Captain – Chapter 294 – The Past Is No Longer Important

Tides rose and fell, days came and went, and three days quickly passed.

Roy and Caine naturally spent those three days exploring the prosperous city, viewing the sea, strolling through shopping streets, drinking in taverns, and engaging in various activities.

Until the dawn of the fourth day, accompanied by the “flutter” of sails in the sea breeze and the snow-like spray splashing as the bow cut through the waves, the magnificent silhouette of the Mermaid appeared at the city’s port, drawing countless onlookers and exclamations.

The captain and first mate stood at the end of the port jetty, watching from afar as the Mermaid lowered a small wooden boat that slowly approached. They felt the slightly salty sea breeze on their faces, their expressions relaxed.

Although they hadn’t expected to encounter such major trouble while passing through Auran, by now, everything had finally settled, with a reasonably satisfactory outcome.

So naturally, it was time to leave.

Many people were watching the Mermaid, and just as many were watching the couple, because from the looks of it, this renowned treasure ship had come to fetch them.

Yes, during this period, whether intentionally or not, the story of this “White Rose” had spread throughout Auran.

The two grand trading fairs held successively in Elvet and Colent, the misunderstanding that occurred at the Sanderwina Cathedral, and the maiden’s polite and cooperative self-vindication—which had been embellished significantly or, rather, completely diverged from the truth—finally resulting in the misunderstanding being cleared up, with the Anderson family and the imperial military stepping forward to explain.

This series of events naturally became a widely discussed story among the Auran people, and even spread extensively throughout the Federation.

Of course, most frequently mentioned was the uncompleted engagement ceremony and the couple who had overcome hardships to be together.

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That is, the two now standing on the jetty.

In the eyes of the world, they were the long-absent young master Howard and Miss Elizabeth, a collateral heir to the Anderson family. Their love, engagement, and upcoming marriage in the “near” future symbolized many things.

Among these, the most important was naturally the friendship between the Empire and the Federation.

Neither the Howard family and the Anderson clan, nor the upper echelons of the Empire and Federation, had voiced any doubt or opposition to their identities and union. Instead, they had ridden the wave, promoting them and gaining support from countless commoners and nobles.

Even now, looking at those two silhouettes, people’s eyes carried joy and blessings.

Because of the beauty of their love, and because of the foreseeable decade, or even decades, of peace between the Federation and the Empire.

A hard-won peace.

Roy certainly knew what those behind the scenes were thinking.

Just like the nobles and royals who had heard of her disguised identity on Frans Island half a year ago, those at the highest levels of power couldn’t possibly fail to see the benefits hidden in this matter. With their broader vision, they didn’t even care about the authenticity of the maiden’s identity.

As long as it served their purpose, anything could be utilized.

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This way of thinking was wise, yet terrifyingly so. However, since there was no harm to her, the captain naturally couldn’t be bothered to care.

Many people were watching the maiden.

Their eyes carried kindness or longing. Of course, some eyes also contained deeply hidden envy, due to her appearance, status, or the life she would have in the future.

But ultimately, this was because they didn’t know her true identity. Otherwise, their gaze and opinion of her would likely be vastly different.

Just like those two people.

On the second floor of an ordinary-looking building near the port, two people stood side by side at the window, gazing from afar at the maiden at the end of the jetty, their eyes filled with nostalgia and emotion.

“She’s about to leave the Empire. You know better than anyone what lies ahead. Perhaps, like her father, she won’t have the chance to return. Despite this… you still don’t plan to see her?”

If Roy could see those two people, she would certainly recognize them. The middle-aged man who had just spoken was none other than the head of the Black Raven Society executioners—Black Raven, also the head of the Federation’s Shelley family, whom she had met and had a secret negotiation with.

What she didn’t know was that this man’s real name was Bartholomew Shelley.

“I can’t dissuade her, just as I couldn’t dissuade Gerard. That being the case, what’s the point of meeting? Seeing her from here is enough.”

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The woman’s voice was soft, like autumn water, but in her black eyes gazing at Roy’s profile, tumultuous emotions rolled.

It was longing through another, nostalgia for the past, and of course, genuine love, perhaps stemming from loving the nest for the bird’s sake.

She was the founder of the Black Raven Society, and also the daughter of Benjamin, the previous Emperor of Auran—Gloria Alexander.

With the new emperor recently established, though the political situation was chaotic, it was clear. She should have stayed in St. Caloie, using the organization’s power to clear the path for the young emperor and remove obstacles. Yet now she appeared at this border port far from the imperial capital, only to see this maiden.

From this, it was evident that in her heart, this was more important than imperial politics.

“Not being able to persuade is one thing, but meeting is another.”

Black Raven of course understood her meaning, but after sighing softly, he still smiled and persuaded her: “If she knew you were nearby, I think that child would certainly want to see you, because among all the questions in her heart, you are the only one in the world who can answer them.”

“No, I can’t give her the answers she wants.”

The founder gazed at the maiden, watching that face glowing in the morning light. After a moment of silence, she said softly: “What she will encounter on this voyage, what the end of the curse will be—even Gerard himself didn’t have answers to these questions. How could I have them?”

“But you could at least tell her about the past.”

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Knowing her mind was made up, Black Raven could only smile bitterly and shake his head, offering one more piece of advice. But in the end, he received an answer he had never anticipated.

“You’ve said it yourself—it’s the past, so naturally it’s no longer important.”

Having seen the maiden, the founder sighed with satisfaction, then her gaze fell on the man’s somewhat disheveled yet still charming face, her tone one of acceptance.

Black Raven stared at the woman in astonishment, unable to regain his composure for a long time.

She had never said such words before, and he had never dared hope to hear them from her lips. Because no one in the world understood her better than he did—her deep feelings, her attachment to the past—knowing she could never forget that man.

But now, she had said it so plainly.

The past was no longer important, and so those thoughts, those regrets, and those emotions that could never be erased were naturally no longer important.

This wasn’t about non-existence, nor was it about forgetting, but simply acceptance.

She had accepted the fact that that man would not return, accepted that so many years of longing and emotion were enough, and finally…

She had accepted him.