Yar-har fiddle de dee, being a pirate is alright to be. Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate!"
"… Must you sing that infernal jingle, Master?"
Standing at the helm of his airship as they fly atop the cloud layer, skimming the white fluff below them, Leon Fou Bartfort glances to his side where a white metal orb with a glowing red eye bobs in the air. Grinning, he arches his brow.
"What's wrong with a bit of singing, Luxion? Don't be such a sourpuss."
The orb's red eye flickers for a moment.
"It is not the singing that I have a problem with. It is the choice in song. Surely we can do better."
Leon laughs at the judgmental tone the AI is giving off, well used to Luxion's derisive standards by this point. He tilts his head to the side and hums.
"I don't know… what does 'better' mean in this context? I'd still want something pirate-themed, after all."
"… That can be arranged."
Oh? Leon doesn't even get a chance to ask Luxion what he means by that before the slow stomping begins. His eyes move away from the orb out onto the deck of the airship… where dozens of automatons dressed to look like human beings are moving too and fro, making sure the airship remains in tip top shape.
With an eerie synchronicity only really made possible by their inorganic states, the robots all start to stamp along with one another, even while continuing to maintain their respective stations, not a single one of them actually failing to do their jobs even as Luxion's voice begins to overlap leaving their speakers.
Yo, Ho haul together, hoist the colors high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars, never shall we die
As the first words of the sea shanty wash over him, Leon can't help but sigh and lean back a little, his hands still on the helm but his eyes drifting shut as he opens his own mouth and sings along.
Yo, Ho haul together, hoist the colors high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars, never shall we die
How long had it been now since he last saw Earth? How long has it been since he reincarnated into this world? Over a decade and a half now, wasn't it? He'd had his second twentieth birthday just the other month.
The King and his men stole the queen from her bed
and bound her in her bones
The seas be ours and by the powers
Where we will...we'll roam
He'd woken up in a five year old body as Leon Bartfort those fifteen years ago, alone in a field. His past life, as a Japanese Man on Earth, had become like that of a dream. He did remember everything though… save for his old name.
Yo, Ho haul together, hoist the colors high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars, never say we die
From there, he'd come to discover that he was in the shitty otome game that his bitch of a sister had bullied him into playing so much. The same game that he was pretty sure had killed him back on Earth. Suffice to say, Leon had not been pleased. Especially not when his stepmother had turned out to exemplify the Evil Stepmother Stereotype to a T.
Some men have died and some are alive
And others sail on the sea
With the keys to the cage
And the devil to pay
We lay to Fiddler's Green!
He'd lasted ten years in that environment, treated like trash right alongside his brother because they were boys and his stepmother's children were girls. Being just a child again and too young to strike out on his own had been hard enough, but being in that abusive household had made it even worse.
And then, just when he thought he was going to get away, albeit by attending the Royal Academy, a place he recognized from the game and honestly had no desire to go to… his stepmother Zola had pulled the rug out from under him again and tried to marry him off to some old hag.
Yo, Ho haul together, hoist the colors high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars, never shall we die
Needless to say, Leon hadn't been interested in letting that happen. He wasn't interested in playing any of their games, really. But fortunately, there were aspects of the otome game that this world was based on that he could exploit. Namely, that 'adventurer' was a very real profession that someone could take up and expect to earn some money from by exploring the ruins of ancient, lost civilizations and uncovering their tech.
He was so desperate to escape his fate that Leon had agreed to his stepmother's demands. Namely, if he wanted her to call off his marriage to that old hag friend of hers, he would need to find and give her the money that she would have gotten from selling him off in the first place.
The bell has been raised from its watery grave
Do you hear its sepulchral tone?
A Call to all, pay heed to the squall
And turn your sail towards home!
At first, Leon had been fully prepared to do exactly that because he had no desire to be stuck looking over his shoulder as his stepmother's goons hunted him down for the rest of his life. Better to just pay for the clean break, he'd initially figured.
But then… then he'd come across something special. Something he recognized. Leon had found a warp device that he remembered from the game. And remembering how to use it, he'd landed on a floating island where he'd discovered an ancient laboratory that held Luxion.
Yo, Ho haul together, hoist the colors high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars, never shall we die
Luxion was the game changer. Luxion was his path to freedom. In other worlds, maybe other versions of him might have used Luxion to make enough money to pay off Zola and go to the Royal Academy anyways. But not this world. Not this Leon. Because the key difference between this Leon and any other Leon was simple.
… This Leon had always wanted to be a pirate. He loved Pirates of the Caribbean (the first three movies only, to be exact), he loved One Piece, and most of all, he loved the pirate fantasy. To live on the open sea, to be free to do what you wanted and plunder whoever crossed you… that was the kind of thing Leon could get behind.
And with Luxion on his side and the things Luxion could build… Leon no longer had to fear his stepmother hiring goons to hunt him down. Let them come for him… let them take a piece out of Sky Pirate Leon!
"Master, I've just picked up an airship on the sensors. It'll be directly below us soon."
Blinking, Leon pulls himself from his thoughts, realizing that the sea shanty 'Hoist the Colors' had already come to an end and he'd gotten lost in reminiscing. Looking over at Luxion's orb body, he grins.
"Take us down then, Luxion. Let's see what spoils we can plunder this time!"
"As my Master wishes."
The helm that Leon had been holding onto this entire time begins to twist and turn of its own accord and he lets go of it, even as they begin to descend through the cloud layer. This airship… it was an extension of Luxion in a way. Not his real body… his real body was a sleek black thing that was more futuristic sci-fi spaceship than it was steampunk fantasy airship.
No, this airship, which Leon had named Partner, was a great big imposing thing brimming with cannons on both sides! And thanks to its automaton crew, it was a fully operational battle station! (Alright, so he might have liked Star Wars too…)
Regardless, as Leon gets his hat, complete with the skull and crossbones motif, he walks down to the deck and looks over the edge just as their prey is coming into view. The much smaller, much less advanced airship doesn't even notice them in time to do anything truth be told, but to be fair… nobody ever expects something like Partner to be hiding above the cloud layer. It simply isn't fair.
But then… piracy is never fair. Leon grins as the automaton crew readies itself for boarding and Luxion brings Partner up alongside the other airship, which is just now beginning to fill with shouts as they realize they're under attack.
Five years now, Leon has been doing this. Ever since he realized his choices were between marrying an old hag, paying Zola and going to the Academy… or just fucking off entirely and living a life of crime and infamy. He'd spent the past five years doing whatever he liked and developing a reputation for himself across the airspace of this world. And yet, every time was as amazing as the last.
Luxion's robots all swing over to the other ship and begin the attack. Leon doesn't lead from the front, but he also doesn't stay behind forever. He swings over on the second wave, letting out a brash laugh as he draws his sword and blocks a desperate strike from some airship sailor more terrified than anything.
He kicks the other man's feet out from under him and then knocks him unconscious with a boot to the skull before continuing on from there.
The battle is brutally short and one-sided, until finally Leon calls out.
"Surrender! Surrender and your lives may still be spared!"
They quickly take him up on his offer, tossing their weapons down. Especially since by this point they've realized that they're not fighting real humans but rather 'golems' in their vernacular. And how are they supposed to beat wave after wave of tireless, unending golems?
Soon enough, the captured airship's Captain is dragged before him. The man looks like he's on the wrong side of his age, with a bald spot and beads of sweat on his brow. He certainly doesn't come across as very captain-y, but Leon has seen all sorts in the past five years. He's come across plenty of men claiming to be Captains who aren't worthy of the title.
"Tell me, do you know who I am?"
Swallowing nervously, the older man nods his head.
"Y-Yes… you're him. You're Leon 'Devil's Smile' Bartfort."
Leon can't help but grin wickedly at that… a grin that sends a shiver through the other Captain's body and causes a few whimpers from the crew members held nearby. It never got old, hearing his pirate title said back to him. Although…
"That's Captain Leon 'Devil's Smile' Bartfort to you, my good sir!"
The other man sputters and falls over himself trying to correct the misstep, but Leon just waves him off. Admittedly, it's a bit of a mouthful when you tack on Captain, he knows that. He would have liked to do away with his last name if he could, but nobody seemed to be willing to let him forget where he came from.
… Eh, you win some, you lose some. He'd been the one to start seeding 'Devil's Smile' after brainstorming ideas with Luxion after all and look how it'd taken off! He was quite proud of his success there, at least!
"Right then, with pleasantries out of the way… tell me what I've won, man!"
The other Captain blinks owlishly at that.
"Uh… won, s-sir?"
Rolling his eyes, Leon wraps an arm around the man's pudgy shoulders and sweeps his other arm out over the deck of the captured airship.
"I've successfully stopped, boarded, and commandeered your airship. You and your crew are entirely at my mercy. So now, if you want everyone to live, you're going to tell me exactly what cargo you're transporting so I can decide how much of it I want to take for myself. Alright? Alright!"
Letting go of the other Captain, Leon steps back and smiles a friendly smile… or at least, he tries to make it friendly. Considering the way the older man shudders again, it probably only adds to his epithet's legend. Ah well, he doesn't mind.
"O-Oh, right… of c-course. Ah… the only problem is… Captain Bartfort sir… we're not currently on a cargo run."
Leon pauses at that, looking around the airship for a moment and letting his incredulity show on his face. As previously mentioned, he and Luxion had been doing this for five years now. Which meant they both knew the difference between a passenger ship and a merchant's vessel. And this… this was not some sort of passenger liner.
Oh sure, Leon probably would have attacked a passenger liner as well, especially if it looked expensive enough to hold a bunch of rich fucks worth robbing in it. But he would have approached it differently as well.
Seeing his incredulity, the other Captain sweats a bit harder as he blanches.
"N-Not to say we aren't a merchant ship C-Captain, because we are… it's just that we've been contracted to transport a different type of cargo this time."
And then the Captain's eyes light up and he suddenly looks like he just had an idea. Ugh. Leon hated it when his prey got ideas.
"Actually… we might just be able to make a deal, Captain Bartfort!"
A deal?! He was trying to plunder them! Not make a fucking deal! Still, as much as he was beginning to have 'buyer's remorse' regarding this particular stoppage, Leon waves a hand through the air all the same.
"Very well. What kind of deal."
Swallowing hard, this time not out of fear but to try and contain his excitement, the other man begins to explain. As it turns out, they really don't have any conventional cargo for Leon to steal here. Instead, they were contracted to specifically deliver a noblewoman and her commoner handmaiden into their exile. The noblewoman had done something bad enough back home to get thrown out entirely.
However… that's where things get interesting.
"See, we were asked to do this discretely by one party… but then another party approached me before we departed and said they'd pay triple if the noblewoman didn't survive the trip! If she 'doesn't make it' then we're due a massive payday… one I'm sure all of us here would be happy to cut you in on if you'd help us out by doing the deed!"
Leon stares blankly at the opportunistic weasel of a man. The balding Captain had gone from terrified for his life to trying to cut a deal with Leon. Good lord, what sort of reputation did he have that they thought he'd be interested in something as vile as all of this?
… Oh right. Sky Pirate. Still… Leon hides his distaste behind a calm demeanor and shrugs.
"Hm. Very well. Bring them out so I might see these two women for myself."
The Captain nods eagerly and sends a couple of his men down with a few of Leon's automatons. It's not even a minute later that there are feminine shouts and the sounds of struggle… and then the doors to below deck are pushed open and Leon's automatons drag the noblewoman and her servant out before them kicking and screaming.
"Unhand me at once you… you golem! You won't get away with this! Do you know who I am?! Do you know who my father is?! He won't stand for this!"
Well, the noblewoman is kicking and screaming. The servant also fights back but is a lot quieter, even as she shoots distressed looks at her mistress.
Leon, meanwhile… just stares. And stares some more. He stares long enough that everyone else on the deck starts to get a little uncomfortable as the silence becomes… awkward. Even the noblewoman stops struggling after a bit and looks around before realizing he's staring right at her.
As she stiffens up, paradoxically coloring and paling at the same time under his intense gaze, Leon just continues to stare.
Because standing in front of him held by his automatons is Lady Angelica Rapha Redgrave. And next to her, held by more of his automatons, is the commoner Olivia. These two women were both special in their own way… which made their presence here on this ship together all the more ridiculous to Leon.
Seriously… why were the first villainess and main heroine from the otome game being sent into exile together? How the fuck had THAT happened?!
-x-X-x-
The Vote:
[X] Yes, write more of this idea - 87%
[ ] No, replace The Sun Reborn with something else - 13%
-x-X-x-
A/N: Leave a Like if you enjoyed please, would mean a lot!
Spoiler: Patreon and other Links
Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next SEVEN (7) chapters are up on my Patreon for early access as well as the chance to vote on the direction of the story!
The positive response to this story's first chapter was as overwhelming as I wanted it to be, so thanks for that!
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In his previous life back on Earth, Leon had known this world he'd reincarnated into through the lens of an otome game. A dating game for women, to be exact. The details behind why he'd been forced to 'one hundred percent' the game aren't important but let it be known that he HAD successfully completed the entire otome game from start to finish. And then he'd died and woken up here.
Knowing everything he knew about the otome game and its plot, Leon had been even more happy to fuck off and live the life of an unburdened, free, and independent Sky Pirate. He figured he just needed to stay away from all of that bullshit and given it was five years since the plot of the game should have begun, he felt he'd successfully managed to do so.
The problem, of course, lies in front of him now, staring at him with big doleful eyes.
Here was what Leon knew. The commoner Olivia was the main character of the otome game he played back home. On the surface, she seemed to be nobody special… but in reality, she was of course Extra Special with a capital E and S. She would slowly but surely draw the attention of five different noblemen at the Holfort Academy, these being her 'Capture Targets' and the greatest among them being a Prince of the Kingdom of Holfort, Julius Rapha Holfort.
Of course, opposing her was all of the 'petty' and 'evil' noblewomen who would pick on her and treat her poorly at the start of the game, all to justify the protagonist slowly but surely gathering five noblemen into a harem for herself. Technically you could just stick to only stealing one of the five Capture Targets and focus entirely on a monogamous relationship, but this particular dating sim was extremely punishing if you did so, always resulting in a Bad End unless you went for the entire harem.
Which brought Leon to what else he knew about the second woman in front of him. Lady Angelica Rapha Redgrave was the daughter of a Duke and also Prince Julius' fiancée at the start of the game. Of course, by the time Olivia was done with him, he was more than ready to toss Angelica to the curb, effectively calling off the betrothal.
Suffice to say, this did not go over well with Angelica. She did everything in her power to save her engagement with the Prince, since you know, it would reflect terribly on her if she didn't. So yes, she would go out of her way to target Olivia and do 'terrible villainess' things to get the commoner girl to back off.
None of which would work, ultimately resulting in the engagement being ended anyways. She would be humiliated, discarded, and forced to marry an older man below her social standing, moved out to the countryside where she could live out the remainder of her life bitter and miserable, forgotten by everyone.
And so, on the one hand… the fact that Angelica was being sent into exile did sort of line up with what Leon remembered from the game. However, the fact that it was happening years after it should have AND Olivia was by her side was… frankly quite baffling.
Admittedly, he hadn't heard about the war that the original game had been centered around, but to be fair Leon also hadn't been paying much attention to politics all this time. Better to just focus on himself he'd figured. Now though… he's left wondering what the hell is going on. If the heroine and villainess of the game are both here… where in the world are all of Olivia's Capture Targets?!
As Leon is thinking all of this, he continues to stare silently at Angelica and Olivia. And maybe… maybe his poker face is just a little too good, because Angelica falls quiet and Olivia shrinks back, neither woman seeming to like having his intense gaze on them too much.
Meanwhile, the balding Captain of this merchant vessel that Leon has boarded seems to take his silence entirely the wrong way, smiling wickedly and perking up as Leon just stares at the two women.
"Like what you see, Devil's Smile? They're a gorgeous pair of women, aren't they? Even the commoner has a rack on her worthy of your time. So… what do you say? We hand them over and you 'deal' with them how you see fit? So long as they never see the light of day again, I'm sure everyone will be happy!"
Pulled from his thoughts by the other man's disgusting 'deal', Leon slowly turns his gaze from Angelica and Olivia over to the Merchant Captain. The man shrinks back a little at first, but quickly rallies… after all, he thinks he has Leon's measure. What self-respecting Sky Pirate wouldn't take an opportunity to ravish a pair of unwilling beauties, right?
"O-Oh, and of course we'll still be sure to cut you in on a part of the payment too. Just have to arrange a place to meet with you after we get back and are paid!"
Rather than answer the man, Leon sweeps his gaze across the rest of the ship's crew. Most of them look hopeful, clearly anticipating him taking the deal and letting them go. Maybe one or two are grimacing in distaste, but they hold their tongues. Curious, Leon tilts his head to the side.
"And are all of you men happy with this arrangement that your Captain suggests? You're content to give these two young women over to a dastardly devil like me just to save your own hides?"
That draws at least a handful of uncomfortable looks for a moment… until the Captain speaks up again.
"Bah! Of course they are, Captain Bartfort! You should know better than anyone how bad things are back in Holfort! Noble bitches like this one run rampant, leaving men like us with no options, no path for advancement! In a fair and just world, I would be a nobleman myself at this point! Instead I'm stuck as a Merchant Captain, forced to toil away on this boat for the rest of my days for pittances of pay! It's the same for all of us, isn't it men?!"
There are murmurs of agreement and nods at that… from basically everyone on the ship. Even Leon knows that there's some truth to the older man's words. After all, he knows full well what the Kingdom of Holfort is like and how the excesses of its female nobility run rampant.
The problem is… he also knows that Angelica in particular isn't really involved in any of that. She only ever became a villainess because she was forced into the role by Olivia's actions. And Olivia… well, if Olivia is here and not living it up with a harem of noblemen back in Holfort, she's likely to be even more innocent of any wrongdoing.
Slowly, Leon nods as he comes to a decision. Lifting his free hand… he snaps his fingers. Instantly, the automatons that are holding Angelica and Olivia lurch forward, stomping past him over to the ramp that has been laid between the two airships at this point. As they're dragged towards their 'doom', Angelica finally seems to find her voice again.
"N-No! Please! You can't do this! At least let Olivia g-go!"
"L-Lady Angelica!"
Leon pretends to ignore the interaction between the two young women even as he files it away in the back of his mind. Regardless, neither of them is capable of escaping the strength of his automatons as they're dragged into Partner's depths. He'll deal with them later.
For now, he also sheathes his sword at his side, a pirate's cutlass of course. The sight of this has the balding man in front of him perking up with a giddy smile while the rest of the vessel's crew all slump in relief.
"Heh, knew you'd see reason Captain. We might not have had conventional cargo for you to take… but this 'cargo' is all the better, isn't it?"
Leon, meanwhile, smiles as well as he steps forward and plants a hand on the other Captain's shoulder.
"There's just one problem with this deal from where I'm standing."
Blinking in confusion, the older man furrows his brow.
"What's that?"
"People ain't cargo, mate."
Quick as a whip, he draws his pistol from its holster, takes a step back, and blasts a hole in the Captain's chest. In the same moment, every other man on the ship dies as the automatons holding them down drive swords into their bodies or simply snap their necks.
As the Merchant Captain stumbles back, holding his chest and looking bewildered and baffled by this turn of events, Leon just stares at him pitilessly until he drops to the deck, joining his crew as a corpse.
-x-X-x-
Angelica's life was over. She'd already known that for a while of course. From the moment that bitch Marie successfully managed to get Julius on her side, it was done. After all, what was a Duke's daughter supposed to do in the face of a Prince?
She'd tried though. She'd tried so, so damn hard. None of it had mattered in the end. Her so-called friends had all abandoned her one by one once they realized which way the wind was blowing. And to think, it was they who had advised her on how to treat her engagement with Julius. It was them who told her she needed to avoid getting too close to him, that she couldn't be seen doing anything unladylike when they weren't even married yet.
Angelica had done her best to juggle her desire for a marriage of love with all of their advice. She'd tried to give Julius his space while also making it clear how much she cared for him. But none of it had mattered in the end. None of it had meant a single thing once Marie Fou Lafan, a simple Viscount's daughter, had come along and caught his interest.
And not just Julius' interest either… no, she hadn't been satisfied with only stealing the heart of a Prince. She'd taken him and all four of his friends, drawing them into her web and ruining so many engagements it still made Angelica's head spin.
But what had happened when the dust had settled? Was Marie the one who had been punished for so clearly biting off more than she could chew?! No… no, it was Angelica who had been treated as the villain in the end. Abandoned, shunned, and now ultimately exiled away forevermore.
Olivia was the only one who stuck to her side through thick and thin. Angelica had never had a very high opinion of commoners before meeting the other blonde… and yet, now she knew the truth. It was her fellow noblewomen who were the real rats. Commoners like Olivia were the only people who could be relied upon to show true loyalty.
Of course, as they stand there huddling together on the deck of a monstrous pirate airship surrounded on all sides by strange men in hoods and masks, Angelica regrets ever letting Olivia accompany her into exile. She should have sent the commoner away long ago… even if she had to break their friendship to do it. She should have told Olivia that she hated her, or that she blamed her for everything bad that had happened. Anything to drive the other young woman away so she didn't have to share Angelica's fate.
Instead, she'd selfishly clung to the only person who seemed to believe in her… and dragged Olivia straight into hell alongside her in the process.
A gun shot rings out, making them both flinch as they all but cling to each other. A whimper leaves Olivia's lips and Angelica looks to the other woman, biting her own lower lip.
"… I'm sorry, Olivia. I never should have brought you with me. I s-should have let you go."
Turning wide blue eyes in her direction, Olivia is quick to shake her head.
"N-No… don't say that, Lady Angelica! If I weren't here… then you would be all alone! That would be even worse!"
Worse for her maybe, but not worse for Olivia. Still, it doesn't surprise Angelica that even in her most terrified state, Olivia is thinking about Angelica before herself…
Before she can respond however, the thumping of boots draws both of their attention to the ramp they've just been dragged over… and a moment later the Pirate Captain who now has custody of the two of them comes into view.
Leon Fou Bartfort. Angelica knows of him… vaguely. She mostly knows him in terms of the scandal that his turn towards piracy had caused back in the day when it had first come out. His family had disowned him of course, decrying his actions to all who would listen. It was said that he continued to go by the name Bartfort afterwards solely to put further egg on their face.
He wasn't the kind of man that she would want to have ahold of her OR Olivia. But… Angelica still had her honor. As he stalks towards them, she quickly puts herself in front of Olivia, trying her best to shield the other woman from the Pirate Captain. And then, even though she's not feeling a lick of confidence, she stands as straight as she can and lifts her head high, feigning as much arrogance as she can possibly manage.
"Captain Bartfort. You will not-!"
BA-BOOM!
Angelica's eyes widen as she's cut off mid-sentence by a sudden explosion that rocks the ship a bit and causes both her and Olivia to shriek and hunch back in fear, covering their ears. Its only when there's no follow up that they slowly uncurl from one another, staring with wide eyes.
Leon Bartfort, meanwhile, looks entirely unperturbed, smiling wickedly.
"Apologies. I had to take out the trash. You were saying?"
Angelica's mouth opens and closes like a goldfish as she realizes… he just destroyed the airship they'd been traveling on, didn't he? That was the only thing around that could make such a massive explosion. And the gunshot earlier… had been the clue that he wasn't just letting anyone go.
A whimper leaves her lips as she realizes that the Sky Pirate has just killed every man on that ship. And sure, they hadn't exactly moved heavens to try and save Angelica and Olivia from him… but it makes it clear what sort of monster they're now dealing with. A shiver of fear rushes down Angelica's spine as he gazes at her like a hawk sizing up his prey…
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The Vote (for the fic's title):
[ ] A Pirate's Life - 18%
[ ] Devil's Smile - 25%
[X] Hoist the Colors - 57%
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A/N: Leave a Like if you enjoyed please, would mean a lot!
Spoiler: Patreon and other Links Like ReplyReport Reactions:Alejandro7u7, AlboZZ, Daguns and 762 othersCambrianJun 15, 2026NewAdd bookmarkView discussionThreadmarks Chapter 3: Devil's Smile New View contentCambrianThe Pimperor - Inspirational as FuckJun 22, 2026Add bookmark#147A/N: Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next SEVEN (7) chapters are up on my Patreon for early access as well as the chance to vote on the direction of the story!
Misunderstandings~
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Here's the thing about epithets… even when you got to pick your own, you didn't really get to pick your own. 'Devil's Smile' had been one of a few ideas that Luxion and him had brainstormed together, and in the end while Leon had tried out a handful of different titles, that was the one that had wound up sticking.
It made sense, to be fair. He'd started his life as a Sky Pirate relatively young, long before he could grow facial hair, so some sort of beard-based name was right out. Even now at twenty, he still struggled in that particular department. Not that he was upset about it! No sir!
Regardless, Devil's Smile hadn't been Leon's favorite of the numerous ideas he and Luxion had come up with. Mostly because… it wasn't entirely in his control. He didn't mean for his smiles to come across as that of a maniacal serial killer about to bathe in the blood of his enemies and wear their skin! Honest!
Alas, that was apparently just the vibe he tended to give off. So while he was currently trying to offer the two young women standing amidst his automatons his best roguish grin… he probably shouldn't have been surprised when their shared reaction involved flinching back away from him and cowering a fair amount.
Though… he's even more surprised by Angelica Redgrave rallying and quickly putting herself in front of Olivia again, her chin jutting out.
"W-Whatever you're planning to do… please leave Olivia out of it. Take me instead… she's done nothing wrong; she doesn't deserve any of this. Please... just let her go."
"L-Lady Angelica!"
To be fair, Angelica had done that already once before, back before the destruction of the merchant airship had cut her attempt at defiance off. However, Leon has to admit… he's still impressed. As well as utterly baffled. This was the villainess shielding the heroine… after apparently taking the commoner woman as her servant.
How had that happened? How had the plot of the otome game gotten so off the rails? Well, Leon could think of one obvious reason… the plot of the otome game was nonsensical and utterly unrealistic, the kind of fantasy that could only exist in a woman's mind.
Some things had carried over, Leon had seen that for himself… however, he'd also seen for himself that just as many things did not. It was entirely possible… nay, it was even likely that this world did not operate under the same 'logic' as the otome game. That would make it more realistic, he supposed.
And so a young commoner woman like Olivia would no longer be the main character. She would no longer seduce her way into a reverse harem… instead, she might find herself under the wing of a young noble woman like Angelica, who might take pity on her and bring her into her service.
That was much more realistic than what had happened in the dating sim, Leon could admit. However, it didn't explain one thing… why had Angelica Redgrave been forced into exile all these years later?
Letting his smile drop off his face, Leon sighs and shakes his head before waving a hand for them to follow as he turns and walks deeper into his airship.
"I'm not planning on hurting either of you."
The automatons make sure that Angelica and Olivia have no choice but to follow after him, crowding around them and escorting them along. As they walk, Leon turns back to face them, walking backwards. Easy enough when he knows this ship better than the back of his hand.
"You might not think the best of me… fair enough. I am a pirate after all. However, I still have standards."
Olivia looks uncertain while Angelica scowls, her eyes flashing.
"Is that right? Are you going to tell us you would never hurt a woman or something like that?"
He almost smiles at that but knowing how his smiles are often misinterpreted, Leon keeps his lips straight and simply shakes his head.
"No. I've hurt plenty of women. Even killed them, same as men."
It was a dog eat dog world after all, and in this world there were several Sky Pirates of the fairer gender. Not that most of them were 'fair'. They were usually just as ugly, both inside and out, as the men they served alongside.
Still, Leon would be lying if he said he'd never killed a woman before. He had the blood of both genders on his hand. That said…
"I don't hurt innocents though. And you and your servant are innocent, as far as I'm concerned."
Angelica's eyes narrow and she glances back the way she came.
"… You just killed every man on that ship back there."
Olivia whimpers at the reminder, while Leon just shrugs.
"Every man on that ship back there was perfectly happy to pawn you two off on me. Even knowing what I could do to you both, even believing the same as you that I would hurt you both for my own satisfaction and pleasure. Not a single one of them tried to protest… and not a single one of them would have tried to protest whenever they finally decided to kill you both off… as was the plan before I showed up."
Angelica flinches while Olivia looks stricken. The latter finally breaks her silence, wringing her hands.
"B-But… surely not… they were… there were a few sailors who were really n-nice to me. They couldn't have all been… been like that…"
From the mouth of babes. Or rather, 'a babe'. Olivia had truly grown into a spectacularly fine woman, Leon can't help noting. He'll keep his hands to himself of course, but damn if it isn't a wonderful view. Of course, as he levels a distinctly unimpressed look in her direction, that's precisely what he points out.
"They no doubt hoped to get under your skirts."
Olivia goes bright red and immediately turns into a stuttering mess while Angelica squawks and glowers at him.
"Don't talk to her like that! You don't know what was really in all of those men's hearts! You can't know for sure that all of their motivations were as black as their Captain's!"
… Fair enough.
He HAD done that whole song and dance though, offering even one of the crew of sailors the opportunity to speak up against the injustice being offered by their Captain. And none of them had taken him up on it. As far as Leon was concerned, that DID make them all as bad as the man who had led them. Sure, peer pressure was a thing… but if you would rather save your own skin and not even speak up in the defense of two lovely young women… he didn't have any mercy for those types.
In the end though, he just shrugs as they finally reach their ultimate destination and he pushes open the door before gesturing for Angelica and Olivia to step inside.
"I'll be perfectly honest… your opinion of me is mostly meaningless. I've curated a particularly vicious reputation for a reason, so it doesn't really matter if you don't trust me or not… in fact, it makes plenty of sense."
As the two women carefully step past the threshold into a well-appointed guest bedroom with two beds, Leon stands at the doorway behind them, not following them in.
"You will, of course, be confined to quarters for the time being until I figure out what to do with you both. Please do not try to explore the ship. In the meantime, if you need anything such as food and water, simply ask one of your guards and it will be provided to you."
Olivia is looking around in wonder… to be fair this might be the nicest bedroom she's seen in her entire life. Angelica is less impressed and more confused, turning to direct an uneasy glare in his direction.
"What is this? Some attempt to soften us up? It won't work, you know. If you're going to be a boor, just be a boor…"
Leon smiles thinly, his patience definitely fraying by this point.
"Lady Redgrave, you really don't want me to start acting the part of a boor. If not for your sake, then for the sake of your friend… let's keep things cordial."
That sharp reminder makes Angelica jerk back as if slapped, realizing she'd already asked Leon to spare Olivia only to turn around and do everything she could to question and antagonize him. To her credit, she finally backs down, ducking her head and mumbling an apology that probably took a lot for a noblewoman of her standing to say.
Leon just nods and pulls back from there. The two automatons he's leaving to guard the door take up their positions, with one of them pulling the door shut on Angelica and Olivia's faces.
They don't have total privacy of course, Luxion is forever observing every part of the ship, given how tied to it he is… but Leon at least doesn't intend to spy or perv on the two young women. They've been through enough at this point, he figures.
… Though he still has no fucking clue what he's going to do with them. Let them go at the nearest port, maybe? But his curiosity was piqued now and he'd beat himself up if he didn't at least find out what was up with them first.
Tch… who knew today was going to be the day that he'd be dragged back into the affairs of this damn messed up world…
-x-X-x-
Olivia watches as Lady Angelica carefully inspects their surroundings, her Mistress using that ever-critical eye of hers to try and glean what she can glean from their new situation.
… These quarters they now have are better than their last ones. By a frankly ludicrous margin, in fact. However, they weren't prisoners on the last ship, so that was a pretty big change.
Or was it? Hadn't they been prisoners all along without knowing it? The Captain of the last vessel… he'd seemed like a nice man when greeting Angelica and her upon their boarding. However, listening to him talking to the pirate who now held them captive… it became obvious he'd been lying about his intentions all along.
They were never meant to make it to their final destination. They were never supposed to survive this trip.
"… I'm sorry, Olivia. I'm so sorry I got you caught up in all of this."
Olivia blinks, pulled out of her thoughts as she sees Angelica collapse onto one of the beds, her head held low. Quickly, she rushes over and sits alongside her Mistress, quick to clasp the noblewoman's hands in her own. It wasn't technically proper, but their relationship had been closer than simply Mistress and Servant for quite some time now… Lady Angelica even insisted that they were friends from time to time.
Still…
"Lady Angelica, please don't say things like that… and definitely don't repeat them! I already said so before, didn't I? If I weren't here and you were all alone… that would be so much worse. I'm glad I'm here with you… I'm glad you have me."
Angelica's lower lip wobbles and her eyes glisten with unshed tears… before finally, she turns and all but throws herself into Olivia. Burying her face in Olivia's bosom, wrapping her arms around Olivia's midsection, the noblewoman truly lets herself go, the mask and façade both falling away as she allows herself to feel.
Olivia holds her in turn, wrapping her Mistress up in her arms as Angelica sobs, keeping her as close as possible while running a hand through her lady's hair.
Things had been… bad for a long time for them, truth be told. It had started out relatively good back at the Academy. As a Scholarship Student back in her First Year, Olivia had been floundering and the other noblewomen had enjoyed taunting and teasing and harassing her for her lesser standing.
It was Lady Redgrave though who had taken pity on her and taken her under her wing. It was Angelica who had proven to be the one noble who didn't just want to disparage her for daring to attend the Academy with them.
Angelica didn't deserve the things that had happened to her… but Olivia knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that her own assertion was right… it would all be ten times worse if Angelica had to go through it alone. Even if… even if this ends poorly for them, she's glad she's here right now, to offer her lady a semblance of normality and a shoulder to cry on.
Plus…
"What if he was telling the truth?"
Olivia's question causes Angelica's sobbing to hiccup for a moment before the other blonde slowly pulls back and looks at her with tearstained cheeks.
"W-What?"
Olivia shrugs.
"The pirate… what if he… what if he really means us no harm? Perhaps he can be reasoned with?"
A full body shudder runs through Angelica at that and she fully straightens up, fixing Olivia with a serious gaze.
"Olivia… that man is Leon Bartfort. They call him the 'Devil's Smile'… and we both saw why back there when he destroyed our previous vessel. He delighted in murdering all those men… in killing all those sailors. He enjoyed it."
Angelica bites her lower lip and looks down at their laps.
"… We can't trust that he truly means us no harm, and I highly doubt that he can be reasoned with. We are at the mercy of his unpredictable whims at this point, I'm afraid…"
Olivia hums in response. She can tell that Angelica isn't going to be swayed right now. Although…
"Well… we should at least test his generosity, no? Let's see if we can really get food and drink provided by one of his golems…"
Angelica looks uncertain, even as her stomach grumbles a bit at the idea of food. Neither of them have eaten since breakfast after all.
"I… I don't know if we'd be able to trust it. He could put anything in the food…"
Olivia just smiles.
"Then I'll try it first, to make sure it's safe for you, my lady."
Angelica squawks at that and immediately starts berating her for comparing herself to a common taste tester. Olivia just lets her do it, enjoying how lively Angelica gets, even as they do eventually give in and ask for sustenance to be provided.
At the same time… Olivia knows Angelica will almost certainly pass out before her at this rate. And once Angelica is unconscious, she thinks she might just ask one of their guards if she could possibly have a chat with this 'Devil's Smile' while Angelica was sleeping.
It was a servant's duty to see to her Mistress' health and safety after all. No matter what it took.
-x-X-x-
The Vote:
[X] Stick with Olivia's POV - 74%
[ ] Switch back to Leon's POV - 26%
-x-X-x-
A/N: Leave a Like if you enjoyed please, would mean a lot!
Spoiler: Patreon and other Links Like ReplyReport Reactions:Alejandro7u7, AlboZZ, Daguns and 689 othersCambrianJun 22, 2026NewAdd bookmarkView discussionThreadmarks Chapter 4: Making Moves New View contentCambrianThe Pimperor - Inspirational as FuckJun 29, 2026Add bookmark#187A/N: Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next SEVEN (7) chapters are up on my Patreon for early access as well as the chance to vote on the direction of the story!
Olivia makes her move.
-x-X-x-
Everything proceeds precisely as Olivia expects it to. The food and drink provided are actually quite tasty, and there's even a room with a full bath and toilet attached to their room that they can use to freshen up and relieve themselves.
After Angelica finishes with her bath, she tries to keep her eyes open but it becomes all but impossible as the events of the long, long day catch up to her. Olivia makes sure to hold her until the noblewoman falls asleep, at which point she tucks Angelica into bed and asks one of their guards to go and speak with the Captain.
The speed with which her request is granted and she's escorted to see Captain Bartfort assures Olivia in a way… but also makes her more nervous than ever before. Even still, she suppresses that nervousness, forcing it down as determination and resolve takes its place.
Finally she arrives before the Captain himself, who is sitting back in a high back chair with a book in his hands. He looks up as she's presented to him, tucking a small marker into the book and then closing it and setting it aside.
"Olivia, wasn't it? You wished to speak to me?"
Olivia swallows hard, even as she clutches at her skirts and bows at the waist.
"Yes sir. Thank you for allowing me this audience."
The Pirate Captain makes a noise in the back of his throat at that but says nothing else. After a long, awkward moment, Olivia straightens up only to freeze at seeing the intense gaze he's leveling in her direction. Honestly, it's only slightly better than when he smiles… when he smiles, she wants to piss herself in fear and run for the hills!
Still… the intensity with which he's staring at her makes his expectations obvious, or so Olivia figures. She knows what a man like him wants after all. If he wasn't going to take it from them… it was only because he was the sort who preferred it to be 'offered freely' instead.
Plastering a smile on her lips, Olivia reaches up to begin unbuttoning her maid uniform.
"I appreciate your gentlemanly conduct so far, sir. And so does my Mistress. There is no need for you to act the part of the boor either… because I'm m-more than happy to-!"
"Stop. What are you doing?"
Olivia freezes a few buttons in, blinking as the Pirate Captain cuts her off with a raised hand and his words. She looks down at herself and then back to him with a blank expression for a moment before shrugging helplessly.
"Ah… undressing f-for you, sir? I promise you'll like what you see. There's no need to bother my Mistress when you and I can come to an arrangement between just the two of us that will see her to safety…"
He stares at her with an unreadable expression for a long, silent moment. Finally, Olivia takes that as her cue to continue, moving on to the next button. Only…
"Cease. Now."
She freezes again, a tendril of fear running through her. He sounded angry, or at least very terse… but what had she done wrong?
"Keep your damn clothes on. Didn't I already say I wasn't that type of man? Didn't I say I have standards?"
Olivia swallows hard, more confused than anything.
"O-Of course sir… but this would be f-freely given. I assumed that…"
But she trails off, seeing him shaking his head. His jaw is clenched and his eyes are flinty as he glares at her.
"You would only be doing these things to buy my favor. I'm not interested in laying with a woman who thinks they have to sell their body to keep their life. Do you understand me?"
Her mouth opens and closes wordlessly for a moment… before she blushes furiously and hastily does back up the buttons on her front. What had she been thinking? Now that he'd shot her down… she can't help but be horrifically embarrassed and mortified by her own behavior. And yet, at the same time… is anything really resolved at all between them? Or between him and Angelica?
"If that was the only reason you wanted to see me, I'll have you escorted back to your rooms now."
"N-No, wait… please…"
The Pirate Captain… no, rather, Leon narrows his eyes at that.
"Yes?"
This time around, Olivia doesn't just bow… she goes down to the floor, prostrating herself before Leon and planting her forehead on the ground.
"I am deeply sorry for my assumptions. Please, if you are insulted, take your punishment out on me and not my Mistress. But also… if I could beg for just a moment more of your time to speak about the future, I would appreciate it."
This time, Leon just sighs.
"Stand up. It's fine, I'm not going to punish you or Angelica for this… misunderstanding."
Already talking about Angelica in such f-familiar terms. Olivia swallows as she gets back to her feet. Leon raises a brow at her once she's standing again.
"What exactly do you want to speak about then?"
Right… okay, she could still do this. She could still be of use to her Mistress.
"L-Lady Angelica has been through quite a lot, sir. She has suffered greatly at the hands of those she thought closest to her and ultimately been sent into exile as a consequence of everyone else's actions rather than her own. And… they were going to k-kill her and me… until you stepped in."
Leon hums, looking thoughtful. Taking that as a good sign, Olivia goes for the kill.
"H-Help us, please. Tell me what it will cost, tell me what I can do to convince you… and I will do it. My lady has no friends, no allies, no resources… save for me. I'm all she has left at this point… so it falls to me to find a way to assist her."
The Pirate Captain seems to mull over her words for a long while. Olivia chooses to view that as a good sign as well… after all, if he didn't care he would have already dismissed her outright, right?
"… You don't have much to offer me. I've already told you I have no interest in women who sell their bodies for their lives."
Olivia swallows.
"B-But what of a woman who wishes to offer her body in exchange for assistance? Is that not better? It's… simply prostitution. Except I can guarantee I'm cleaner than any whore you've ever been with, sir."
Staring at her, Leon snorts derisively.
"You're quite eager to whore yourself out to me, aren't you Olivia? All for your Mistress."
Olivia blushes and fidgets… only to stiffen at his next words.
"… Has Angelica had you do so before?"
Eyes widening, jaw dropping open, Olivia is stunned by the horrible question for a moment… before growing outraged a second later.
"What?! No! Lady Angelica would never ask such a thing of me! She's a good woman and a good Mistress! She has always looked after me, p-protected me!"
Just as quickly as the outrage comes, it peters out as she realizes she's yelling at their very dangerous, very violent captor when she'd come here with every intention of buttering him up. Flushing, Olivia ducks her head, getting ready to kowtow and apologize again… but Leon just chuckles in response.
His amusement makes her shoot him a cautious look… he's not quite smiling as evilly before, but he certainly has a wicked sort of smirk on his face. It sends a shiver down Olivia's spine, even as she speaks in a much quieter tone.
"… It was my mother. She was… she did her best, but to make enough for both of us to survive, she had to make sacrifices. Those sacrifices were what helped me grow up, and what kept me alive long enough to get into the Academy. I never begrudged her for them… and I cannot bring myself to look down on any woman who must… do such things. As such, I cannot say I'm unwilling to offer my body to you in exchange for your assistance, Captain Leon."
For a long moment Leon just stares at her in silence again. Olivia fidgets under his gaze, until finally…
"If you wish for me to help you two with your future… then my price will be for you to tell me about your shared past."
… What? Olivia blinks, completely caught off guard by the strange request.
"I-I'm sorry?"
Leon just rolls a hand in the air.
"I'm curious how your Mistress secured a servant with as much loyalty as you have. And you mentioned the Academy… I'm equally curious how a commoner like you made it into the Holfort Academy. So tell me your story, Olivia. Tell me what the years have held for you and Angelica… and I just might consider helping you both out."
He just wanted her to tell their story? On the one hand, that was a far cheaper cost then giving him her body, Olivia supposed. At least on the face of it. Because on the other hand… it's actually an incredibly daunting prospect, isn't it?
When she looks back at the last five years of her life, from the moment she joined the Academy to now… it's not exactly a happy tale or something she necessarily wants to revisit. Sure, it had its happy moments here and there… but they'd grown few and far inbetween as time had gone on after she entered Angelica's service.
And yet… Leon is sitting there, watching her patiently, clearly expecting her to agree to his very generous offer. Even if it was only a 'might'… she should just tell the story anyways for the slightest chance that he'll be moved to assisting her Mistress afterwards.
Swallowing hard, Olivia slowly nods.
"Very well… I'll tell you."
Leon smiles at her again, sending another shiver down Olivia's back. Then, he really catches her off guard by gesturing to the chair across from him.
"Have a seat then and let's begin."
Olivia stares at the offered chair for a long moment before moving to sit down, perched on its edge. She can't help but be grateful… after all, this was going to be a long, sordid tale. One best not told while on her feet if she could help it.
Opening her mouth… Olivia begins to speak. And to her surprise, Leon seems like he's well and truly hanging off of her every word.
-x-X-x-
Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. That was the full saying that most people cut off at just the first part. Leon's curiosity regarding what was going on in this world with Angelica and Olivia had begun to burn from the moment that Olivia had come before him and started trying to offer him her body.
What sort of loyalty could Angelica have engendered in the other blonde to make that Olivia's go-to method? More than that though, how in the world had Angelica wound up exiled now… five years after the events of the otome game should have begun and run their course?
That, more than anything, was what Leon wanted to know. He wanted to know why Angelica and Olivia were together and why Angelica wasn't exiled years ago while Olivia went on to be the big bad harem protagonist she was supposed to be in the original dating sim.
Fortunately… Olivia is a wellspring of knowledge. And what Leon learns is very, very interesting.
For one, there was another girl. Marie Fou Lafan, a Viscount's daughter. The name doesn't ring a bell and trust Leon when he says that he would recognize every major and minor character from the otome game even after fifteen years in another world. There was simply no doubt in his mind… this Marie Fou Lafan was not from the original game.
Which made it all the more wild to listen to Olivia unknowingly explain how Marie had apparently usurped the entire position of harem protagonist from her. Obviously, Olivia had no way of knowing what she was supposed to become, but from the sound of things, this Marie had stolen her destiny from her.
Not that Olivia had even been involved at first. Much of the early stuff was things she'd had to put together after the fact with the benefit of Angelica's ranting and plenty of hindsight. Put simply, Olivia had just been an ostracized commoner at the Academy. She'd gotten in on a scholarship and all of the nobility had hated and shunned her for it, if they weren't outright harassing her and kicking her around.
Instead of one of the five main 'capture targets' from the game coming to her rescue, however, it was Angelica Redgrave who had eventually taken pity on her and taken her under her wing. And all while at the same time dealing with the machinations of Marie Fou Lafan, to hear Olivia say it.
It… sort of made sense, Leon supposed. Angelica never came across as a truly terrible person, even in the game. Rather, she'd been desperate more than anything, a desperation born from the player using Olivia as the main character to steal Angelica's fiancée and four other men besides to create her own reverse harem.
With Marie stealing Olivia's role in this world, Angelica had no reason to dislike the commoner woman… and so she'd eventually stepped in, stopping her peers from continuing their harassment of Olivia, and put her under her protection.
And that should have been that… but of course, it wasn't. This though, was where things really got weird. As Leon well knew, the plot of the otome game was around three years from start to finish. You would play as Olivia, seducing and 'capturing' all of your male suitors and fighting off attempts from the villainess Angelica to get you away from her man… the literal Crown Prince of the Kingdom.
It all happened over those three years at the Academy, with time skips here and there as needed to make it 'make sense'? One thing was certain… it definitely didn't take longer than those Academy Years for the Olivia in the game to 'win' and take the hearts of all her capture targets.
… But this wasn't a game. This wasn't a dating simulator. This was a living, breathing, and most of all real world. Leon hadn't thought about what that really meant until hearing Olivia tell her and Angelica's story. But once she's said it all, he now understands.
Someone like Olivia might have been able to seduce Crown Prince Julius and his four friends in the space of three years even in a real world, probably. But this Marie chick, to hear Olivia tell it, was certainly not 'main character' material. She'd done it anyways of course… somehow. It had just taken her longer. Five years, to be exact.
Over the course of their entire time at the Academy and then for a bit after, Marie Fou Lafan had slowly but steadily wormed her way into the hearts of every one of the game's original capture targets. The Crown Prince Julius Rapha Holfort, formerly engaged to Lady Angelica, of course… but also Brad, Greg, Jilk, and Chris, the rest of his friends.
This Marie had played the long game and it had apparently paid off for her, because Angelica had been made to look so much the villainess that her betrothal had been broken off and she'd been exiled from polite society, albeit a couple years later than should have happened in the game. All the while, it was apparently an open secret that Julius and his four friends were all deeply, madly in love with Marie Fou Lafan.
It sounded ridiculous… because it was. Reverse harems didn't actually happen in the real world in Leon's humble opinion. Then again, he also knew the personalities of the five capture targets inside and out from how much he'd been forced to play the stupid game.
… So yes, he could easily believe they'd all fallen for this Marie chick like the absolute idiots they were, even if it had taken five years for the results to fully materialize instead of just three.
In the game, everything had moved along rather quickly, ignoring all the little moments, skipping past the 'unnecessary' time, probably because the creators had less of a concept of time or scale. Or they just didn't care enough since it was a dating game made for horny women.
Still, as Olivia finally runs out of disparaging things to say about Marie and her story starts to wind down, Leon finds himself at a crossroads. Really, he should just wash his hands of this whole situation. It has nothing to do with him, slowed down 'main plot' or not. And yet… the hopeful look in Olivia's eyes is really tugging at his heart strings…
-x-X-x-
The Vote:
[X] Ugggh, fine, he'll agree to help them - 67%
[ ] No, he's still a pirate, he's going to hedge his bets a little bit longer - 31%
[ ] He's not helping them, full stop - 2%
-x-X-x-
A/N: Leave a Like if you enjoyed please, would mean a lot!
Spoiler: Patreon and other Links Like ReplyReport Reactions:AlboZZ, Daguns, Mickyboiya and 615 othersCambrianJun 29, 2026NewAdd bookmarkView discussionThreadmarks Chapter 5: Hard Truths New View contentCambrianThe Pimperor - Inspirational as FuckJul 6, 2026Add bookmark#242A/N: Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next SEVEN (7) chapters are up on my Patreon for early access as well as the chance to vote on the direction of the story!
Hard truths are had…
-x-X-x-
Angelica sleeps far too soundly given the circumstances she finds herself in. But how can she not? The accommodations she and Olivia labored under previously are like night and day with these ones. Of course, her noble status had meant the Merchant Captain had offered them his own quarters without hesitation, but even then… those weren't as good as these quarters aboard a literal Sky Pirate's vessel.
The rocking and swaying caused by the wind had made it extremely difficult to fall asleep on their previous airship, and the food had been of middling fare at best. They certainly hadn't had access to actual toilets or baths, that was for sure.
And yet, even though they were prisoners of Captain Leon, they had all of that here. Good food and drink, a warm bath, and a bed that honestly measured up to her own bed back home, while even putting the bed in her private rooms back at the Academy to shame.
All of that, combined with everything that had happened that day as well as the fact that Olivia held her to her bosom as she drifted off and… it was honestly the best sleep Angelica had in months if not years.
Alas, all good things come to an end and when she hears Olivia's voice calling out to her, Angelica begins to wake up.
"My Lady… it's morning now… and I have news…"
Slowly blinking awake, Angelica looks to see Olivia no longer laying with her, but instead seated on the side of the bed next to her. Nestled in a pile of pillows and swaddled in warm blankets, Angelica has never felt cozier… and she can't remember the last time she was this well rested. It takes a moment for Olivia's words to properly process as a result, prompting a blink when they finally do.
"Ah… news?"
Smiling softly, Olivia nods.
"Captain Leon has seen fit to invite us to breakfast. I think we should accept, Angie."
The mention of the Sky Pirate who held them prisoner has Angelica waking up faster. Reluctantly, she pulls herself out of the comfort of the pillows and sits up in bed, brow furrowing as she concentrates more on what Olivia is saying.
"That man… what does he want from us?"
Was he just trying to butter them up? Or maybe soften them up, more like. Perhaps he was the kind of villain who enjoyed lulling women into a false sense of security before striking. Only, Olivia shakes her head at Angelica's words, reaching up to brush a lock of hair out of Angelica's eyes.
"I don't know that he necessarily wants anything from us. Maybe we should just go into this with open minds… maybe he's not quite the brigand he seems at first glance?"
Angelica stares at Olivia for a long moment, not quite believing it. But to be fair, she can believe that Olivia might believe it. The commoner has always been rather… innocent. And at times, she's also been painfully naïve. Angelica has done her best to shield Olivia and protect that innocence, but now that they're in this situation, she wonders if maybe she's done the other woman a disservice of sorts.
"… Very well. Let's get ready for breakfast then."
If Leon Bartfort was already sinking his claws into Olivia, then Angelica would have to do everything in her power to get between them and make sure he didn't manage to do anything untoward to her friend!
-x-X-x-
Half an hour later, they're escorted into a dining hall by one of their guards. An actual dining hall that has Angelica staring, bewildered. It feels more like she's back home on her family's estate, rather than in the sky on an airship. It doesn't make sense… all of this is far too nice for a Sky Pirate.
Captain Leon sits at the head of the table of course, a table with a veritable feast of food stuffs set out on it. Making eye contact, he beckons them both forward. The only chairs at the table are on either side of him and Angelica grimaces at being forced to sit opposite of Olivia, rather than right next to her.
But Olivia doesn't raise any protest over it, taking her own seat without hesitation before giving Angelica an encouraging look she doesn't quite understand. What is the other woman meaning for her to do here?
"Good morning, Lady Redgrave. Did you sleep well?"
Angelica sits up, back as straight as she can get it, hands sat primly in her lap as she perches on the edge of her chair. Lips pursing together, she considers how to respond to the pirate's question for all of a moment before finally letting out a breath.
"The accommodations were… acceptable."
Leon just smirks, as though he sees right through her. Then again, maybe he does. If those were the accommodations he gave to prisoners, what were his own quarters like? How good did he have it on this impossible ship with all of its wonders and creature comforts?
"I'm glad to hear it. Please dig in… you'll have to serve yourself, I'm afraid, everyone is equal at a pirate's breakfast table."
Olivia jolts and begins to rise at his words, but Leon shoots her a look that has her sitting back down. Angelica blinks at the interaction, her brow furrowing. She… she was fine serving her own food. She didn't need a servant to place it in front of her.
Feeling a little galvanized by how offended he's left her, Angelica reaches forward and begins piling the best looking dishes onto her plate. Seeing this, Olivia hesitantly does the same… and finally, the Sky Pirate in their midst begins to as well, an amused smirk on his face.
Soon enough, they all have plenty of food on their plates and once he's done, Leon in particular doesn't waste any time digging in. Angelica watches him carefully for a moment before starting to eat as well, with Olivia following suit.
They're about five bites in before Leon suddenly speaks up again though, having swallowed his latest bite.
"So Lady Redgrave. How can I help you?"
She nearly chokes at the sudden question, caught off guard completely by the abrupt offer of aid. Of course… he's not serious, probably. This has to be some sort of jest. She refuses to rise to the bait though, carefully swallowing her latest bite, dabbing her mouth with a napkin, and narrowing her eyes at him in turn.
"I'm not sure what you mean."
Tilting his head to the side, the Pirate Captain jabs a fork in her direction.
"Rather simple, isn't it? You're in a very bad spot at the moment. You lost your engagement to the Crown Prince, you've been sent away from home in disgrace… frankly, I'm surprised you didn't wind up married to some old man more than twice your age out in the countryside."
Angelica flinches at that… because the option had been presented to her. She'd just refused it, something she was only able to do because she'd just barely managed to scrape by and graduate from the Academy even as her entire life was falling to pieces around her.
If everything that had happened between her, Prince Julius, and that bitch of a Viscount's daughter had happened earlier for instance, Angelica would have had far fewer choices. She would have been nothing and nobody, her status as a Duke's daughter warring with her status as the disgraced villainess who couldn't even manage to hold onto a single Prince.
They couldn't expel her when she'd already graduated from the Academy. They couldn't take any of her accomplishments away from her. By the time the dust had settled, Angelica was an adult woman… and so she'd had options besides simply being married off to some nobleman twice her age out in Holfort's rural lands.
"My father gave me a choice. I picked the one that presented the best opportunities, both for me and Olivia."
Leon arches a brow at that, spearing a golden fried potato on his fork and bringing it to his mouth. He stares at her while he chews, leaving Angelica to fight against the urge to squirm under his gaze. Finally, he swallows.
"And that choice was?"
Angelica scowls a little bit. Who was he to demand answers from her? Ah right… he was her captor. Her and Olivia's captor, as a matter of fact. Glancing over at the other blonde, Angelica is a little surprised to see Olivia smiling at her and giving her an encouraging nod, as if to say 'we can trust him'. They most certainly could not… and yet, what was the point in hiding anything anymore?
"… As you said before, my father could have offered my hand in marriage to a variety of… lesser suitors. Even if I was disgraced by the Crown Prince setting me aside, I still held value as my father's daughter. However, I would not have been happy playing wife to some man much older than me. So my father offered me something else instead… a position of leadership in our family's furthest flung holdings."
Confusion spreads across the Sky Pirate's face at that. When he doesn't immediately respond, Angelica feels compelled to elaborate a bit more.
"I have not been entirely disowned or disinherited, no matter how much certain forces might have wanted me to be. I call this an exile because that's what it is… but my father has still tried his best to do right by me. That's why I've been charged with taking over the handling of Port Paix on the island of Tortuga."
Strangely enough, this causes Leon to go stock still, her words rendering him speechless as he pauses with his fork halfway to his mouth, another bite of food perched precariously on it. He stares at her in disbelief, prompting Angelica to stare back defiantly. She didn't care whether he believed her or not… it was the truth!
Slowly, the Pirate Captain puts his fork down and gives her his full, undivided attention. That's a bit more unnerving truth be told… he's very intense when he focuses like this.
"Repeat that, please."
Angelica scowls… but he'd said 'please' and given everything else, she was swiftly running out of reasons to be impolite. Even if they were technically his captives, he was treating them more like honored guests. So, with a slight huff to show her displeasure, Angelica does as she's told.
"My father has given me a writ of authority over the Isle of Tortuga and Port Paix, its singular settlement. I am to take over the handling of the port and return it to its glory days, since rumors of mismanagement and constant reports of piracy have brought tax revenue from the island down to almost nothing."
Leon's mouth opens and closes a few times, mouthing the words 'rumors of mismanagement' and 'constant reports of piracy' silently to himself. His brow furrows and he looks downright incredulous as he continues to stare at her. Angelica starts to squirm just a bit under his gaze… she can't help it, the way he's looking at her so intensely makes her feel strange.
"… Is there a reason your father might want you dead? Or is he just incompetent?"
Angelica blinks, that strange feeling washed away in an instant and replaced by utter indignation as she scowls furiously.
"E-Excuse me?! How dare you! My father loves me with all his heart! And he is in no way incompetent. He's doing the best he can in a world that has gone mad, a world where the Crown Prince and all four of his friends have decided to take complete leave of their senses and parade around with that… with that harlot of a woman, Marie Fou Lafan!"
She realizes only after the fact that Leon probably doesn't know anything about Marie, so she probably looks strange, suddenly launching into a tirade about the other woman. Even still, her father is stretched unbelievably thin, so it's not fair to question his competence at a time like this!
Though to her surprise… Leon just slowly nods.
"I suppose that would do it. He's got too much on his plate. Still, to send his own daughter off without any resources…"
Angelica squawks again.
"I-I had resources! The men that you killed and the ship that YOU destroyed! They were Redgrave Men one and all!"
"They were paid off to kill you and Olivia and dump your bodies at some point along the way."
Leon's matter-of-fact response deflates Angelica's indignation… because as much as she wants to deny it, she can't. But…
"It's irrelevant though, because a single airship wouldn't have been enough to help you assert yourself as leader of Tortuga. You wouldn't have lasted a day there, even if you had arrived safe and sound. Not unless the denizens decided they wanted to play a game with you and string you along for a week or two before bringing things to a violent, vicious close."
What? What was he even talking about? Gritting her teeth, Angelica's hands curl into fists as she glares at the Sky Pirate.
"Speak plainly, Captain. What are you saying, exactly?"
Leon looks her right in the eye and Angelica tenses up, almost as if she can sense the bad news he's about to deliver… and somehow, she just knows whatever he's about to say will be the truth.
"Lady Redgrave, the Isle of Tortuga is a Pirate Haven. Port Paix has not answered to your family in years, if it ever truly did. It is a den of scum and villainy, filled with men and women who would sooner slit your throat and spit on your corpse rather than bend the knee and submit to your 'writ of authority'."
What.
"You were walking straight into a death trap, darling."
His piece said, Leon Bartfort returns to eating his breakfast, even as Angelica and Olivia both sit there in shock, matching looks of horror and dismay on their faces.
-x-X-x-
The Vote:
[X] Stick with Angelica's POV - 68%
[ ] Switch to Leon's POV - 24%
[ ] Switch to Olivia's POV - 8%
-x-X-x-
A/N: Leave a Like if you enjoyed please, would mean a lot!
Spoiler: Patreon and other Links Like ReplyReport Reactions:AlboZZ, Grimmouse197, Daguns and 675 othersCambrianJul 6, 2026NewAdd bookmarkView discussionThreadmarks Chapter 6: Consensus New View contentCambrianThe Pimperor - Inspirational as FuckJul 13, 2026Add bookmark#304A/N: Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next SEVEN (7) chapters are up on my Patreon for early access as well as the chance to vote on the direction of the story!
Finding consensus…
-x-X-x-
As she sits there, back ramrod straight and Leon Bartfort's words echoing through her head, Angelica Redgrave stares at nothing at all. The Isle of Tortuga… Port Paix… a pirate haven? It couldn't be true, could it?
Frustration wells up within her chest and unshed tears prick at the corners of her eyes. But before the first tear can fall…
"… Lady Angelica?"
Olivia's voice cuts through her stupor, bringing her back to the present and forcing her out of her own thoughts. This prompts an instant reaction from Angelica, who slams her palm down on the table hard enough to make a loud noise.
SMACK!
"Y-You're lying! My father would not send me to my death! You're making this up!"
She regrets her outburst immediately of course. Not the part where she defends her father, she'll never regret that… but calling their 'host' a liar and hitting his table… that she regrets, if only because she fears it will destroy the veneer of civility Leon has had until now.
Only… he barely even reacts. The Sky Pirate simply arches a brow at her and keeps eating, making Angelica flush in both embarrassment and anger. He's treating her like a petulant brat throwing a tantrum!
"M-Maybe… maybe your father didn't know, Lady Angelica!"
And then of course there's Olivia, ever the mediator, ever the one to try and find a middle ground… even if it comes at her own expense. Angelica shudders in her seat, shaking a little until she grabs the edge of the table in a bid to anchor herself.
"But that... t-that would be worse, d-don't you see? That would mean he sent me to my death without even t-trying to properly verify the situation…"
Finally, swallowing his latest morsel, Leon pipes up again, jabbing a fork in Angelica's direction once more.
"He already did that, didn't he? Sent you with that crew I plucked you both from… and he had no idea that they'd been paid off by another party entirely to 'fail' to get you to your final destination."
Angelica's eyes widen as she realizes Leon is right. No matter how much she hates it, no