Hikaru gently touched Mansherry's head, a sense of relief washing over him. Soon, he would use the new ability he'd gained to treat the lingering effects of her Devil Fruit deprivation.
Damn you, Hikaru! Is it truly alright to deceive a little girl who trusts you so completely? Doesn't your conscience ache?
Hikaru's internal monologue responded, It hurts! It aches terribly! But so what? At least Mansherry's future is bright, isn't it? If someone lives their entire life surrounded by "sweetness," even if that sweetness is built on an "illusion," as long as the "illusion" holds until their last breath, then the "sweetness" enveloping them is undeniably real! As the saying goes: If a hypocrite can maintain their hypocrisy for a lifetime, they become a true gentleman!
Time moved swiftly. In the blink of an eye, an hour had already passed.
Mansherry's weakness had improved significantly, but having just recovered from a serious illness, she still needed ample rest. With Hikaru's soothing words, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Those familiar with the Tontattas know that despite their small stature, their strength far surpasses that of ordinary humans, and their recovery is usually rapid. So, Hikaru composed himself and returned to his temple.
Only a few goddesses remained in his temple, happily chatting. Rebecca had just arrived and, being a sensible girl, they naturally wanted her to feel their love. The moment he stepped through the door, the arrogant female ghost Perona snatched Rebecca's small hand, her eyes casting a disdainful glance at Hikaru as she began to speak sarcastically.
"Hahahahaha~ Well, if it isn't the big brother who plays the groom every night~ Why did you just get here? You really made our new sister wait a long time~" She then added with a mischievous grin, "If you hadn't come, I would've sent a Negative Hollow your way while you were having fun with them."
"No, no... I'm not..." Rebecca's face flushed. Hearing the term "new sister," she immediately understood she was being "framed." She was so flustered she could barely form a coherent sentence. She never expected that beneath Perona's cute exterior lay such a "cruel" heart, dragging her into trouble with just one remark.
Hikaru silently chuckled. Was Perona blaming him for only starting the fire, so to speak, and not putting it out at Dressrosa Palace today? She was immediately so sarcastic; it seemed she needed a lesson!
"Perona, you dare to talk to your husband like that! Rebecca, don't you dare learn bad habits from her." Hikaru moved like lightning, appearing before Perona and lightly tapping her head twice, causing her to grumble in protest. The other girls watched their playful antics with smiles.
"I'm sorry~"
"Hmph!" Seeing she wasn't entirely convinced, Hikaru reluctantly let her off the hook for now, as he still had "important things" to do!
"If you've got the guts, stay here today. After I've settled things with Rebecca, I'll show you exactly how I'll 'deal' with you~"
"Bring it on, bring it on~ Lelelelel~" Hikaru playfully rubbed her cheek one last time, then gently took Rebecca's hand from Perona's grasp. He swept a gentle gaze over the other girls, and without another word, led Rebecca back to his room.
The room had been specially decorated with warm colors by the angels earlier that day. A delicate aroma drifted through the air, setting a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere for the two lovers about to be wed. Rebecca seemed to know what was coming.
She offered no resistance as Hikaru held her hand, simply lowering her head and leaning against his back, her thoughts a mystery. Hikaru could only sense her inner nervousness and shyness from her increasingly flushed cheeks and her faintly trembling, cherry-pink ears.
Hikaru smiled and settled into a nearby chair. He extended his index finger, gently lifted Rebecca's shy face, and looked into her eyes. "Rebecca, are you ready? From this moment on, you will become my true wife and consort."
"Yes! Big brother, I'm not afraid! I'm ready!" Rebecca's small face was full of earnestness. Though she had only spent a short time with Hikaru, she intuitively understood that the man before her was the key to changing her destiny!
Without hesitation, Hikaru chatted with Rebecca for a while, then shared a glass of red wine with her as a symbol of their marriage. Don't fault Hikaru for being too impatient. The speed at which he confirmed his relationship with Rebecca was largely due to how much he truly liked her.
Of course, there was more to it than just that; he also had a "plan." His intention was to formally be with Rebecca as soon as possible, thereby positioning Violet, this unique and lovely person, as the "surprise" element in this developing relationship.
This approach would help remove the internal conflict and "hurdle" the two women faced, ultimately leading them to accept the situation Hikaru had created, perhaps with a touch of playful helplessness.
By then, the two women, deeply entangled in his charm, would surely want to share their husband with the other, and since the final decision wouldn't be theirs, their reactions would undoubtedly be quite amusing!
Happy times always slip away like water through your fingertips, impossible to hold onto, vanishing quietly in the blink of an eye. Late into the night, Perona was still angrily waiting for something in the temple. While Hikaru and Rebecca enjoyed their time, he hadn't forgotten to prepare some gifts that girls would adore for Rebecca.
The next morning, thanks to Hikaru's pampering, Rebecca didn't even need to leave the room to give orders; the angels brought her nourishing delicacies.
Hikaru quietly went to Marianne's room and spotted a small lump on the bed. Without a second thought, he pounced. However, the lump flattened beneath him; there was no one there. Marianne, who had just finished brushing her teeth in a nearby small room, heard the commotion. Wiping her mouth with a towel, she looked over, her expression neutral.
"Big brother, what are you doing?"
Hikaru coughed lightly, calmly smoothed the bed, and whispered, "I just wanted to give you a surprise~"
"Surprise? More like a shock," Marianne retorted, curling her lips. She returned to put away her towel, then obediently sat face-to-face in Hikaru's arms, muttering, "What do you want to see me about so early in the morning? You don't want me to draw for you, do you?"
Hikaru offered an awkward smile. "Can't I come to see you if nothing's wrong?"
"Tsk!" Marianne's disdainful look left Hikaru helpless. She gave him a firm push, and Hikaru stumbled back onto a chair beside her. After they chatted softly for a while, Hikaru became serious. "Alright, that's enough. Let's talk business. I have a secondary purpose for coming here this time."
"Oh?" Marianne's soft eyes made Hikaru feel a surge of affection, but he knew the priorities of the matter. It was best to discuss the business first.