Chapter 51

The sea was loud that morning—wild, restless, as if it knew something scandalous was about to unfold.

Or perhaps it was just mirroring Jennie’s mood.

She stood at the edge of the grand port, silk skirts brushing against the wooden planks, the salty wind tugging loose strands of her perfectly styled hair. Behind her, nobles whispered, servants scurried, and her parents spoke in hushed but urgent tones with a man she had grown to despise on sight.

Her future father-in-law.

And beside him—stiff, polished, and painfully dull—stood the man she was supposed to marry.

Jennie exhaled slowly.

“Three days,” her mother had said that morning. “Three days, and the engagement ceremony will be announced.”

Three days.

Jennie’s lips twitched.

Cute.

Because out on the horizon, barely visible through the morning mist…

A black flag danced.

And stitched upon it—gold thread glinting under the sun—

A crescent moon.

Lisa.

—

Far from the suffocating elegance of the port, aboard the infamous pirate ship Midnight Siren, chaos reigned in its usual, delightful way.

“CAPTAIN! WE’RE TOO CLOSE—”

“I know we’re too close,” Lisa drawled, boots propped up on a barrel, hat tilted low over her eyes. “That’s kind of the point.”

Jisoo, her ever-exasperated first mate, dragged a hand down her face. “You said we were doing a stealth kidnapping.”

“Yes.”

“This is not stealth.”

“It is if they’re too busy panicking to think,” Lisa shot back, flashing a grin sharp enough to rival her cutlass.

Somewhere above, Rosé was already perched in the rigging, spyglass in hand. “Target spotted!” she called. “Rich. Pretty. Looks very kidnappable.”

“That’s because she is,” Irene muttered, polishing her blade with elegant precision.

Seulgi, leaning against the mast, smirked. “Or because she wants to be.”

Lisa’s grin widened.

“Oh, she definitely wants to be.”

—

Back at the port, the ceremony preparations had begun.

Jennie was being escorted toward a decorated platform, her arm looped through the unfortunate man she was supposed to marry. He was saying something—something about alliances, trade routes, family honor—

Jennie wasn’t listening.

Instead, she tilted her head slightly.

Counting.

Three…

Two…

One—

A cannon fired.

The explosion echoed across the harbor, sending people screaming as smoke curled into the sky.

Another shot followed—this time striking a stack of cargo crates, splintering wood and scattering goods everywhere.

“PIRATES!” someone shrieked.

Perfect.

Jennie gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “Oh no… how terrifying…”

Her fiancé paled. “Stay behind me!”

Jennie almost laughed.

From the chaos, a ship surged forward—cutting through the water like a blade. Ropes flew, hooks latched onto the docks, and within seconds—

They were everywhere.

Pirates.

Fast. Precise. Controlled chaos.

Lisa moved like she owned the world.

She landed gracefully on the dock, boots hitting the wood with a solid thud, coat flaring behind her. Her eyes immediately found Jennie.

Of course they did.

They always did.

Jennie met her gaze—and just for a split second, the performance cracked.

A smile.

Small.

Private.

Mine, Lisa thought.

Then she straightened, slipping effortlessly into her role.

“Well, well,” Lisa called, voice loud enough to cut through the panic. “What do we have here?”

Jennie turned, eyes widening as if she had just noticed her. “Y-you—!”

Lisa sauntered closer, dragging the tip of her sword lightly along the wooden planks. “A noble gathering? How generous.”

Guards rushed forward, but Jisoo and Seulgi intercepted them with ease, blades clashing, movements fluid and practiced.

Rosé swung down from above, landing beside a stack of crates and knocking out two men in one swift motion.

Irene didn’t even look up as she disarmed another.

Efficient.

Elegant.

Terrifying.

Lisa stopped in front of Jennie.

Close enough that only she could hear the truth beneath the act.

“Took you long enough to signal,” Lisa murmured.

Jennie huffed softly. “I had to make it dramatic.”

Lisa’s lips twitched.

“Of course you did.”

Then, louder—“You.”

Jennie gasped again, playing her part flawlessly. “P-please… take anything, just don’t—”

Lisa grabbed her wrist.

Firm.

Possessive.

“Too late.”

Jennie barely had time to suppress the smile threatening to betray her as Lisa pulled her closer.

“Captain!” Jisoo called. “We’ve got company incoming!”

“Then we’re leaving,” Lisa said simply.

She turned back to Jennie, lowering her voice again.

“Ready, princess?”

Jennie leaned in, just enough that her lips brushed Lisa’s ear.

“You’re late,” she whispered. “I was about to marry someone else.”

Lisa’s grip tightened.

“Over my dead body.”

Jennie smiled.

“Exactly.”

Then, in full view of everyone—

She screamed.

“HELP ME!”

Lisa didn’t miss a beat. She scooped Jennie into her arms, spinning away from the chaos as her crew covered their escape.

Gunshots rang.

Swords clashed.

And through it all—

Jennie clung to Lisa, burying her face against her shoulder to hide the fact that she was laughing.

—

Back aboard the Midnight Siren, the atmosphere shifted instantly from chaos to celebration.

“We did it!” Rosé cheered, tossing her hat into the air.

“Of course we did,” Seulgi said, grinning. “Easiest kidnapping ever.”

Irene raised a brow. “That’s because the victim is in love with the kidnapper.”

Jisoo crossed her arms, eyeing the pair at the center of the deck.

Lisa had just set Jennie down.

But neither of them stepped away.

“Care to explain,” Jisoo said flatly, “why the kidnapped noble looks… pleased?”

Jennie smoothed her dress, then looked up with a perfectly innocent smile.

“I have no idea what you mean.”

Lisa snorted.

“Yeah, she’s been planning this for weeks.”

Jisoo blinked.

“Wait—what?”

Jennie clasped her hands behind her back, rocking slightly on her heels. “My parents were forcing me into a marriage.”

Rosé gasped. “Tragic.”

“So,” Jennie continued, glancing at Lisa, “I asked my girlfriend to kidnap me.”

Silence.

Then—

Jisoo groaned loudly. “I knew it. I knew this wasn’t a normal mission.”

Seulgi laughed. “You mean we risked our lives for a love story?”

“Worth it,” Irene said calmly.

Lisa stepped closer to Jennie again, her expression softening in a way only her crew ever saw.

“You good?” she asked quietly.

Jennie nodded.

Then, softer—

“Better than good.”

She reached out, tugging lightly on Lisa’s coat.

“They’ll have to accept it now,” Jennie said. “No one refuses a pirate captain.”

Lisa smirked. “Damn right.”

Jennie leaned in, voice dropping.

“You kidnapped me in front of half the kingdom.”

Lisa tilted her head. “You told me to.”

“I ordered you,” Jennie corrected, a playful glint in her eyes.

Lisa laughed softly.

“Yeah, you did.”

There was a pause.

The sea stretched endlessly around them, the ship cutting smoothly through the waves.

Freedom.

Finally.

Jennie rested her forehead briefly against Lisa’s.

“So… what now, Captain?”

Lisa didn’t hesitate.

“Now?” she said, slipping an arm around Jennie’s waist. “We sail.”

Jennie smiled.

“Good answer.”

Behind them, Jisoo clapped her hands once.

“Alright, lovebirds! If you’re done being disgusting—where to next?”

Lisa didn’t even look back.

“Anywhere she wants.”

Rosé whooped. “Romantic and reckless. I love it.”

Seulgi grinned. “This is going to be fun.”

Irene simply sheathed her blade.

And Jennie?

Jennie looked out at the endless ocean, then back at Lisa—

At her pirate.

At her freedom.

At her future.

“Let’s make them regret ever trying to separate us,” she said softly.

Lisa’s smile turned sharp.

“Oh, they already do.”

And with that, the Midnight Siren disappeared into the horizon—

Carrying a kidnapped noble who never wanted to be saved,

And a pirate captain who would never let her go.