The answer to the question was another question.

“Do you dislike it?”

Ophelia spoke to the man looking down at her with shadowed, unreadable eyes.

“Then you’ll have to part ways with me.”

It was an obvious statement, as one couldn’t be both the King of Reden and the Queen of Aglante simultaneously.

However, Idren countered her. There’s no need for that.

“Reden is a small country compared to Aglante. We can create a position similar to a governor and send a representative. If necessary, I can even help.”

And Idren added in a slightly lowered voice. Then at an appropriate time, we can choose a successor and pass on the throne.

It sounded ideal in theory.

But that wasn’t a plan that ended with revenge. Moreover, once on the throne, shouldn’t one take care of the country? If so, the three years she had assumed would be far from enough.

Ophelia turned her head to look down at the people of Aglante. As it was an open carriage, the exterior was clearly visible, so she could immediately see how bright the expressions of the people were.

After briefly observing that affection she had never received alone, Ophelia refused.

“I don’t want to.”

Even after thinking it over again, the result was the same.

Ophelia didn’t want to be responsible for Reden, nor did she want to plan a future she couldn’t handle.

It wasn’t just because the people of Reden had abandoned the House of Rakmata.

From the start, such a progressive life wasn’t meant for her. It was more suited for those who knew how to love people and be loved… like the man beside her.

When her thoughts reached that point, Ophelia hoped Idren would live well even without her.

After dragging her brother down to the bottom and eliminating the reasons for time to keep turning back, she would die. The fall of Mahanas and Reden was no different from the fall of her own life. It was natural, as the fire that didn’t exist was lit only to burn them.

Idren gently took her hand as she gazed at the people. Ophelia tolerated this action without permission.

After holding her hand in silence for a moment, he asked.

“I know you hate Mahanas. Can you explain why?”

And Idren waited for the words to come from the woman’s mouth.

Penrel had said that Prince Mahanas had executed Ophelia’s first betrothed. Idren didn’t believe that Ophelia had loved that man as he loved her, but he was curious if the dead man was the only reason for revenge.

Still looking at the crowd rather than him, Ophelia began to speak.

“Mahanas treated me like his possession since I was very young. He oppressed and abused me.”

And Ophelia recalled how that greedy man had cut the only rope she had.

Mahanas had casually cut down her golden osmanthus and trampled on her. He pushed her into an abyss and made her feel the misery that could only be felt when one felt like nothing.

Mahanas had thus crushed the only chance for both her and himself to live peacefully.

Perhaps all this fatigue had started from that moment. Because after the first betrothal was broken, she truly lost the meaning of life. It was natural, as she had lost hope of escaping the mire.

And Ophelia wondered if she was still in that mire. Was all of this still hell?

But before her thoughts deepened, she realized she hadn’t finished answering the question. Ophelia concluded her statement.

“So I’m just paying him back in kind.”

The man who surely understood her words completely responded not with words, but by gently squeezing her hand. Ophelia hesitated for a moment before twisting her arm to hold his hand in return.

“…And they said they weren’t lovers.”

The man watching the procession of the new royal couple through a telescope muttered.

Dori, the vice-captain of the Black Foam pirate group who was eating a skewer according to the inspection schedule, asked from beside him.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about Their Majesties.”

And the man lowered the telescope he was holding. A delicate face that didn’t match the notorious pirate reputation was revealed.

Starlet, who turned and leaned his back against the window, extended his hand to the side. At the silent request, Dori handed over the skewer bag he was holding.

“Was that request from the king?”

“To be precise, it would be the queen.”

And Starlet recalled the day he had met them. His sparkling emerald eyes narrowed slightly.

One night, a man and a woman entered a tavern in Galisa’s 7th district, one of the pirate group’s land bases. Both were wearing robes, making it impossible to confirm their identities, but judging by the number of knights following them, they were clearly of very noble status.

The man seemed displeased throughout, so it was clear that entering the tavern was the woman’s will. Unlike the fearless woman who approached the pirate, the man looked nervous the whole time.

As expected, it was the woman who commissioned the job.

“Attack just one ship.”

And the ship she designated was that of the Brinwell delegation. Hearing this, Starlet realized they were related to the royal family of Aglante.

They must be supporters of the king among Aglante’s politicians.

But among the capital’s politicians he knew, there was no such young woman. Although the other’s face was hidden by the robe, Starlet could tell from the voice that the woman before him was around his age.

Judging by their mutual respect, their status seemed similar to the man’s as well.

The only puzzling thing was why someone from the Grand Prince’s side had come to him.

The current Grand Prince was very concerned about Galisa’s public safety.

Naturally, in a large port city, there were bound to be smugglers and petty errand runners, but the young king couldn’t tolerate such things. Starlet saw how ruthlessly he drove out pirates and black market dealers.

Among those driven out, those who couldn’t leave the city entirely gathered in the 7th district. The 7th district had more foreigners and merchants traveling to and from other countries, so it was freer in terms of public order than other places.

Starlet, who also needed a land base in Aglante, settled in the 7th district.

Even if they spent most of the year at sea, pirates still needed a place to stay on land.

Especially the base in Galisa couldn’t be given up. As a large port city, it was easy to set sail, and all kinds of news came and went. Naturally, it had to be defended, as information was directly linked to their livelihood.

The Grand Prince also strengthened patrols in the 7th district, but couldn’t punish as harshly as in other places. There were just too many people gathered there.

Still, he thought they were always considered a thorn in the side, but seeing them send someone like this, it seemed that wasn’t entirely the case.

Indeed, whether lord or thief, they’re all the same in the dark. Starlet thought as he kissed the hand of the woman who had commissioned him.

Afterwards, instead of moving the Galisa base, he attacked the Brinwell ship. He had left those on land to investigate the knights who had been lying in wait near the tavern that day.

Starlet, who usually tied up all the ship’s owners, put sacks over their heads, and plundered their possessions, ordered Dori, who was by his side on the Brinwell ship.

“Cut off the figurehead and keep it.”

When he set foot on land again, Starlet learned where the nighttime visitors had come from.

The royal palace.

And the young, high-ranking woman who could drag around royal knights was none other than the princess who had come from Reden.

No, now she was Her Majesty the Queen.

Starlet recalled the woman he had just observed through the telescope. It had been nearly a month since the wedding at the royal palace. The young queen, now appointed as the governor of Galisa, had come out to the streets riding the royal inspection carriage.

The queen with blue eyes and hair that sparkled like sunlight on water was looking down with a prim expression. It was hard to believe she was the same woman who had once burned Dori’s beard, given how demure she looked.

And beside her was the king who had now become her husband. The one who had once followed the queen to visit him.

Starlet smiled as he recalled how they had answered the question of whether they were lovers. That answer, which showed a clear difference in emotions to anyone watching, amusingly felt like the king was clinging.

Well, that’s why he followed her out for a night drink and even drew his sword, right?

But the queen who had said they weren’t lovers didn’t seem entirely indifferent to her companion. Starlet saw her holding hands with the man beside her. The hand, neither raised up nor pulled close for show, was entirely for her companion alone.

However, as a pirate, shouldn’t one meddle in matters of the heart?

Starlet thought his face was not lacking to catch the attention of a newly wedded queen. Smiling slightly as he planned amusing scenarios in his head, Starlet chuckled. Noticing the captain keep grinning to himself, Dori asked, feeling something was odd.

“Did something good happen?”

“Just remembering why you had to shave your beard.”

Ah, don’t misunderstand. You look much better with it shaved. Patting the shoulder of Dori, who was touching his smooth chin with a sullen expression, Starlet said.

“Keep the blue gemstone we got before along with the figurehead. We have somewhere to send it.”