New Year's Festival
With NOA buzzing with excitement ahead of the New Year's Festival, I received a special invitation from Cristelle.
A New Year's party hosted by the Morrel Ocean Traders?
The shops I recently acquired in NOA are now open for business.
The executives I called to NOA for the handover ahead of the dissolution are already here...
So, since we're all here, I thought we might as well throw a New Year's party in NOA.
That's great.
It's also a chance to reassure everyone inside and outside the company that we're still operating as usual.
I only told the executives, but word had already spread.
Then again, a major trading company operating across continents could hardly prepare to dissolve without word getting out.
Ah, but as I told you at the start of the year... those shops are registered in your name.
Care to exercise your management rights as their rightful owner? I could even make you head of the Morrel Ocean Traders' NOA branch.
I'll pass.
My, why are all the men I set my sights on so utterly lacking in ambition?
Ah, but you'll come to the party, won't you, Captain?
Sure. I'm curious.
I was already planning to take a break from training and enjoy the festival with Cristelle.
The party was being held in the shopping district Cristelle had offered me as a gift when we first met.
To show outsiders we're still going strong, I decided to hold it outdoors.
Besides, fireworks are best enjoyed outside, wouldn't you agree?
Right.
When I nodded, employees of the Morrel Ocean Traders came over to greet Cristelle.
Welcome, ma'am. Do you have any idea how shocked we were?
I'm sorry, everyone. Let's just enjoy ourselves today.
Cristelle made the rounds, greeting every guest in turn, apologizing to some and encouraging others. The last person waiting for her in a corner of the venue was Haydee.
Cristelle.
My dear Haydee. Has anything gone amiss at the company?
It was chaos. You got pretty far into dissolving the company, then suddenly called it off.
Some say you were testing everyone's loyalty. Others think the dissolution was a smokescreen for some venture the company was preparing behind the scenes...
This party has everyone guessing what you're really up to, too.
So what changed your mind?
I've only just realized it. Once I stepped back, I could finally see it.
The Morrel Ocean Traders wasn't an extension of Morcerf's curse. It was a landscape my employees and I had painted together.
Cristelle tapped her left eye with her fan.
I thought this eye was meant only to witness Morcerf's ruin...
Yet without my realizing it, this eye had been taking in that landscape all along.
Then Cristelle took Haydee's hand.
I thought this hand was meant only to put a bullet through Morcerf's heart...
Yet without my realizing it, it had held so many other hands.
If I severed all those ties... I'm certain I'd regret it even more than when Morcerf took everything from me.
So I will hold on to them. The people who stood by me are every bit as precious as my revenge.
...And you're satisfied with that, Cristelle?
Cristelle beamed.
Of course. It's my choice.
Cristelle's smile brought a faint one to Haydee's lips.
Then I'm fine with it too.
The warmth lasted only a moment before Haydee began wriggling her hand in Cristelle's grasp.
...How long are you going to hold my hand?
Until I'm satisfied, of course. My dear Haydee... when did your hand get so soft?
It's only gotten rougher because of you!
Haydee snapped and yanked her hand away.
Did you really have to ruin a serious moment like that?
My apologies, Haydee! How about your feet next time?
Absolutely not!
Haydee stormed off, fuming.
Mm. Her rebellious phase is in full swing. She's only pretending to dislike me. Haydee adores me!
I don't know about that...
She looked like she genuinely hated it. I watched Haydee leave, a little worried. Then Cristelle called to me in a serious voice.
Captain. I don't regret this decision... yet part of me remains conflicted.
I know now that revenge isn't my only reason to live. But then... what becomes of me if I give it up?
I've lived for revenge alone, and the nightmare still hasn't ended.
Do both.
Hm? Isn't this where you tell me to let go of my hatred and find happiness?
Morcerf deserves to die, doesn't she?
You should get your revenge. For world peace, if nothing else.
Fuhuhu. I see! Then I simply have to do both.
Get your revenge and keep making happy memories along the way.
You're right! Even in this life behind a mask, I've found something truly precious.
Then perhaps something else precious might come along.
You can't just wait for it to happen. You have to make it happen.
Cristelle smiled at my answer.
Quite right. I'll have to make it happen. Perhaps I'll make a friend who'll stay by my side to the very end...
Or perhaps... I'll find a life partner.
Sure. It doesn't have to be me.
At that moment, a single firework shot into the darkened sky.
Then, with a thunderous boom, the night sky bloomed in a riot of color.
As streams of light cascaded across the night sky like blossoms, Cristelle murmured.
If not you, what else could fill it...?