One Piece: Crown of Darkness

On the singing ship, inside the women's private lounge.

"Well~ well~ He's a handsome young man, with a somewhat wicked but extremely charming aura~ His potential is outstanding, and he possesses Conqueror's Haki! If I weren't already married, I'd want to marry a man like him too."

Charlotte Compote, the eldest daughter of the Charlotte Family, who resembled Charlotte Linlin the most, sat down with a fruit-bowl hat on her head and a belly as plump as Charlotte Linlin's. Her massive body immediately crushed the anthropomorphic sofa, making it shriek in protest.

Compote vividly described Doflamingo, then nagged, "Everyone hurry up and get ready! Mama will be angry if you're late! My sisters, adorn yourselves beautifully. My married sisters, don't even think about it. Quickly help the eligible unmarried sisters! He's very, very excellent. You'll definitely be happy marrying him, even though he's only eleven, quite young..."

Tap tap~ tap-tap-tap~

Footsteps hurried and scattered.

A seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl burst through the door. She was tall and slender, with purple hair cascading over her shoulders. Her overall appearance was quite pleasing, though her nose was notably long. This was Charlotte Brûlée, the eighth daughter of the Charlotte Family.

"Wiwwiwwiwwi! I saw him, I saw him! Ah~" Brûlée twirled excitedly, making her long dress dance. "He's so handsome! And! He talked with Mama very happily! Mama even decided to throw a party for him! He wasn't afraid of Mama at all. You know we'd never dare to talk to Mama like that! No, no, I must be the prettiest one and try my best to marry him!"

"Really? Really?"

"Brûlée-nee? No, I can't fall behind."

"That oniisan? He's really nice."

"Yes, yes, he gave us so many candies and toys."

"..."

The girls stirred excitedly, and even the snot-nosed little kids joined in the commotion.

Amidst the lively atmosphere, Smoothie was a jarring contrast, leaning against the window frame and gazing at the sea...

"You're much more beautiful than your wanted poster. Charlotte Smoothie-san, the most exquisite flower of the Charlotte Family, the fourteenth daughter!"

"..."

"Smoothie, may I call you that?"

"..."

"Have you ever had the experience of dressing up beautifully, going shopping, playing, and seeing the endless novelties of the vast world? Not just fighting, killing, and bleeding all day long."

"..."

"I can see it in your eyes, you're not happy!"

"..."

"I can't tell my dream to those I'm not close to, fufufufu~ Of course, if you want to hear it, no problem! My dream is, one day, to marry a longleg woman."

"..."

Scene after scene replayed, memories reflecting in a wine glass. Smoothie felt increasingly irritated.

Crack~

Shatter!

Without realizing her strength, the wine glass was crushed in her hand, falling to the ground and shattering into pieces.

The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to her.

"Smoothie? Eh~ What's wrong?" Compote broke the silence, her eyes shifting as she teased, "You haven't developed feelings for him too, have you? Oh right! You were the first one to meet Doflamingo. Too bad... you're unmarried, but not of marriageable age."

Too bad!

Two words.

They were like two torches thrown into dry tinder, igniting Smoothie's impulsive rage.

Whoosh~

The spiral sword on her back was drawn. With a flick of her wrist, Smoothie's sword straightened into a normal blade. Her usually languid eyes flickered with danger and madness.

One step, two steps, three steps.

Smoothie walked up to Brûlée, who had been the most eager and excited, and scrutinized her as if possessed.

"S-Smoothie..." Brûlée felt the intimidating aura emanating from Smoothie, and cold sweat dripped from her, as she stammered, "You..."

Before she could finish her sentence.

Hiss~

The sword's edge was pressed against Brûlée's face, drawing a deep gash diagonally across it. Blood immediately covered Brûlée's face.

"Smoothie! You're insane!" Compote, being the eldest sister, reacted the fastest, standing up and shouting in shock and fury.

Smoothie shook the blood-stained sword, then looked around. "He's mine!"

Clang!

A terrified shriek, and someone even collapsed to the floor in fright.

"You're still young, Smoothie! You actually... hurt family. Mama..." Compote had never seen Smoothie this terrifying either, though she knew Smoothie was one of the few exceptionally gifted individuals in this large family.

Smoothie said coldly, "Keep your mouths shut, and Mama won't know. What do you think, Brûlée? You accidentally fell and hurt yourself."

The moment Brûlée met Smoothie's gaze, all her anger, sadness, and resentment vanished, leaving only fear. She trembled, covering her face and crying, reluctantly nodding. "Yes, yes... I accidentally fell and hurt myself..."

"See? She accidentally fell and hurt herself. It has nothing to do with me," Smoothie's large hand twisted the sword back into a spiral and hung it on her back. She strode out swiftly, leaving a warning: "Don't harbor any inappropriate thoughts, and look in a mirror. Do you even deserve him?! Don't come out for another half hour."

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