Chapter 88: Elena

Chapter 88: Elena

"What's going on?"

Charlotte stroked the tattoo on his right wrist, barely noticing the fair-skinned girl lying on his chest.

As his hand brushed against the tattoo, a strange consciousness seemed to communicate with him, suggesting he could summon the weapon whenever he wished.

Driven by curiosity, Charlotte focused his mind.

With a subtle flick of his wrist, a long sword adorned with glowing green runes instantly materialized in his hand.

Startled, Charlotte quickly got up, the sudden movement causing the shrine maiden to slip off his chest and onto the ground.

He stared at the Seven Star Sword in disbelief, marveling at its transformation.

"It can actually shrink and attach itself to my body as a tattoo? Is this some kind of fantasy?"

He recalled a show from his previous life where weapons could integrate with the user, becoming tattoos when not in use.

"Did I truly acquire the Seven Star Sword? And how did this happen?"

Charlotte's thoughts were interrupted by a soft murmur.

"Mm…"

He looked down and saw the shrine maiden stirring on the ground. For the first time, he noticed their surroundings—a dimly lit cave. The air carried a faint metallic scent.

Following the smell, his eyes landed on a pool of blood near where they had been lying. He quickly glanced at the girl and then himself, piecing together the events.

"I… What happened here? I don't even remember anything…"

He vaguely recalled a blinding white light and the shrine maiden's three crystal necklaces. Now, the crystals were gone, and the girl looked fragile and scarred.

Charlotte's train of thought was interrupted as the shrine maiden opened her eyes.

She winced in pain, her brows furrowing. When she saw Charlotte, her gaze darted down and widened in shock.

"Ahhh!"

Her scream pierced the quiet cave as she quickly covered her face. Then, realizing she was unclothed, she panicked further and scrambled for her scattered clothes.

"Turn around! Don't look at me!" she shouted, her voice trembling with panic and shame.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow but complied, turning his back to her.

"Relax, your clothes are under you," he said flatly, his tone neither apologetic nor mocking.

She hesitated, then glanced down. Seeing the bundle of fabric beneath her, her cheeks flushed even deeper.

"Ah! I—"

She tried to stand but faltered, her legs buckling under her weight. The sudden movement only worsened the ache in her lower body, causing her to stumble.

Charlotte instinctively turned around and caught her, his strong hands gripping her waist.

The shrine maiden, now in his arms, froze. Their eyes met, his filled with amusement and hers brimming with shame and anger.

They stayed like that for a moment until Charlotte helped her stand upright.

"Move aside. I need to get dressed," he said bluntly.

She quickly turned her back to him, her face beet red, and fumbled with her own clothing.

Charlotte retrieved his clothes from the ground and dressed efficiently. When he finished, he glanced at the shrine maiden, who was now fully clothed but refused to meet his gaze. Her blue hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her silver jewelry lay scattered nearby.

Charlotte studied her quietly, weighing his options.

This woman, an accident though she may have been, was now his responsibility. He had taken her innocence, and as far as he was concerned, she belonged to him now.

"What's your name?"

His voice broke the silence.

The shrine maiden flinched before turning to face him hesitantly.

"What's your name?" he repeated, his tone gentler this time.

"Elena," she replied softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "I'm Elena, the High Priestess of Askaka Island."

"Elena…" Charlotte tested the name on his tongue. "I'm Charlotte. Rockefeller Charlotte. I'm a pirate."

Her expression shifted from sorrow to shock, then despair. She covered her mouth, her tears spilling uncontrollably.

Charlotte's heart twisted at the sight of her pain. It was as if he could feel her anguish, a sensation so foreign it left him momentarily speechless.

"I'll take responsibility for you," he declared suddenly, surprising even himself. "From now on, you're coming with me."

Elena's tears stopped momentarily, replaced by a look of disbelief.

"Take responsibility? You're a pirate—a pirate who forced himself on me! You think I'd willingly go with you?"

Her voice cracked as she laughed bitterly, her eyes filled with anguish.

Charlotte felt a pang in his chest but didn't falter.

"Yes, I'm a pirate. But even if you don't want to come with me, I'll make you. You're my woman now, Elena, whether you like it or not."

His words were bold, almost arrogant, but there was a strange sincerity behind them.

Elena's shoulders shook, her emotions a whirlwind of rage, sorrow, and confusion.

She opened her mouth to retort but stopped, staring at him with a mixture of fear and fascination.

Somehow, despite everything, a small part of her didn't hate him. And that terrified her most of all.

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