102.

“I was thinking the same thing!”

The moment the helmsman, his face pale with fear, rushed out of the control room to sound the alarm, Melvin sharply turned the wheel hard to the left. Swinging the ship’s course abruptly created strong resistance from the water. Muscles rippled along Melvin’s arms and neck.

“Captain! What’s happening?”

The first mate raised his voice with gathered courage. Ro pointed toward a spare blanket she had kept aside and shouted.

“Everyone, come take this! Wrap it around your arms and protect your head!”

“Huh? W-what do you mean…?”

“We’re about to collide! Stay as low as possible!”

Even as she staggered, she kept shouting. The crew, startled from sleep, scrambled yet efficiently shared the blankets with one another. Soon, the hull sharply turned and began tilting. Ro lost her balance, tumbling across the deck before crashing between secured wooden barrels.

“Ooooh….”

She curled her body tightly and convulsed. The pain was so intense that a groan burst involuntarily from her lips.

“M-Milady! Are you all right?”

Hugo reached out a trembling hand, his face deathly pale. Ro didn’t refuse, gripping his hand and swiftly pulling herself up. Sailors ran across the deck, yelling frantically.

“Slow down! Slow down!”

“A-It’s not working! The sails won’t retract!”

“Damn it, then drop the anchor line!”

“A-It won’t work!”

Chaos reigned—there was no chaos quite like this. Forgetting her pain, Ro shot to her feet. The ship was now nearly charging straight toward the pier. People screamed and fled from the dock. At this point, nothing could be controlled—only bracing for impact remained. Ro wrapped her arms, covered in the blanket, around her head and pressed her body as flat as possible against the ship’s floor.

“C-Collision!”

Someone’s final cry marked the end. Then came the violent impact, rippling like a shockwave as the vessel crashed into the dock. Crack! Creak! Bang! Horrific sounds followed in succession, as if the ship were splitting in half. Dust, sand, and wooden splinters rained down from above. Her head spun and her entire body throbbed. Thick smoke obscured her vision before slowly beginning to settle.

“Cough, cough… M-Melvin? Hugo?”

“I’m… here….”

Faint groans came from not far away. As the dust cleared, the ship’s condition came into view. The side was torn open, gaping with holes, and the masts were broken and tangled together. Ro spotted Melvin groaning in a corner of the control room and rushed over to help him up.

“Uuugh….”

“Are you okay?”

“Better than I expected….”

Relieved, Ro slapped his shoulder. Compared to the ship’s disastrous state, few seemed seriously injured. Aside from one man with a wooden splinter embedded in his thigh, most had only minor scrapes. Ro instructed the crew to generously use bandages and medicine on the injured.

Ro leapt nimbly from the wrecked ship onto the harbor. From the outside, it was clear the vessel was beyond repair. Ro clicked her tongue and checked Calypso’s compass. The needle, which until moments ago had clearly pointed in one direction, now spun aimlessly in circles. It had gone completely haywire.

Then, the sound of chaotic footsteps echoed from the far end of the pier. Five soldiers, their faces ashen, came running toward them. The man in the lead glared sharply and demanded:

“Who is the captain of this ship?”

Their hostility was understandable. With half the port destroyed, it would’ve been harder to greet them politely. Ro concealed her anxiety and straightened her back.

“Me. Any problem?”

Her bold reply made the navy men hesitate. They looked her up and down.

“…Are you nobility?”

“Yes.”

The sailors’ fierce, growling expressions instantly softened into sheepish obedience, as if they were lambs before a wolf.

“Forgive us, but may we know your name?”

“Leah. Leah Lunex Montrosa.”

They stepped back respectfully, exchanging hushed words and sending messengers among themselves before bowing deeply.

“Duchess Montrosa, our governor wishes to see you.”

* * *

Portmuts Archipelago had, until a few centuries ago, been an island nation composed of independent kingdoms. The island she now stood on, Malandasca, served as the naval command center for managing the dozens of colonies stretching eastward from Portmuts.

Under naval escort, Ro was led directly to the grand governor’s residence. The exterior looked impressive, but inside, everything was adorned with gold. Rumors about rich gold veins discovered in the eastern continent seemed to hold truth after all. Ro puckered her lips in mild disdain.

“Well, well, a distinguished guest has arrived.”

After a rather long wait, the door opened, and a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion entered. His black hair was neatly combed back, his belly slightly protruding, and his limbs long and thin—resembling a spider.

“I am Governor Reyeu of Malandasca.”

Ro tilted her chin proudly and gave only a slight nod.

“You asked to see me.”

“Oh? What’s the rush? I was planning to savor this moment.”

“….”

“It’s not often I get to meet a refined beauty from the mainland.”

Damn it. Ro nearly twisted her lips in disgust but calmly pressed them down with a handkerchief. The governor passed by her and walked toward a tea trolley, pouring hot tea into a cup. Ro watched him stiffly.

“There’s no need to be so tense. I’ve asked to see you merely over a small matter—failure to file an entry report before docking. Would you care for some tea?”

“No, thanks.”

Ro shook her head. The governor sat across from her, holding a saucer with a thin pastry in one hand and tea in the other. Sipping his tea, he continued.

“Then let’s hear your reason for breaking the law.”

“There was a navigation error. We had to deviate urgently… I’ll compensate in gold for the damaged harbor.”

“No, no. What I’m curious about, madam, is why you’ve barged all the way here.”

“Barged?”

“Lately, there’s been an interesting rumor—that you’re searching for someone.”

“It’s not a rumor. It’s true. I’m looking for my husband.”

“In that case, you’ve come up empty-handed in Malandasca.”

Ro glared at him.

“What do you mean?”

“If Vice Admiral Montrosa were here, we would’ve found and protected him. Especially someone with such a distinctive appearance—like a needle in a haystack, they’d stand out wherever they hid. Yet no one on our island has seen the vice admiral.”

“….”

“So you’ve come all this way for nothing. I’ll arrange a ship for you. It’d be best to leave tomorrow.”

“No. I cannot leave until I’ve searched personally.”

For a moment, a sharp glint flashed in the governor’s eyes. But it vanished as quickly as it came, and when Ro looked again, the cunning light was gone. The governor asked gently:

“Have you… received any message from your husband?”

“No.”

She tried to wear the most honest and harmless expression possible, but the governor clearly didn’t believe her.

“I’m telling the truth. Nothing like that happened.”

“…Very well. I’ll grant you exactly one week.”

“Why one week? I’m under the protection of the Imperial Princess—”

“This island is under my jurisdiction, not the Imperial Princess’s. Furthermore, your accommodations from now on will be at the governor’s mansion. I’ll send someone to bring your belongings.”

More absurd by the minute. Ro forced each word out, struggling to suppress her growing resentment and disgust.

“Why must I stay at your residence?”

“There are no lodgings suitable for a noblewoman around here. Some of the locals are only partially civilized and rather primitive. It’ll be safer for you.”

“….”

“I look forward to sharing meals with you daily until you depart the island. Once again, you’re a rare beauty.”

Damn pig. Ro barely held back her revulsion. It would be foolish to show suspicion in front of him. On the other hand, she was glad to have gained something from this conversation. Ro forced a smile toward the governor, who was watching her face keenly. That confirmed it—he knew something about Cardier’s whereabouts.

* * *

As the governor said, all her belongings were moved to the governor’s mansion. The maids serving her were all his people. The intention to openly monitor her was unmistakable.

Starting the next day, Ro mobilized everyone to conduct inquiries and searches. The islanders, as if rehearsed, all said no one else had arrived recently besides them. A few mentioned a wrecked ship, but insisted there had been no one aboard.

Each time Ro’s certainty wavered, she pulled out the compass Calypso had given her. The compass still spun in circles. The signal clearly indicated he was nearby… Damn it, it made no sense. She was pressing her forehead in frustration when a knocking sound startled her. Turner stood leaning against the half-open door. Ro hastily jumped to her feet.

“How did it go?”