The Charm of the Pirate

Roseland

Marquess Jasper's House, Roseland. February 1500.

Nothing has changed from Roseland since Sofia left. It was just that a pile of white snow was visible everywhere. No wonder the air is getting cold. Marquess Jasper deliberately brought a thick jacket for her.

The streets felt more slippery than usual, because last night the snow fell very thick. The coachman of the horse-drawn carriage must be extra careful in controlling his Horse.

From a distance, Sofia can clearly see the frozen Lake Bleu. Its blue color is still clearly visible even though the snow covers it.

He misses his oak-scented room so much, his large window facing Lake Bleu and his porch being his favorite place to paint. His hands were already itching to hold a brush when he imagined all that.

They finally arrived at the gate. Roseland's coat of arms is clearly printed on both doors. Sofia smiled happily looking at her house that looked the same as before.

"Heavens.." Mumbled.

The horse carriage stopped right in front of the door. Ron and the other waiters were waiting for Sofia to arrive in the courtyard.

The coachman opened the door quickly, and the waiter shrouded Sofia like a beetle with flowers.

"Miss.."

"MISS.."

"Miss Sofia.."

"My Lord, Miss.."

"Good God, look at you.."

"You look skinny.."

"Your skin is more colorful now, Miss.."

Sofia laughed offingly at the babbling of her servants.

"missed me?" Sofia crossed both her hands on her chest.

"Of course, Miss!"

"You worried us half to death..!"

Elie got off as fast as lightning from the horse-drawn carriage he was riding with Captain Clark. He ran towards Sofia as all the servants surrounded her.

"All of you!!"

"Stop it.."

"Miss tired from the trip!"

"Go back to your work!"

"Jeez, Elie..!"

"You're like a witch!"

"Well.."

"I don't care, just do your job."

Sofia just laughed at the behavior of her servant.

"Come, Miss.." Elie holds Sofia's hand inside the house.

"Elie's.."

"What about Him?" Sofia pointed at Captain Clark who was talking to Marquess Jasper.

"Well.."

"Leave it, Miss.."

"You're more important now.."

Elie pushes Sofia in, while occasionally stealing glances at Captain Clark who turns out to be looking at her with a smile.

"Gosh.." Mumbled Elie.

"What's Elie?"

"No, Miss. No.."

* * *

As he had imagined, the scent of oak and lavender filled his room.

Nothing changed in his room.

Sofia opened the door to the porch. The cold air blew towards him quickly.

"Gosh.."

"It's cold.."

Lake Bleu is more visible. No more lotus flowers or storks perched on it. All frozen and snowy.

"What should I paint?" Sofia scratched her forehead.

"You should take a shower, miss.." Elie surprised Sofia from behind.

"Gosh, Elie.." He rubbed his chest. His heart was pounding hard.

"Come, Miss.."

"Wake first.." Elie pushes Sofia towards the bathroom.

"It's gonna be cold, miss.."

"All right.."

"I'm going to take a shower. You, meet Clark, thank him."

Elie was silent not answering. He's sticking his fingers together.

"Let's go.."

"Yes, Miss.." Elie ran down the stairs quickly.

"Basic, the boy.." Sofia shook her head. He began to take off his clothes one by one and went into a bathtub filled with warm water.

"Gosh.."

"How long haven't I been having fun like this?" Sofia did not remember the last time she was able to clean her body so comfortably.

The days he spent were like a dream he never even imagined. Everything is completely out of sense. Everything that happened, every pain that He felt, somehow now felt faint.

However, his longing was not just a lie. A feeling he never felt before. How happy he likes someone, the pain of liking someone, the pleasure of feeling reciprocated, and the pain of holding back longing. That's what the guy taught him.

"I miss you.."

"I missed you..."

"So much to miss you..."

Sofia put her whole body in the water.

The feeling of peace, quiet, calm felt once.

.

.

.

PWAAAH

He lifted his head from the water. His eyes were red because they held the pain. He wiped it with a dry towel.

Her fingers began to wrinkle, but Sofia still felt comfortable in the water. Water reminiscent of Richi, tears began to flow down her cheeks.

"Gosh.."

"Stop Sofia.."

"You look pathetic.." Sofia wiped her tears and grabbed the towel then stood up and stepped out of the bathroom.

* * *

After getting dressed, Sofia got down from her room and walked to the library.

A portrait that was always covered in cloth caught his attention.

"Elie's.."

"What painting is that?"

"Well.."

"That's Madam's painting, miss.."

"Madam's?" Sofia frowned.

"Yes, Miss.."

"Open up.."

Elie is shocked to hear her young Miss's orders, but she still obeys her orders.

Elie opened the cloth slowly, a familiar face became increasingly apparent as the covering cloth was fully lifted.

"Mother?"

"Why covered?"

"That's because you asked for it.."

Sofia was surprised to hear that.

Yeah, correct. He remembered, He had said that. Even her father was very sad when he heard Sofia say that.

"Well.."

"I remember.."

Elie did not dare to look at the face of her young Miss.

"Open all the cloth, and clean it.."

"I want all of my portraits to look clean."

Elie raised her head, She couldn't believe what she heard.

"Miss?"

"Hmmm.."

"Really?"

"Yes.."

"Do it immediately."

"Good, Miss. Fine." Elie ran quickly towards the kitchen and told all the house maids. They were shocked to hear that, and could not believe it. But Elie assured me that it was all real. Miss Sofia herself said it.

From that moment on, everyone was busy cleaning the portrait of Madam Rossie, they were smiling happily to see her Marchioness face again.

"Dad..."

Sofia finds her father playing chess alone in the library.

Marquess Jasper looked at Sofia and smiled as her daughter approached.

"Come here.."

Sofia sat next to her father.

"Dad.."

"Hmmm.."

"Why not say anything about mom?"

Jasper was surprised and saw his daughter tear up.

"What's Sofia?"

"Why are you crying?"

"Why Dad?"

"Why not tell the truth?" Sofia could not stop crying.

Marquess Jasper smiled, She hugged her daughter tightly.

"Your mother wants all this."

"Why?"

"Why do you want to do it?"

"Because He doesn't want you to grieve over his death."

"She wants you to grow up to be a strong girl so you can figure it out for yourself."

"Then, what if I don't know it until the end?"

"I'll tell you when you're married."

"However, it seems you knew it first."

"There's only one person who knows it but you."

"Gabriel.."

"Hades.."

Sofia and Marquess Jasper.

"Hades?"

"Gabriel?"

They say it at the same time.

"Dad, who told me all that was Hades.."

"The one your mother met was Gabriel, Sofia.."

"I don't understand Dad.."

"Your mother told me that she was going to meet Gabriel at Lilbert.."

"Who is Gabriel?" Sofia was confused to hear her father's explanation.

"Wait..." Sofia shut her father's mouth to speak.

"I know, Richi said it once."

"UPS..." Sofia shut her mouth.

"Rich?"

"No, no.."

"Dad heard wrong.." Sofia tries to calm down, she can't possibly say that Richi is a pirate.

However, that was beyond Sofia's estimation. His father just smiled.

"Dad?"

"You didn't ask who Richi was?"

"No need, dear.."

"Really?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because it doesn't matter anymore.."

"You're getting married to the Duke of Roseland soon."

"Married?"

"With the old Duke?"

"Old duke?"