"The Op-Op Fruit... It's all my fault. I didn't expect things to turn out this way..."
Rosinante knew the unique value of the Op-Op Fruit—it was so coveted that even the Celestial Dragons desired its "Perpetual Youth Surgery."
Just like in the anime, Rosinante joined Doflamingo's crew at a young age. However, unlike in the anime, Doflamingo wasn't as deranged.
He never had the thought of forcing Rosinante to eat the Op-Op Fruit.
At first, he did consider raising Law and having him consume the fruit, making him the sacrifice for the Perpetual Youth Surgery. After all, Law had displayed immense medical talent from a young age, aligning well with the fruit's abilities.
But after realizing the close bond between Rosinante and Law, Doflamingo abandoned the idea, not wanting to break his younger brother's heart. Instead, he sought out another candidate.
However, Rosinante thought differently. His resentment toward Doflamingo ran too deep. He couldn't believe that once Doflamingo obtained the fruit, he would still care about Law's life. Moreover, Law's Amber Lead Syndrome had worsened, subjecting him to unbearable pain every day.
So, just like in the anime, Rosinante forcibly made Law eat the Op-Op Fruit on Swallow Island.
By the time Doflamingo found out, it was too late. At that moment, he was utterly speechless at his foolish younger brother.
He didn't punish Rosinante. He only said something similar to what Carl had told him before:
"Idiot! By eating that fruit, his fate is no longer his own!"
Later, Rosinante realized that Doflamingo had no intention of making Law an ability user and had planned to find a skilled doctor to act as a puppet for the Op-Op Fruit while curing Law's disease.
But it was too late. Even though he managed to send Law away, Rosinante was eventually captured and sent to Mary Geoise.
Fortunately, it was Carl who captured him. In Rosinante's eyes, Carl was someone he could trust. If there was any Celestial Dragon who wouldn't take Law's life, it had to be Carl.
So, when Rosinante learned that Law was safe and might even gain freedom, he was beyond relieved.
Carl gestured for the kneeling Rosinante to rise and said,
"Alright, is the room prepared? I need some rest."
Viola quickly responded, "I've already arranged—"
Before she could finish, Rosinante interrupted, "Fleet Admiral, you can rest in my room. I already instructed the servants to change the bedsheets and blankets before I left. You may use it freely."
Viola was slightly taken aback, thinking to herself that it was rare for her king to be so thoughtful.
Carl nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Let's go."
Rosinante snapped into a salute before turning to Viola. "Viola, escort the Fleet Admiral to my quarters."
Viola hesitated before asking, "Then, Your Majesty, where will you sleep tonight?"
Rosinante scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "No need to worry about me. I'll just rest here for the night."
Carl glanced at Rosinante's flushed face and chuckled lightly.
"Give your brother a call when you have time. He misses you."
Rosinante was momentarily stunned. He pursed his lips and silently nodded.
Without saying more, Carl slung his arms around Wanda and Carrot as he followed Viola out of the hall.
Once Carl and the others left, Rosinante stood still for a moment before slowly walking to the sofa. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.
As the cigarette burned down, he glanced at the clock on the wall and murmured to himself,
"It's late... He's probably already asleep. I'll just call him. Whether he answers or not is up to him."
....
Wano Country
Late at night, the Shogun's palace was brightly lit. In the grand hall, Doflamingo sat cross-legged at the head seat, wearing a white kimono adorned with pink cherry blossom patterns. His signature pink feather coat draped over his shoulders made him look as flamboyant as ever.
Beside him sat Vergo, while the seats below were occupied by Trebol and others. In the center of the hall, a group of geishas performed their dance.
It was a family banquet.
O-Tama sat on Pica's shoulders, cradling a steaming bowl of red bean soup, sipping it slowly. Each sip brought a satisfied expression to her face—she looked utterly adorable.
Pica, gnawing on a large piece of roasted meat, mumbled through his mouthful, "O-Tama, be careful not to spill the soup on me..."
O-Tama giggled. "Got it, Uncle Pica~"
She then plucked a glowing dumpling from her cheek and held it up to Pica's mouth.
"You've eaten a lot of meat. It must be greasy. Here, have a rice dumpling to balance it out."
"Mmm... Thanks!"
Pica happily accepted the dumpling, savoring its sweetness. Nearby, a drunken Diamante glanced at Pica and teased,
"Pica, you really know how to enjoy yourself... hic"
Pica simply chuckled and patted the golden-furred lion at his side.
O-Tama turned to Diamante and offered him a dumpling as well. "Uncle Diamante, would you like one too?"
Diamante tossed the dumpling into the air, catching it in his mouth effortlessly. O-Tama clapped her hands excitedly, her rosy cheeks glowing with joy.
Across from her, Baby 5 propped her chin on her hand while downing a cup of sake, occasionally casting a resentful glance at Doflamingo.
Earlier that day, yet another samurai who had pursued her had mysteriously vanished. Since arriving in Wano, she had lost count of how many suitors had gone missing. She didn't need to guess to know who was responsible.
Doflamingo, noticing her gaze, flashed a wicked grin, causing Baby 5 to huff and turn away in frustration.
Vergo spoke up, "Doffy, in the past six months, the production of Seastone has doubled. Those Smile Fruit users are proving to be quite efficient."
"Fufufu... With such a hardworking labor force, Wano's economy is bound to grow even further. Next year, our tribute to the Celestial Dragons might even surpass Dressrosa's. Vergo, you'll accompany me to deliver the tribute to Mary Geoise."
"Yes. Lord Saturn will surely be pleased."
Hearing this, Doflamingo let out a sinister laugh. Just then, a vibration came from his pocket.
"Brrrr... Brrrr..."
-----------
+185 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg