Chapter 106: He Snuck Into Her Ship
Evelina began organizing her logs. She charted their exact course toward the Eastern Frontier, her fingers tracing the glowing lines of the Ghost Routes.
Once she stacked the final parchments, she finally relaxed for the first time in months.
There were no corrupt nobles to deal with, she reminded herself... And most importantly, no brooding Duke to twist her emotions.
Ace Alvarez, his wealth, his military power, and his confusing actions were miles behind her now.
She was an independent finally, completely in control of her own destiny.
She threw herself back onto the leather chair, letting out a long sigh of pure relief.
Hours flew by as Evelina immersed herself in the business affairs, preparing the future plans for once they reached foreign ports.
The bright afternoon sky slowly succumbed to a pitch-black night.
The only light left in the cabin was the gentle glow of a single oil lamp hanging from the ceiling.
The ship rocked gently against the deep-sea waves.
Suddenly, Evelina’s pen froze in her hand.
Something was wrong, her instincts were raised. The ship was way too quiet.
The usual shouting of the night-shift sailors and the sound of boots on the deck above had completely vanished.
Evelina slowly stood up from her chair, her hand instinctively sliding into the hidden pocket of her cloak where a sharp dagger rested.
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the wooden cabin door.
Creak...
The ship gave a heavy lurch, as if a huge weight had just settled onto the deck.
Evelina took slow steps forward and gripped the brass handle of the cabin door.
She pulled the door open and stepped out.
Thud.
Evelina didn’t even have time to look up before her forehead slammed directly into a hard surface.
"Ugh..." she groaned by the sudden impact.
Her eyes snapped upward and she froze.
Standing right in front of her door, completely blocking the exit, was a familiar figure.
The moonlight cut through a nearby porthole, reflecting off a pair of a handsome face.
Ace was here.
Ace was here.
He wasn’t wearing his lavish Duke coats or the military uniform of the Alvarez family.
Instead, he was dressed in the simple, matte-black armor of a front-line vanguard scout. There were no family crests, no embroidery, and no symbols of his high status.
Yet, his presence was so difficult to avoid...
His dark eyes were heavily bloodshot, looking like he hadn’t slept for a wink.
"Are you insane?" For once, Evelina didn’t seem to be calm, "What are you doing on my ship?"
Ace stood perfectly still, his broad shoulders easily taking up the width of the place where he stood.
"I am protecting my investment," Ace responded quietly.
Evelina let out a cold laugh. As expected, this man was up to nothing good, "Your investment? I severed ties with the Alvarez estate this morning, Your Grace.
Every single ship in this fleet belongs to the Northern Merchant Guild, funded by my own contract. Not a single copper coin from your treasury touched these hulls."
"I know," Ace said softly.
The usual aristocratic arrogance was entirely missing from his face.
He looked down at his boots for a split second before meeting her gaze again. "I am not here as Duke Alvarez. I didn’t use my power to stop your ships, nor did I invoke the Emperor’s name to ground your vessels."
"You can say what you want before I have the Captain and fifty armed sailors throw you into the great seas," Evelina hissed, stepping closer until she was barely inches away from his chestplate.
"He already knows I am here," Ace murmured, "The unmarked black warship that was next to your fleet before dawn belongs to my personal scouts. They are currently sailing directly behind your ships to ensure your safety."
Evelina’s fingers twitched.
The mysterious midnight-black ship that had silently loomed over the harbor yesterday... it was actually his?
"You stalked me," she said, her voice dripping with uncontrollable rage, "You think you can just follow me across the seas and force me to play along with your obsession?"
"No," Ace said immediately, shaking his head.
He reached his hand out as if to touch her, but stopped himself mid-air, dropping his large fist back to his side, "I am not forcing you to do anything. I am not asking you to return to the Estate. I..."
"Then why are you standing outside my cabin door in the middle of the night?"
"Because these outer waters are suicide for a merchant fleet," Ace said, his expression turning deadly serious, "The boundaries of the northern sea are crawling with rogue pirate fleets and deep-sea creatures that your regular sailors cannot handle.
I have fought them for a decade so I know the dangers they pose here. You are so good at everything, Eve, but I’m so worried... You can’t fight a sea creature without a sword. "
He took a deep breath, his eyes swimming with determination.
"I am here to guard you," Ace stated firmly.
"I’m no treasure!’’
’My treasure,’ Ace pursed his lips and said, "Think of me as a mercenary you didn’t have to hire. Use my sword, use my vanguard ship, and use my life to clear your path to the East. I don’t care if you hate me forever. I must protect you."
Evelina stared at him, completely stunned by his sheer shamelessness.
The man had literally stripped himself of his prestigious title, dressed like a common foot soldier, and snuck onto her ship to act as a meat shield.
"I don’t need your protection," Evelina said, her voice hardening as she raised her hand to point toward the deck stairs, "Take your ship and get off my fleet. Right now. I am ordering you to leave."
Ace didn’t move an inch.
He simply stood there, looking at her like a stubborn hound refusing to leave its master’s side.
"Evelina, please—"
Ping!
Evelina didn’t hear the rest of the words because the System popped up, completely blocking her vision of Ace’s miserable face.
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