The storm had passed.
The Empress of the Sea lay annihilated.
The wicked Duchess moved silently across every corner of the deck, as if betrayal itself had made her reign..
"My sweetest, sweetest—I tortured a princess," Zoe whispered.
Her black coat billowed as she walked. The irony of her footsteps echoed through the empty deck—a crime scene she had escaped.
The crow on her shoulder watched every move
She slipped into a dark, creepy basement, torch in hand.
"Mistress—something feels off," Nightingale said. "I think someone is following us."
"Oh? I see," Zoe replied calmly.
They sprinted through the shadows until they reached an abandoned office.
As she opened the door, a chill ran down her spine.
Viola!
Inside, a room bristled with a chaotic corkboard—pictures, notes, everything about her little sister.
Her target had been revealed. The plan had been long in the making.
"Finally, I rid myself of Erika," Zoe murmured, a cold smile crossing her lips.
"Nightingale, we've won. Mistress, you are the victim after all—a true heroine, destined for greatness."
Suddenly, a picture frame crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.
Oh my God. It was the picture of the great majesty , Captain Solene.
Their beloved Mother.
Mother —— her vocal chord , she cried in despair of her dead mother.
"Zoe, why did you leave us? I made a promise to you—that the entire clan would witness my coronation, not as a queen, but as the Majestic Empress of the Golden Archipelago."
Something off , she notice , The picture — her mother
There were tears coming from her eye.
Something felt off. She noticed the picture—her mother.
Tears streamed from her eyes.
Zoe was shocked it was a moment as Mona Lisa being painted
Her mother whispered, "You… what did you do?"
Zoe collapsed on the floor—fainted
Fade out.
Below deck, the family gathered.
Captain Marxist, father of Zoe and Leonardo, stood at the head of the table. His gray hair was slicked back. His hands gripped the polished wood. "Where is she?" he asked, voice firm. "Erika was supposed to be on deck hours ago. This storm… she can't just disappear."
Leonardo, calm and watchful, stood beside him. Unlike Zoe, he didn't command fear. But he noticed everything. His eyes flicked over the cabin crew, noting their uneasy expressions.
Amara, the middle child, fidgeted with a seashell pendant Erika had given her long ago. "She… she wouldn't just vanish. Something must have happened," she whispered.
The youngest, Leandro, stayed quiet. Tension tightened his chest. The memory of their late mother, Captain Selene Marxist, hung over them all. Her guidance had kept the family steady through storms. Her absence left a hollow ache — one Erika had begun to fill in her quiet way.
Zoe entered the cabin, composed. Every step was measured. The crow tilted its head. "Worry not, family," she said smoothly. "Erika is… occupied."
Captain Marxist frowned. "Occupied? She's missing!"
Zoe let a strand of black hair fall over her eyes. "She is helping the crew. Tending to their needs. Assisting with chores. She insisted on it herself. Hardly heroic, I assure you."
Amara's eyes narrowed. "A maid? That doesn't sound like her!"
Zoe's smile widened. "Perhaps she seeks simplicity. Perhaps she wants to serve. Regardless, she is safe. You should be grateful."
Captain Marxist's voice was steady, though concern lingered. "I hope you are right. But remember… no one, not even you, may overstep the ship's order. I lead this vessel. All must answer to me."
Zoe's eyes gleamed. "Of course, Father. I serve only to maintain order. Erika's duties will not interfere."
The room fell silent. Zoe had claimed control — not only over her family's perception but over the ship's workers and cabin crew.
Deckhands moved with careful precision. They adjusted sails and rigging under her watchful gaze. Cabin staff polished silverware and prepared meals with trembling hands. Even the youngest workers obeyed instantly, fearful of her wrath.
Leonardo moved quietly among them. He whispered guidance. "Stick with me, and you'll be fine," he murmured to a few deckhands. "She's clever… but she cannot control everything."
The crow cawed sharply. It seemed to sense the subtle mutiny forming below.
Zoe's dominance was absolute. She tested the crew's loyalty, calling forward the hesitant. "Step forward," she commanded. "Who is loyal to me… and who hides their allegiance to a girl absent?"
A deckhand stammered, "W-we follow orders, Mistress Zoe!"
Zoe's black-gloved hand gestured toward the rigging. One sailor fumbled. A firm grip lifted him just enough to scare the others. Obedience solidified under fear.
Leonardo moved among the cabin crew quietly. He taught them to support one another. Fear might rule for now. But loyalty and unity could grow under his guidance.
Above deck and below, Zoe's influence was complete. Every glance, every word, bound them to her will. The Empress of the Sea answered to no one — except her father. She respected his authority just enough to maintain her shadow of absolute power.