"Sister..."
Looking at Hancock's pained expression, Sandersonia felt her own heart aching.
She then turned to Belladonna beside her and asked, "Belladonna, what illness has afflicted our sister?"
"This..."
Seeing Belladonna's hesitant expression, Sandersonia's heart sank.
"Could it be..."
"It's not what you're thinking, Lady Sandersonia," Belladonna said. "It's just that I cannot determine what is wrong with Lady Serpent Princess."
As she spoke, Belladonna glanced at Hancock who was clutching her chest, and continued, "At first I thought Lady Hancock had a heart condition, but my examination ruled that out."
"So I truly don't know what's wrong with Lady Serpent Princess."
Without identifying the illness, she couldn't prescribe any medication, so she didn't dare act recklessly.
"It seems we'll have to ask Meiser and Granny Nyon to examine her," Sandersonia said.
Just then, Granny Nyon entered leaning on her cane and asked, "What's wrong with the Serpent Princess?"
As she spoke, Granny Nyon turned her gaze to the Serpent Princess lying on the bed.
"Hmm?!"
As if realizing something, Granny Nyon's expression immediately changed.
"This girl might truly be suffering from lovesickness..." Granny Nyon murmured to herself.
Thinking this, she shot a sidelong glance at Meiser who had entered with her, leaving him confused.
Meiser: ???
What's going on?
Why was Granny Nyon looking at him with such a strange expression?
However, Granny Nyon offered no explanation to Meiser. She merely glanced at him before turning her attention back to Hancock.
"Sister collapsed suddenly while bathing in the hot springs. We don't know why," Sandersonia explained.
Hearing this, Granny Nyon fell silent for a moment before approaching Hancock's side and testing, "We'll soon be leaving Nine Snakes..."
"Ah!"
"Mei..."
"Ah!"
Watching Hancock cry out in pain with each statement, Granny Nyon was rendered speechless.
Confirmed - this girl was indeed lovesick!
"Granny Nyon, what are you doing?!!" Sandersonia exclaimed in disbelief.
At a time like this, was Granny Nyon still teasing their sister?
Shouldn't they be focusing on saving her instead?!
"I'm confirming this girl's condition, of course," Granny Nyon replied.
Sandersonia: ???
What kind of strange method was this?
Was this really how one confirmed an illness?
"Granny Nyon, am I going to die?" Hancock asked weakly.
"Yes, you will die," Granny Nyon confirmed.
Hancock: !!!
Hearing Granny Nyon's words, despair washed over Hancock as she lay in bed.
Was she... really going to die?
"How unfair..."
"Granny Nyon, please don't joke about such things!!" Sandersonia cried out anxiously.
"I'm not joking," Granny Nyon said with a grim expression. "The previous empress died from this very illness."
Sandersonia: !!!
Does that mean... Big Sister is going to die?
"Damn it... After we finally..." Marigold clenched her fists, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
At that moment, Meiser, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward and asked, "Granny Nyon, what exactly have you determined?"
"Huh?"
Hearing Meiser's voice, Hancock froze momentarily, then miraculously began to show signs of recovery.
Seeing this, Granny Nyon sighed and said, "Yes, I've identified the problem."
As she spoke, Granny Nyon turned to Meiser and continued, "The Serpent Princess has Lovesickness!"
"The kind of Lovesickness that will kill her if left untreated!!"
"Lovesickness..."
Meiser frowned. "A heart ailment, then."
Recalling what Marigold had said earlier, Meiser immediately realized something and fell into deep thought.
"It seems... it's related to me."
"I am perfectly fine."
Hancock, wearing a nightgown, sat up and smiled at Meiser. "I feel completely well now."
"Big Sister!"
Seeing Hancock forcing herself to sit up, worry immediately filled Marigold and Sandersonia's eyes.
"Still being stubborn..."
Granny Nyon shook her head, then turned to Enishida and the others. "Sandersonia and Marigold will stay. The rest of you, please leave for now."
"Huh?"
Enishida was taken aback. Was there something they weren't allowed to know?
Though puzzled, Enishida didn't question further and obediently led the others away.
After everyone had left, Granny Nyon fixed her gaze on Meiser. "Now it's up to you, young man."
"Meiser, can you cure Big Sister?!" Marigold exclaimed excitedly.
If Meiser could heal their Big Sister, they would be willing to pay any price!
"I told you, I'm fine," Hancock insisted. "Don't trouble Meiser with this..."
Meiser glanced at Hancock, who was still thinking of him even now, and after a moment of silence, said, "Lovesickness is a type of heart ailment. To cure it, you need Heart Medicine."
"What is Heart Medicine?"
Sandersonia and Marigold looked confused, clearly unable to comprehend what Meiser meant.
They had never heard of such a thing before.
"Whatever Hancock desires most in her heart—that is the Heart Medicine," Meiser explained.
"I see..."
Marigold thought for a moment, then turned to Hancock. "Big Sister, what do you desire most right now?"
"O-Of course..."
Hancock glanced at Meiser, who was watching her intently, then suddenly covered her face with her hands and said no more.
"Of course, it's this young man, Meiser," Granny Nyon finished for her.
"Meiser?"
"Yes, him," Granny Nyon said, turning to look at Meiser. "Young man, you now have two choices."
"Option one: Ignore Hancock's condition, do what you want, and let Hancock die of lovesickness."
"Option two: Take that step like a man, don't be like that..."
At this point, Granny Nyon suddenly paused, her eyes dimming slightly.
Then, she shook her head to dispel unnecessary thoughts and said, "In any case, whether to save Hancock or not is your choice."
After speaking, Granny Nyon walked to the window with her Serpent Cane, looked up at the distant sky, and said nothing more.
After glancing at Granny Nyon's back, Meiser turned his gaze to Hancock.
It was clear she hadn't understood Granny Nyon's meaning, but he had.
Yes, Hancock liked him.
He had known this before—after all, this emotionally simple woman couldn't hide her feelings.
Although Hancock seemed unaware of such matters, her straightforward approach still conveyed her thoughts clearly.
Then, a question arose in Meiser's heart.
"Do I like her?"
After a moment of contemplation, Meiser found his answer.
Yes!
But not because of her beauty.
What attracted him most was her candid personality and... her willingness to do things for him!
The former was evident from what she had said to him before.
As for the latter...
Her readiness to compromise with the hated World Government for his sake and even risk going to a place like Impel Down showed how much she wanted to help him.
Especially going to Impel Down—that required wearing Seastone Handcuffs!!!
If the Marines had any ill intentions, Hancock would be finished.
She would suffer a fate worse than death, especially as the world's most beautiful woman!!
So, Hancock's actions had moved him deeply, coupled with her various efforts at Marine Headquarters...
What reason did he have to reject such a woman?
Besides, only he could save Hancock now.
With this thought, Meiser walked step by step toward Hancock, leaving her stunned.
"Mei... Meiser?"
Noticing Meiser's movement, Granny Nyon's expression softened with relief, and then... tears welled in her eyes.
If only back then...
"Hancock." Meiser stood before her, looking at her seriously. "Will you be my woman?"
Facing Hancock, who was always direct with her feelings, Meiser chose to respond in the same straightforward manner.
"Eh?!!"
Sandersonia and Marigold were dumbfounded by Meiser's words. How could he suddenly say something like that?
Weren't they supposed to be saving her?
What did he mean by asking Big Sister to be his woman?
They only wanted Meiser to save their sister, but now he wanted to be their brother-in-law?
"This humble one... this humble one..."
Hearing Meiser's words, Hancock was so overjoyed she couldn't express herself properly.
Is this a proposal?
This must be a proposal!!
If she agrees, does that mean they'll be married?
At this thought, Hancock's brain short-circuited and she began steaming.
Marigold: ???
Watching the steaming Hancock, a question mark popped up above Marigold's head.
Why was their elder sister steaming?
"Hancock." Granny Nyon turned back to look at Hancock and said, "Happiness is right before you, strive to seize it."
Hearing this, Hancock fell silent for a moment before nodding firmly. "This princess is willing!"
The moment her words fell, the abnormalities on Hancock's body rapidly disappeared, leaving only blushing cheeks as the remaining symptom.
"Eh?"
"Elder sister... is really cured?!" Sandersonia stared at the two in shock.
Wait, what was the principle behind this?
Why did elder sister's illness vanish after agreeing to become Meiser's woman?
Meanwhile, Marigold showed an expression of sudden understanding. "So this is the cure for lovesickness."
Though she didn't understand the mechanism... she could see that Meiser was the medicine.
As expected of the Ninja who could heal their back markings!
"How wonderful... truly wonderful~"
Watching the man and woman gazing at each other, Granny Nyon's eyes filled with heartfelt relief.
This girl ultimately didn't repeat her old mistakes.
Then Granny Nyon said, "Hancock's lovesickness is cured, you two needn't worry anymore."
"Mhm."
Sandersonia nodded before saying, "But Granny Nyon, I still don't quite understand the principle behind it."
"I can't explain that to you~" Granny Nyon said helplessly. She only knew about lovesickness and its cure, not the underlying mechanism.
"Simply put, you give them what they want," Meiser explained.
"What they want..."
Sandersonia glanced at Meiser, then at Hancock, before falling into deep thought.
Elder sister wanted Meiser, so that's why...
Oh~
She understood!
Having grasped the key point, Sandersonia immediately showed an expression of sudden realization.
Heh, she really was clever!
"Does that mean we should start calling him brother-in-law from now on?" Marigold said. "I've seen people outside address them that way."
"Mhm... mhm mhm!"
After thinking for a moment, Hancock nodded with great certainty.
Since Meiser had become her man, wouldn't that make him her younger sisters' brother-in-law?
Perfectly reasonable!
"Hello, brother-in-law!"
"Hello, hello to you too," Meiser laughed.
He never expected this trip to Kuja Island would net him the world's most beautiful woman as his wife - his luck was truly unbelievable.
Having said that, Meiser reached into his Ninja Tool Pouch to see if he had anything suitable as a gift.
But after searching through it, he found nothing that could serve as a present, leaving him with a rather awkward feeling.
Then Meiser said, "I didn't bring anything with me this time. I'll make up for the gifts next time..."
The two sisters exchanged glances before smiling. "Okay, brother-in-law!"
Having suddenly gained a brother-in-law like this seemed... quite nice actually.
Meanwhile, Hancock gradually faded her smile upon hearing Meiser's words, murmuring softly, "Next time then..."
It seems Meiser would ultimately need to leave their Kuja Island with the Straw Hat Boy after all.
However, after agreeing to become Meiser's woman, that agonizing feeling of being on the verge of death had already vanished.
Only this sense of reluctance still lingered in her heart.
After pondering for a moment, Hancock said, "Meiser, I wish to go with you..."
"No!"
Interrupted by Granny Nyon, Hancock was taken aback, then frowned and said, "You old..."
"Hmm?"
Granny Nyon glared, signaling that Meiser was still present.
Hancock: ...
"Granny Nyon," Hancock corrected herself, "Why do you say no?"
"Am I not allowed to leave with Meiser?"
She had already married Meiser—why couldn't she leave with him?
Was it because she was the emperor of Kuja Island?
No, she didn't care about that title. She could just pass it to one of her sisters!
Hmm, I think the second sister would be quite suitable!
Glancing at Sandersonia, who was looking at Granny Nyon with a puzzled expression, Hancock nodded to herself.
Meanwhile, Meiser showed a thoughtful expression—he seemed to have an idea of what Granny Nyon was about to say.