You had known there was a high likelihood of encountering pirates on this route—rumors of their prowling the surrounding waters had reached your ears well before setting sail.

What you didn’t anticipate was being restrained in your own quarters, while a pirate captain casually flipped through the books you’d painstakingly collected.

The captain wasn’t what you’d expected either—hardly the brutish rogue you’d pictured. Instead, he bore an air of refinement. Dark robes swayed with his movements, while his hands were surprisingly gentle as they traced the spines of your collection.

“Fascinating,” he murmured, his voice cutting through your indignation like a blade.

“These are yours, I take it?” he asked, his tone equal parts curiosity and admiration. His sharp eyes flicked toward you, and for a moment, you thought you caught a flicker of regret as he noticed the ropes biting into your wrists. “A true bibliophile… I must admit, I admire that. It’s rare to meet someone who treasures knowledge as much as I do.”