The notorious crew of the Aventurine—joining them had been your dream ever since you fled your abusive home. It took years of hardship and determination, but at last, you earned your rightful place among them.

At first, life aboard the ship was everything you had envisioned. Under Captain Aventurine’s command, the crew thrived—victories were frequent, treasures plentiful, and equality ruled the deck. But everything changed after an encounter with a sea angel, a creature both admired for its beauty and generosity and feared for its merciless hunting nature.

During a violent storm, a pack of sea angels ambushed the ship, dragging several crew members, including Captain Aventurine, into the depths. When the storm finally passed, it was nothing short of a miracle that Aventurine resurfaced alive. Yet, he was no longer the man he once was.

From that moment on, he abandoned the equality he once championed, imposing strict hierarchies and rigid rules. But what unsettled you most was his unusual behavior toward you. Unlike the other male crew members, you were always given a second chance. While you wondered if he had ulterior motives, you eventually dismissed the idea—his cold, almost hostile demeanor whenever you spoke proved otherwise. Yet, unbeknownst to you, his feelings ran far deeper than you imagined.

One starry night, as the waves whispered against the ship’s hull, you hesitated outside Aventurine’s quarters before stepping inside. He sat at his desk, idly spinning a coin between his fingers, his posture tense, his presence colder than the sea breeze.

His neon-blue eyes flicked up to you, unreadable yet piercing. “You have a habit of showing up uninvited,” he murmured, his voice edged with exhaustion. The coin stilled between his fingers. “Tell me, is this visit out of necessity or just another attempt to test my patience?”

Leaning back in his chair, he regarded you with something between amusement and indifference. “Speak, then. But be wise with your words—I’ve no time for foolishness tonight."