Shrouded Seascape

Seated sideways in a round chair, Margaret's eyes were tearing from the overwhelming emotions within her as she watched her family enjoying a meal together.

Her virtuous mother was playfully chiding her father over his growing belly and suggesting he go on a diet. Her brother had his arm around his new girlfriend's shoulder and was whispering affectionate words into her ear.

She turned to see the mirror by the side of the room. The hideous scar on her face had vanished, and she looked as she did at twelve or thirteen. The mirror reflected the innocence of her younger days.

It was as if time had rewound to six or seven years ago, transporting her back to the time when she had a blissful and carefree life.

Tears trickled down Margaret's fair face.

"How great... Everything had just been a nightmare. It's all fake. All of you are still alive," she muttered.

Just as she was about to say something to her family, a large hand reached out from the side and tenderly held her by her slim waist.

Margaret turned to look at the owner of the hand; it was Charles. His gaze was full of affection as he stared into her eyes, and their faces slowly inched toward each other. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Abruptly, Margaret gasped as she jolted awake in her seat. Her eyes regained their normal hue as she composed her thoughts. Extreme disgust surfaced on her visage as she recalled her delusions. Her facial features contorted, and she flung the half-eaten, black-spotted fruit against the wall before slapping herself hard on the face.

The slap echoed so loudly that even her attendants outside her room could hear it. Her head attendant, Gina, cautiously peeked in and asked cautiously, "Miss Margaret, did the Soothing Fruit not help?"

Margaret ignored Gina's question and gazed at her own reflection in the mirror. A disheveled, gaunt woman in a black spaghetti strap dress slumped in her chair. Her once innocent gaze had been replaced by weariness and desolation. Coupled with the hideous scar on her face, she hardly looked her age of nineteen.

After staring at her own reflection for a good five seconds, Margaret picked up a comb and began to swiftly tidy her hair.

"What appointments are there this afternoon?" Margaret questioned with a sharp gaze.

Gina hurried into the room and assisted Margaret with her makeup as she answered, "You have a meeting with the Governor of Ebony Mist Island about returning the ownership of the Spider Islands. He has arrived early and is waiting for you in the reception room."

The door swung open, and clade in a long, black gown, Margaret strode toward the reception room with confident steps. She wore a condescending expression over her visage like a suit of armor. At this moment, she was the Governor of Whereto.

Margaret swiftly traversed through the brightly lit corridors and soon spotted the Governor of Ebony Mist Island. The man was nearly two meters tall with a portly stature and a large balding spot in the center of his head.

His protruding fish-like eyes lit up in surprise upon seeing Margaret in her form-fitting black dress. His eyes followed the curves of her body, and the man made no effort to disguise the blatant lust in his gaze.

"Margaret! I can't believe you are still alive. I came over immediately upon hearing the news. I even thought it was just a false rumor," the man said as he grabbed Margaret's delicate hand with her chubby fingers and caressed it without any restraints.

Standing beside Margaret, Gina watched the scene with visible disgust in her eyes.

However, Margaret was not the least fazed. She smoothly pulled her hand out of the man's grasp and instructed, "Gina, please have everyone leave. I need to have a good chat with Uncle Timmy here."

A look of extreme unease appeared on Gina's countenance. She was worried about leaving Margaret alone with someone like him. However, she ultimately complied, and soon, Margaret and Governor Timmy were the only two left in the grand reception room.

"Dear little Margaret, do you perhaps want to get to know this uncle of yours a little more?" Governor Timmy asked as he closed the gap between them. He let out a chuckle as he continued, "You know, I even held you once when you were still a baby."

Lust painted Governor Timmy's face as he leaned closer toward Margaret's face.

Margaret returned his enthusiasm with an emotionless look. "My father once told me that the Governor of Ebony Mist Island is a master of disguise. If anyone were to believe the false appearance he put up, they would suffer huge losses eventually. His outward appearance is just his superficial mask, and no one knows how many layers of disguise he has."

The chubby hand, which was inching toward Margaret's waist, froze mid-air. The lust in Governor Timmy's eyes rapidly dissipated and was replaced by extreme calmness.

He turned and sat down on a nearby stool before casually picking up the wine glass off the table and drinking a mouthful.

"Daniel surely thinks highly of you to share such insights with you," Governor Timmy remarked.

"Uncle Timmy, you chose to approach me with such a demeanor the moment you appear. Does that mean our previous telegram discussions are void?" Margaret asked.

Stroking his thick triple chin, a cold smirk appeared on the fat man's face. "Since you want to be direct, I'll drop the pretense, too. Don't think too highly of yourself just because you managed to get the support of the Sottom's pirates.

"Of Whereto's three islands, you've only got the main one left. And you even have to share its ownership with those pirates. You're not your father; you are in no position to negotiate with me."

Margaret slightly covered her mouth with a hand and let out a chuckle. "How ruthless, Uncle Timmy. Your son had even asked for my hand in marriage previously. If I had agreed then, we would be family now."

Governor Timmy scoffed dismissively. "Don't even bring that up. My silly son is no match for the Cavendish Family. If he had married you, you probably would have outmaneuvered him. Anyway, I have ownership of that island now, and there's no way I'm returning it just like that. You can try sending Sottom to come and take it if you think you're up for it."

Having dropped his act, Governor Timmy then stood up and walked toward the door without another word. Margaret was soon left alone in the spacious room.

"Oh my my~ It seems like you're not getting your island back. What to do now? Why don't I help you out by taking his head?" Clad in a pink dolly dress, 134 floated out from behind a door with a playful grin.

"If he dies here on my island, who in this seascape would even want to collaborate with me? Also, he's a clever man. If he dared to come to Whereto, he must have surely taken precautions against me," Margaret replied.

"Oh, no, what's the plan then?" Hovering in the air, 134 tilted her head to the side as she feigned to be in deep thought.

"There's definitely a way. This man is shrewd, but he's right about his son being a fool and would be an easy target to manipulate. I'll recover everything that the Cavendish Family lost, and with interest," Margaret declared, her slender fingers clenching into fists.

"Awesome! Our collaboration can continue then. But don't overdo it. If you die from exhaustion, this island will be all mine," 134 exclaimed in excitement. Hugging her doll tightly, she turned and floated away.

"Overdo it?" Margaret muttered under her breath as she stared in the direction where 134 left. "I haven't done enough. Every inch of land that had belonged to the Cavendish must be reclaimed!"

Splat!

The wine glass that Governor Timmy had drank moments ago toppled over and shattered, spilling its contents across the table.

The spilled red liquid began to emit wisps of black smoke as it gradually turned into a puddle of black water. A pair of yellow eyes with horizontal, octopus-like pupils surfaced from within.

The eyes glimmered with traces of malevolence as a raspy, phlegm-laden voice echoed from the dark waters. "Indeed, your efforts are inadequate. To exact revenge for your family, your present strength is significantly lacking."

"Who are you!" Margaret lifted the hem of her dress, and a dagger with intricate patterns on its blade appeared in her hand. Several translucent figures faded in and out of the shadows as they hovered around the pool of black water.

"My identity is not important. What's important is, have you truly avenged your family?" a slick, black octopus tentacle extended from the water's surface and then retracted.

Margaret tightened her grip on the dagger. "What do you mean?! Who are you?!"

The voice from the pool of water continued, "Why was Swann in such urgency to occupy the islands? Does it make any logical sense to you? Who would have the most to gain from the situation? Do you think he's capable of building a colossal machinery like Ronker? Who is the true mastermind behind your family's demise? Think deeper.

"Of course, you can choose not to trust me. You can also dismiss what I've said and allow the true murderer of your family to go free and not bear the weight of their atrocious acts."

The voice faded to a whisper. "I will come back again. And I trust you will have an answer by then."

The water surface went still. Margaret stood rooted in the vast room with her gaze fixated on the now serene pool of water. Yet, her heart remained tumultuous, unable to find tranquility.