My Child is Dead

 

I felt awkward, yet I couldn’t help but admire the man’s audacity for concocting such a ridiculous story.

It was something I would never have the guts to do.

While his sincerity was commendable, it didn’t mean I had any obligation to help him.

Just as I resolved to turn my back on him, he suddenly knelt down and pleaded with me.

“Darling, please…”

‘Was there really any reason to go to such lengths to get into the Ramsey Empire?’

His desperation tugged at my heart a little, and I turned to the crew member with a question.

“If I acknowledge him, will he be allowed on the ship?”

“In the case of a couple, if one’s identity is verified, both can board.”

I knew it was right to pretend I didn’t know the man, yet the pleading look in his eyes made it hard to ignore.

Instead of accepting, I decided to test him with my words.

“If you become my servant starting today, I will forgive you. As proof of your commitment to being my servant, I want you to kiss my shoes.”

If you have that level of desperation, I might help you just this once.

Without any hesitation, the man crawled toward me and grasped the hem of my robe.

Then he said, “Yes, my master.”

“…….”

“I am your servant.”

He actually leaned down and kissed the tip of my shoe.

‘Smack.’

The sound of the kiss made the people nearby burst into laughter.

I looked down at him in disbelief.

‘Crazy man…’

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

The man who boarded with my help followed me like a puppy chasing its master.

I stopped walking in a corner of the deck, and he halted as well, standing in front of me.

“What’s your master’s name?”

I replied, “You don’t even know the name of the person you called ‘darling’?”

The man responded quite cheekily, “That’s why I’m asking now.”

I spoke my fake name for the first time.

“My name is Rene. What’s yours?”

“I’m…”

The man seemed to hesitate for a moment, rolling his eyes slightly before answering just in time.

“Bordeaux.”

It felt like a fake name, but I didn’t press him further.

I had no expectation that he would speak honestly in the first place.

He had already lied as if it were the truth when boarding.

I thought, what difference does it make?

I had helped him because I was charmed by his cheekiness, and we were set to arrive at the Ramsey Empire tomorrow evening.

Once we crossed into the Empire, our connection would no longer continue.

There was no need to pry into his name or circumstances.

But Bordeaux seemed to want our connection to continue, so he kept the conversation going with more questions.

“How old are you, Rene?”

“Twenty.”

“I’m four years older than you. Twenty-four.”

It was surprising to naturally share names and ages. Bordeaux seemed to have a knack for leading the conversation.

I replied dryly, “I see. Scammer Bordeaux.”

“Have you ever seen such a handsome scammer?”

“I saw one today. You.”

Upon closer inspection, his features were indeed striking. It was beauty that couldn’t be denied.

Bordeaux smiled widely.

The sea breeze blowing on the deck beautifully tousled his blue hair.

“So, that means you’re admitting I’m handsome, right?”

“I thought you were a scammer, but you also have the talent for only hearing what you want to hear.”

“Thank you.”

I pointed out the truth: “That’s not a compliment.”

Despite my cold words, I unexpectedly burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I’m just having such an easy conversation with a scammer I met a moment ago. It’s funny, isn’t it?”

And what was truly absurd was the fact that I found it enjoyable to talk to this man of unclear identity.

I wondered if it had been years since I had laughed so openly.

Bordeaux, who had no way of knowing my circumstances, said, “Let’s continue to get along without any reservations, Master.”

It was as if he was suggesting we should keep our connection even after going to the Ramsey Empire.

I replied blandly, “Well, I don’t know.”

At that moment, the ship’s horn sounded loudly, announcing our departure. The deck began to sway slightly as the ship started to move.

On this deep night, with only a crescent moon in the sky, we took our first strong step toward the Ramsey Empire.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

The ship wasn’t only carrying people traveling to and from the Ramsey Empire.

It was also loaded with various goods destined for the Ramsey Empire.

Among them, the most numerous items were wines.

The Lopez Empire had many vineyards, and the quality of the grapes was excellent, producing a lot of delicious wine.

In the depths of the ship, in a restricted area where only the manager was allowed, several well-built crew members were present.

Among them, the manager in charge of the goods on the ship frowned.

He was counting the number of oak barrels filled with wine, but one was missing.

“Hey, Charlie. We’re short on the number of wine barrels. Did you move everything from the deck?”

The crew member called Charlie awkwardly replied, “I’ll check right away.”

The manager lightly slapped Charlie on the back of the head. “Please do your job properly, okay?”

Charlie tilted his head and quickly headed to the deck.

‘I’m sure everything was moved… Was there a mistake?’

He went up to the deck and saw a blue-haired man and a woman who looked like a couple, along with other passengers.

Charlie’s gaze, which had been scanning the deck, suddenly stopped at one spot.

It was at an oak barrel, left alone behind the man with blue hair.

“Oh, shoot, I forgot to move one.”

As Charlie walked toward the barrel, the man with blue hair stepped aside a little.

The perpetually single Charlie shot a glare at the kind man, then turned his back.

“Damn, couples should all go to hell!”

The oak barrel Charlie was carrying on his shoulder had the name of the region where the wine was produced written on it.

<Bordeaux>

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

Bordeaux, who had taken it upon himself to be my servant, seemed like a braggart.

When asked what his job was, he said, “I run several businesses in the Ramsey Empire. The biggest one is a café. Would you like to come to my café? The coffee is really good.”

He spoke as if he were a tremendous businessman, embellishing his words.

He made grand gestures, and each time, the ample fabric of his shirt fluttered.

I thought that was probably a lie.

He didn’t look like the kind of man who would be a successful businessman.

If he were a thriving entrepreneur, wouldn’t he at least have a servant or two?

He wouldn’t just claim to be a stranger’s servant for the sake of an ID.

…Indeed, a scammer.

In his casual attire, Bordeaux looked freer than anyone else.

He looked less like a businessman and more like a smooth-talking con artist or a braggart wanderer.

As I gazed at the vast ocean stretching out on the deck, I posed another question.

“Why would a businessman from the Ramsey Empire come to the Lopez Empire?”

I didn’t bother to press him about his profession.

After all, we were bound to part ways soon, so I thought I might as well let it be. I was also curious about how far Bordeaux would go with his lies.

Bordeaux swept his hair back stylishly and replied, “The only thing that can move me is a woman who stirs my heart.”

It was an unexpected answer.

I had anticipated he would mumble something related to business.

I lowered my voice and whispered, “Your real wife?”

There were busy crew members moving about on the deck. I didn’t want to create any unnecessary commotion.

I didn’t want them to find out that Bordeaux had a real wife.

He seemed to have the same thought, lowering his voice like I did.

“No, a woman who almost became my wife. I was supposed to marry her in the Lopez Empire, but she ran away.”

Somehow, it sounded familiar.

I thought of my lavish wedding venue and Gran, who would be left alone there.

As I looked at Bordeaux while thinking of Gran, I felt that the two had a somewhat similar vibe.

Of course, I didn’t know Gran’s face well; he had covered more than half of it with a veil.

But I thought the likelihood of them being the same person was slim.

A man of noble status couldn’t possibly disguise himself as a braggart.

Bordeaux even crawled on his knees, kissing my shoes.

That was something a prince of a nation would never do.

Moreover, how could he, who had to deal with an unfulfilled wedding in the Lopez Empire, be taking a ship to the Ramsey Empire?

I thought it was a ridiculous course of action.

‘He must be a different person.’

I was certain of it.

 

TL: I’m not sure if I want to continue this novel. I’m team Henderson, and knowing that he isn’t the ML makes me want to drop this novel. But I will still give it a chance. Though it will not be my priority. I don’t really like the FL.