This gave her the courage to continue speaking.
"I know, you are the King of the World, the center of this era, while I am just a swordsman. I don't ask for anything, and I'm not sure if you will feel the same, but…"
Kuina's voice became firmer, "I don't want to just stand silently behind you anymore, I don't want to regret one day in the future due to today's cowardice."
"So, I stand here today, under this moonlight, wanting to tell you my feelings regardless of anything."
"I like you, Lord Shano!"
"It's not the admiration of a subordinate for their leader, but the affection of a woman for the one she loves! I like you! Like you most, most, most of all, Lord Shano!"
She finally confessed.
The moment those words left her mouth, Kuina felt all the strength drain from her body.
But at the same time, an unprecedented ease and relief surged in her heart.
As if a huge stone that's been pressing on her heart was finally removed.
She no longer avoided or concealed her feelings, she just bravely and calmly looked up and smiled at Shano, presenting her true heart to the most important person in her life.
The night wind seemed to pause for a moment.
Shano remained silent for a long time, just quietly watching Kuina, his expression changed from initial surprise to something more complex, as if seriously pondering something.
Kuina's heart sank little by little. As expected... was it too sudden? Might he find it troubling? What about the future...
"Kuina."
Shano finally spoke.
"Yes." Kuina replied, anxiously.
Shano suddenly laughed, not the usual hearty, boisterous laugh, but a gentle smile tinged with a bit of helplessness.
"You've really... given me a great surprise."
He shook his head and tapped his temple with his finger, "Or rather, sorry, it's me who's been too slow to realize."
Huh?
Kuina blinked, not fully understanding his meaning.
"Actually, perhaps I wasn't completely unaware either."
Shano said, "It's just that I always thought of your feelings towards me as more of trust and following; we're really too familiar, having known each other for too long, I instinctively prioritized seeing you as an important family and partner like Nami and Nojiko, and indeed never considered that direction."
He looked at Kuina, and said seriously:
"However, after hearing your words just now, I thought about it carefully… If I had to choose someone to share my life with at my side, Kuina, you are indeed the most special one."
Kuina's breath halted.
Wait.
What did she hear?
"We've fought side by side for so long, trusting each other, knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses. You are strong, persistent, pure, possessing the qualities I admire most."
Shano continued, his tone calm and sincere, "Moreover, I don't know when it started, but I've gotten used to having you by my side, worrying when you're injured, feeling happy when your swordsmanship improves, seeing your occasional smile… thinking, hmm, this is nice."
He paused, laughed somewhat self-deprecatingly:
"But I must admit, in matters of the heart, I'm really quite clumsy, with little experience, before I only focused on how to train hard and overthrow the World Government, rarely considering this aspect, so hearing your confession, I'm really very, very happy. If you're willing... we can try?"
Try... see?
Try see?
"!!!"
The immense joy surged like waves, instantly overwhelming Kuina, making her dizzy.
She looked at Shano with wide eyes in disbelief, tears suddenly welled up unprompted, blurring her vision.
So happy!
He said he was really happy to hear the confession!
There was no rejection, no distancing, he said... he understood and was happy! Wants to try see with her!
What exactly was she worried about, conflicted over?
The reason why she never felt that kind of emotion from him before is simply because he's just like her, no matter how strong he is in other fields, he's a complete, clumsy rookie when it comes to feelings!
"I'm willing, my lord!"
Kuina shouted these three words nearly with all her strength, then realized her voice was too loud, fearing even the people in the square might hear, she quickly covered her mouth, her cheeks flushing red.
But Shano didn't mind her lack of composure at all, still gazing at her, smiling gently.
The night wind brushed across the terrace, stirring the strands of hair near Kuina's temples, also fluttering the sleeve of Shano's dress, the laughter and sound of waves from the distant square seemed to fade into a hazy distance at this moment.
"My lord..."
Kuina's voice choked up, countless words stuck in her throat, finally turning into hot tears sliding down, murmuring:
"I am...not dreaming, this moment is real, right, my lord?"
"Still calling me lord?"
Shano feigned displeasure, wiping away the tears on her face with his fingers, "If there were others around, it's understandable not to relax, but here it's just you and me, can't you just call me by name?"
"Sha… Shano?"
Kuina tried hard to speak the name, her cheeks reddened more instantly.
Too difficult!
To say this name without any suffix feels as challenging as confessing face-to-face.
"That's better."
Shano's palm moved to her head, soothingly, as he stealthily put back the hairpin hidden in his sleeve...
Sigh, occupational habits kicked in, thinking Kuina's cooling period of a year had passed, so meeting her took this thing, who would have predicted she came to confess, cough.
The hand that spoils the mood is not me!
"Shano..."
At this moment, Kuina tried calling once more, her voice becoming somewhat more natural though still carrying a trace of undeniable trembling.
"Mm, yes."
Shano responded, his gaze falling on her reddened eyes, he couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, stop crying, or your eyes will swell, later when we go downstairs for the banquet, if people ask, I really wouldn't know how to explain."
Kuina hurriedly raised her hand, wiping her face carelessly, bowing her head embarrassedly: "I-I'm just too happy..."
"I know." Shano grinned, "Actually, I'm very happy too."
Putting aside this habit of the hand, everything he said was genuine.
Before this, as mentioned on the journey from East Sea bringing Belle-Mere to New World, he really never seriously contemplated feelings.
Overthrowing the World Government, hellish self-torture in training, dealing with numerous formidable foes, managing territory matters... these occupied all his mind.
Until this moment.
Looking at the young woman who accompanied him through a long journey, seeing the undisguised admiration and courage in her eyes, a warmth and joy like never before began to spread within his chest.
Heart throb?
The feelings possessing him are not that fervent.
But they are more precious, containing the meritorious fluid harmony, trust accumulated from fighting side by side, and habits of mutual supporting deeply woven into life.
On this moonlit, perfect night, amidst the gentle sea breeze, everything naturally came to fruition.
"..."
Kuina raised her head in a daze, under the moonlight, Shano's eyelashes seemed longer, nose bridge elegantly tall, the lines of his lips vivid...
This is nice.
This is the side profile she has glanced at countless times in battles, yet never has she gazed so closely, so intently as she is now.
"Shano."
She called the name for the third time, finally more smoothly, "Can I… Can I hug you?"
Shano's response was opening his arms.
Without much hesitation, Kuina took a step forward, embracing him.
Warmth.
This was her first impression.
Shano's embrace exceeded her countless imaginings, being more spacious and softer, the fabric of the black dress was somewhat stiff, yet the warmth transmitted through… was so genuine, it made her want to turn into a crying little baby again.