Could it be because it was the final voyage? Sleep eluded him. Kian, after dozing briefly and confirming that Vivianne was breathing evenly in her slumber, slipped out of the room.

In an empty room on the third floor, he stood in his nightgown gazing out at the sea. The humid sea breeze caressed his cheeks while the acrid smoke filled his lungs, sharpening his senses.

It had been a while since he’d indulged in this habit—smoking whenever he was about to do something unusual.

Kian stared at the glowing red tip of his cigar. When he first brought that woman into his home, he had smoked frequently. Now, her presence in his bedroom had somehow become natural. He supposed it wasn’t strange that even unfamiliar actions became habits with repetition.

The reason he’d been thinking about cigars for the past few days was his uncharacteristic nervousness. His mission was simple—merely concluding the task he had previously undertaken.

Barring any unexpected variables, they would make landfall within ten days. After that, he likely wouldn’t need to board a ship again. Perhaps it was the weight of the word “final” that made him feel strange.

The darkness had a bluish tint. Judging by the pale light spreading across the horizon, dawn would break soon. Just then, he heard the creak of the door opening and someone peeking through.

“…Kian?”

It was Vivianne.

After spotting Kian on the balcony, she carefully entered the room.

“I woke up and you were gone…”

She tightened her shawl when he looked her up and down. Probably because he had previously commented on her negligee.

“…I’m sorry for coming out on my own so late.”

Though he hadn’t said anything, she apologized first. His lack of response seemed to make her nervous. Kian sighed softly and extinguished his cigar.

“Let’s go back upstairs.”

Walking to the door, he wrapped his arm around her waist. She wrinkled her nose slightly at the unfamiliar smell clinging to him.

“It’s fine for you to walk around the mansion.”

“Pardon?”

“But don’t come into this room.”

Vivianne nodded, looking somewhat bewildered.

* * *

When they reached the fourth-floor corridor, they heard An whimpering inside the room.

Probably anxious. The only difference was that the woman could come out on her own while the puppy couldn’t—otherwise, their behaviors were identical.

Seeing Vivianne quickly scoop up An, Kian suddenly became conscious of the cigar smell on his body. While she settled An on his special cushion, patting him back to sleep, Kian promptly washed up and changed his robe. Then he tucked Vivianne into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin.

“Aren’t you going to sleep, Kian? You need to leave in the morning.”

“I can’t sleep. You should if you’re tired.”

He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her looking up at him with eyes heavy with sleep.

“I don’t want to sleep either.”

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, pulling it out from under the covers.

“Why?”

“I’m afraid you’ll leave without saying goodbye while I’m asleep. Then I won’t see you for a while.”

“It won’t take long anyway. Just a short time. About ten days.”

“That’s not short.”

“For a voyage, it is.”

Kian stroked the head of Vivianne, who was now pouting.

“During that time, you can go out or take walks, or even call the tutors back.”

“But I… I’m fine staying in the room.”

He had expected her to be pleased. Her response surprised him.

“Actually, An keeps whimpering… It’s hard to even step outside briefly.”

When he had confined her, she looked like she was dying of misery. Yet being tethered by a puppy seemed to please her.

“What does it feel like? Being on a ship?”

Vivianne asked somewhat abruptly.

“Not much different from here.”

“From here?”

“Yes, want to see?”

Kian, who had been sitting against the headboard, opened the balcony window and then lay back down. He turned her body toward the window and embraced her from behind.

The refreshing sound of waves flooded the room. Kian took a deep breath and whispered in her ear.

“How is it? Lying like this and looking outside makes you feel like you’re floating on the sea.”

“You’re right. Then you must be used to it.”

“It’s like that now. But I was scared the first time I boarded a ship.”

Vivianne quickly turned around at his impulsive confession.

“Why?”

“I was afraid of the sea when I was young.”

Her already large eyes grew even rounder.

“Are you okay now? You’re a sailor who travels the seas. Why did you start sailing? Usually people avoid things they fear.”

Despite her drowsiness, she chattered endlessly, full of questions.

“I promised not to fear the sea anymore. I joined the navy to keep that promise and prove myself.”

“Who did you promise?”

“The first person who called me a Larson.”

“Who was that?”

“It’s a secret.”

Her face fell when he refused to answer.

“I told you before. I like when you’re curious.”

“That’s mean, Kian.”

Kian laughed dismissively.

“It’s just a childhood story. Knowing about it wouldn’t be of any use—it’s trivial.”

“I don’t know who it was, but they must be proud. Seeing how magnificently you’ve grown up.”

“I wonder. Would they really?”

He doubted whether someone would say that knowing their half-blooded brother would take their place.

“And it’s not useless at all.”

“What isn’t?”

“Stories about your childhood. I want to know everything about you, even the smallest details.”

Her eyes sparkled with interest.

“So someday… please tell me.”

“I will.”

Seemingly satisfied with even this indefinite promise, Vivianne nestled into his embrace.

He still couldn’t determine her true identity. Perhaps he would forever remain in the dark about it.

But how could he not hold this woman? He no longer knew how. They were simply taming each other, becoming accustomed to one another.

* * *

Vivianne stood on tiptoe, fastening the buttons of his uniform. She was pressed against him, trying her best, but it seemed she wasn’t having much success.

“Let me do it.”

“But I want to do it for you.”

Though it took much longer than usual, Kian allowed her to persist.

“Done!”

She looked extremely pleased with herself.

“…Um, Kian.”

With his appearance now properly arranged, Vivianne hesitantly called to him.

“What?”

“This.”

She held something out without meeting his eyes. It was a white handkerchief.

“It… it’s not much, but even if you don’t like it, I hope you’ll accept it. Just this once.”

She squeezed her eyes shut before he could properly examine it, preemptively defending herself.

When had he ever refused her?

He didn’t think he had ever declined anything from her. Though he admitted he hadn’t always received her gifts enthusiastically.

Curious about what made her so earnest, he unfolded the handkerchief. In one corner, his name was embroidered crookedly next to a pink ribbon.

She really had no talent for handiwork. He couldn’t help but smile at the clumsy gift.

“It… it may not look like much, but it’s meaningful. Matilda told me that giving a handkerchief to a sailor means wishing for their safe return.”

When he just fingered the handkerchief without responding, Vivianne awkwardly added: “Come back safely, Kian. An and I will be waiting for you.”

“Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

Was she surprised by his sincere gratitude? Dimples appeared on her shy cheeks.

Kian finally realized why the final voyage had felt strange to him. Even if he lost his compass and direction, there was now someone waiting for him, shining like a lighthouse.

“I’ll be back, Vivi.”

* * *

Darkness surrounded everything. The night sea was deathly quiet, with only gentle ripples disturbing the surface.

On the deck of the warship, Kian stared intently at the creature that had been suddenly captured.

“It’s a mermaid, Lieutenant. Should we kill it?”

Having received the same orders in similar situations before, the officer asked first this time.

“Wait.”

It was the first time Kian had hesitated before deciding the fate of such a creature.

Something felt wrong. All the mermaids he had seen before had long hair reaching their waists, but this one was different.

“…Please spare me.”

The mermaid, bound with ropes, was pale and trembling, but something seemed off.

Kian knew better than anyone what eyes looked like when a creature was gripped by fear.

Their gazes met. The mermaid’s eyes were strangely empty, devoid of emotion.

“Please, show mercy.”

The mermaid began to plead with clasped hands. At that moment, Kian’s gaze darkened as he noticed something familiar on the mermaid’s wrist.

“Lower your weap*ns. I need to check something.”

He prayed he had seen wrong in the darkness. The moment Kian approached the mermaid, its lips twisted into a smile.

“…Glory to the prophets.”

With these cryptic words, the mermaid collapsed.

“It’s… it’s dead, Lieutenant.”

The officer reported with a pale face after confirming there was no pulse in the neck.

Kian, unable to believe it, personally checked for breathing and lifted the mermaid’s limp wrist.

“……”

There, a wet lace ribbon clung to her skin.

—

T/N: I AM SO SEATED RIGHT NOW