Her body going boneless, Princess Vivi slumped to the ground. Her brain had completely given up on thinking.
Her originally fair cheeks were now flushed red like a boiled shrimp, emitting visible steam. She looked incredibly adorable.
(Me? Engaged? To Mr. Glasses?!!)
She could have wracked her brain for a lifetime and never guessed that her father, Cobra, would say such a thing!
Even though Princess Vivi held a very favorable opinion of Sherlock in her heart, the innocent blue-haired girl had simply never thought that far ahead.
Her own father! Cobra really was Vivi's biological father, alright!
(Wait, wait. Now isn't the time for me to be zoning out!)
Snapping back to reality, Princess Vivi calmed her restless heart. Then, feeling somewhat uneasy, she pressed her delicate little ear once more against the slightly rough wooden door, listening with rapt attention.
"Are you truly not joking?"
Having recovered his composure, Sherlock looked at the King before him—who seemed determined to shock him to death with his words—as if he were meeting him for the first time. He gently pushed up his glasses.
"You really want to marry Vivi to me???"
"Yes, I am not joking." Cobra nodded solemnly. He rose from his soft chair and walked toward one side of the study. "I don't know if you've noticed, but my daughter really likes you."
Sherlock remained silent. Although the blue-haired girl's hazy, budding affection was expressed in a very reserved and green manner, even Nami and Sanji could see it. Naturally, there was no reason for Sherlock to be oblivious.
He had simply pretended not to know, just as he always did, because the Occultist truly didn't know how to respond to the feelings of others.
Moreover, up until now, Sherlock had remained curious as to how that brave and strong princess had ever taken a fancy to him...
Even with his near-demonic intellect, he found himself without a single clue regarding such matters.
In truth, the reason for falling in love with someone can be very simple.
It might be an inadvertent encounter.
It might be a tacit understanding when two hearts beat as one.
Or perhaps, it was that single ray of warmth during one's most lonely and helpless moments.
Sherlock himself hadn't realized just how massive an impact his reassuring, secure aura had on Princess Vivi during the darkest moment of her life.
Everything, though seemingly inexplicable, was entirely logical.
"Vivi's mother passed away when she was very young..." Cobra arrived before a portrait hanging in the study, his eyes filled with longing and sorrow.
Sherlock turned his head to look and found that the portrait depicted an extremely beautiful woman with blue hair. At first glance, Sherlock almost thought it was Vivi from a few years in the future.
(This must be Vivi's mother. They look exactly alike,) Sherlock remarked inwardly.
"...Therefore, many years ago, I swore an oath. I must make Vivi the happiest princess in the world."
Cobra gently stroked the frame of the portrait with his hand, murmuring in a tone that was both gentle and resolute, "I am the King of this country, but at the same time, I am Vivi's father. Regarding my daughter's marriage, I naturally cannot be careless..."
(You call this not being careless? How long have we even known each other! Why are you in such a rush to marry off your daughter? As a father, aren't you worrying a little too much?!)
Sherlock stared with a bizarre expression at the King, who was grieving before the portrait of his late wife. He pushed his glasses up slightly, his mind launching into a frantic retort.
It seemed Vivi's father's proposal truly had a massive impact on the Occultist, shocking him enough that his persona nearly shifted from the noble, cool, and scheming man with glasses into the comic straight man.
Perhaps sensing Sherlock's gaze, Cobra turned around and smiled with a face full of benevolence. "Although I haven't had much contact with you, I am absolutely certain: You will definitely bring happiness to Vivi!"
"But, Your Majesty." Sherlock furrowed his brows deeply and took a deep breath. "Although I was previously a merchant, my primary identity right now is a pirate with a bounty of 70 million Berries."
"How can the husband of a nation's princess be a pirate?"
Regardless of whether the Straw Hat Pirates were the great heroes who saved Alabasta, in the eyes of outsiders, "Pirate" was synonymous with plunder and evil.
For a Kingdom's Princess and pirates to be mixed together was not a good thing for either party.
The reason Sherlock had originally asked Pell to send Vivi to the Marines was to use that opportunity to have the Princess cut ties with the Straw Hat crew. However, due to a certain single-minded idiot, that plan had naturally been declared bankrupt.
And if the citizens of the country were to learn that their Princess was actually going to marry a pirate, no matter how you looked at it, it would be a highly controversial matter that would damage the national image. The negative impact it could bring was simply incalculable.
Irrespective of right or wrong, this was a matter of principle.
"I have considered this issue as well. And I have thought of a solution." At this point, the expression on Cobra's face shifted slightly. He hesitated for a moment before continuing:
"The solution is actually quite simple. You stop being a pirate from now on."
!!!
Sherlock, as well as Vivi eavesdropping outside the door, were stunned once again.
Without giving the Occultist a chance to ask questions, Cobra gritted his teeth and continued:
"Actually, ever since the World Government implemented the Shichibukai (Seven Warlords of the Sea) plan, those with sufficient status and position have been able to 'whitewash' certain pirates with bounties under 100 million."
"Alabasta is one of the distinct affiliated nations of the World Government, and as the King of Alabasta, I naturally possess this qualification."
"As long as your current bounty has not exceeded 100 million, and provided you never act as a pirate again and settle down in Alabasta, I can vouch for you and have your bounty cancelled."
As Cobra spoke, he slowly walked back to his soft chair and sat down firmly.
"Although your crew has been pushed to the forefront of public attention after defeating the Sand Crocodile recently, you aren't the captain, after all. If you are willing, it won't be a problem."
(Doesn't that mean Mr. Glasses would be separated from everyone?!)
Vivi rested her smooth forehead against the door panel, her eyes gradually losing focus. Her originally excited heart instantly sank to rock bottom.
(So that was your idea all along...) By this moment, Sherlock had completely understood the King's line of thinking.
If Sherlock agreed, he would cease being a pirate. Not only could he return to his original life, but he could also marry the beautiful Princess Vivi. Furthermore, with the status of Alabasta's Prince Consort, he believed the business of the Goldglint Trading Company would become much easier to conduct within the Grand Line.
At the same time, with Sherlock's vigorous assistance, Alabasta would absolutely develop at a rapid speed.
His people and his daughter—these were the two things Cobra cared about most in his heart. If Sherlock agreed, Cobra could die in peace when his time came.
For the sake of his people and his daughter's happiness, this wise monarch had essentially discarded his own "face" and the reserve expected of a King.
Cobra looked somewhat awkward as he gripped the armrests of his chair. "I know, this act of poaching talent is extremely shameless, and asking you to separate from your companions is indeed forcing something difficult upon you. But as the King of this country, and as Vivi's father, I must say these words..."
"...This country, and my daughter, need you very much, Sherlock."
At the very end, Cobra flashed a very sincere smile at the Occultist.
"I hope you can give my proposal some serious thought."
"..."
Sherlock did not reply. He looked faintly at Cobra, his expression revealing neither sorrow nor joy, while the latter looked back at the Occultist with a gaze full of fervor.
For a time, the room was abnormally quiet. One could clearly hear the sound of the rain outside, which had turned into a patter.
To be valued so highly by the ruler of a nation—to the point where he wanted to betroth his precious daughter to you and planned to help cancel your bounty—this was simply a supreme honor! If it were anyone else, they likely would have agreed immediately without a second thought.
But, he was Sherlock!
A long time passed.
Sherlock let out a long sigh and pushed up his glasses. His deep black eyes, originally as silent as a still lake, carried a trace of apology.
"I..."
Patter, patter...
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps rang out from outside the door, fading from near to far. It forcefully stifled the words the Occultist was about to say.
"..."
"..."
Hearing these fleeing footsteps, Sherlock and Cobra froze for a moment. Then, the two looked at each other and fell into silence.
Even without checking with their eyes, they both guessed exactly who had been outside the door just now.
And the reason the eavesdropper had run away was likely because she had already foreseen Sherlock's answer.
Whoosh...
A noisy night wind swept past the royal palace. The rain, which had begun to subside, started pouring heavily once again, as if the sky were weeping in sympathy for a certain heartbroken girl...
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