Chapter 15: I Am Your Servant
I felt awkward, but I secretly admired the man’s boldness in making up such a ridiculous story.
If it were me, I could never do something like that.
Still, just because he worked hard to act desperate didn’t mean I was obliged to help him.
I was about to ignore him when suddenly, he dropped to his knees and begged.
“Darling, please…”
Does he really have such a desperate reason to cross into the Remji Empire?
His pleading eyes stirred my heart just a little.
So, I asked the sailor,
“If I acknowledge him, will you let him on the ship?”
“If one partner’s identity is confirmed, then both husband and wife are allowed.”
I knew I should ignore him, but those eyes, filled with hope, kept bothering me.
So instead of saying yes, I tested him.
“If you become my servant starting today, I’ll forgive you. To prove it, kiss my shoe.”
If he was that desperate, maybe I could help him just once.
Without hesitation, the man crawled closer on his knees, grabbed the hem of my robe, and said,
“Yes, Master.”
“…”
“I am your servant.”
Then, he really kissed the tip of my shoe.
Smack.
The sound of the kiss made people nearby burst out laughing.
I looked down at him in disbelief.
What a crazy guy…
The man who boarded thanks to me followed close behind, like a puppy trailing its master.
I stopped in a quiet corner of the deck, and he stopped too, standing in front of me.
“What’s my master’s name?” he asked.
I replied, “You don’t even know the name of the person you called ‘darling’?”
He grinned shamelessly.
“That’s why I’m asking now.”
For the first time, I gave a fake name.
“My name is Rene. What’s yours?”
“I’m…” He paused for a moment, rolling his eyes as if thinking, then answered, “Bordeaux.”
It felt like a fake name too, but I didn’t bother asking.
I didn’t expect honesty from him anyway.
After all, he lied so smoothly just to get on the ship.
Who cares, I thought.
I had already given in to his shamelessness and helped him. By tomorrow evening, we’d arrive in the Remji Empire.
Once there, our connection would end.
No need to pry further.
But Bordeaux seemed to want our connection to continue, because he kept talking.
“How old are you, Rene?”
“Twenty.”
“I’m four years older—twenty-four.”
Somehow, he got me to share my age too. He was skilled at keeping the conversation flowing.
I replied dryly, “I see. So, you’re a conman, Bordeaux.”
“Have you ever seen a conman this handsome?”
“I saw one today. You.”
Looking closely, I had to admit—he was very good-looking.
Bordeaux smirked.
The sea breeze swept across the deck, making his blue hair flutter beautifully.
“So, you admit I’m handsome, right?”
“You really are good at only hearing what you want to hear.”
“Thanks.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
Even though I said that, I suddenly burst into laughter.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because I’m chatting so casually with a conman I just met. It’s funny.”
What was even funnier was that I was actually enjoying this conversation with a suspicious stranger.
I couldn’t remember the last time I laughed so freely.
Bordeaux, not knowing my circumstances, said,
“Let’s keep getting along like this, Master.”
As if he wanted our bond to last even after reaching the Remji Empire.
I just answered flatly, “We’ll see.”
At that moment, the ship’s horn blared loudly. The deck trembled as the ship began to move.
Under the crescent moon in the dark night, our journey to the Remji Empire had begun.
The ship carried not only passengers but also goods headed for the Remji Empire.
The largest shipment was wine.
The Lopez Empire had many vineyards, and their grapes were high quality, producing delicious wine.
Deep inside the ship, in the restricted cargo hold, several sailors worked.
The manager frowned while counting barrels of wine.
One was missing.
“Hey, Charlie! One’s short. Did you move everything from the deck?”
The sailor named Charlie scratched his head.
“I’ll check again right now.”
The manager smacked him lightly.
“Do your job properly, will you?”
Charlie quickly ran up to the deck, muttering to himself.
I could’ve sworn I moved them all… Did I make a mistake?
On deck, he saw a blue-haired man and a woman who seemed to be a couple, along with other passengers.
Then his eyes stopped—behind the blue-haired man, one wine barrel was still left.
Ah, I forgot one.
Charlie walked over. The blue-haired man politely stepped aside so he could pass.
But Charlie, being single, glared at him resentfully before turning away.
Damn couples. They can all rot in hell.
He lifted the barrel onto his shoulder. On its side was the region where the wine was produced:
Bordeaux.
The man who claimed to be my servant seemed full of bluff.
When I asked his job, he said,
“I run several businesses in the Remji Empire. My biggest one is a café. You should visit someday—the coffee is amazing.”
He spoke as if he were a wealthy businessman.
He even waved his hands dramatically, his loose shirt sleeves fluttering with the motion.
I didn’t believe him.
He didn’t look like a successful businessman at all.
If he really were, wouldn’t he have at least one servant with him?
He wouldn’t need to beg a stranger to pretend as his wife.
Definitely a conman.
Still, in his simple clothes, Bordeaux looked more free than anyone else.
Not like a businessman, but like a smooth-talking conman or wandering drifter.
While I gazed out at the endless ocean, I asked casually,
“Then why did a businessman from the Remji Empire come to the Lopez Empire?”
I didn’t really press him for the truth.
We’d part ways soon anyway. And honestly, I was curious how far his lies would go.
Bordeaux brushed his hair back stylishly and answered,
“The only thing that moves me… is a woman who shook my heart.”
Not the answer I expected.
I thought he’d say something about business.
Lowering my voice, I whispered,
“Your real wife?”
Sailors bustled around us, so I didn’t want to cause a scene.
Maybe I didn’t want others to overhear about his supposed wife.
He lowered his voice too.
“No. A woman who almost became my wife. We were supposed to marry in the Lopez Empire, but she ran away.”
That story felt strangely familiar.
I remembered my own grand wedding, and how Gran was left behind.
Looking at Bordeaux while thinking of Gran, I felt their presence was oddly similar.
But of course, I didn’t know Gran’s real face—half of it was hidden behind a veil.
Still, the chance of them being the same person seemed slim.
A man of noble status wouldn’t disguise himself as a braggart.
After all, Bordeaux had kissed my shoe and crawled on his knees.
A prince would never do that.
And instead of cleaning up the chaos of his failed wedding, why would he sneak onto a ship to the Remji Empire?
Impossible.
They must be different people.
I was sure of it.
