I blink, surprised. Why has my husband given up so fast and so eagerly? He was supposed to be stubborn and unyielding.

«You're more qualified to do so,» he then adds.

«To do what?» I mumble, lost in this mess.

«To solve the situation.»

«Oh, you want your wife to save your life?»

«Yes, I do,» he chuckles. He's so relaxed, even while surrounded by pirates. «I believe in you that much, ah?»

«What's the matter?»

I glance at the pirates and finally recognise the captain.

Alexander must remember him from his first life as they haven't met in this one yet. Hence, I indeed am the only one capable of solving this.

«When have high officers from Polis started attacking ships in pirates' clothes?» I inquire, my hands on the hips and a stern expression on my face. «What will people think if a voice of this gets out?»

The captain observes me for a minute with his eyes wide.

«My... Queen?» he whispers, clenching his fists and opening his mouth in surprise. «My Queen, you're alive?»

«I am alive,» I nod, «but not a queen anymore. Pay attention to your words, Diogenes.»

He's always had the bad habit of talking his mind without filters. It wouldn't bother me too much, but it could become dangerous when some foreign delegation was visiting.

He falls on his knees and continues looking at me with a wide mouth.

«My Queen, what happened to you? Fate brought you to your loyal servants. We won't abandon you a second time!»

A second time? It was me that abandoned them. Why do they still show me respect?

The pirates next to Diogenes look at each other in confusion, and then they kneel down to greet me. The merchant steering the ship raises his brows, and he almost loses hold on the helm for a moment.

«You haven't changed much, except for your costume. You still can't hear a whole sentence without making something useless,» I scold the man in front of me, forgetting that he was playing tough up to a few seconds ago. «I just said I am no queen. I'm just a duchess now.»

«Just?» Alexander mutters by my side. No one else can hear his low voice, but I almost turn to pinch his arm.

«Are you going back to Polis, my Queen?»

«No, I'm headed to the capital. It's almost the beginning of the social season, and I wanted to be there early to prepare.»

«Social season?»

«Yes, Diogenes. It's a part of the year when nobles from a kingdom meet in a place and organise events to socialise and fortify bonds.»

«But why does my Queen want to attend a social season?»

«I don't want it. It's my duty. As Duchess of Kyre.»

«Kyre? Kyre like the region of Ethiro?» he realises. «Has the Emperor killed his family and put you in their place?»

«No, I married the Duke,» I sigh.

«Willingly?» he asks, a hand already reaching the sword.

«Don't waste your energies. You can't beat him in a sword fight,» I say. I haven't seen Alexander fighting, so I can't be sure how good he is. But there's no reason to make him fight just to review.

It's better like this.

When I turn to Alexander to check his thoughts, I find him admiring me with shining eyes. What is this for, now?

«My wife believes in my abilities,» he says and reaches out for my hand.

I glance at the pirates, just to confirm their dumbfounded expressions. It was like this at the Ethirian Palace too, but seeing grown men act like gossiping ladies is odd.

«What were you talking about before, Diogenes? Kidnapping? Ransom? Slave market?»

«Oh, I haven't said either of these words!» he replies, jumping on foot. «Who would dare to treat the Queen of Polis in such a way? If anything, we're here to free you!»

«I just said you should check your words before talking. At least twice. But, starting from the beginning, why are you pretending to be pirates?»

«We're not pretending, my Queen. After Ethiro entered Polis, we decided to leave and wait for a better moment to take our city back. We've spent months attacking ships and collecting goods, but we didn't know how to monetise them. That's when we met the merchant. We agreed that we would attack him from time to time to exchange our goods with food and supplies.»

«Polis's treasures?»

«In a safe place,» he nods, «We can reach it in a few weeks if needed.»

«Keep it there for the moment. Bring it back only if everything is settled.»

«Are we going to take back Polis?»

«Not really. I can't promise you independence. But I can work for some form of autonomy for the time being.»

«Doesn't my Queen want her throne back?»

«No,» I say, shaking my head. «I have another role now. And I couldn't be the ruler of Polis even if I wanted. I've abdicated and survived the seventh day.»

«Is that why they didn't kill you?»

«They never intended to kill me. Surrender was all that they wanted. Now, tell me more about your life during the last year. When have you left Polis?»

«A few days after the surrender. We couldn't look at those soldiers anymore, so we left and decided to regroup later.»

«Regroup?»

«There are three ships like ours, my Queen.»

«Are they all pirating?»

«No, the others are trading.»

«And what about my brother? Any news from him?»

«No, my Queen. The last thing I heard is that he reached Asteria without issues, but then we lost contact with the general. We don't know where he is, except that he reached his relatives and went undercover from that moment.»

I sigh, relieved to hear from the only member of my family still alive. He must be fine somewhere in Asteria. Harming him wouldn't bring them an advantage.

«Let's talk in front of some tea,» I offer.

«Yes! Of course, my Queen!»

Diogenes follows me towards the captain's cabin while the rest of the pirates return to transferring the goods from one ship to the other.

Alexander follows me closely, still behaving like a loyal puppy. Looking at him, one can't guess he's seasick. He's acting like this to avoid any tension, as my former subjects won't worry about me if they see a doting, submissive husband at my side.

I have to reward him later, as it must be very hard for him to keep his real personality hidden.

During the afternoon, I hear about Diogenes's adventures from the fall of Polis.

«I can provide you access to the harbour,» Alexander offers, forgetting his supposed role for a moment. «You don't need to avoid Polis. No one issued any exile, except for the members of the royal family. I'll write an accreditation for you. With that, you'll be assigned a dock.»

«You can do that?» Diogenes asks, tilting his head in mistrust.

«I can. The trade routes haven't been re-established yet. You can make a lot of profit until the rest of the merchants come back. Not to mention that you'll be able to enter the city whenever you need.»

«Won't that be a threat to the Empire?» the pirate asks, still suspicious.

I understand him. I'm doubting as well.

«You shouldn't make such a dangerous move,» I say to Alexander. «What if word of it arrives at his majesty?»

«I have the power to appoint and remove high officials in Polis. I am the one approving every name that has been proposed for every single position.»

«You're governing Polis?» I ask.

«Not directly. But I often check that everything is proceeding the right way.»

«You could have told me,» I pout. I wouldn't have worried that much if I knew that my city was in safe hands. «And you could have used it to your advantage.»

How many things could he have asked of this Duchess in exchange for some betterment in Polis? I would have been under his complete control if he revealed that he had the fate of my city under his command.

«It's not worth it,» Alexander replies. He shrugs as if an obedient Duchess isn't one of his most extreme dreams.

«So, will you write an accreditation for my people? For real?»

«I will.»

«How do I know it's not a trap?»

«How do you know?» Alexander chuckles. «Why don't you believe in me for once, ah?»

«I need certainties.»

«You can check with your own eyes.»

«I'm not a prophet yet.»

«No, but you can see what happens when we check in.»

«Check in?»

«It was supposed to be a surprise. We were going to reach Polis before going back to the capital.»

«Polis?»

«Yes, Thea. Polis.»

«It's on the other side from Kyre! It'd take us ages to reach it. Not to mention the time needed to go back to the capital.»

«Yes,» he sighs. «But it was supposed to be some time alone with my wife.»