Charlos extended a finger and pointed straight at the two girls in the cage. "Those two," he said calmly.
Confusion immediately filled Shalria's face. "Brother, why did you pick two girls who look so frail?"
Charlos's lips curved into a faint smile, his tone casual. "It's not like I run into danger very often. Two pretty ornaments will do just fine."
"Pretty ornaments?" Shalria blinked, only half understanding.
Charlos gently rubbed the top of her head, silently confirming it.
The patriarch of the Rosy Family smiled and waved a hand, signaling for the servants to bring the two girls out.
The two girls were escorted before him. Their faces were identical—they were twins.
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Charlos's eyes. "Twins, too. Very nice."
Seeing his sly expression, the patriarch teased, "You little rascal. You haven't even grown a full set of hair yet, and you're already thinking about that sort of thing."
Charlos chuckled with a young boy's irreverence. "Grandpa, give it another two years, and it'll all have grown in."
Shalria immediately pointed her little finger at a tall, muscular man in the crowd and called out brightly, "I want that big guy! I want him to be my mount!"
The patriarch of the Rosy Family smiled, nodded, and raised a hand.
A servant immediately led the burly man out.
Shalria eagerly ran up to him, stood on tiptoe, and urged, "Get down!"
Watching this, Charlos spoke softly. "Shalria, don't make him carry you. How about I give you a piggyback ride?"
Shalria, who had been about to climb onto the man's back, froze. She immediately turned around, her eyes curving with delight. "Yes, yes! Carry me, Brother!"
He looked down at the girl in his arms, his tone serious. "Shalria, you mustn't ride these people anymore. Understand?"
Shalria tilted her little head in confusion. "Why?"
Charlos said evenly, "If you ride them again, I won't hold you or give you piggyback rides anymore."
Shalria immediately panicked at his words. She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and pleaded sweetly, "Okay, okay! I won't ride them anymore!"
The patriarch of the Rosy Family slowly walked up to Charlos and spoke earnestly. "Charlos, the last few generations of the Rosy Family have produced nothing but duds. You're one of the few promising youngsters in your generation. Work hard and bring greater glory to our family."
Standing nearby, Saint Rosward clenched his teeth and cursed inwardly.
Why?! Why did Father have to pin all his hopes on this brat?!
He seethed with resentment, but dared not lose his temper in public. He jerked his head away, turned, and stormed off.
The patriarch paid no attention to his outburst and said calmly to Charlos, "Ignore him. He's nothing but a shortsighted fool."
Charlos gave a soft chuckle. "Perhaps."
Shalria immediately chimed in from beside him. "Father really is stupid sometimes. He even indulges an idiot like Charlos in everything. You can tell he's stupid beyond belief."
Charlos bowed slightly to the patriarch. "Grandpa, I'll head back now."
With that, he left the courtyard with the two slave girls, carrying Shalria in his arms as he returned to his palace.
Once they reached the palace, Charlos gently set Shalria down.
Shalria immediately pouted, looking aggrieved. "Why did you put me down, Brother? I wanted you to hold me a little longer."
Charlos looked at her tenderly and said softly, "You're going to grow into a great beauty, Shalria. You need to learn to walk on your own, or I won't be able to carry you anymore."
Shalria's eyes widened as she stared blankly at Charlos, her face full of confusion. "Huh?"
Charlos lightly beckoned with a finger, and Akali immediately strode over.
"Take off their collars."
The two slave girls stiffened and looked up at Charlos in a daze, their eyes full of fear and unease.
Charlos's tone remained calm. "Keeping those collars on all the time is pointless. I don't like it."
Akali bowed slightly. "Yes, Saint Charlos."
Shalria hurriedly protested from beside him. "Brother, you can't take off their collars! What if they hurt someone once the collars are off?"
Charlos gently rubbed Shalria's head and smiled faintly. "It's fine. Akali is an agent from Cipher Pol."
The instant he finished speaking, Akali gave a barely perceptible tremble.
Without another word, she deftly removed the slave collars from the two girls' necks.
The cold shackles fell to the floor with a faint clatter.
The moment their restraints were removed, the twin girls' legs gave way, and they dropped straight to their knees. They kept their heads bowed, not daring to look Charlos in the eye.
Charlos slowly walked up to the two girls and asked softly, "What are your names?"
One girl raised her head slightly, her voice timid and soft. "My name is Amira. This is my younger sister, Amina."
Charlos quietly repeated their names. "Amira, Amina. Lovely names."
He turned to Akali beside him and asked casually, "Do we have any Devil Fruits here?"
Akali lowered her head slightly and answered respectfully, "No, Saint Charlos."
Shalria instantly perked up. She blinked and leaned closer, grinning. "Brother! I know my dad has several Devil Fruits hidden away. Even he doesn't know what kinds they are! Why don't we take two and feed them to these girls? Hehe, I heard this game is really fun!"
Charlos spoke slowly. "Shalria, I'm not playing a game."
Shalria looked confused. "Huh? You're not playing?"
Charlos looked at her and said calmly, "I'm planning to form a personal guard squad of my own."
Shalria tilted her head, puzzled. "But doesn't our family already have guards?"
Charlos chuckled. "Ordinary guards aren't enough. I want a squad made up entirely of Devil Fruit users. From now on, it'll be called the Carlos Squad."
Shalria's eyes lit up, her face full of admiration. "Wow! You're amazing, Brother! That sounds super impressive and so much fun! Wait here. I'll bring the Devil Fruits right away!"
With that, the little girl turned and rushed out.
Charlos turned toward the two girls, who were still kneeling before him, and raised a hand as he gave an order. "Akali, get them two changes of clothes. What they're wearing is too shabby. It isn't proper."
Akali bowed in acknowledgment and was about to turn away.
Charlos spoke again to remind her, "Get two maid uniforms that fit them."
"Understood." Akali withdrew.
Amira and Amina looked timidly at Charlos, their bodies trembling slightly.
Charlos reached out and gently pinched Amira's cheek, his tone casual. "Your skin is quite soft."
Amira instantly went rigid. She squeezed her eyes shut, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.
Charlos asked softly, "Are you that afraid of me?"
"N-no, Saint Charlos, sir." The girl's voice was barely audible.
"If you aren't afraid, why are you pulling away?"
"I... I wasn't pulling away..."
Charlos released her cheek and looked down at the two of them. "Do you know what you'll be doing from now on?"
The sisters shook their heads in unison, their voices timid. "N-no, we don't."
"The slave collars around your necks have already been removed."
Amira and Amina obediently nodded, not daring to make the slightest unnecessary movement.
Just then, Akali returned with two clean maid uniforms in her hands.
"Go on, change into them," Charlos instructed calmly.
Amina nervously glanced at Charlos, then turned to her older sister and asked quietly, "Sister... are we supposed to change here?"
Amira bit her lip and hesitantly nodded. "Yes... I think so."