On one side were soldiers loyal to the royal family. On the other was a Marine she needed help from. With the two sides at odds, Vivi had a difficult situation on her hands.
Igaram had investigated the truth alongside Vivi, so he knew exactly why she had come here. He also understood the position she was in.
He stepped forward and cleared his throat like a man warming up to sing. "Now, now! We'll investigate this thoroughly. Please rest assured that Princess Vivi will give everyone a proper explanation!"
As captain of the Alabasta Kingdom's royal guard, Igaram had learned how to speak like an official. With a few practiced words, he put an end to the crowd's arguments.
Besides, Vivi had always been seen as gentle and wise by the people. They wanted to believe her.
The soldiers exchanged looks. In the end, they had no choice but to accept Igaram's proposal.
Vivi breathed a sigh of relief. She disliked conflict, especially when there was no easy decision to make. Everyone was willing to trust her and stop pressing Loa, and she was glad of it.
But...
Once the crowd had dispersed, Vivi looked at Loa with a frown. "Um, sir, may I ask you..."
Her hesitation made it clear that she did not entirely believe Loa's account. Loa had not become his organization's leader at such a young age by being slow to read people. Before she could finish, he chuckled. "You think I'd really make trouble for no reason?"
"N-no, that's not what I meant..."
Looking at the young princess, a little awkward and nervous before him, Loa could not help reflecting on her. She had yet to spend two years undercover. Right now, Vivi was far more innocent than she had been in the original