Captain – Chapter 638 – It Remains Quiet As Before

“Do you know? In the past—no, I should say when I was very young—I always yearned for places like theaters. More precisely, the Grand Theater in Auran’s imperial capital.”

“Can you guess why?”

Seeing the first mate shake his head with no intention of guessing, Roy pouted with disinterest.

But soon her emotions heated up again, and her face even showed a color called longing that Caine had never seen on her before.

“That’s because my mother…”

But this fervor didn’t last long. Before she could finish the sentence, the girl paused unnaturally, then said with barely concealed gloom: “And my dead ghost father first met at the Auran Royal Grand Theater.”

“Of course, you could also say it was the starting point of their love.”

Under Caine’s somewhat surprised gaze, the captain gently took his hand and walked toward those ruins, toward that ancient theater, while continuing her reminiscence.

“This is what my mother told me—that it wasn’t her first time in the imperial capital, but it was her first time having the honor to enter the Grand Theater with her father and many important figures.”

“The honor wasn’t because she was qualified to see that master performer who mostly performed for the emperor and whom even her father rarely had the chance to meet.”

“But because she encountered him.”

Even without explanation, Caine knew that “him” referred to Captain Gerard.

“But in my view, that was the greatest misfortune.”

The two walked hand in hand through a doorframe that was only half remaining, stepped over stone paths almost “drowned” by wild grass, drawing ever closer to the theater and ever deeper into those memories.

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In Roy’s eyes, making a marriage pact with a pirate—especially that dead ghost who was dazzling, brilliant, gentle, yet loved freedom more than anyone—promising to spend a lifetime together, was truly the biggest mistake her mother had ever made.

Perhaps his experiences and stories really did captivate a young lady in the bloom of youth’s fantasies. Perhaps defying convention to elope with him was truly dashing.

But…

No matter how many reasons that person had, no matter how sincere and deep his feelings, Roy only knew that her mother hadn’t lived well, and that was enough for her to make her judgment.

Thinking that perhaps her mother had waited bitterly until the last moment of her life, still not knowing why that person had left, still hoping he would return…

Roy could hardly suppress the sourness and heartache in her chest.

And this was perhaps also why, even after learning the truth, she still wouldn’t forgive him.

Not staying low for long, the girl soon sighed lightly again, emerging from her gloomy emotions to say: “My mother once told me that they met, got to know each other, and fell in love in that theater, but couldn’t hold a wedding there…”

“Not being able to receive her family’s blessing and understanding was her greatest regret in life.”

Arriving before the ancient theater and tilting her head up slightly to look at those mottled, yellowing stone bricks, longing flickered in the girl’s eyes: “You don’t know how strong-willed my mother was.”

“No matter how hard or tiring life became, she never complained once. The only dissatisfaction with that person she ever expressed to me was just this so-called regret.”

“So I always remembered, thinking that when I grew up and had the capability, I’d find that dead ghost and rent a theater to hold another wedding for them.”

“Just to fulfill my mother’s dream.”

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After saying this, Roy put away her longing and led the first mate through the theater’s entrance.

This ancient theater was obviously quite old, probably counting in the hundreds of years, so its interior furnishings and layout all carried the flavor of the ancient Auran era.

Walking through the short corridor, past the scenery and dressing areas, an incredibly spacious stage and singing platform, along with ring-shaped tiered seating, came into view one after another.

As Caine had expected, this was an open-air amphitheater.

“Of course, that wish definitely can’t be fulfilled now, but my yearning for theaters didn’t change much during those past days.”

Leading the first mate up the steps onto the main performance stage, Roy looked around at the shabby yet familiar scenery and smiled: “So when I was infiltrating Auran to gather intelligence, I always wanted to see the Grand Theater in the imperial capital.”

“I just couldn’t manage it—the capital was too deep inland, and I never found an opportunity.”

“I have no idea how my dead ghost father found the opening to make that trip.”

Feeling Caine unconsciously tighten his grip on her hand after she spoke of those unpleasant old matters, the girl smiled at him reassuringly: “It’s fine, I’m just giving you the background so this doesn’t seem too sudden.”

“Should I say it’s a long-held obsession finally coming true?”

After putting the young man at ease, Roy pointed at the seating that curved from one side in front of her all the way to the other side, like a young beast grown up and returned, showing off its old paradise.

“During those years living with the old man, I stumbled into these ruins by accident and found this very old theater that belonged only to me.”

Speaking, she didn’t forget to explain: “Oh, as for why I was wandering around randomly, it’s because Providence has been the center of the islands since ancient times.”

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“The civilization and power here have changed hands countless times, leaving quite a few ruins, so in the past when I got tired of staying in the city, I’d sneak out to play.”

Feeling this probably counted as some dark history, Roy sheepishly changed the subject after realizing: “Never mind that—anyway, this is why I chose this place.”

“It also explains why I was thinking about weddings at fourteen or fifteen.”

“Still in a grand theater.”

Understanding, Caine made an “mm” sound to show he knew, then quickly raised a new question: “But Captain, this place is far too run-down.”

“It doesn’t look convenient at all.”

Hearing this, Roy glanced at him sideways, released his hand, and sat down on the edge of the steps: “If it weren’t so, why would I have Nidhogg bring people over?”

Sitting beside the girl, the first mate thought for a while then guessed: “You want them to arrange repairs? But renovating this place wouldn’t be a small project.”

“Might there not be enough time?”

He knew the girl didn’t plan to stay long in Providence after everything was resolved—at most a few more days, and she’d continue the voyage after the banquet ended.

But this little time wouldn’t be nearly enough to restore this ancient theater to its former glory.

“It’s just renovation and modification, not rebuilding from scratch.”

After listening, Roy raised a finger, shaking it as she spoke: “Besides, you still underestimate the wealth, power, and hidden connections we now possess.”

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“Just watch—once this gets back to the city, this place will be completely renewed within five days, and moreover, it’ll all be according to this captain’s ideas.”

“By then the guests will be about ready too, and I’ve even planned…”

Speaking, without caring whether the stage surface was dusty, Roy used her hands as a pillow and lay back, while contentedly narrowing her eyes and leaving the sentence hanging tantalizingly.

Only after the young man followed her example and lay down, asking “planned what,” did she continue.

“I’ve planned that when we have children, I’ll have them perform fairy tales or puppet shows for me on this stage. Just imagining that scene is fun.”

Obviously not expecting the girl to suddenly bring up children, Caine was slightly stunned, then said helplessly: “I say, Captain, are children meant for this purpose?”

“Besides, how many children would we need to have to perform a complete fairy tale?”

But what responded to the first mate’s serious words was the captain’s question, so light it sounded like she was about to fall asleep.

“Mm… don’t you want to have several?”

Looking at the white clouds drifting leisurely across the clear blue sky, Caine was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, there was no trace of doubt or helplessness.

He said only one word, equally light but much more gentle.

“Yes.”