"So... so that's how it was. Hah... Pudding, you—"
Sanji wanted to say something, but his thoughts were too messed up and no words came out.
"Shh." Pudding placed a delicate finger on his lips and gave him a radiant smile.
"You don't need to say anything, Sanji."
Sanji swallowed hard but forced himself to continue, "But Pudding, there's no future for us. Your father killed my comrades. I can never forgive him. Being together would only bring us more pain."
Pudding's face instantly paled, her body swaying slightly as she gazed at Sanji with sorrowful eyes.
"Is there really no chance for us, Sanji?"
"None! I would rather die—would rather jump off here—than marry you as your father demands! Pudding there's only death between us!"
Sanji steeled his heart, gritting his teeth as he spoke those cruel words.
He hated Caesar.
If not for him, he wouldn't have lost his friends.
Zoro wouldn't have lost an arm.
The Straw Hat crew wouldn't have been reduced to such a miserable state, never able to return to their happy adventures.
Pudding's face twisted in despair as she turned and walked towards the door.
Sanji let out a long sigh, touching his wildly beating heart.
He felt relief, yet felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
Click.
The lights in the room suddenly turned off, plunging it into darkness, with only faint moonlight seeping through the window.
"Since that's the case... let's finish what we didn't complete in our marriage."
Pudding's stubborn voice echoed in the dark. Sanji froze in place, his throat bobbing as he stammered, "Wh-what?"
"Hehe... Of course, going to sleep."
In the darkness, Pudding drifted towards Sanji like a nocturnal spirit, gently taking his hand and leading him towards the bed.
"You..." Sanji felt his mind go blank, his steps light and unsteady as if floating, letting himself be pulled along by Pudding.
*****
When the first rays of morning sunlight streamed in, Sanji awoke from his slumber.
His gaze was vacant, unfocused, staring at the ceiling.
He felt as though he had dreamed something last night—a beautiful dream unlike any he'd ever had before.
In it, a gentle, goddess-like figure had held him in her arms, enveloping him in boundless warmth.
"Ah, what a wonderful dream," Sanji sighed softly.
Just then, a smooth, snow-white arm draped over his chest and a sweet, soft voice murmured in his ear, accompanied by a delicate fragrance that tickled his nose.
"Sanji, are you awake already?"
"Huh?" Sanji's eyes bulged, his nostrils flaring as a thunderclap seemed to explode in his mind.
A silky thigh slid over his waist as Pudding's petite body coiled around him like an octopus.
Mumbling something, she nestled her head against his chin.
'A dream—no, this must be a dream! Hahaha, I must still be dreaming. I've been invaded by a nightmare... I'm going to die...'
Sanji screamed internally as he slowly turned his head to look at the girl clinging to him.
"Pffft—!!!!"
Blood erupted from Sanji's nose like a high-pressure water jet, splattering across the ceiling and even piercing through the roof.
His eyes rolled back, his chest heaving erratically.
"Sanji!" Pudding cried out in alarm, scrambling to administer first aid.
It took a long while before Sanji gradually regained consciousness, staring blankly at the window as his mind slowly cleared.
Seeing the green potted plant on the windowsill, he smiled faintly.
"Heh... So it really was a dream."
At that moment, Pudding—now wearing an apron—walked into the room carrying a basin.
Spotting Sanji awake, she exclaimed joyfully, "Sanji! You're awake? Thank goodness, you scared me to death!"
Setting the basin down, she immediately threw herself into Sanji's arms.
Sanji instinctively glanced down at her—and instantly froze, turning to stone.
Pudding was wearing nothing but the apron...
"Pffft—!!!!"
*****
In the hospital, Sanji lay with hollow eyes fixed on the sterile white ceiling, his mind a chaotic mess.
"What have I done? How could I lose control like that? Pudding is that bastard Caesar's daughter! Caesar is my enemy—his daughter is my enemy too! Sanji, you can't fall for this! It's a trap, a honey trap!"
He frantically warned himself, but flashes of memories kept resurfacing, threatening to make his nose bleed again.
"Sanji! Sanji!"
Outside the ward, Pudding—now dressed in a long skirt—hurried in, her wavy curls bouncing and her cheeks flushed with a breathtaking beauty.
Approaching the bed, she carefully pulled a small bottle from her bosom, uncorked it, and held it to Sanji's lips.
"Sanji, time for your medicine."
Sanji frowned and said coldly, "What is this? Are you trying to poison me? Hmph, as expected of the Beast God Pirates—truly ruthless people."
"N-no... This is Lifeblood I begged from Father. It's condensed from his powerful Life Force. He said just one drop could restore you completely."
Pudding paled at Sanji's cold words, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Caesar's blood? Take it away! I don't need charity from an enemy!"
Enraged, Sanji shoved the small bottle in Pudding's hand away.
With a startled cry, she lost her grip, and the bottle fell to the ground.
Crash!
The glass shattered and a drop of blood rolled out.
Strangely, it remained on the floor, neither spreading nor gathering any dust.
"Waaah... I'm sorry, Sanji, I'm sorry! I just... I just couldn't bear to lose you. Please don't be like this. I... I'll beg Father to let you go. Don't treat me so coldly..."
Pudding collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
Sanji opened his mouth slightly, a pang of suppressed pain rising in his heart.
Slap!
A sharp sound echoed as Sanji slapped himself hard, his cheek reddening instantly.
The sudden noise startled Pudding, making her tremble violently.
Sanji stood up and gently steadied the shaking Pudding, whispering.
"I'm sorry, Pudding. I'm sorry. I'm a bastard. Look, I'll take it—see? I'm taking it now."
With that, he picked up blood from the floor and popped it into his mouth.
BOOM!
The moment the blood entered his stomach, Sanji felt as if a flood had erupted inside him.
A surge of immense heat instantly spread through his limbs, immersing his entire body in scalding warmth.
The dizziness from blood loss vanished in an instant.
"Sanji..." Pudding looked up at him, tears still glistening on her face.
"I'm sorry," Sanji murmured, pulling her into a gentle embrace.
His eyes held a mix of guilt, conflict and anguish.
------------------------------
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