at her brightly, as if curious about the source of the raven’s sadness.

“Yes, I’m abandoning him. I plan to throw him back to his father, then set sail at full speed under cover of night, leaving them far behind, leaving that troublesome engagement far behind too. Wanting to restrain this captain is nothing but a pipe dream.”

Roy said with a smile. Hearing her words without any trace of guilt, the raven’s expression grew increasingly sad as it muttered: “I will miss him.”

The young dragon also let out a low “hmm,” expressing agreement.

After undressing, extinguishing the candle, Roy lay on the bed, examining her slender, fair fingers in the starlight streaming through the porthole beside the bed. After a long while, she finally sighed deeply: “What sin did I commit in my previous life? Being abandoned by that dead man was one thing, being…”

Her dark golden pupils suddenly trembled, but quickly returned to normal. The girl continued as if nothing had happened: “Struggling to survive like a stray cat, bringing along another little cat, was also fine. But in the end, even getting bitten by it. And now, not only being turned into a woman by the devil, but also having to consider marriage. What a gloomy life this is…”

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After waiting sadly for a long time, until the candle was extinguished and the young dragon had entered dreamland, the captain still showed no intention of leaving the cabin to order the crew to weigh anchor and depart. She just continued complaining about her past and future. Alfie finally realized it had been deceived.

It complained in a low voice: “Captain is a liar, Captain is a liar.”

“Yes, I’ve always been a liar—cheating people of their money, their trust, and now even someone’s feelings. Just as Captain Ilias said, being so mischievous as a child, I would definitely grow up to be an out-and-out scoundrel.”

“And as a scoundrel, I can of course deceive people without any psychological pressure. But the key is…”

Roy gently closed her eyes and said as if in a dream: “He’s different.”

Alfie tilted its little head, looking at the captain’s gentle face: “Is the captain getting married?”

“Just engaged.”

“Getting married?”

“Shut up, silly bird.”