~Chapter 68~
Larvihan was watching and smiling softly at their conversation. Lovelace asked him a question. Even though someone almost hurt her—and Larvihan too—he just took his seat in the shop.
It might sound self-centered, but usually Larvihan would have tried to kill Bain for this. He must have some hidden reason.
“This is really the place with the best beer. And this is where all the troublemaking sailors gather.”
Larvihan cursed, saying the men here all had terrible personalities.
‘He wants me to find a navigator here.’
This was Larvihan’s way. He liked to give hints that helped Lovelace stand on her own, without making her feel pressured.
It was not Larvihan’s usual style; he preferred things easy and simple.
Her stomach felt a bit ticklish.
“Thank you.”
“You didn’t even taste the beer yet?”
Larvihan handed Lovelace one of the glasses in front of him. She took it and drank it down right away. Her eyebrows wrinkled.
‘It’s lukewarm.’
But it was drinkable.
“The beer is good. Maybe because the person drinking with me is cool.”
Larvihan coughed and put down his glass. He looked at Lovelace, thinking she was acting strange today.
There were many reasons—she was going far away, she was trying something new, maybe something would happen. Lovelace just shrugged her shoulders and kept quiet.
Sitting together, drinking beer, it felt like a date. Larvihan brought her here for work, but she couldn’t waste this chance he gave her.
Lovelace put her glass down loudly.
“One more, please.”
Bain’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t want to, but because Larvihan was there, he gave Lovelace another drink.
Lovelace, instead of stopping at one or two, drank like she had a special beer pouch in her stomach.
“Can’t you drink more slowly?”
Bain put another beer in front of Lovelace and spoke roughly.
“I’m paying. I’m a customer.”
Lovelace talked back to Bain without fear. She was getting tipsy, and her words became bolder. Larvihan just watched with his arms crossed.
Bain glanced at Larvihan. Larvihan just shrugged. Bain shook his head and took Lovelace’s empty glass.
Then Bain put a new glass in front of Lovelace and tapped Larvihan’s desk.
“I’ll be away for a bit.”
Bain went behind the bar.
“Rey, don’t drink too much.”
“Where are you going?”
Larvihan stood up from his chair. Lovelace grabbed his collar and asked. Her round eyes and blushing cheeks were cute. Larvihan didn’t answer, just touched her cheek and left.
“Finally, I’m alone. Hi, cutie.”
As soon as Larvihan left, big men surrounded Lovelace.
“Hello.”
Lovelace nodded quickly and picked up her beer.
“Your boyfriend might be late. Want to hang out with us? We won’t hurt you.”
“If you do that, this precious lady will get scared. Move aside.”
A man put his elbow on the table next to Lovelace’s glass, leaning in.
“Want to have a drink over there? Or should I come here?”
“This seat is taken.”
The men started to bother Lovelace.
“Are you shy? You don’t have to be.”
A man tried to sit in Larvihan’s seat. Lovelace pushed the chair away with her foot. The man, not looking, fell backward.
“Hahaha, stop it, you crazy guy. Who’d want to drink looking at your face? I’m better than him.”
Another man came, showing off tattooed arms and yellow teeth.
“Your boyfriend left, so you don’t need manners.”
Lovelace ignored them.
“We’re better than that weak guy, right?”
“That’s right!”
The men laughed loudly, shaking the pub. Lovelace’s face turned fierce. She tried to stay quiet, but they went too far.
When Lovelace stood up, one man grabbed her arm. She almost fell but kept her balance.
People laughed as she stood in the middle of the pub. Lovelace brushed her messy hair back.
“I could smell something rotten when I came in. So that’s what you guys smell like?”
Even with her bold words, the sailors just laughed.
Lovelace picked up a beer mug from the table.
She spun her wrist. It was useless to reason with drunken troublemakers.
“Careful, lady. You might break your wrist.”
Should she throw it or not?
Lovelace licked her lips, thinking.
“Cutie, you’ll get hurt that way.”
Who would get hurt—me or you?
Lovelace smiled brightly. Then she threw the beer mug. It crashed at the feet of the man who called Larvihan weak, glass flying everywhere.
“I thought she was cute, but she’s just crazy, isn’t she?”
The men Lovelace had pushed away came closer.
“We were trying to be nice to you because you’re a woman, but that’s it.”
“You and I aren’t different. They say I can’t get on a ship because I’m a woman—so what’s so different about you?”
The men’s lips trembled. They closed their mouths, pain flashing in their eyes.
“I’m not in the mood anymore.”
They went back to their tables. The pub suddenly became quiet.
‘Why did it get so quiet?’
When they were fighting, they fought. Now, when it was quiet, it was too quiet. Lovelace turned her chair and looked at them.
Their faces were troubled—sadness, anger, and all kinds of negative feelings mixed together.
“A ship is our life.”
A very tall man came over, said this, and went back. He drank his beer as if it was his enemy.
Why did they look so hurt when they started the trouble?
Lovelace rested her chin and stared at the men.
Larvihan said these men had caused trouble before, so now they couldn’t get on a ship.
“If you want to sail, I have a ship.”
Lovelace spoke carelessly, chin on her hand.
“You want us on a woman’s ship?”
“She’s crazy. A woman’s ship? Want to be cursed by a siren?”
“Forget it. I don’t want to take you anyway…”
Lovelace stopped herself. You never know what will happen, so don’t say too much.
If Larvihan brought her here, these men must be skilled sailors.
While Lovelace was thinking, Larvihan returned.
“Rey, did something happen?”
She almost complained to Larvihan, but didn’t.
“No.”
“Really? Did you punch them? Why is it so quiet now?”
Lovelace smiled at his joke. She ignored his question and asked what she wanted to know.
“Larvihan, what did those people do?”
Just then, Bain came back with a stiff face.
(Scene change)
Arwen visited the Papal Palace. Four times a year, the emperor did a special prayer. It was an official event. Wearing a neat dress, she finished the prayer and stepped outside.
“It’s been a while, Your Holiness.”
When Arwen stood next to Nicolai, the guards and attendants stepped back.
“Shall we walk a bit, Your Holiness?”
Nicolai smiled faintly. They walked through the huge hall to the back door. The small garden path was for Nicolai alone.
“I think we should stop trying to persuade Count Lovelace, Your Holiness.”
Nicolai raised an eyebrow, but quickly hid his expression.
“Count Lovelace is a warm-hearted person. If she learns the truth about Duke Larvihan, she might join us anytime, Your Majesty.”
Arwen stopped and stared at Nicolai.
“What truth?”
“What…?”
“I’m asking what truth about Larvihan, Your Holiness.”
Nicolai was confused. He had called Larvihan a devil who would destroy the empire many times. But why was Arwen pretending not to know?
“Your Majesty, you must know already.”
“Of course I know. You’ve told me many times. Duke Larvihan is a devil who will destroy the world. But when? He’s still quiet, isn’t he?”
“Do you doubt God?”
“Of course not. If I did, would I have prayed so hard today?”
Arwen put her hands together dramatically, almost mocking God, but Nicolai didn’t comment.
“I just mean that Larvihan hasn’t done anything especially bad to persuade Count Lovelace.”
“He killed people! He massacred thousands!”
Nicolai shouted.
“He was ordered by the country.”
“Are you defending Duke Larvihan?”
“No, just saying facts, Your Holiness.”
Larvihan got his nickname as a butcher because of the emperor.
Larvihan was quiet unless provoked. Arwen knew this from watching him a long time.
But it was Arwen’s father who kept provoking Larvihan, saying, “Do this, and you can live in peace.”
“He did enjoy killing.”
“I can’t deny it. Larvihan did enjoy war. But I don’t think Count Lovelace will see him that way.”
“Duke Larvihan is definitely a devil. Your Majesty, don’t be fooled by his wicked tongue.”
Arwen shook her head.
“I’m not fooled, Your Holiness. I trust you and God’s words. But will Count Lovelace believe it? Persuasion? Good idea—if you can. But you’ve failed every time, right?”
Nicolai realized Arwen was just poking at Lovelace for fun.
He let Arwen try her way, even though it never worked, because he had no better plan to change Lovelace’s mind.
Nicolai and Arwen both agreed that Larvihan had to be removed, but since Lovelace arrived, things changed.
Nicolai wanted to watch Lovelace and keep Larvihan in check. Arwen wanted to get rid of Lovelace first, by persuasion or force.
They chose different ways, but their goal was the same, so they didn’t fight openly.
At last, Nicolai asked,
“What do you want, Your Majesty?”
His eyes were serious.
“If persuasion doesn’t work, we’ll have to threaten her. My way isn’t working, so maybe you should try, Your Holiness?”
It wasn’t a question—it was an order. Arwen couldn’t order Nicolai, but she did it anyway. Nicolai frowned, not hiding his displeasure.
“What do you think, Your Holiness?”
Arwen put a hand on Nicolai’s arm. He pulled away quickly.
“Sorry, Your Holiness. You don’t like sudden touch.”
He hated being touched, especially by dirty hands.
“Let’s both be careful, Your Majesty.”
Nicolai clenched his teeth and tried to speak calmly.
“I still think we should give Count Lovelace more time. But since you are so determined, I’ll think about it.”
Nicolai turned and walked ahead, his back stiff with anger.
‘You’re the one who’s being hard on Count Lovelace, not me.’
Arwen wondered why Nicolai, always so calm, was acting like this. She stopped and called out,
“Your Holiness, Nicolai.”
He turned, and Arwen scratched her forehead and asked,
“Do you… maybe have feelings for Count Lovelace?”
