"Ding, ding, ding, ding! Look what this is?"
Hikaru held out a Devil Fruit with intricate patterns. Marianne, chewing on a rice cracker, replied softly and with a hint of resignation, "It's a Devil Fruit. Is this for me?"
"Of course! It's called the Art-Art Fruit, and it goes hand-in-hand with your ability to control emotions through your paints. I'm sure that once you gain the power of art, your combat prowess will be greatly enhanced!"
"The Art-Art Fruit?!" Marianne's eyes widened in surprise. The name alone immediately resonated with her.
Seeing her lack of resistance, Hikaru smiled. He channeled the power of the Art-Art Fruit, passing it from his hands, through her small hands, and into her petite, lovely body. After a few breaths, Marianne's eyes sparkled. She leaped off the couch, snatched a paintbrush from the table, and began to paint around her with the fluidity of a dancing dragon.
Transparent smoke, formed by the power of art, burst from her brush. Everything it touched began to distort and change. The smoke surged towards him, startling Hikaru. Why isn't this little girl avoiding people? He flashed away, narrowly dodging the smoke. In truth, he was overthinking; the smoke was heading for the wall and the couch behind him.
The next moment, Marianne's room underwent a drastic transformation, becoming a vibrant, colorful ocean. Everything in the room shifted into whatever she desired. The space seemed to expand. Even the couch morphed into a super-sized bed, and the table grew, piled high with colorful rice crackers...
This was merely the tip of the Art-Art Fruit's power. If used against an enemy, what kind of brilliance would it unleash? They would only discover its true potential when she took to the battlefield in the future!
Looking at her transformed surroundings, Marianne's joy reached its peak. Not one for expressing her feelings verbally, she conveyed her gratitude to Hikaru in a way she knew he'd appreciate. Hikaru happily accepted all her "rewards," which included Marianne personally cooking him a delicious meal...
In fact, there was another Devil Fruit that would be incredibly compatible with Marianne: Kurozumi Kanjuro's Brush-Brush Fruit. However, it would be a long time before that appeared, so there was no need to wait.
After spending some playful time with Marianne, Hikaru made his way to the palace. This time, his goal was to claim the beautiful Monet as his own. He hadn't fulfilled his promise to her. He had told her he would return the next day with Doflamingo's head, but he had been preoccupied yesterday, indulging in Rebecca's charm and enjoying sweet conversation with her. Still, he had to admit, Rebecca was truly wonderful! She was well-behaved, proactive, and listened attentively to everything he said...
As he stepped into the main hall, angels on both sides came forward to greet him and explain Monet's situation. "God! Miss Monet has been very obedient these past two days. She hasn't been noisy or difficult at all. She's so gentle~"
"Is that so? Is this her true nature? Or is she ready to yield...?" Hikaru didn't need to know the answer. Regardless, Monet couldn't escape his grasp.
Walking into the inner hall, he found Monet leaning against the window, gazing at the scenery outside with a melancholic expression. Because she wore a special Seastone anklet, she appeared weak and powerless. This scene was precisely the "sick beauty" aesthetic Hikaru favored. Coupled with the atmosphere of a beautiful woman enjoying the scenery alone, it immediately heightened his anticipation for Monet.
"Ms. Monet, Doflamingo has been defeated by me. He and several of his 'family members' have been imprisoned. Even your sister, Sugar, has been bound by Seastone handcuffs and has fallen into my hands..." Hikaru's voice was low and commanding. "I wonder... what are you thinking at this moment?"
Monet started at the sound of his magnetic voice. She had assumed the footsteps belonged to angels. She looked back at Hikaru, then turned her head away, her eyes lifeless. Hikaru walked to the chair opposite her and sat down. He continued, "Why? Do you think you can escape all this by remaining silent? Or is silent rejection your answer?"
"No... it's not..." Monet subconsciously retorted.
"Then what is it?" Hikaru waved his hand across the table, and two photographs appeared. Doflamingo's defeated, unsettling smile, and Sugar's weak eyes, bound by Seastone handcuffs... These two poignant images deeply wounded Monet's heart.
One was the benefactor who had saved them from danger, and the other was the sister she had vowed to protect until she matured, found a suitable partner, and lived a happy life...
Monet seemed stunned, her small mouth slightly agape in a very tempting way. She didn't know what to say.
"Without actually seeing Doflamingo's miserable end and your sister's pitiful look, you'll never truly believe this, will you?" Hikaru pressed on. "Come on, let me take you to the prison, to meet Doflamingo, to Dressrosa, to meet your seemingly young and naughty sister."
"No... no need for that. I am willing to give in, in exchange for a chance for the Young Master to live..." Monet looked remarkably calm. She had anticipated the worst outcome countless times over the past two days.
Furthermore, the angels had been constantly telling her how good Hikaru was. She was deeply affected by their words, but more than that, she had no choice at all.
But! She seemed to have forgotten what Hikaru had told her before he left.
"Haha~ 'Young Master'? It seems you still don't clearly understand your position..." Hikaru shook his head, stood up with a blank expression, and walked towards the door. "Well, just stay here and be my concubine. I won't kill Doflamingo for now. As for the future... hmph! That depends on your performance."
"Wait... what are you going to do?" Monet noticed something was wrong. Shouldn't Hikaru be eager to become a "family" with her after she had given in? Why was he suddenly turning against her and leaving?
Hikaru kept walking, further sounding the "alarm bell" in Monet's heart. "You haven't put yourself in the right place yet, so I'm not interested in you. Fortunately, your sister is soft and cute, and I don't need you. I'll use her to test my knife first."
Monet was horrified. She dared not maintain her composure any longer. The weakness caused by the Seastone anklet seemed to vanish. She flashed in front of Hikaru in an instant. But because her speed was too great, she stumbled and knelt on the ground.
She didn't bother to stand, simply looking up at Hikaru from that position, her slender hands tightly gripping his thighs as she anxiously pleaded, "No... Don't! Let her go... She's still a child. Whatever you want to do, just come at me..."