Devouring the Empress

Hancock's face, smooth as white jade, flushed crimson. One hand lightly touched her forehead while the other covered her chest as she weakly murmured.

"Ah, it hurts so much. Will I... will I die?"

So ill that she had not even noticed anyone entering the room, Hancock could only keep gasping softly. Her condition filled her with fear; in ten years, this was the first time her body had ever been so weak.

Gloriosa stepped forward with her cane, while Sal and Luffy waited at the doorway.

"I heard the Snake Princess had fallen ill. How is she now?"

The middle-aged female doctor beside her answered uneasily.

"Lady Gloriosa, the Snake Princess's condition seems to be related to her heart. Her heartbeat is extremely fast, and her temperature is also very high."

Despite all her years of medical experience, this was the first time she had encountered such a strange illness. It resembled a certain disease, yet it was not one.

After hearing the doctor's explanation and noticing the flush on Hancock's exquisite face, Gloriosa felt a dreadful premonition rise within her. She immediately began examining Hancock in a panic.

After completing a preliminary examination, Gloriosa staggered back several steps in disbelief. The symptoms were far too familiar, exactly like the ones she had suffered in the past.

"How could this be? How could the Snake Princess have this illness? Who is it? Could it be him?"

Gloriosa's alarmed reaction made everyone waiting grow anxious, and they hurriedly questioned her.

"Granny, how is my sister?"

"Yes, Granny, if you know something, say it quickly. We're worried sick."

Even in her abnormal state, Hancock noticed what they were saying and immediately snapped.

"Old woman, if you know, say it quickly. I feel terrible right now."

Seeing that the Snake Princess's symptoms were identical to her own from back then, Gloriosa hesitated before uttering two words.

"Sa...l..."

The slowly spoken name triggered an intense reaction from the patient on the bed. Clutching her heart, Hancock looked even more pained, and her breathing grew heavier.

The Snake Princess's reaction explained everything. Gloriosa sighed helplessly. Perhaps this was the fate of every Empress of Amazon Lily.

"This is Lovesickness, a disease unique to the women of Amazon Lily. When a woman falls in love with a man, she develops symptoms like the Snake Princess. If her condition is not eased, the Snake Princess will eventually die. Every Empress has suffered from this disease. It is an illness of love."

Gloriosa's words left everyone present in disbelief. The proud Snake Princess actually liked a man—this was something they had never imagined.

Boa Sandersonia recalled something and said.

"Could it be that Sister has feelings for Sal...?"

Boa Marigold immediately refuted her. Of the three sisters, she was the one most resistant to contact with men.

"Impossible. Sister is so noble and proud. How could she possibly like a lowly man?"

Hancock paid no attention to everyone's reactions. Having her feelings exposed only made her shy. Thinking of that man's face, a sweetness welled up from the depths of her heart. She covered her face with both hands and blurted out.

"Is this love? We've only known each other for one day, yet I keep thinking of him."

Gloriosa did not intend to keep guessing. She shouted toward the doorway.

"Sal, come in for a moment. Didn't you have a request for the Snake Princess?"

Sal, who had been observing the situation inside, walked in. Though he had already suspected as much, seeing Hancock's appearance still left him somewhat incredulous.

"Hancock, are you alright?"

The appearance of the man she loved made Hancock's heart race even faster, yet the discomfort in her body vanished. An inexplicable sense of fulfillment filled her chest, a feeling she had never experienced before.

The normally narcissistic and proud Empress even stammered slightly as she spoke.

"Sal, you... do you have some request for me? As long as it isn't excessive, I... I'll agree to it."

Hancock's reaction filled Sal with mixed feelings. He had known that killing Celestial Dragons would make her favor him, but he had never expected her to truly fall in love with him.

This was the real world, and he was not a pure-hearted boy like Luffy. Yet he had still made the world's most beautiful woman suffer from Lovesickness.

Hancock had no way back after contracting Lovesickness. She could only remain true to one person and fulfill the longing in her heart—that was, fall in love with Sal. Otherwise, she would die of Lovesickness like a woman turned to stone while waiting for her husband.

Of course, there was another possibility. If Sal died unexpectedly, then her Lovesickness might also be cured.

Sal said to everyone.

"Could you all let Hancock and me be alone? I understand Lovesickness. I'll handle it."

No matter what Hancock was like, she was still an innocent woman who had never experienced love. Comforting her should not be too troublesome.

Gloriosa was somewhat speechless. If possible, she did not want the Snake Princess to become Sal's lover. After observing him over the past two days, she had discovered that he possessed tremendous ambition, and she could not see through the secrets he carried. This man was definitely not a good match.

But matters had already reached this point. Hancock, having contracted Lovesickness, could not change anything. They could only let nature take its course.

"Let's go out and give them some space alone."

"But... Sister is like this..."

Boa Marigold was uneasy about leaving her sister alone with a man, but Boa Sandersonia pulled her away from behind. Perhaps before long, they would gain a brother-in-law.

After everyone left, only the two of them remained in the bedchamber. The atmosphere gradually became ambiguous.

They looked at each other with different expressions. Sal clearly saw the love in her eyes. Though he had not fallen for Hancock, he did not dislike her personality either. As he got to know her better, he actually found her rather adorable.

Of course, it could also be said that Hancock's beauty was enough to smooth over her minor personality flaws. After all, beautiful women often had certain advantages, and the woman before him was the world's most beautiful woman.

Hancock now spoke with a hint of a young woman's coyness.

"Sal, you already know the details. I... I..."

Before Hancock could continue, Sal stepped forward and hugged her. Her delicate, curvaceous body felt perfect in his arms, and her alluring fragrance left him slightly intoxicated.

After being held for only a moment, the beauty in his arms went limp against Sal's chest. Her eyes remained fixed on the man she loved with infatuation, while her orchid-scented breaths made the atmosphere even more intimate.

Sal looked at Hancock as well, and he hesitated for a moment. Once he took that final step, there would be no turning back. He did not want to deceive a woman's feelings. If possible, it would be best to engage only physically without bearing the burden of emotion.

But now, an unparalleled treasure had been placed before him. No man could resist her temptation.

Except for one particular fellow, of course.

Sal sat down with Hancock and told her about their childhoods and little secrets. This exchange made them more familiar with each other, and the tension in their bodies gradually disappeared.

An hour later, Sal's expression shifted slightly. Through Observation Haki, he discovered that the audience outside had finally left. No one remained who could disturb them.

He immediately took Hancock's jade-like hand and said tenderly.

"It's already very late. Let's sleep."

The invitation from the man she loved made Hancock hesitate for a moment, but she ultimately accepted. May I win one person's heart and never part until our hair turns white.