Nakatingin lamang ako sa dagat habang tinatangay naman ang buhok ko ng hangin. Ang bawat alon ay tila kumakaway ito sa akin. I took a deep breath. Why am I feeling disappointed? This is strange.

I sighed and turned my gaze toward the moon. The moon was breathtaking, especially since it was the only thing casting light over the vast ocean. Its glow shimmered as it reflected off the water's surface.

"My wife is here, and it's unexpected." I immediately turned to face the speaker. My heart skipped a beat, a familiar sensation whenever I was near him or had to confront him directly. I quickly looked away and swallowed hard. Why is the top button of his shirt undone? Now I can clearly see his muscular chest.

"I got bored," I lied, trying to keep my voice steady and maintain my composure. I wrapped my arms around myself as the wind suddenly picked up. Why is it so cold? The ocean water is warm, and the air shouldn't be this chilly, it should be just mild.

I gasped as warm arms suddenly wrapped around me from behind. I instinctively tried to pull away from his embrace, but he immediately pressed himself closer to me. My heart started to race, and I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. "Y-your Majesty," I murmured, struggling to catch my breath while desperately trying to maintain my composure.

"It's cold, and this is the best way to stay warm." His hushed words made me grip the ship's railing tightly. His voice was deep and husky, and the warmth of his breath against my ear sent shivers down my spine. The heat from his body was so intense that it made my knees tremble.

"You're being clingy, Your Majesty," I remarked, forcing my voice to be firm and cold, trying to conceal the turmoil that his closeness was stirring within me. I wanted to free myself from his embrace—his nearness was overwhelming, and I didn’t like how much it was affecting me.

"Maybe I just missed my wife," he whispered, and I was taken aback by what he did next. He pressed a kiss to the bare skin of my shoulder, causing my eyes to widen in shock. Suddenly, I started hiccuping uncontrollably, my heart pounding even faster as my entire body felt like it was on fire, consumed by an intense heat.

The hiccups continued, much to my embarrassment. It was as if they were a clear sign of how deeply affected I was by his touch.

I let out a soft laugh, though the hiccups kept interrupting me. I tried to remain as calm as possible—this was truly embarrassing. "H-his Majesty is acting strange all of a sudden, and it’s quite frightening," I remarked, finding my boldness amidst the chaos of my emotions. I was caught off guard when I heard his low, seductive chuckle, and I quickly pressed my lips together. Goodness! If he continued like this, I might lose control. Yes, I wanted to gain his favor, I wanted to tame him, but this—this was far beyond what I had imagined!

An irrational urge welled up within me—a desire to cling to him, and it terrified me.

"Maybe this is a good start," he mumbled, and I frowned in confusion. What did he mean by 'a good start'? A start of what?

"I don’t understand, Your Majesty," I replied. My gaze dropped to my hands as he placed his own over them, gently gripping them. A chill ran through me at his touch, sending my mind into a whirlwind. Goodness!

"A good start to building our relationship," he clarified. I immediately turned to face him, and slowly, the irritation that had been building up inside me began to fade. I stared into his eyes, and he appeared completely serious.

"Your Majesty, this is not the right way to start a relationship," I stated, attempting to gently push him away, but he resisted. I smiled sweetly at him, trying to keep my frustration in check, fighting the urge to step on his foot. He smirked at me. "But this is the only way I know, what can you do?" he reasoned. I was left speechless, and now I truly wanted to slap him. Maybe a slap would help him realize what the right way truly is.

"Your Majesty, the pirates," the captain’s voice cut through the tension, allowing me to finally breathe a sigh of relief. The Emperor released his hold on me, and his expression immediately became unreadable, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

The captain handed the telescope to His Majesty, who then turned toward the sea, bringing the telescope to his eye. He scanned the horizon for a few seconds before facing us. "Prepare yourselves, and protect the Empress at all cost," he commanded, his voice firm and cold, carrying a clear warning that danger was imminent. The captain, startled, quickly glanced at me before bowing his head in swift submission. "Forgive me for my insolence, Your Majesty. I didn’t know," he apologized, his tone filled with respect and humility.

"No worries," I responded with a curt nod. I then looked at His Majesty, only to find him gazing at me. He seemed at good state now. I resisted the urge to tell him that I could fight.

"Please, Your Majesty, follow me," Captain Ezekiel said as he began to lead the way. I followed him in silence, without glancing back at the Emperor.

Dinala ako ng kapitan sa opisina nila at agad din naman akong iniwan. Maya maya ay dumating sina Edward, Sarah, at dalawang knights na kasama namin.

"Your Majesty, you have nothing to worry about. We will protect you at all costs," Edward declared, his voice resolute and filled with determination. I simply stared at them, observing their vigilant stances, every muscle seemingly on edge, ready to respond to any threat. I sighed inwardly. I knew I could protect myself and fight if necessary; their level of concern seemed excessive to me.

Ilang sandale pa ay saka nagsimula ang kaguluhan. Napaigtad ako nang may narinig akong pagsabog dahilan ng pagyanig ng ship. Sumilip ako sa maliit na bintana, nakita ko kung paano nagpalitan ng mga bala ng kanyon ang dalawang panig. Agad nabalutan ng usok ang ibabaw ng dagat.

I clenched my fists. I cannot just wait here, at titingin na lang. Kada putok na narinig ko ay napapaigtad ako. Hindi ako sanay sa mga paputok.

Agad kaming naalerto nang nakarinig kami ng kalabog mula sa labas ng kinaroroonan namin. Hinanda nila Edward ang mga espada nila. Agad naman akong naglibot ng tingin, naghahanap kung ano ang pwede kong gamitin na sandata. Napatingin ako sa drawer at mabilis ko itong binuksan. My eyes widened in shock—there was a gun. Without hesitation, I grabbed it.

It felt heavy in my hand, but I could manage to hold it. Now, how do I use this? I recalled from the movies I used to watch that you have to cock it first. I tried, but it was tough, requiring more force than I expected. My attention snapped to the door as something slammed against it, clearly trying to break in. I quickly refocused on the gun, and in my tension, I mustered all my strength. My eyes widened in surprise—I did it!

I immediately aimed the gun at the door, finger trembling on the trigger. I flinched when the door burst open violently, but Edward and the two knights managed to push it shut again. I glanced at Sarah, who was now crouched under the table, her face pale with fear and anxiety.

I turned my attention back to Edward and the others, and to my shock, a sword suddenly pierced through the door from outside, forcing them to step back. In that moment of chaos, the enemy outside succeeded in forcing the door open. In my panic, I squeezed the trigger with my eyes tightly shut. My eyes flew open in shock when the gun fired—the recoil was so strong it felt like a kick, sending me crashing into the wall of the ship and tumbling to the floor. I winced and clutched my head as pain shot through it.

Narinig kong nagkagulo na ang paligid kaya nagmadali akong tumayo kahit nahihilo. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng sinalubong ako ng espada kaya awtomatikong naiharang ko ang baril. Napangiwi ako sa kalansing nito. He swung his sword at me again, and I swiftly dodged it. I fired the gun at him, but given how close he was, the shot only grazed him. I quickly glanced down at the gun, frowning. Damn it, this gun is so difficult to handle, and on top of that, I'm no sharpshooter.

I swiftly bent my body forward as he attacked me once more with his sword. I quickly stood up and instinctively jumped onto the table, launching one of my feet straight at him, sending him crashing to the floor.

Wasting no time, I kicked his wrist, forcing him to drop the sword he was holding. He let out a cry of pain, and I immediately seized the sword from him, pointing it directly at his throat. His eyes widened in shock.

Humigpit ang paghawak ko sa espada at walang pag-atubiling ginilitan siya ng leeg. The battle raged on, with only the sound of clashing steel echoing through the room. The pirates could only approach me one by one, as Edward and the other knights did their best to block their advance. The confined space made it difficult to fight effectively, with barely enough room to maneuver.

I glanced over in Sarah's direction—she was now desperately trying to defend herself with a dagger, her movements frantic yet determined. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang nadaplisan niya ito sa pisngi, the joy was evident on her face as she launched another attack against the enemy, now seemingly energized by the fight. I shook my head in disbelief—she actually seemed to be enjoying this.

I glanced at Edward and the others before deciding to take action. I stepped out of the office. "Your Majesty!" I heard Edward call out, but I ignored him, focusing instead on the enemies who were now closing in.

My eyes widened, and I instinctively dodged as an axe flew toward me, narrowly missing. I followed its trajectory with my gaze and saw it bury itself deep into a chest nearby. I quickly refocused on the enemies. One of them charged at me with his sword, but I immediately parried the blow. I retaliated by kicking his knee hard, causing him to stumble and struggle to regain his balance. I swung my sword straight to his neck, the blade sliced his flesh, made him die in instant.

Agad akong tumakbo at mabilis na tumalon sa ibabaw ng malaking kaban, using it as springboard. My foot  shot out, slamming into the enemy who was approaching. Bumagsak ito sa sahig, mabilis akong pumatong sa kanya at ibinaon ko ang espada sa kanyang dibdib. Marahas ko itong binunot dahilan ng pagtalsik ng kanyang dugo. I swung my sword to the right, flicking off the blood that had clung to the blade.

I once again found myself in the heat of battle, clashing swords with my enemies. However, my attention was abruptly diverted when a figure leaped down from above—it was Gabriel. I paused, my gaze locked on him for a moment. His movements were swift, almost like a blur, and it was clear he was well-trained in the art of combat. My eyes widened in shock as he suddenly hurled the dagger he was holding in my direction. Startled, I quickly turned to see where it had landed, only to discover a man sprawled on the ground behind me, the dagger buried deep in his chest. Gabriel's aim had been flawless.

"What are you doing here?" Gabriel's voice cut through the chaos, startling me. I spun around to face him, only to realize he was standing much closer than I had anticipated. The proximity made me instinctively take a step back.

"Fighting," I replied, my voice unwavering, filled with pride and determination. A smirk played on his lips as his eyes roved over me, as if assessing me, studying every inch of my being.

"You are seducing me, Miss Celestia," he remarked, his gaze piercing as it fixated on me. My eyes widened, my mouth falling open in shock. "Seducing?! I am not!" I exclaimed, utterly incredulous at his accusation. Why on earth would I try to seduce him? And what made him even think that?

I flinched when his hand suddenly cupped my cheek, and I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. What was he doing?

I was rendered speechless as he gently brushed his thumb across the bare skin of my cheek. "These bloodstains... they’re like decorations on your body, making you even more alluring," he murmured, his voice low and husky. My eyes widened further—was he serious? Could this man be a psychopath?

I took a step back, raising an eyebrow at him in disbelief. "Are you perhaps a psycho?" I asked, my tone firm and laced with annoyance. He merely smirked at me in response. "Call it what you will, but this is who I am," he answered, as if there was nothing about himself he needed to hide or be ashamed of.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Well, it doesn’t matter. I don’t like you, and I am not seducing you, Gabriel," I retorted, my voice sharp and precise. His expression darkened, but I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I brushed past him, intentionally bumping my shoulder against his as I did. I quickly ascended the staircase, but just as I reached the top, an explosion rocked the ship. The force of the blast slammed me against the side of the ship, and I clutched my head as my hearing temporarily abandoned me.

Nakangiwi akong sumubok na tumayo ngunit sobrang sakit nang balakang ko. A hand suddenly appeared in front of me, extended as if offering assistance. I looked up to see who it belonged to—of course, it was Gabriel again. I accepted his hand, and with a firm grip, he helped me to my feet. As I stood, my gaze swept across the chaotic scene around us. The ship was in utter disarray, smoke billowing in thick clouds, and debris scattered everywhere from the recent explosions.

I let my eyes wander, searching for any sign of the Emperor. Finally, I spotted him. His movements were precise, almost elegant, as he fought off the enemies with an effortless skill that was mesmerizing to watch. Even though he had a wound on his side, it seemed to have no effect on his performance—he moved as if he were invincible.

I was just about to make my way towards him when Gabriel suddenly pulled me back, positioning me behind him protectively. He immediately engaged in combat with the pirates who had drawn too close to us. His swordsmanship was fierce and unyielding, each strike delivered with deadly accuracy.

Despite the fight raging around us, my eyes were drawn back to the Emperor, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise. He was holding Lilieth by the wrist—she had been behind him this entire time. My teeth clenched in irritation. She was clearly using the chaos as an excuse to stay close to His Majesty, clinging to him like some desperate sycophant. What a flirt.

I frowned as Gabriel yanked me towards him, clearly trying to shield me from the oncoming enemies. Irritated, I pushed him away and swung my sword to the right, driving it straight into an enemy’s chest. My eyes locked with Gabriel’s; I wanted to show him that I didn’t need his protection.

He smirked, his eyes betraying a mix of admiration and surprise. Rolling my eyes at him, I turned my focus back to the battle. We fought on relentlessly, with Gabriel remaining close by my side. As I ducked to avoid a passing axe, I suddenly felt someone grip my waist. I looked over to see Gabriel’s grinning face. My frown deepened, but I was stunned when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind him. The force of his pull caused me to stumble, and I glanced back at him, seeing that he too was surprised by his own actions.

I collided with something hard. Looking up, my eyes widened as I met the blank, intense gaze of the Emperor, his jaw clenched tightly. He grasped my shoulders and turned me to face him, pulling me closer until my mouth fell open in surprise.

He gently pushed Lilieth away, and I followed her as she stumbled towards her brother. The look of shock on her face was unmistakable, clearly not expecting the Emperor to shove her. Her brother caught her, equally surprised by the turn of events. I noticed Gabriel’s jaw tightening in frustration.

“Face me, wife,” the Emperor said, his touch on my jaw feeling like a jolt of electricity. He turned my face towards him, his burning gaze meeting mine. “You are not supposed to be here, wife,” he said, his voice steady and deep. I swallowed hard and tried to push him away, but he resisted.

I forced a sweet smile to mask my nervousness. “Your Majesty, can’t you see? I am capable of fighting, so why hide?” I replied, striving to keep my voice calm and gentle. His eyes narrowed as he seemed to be evaluating me, searching for something.

“You’ve changed a lot,” he remarked, confusion evident on his face. His grip on my shoulders tightened. “You seem like a different person,” he continued, as if trying to piece together a puzzle.

Nakaramdam naman ako nang kaunting pagkabahala. Malalaman niya kaya na ibang kaluluwa ang nasa katawan ni Celestia? But it is impossible, and I am certain of it. What had happened between Celestia and me was beyond the comprehension of an ordinary person. I let out a soft chuckle. “Your Majesty, everything can be learned,” I reasoned, maintaining my composure and flashing a sweet smile.

“Is that so?” he asked. I nodded, widening my smile even further to convince him. He studied me for a moment, and I was taken aback when he suddenly embraced me. We spun around together as he swung his sword at the approaching enemies with precision.

We continued to fight, but now only a few pirates made it close to me, as the Emperor consistently intercepted any that tried to approach my position.

Our skirmish came to a halt when a man leaped down from a rope, landing right in front of the Emperor. He flashed a sinister grin, and judging by his stance, he seemed to be the leader of the pirates. Despite his age, he was not far off from the Emperor in terms of appearance. A scar marred his cheek, adding a menacing quality to his face. Though he was not unattractive, he paled in comparison to the Emperor's striking looks.

“My friend! We meet again,” he said, his voice smooth and seemingly delighted to see an old acquaintance. I furrowed my brow in confusion. The Emperor stepped in front of me, shielding me with his entire body. I peeked around him and was startled to see the pirate leader peering back at me. A chill ran down my spine as he grinned at me.

“Who is she?” he asked, his admiration palpable. “I’ve never seen such a beautiful lady in all my life, not until now,” he added, his face betraying genuine awe.

“There is no need to know. Leave this place, or you’ll die, Ilsidor,” His Majesty’s voice was icy, clearly signaling the grave danger that awaited the enemies.

Ilsidor laughed maniacally, his demeanor deranged. “What if we leave this place, and in exchange, you give me the lady?” His suggestion made my eyes widen in shock. How audacious! I am not an object to be bartered! I gritted my teeth, my anger flaring. I wished I could cut out his tongue for such insolence.

“Then you leave me no choice,” His Majesty responded coldly before launching himself at Ilsidor. His movements became increasingly aggressive, precise, and swift.

The fight was brief. It was evident that the Emperor was far superior in combat skills, and soon Ilsidor was on his knees, defeated and battered, his body showing the toll of their fierce exchange. Puno na rin siya ng sugat sa katawan.

Akmang tatapusin na ito ng Emperor kaya agad ko itong pinigilan, “Wait!” I exclaimed, stepping forward to position myself beside the Emperor. I turned my attention to Ilsidor, my lips curling into a smirk. “Please remember me when you arrive in hell,” I said, my tone dripping with contempt.

Ilsidor responded with a smirk of his own. “As you wish, beautiful,” he replied, his voice still carrying a playful, mocking lilt.

I gritted my teeth in frustration—his arrogance was infuriating. I turned away, and the Emperor promptly finished him off.

“The war is over!” His Majesty announced, holding up Ilsidor’s head for all to see. The remaining pirates halted, their numbers dwindling.

“You will leave and not return!” His Majesty continued, his voice firm and commanding. “In exchange—” I interjected, stepping forward to the chests I had brought. I opened them to reveal the treasures inside, their contents gleaming with a promise of wealth.

The pirates exchanged glances, communicating silently. I was confident that a bribe would ensure they wouldn’t come back. Pirates are driven by wealth, after all.

“Then we will leave and not return,” one of them declared, with others nodding in agreement. I smirked—we had won.

The crowd erupted in celebration as the pirates departed, and the ocean grew calm once more.

MsL.
Do vote and comments, big help from stopping me to kill all the characters haha. charr!