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The deck was drenched in rain, but Bianca didn’t care.

Amidst the turbulent waves crashing fiercely, she organized her subordinates into rows and began her speech.

“I am an incompetent admiral! I fell into personal emotions of seeking revenge against the Empire and lost Clendor’s flagship, putting your lives in jeopardy!”

“……”

All the subordinates bowed their heads.

Not only had they suffered a great defeat by the Empire, but their leader was also admitting his incompetence, leaving them feeling even more dejected.

“But you are not to blame! Your only crime is following an incompetent leader. You bear no guilt! Lift your heads!”

“……!”

The words that they were not at fault.

As Bianca spoke, one by one her subordinates began to raise their heads.

Simultaneously, a flicker of light began to return to their previously dull gazes.

“Today’s battle is not your defeat! It is not Clendor’s defeat either! It is solely my personal failure; nothing has changed!”

“……”

“Of course, the enemy is strong. But stand tall! The reason Clendor could become the Emperor of the seas is because of strong individuals like you! So those who display faces of lost pride shall not be forgiven!”

Having concluded her speech, Bianca looked around at her subordinates.

The expressions of defeated soldiers from earlier had completely vanished.

She nodded once and led them back into the bridge.

Upon returning to her quarters, new clothes were already laid out for her.

Glancing at the sentry, he explained.

“The captain has ordered new clothes to be prepared. And in 20 minutes, we are expected to have our meals.”

“……”

Bianca nodded.

Then she tossed aside her wet clothes and changed into the new outfit.

Thanks to the hot air circulation device nearby, she could quickly dry both her body and clothes.

-Door creaked open.

When dinner time arrived, Bianca, guided by the sentry, moved to the dining hall.

During this process, she naturally took in the various facilities inside the battleship, feeling overwhelmed each time alongside her subordinates.

Yet, they maintained their expressions to avoid appearing too intimidated.

Just as they arrived at the battleship’s dining hall.

“……”

It was impressive.

To think that such a large-scale dining area could be prepared onboard a ship.

Of course, it was quite cramped compared to dining facilities on land, but simply being able to create such a space on a vessel was remarkable.

Moreover, the variety of food was also impressive, cooked in real-time and served hot.

“Welcome. Please, sit this way.”

At that moment, Edgar, who was seated at the head table, stood up to greet her.

Seeing Ed, Bianca quickly gave a slight bow, and Ed smiled back and nodded lightly.

-Creak… creak…

Thus, Bianca took a seat beside Ed.

Simultaneously, her subordinates went to an empty table, each settling into their chairs.

On the left table sat Ed’s subordinates, and on the right sat Bianca’s.

“Eat comfortably. If you need more, just let us know.”

With those words, Ed began his meal.

Without any speeches or toasts.

For Bianca, this was quite surprising.

‘…I thought he’d humiliate us…?’

It was understandable, as the situation was perfect for mockery.

Had the situation been reversed, she would have acted accordingly.

A sarcastic remark like “Congratulations on today’s victory” would not have been out of the question.

To be honest, it was fortunate that they did not pass such remarks.

“……”

However, Edgar Fix didn’t mock them at all.

It truly seemed he had invited them purely for the sake of sharing a meal.

As Bianca, still feeling perplexed, scooped up some soup and brought it to her mouth.

It was delicious.

‘Now that I think about it…’

However, all the soldiers were eating the same food.

The noble captain and the common soldier were having the same kind of meal.

This was a fresh shock for Bianca.

She thought it natural that she herself would enjoy finer food compared to her subordinates, yet Ed didn’t seem to mind sharing the same meal.

In fact, he seemed to take it for granted.

“Hahahaha!”

“I’ll win next time, just you wait!”

Moreover, the subordinates were laughing and chatting away naturally.

They accepted the current situation without a second thought.

“Why aren’t you eating? Is it not to your taste?”

Then, Ed glanced at his tray and spoke to her.

Bianca shook her head and replied.

“No… the food is tasty. It’s just… I’m a bit surprised. I thought you’d want to humiliate us.”

“…Humiliate?”

Yet, Ed’s response was unexpected.

He seemed not to have considered such a thing at all.

A chuckle escaped her lips involuntarily.

“Pffft. Hahaha!”

“……?”

In response, Ed looked at Bianca with a dumbfounded expression.

Eventually, as her laughter subsided, Bianca smiled wryly and said.

“No. I guess it’s just my insecurity. Or perhaps… you might genuinely be a pure person.”

With those words, Bianca began to eat.

Once she confirmed that Ed had no ulterior motives, her anxious heart relaxed.

Ed’s soldiers were too focused on their own meals and conversations to show any interest in her troops.

Although she had made a speech on the deck to uplift her subordinates, it appeared Edgar Fix had no intention of doing such a thing at all.

“Um… Captain.”

At that moment.

Gric approached Ed and spoke.

Upon catching Ed’s glance, Gric said.

“I’ll convey it now. It’s for Patrick’s birthday cake.”

“Ah, right. Include a bonus as well. Weren’t you saying he’s expecting a second child?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. Double the usual amount.”

Gric bowed respectfully at Ed’s orders and stepped back.

A little while later.

They began celebrating the birthday of a soldier named Patrick with a cake adorned with candles.

For Bianca, that scene was utterly fresh and shocking.

To celebrate a soldier’s birthday, was this place mad?

Typically, such birthday celebrations were reserved for nobles alone.

‘Where exactly is this place…?’

That wasn’t all.

The Count, Edgar Fix, knew about the family matters of a mere commoner.

He was aware of the upcoming second childbirth.

‘…I…’

This was another cultural shock for Bianca.

She had thought she was being kind to her subordinates, but compared to Edgar Fix, her actions were nothing.

“Gric.”

At that moment, Ed called for his subordinate.

Gric approached to receive Ed’s command, and Ed instructed him to personally serve food to the empty plates of Clendor’s soldiers.

He was being considerate of the Clendor soldiers who wanted more food but were hesitant due to the situation.

“Yes, understood.”

Thus, following Ed’s orders.

The serving crew began to scoop food into the plates of Clendor’s soldiers.

Bianca realized she was gravely mistaken.

Edgar Fix was not merely acting kind; it was simply part of his character.

He was harsh towards enemies but cared for his own more than anyone else.

“Thank you for your hospitality. My subordinates and I have all eaten well.”

“Don’t mention it. If there’s anything uncomfortable, just let the sentry know.”

“Yes.”

After finishing the meal, Bianca thanked Ed and returned to her quarters.

The feelings she had tried to suppress concerning him began to rise again.

Edgar Fix was the perfect embodiment of her ideal type.

Imagining a life cared for by him made her heart pound, a sensation as if being crushed.

“Ah…”

And for some reason, tears began to fall.

That recent birthday party kept dancing in her mind.

Bianca felt lost for a while, wondering why she felt this way.

Why was she being reduced to tears over just the birthday party of commoners?

“…Tom.”

Amidst this, memories of the past resurfaced.

Of one of her attendants named ‘Tom.’

Though a commoner, he was a kind and gentle companion to her.

He always took care of her, spoke kind words, and genuinely cherished her.

-Your Highness the Princess… please survive…

But Tom lost his life trying to protect her.

In a moment of an unforeseen accident, he threw himself into danger against a sea monster to save her.

Yet, nobody mourned his death.

There were no funerals, no commemorations; he faded away in solitude.

Tom had been treated as just one of her toys or tools.

-The nanny, the nanny isn’t waking up…

The nanny was the same.

Suffering from exhaustion, she had fallen ill, but no one cared about her.

They merely complained that she should stop pretending to be sick and get back to work.

To nobles, commoners were inferior beings who couldn’t even wield mana, mere nothing compared to human or beast.

‘What if… Tom had lived…?’

Thus, Bianca thought.

What if Tom had been alive? If he had met a master like Edgar Fix, wouldn’t he have been celebrating his birthday, smiling happily?

“Sniff… heh… sniffle…”

As she entertained such thoughts, tears began to flow.

Bianca, born with a tough exterior but with a very gentle sensibility, found herself still affected by the death of a single commoner.

“Sniff… sniffle…”

For some reason, Ed’s image kept surfacing in her mind.

Both his exterior and interior were solid. Harsh to enemies yet warm and gentle to his own; that visage lingered before her.

A desire arose within her to even once be embraced by him.

 

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