Fallen off the Cliff by My Lover After Becoming a Hero

 Thump. Thump.

My heart raced wildly, pounding against my chest like a war drum. The cheerful atmosphere collapsed in an instant, and the tension that followed was suffocating. No, it wasn't just that I was caught in it—I was the very center of the storm.

"A joke in my presence," the Marquis declared, her voice now low and ominous, "will come at a price."

Her tone was laced with such weight that my mind felt ready to crumble under her authority alone.

"Is my Evil Eye really so unconvincing?"

The captain, however, remained unbothered. Her relaxed smile stayed firmly in place, as if the Marquis's oppressive aura meant nothing to her.

Meanwhile, my shoulders shook uncontrollably.

I turned my gaze downward, fixing my eyes on the floor as if it could anchor me. A hollow sensation began to claw at my insides, leaving me feeling weightless and disoriented. Though I was leaning against the wall, I felt like I was falling—or worse, vanishing entirely. My breaths came in shallow, uneven gasps, and my senses spiraled into chaos.

"Renathras," the Marquis commanded, her tone sharper now, "can you find it?"

Renathras, holding a suitcase, nodded with measured calm. "The captain has always been cautious, but I've been keeping an eye on someone suspicious."

Setting the suitcase aside, Renathras turned slowly in my direction.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

No. No. Not me.

Even though this was the worst time to draw attention, I turned my back to them entirely. My teeth chattered, and the heat radiating from my body gave way to an icy chill that seeped into my bones. It felt like a venomous snake coiled around me, its fangs poised to strike my throat.

Then, a hand gripped my shoulder.

Before I could react, I was spun around with a force that left no room for resistance.

"Found you," Renathras said, his voice chillingly calm.

My breath stopped.

Before me stood a man with dark red hair, his crimson eyes gleaming like blood as they bore into me. He looked at me as if I were prey, his lips curling into a grin that revealed—

Fangs.

Sharp, glinting fangs that gleamed in the dim light.

This wasn't a man.

This was a—

A monster.

"That doesn't belong to you," the captain said suddenly, her voice cutting through the suffocating silence. Her hand rested lightly on Renathras's shoulder.

Perhaps remembering the nature of the transaction, Renathras released me. He straightened and stepped back, his expression unreadable.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

I gasped, dragging in shallow breaths as my lungs finally obeyed me. But the tremors in my body refused to stop.

I didn't understand what had just happened. My vision blurred, tears spilling over without my realizing it. My skin was drenched in cold sweat, and yet I felt like I was freezing, a bone-deep chill wrapping itself around me.

Fear.

Born from the primal instinct to survive, it seeped into every part of me. My body was paralyzed, and even my thoughts were swallowed by the overwhelming tide of terror.

"Renathras, what's your assessment?" the Marquis asked, her tone clipped.

"Visually, it matches. But we should confirm with a blood test," Renathras replied, his gaze still lingering on me.

"Unpaid actions here have consequences," the captain warned sharply.

"Wait, hold on!" a goblin interjected, stepping forward nervously. "If this really is a human, you can't just—"

"This is none of your business, goblin runt," the captain snapped, her voice icy as she cut him off. Turning back to the Marquis, she asked, "So, Marquis, what's your decision?"

"I have no patience for delays. Name your price," the Marquis replied coldly.

"Very well," the captain said, raising three fingers with a sly grin. "This amount should satisfy both parties."

"Renathras," the Marquis ordered without hesitation.

"Understood, my lady. Captain, we'll issue a royal-certified check—"

"No."

The captain's sharp tone interrupted Renathras mid-motion. "I'll take cash only."

Renathras froze, his hand halfway to retrieving the check.

"We pirates don't have the luxury of handling such transactions onshore," the captain explained curtly. "Cash is the only acceptable form of payment."

"You insolent sea witch!" Renathras snapped, his calm façade cracking. "Do you know who you're speaking to? The Marquis is your most important client! This behavior is unacceptable—"

"Humans," the captain interrupted smoothly, "are worth far more than this. Surely the Marquis understands the value of a mutually beneficial arrangement."