Hoist the Colors Ch. 26 (Mobuseka) (Patreon)

(Every character depicted in the story below is a consenting legal adult over the age of 18)

A/N: Dorothea has it all figured out…

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“Excuse me?!”

Dorothea Roseblade sits with her back straight and her head held high, still holding Nicks by the hand as her father begins to blow up at her. Looking him dead in the eye, she remains visibly unfazed.

“You heard me.”

After all, it wasn’t like she didn’t know how the Earl was going to react to her declaration. It was always going to turn out this way from the moment that she came to this decision. That hadn’t been enough to make Dorothea shy away from the idea, however.

“No daughter of mine is going to marry a Sky Pirate!”

As such, her father’s blustering washes right over her, even as he bangs on the dining table. Until now, Earl Roseblade has managed to maintain his composure quite admirably in some very adverse circumstances. Dorothea wasn’t a fool, she knew full well just how much it had cost her father not to say anything when he realized that Leon ‘Devil’s Smile’ Bartfort was in their midst.

In the end, their House had been saved by pirates. That was something her father had been forced to chew on and swallow down with great difficulty because he wasn’t in a position to do otherwise. But this, of course, was a step too far… her decision, her happiness… that was too much for him.

Dorothea didn’t blame her father, not really. He was a man hardened by circumstances, but he had always shown her and her sister great love. And yet at the same time… she wasn’t going to let him stop her from pursuing her happiness. That’s why when the Earl finally reaches the end of his tirade, running out of words to say, Dorothea simply meets her father’s gaze and reiterates her previous statements.

“This so-called pirate sitting next to me is the only reason I am even still fit to marry, father.”

“Then we pay him off for his singular good deed and send him on his way!”

“But that is not all he did for me.”

Her words give the Earl pause and Dorothea continues on unabated. She described in exacting detail, with as calm and considering a tone as possible, the way Nicks has cared for her these past few weeks. From giving her his old Captain’s quarters to spending every night outside guarding it against his own crew until they arrived on Tortuga.

From there, he had constantly checked up on her, being a consistently bright presence in her life while she fretted over Deirdre’s fate. And even after Deirdre had arrived, Nicks had still been there, ever present, ever helpful.

“For all that he is a Sky Pirate, this man beside me has proven to be more reliable than any knight or lord I have ever known, father. He was there for me in my darkest hour and he has continued to be there for me every second since.”

Of course… there is one minor problem with Dorothea’s declaration. She didn’t exactly consult Nicks ahead of time about her plans. In fact, this is the first that he’s hearing of her intentions and affections towards him. Dorothea can admit that’s not precisely ideal, but she is who she is… and she feared he would reject her if she proposed in private with just the two of them.

And yet… as her father sits there speechless, Dorothea tilts her head to the side and looks to Nicks, gracing him with her fondest smile.

“I will accept no other man, father. As far as I am concerned, he is already mine and I am already his.”

For some reason that makes Nicks go a little pale… but he still doesn’t try to pull away from her, nor does he find his voice to reject her. Yes, she’s pretty sure she has him right where she wants him.

After a few moments of silence, her father finally speaks again, his tone quieter but far from subdued.

“Do you truly expect our House to be able to survive the storm that would come upon us if you were to marry a dead man, Dorothea?”

All eyes turn to Earl Roseblade at that, some shocked and others considering. In response, Earl just scoffs.

“Do not insult my intelligence by being surprised at my observation skills. I am not blind. Two Bartfort men sit at my dining table. One of them is an infamous pirate… the other is supposed to be dead, killed in an attack on House Bartfort’s lands years ago. Obviously those reports were greatly exaggerated.”

Frowning, the Earl shakes his head as he looks between Leon and Nicks.

“It is one thing for me to turn a blind eye to having the Devil’s Smile sitting at my table. Even if it brings a sour taste to my mouth given the sheer amount of damage you’ve done to our House’s trade routes.”

Leon just smiles blandly at that.

“If it helps, it’s nothing personal. I target everyone equally.”

Earl Roseblade gives Leon a dry look.

“It does not.”

Then, he sweeps his gaze back to Dorothea and Nicks.

“However, it is another thing entirely for me to accept a man who should be dead into my House. When word gets out, and it will… the Kingdom may very well attaint us as traitors. We are already on our last legs, Dorothea. We cannot survive this on top of everything else we have survived.”

Dorothea scowls.

“We only survive by the grace of these Bartfort men anyways, father!”

But her father just slams his fist down on the table again.

“I am aware of that! It does not change the facts!”

She… tch. Her father might have a point. That doesn’t mean Dorothea is willing to just give up, however. After all, there’s a simple solution is there not?

“Then I will step down as your heir. Deirdre can take my place. If you must disown me publicly, I will understand, but perhaps I can simply fade into the background instead… or maybe even act as House Roseblade’s liaison to the Isle of Tortuga, working alongside Lady Angelica. Nobody will know or care who my husband is if I am tucked away and forgotten, no?”

Her father blinks in shock at that.

“You would give up your inheritance for this man?”

Dorothea scoffs at the shocked question. Was her father listening even a little bit?

“As I have already stated, Nicks saved my life and my virtue. I am already decided on gifting him both in turn… I will not let something as petty as my inheritance stop me. Besides, Deirdre is just as capable as I am of handling the House’s affairs.”

The Earl falls into a contemplative silence and for a split second Dorothea thinks she might actually have him right where she wants him. Only for a split second though, because…

“That will NOT be happening!”

Dorothea is as shocked as everyone else at the table when Deirdre rises to her feet with a snarl, planting her hands firmly on the table in front of her. She glowers at Dorothea as though Dorothea has grossly betrayed her or something, leaving the older Roseblade daughter a little baffled. What is wrong with her younger sister? She’s effectively giving up everything to have a life with Nicks… and Deirdre stands to benefit the most from that!

“Deirdre! What’s gotten into you?!”

Their father draws Deirdre’s glower away from Dorothea, the younger Roseblade scoffing.

“What’s gotten into me? I’m not the elder heir trying to pawn off my duties on the younger! I might be the spare, but I will not be replacing my sister simply so she can go frolicking off into the sunset with her dashing, roguish savior! Especially not when I have every intention of doing so instead!”

Wait, what? Dorothea blinks, even as Deirdre sweeps her gaze from their gobsmacked father over to Lady Angelica. The Lady of Tortuga and supposed Pirate Queen freezes as Deirdre’s eyes fall upon her.

“Apologies… I had hoped to get the chance to ask you this privately, but my sister has forced my hand. I would like to formally and officially request that I be allowed to join you in Leon Bartfort’s bed as his second wife.”

O-Oh. Even as the amusement on Leon’s face is suddenly wiped off of it and Angelica chokes on her own spit, Dorothea suddenly understands. Of course, her father is not quite so understanding. The Earl finally rises from his chair, unable to remain sitting any longer as he growls at his youngest daughter.

“WHAT?! Deirdre, have you taken leave of your senses?! His brother is one thing, but the Devil’s Smile himself?!”

And yet, Deirdre doesn’t back down.

“Stephanie Offrey tortured me, father.”

Immediately, Early Roseblade goes quiet. Even Dorothea goes a little still and she already knows about this… as much as it enrages her to this day to hear it.

“I was not so lucky as Dorothea. The Winged Sharks took my airship, killed every man on board, and took me prisoner. They dragged me to House Offrey’s territory and gave me over to their none-too-tender mercies. Stephanie Offrey herself tortured me daily with a whip, intent on breaking my mind and turning me into a maid of all things. She could not shatter my spirit… but that does not mean she did not do grievous harm to my body.”

“Deirdre…”

Their father’s strangled tone is met by Dorothea’s sister abruptly undoing the laces on her bodice and spinning around, exposing her back to all of them. Dorothea jolts as if to stop her and she’s not the only one… but it’s too late. Deirdre lifts the hair out of the way, revealing the white lines that Stephanie Offrey’s torture has left behind. They crisscross all down her back, telling a tale.

Of course, the truly shocking part has been Deirdre’s recovery. It should have taken months for her to heal and the scarring should not have faded quite so much to leave only those white lines. And yet here she was, able to wear a dress, able to sit with them normally without pain. That too was Leon Bartfort’s doing, Dorothea is aware.

Hm… no wonder her sister is carrying a torch for the man.

Fixing up her clothes after a moment, Deirdre turns back around, standing there in the ensuing silence. Their father has been rendered speechless again, this time in horror.

“It is the Devil’s Smile who came for me when you could not, father. While the Winged Sharks besieged our family home and lay waste to all we hold dear, it was Leon Bartfort who rescued me and put a pistol in my hand by which I shot Stephanie Offrey dead. He nursed me back to health with advanced medicines I know not the true nature of. He gave me my life back. For that, I cannot accept anything less than becoming his woman.”

Once again, Deirdre looks to Lady Angelica. This time… she fully bows.

“Of course, I understand that he was yours first and foremost, Lady Angelica. That is why I would ask you to be allowed to become second wife.”

Being asked that twice seems to finally allow Angelica to find her voice. Sputtering a bit, the Pirate Queen of Tortuga’s eyes dart between Deirdre and Leon.

“B-But we’re not even… I mean to say… we aren’t married!”

This doesn’t faze Deirdre though, who simply comes out of her bow with a soft smile and a shake of her head.

“Of course not. Not yet. But can you honestly tell me that you intend to leave such a man unattached for long?”

Dorothea watches as Deidre’s words seem to light a fire in Angelica, determination blazing to life in the blonde’s eyes as she looks over at Leon Bartfort. The Devil’s Smile suddenly looks a bit hunted.

“… No. No, you are right.”

Letting out a breath, Angelica suddenly loses any semblance of worry or hesitation, instead regaining her composure as her gaze sharpens.

“We may discuss your involvement in our affairs in private later, Lady Roseblade.”

Deirdre nods her head.

“That is all I can ask.”

Silence falls between all of them again, dinner all but completely forgotten, nobody knowing what to say. In the end, to Dorothea’s minor surprise, it’s not her father her speaks up next… but rather, the Devil’s Smile himself.

“You two… are seriously going to abandon your House just to be with my brother and I? Isn’t this a little ridiculous? There’s no way that the Kingdom of Holfort can ever accept this. Your father will have to disown you both, leaving him without an heir of his own body.”

There’s something deeply ironic about the infamous Sky Pirate at the table taking their father’s side in this conversation. The Earl looks distinctly troubled by Leon coming to his aid. Dorothea, meanwhile, just scoffs and squeezes Nicks’ hand a little harder.

“Where was the Kingdom of Holfort when we needed them the most? Where was the Kingdom when an armada of slaving bastards bared down on our home with the backing of another noble house?”

Eyes blazing, Dorothea meets her father’s gaze evenly and says exactly what she’s feeling.

“The Kingdom of Holfort can stuff it.”

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Google Doc Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OpuJdS6M9vnbTiPywSJg1WdcKcVf_DUXxXsjNG26uFo/edit?tab=t.0