You Shall Sleep In This Very Deck Alone

Li Jinhan and Emily were a couple who boarded the La Miel due to desperation and through a favor granted to them by the ship's first mate. After all, who would want to harbor a pair of runaways being pursued by two different groups of people who ultimately had the same objective. To seperate the two of them and bring them back to their respective lives and identities.

Emily von Wilding was the eldest daughter of Wilding Barony. A vassal under the Protector House of Carmine. She was brought up to become the perfect young lady any noble household would love to have as a daughter-in-law. One who was well-versed in etiquette, literature, and music. Add the fact that she was a Great Mage who graduated from the prestigious Resse Imperial Academy of Magic Casters and was from a wealthy and thriving baron household.

It was no wonder that her father put an emphasis on her future groom. Truthfully, had they had a higher status, even the Captain of the Order of Crimson Knights, the young Marquis Carmine, would have been one of her prospective grooms. Nonetheless, since that was highly improbable. Emily's father settled for her to be betrothed to the heir of Count Rosemond. Another vassal of the Carmines just like them.

However, underneath the perfect image of Emily von Wilding was a rebellious and unyielding heart. It was this nature that led her to Li Jinhan.

Li Jinhan was from an Eashen family residing in the kingdom of Mirus. His wily and playful nature drove his parents to send him out on a journey to experience the world and hopefully mature from it. His travels led him to the only empire in the continent, Resse. He had been faring quite well doing odd jobs for shops, playing instruments or telling stories either on the streets or in teahouses. It was enough to get him by everyday. He was free, unfettered by the rules of his parents.

However, it must be noted that Li Jinhan possessed looks far superior than most men. Add the fact that he was the foreign yet refreshing type, irresistible to the ladies of Resse. Li Jinhan had a lot of admirers. Including one from a shady place of society.

It was on a lazy afternoon that these two met on a teahouse. An argument about music led to a close friendship and ultimately love. Li Jinhan made Emily comfortable enough to let loose from the shackles of nobility. While Emily taught Jinhan the maturity necessary to an adult and the responsibility that went along with it.

But their love was a love that other people cannot allow. Emily's status forbids her from having a relationship and ultimately marrying Li Jinhan. And Li Jinhan's admirer, the lady boss of an underworld organization, deemed him to be the possession of all women, not just a single one.

One thing led to another and they found themselves eloping from the capital, marrying themselves secretly in a temple on Syracuse before boarding a ship that would take them back to Li Jinhan's home in Mirus. Of course, this was all possible only through the help of Li Jinhan's acquaintance from when he started his travels to Resse, Riley, the first mate of La Miel.

Being at sea for a week now, the couple was able to feel slightly more at ease. Except it was too early for them to do so.

"Dear, it seems like we'll need to scour the ship for stowaways tonight. I'll take care of them immediately, so do make sure to reward me." Jinhan murmured to Emily's ear alluringly, almost shamefully coquettish. Of course, this only earned him a hard smack on the face by his beloved wife.

"I'll make sure to cast an isolation barrier later. You better not play around and finish all of them quickly. Let's make sure to not involve other people and add any more inconveniences to the crew." Emily said sternly and glared at the man who was rubbing his face soothingly.

"I know. I know. Seriously dear, you should take it easy on me. This face is quite precious you know. A lot of people would love to have the owner of it to themselves." The man muttered with a piteous expression, blinking his long and thick eyelashes towards her.

"Then why don't you go ahead and be with these people then, huh, dear?" Emily said dismissively with a sneer.

Li Jinhan shook his head furiously and immediately hovered around the woman, tugging on her sleeves.

"No way. We are married now. You are my family's daughter-in-law. You cannot kick me out even if you want to. You are stuck with me your whole life. Even your ghost would still be stuck with." He stated firmly, devoid of any playful tone. As if not being content with this declaration, Li Jinhan took Emily in a tight embrace.

The latter sighed in exasperation and defeatedly patted the man's back in assurance.

"Alright. Alright. Stop fooling around then, you dolt." Li Jinhan grinned from ear to ear and rained kisses on the woman's fair face.

Night fell.

Shadows flitted from the air to the main deck of the La Miel. There were about ten black-clothed people spread out to the different parts of the ship. They were about to head below deck when they noticed the sudden fluctuation of magic. However, before any of them could counter the unknown caster, an isolation barrier had shrouded the black-clothed people and ultimately the entire upper part of the ship. A couple of people tried to dispel the barrier but strangely enough, it still held on.

There was a faint rustle of sleeves followed by a low twang of a string being plucked. A gust of sharp wind passed through the eaves of the sails unto the beams.

Thud!

Thud!

About five more people in black fell down from the towering mast. There was a startlingly huge gash in each of their chest. Blood flowed unceasingly from it. The men were deader than dead.

"Your number seem to have increased compared to the last time. There are even Great Mages amongst you. My, those bunch are really putting in an effort into finding us. They were even able to find us in this ship. Unfortunately, we can not have you tattling back to them so I will ask for your lives to end here, alright?" A pleasantly husky baritone rang from a corner of the quarterdeck followed by the appearance of an astoundingly handsome man with a huge smirk on his lips. A stringed instrument in his hands.

"Li Jinhan, if you take too long to deal with this, you shall sleep in this very deck alone." A cold voice threatened, wiping off the smirk from the man's face effectively.

Li Jinhan straightened up and casted an ingratiating smile to the side where an obscure figure of a woman could be seen.

"As you wish, Madame." He said and leaped towards the black-clothed people who were warily watching this display. They immediately casted barriers around themselves when they saw that Li Jinhan was about to pluck the strings of his instrument in the same manner of his previous attack.

It was at this time that a powerful melody rang out from all over the ship. The sound was bizarre. As if coming from an instrument none of them had any knowledge about. Li Jinhan and Emily who eventually joined her husband's side looked around cautiously as the music continued on.

However, before the two of them could even find the source of the music. Groans of pain resounded in their front. Their pursuers all fell down, bleeding from their seven orifices. The couple looked on in shock. When the music ended, the black-clothed people were all dead. The only thing left for them to do was dispose of the bodies and clean up the scene.

Suppressing the anxiety and fear from their hearts due to the strange event, Li Jinhan and Emily did what they had to do. All the while wondering about the expert who helped them deal with this issue.