Princess Violet

It was a peaceful afternoon. The sun hung high in the sky, blazing so brightly that no one could look straight at it. The scorching heat made people drowsy.

Dressrosa's port.

Salvage ships, crane ships, and floating dry docks belonging to the Donquixote Family began work under the blazing sun, salvaging and clearing away the wrecks piled up on the seabed. The sheer scale of the work made the sweat-soaked crew wonder, for the first time in their lives, if they'd made a mistake joining the Donquixote Family.

There hadn't been many days of living high on the hog. Instead, this life of working like dogs wasn't much different from before—no, the working conditions were even worse. If they accidentally angered one of the officers above them, they wouldn't just lose their jobs.

Under the sunlight, the Golden Coffee Tree embroidered in gold thread on the flag flying from the top of a warship's mast in the Ekmondo Kingdom gleamed brilliantly, reflecting the radiance of power and wealth.

"Just goes to show, being born into a good family is what matters most!"

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

"What are you daydreaming about? Get back to work!"

At his companions' shouting, his brief melancholy vanished like smoke in the sea breeze. He turned around and continued his exhausting work, carrying on with the hard life of someone who hadn't been born into a good family.

King's Plateau,

on a terrace in the Royal Palace.

"This is Dressrosa, the Land of Love, Passion, and Toys!"

His pure white shirt hung open, revealing his muscular chest and abs. His black, pointed shoes clicked crisply against the stone pavement. Donquixote Doflamingo lifted his blood-red sunglasses and looked down at Aleus, who was a full hundred centimeters shorter than him.

An indescribably exaggerated smile hung on his face: a third madness, a third delight, a third arrogance, and one part something else that was hard to put into words.

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

He introduced his country in an overblown tone, arms spread wide as though he meant to clasp the entire nation tightly to his chest.

"King Doflamingo, I'm glad to... meet you in person."

Aleus looked up at Doflamingo, a hundred centimeters taller than him, and wore an equally radiant, delighted smile.

He held out his hand.

They shook.

Lightly dressed women arrived right on cue, bringing drinks and a lively welcome banquet. These professionally trained women were skilled at getting a party going, and in the blink of an eye the Donquixote Family officers were in high spirits.

"Dillon, you all should go join them too!"

Aleus waved at his still-tense subordinates. "Don't disappoint His Majesty King Doflamingo's warm hospitality." He smiled and raised his glass to Doflamingo, thanking him for the welcome banquet.

"Yes, Your Highness,"

Dillon replied.

Yet he continued to stand ramrod straight. His stubborn nature, as immovable as bedrock, was impossible to change. Dick, on the other hand, needed only to hear that he had permission before immediately joining the Donquixote Family officers, drinking and clinking glasses with gusto. The raucous din swept across the entire terrace like a wave.

Eschbach's personality was somewhat like Dillon's, but he wasn't as tightly bound by his own discipline.

Aleus found the noise annoying and couldn't be bothered to lecture Dick just then, so he simply took his glass and walked to a corner at the edge of the terrace. He gazed out at the bustling city before the Royal Palace and felt the salty sea breeze on his face.

"Click! Click!"

The sound of heels approaching drew near.

"Enjoying the view, Your Highness?" A fragrant scent wafted over. Brown-black strands of hair, blown by the sea breeze, entered Aleus's view first; then he saw her bright, beautiful face. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Violet, a member of the Donquixote Family."

The beautiful woman introduced herself with a radiant smile that concealed nothing but lies.

"Violet?"

Aleus turned his head to look at the woman who had come up beside him. "That kind of name must just be an alias, right?"

"Does it matter? It's only a name. It makes no difference, does it? More importantly, Your Highness, what do you think of this country? Have you been drawn in by this beautiful country?" Violet moved closer to Aleus, her lovely light-brown eyes fixed intently on his face.

"That's a pretty poor question, Miss Violet... What else could I say at a time like this but something nice?" Aleus asked with a genial smile.

"Are you saying there's something about this country you're unhappy with?"

Violet lowered her voice slightly, without changing her expression.

"You said that, so don't pin it on me." Aleus shook his head in denial.

"Isn't that what you mean?"

"Haha! Some people think the Shichibukai are lackeys of the World Government. Some think they're the Navy's concession to the Great Pirate Era. Some aspire to become Shichibukai, while others try to overthrow the system... The same thing, the same words, can be interpreted in different ways by different people. Miss Violet, I can't control how you interpret what I say, but please don't put words in my mouth!"

He dipped his head and leaned toward Violet's ear at great speed. His lips moved softly as he whispered, "I'm not planning to start a war with Joker here and now! Princess Violet, please don't make any unnecessary moves here."

His warm breath brushed against her ear and temple.

Miss Violet's cheeks turned slightly red. As if startled by Aleus's sudden closeness, she hurriedly backed away a few steps and lowered her head like an ostrich.

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

Doflamingo approached unhurriedly, holding a glass. Beneath his sunglasses, his eyes were like a fathomless black sea. He glanced at Violet, whose cheeks were still red, then turned his gaze to Aleus, who remained composed, and narrowed his eyes with a smile. "My family... didn't do anything to offend you, did they?"

"Not at all. Miss Violet is beautiful! I couldn't ask for a better chance to talk with such a charming woman! More importantly, my subordinates are the ones who've been acting out of line. I'm terribly sorry!" Aleus looked toward the oversized sunshade beside the swimming pool.

Dick and the Donquixote Family members Senor, Mahalbes, and Buffalo were already completely drunk. Their rowdy noise could be heard even from this corner.

"That's what makes a banquet fun! Fufufu!"

Doflamingo laughed twice.

"If everyone hid away in a quiet corner like you, Prince Aleus, the banquet wouldn't be lively at all!"

"I can't help it. My personality is just that troublesome. I like a lively atmosphere, but I hate noise..." Aleus shrugged. "The price of being greedy is that I have to hide away in a corner and enjoy the view alone. At least Miss Violet came over to keep me company, so I don't look quite so pitiful."

As he spoke, he glanced at Violet, who still had her head lowered, and smiled softly.

"Seems like you're quite fond of Violet, Prince Aleus! Pity she's part of my family, so I can't give her to you as a gift!" Doflamingo sighed as if regretful, then fixed Aleus with a burning gaze and said:

"But before long, Prince Aleus, even if you're standing in a corner, countless people will be looking your way."