Boa Hancock

Charlos sat on the sofa, with Amira and Amina settling beside him, one on either side. On the opposite sofa, Shalria held Boa Hancock in her arms.

"Shalria, I really like this girl."

"Brother Charlos, I really like her too. What should we do? I don't want to give her to you."

"You don't understand."

"I don't care whether I understand. All I know is that if you want her, you can't have her. Right, Hancock?" Shalria reached up and gently pinched Hancock's chin.

Hancock lowered her eyes, her face flushed with bashfulness.

Charlos stood and looked at Shalria.

"Whatever you want, I'll agree to it."

"Really?"

"Tell me your terms first."

"I want you."

"No, I can't give you that."

"Money and treasure are all fine."

Shalria shook her head. "Mm, no. No deal, no deal."

Akali entered through the doorway.

"Saint Charlos, Saint Shalria. We've purchased three Devil Fruits at the auction. Shall we bring them over for inspection?"

"Bring them here." Charlos was the first to give the order.

Akali signaled with her hand, and two servants entered carrying three Devil Fruits. They placed them before everyone on a tray, along with a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.

Shalria released Boa Hancock from her arms, picked up the encyclopedia, and flipped through a few pages.

"I don't want the Love-Love Fruit, or the other two Zoan fruits."

Charlos reached over, took the encyclopedia, and glanced at it.

"Give this fruit to Hancock."

Shalria looked at him. "Why?"

"I think she'll become even more beautiful after eating it."

"What if I eat it?"

"You're already beautiful, even without eating it."

"Oh? Since when did you become such a smooth talker, Brother Charlos?"

"Be good, Shalria."

Shalria teased him with a smile.

"Don't tell me to be good. I'm not a child. You can't sweet-talk me."

Charlos pushed Amira and Amina aside, strode forward, and scooped Shalria into his arms.

"So you've learned to disobey me now?"

Shalria wrapped her arms around his neck and blinked at him. "What do I get for obeying?"

Charlos bent down and whispered close to her ear, "What would you like?"

Shalria gazed straight at him, her eyes sparkling. "What do you think?"

"You're still too young. Let's talk about it when you're older, all right?"

Shalria immediately replied, "You said it."

"I did."

"All right, then."

Shalria climbed out of Charlos's arms and brushed off her clothes.

"In that case, let the Three Sisters eat these three Devil Fruits."

Boa Hancock looked at her, trembling slightly, still filled with unease.

Shalria stepped forward and gently stroked the top of her head.

"Don't worry. No one can hurt you here anymore. I promise."

Charlos looked at her helplessly. "You make it sound as though I'd hurt them."

Shalria raised an eyebrow and shot back, "Who knows? What if you have some unusual tastes?"

Charlos looked at her. "Don't you know perfectly well whether I have any unusual tastes, Shalria?"

"I used to, but we've been apart for six months. Who knows if you've changed?"

Charlos lightly tapped Shalria on the head.

"No more letting your imagination run wild."

Shalria gave a haughty little snort.

Boa Hancock exchanged a glance with her two younger sisters. Finally, they reached out and ate all three Devil Fruits.

Charlos turned toward Amira and Amina beside him and instructed in a firm voice, "Amira, from today onward, you'll look after the Three Sisters."

"Hey, wait! That won't do!" Shalria immediately interrupted.

"What won't do?"

"I already promised them I'd take them home myself."

Charlos raised an eyebrow at her. "Since when have you been so kindhearted?"

"I mean it. If you can form your own Guard, so can I. I don't want to fall even half a step behind you."

Shalria took Hancock's hand. "Hancock, let's go."

Boa Hancock stood and bowed deeply to Charlos, then followed Shalria briskly out of the room with her two younger sisters.

Charlos stared at the empty doorway and sighed helplessly.

Amina couldn't help chuckling. "Looks like someone beat you to it, Charlos."

Rukia chimed in from beside her. "Beat him to it? She outright stole a march on him."

Charlos spoke. "Akali, come here."

Akali immediately stepped forward, awaiting his orders.

Charlos looked at her and instructed, "Tell Shalria later that I'm coming along when she takes the Three Sisters home."

"Yes, Saint Charlos."

Akali acknowledged the order and vanished from the room in an instant.

Amira stepped forward, gently closed the door, then turned to Robin and Rukia.

"I'll arrange rooms for you first. You can stay here for now."

Charlos let out a weary breath.

"If there's nothing else, help me change. I want to get some sleep."

Amina slowly approached and carefully helped Charlos change his clothes.

Night fell.

Boa Hancock changed into soft pajamas and lay down in Shalria's spacious bed.

Shalria moved closer and gently wrapped her arms around her.

Hancock trembled slightly and instinctively tried to push her away.

"Don't." Shalria spoke softly. "Do you know why I asked you to sleep here?"

Boa Hancock blinked her clear eyes and asked quietly, "W-why?"

"You're so beautiful. If you went outside and someone set their sights on you and caught you, it would be far too dangerous. You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen."

"Really?"

"Of course."

Shalria tightened her embrace and soothed her gently. "No more talking. Be good. Let's sleep."

"Okay."

Boa Hancock squeezed her eyes shut, her heart still uneasy. After a moment, she quietly opened them again.

Shalria chuckled. "I knew you couldn't sleep. Don't worry. Your two sisters are already fast asleep."

Hearing that, Hancock quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"If you still don't feel safe, we can call them over too. All four of us can sleep in one bed."

Hancock looked slightly startled. "Huh? Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"There's nothing wrong with it. I just want you to feel completely at ease."

Late that night, inside Charlos's bedchamber.

Charlos lay on the bed with his head buried firmly in his pillow, utterly exasperated. After a moment, he tossed the pillow aside and sat up.

"Will you stop playing cards and go to sleep already!"

Rukia immediately retorted, "What's the rush? Just go to sleep yourself!"

Charlos let out a long sigh and buried his face under the covers again, muttering to himself, "Ugh, what is all this?"

Nearby, Nico Robin tossed down a card and chuckled. "Haha, I won again."

Amina sighed helplessly. "Oh, how did I lose again?"

Rukia urged her on. "Amina, hurry up and take your penalty."

Charlos kept his eyes closed, pretending to remain calm. The next second, he felt a tickle on the sole of his foot.

He abruptly sat up and flung aside the covers. "Amina, what are you doing?"

Amina sat up straight with a sly smile. "Hehe, that was my penalty for losing."

"If you lost, just go to sleep. It's already late."

"Oh, Charlos, let us play a little longer."

"Go to sleep."

"No, no, I won't!"

Charlos simply crawled back under the covers, no longer bothering with them.

Rukia quietly gave Nico Robin a meaningful look.

Nico Robin raised her hands before her chest and softly activated her ability. "Four Wheel Flower Bloom."

Just as Charlos was drifting off, he felt little tickles across his body again.

He sat up instantly and stared at Nico Robin.

"Nico Robin, what are you doing?"

Nico Robin swiftly withdrew her ability, looking utterly innocent. "I didn't do anything."

Charlos narrowed his eyes, his tone threatening. "Hey, are you asking me to teach you a lesson?"