Princess Violet

It was a tranquil afternoon, the sun hanging high in the sky radiating a dazzling brilliance that made it impossible to look directly, its scorching heat lulling people into drowsiness.

The port of Dressrosa.

Salvage ships, crane ships, and floating docks from the Donquixote Family began operations under the blazing sun at the harbor, hauling and clearing the sunken vessels piled up beneath the water. The immense workload made the sweat-drenched workers doubt for the first time in their lives whether joining the Donquixote Family had been the right choice.

They hadn't enjoyed many days of lording it over others; instead, this exhausting, dog-tired life wasn't much different from their past. No, the working conditions were even worse. If they accidentally angered the executives above them, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing a job.

Under the sunlight, the golden coffee tree embroidered with gold thread on the flag flying at the masthead of the Ekmondo Kingdom warship gleamed brilliantly, reflecting the radiance of power and wealth.

"As expected, being born into the right family is what matters most!"

A middle-aged man in the standard combat uniform of the Donquixote Family let out a weary sigh.

"What are you spacing out for? Get back to work."

Amid the curses of his companions, that brief melancholy dissolved like smoke in the sea breeze. He turned back to continue his grueling labor, trudging through his bitter, exhausting life without the luck of a good birth.

King's Plateau, On the terrace of the Royal Palace.

"This is Dressrosa, the land of love, passion, and toys!"

With his pure white shirt unbuttoned, revealing a robust chest and abdominal muscles, and black pointed shoes clicking crisply against the stone floor, Donquixote Doflamingo pushed up his blood-red sunglasses and looked down at Aleus, who was a full hundred centimeters shorter than him.

A grin twisted across his face—three parts madness, three parts delight, three parts arrogance, and one part something indescribable.

"Prince Aleus, welcome to my kingdom!!!"

He introduced his country with an exaggerated tone, his arms spread wide as if to tightly embrace the nation against his chest.

"King Doflamingo, it's a pleasure... to meet you face to face."

Aleus looked up at Doflamingo, who towered a hundred centimeters above him, and wore a smile just as bright and cheerful.

He extended his hand.

They shook.

Young women in light attire made a timely entrance, bringing drinks and a lively welcome banquet. These professionally trained ladies excelled at igniting the party atmosphere, and within moments, the Donquixote Family executives were in high spirits.

"Dillon, you all go too!"

Aleus waved at his still-tense subordinates. "Don't waste His Majesty King Doflamingo's hospitality." He smiled and raised his glass toward Doflamingo, thanking him for the welcoming feast.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Dillon replied in agreement.

But he still maintained his rigid posture, his stubborn nature as immovable as a rock, impossible to bend. As for Dick, who had received permission, he immediately mingled with the Donquixote Family executives, enthusiastically clinking glasses and drinking heartily, the clamor sweeping across the terrace like a wave.

Eschbach's personality was somewhat similar to Dillon's, but not yet as mentally constrained.

Aleus found the noise annoying and was too lazy to scold Dick at the moment, so he simply walked to the edge of the terrace with his glass, gazing at the bustling city before the Royal Palace, feeling the salty sea breeze on his face.

"--Clack! Clack!--"

The sound of heels striking the ground approached.

"Admiring the view, Prince Your Highness?" A fragrant breeze hit his nose, and strands of brown-black hair, carried by the sea breeze, caught Aleus's eye first, followed by that bright, delicate face. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Violet, a member of the Donquixote Family."

The beautiful woman introduced herself, a radiant smile hiding a mouth full of lies.

"Violet?"

Aleus turned his head to look at the woman who had sidled up to him. "That name sounds like a code name, doesn't it?"

"Does it matter? It's just a name, nothing important, right? More than that, Prince Your Highness, what do you think of this country? Are you captivated by this beautiful land?" Violet leaned closer to Aleus, her lovely light brown eyes fixed intently on his face.

"That's a rather shallow question, Miss Violet... Surely I can't say anything bad at a time like this?" Aleus asked with a teasing smile.

"Are you implying there's something about this country that displeases you?"

Violet lowered her voice subtly as she spoke.

"That's what you said, don't pin it on me." Aleus shook his head in denial.

"Isn't that what you meant?"

"Haha! Some people think the Shichibukai are the lapdogs of the World Government, others see them as the Navy's concession to the Great Pirate Era, some aspire to the status of the Shichibukai, and still others try to overthrow the system... The same event, the same words, can be interpreted differently by different people. Miss Violet, I can't control how you understand my remarks, but please don't casually pin labels on me!"

He lowered his head slightly, quickly closing in on Violet's ear, his lips parting gently as he murmured in a soft whisper: "I don't plan to start a war with Joker here and now. Princess Violet, please don't do anything unnecessary."

His warm breath brushed against her earlobe and temple.

Miss Violet's face flushed slightly, as if startled by Aleus's sudden closeness. She hastily stepped back a few paces, lowering her head deeply like an ostrich.

"Prince Aleus, looks like you're having a great time!"

Doflamingo, glass in hand, strolled over unhurriedly. His eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses like an unfathomable black sea, swept over Violet, who was still blushing, then turned to Aleus, who remained composed. He narrowed his eyes and chuckled. "My family... hasn't done anything offensive, have they?"

"Not at all! Miss Violet is very beautiful! I couldn't ask for more than to converse with such a charming lady! If anything, it's my subordinates who are a bit out of line—my apologies!" Aleus's gaze shifted to the oversized umbrella by the pool.

Under it, Dick, Senor, Mahalbes, Buffalo, and other Donquixote Family members were already completely drunk, their raucous noise audible even from this corner.

"A banquet needs this kind of energy to be truly enjoyable! Fufufu!!"

Doflamingo laughed twice.

"If everyone dodged their duties like you, Prince Aleus, the banquet would lose all its liveliness!"

"Can't be helped! My personality is just that troublesome—I love liveliness, yet I detest noise..." Aleus shrugged. "The price of greed is having to hide in a corner like this, watching the scenery alone. Thankfully, Miss Violet came over to keep me company, so I don't look too pitiful."

As he spoke, he glanced at Violet, who still had her head lowered, and gave a light chuckle.

"It seems Prince Aleus has taken quite a liking to Violet! What a pity she's family, so I can't gift her to you!" Doflamingo let out a sigh that seemed regretful, then fixed his burning gaze on Aleus and continued:

"But soon, Prince Aleus, even if you stand in a corner, countless eyes will be fixed on you."