Chapter 180

The lively atmosphere from just moments ago was replaced by Chancellor Senel’s cold, serious expression.

But seeing this, I felt a strange sense of certainty.

“It seems… I’ve found the right place…”

“…What?”

“First, let’s calm down. I don’t know why you’re angry, but I’m definitely not here for any bad intentions regarding her.”

“….”

“I swear on my honor, in the name of the Pirate King… Believe me.”

With sincerity in my words.

Chancellor Senel glared at my face for a brief moment, then softened her hardened expression slightly.

“… Then tell me, why does that person’s name come from your mouth? What was your relationship with her?”

Her question felt tinged with caution and a hint of curiosity.

In response, I spoke to her the unfiltered truth.

“She was my subordinate… no, my friend.”

“!”

“…I see… Was that the case? That Lemain…”

As soon as the Pirate King finished speaking, Chancellor Senel wore a bitter expression.

Then she glanced at Nelson, who was sitting next to her.

Unlike just moments ago, when she was simply an amused spectator, her gaze now carried a distinct edge.

But,

“Sigh… Well, what good does it do to poke at something already settled…”

Chancellor Senel let out a heavy sigh and retracted her earlier sharpness.

Rather than the anger subsiding, it seemed more like a reaction of not wanting to complicate matters any further.

So, while observing her behavior that clearly indicated she knew something, the Pirate King asked earnestly.

“Alright, I’ve shared everything I know. Now… tell me what you know, where is she… Lemain? Is she still alive?”

“Yes, she is alive. I can say that for sure.”

“Ah…”

It was the answer to the question that had been weighing on my heart for the past several months.

A sense of undeniable relief surfaced on the Pirate King’s face.

However,

“But… she probably doesn’t want to see you anymore. At least, that’s what I believe.”

“What… does that mean? And how can you be so sure?”

The Pirate King wore a cold expression at Senel’s words.

In response, Senel answered in a calm but heavy voice.

“I can be sure… because she… the person you know as Lemain… is my biological sister.”

“…What?”

The faces of those present began to turn pale in shock from her unexpected revelation.

Then, Senel slowly stood up and quietly spoke while looking out the window.

“It’s true. She and I share the same blood as biological sisters… And until a few days ago, she was with me. Without saying a word about the past.”

“Hmm…”

It was a story that was hard to believe in many ways, yet it was equally hard to find a reason not to believe it.

There was no reason for this woman sitting before me to lie about such a thing.

Above all, the glimpses of Lemain I had seen in Senel’s behavior from earlier were telling the Pirate King… that her words were truthful.

“I can’t know the exact reason. But considering my sister’s personality, if she wanted to meet you, she wouldn’t have made things this difficult. She would have contacted you first, or at least left me some hint.”

As Senel said, if Lemain was not being held somewhere and was in good health, she wouldn’t have handled things this way.

She wasn’t the type to dawdle, and above all, she wouldn’t hesitate to inform her companions about her life or death.

Still, the fact that there had been no contact up until now meant…

She must have been intentionally avoiding the Pirate King and his companions.

“Well… if you really want to see her, I can at least tell you where to find her. I can’t promise what will happen afterward, though.”

“…”

At those words, the Pirate King maintained a brief silence.

It was understandable that the other party didn’t want to meet him.

But… what could the reason be?

And could he really ignore that unknown reason?

At that moment, while the Pirate King was struggling to make a hasty decision on the matter.

“Uh… Captain? Just a moment…”

“Hmm?”

Franklin cautiously called him.

The Pirate King asked for permission and then exited the room alone with her.

And…

“… Finally, we’re alone together, huh?”

“!?”

Right after, Senel began to wear a chilling smile.

What that meant, Nelson, who was seated, understood immediately.

“…Uh… um… you definitely said you wouldn’t poke at settled matters…”

“Did you really believe that?”

-Thunk! Thunk!

With those words, Senel loosened her fists and began to approach slowly.

Nelson’s face turned pale in an instant.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to do it discreetly.”

“Ugh… Uwaaaah!!!”

*

After leaving the room, we arrived at a nearby small room.

With no one else around, just the two of us.

I looked at Franklin with curiosity and asked.

“What’s up all of a sudden?”

“… I think I understand why the Vice-Captain made that choice…”

“! Is that really true? What on earth is the reason?”

I questioned in bewilderment at Franklin’s unexpected statement.

And regarding this…

She carefully spoke after a moment’s hesitation.

“The woman I love… the one I cherish…”

After a brief pause, she continued, her voice gentle but firm.

“… before answering that, I have a question. Captain… no… Drake, how do you feel about the Vice-Captain?”

“Hmm? Of course… she’s a precious companion and friend. We’ve been like family for many years…”

“That’s all?”

“?… That’s all. Is there something more?”

“… Sigh.”

Franklin wore a slightly strange expression and posed another question.

After hearing my response, she let out a deep sigh and fell silent for a moment.

Then…

“… First of all, thank you for that.”

“Thank… you? Why all of a sudden?”

“Because, well… it means you don’t see anyone else as a woman… even if that person is… the Vice-Captain… Lemain.”

“…Ah… wait a minute… are you implying…?”

Even I, who had been oblivious until now, couldn’t help but comprehend after such a statement.

What Franklin was hinting at.

That meant…

“Th- that can’t be! Lemain, why would she… We’re just friends, after all. You know that, and all the others do too!”

“Yes… she has put in great effort to appear that way. But the eyes of a woman in love can see things others cannot. Haven’t you noticed? How her expression changes when you’re with other women.”

“…”

There was no way I could have known that.

It wasn’t as if I had eyes on the back of my head to pay attention to such things while talking with others!

Above all, at those times, Lemain would have subtly slipped away from my side anyway…

‘…Ah… Could it have been that…’

As my thoughts reached that point, I began to grasp the surrounding situation little by little.

To me, Franklin continued with her complex feelings.

“From the start, there’s no way a platonic friendship could evolve into such closeness, at least not without both parties realizing it at some point. Lemain must have become aware of it midway but was merely hesitating to step into such a relationship…”

“…But, even so, I’m already with you. I can’t just choose her now…!”

“Yes, which is probably why Lemain has distanced herself. There might be other reasons, but she has likely seen the relationship between you and me, especially with what has happened now, and decided to take this opportunity. To avoid becoming an obstacle for us… and to avoid suffering herself.”

“…Hmm…”

Fragment by fragment, the puzzle began to fit together through Franklin’s words.

However, as the picture came to completion, it only caused me to hesitate further.

Ultimately, this situation stemmed from the relationship between me and Franklin.

Lemain had left us due to the bond formed between Franklin and me, which had overshadowed her feelings.

But knowing this, I couldn’t hurt my beloved partner… nor could I send my long-time friend away like this.

It was a more troublesome situation than fighting a Grade 12 monster on the battlefield.

At that moment…

While I was caught in indecision.

Franklin spoke firmly.

“Why are you hesitating so much? You need to go!”

“…? Go… where?”

“To the Vice-Captain, of course. Are you really going to leave her heart wounded while leaving things like this?”

“B-but… if that happens, you’ll… ugh!”

In that moment, Franklin pressed her lips against mine.

Suddenly, in that deep kiss—the most intense of all our past kisses—I felt momentarily lost.

And shortly after, as she pulled her lips away from mine, Franklin looked straight into my eyes with an unusual confidence and said.

“As the Pirate King’s consort, I command you. Go. Go and comfort Lemain by any means necessary. Do you understand?”

“…Y-yes… I understand…”

Her command carried a weight of authority that made my heart feel a little lighter as I stepped out of the room.

“It’s a bit disappointing, but… it can’t be helped. Your capacity is simply too great for me to hold all to myself…”