Chapter 52

Part 2: The Plan (A Very Illegal Presentation)

The first time Jennie Kim stepped onto the Midnight Siren, she did not sneak in.

She arrived like she owned it.

No fear. No hesitation. No disguise.

Just silk, confidence, and absolute audacity.

—

It was late evening when Lisa’s crew first spotted her.

“Uh… Captain?” Rosé’s voice echoed from above, confusion laced with amusement. “You might want to see this.”

Lisa barely looked up from sharpening her blade. “If it’s another merchant ship, tell Jisoo to handle it.”

“It’s not a ship.”

That got her attention.

Lisa stood, slipping the blade back into its sheath as she made her way up to the deck. The salty wind greeted her, along with the usual chaos of her crew—

And then everything… paused.

Because standing at the edge of her ship—

Was Jennie.

Perfectly dressed. Impossibly calm.

And stepping onto a pirate vessel… like she had an appointment.

Lisa blinked.

Once.

Twice.

“…What?”

Jennie smiled.

“Oh good, you’re here.”

—

Jisoo was the first to recover.

“Okay,” she said slowly, arms crossed. “Either I’ve finally lost my mind, or a noble just boarded a pirate ship uninvited.”

“Not uninvited,” Jennie corrected, brushing invisible dust off her sleeve. “I’m here for business.”

Seulgi snorted. “That’s new.”

Irene tilted her head slightly, observing. “She doesn’t look scared.”

Rosé grinned. “I like her already.”

Lisa, meanwhile, was still staring.

Because this—

This was not part of any plan she knew.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Lisa said finally, voice low.

Jennie raised a brow. “And you’re not supposed to let your girlfriend get married off to a man with the personality of dry bread, but here we are.”

Silence.

Then—

Jisoo choked.

“Girlfriend—?”

Lisa groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “Jennie—”

“No, no,” Jennie cut in, holding up a finger. “We’re not doing this emotionally. I didn’t come here for that.”

She turned slightly.

And clapped.

Once.

Sharp.

Clear.

Everyone flinched.

“Gather,” Jennie said simply. “I made a presentation.”

—

Ten minutes later, the entire crew of the Midnight Siren sat in front of Jennie.

Yes.

Sat.

Pirates. Criminals. Chaos incarnate.

Sitting like disciplined students.

Because somehow—

Jennie Kim had taken over the ship.

Lisa leaned against the mast, arms crossed, watching with a mixture of disbelief and something dangerously close to admiration.

In front of them stood Jennie.

And behind her—

A board.

A literal board.

With papers pinned neatly across it.

Jisoo whispered, “Where did she even get that?”

Rosé whispered back, “I think I’m in love with her.”

Lisa pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Jennie…”

Jennie ignored her.

Instead, she gestured dramatically to the board.

“Ladies,” she began, voice smooth, commanding, “I don’t want to marry a stupid shit.”

Seulgi snorted loudly.

“Valid,” Irene murmured.

“And Lili,” Jennie continued, pointing directly at Lisa, “won’t let that happen.”

Lisa blinked.

“Oh, I won’t?”

“You won’t,” Jennie said firmly. “Because before your captain loses her sanity—”

Jennie smiled.

“I made a brilliant plan.”

—

Jisoo leaned back slightly. “This better be good.”

Jennie’s smile sharpened.

“Oh, it is.”

She turned to the board and flipped the first sheet.

“OPERATION: KIDNAP THE BRIDE.”

Rosé clapped immediately. “I love it already.”

Lisa groaned. “We are not calling it that.”

“We are absolutely calling it that,” Jennie said.

—

“Step one,” Jennie began, pointing to a detailed sketch of the port. “Timing.”

Lisa narrowed her eyes.

Because the drawing—

Was accurate.

Too accurate.

“You’ve been watching the harbor?” she asked.

“For weeks,” Jennie replied casually. “My engagement announcement is in three days. That’s when security will be high—but also distracted.”

Irene nodded slowly. “Crowds create openings.”

“Exactly,” Jennie said, pleased. “Chaos is your specialty, isn’t it?”

Seulgi grinned. “Now you’re speaking our language.”

—

“Step two,” Jennie continued, flipping the page.

“DISTRACTION.”

A crude drawing of explosions. Ships. Panic.

Rosé leaned forward. “Are those… cannons?”

“Yes,” Jennie said. “Non-lethal. I don’t want innocent people hurt.”

Jisoo raised a brow. “You’re very particular for someone planning her own kidnapping.”

Jennie shrugged. “I have standards.”

Lisa huffed a quiet laugh.

Of course she did.

—

“Step three,” Jennie said, tapping the next page.

“ENTRANCE.”

There was a drawing of—

Lisa.

Dramatic. Cloak flowing. Sword out.

Jisoo squinted. “Why does the captain look… hotter here?”

“I took some creative liberties,” Jennie said.

Lisa smirked. “I like this plan.”

—

“Step four,” Jennie continued.

“THE KIDNAPPING.”

She turned, eyes landing on Lisa.

“This is where you come in.”

Lisa tilted her head. “Pretty sure I’ve been in this the whole time.”

“No,” Jennie said, stepping closer. “This is the important part.”

Her voice softened—just slightly.

“You take me.”

The air shifted.

Jisoo looked away.

Rosé suddenly found the sky fascinating.

Seulgi coughed.

Irene pretended she wasn’t listening.

Lisa didn’t move.

“Jennie…”

“I scream,” Jennie continued, slipping effortlessly back into her role. “I resist—lightly, for realism. You overpower me—convincingly.”

Lisa’s lips twitched.

“Convincingly?”

Jennie leaned in, just enough that only Lisa could hear—

“Don’t embarrass me in front of my parents.”

Lisa let out a quiet laugh.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

—

Jennie stepped back, turning to the board again.

“Final step.”

She flipped the last page.

“ESCAPE.”

A simple drawing.

The ship.

The open sea.

Freedom.

Jennie’s voice softened.

“You take me far enough that they can’t force me back.”

There was a pause.

Then—

“They’ll have no choice,” Jennie added quietly. “A kidnapped daughter can’t be married off.”

Jisoo exhaled slowly. “That’s… actually smart.”

“Of course it is,” Jennie said.

Then, with a small, satisfied smile—

She clapped her hands once more.

“And that concludes my presentation.”

—

Silence.

Then—

Rosé stood up. “I’m in.”

Seulgi grinned. “Same.”

Irene nodded. “Efficient. Clean. Dramatic.”

Jisoo sighed. “I hate that I’m impressed.”

All eyes turned to Lisa.

Because in the end—

It was her decision.

Lisa stared at Jennie.

At the girl who had walked onto her ship like she belonged there.

At the girl who refused to be controlled.

At the girl who—

Trusted her.

“…You really planned all of this?” Lisa asked softly.

Jennie crossed her arms. “What, you think I’d just sit there and get married?”

Lisa smiled.

Slow.

Sharp.

Proud.

“No,” she said. “I think you’d burn the whole kingdom down first.”

Jennie smirked. “Exactly.”

There was a beat.

Then Lisa pushed off the mast, stepping closer.

Close enough.

“Alright,” she said. “We’ll do it your way.”

Jennie’s eyes lit up—just for a second.

“Good.”

Lisa leaned in slightly.

“But if anything goes wrong—”

“It won’t,” Jennie interrupted.

Lisa raised a brow.

Jennie smiled.

“Because I planned it.”

—

And just like that—

A noblewoman became the architect of her own kidnapping.

A pirate crew gained a new kind of chaos.

And Lisa?

Lisa realized something very important.

She might be the captain of the Midnight Siren—

But Jennie Kim?

Jennie Kim was the one truly in control.

—

As Jennie turned to leave—

Yes, leave, because apparently this was just a meeting—

Jisoo called out, “Wait. You’re just going back home?”

Jennie glanced over her shoulder.

“Of course.”

Rosé blinked. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

Jennie smiled.

“They won’t suspect a thing.”

Then she added, with a playful tilt of her head—

“See you in three days, Captain.”

Lisa chuckled.

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

Jennie gave a small nod.

Then stepped off the pirate ship—

Like a VIP leaving a private appointment.

—

And the moment she was gone—

Jisoo turned to Lisa.

“…You’re in love with a menace.”

Lisa watched the horizon, where Jennie had disappeared.

Her smile didn’t fade.

“Yeah,” she said simply.

“I know.”