Chapter 43
“We were just saying our goodbyes, Your Grace.”
Victor stood up from his seat and bowed politely to the duke.
“It seems I’ve finished my business here, so I’ll be on my way. See you later, Gianna.”
After Victor gave a courteous nod and walked out, the duke stared at the door that slammed shut, looking dumbfounded for a moment before turning his sharp gaze on me with a frown.
“…Mermaid, are you still close with that guy?”
It didn’t look like the two of them were any closer than before.
“What’s that hanging all over your wrist?”
“It’s a gift. Victor gave it to me.”
“My mermaid really has no taste. What’s so pretty about that cheap leather thing that you just took it?”
In other words, he hated it without even giving it a chance. Honestly, even if Victor had given me a diamond bracelet, the duke would’ve found some excuse to criticize it.
“Do you still hate Victor that much, Your Grace? I thought you two got a little closer after catching goblins together and visiting Karun.”
“Me? Get close to him? I’d sooner see that damn dragon talk to me politely using honorifics.”
The duke sat down across from me with a disapproving expression.
“Was it business that brought that guy here?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“You should’ve called me, too. I’m an investor in my mermaid’s business, after all.”
“But we haven’t officially received the investment yet, right? And it’s still in the development stage, so it’s not like we’re at the point where your input is needed.”
The clearer the boundaries are when money is involved, the better—especially between people like us, tied together by a work contract.
“Your Grace’s purse isn’t my purse. Besides, once we return to the Empire, we won’t be seeing each other again, right?”
“Never… see each other again?”
“Once the contract ends, would there be any reason for us to meet?”
I tilted my head at him as I asked.
‘He almost looks… sad?’
Nah, that couldn’t be.
Ever since the night we caught shrimp and watched fireworks at Kinsia Sea, Duke Rupellen had been acting strangely.
There were moments when he looked at me with eyes both deep and cold—enough to send shivers down my spine.
‘Does he… like me?’
I couldn’t say the thought hadn’t crossed my mind, but no matter how I turned it around, there was no reason for the duke to like someone like me.
‘Or did I say something wrong to him?’
Not really. Aside from that one time I stood up to him after setting aside our ranks—but even then, I’d only told him the truth.
‘Maybe he’s just sad about not getting to eat my cooking anymore?’
Hmm, that doesn’t sound likely either. Karun once told me that the senior chef at the Rupellen estate was an absolute master of his craft.
He was only left behind because of his age—he couldn’t endure long voyages anymore, which was why Karun had been chosen as the chef aboard the Bellutin.
With someone that talented back at the estate, there’s no reason he’d need me, a non-professional cook. So that couldn’t be it either.
The duke murmured under his breath, his voice heavy.
“Right… the contract’s almost over. That’s… how… it should be…”
“What did you just say?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
I didn’t catch the rest of what he said—it was too quiet to hear.
Finally, the day of departure arrived!
At the very top of the Bellutin, the black flag of House Rupellen fluttered proudly in the wind.
The sailors, who usually dressed sloppily, had donned crisp uniforms and were busy making final preparations for the voyage.
“Gianna… you’re really leaving?”
Arines looked at me with eyes brimming with tears.
“It’s so sad, seeing you go like this.”
Victor, who insisted he had to come see me off no matter how busy he was, had come all the way to the port himself.
The two of them looked so miserable that my own heart began to ache.
“Arines, I’ll come visit, okay? Keep selling those fans well. And Victor—please take good care of Princess Arines for me. She may seem eccentric, but she’s really soft-hearted.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll stop by the palace often to check on Her Highness.”
I pulled a floral scarf out of my pocket and wrapped it around Gari’s neck.
“Gari, go say goodbye to everyone before we leave. Dress up a little.”
“I don’t need to—I’m already cool enough!”
“Still, it’s manners. Image matters, you know?”
“I’m not even human!”
He grumbled, but obediently let me tie the scarf and then jumped into Arines’s arms.
“Princess, please stay healthy until we meet again.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
As Arines and Gari exchanged tearful farewells, the duke appeared on deck as if making a grand entrance.
His soft platinum hair rippled like waves in the sea breeze.
I couldn’t help but stare blankly at Duke Rupellen, dressed in the imperial uniform of the Astria Empire.
‘Wow… my heart’s actually pounding.’
My eyes traced his flawless face, utterly mesmerized.
‘How does a character like that even exist?’
I silently thanked my past selves—Choi Dahye, who’d suggested writing a novel, and Seo Hayoon, who’d accepted the idea.
‘Being reincarnated into a story isn’t so bad after all! I’m living every fangirl’s dream!’
Anyway, our contract would soon end and we’d go our separate ways. Might as well appreciate the view while I still could.
While I was lost in his face, the preparations for departure finished.
A sailor climbed up to the lookout and blew a horn made of seashell and ox horn.
Bwooo—
Finally, the Bellutin began to slowly move away from the harbor, embarking on its long journey toward the Astria Empire.
“Goodbye, Kingdom of Tian! Goodbye, island nation! Let’s try not to run into each other again!”
I waved both arms high toward the receding kingdom.
The gentle sea breeze at the back of the ship was refreshing, and the Bellutin glided smoothly over the water.
Ever since meeting Gari, my seasickness had completely vanished, so I was in perfect condition.
“Kyaha—! The sea! The sea!”
Gari seemed to be in an excellent mood too.
As we neared the region once known as the Sea of Dragons, Gari began letting out wild cries and soaring through the sky.
“Ooooh! I’m overflowing with energy! This must be the power of home! Kkyohot!”
At first, the crew had been terrified of the house-sized dragon, but over time, they’d grown used to his cuteness—now they just smiled and went about their duties.
“Creator! If you ever get tired of this slow ship, tell me! I’ll carry you across the sea on my back in no time!”
“I’d love to, honestly, but…”
Because of the contract, I couldn’t separate from the duke. Still, I asked him just in case.
“Your Grace, would you like to fly over to the Empire on Gari’s back with me?”
“No.”
The answer was instant and firm.
“Even if we arrived early, what would that accomplish? It would only mean parting from my mermaid sooner. Getting to enjoy your cooking for even one more day is more valuable to me.”
“How flattering,” I said dryly.
I turned back to Gari with a helpless shrug.
“Tch, what a show-off,” Gari muttered, shaking his head before soaring back into the sky.
The voyage continued smoothly.
As I hummed and enjoyed the breeze, the duke approached me.
“What’s got you so happy?”
“Your Grace, you’ve never worked under someone before, have you?”
“Of course not. I’ve always been the employer.”
“That explains it. No matter how nice the boss is, being an employee is still stressful.”
“Are you saying that for my benefit?”
“Oh dear, was it that obvious?”
I laughed and playfully tapped his shoulder.
“Anyway, once this voyage ends, our contract does too, right? How could I not feel good about that?”
The Duke of Rupellen would probably never understand—the pure bliss of an employee right before quitting.
It would take about ten days to reach the Empire.
Normally, we’d have to take a longer route to avoid the Sea of Dragons, but since the area had quieted, the trip was now much faster.
The Bellutin slowly entered the now dragonless waters.
“Gari, how do you feel?”
Gari, who had been joyfully flying around, landed on the railing, thought for a moment, and answered.
“Hmm. Nostalgic, I suppose.”
“Do you ever want to live in the sea again?”
“Hmm, not really.”
He shook his head.
“After meeting you, Creator, I feel like I’ve begun my second dragon life. I still love the sea, of course—but if you asked whether I’d go back to the time before I met you, I’d firmly say no.”
“Oh my, how sweet.”
“Hmph, so treat me even better then!”
I gently patted his round head.
“Of course. Let’s live happily together forever, you and me. We’re partners, after all, right?”
“Yes! I am the Creator’s eternal companion dragon!”
While we were laughing and chatting about nonsense like that—
In the distance, a small black dot appeared on the horizon, slowly drawing closer to the Bellutin.
“Huh? What’s that?”
