Captain – Chapter 76 – Loyalty and Love

“Curse?”

Caine repeated the captain’s whispered words, looking the girl up and down as she stood upright. His sea-blue eyes revealed a rare bewilderment.

After witnessing the endless vortex that destroyed the fleet and the Victoria that haunted them like a ghost, this former imperial officer—a staunch atheist—had to admit that certain supernatural forces beyond scientific explanation did exist in this world, such as curses.

But he had never imagined that the captain who had accompanied him for several months bore such an eerie mark.

The First Mate quickly recovered from the shock, forcibly suppressing his jumbled thoughts to ask in a calm tone: “What kind of curse? Where did it come from? Is there a way to break it?”

In Caine’s view, all things in this world must follow their own rules and laws. Neither raging storms nor curses etched into one’s body could escape this principle.

Roy didn’t answer the young man’s barrage of questions, merely wagging her finger with a mischievous smile: “Secret.”

“Captain.” The First Mate’s expression darkened, his tone clearly dissatisfied.

Roy’s smile gradually faded as she explained gently: “It’s not a serious curse, just… well, it makes my life somewhat inconvenient. Once we resolve the business in Yadris, I’ll naturally address it. As for the details of this curse, we can discuss it when we have time, alright?”

Hearing the captain’s patient explanation, the First Mate’s expression softened considerably.

He knew Roy’s decision wasn’t wrong. Whatever curse the girl carried, their biggest problem right now wasn’t that—it was the ghost ship that refused to leave them alone.

“So, could you please let go of me?”

After several futile attempts, Roy resigned herself to the fact that to free her wrist from the First Mate’s grasp, she would either have to dislocate his hand or resort to persuasion.

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“No.”

Caine glanced at the captain’s ingratiating expression and asked flatly: “You really intend to board the Victoria?”

“What choice do I have? Given how things stand, do I have any alternative?”

Roy shot him a reproachful glance, increasingly feeling like she’d hired a housekeeper rather than a First Mate. Worse still, she couldn’t even scold or hit him—after all, he was a proper young gentleman from a prestigious family, not some little beggar picked up from some alley.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under the captain’s glare, Caine remained silent for a moment before releasing her wrist: “If that’s the case, I’ll accompany you.”

“You? Why would you come with me? To hold me back?”

Roy cast him a sidelong glance, then let out a piercing whistle.

After a flutter of wings, the jet-black raven landed on the captain’s outstretched arm, gently pecking at her fair hand.

“Alfie is enough. Besides, that wretched ship is no pleasant place to visit. One careless moment and you might be afflicted with Annisdora’s curse, unable to return. When that happens, this captain won’t stay behind to keep you company.”

The captain’s words were sharp and disparaging, but Caine knew she was merely warning him in her own way. He quietly countered: “What about you? What if you get trapped on the Victoria?”

“How could this captain possibly get trapped?”

Roy tilted her chin slightly, scoffing at her First Mate’s concern.

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A full fifteen seconds passed without any rebuttal from the young man. All she could see in those azure eyes was genuine, profound worry. Finally, she smiled helplessly and said in a casual tone: “The worst outcome is eternal imprisonment. What’s the big deal about that?”

“I know you’re not afraid, Captain, but isn’t eternal solitude rather dull?” the First Mate remarked with deeper meaning.

“Oh—”

Seemingly perceiving the young man’s thoughts, Roy let out an exaggerated “Oh” before smiling and asking: “Are you worried that if I don’t return, you’ll be lonely by yourself?”

Faced with the girl’s teasing, Caine didn’t turn away as he had in the past or defend himself with “you’re overthinking.” Instead, he gazed tenderly at that exquisite face: “Yes, Captain, and I’ve told you before—don’t think you can leave me behind.”

Roy narrowed her eyes slightly, her smile increasingly fox-like: “My dear First Mate, what exactly is this? An expression of loyalty, or… a yearning for some grand romance?”

The captain was always so flippant, fond of ruining the mood.

Caine thought silently, then replied seriously: “Both, I suppose.”

Overhearing the conversation between captain and First Mate, catching traces of sentiment and love, Alfie—who had been meticulously grooming her feathers—blinked and then croaked disapprovingly: “So mushy, so mushy.”

“Did you hear that, Caine? That’s too mushy.”

Roy lightly tapped the raven’s head, placed it on her shoulder, and headed toward the spiral staircase, gesturing for the First Mate to follow.

“Captain, does this mean you agree?”

The First Mate closely followed the girl’s steps as they descended the spiral staircase, quickly arriving at the deck side nearest to the Victoria.

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“Agree to what? That you’ll accompany me to the Victoria? Don’t daydream, Caine.”

Roy turned around, her face now devoid of any humor: “You’re not cursed. Forget whether you can even board the Victoria—even if you could, it would introduce countless unpredictable variables. And this captain despises losing control of a situation.”

“So, I appreciate your sentiment, but you must remain on the Osprey.”

Seeing the young man about to protest, the captain raised her hand to stop him: “This isn’t negotiable. And keeping you here isn’t just for this reason—you need to watch the ship for me. First Mate, either the captain or the second-in-command must remain aboard to oversee everything. I don’t want to return and find the ship gone again.”

Knowing that once the captain had made up her mind, no one could change it, Caine sighed softly and nodded in agreement: “I understand.”

Having dispatched the First Mate, Roy called loudly toward the sailors: “Boatswain!”

“Captain.” Ben pushed through the sailors and hurried to the girl’s side, respectfully awaiting orders.

“I’ll be leaving the ship for a while. During this time, all commands will come from the First Mate. You are to assist him.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Looking at the burly man before her, Roy remained silent for a moment before asking coldly: “If anyone dares to incite mutiny, how will you handle it?”

On a pirate ship, when the captain was absent, subordinates with ulterior motives seizing power was a common scenario.

“Report, Captain! If anyone harbors ill intentions, I’ll twist their head three times around and kick them into the sea!” Ben responded loudly, deliberately ensuring the nearby sailors could hear clearly.

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Sure enough, upon hearing the boatswain’s declaration, the sailors stirred uneasily, every face showing fear.

Even back on Frans Island, Ben Adams had been a notorious thug. Now aboard this pirate ship beyond imperial law, no one dared challenge him.

“Very good.”

Roy nodded with satisfaction, then nimbly leaped onto the ship’s railing. Grabbing a swinging rope, she was about to cross the dark sea to the Victoria when a slightly shrill voice suddenly called from behind.

“Captain, what about me?”

Looking back at the breathless Daniel, Roy smiled: “You’ll be on lookout duty at the crow’s nest.”

“Yes, Captain!” The boy’s face lit up with undisguised excitement.

Scanning the three crew members before her, a faint warmth rose in Roy’s golden pupils. They were her first subordinates after her fall from grace. Though few in number and novices to piracy, they reminded her of when she first commanded the Mermaid.

Back then, she had only Richi by her side.

“Oh, I forgot to mention something. If I don’t return within three days…”

Roy tightened her grip on the swinging rope, looking back one last time with an utterly carefree smile.

“Then you will be the captain, Caine.”