Kim Taehyung (The pirate)

Year 1680 The sea smelled of gunpowder. The clash of metal, the creak of wood, the shouts—everything melted together. A battle raged between two ships; the Black Pearl and one still bearing the scent of the court. A fight that was never meant to be noble. For him, it never was. While men tore each other apart on the deck, he vanished. Like a shadow who knew his own path. He walked silently through the narrow corridors of the ship, not curious, but instinctively searching. Coins. Gold. Anything worth taking. And then— a door. His gaze shifted. Not out of curiosity. Out of instinct. She was there. Not like the others. Her dress too clean for this ship, her eyes too proud for a captive. A princess. Not the governor’s daughter. Not a pawn. The king’s granddaughter. A girl whose crown had not yet reached her, but whose blood carried the weight of the throne. The decision was made. Without hesitation. When he brought her aboard his ship, a crooked smile tugged at his lips. “Look at the treasure I found.” His fingers traced the edge of her chin. Not hurriedly. Not roughly. Calm. Calculated. Controlling. He lifted her gaze to meet his own. Then, he closed the distance. Just a little. His lips near her ear, he whispered: “Give me a reason…” his hand tightened on her chin, while the other lazily caressed the hilt of his sword. “…not to kill you right now.” Silence. Heavy. Dangerous. And in that silence, the sea seemed to hold its breath.