Savior, huh. Rosetta Toulon swallowed a hollow laugh.She wondered just how far back in the past he intended to dredge up.Of course, she vividly remembered those days too.It was around that time that Cardier Montrosa started following her around like a puppy.

But no matter how many times she revisited those moments, there was nothing particularly special.She fled to survive, and killed to save—nothing more.All in the way of pirates.

As for Bilti’s foolishness, wearing trinkets on their head like decorations,she could talk for three days and nights and still not cover it all.But… she couldn’t fathom why he’d grown so attached to her over it.It wasn’t even entirely her choice back then.With a skeptical look, she narrowed her eyes.

“That time I went to save you.”

“Yeah.”

“Wasn’t it because of your father’s threats?”

“I know.”

“I was paid for it too.”

“I know that too.”

“…”

His responses came one after another, as if it didn’t matter.Rosetta tried to read betrayal on his face.But Cardier held her hand as firmly as ever,his emotions seemingly untouched.It felt like facing an insurmountable wall.Every relationship she knew was based on give and take.What she gave was an illusion, yet what she received was heavy sincerity.That kind of deal was something only swindlers would pull off.

“Showing them to you today was to tell you not to worry.”

Rosetta barely managed to reply.

“Worry?”

“They’re the wishes you couldn’t fulfill.”

“…”

“You don’t have enough time to enjoy the life you have now.”

It sounded like advice to let go of revenge.For a moment, she staggered, like an arrow missing its target.Rosetta realized then that Cardier hadn’t once mentioned Nick.

If he hadn’t suspected anything about Nick’s betrayal,he could’ve casually brought it up in front of her.Unlike the pirate orphans he’d looked after from afar,they were once a real family.She swallowed hard.Her dry lips wouldn’t part easily.

“Nick, that bastard…”

The words she forced out sounded like air escaping.But to Cardier, who’d been leaning in, not missing a single word,they rang clear.And in that moment, his gaze turned cold.

“I didn’t kill him. I spared all of Toulon’s crew too.”

“…”

“They were all things you held dear, weren’t they?”

A faint sneer flickered at the corner of his chiseled lips.

“As if I’d dare lay a finger on them.”

“…Do you know where he is?”

“No.”

Cardier’s firm reply came with tightly sealed lips.It was clear he didn’t want to discuss this further.Regrettably, it seemed unlikely she’d get more about Nick from him.A sudden gust of wind made Rosetta shrink her shoulders.

“It’s cold.”

He cupped her wind-reddened face with both hands.His warmth felt just right against her chilled body.When Rosetta shivered slightly, he nodded toward the stairs.

“Go up. You’ll catch a cold.”

“And you?”

As if he’d heard something amusing, he let out a low laugh.He looked almost precarious in that moment.If he was like a raging storm when they reunited,now he seemed like a sea forcibly held still.

He gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb.

“Rest first.”

“…”

“You must be tired.”

There was restrained desire in the man’s eyes as he spoke.Rosetta vaguely understood why he’d been avoiding her these past few days.He let go of her hand and urged her again.

“Go inside.”

The sea breeze from afar ruffled his hair.He raised a large hand to slowly smooth it back.In his gaze, briefly turned away, there was a languid weariness.The man was almost too beautiful.For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Damn it, maybe all of this was just an excuse.She wanted him right now.Even the greedy look she thought she saw in his eyesmight just be a reflection of her own desire.People only see what they want in others, after all.

Impulsively, Rosetta grabbed Cardier’s thick, bony wrist.

“You… want to sleep with me?”

His eyes widened slightly in surprise, then he smirked.

“Has there ever been a time I didn’t want you?”

“…Ngh.”

Rosetta let out a soft moan.Cardier, trailing kisses along her neck, lifted her camisole over her flat stomach.When she instinctively raised her elbow, the last layer of clothing was stripped away.Each time his hot hands and lips grazed her, Rosetta shivered.Her overly sensitive body reacted to even this slight touch.

Damn it, she’d never imagined a situation like this.Getting excited from a mere touch was supposed to be a man’s thing, not hers.But now… even this was enough to drive her wild, her body burning up.Her thighs already ached.

A large palm gently kneaded her chest.Each time his calloused fingers brushed the peak, her hips twitched involuntarily.The excitement came too fast.His breath scattering over her skin left hot traces, like dripping wax.As she tilted her head back, Cardier sucked at her neck.

Beneath his hands, Rosetta writhed.Her hips bucked, and her legs parted without her realizing.His hand slipped between her thighs.Instinctively, she tried to close them, but he held them down with his large hand.“Wait, just wait…” Her plea came easily.

“No, I’d rather… I’d rather be on top.”

It was a feeble attempt to reclaim control.But Cardier nodded readily.

“Do it.”

“Why… are you so calm?”

Rosetta frowned, not expecting him to agree so easily.Before she finished, Cardier nipped the tip of her nose with his teeth.Kissing her cheeks and jaw lightly, he smiled against her skin.

“Honestly, I’m a bit nervous.”

“…Ugh.”

“It’s the first time. But I’ve imagined it countless times. I don’t want to disappoint you.”

With her legs parted, Cardier removed his shirt.As expected, his tightly sculpted abs softly reflected the reddish lantern light.

“You won’t be disappointed. I’m generally good at everything.”

The immense presence she felt below was far from disappointing.Would it even fit? Rosetta swallowed the saliva pooling in her mouth.She watched, awestruck, as his muscles flexed with each movement.

Soon, his large hand braced beside her head.The bed creaked under his full weight.It felt like being swallowed by a giant shadow.His deep blue eyes slowly scanned her from top to bottom.In that moment, a shame she’d never felt before surged within her.Damn it… Rosetta bit her lip.

“Don’t look at me like that…”

“If you don’t want me to look, should I cover your eyes?”

Even his compliant tone sparked her anger.It felt like a thorn stuck in her throat.

“I…”

They say a man’s nature is to get aroused at the sight of a skirt,but this body was Lea’s.Her resolve not to sleep with him now seemed petty and crude in hindsight.Rosetta gritted her teeth.Damn it, clinging to pride at this point was laughable.Covering her eyes with both hands, she spat out, “Sometimes, I can’t tell who you’re looking at.”

“Rosetta. Look at me.”

Cardier gently pulled her hands from her eyes.He kissed each of her tensed fingers.His lips, playfully nibbling, moved from her palm to her wrist, elbow, and forearm.Rosetta’s eyes widened in shock, meeting his blue gaze head-on.

Those eyes. Like a beast staring at its one and only mate.

Cardier pinned her body between his knees, trapping her.Her wrists were seized and pressed down on either side.He sank his teeth into her shoulder, causing a sharp pain, then slowly lowered his head.His lips made wet sounds as they clung to her skin, then parted with a faint sting.A shiver ran down her spine as her skin was sucked.

“…Ngh, ugh.”

As if reluctant to let even her moans escape, he tilted her neck back and kissed her again.His hand, pulling at the soft peak of her breast, drew a muffled moan from her throat.

“You really worry about the most useless things.”

His hand slipped lower, probing.Another moan escaped her wet lips.“Rosetta.” His lips, close to her ear, whispered a secret truth.

“As long as it holds your soul, I’d desire you even if your body were a roadside pebble.”