Amira squeezed her eyes shut, pressed her lips together, and gently slipped off her jacket. Charlos reached out, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and Shalria pushed the door open, carrying two fruits.
"Brother, I'm here!"
Charlos turned to look. Shalria rushed over with two Devil Fruits in her arms and barreled straight into him.
"Oof, my stomach." Charlos let out a muffled groan.
Shalria lifted her head and excitedly held up the fruits. "Brother, look! Two Devil Fruits!"
Charlos honestly wanted to punch Shalria. Forcing down his irritation, he said, "Shalria, you hurt your brother when you ran into him just now."
Akali stood quietly to the side, watching the scene unfold.
Charlos took the two Devil Fruits from her and said calmly, "You did very well, Shalria."
Shalria grinned. "Hehe, brother, aren't I amazing?"
"Amazing, absolutely amazing."
Charlos turned toward the sisters, Amira and Amina, and found that both had almost finished dressing. He muttered, "Missed quite the view."
Akali spoke up. "Saint Charlos, shall I have them change again?"
Shalria tilted her head and asked curiously, "Huh? Do you like watching people change, brother?"
Charlos hurriedly waved his hand to stop them. "Stop. I don't. I'm a gentleman, and I have no such interests. Akali, don't bring this sort of thing up again."
Akali bowed. "Understood."
Just then, Amina suddenly let out a quiet cry. "Sis... it hurts."
Charlos immediately looked at her, his tone growing more serious. "Come here. Where does it hurt?"
Amina timidly shook her head. "N-no, it doesn't hurt..."
"Tell me. Where does it hurt?" Charlos's tone left no room for refusal.
Amina pressed her lips together and murmured miserably, "My back... my back hurts..."
Charlos reached out and gently lifted the back hem of Amina's maid uniform, looking beneath it.
A hideous Celestial Dragon Hoof Mark stood out starkly against the girl's fair back. The brand was still red and seeping traces of blood, a gruesome sight.
Shalria leaned over from beside him, looking innocently puzzled. "What is it, brother? Is something wrong?"
As Charlos looked at the fresh, unhealed slave brand, the memory came rushing back.
He had almost forgotten that every slave belonging to the Celestial Dragons in this world was forcibly branded with the Celestial Dragon Hoof Mark, marking them as slaves for life.
The brands on these two girls had not even healed yet.
Charlos spoke at once. "Akali, get some medicine. Treat their wounds immediately."
Then he turned to Amira, who stood silently with her head lowered. "What about you? Do you have one on your back too?"
Amira trembled slightly, then slowly turned her back to Charlos and gently pulled down the back of her uniform.
On her smooth back was an identical, bright red Celestial Dragon Hoof Mark, still swollen and stained with blood.
Charlos frowned deeply and lightly touched the brand on Amira's back with his fingertips.
"Does it hurt?"
Amira trembled slightly and answered softly, "It hurts..."
Just then, the palace doctor hurried in carrying a medical kit and dropped to his knees before Charlos, his voice respectful but flustered:
"Saint Charlos! I've brought the medicine! I'll treat the two young ladies immediately!"
Charlos gave a faint nod. "Go ahead."
The doctor hurried forward and carefully treated the hoof-shaped brand wounds on Amira's and Amina's backs, which were still red and seeping blood.
Charlos sat on the edge of the bed and watched quietly without saying a word.
Shalria obediently sat beside him, leaned against his arm, and asked softly:
"Brother, don't you like this mark?"
Charlos lowered his gaze to her and said earnestly:
"No, I don't. Shalria, if someone put a mark like this on you one day, would you be unhappy?"
Shalria immediately lifted her little face, brimming with pride and confidence:
"I'm Shalria of the Rosy Family! Who in this world would dare brand me? No one would dare!"
Charlos raised his hand and gently rubbed the top of her head, reassuring her softly:
"Yes, no one would dare, my little princess. I just don't like my personal guards bearing such a humiliating brand."
Shalria nodded, only half understanding. "Oh, so that's why."
A little later, the doctor finished treating the wounds and bowed to report:
"Saint Charlos, the wounds have stopped bleeding and healed. They're no longer seeping blood. However, the Celestial Dragon Hoof Mark is a permanent brand and cannot be completely removed."
"Understood." Charlos waved a hand dismissively. "You may leave."
The doctor bowed and withdrew from the palace.
Amira and Amina slowly rose, walked over to Charlos together, and sank to their knees.
The sisters spoke softly, their voices filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Saint Charlos."
Charlos looked at them, his tone earnest and solemn:
"Don't thank me just yet. Let me make this clear first: there's no way to remove those brands right now. But remember this. If there's ever even the slightest chance of removing them, I will rid you of this humiliation."
The instant his words fell.
A brilliant light suddenly shone in the eyes of Amira and Amina, who had been filled with timidity and a sense of worthlessness.
For the first time, a ray of hope lit up the despair born of their long lives under the humiliation of slavery.
Their eyes reddened, and the sisters bowed deeply:
"Thank you so much, Saint Charlos!"
An ill-timed sound suddenly rang out. Grrr—
Charlos raised an eyebrow slightly. "What was that?"
Amina kept her head bowed low, her voice faint. "I'm sorry, Saint Charlos... that was my stomach."
Amira's expression changed. She immediately dropped to the floor, pressing Amina's head down to make her kowtow while bowing her own head to the floor as well.
"We're sorry! We've displeased you, Saint Charlos!"
Charlos looked at them and spoke slowly. "If you're hungry, you're hungry. I'm not like the other Celestial Dragons. Akali, prepare some food."
Akali bowed. "Yes."
Before long, several dining carts laden with food were wheeled into the palace. Gazing at the lavish spread, Amira and Amina could not help swallowing.
Shalria hurried over, picked up a dessert, and stuffed it into her mouth. "Brother, this dessert is really good," she said through a mouthful. "Try some."
Charlos stepped forward and lightly swatted her hand away. "This food is for those two, not us."
Shalria pouted. "I was just tasting it for them. You two, come eat."
Amira and Amina stepped forward, picked up the food, and hurriedly stuffed it into their mouths.
Watching the sisters wolf down their food, Shalria tilted her head and asked in puzzlement, "Brother, they look like little pets."
Charlos paused briefly at her words, then turned to Shalria. "If your little pet was hungry, would you let it go hungry?"
Shalria answered without hesitation. "Of course not."
Charlos said, "If you can't bear to let even a pet go hungry, then you certainly can't let them go hungry from now on. Understand? They're your brother's people. If they ever go missing, Shalria, I'll hold you responsible."
Shalria's eyes lit up, and she asked eagerly, "They're yours, brother? Then can you give them to me?"
Charlos shook his head. "No. I already told you, I'm going to form my own Carlos's Personal Guard."
Shalria puffed out her cheeks and asked plaintively, "Then why did you just say you'd hold me responsible?"
Charlos gave her a casual glance and said matter-of-factly, "If they ever disappear, it'll definitely be because you lost them while making mischief. Naturally, I'll hold you responsible."
Shalria immediately turned away in a huff and snorted softly. "Hmph, mean brother!"