It took Hiyori a few strides to reach the room in the flower castle, she quickly took her den den mushi and dialled an address.
Deep inside she requested her father and mother's counsel, the fate of wano rested on her shoulders and every decision was delicate for the future.
"Pero pero pero~"
"Pero pero pero~"
"Kacha~"
"Hello?~"
A sultry voice answered from the other side, it sounded like she had been laughing in a rather moody tone that immediately cheered Hiyori a bit, she had talked to her a few times and it was the closest resemblance to a motherly aura she could get in this situation.
"Lady Primrose? This is Hiyori, hope you're safe and healthy".
"O-Oh? Hiyori, sweetheart! I didn't think you would be calling me so soon~"
A few muffled noises cae from the other side aside from her voice, some giggling... clearly she wasn't alone in that room.
"I apologise if I'm being inconvenient, I could call another time-".
"Ahn~ d-don't worry... I told you- uhm~"
"..."
'Areee? are reee?'
"Could you give me one second?~" Asked Primrose from the other side, a bit giddily.
"S-Sure"
From the other side voices could be heard although they were shallow, Hiyori had to stick that den den mushi as far as it could go against her ear to listen as the blush crept down her cheeks.
"Baby, not now... no... can't you see... den den mushi?! eh... wait eh?!".
What started as muffled moans continued into full-fledged moans before somebody else took the phone, it was Hancock whose voice sounded a bit haggard.
"Sorry, Hiyori... my mother can't answer now for uhm... reasons. What can we help you with? is there any problem?"
"Hebihime-sama, there are no problems at all. I just wanted to inform you that we have received your latest shipment with Kong included".
"Oh Kong is with you now, that's good to know. We were worried about him and Gator since being lost; we hadn't heard anything about them. You don't need to worry he's very tame~".
"We appreciate your favours and consideration to the protection of wano during these hard times-"
"There is no need to be so formal with us, we're all allies".
"Thank you, once again... my call is not related to that. We have also received a letter from Lord Veyron but it hasn't included the cost of materials, research and all other services we're receiving from Rusukaina... so I was at a bit of a loss. I believe we agreed on a collateral alliance".
"Darling, Hiyori is asking what is the cost of everything?" Hancock was heard asking someone in the same room, who else could it be other than 'him'.
'He's there?! c-could it be what I think it is...?'
As an ex-courtesan, forced to know the pleasure of men and women from a young age due to horrid circumstances, she was no prude saint. Moans coming from the other side, haggard breathing... it was clear what was going on on the other side, even if they tried to conceal it.
Although at this point Hiyori wondered if they were even trying.
"Everything related to the recovery of Wano as a nation service-wise and material-wise is free, you don't need to worry about costs".
"FREE?!"
"Yes, those are our leftover materials, Hiyori. Don't worry yourself~".
'M-My father always said there are no free favours in this world, I can't allow it!'.
She wanted to make sure that their freedom was long-lasting and that Wano wasn't completely dependent on them. Only then a calamity like the previous could be stopped... she didn't think Veyron and Kaido were the same, but they couldn't allow themselves to commit the same mistake.
And therefore, she stilled her heart.
"This won't do, you must tell me a price and we will pay it once we have the chance, please. Even if we're allied to you, Wano is an independent country-"
"Darling, she's being stubborn, what should I tell her?".
'Stubborn?!'.
Her eyebrows twitched as the muffled moans on the other side stopped and silence reigned until Hancock spoke again.
"He says that in the future you can pay by giving us a good deal on the lifetime production of sea stone and other metals. For the moment, you should focus on rebuilding Wano and becoming financially and militarily independent. Don't worry about paying us... did I say that right darling?".
"..."
"Ahn~ I said it right~ reward?".
"..."
"In any case, I'm getting my reward now. Good Luck, Hiyori~"
"Kacha~".
The call hung before she could say any other word, with more than a bit of clarity in regard to what was going on on the other side, which only further enhanced her curiosity.
'A-Aren't Lady Primrose and the Hebihime... mother and daughter? w-why in the same room... with him... doing that...?'
The blush and giddiness in her body would not recede but she decided to make it retreat and get back a bit of rationality. After all... it was impossible.
As far as the whole world was concerned, The Pirate Empress Boa Hancock was the Lightning God's wife... and she certainly didn't look like one to share.
'I must be hearing things... m-maybe they were cooking... yes, that must be it'
**
**
The Grandline, New World, Kingdom of Dressrosa.
A couple of days ago, in the royal castle... the sight wasn't much different. A blushing lady put down the phone and looked at her confused father on the other side of the corridor.
'V-Veyron, Sandersonia and Marigold... t-the three together!? I didn't know they were so risque!'
She had called Marigold for questions regarding the ships that continued to arrive with labourers, the scenery she met wasn't much different from Hiyori's. But she wasn't about to tell her father about her future household's private affairs.
"Royal father, they said the materials are free but he does intend to set up a few factories in Dressrosa and would like to have your permission to do so..."
The man in question rubbed his beard, sitting on his throne, "There is no such a thing as freebies in the political spectrum, but... this may not be so bad. He doesn't even need to ask... I know whatever he set up shall be of immense help to the Kingdom's economy".
"That's what I believe as well".
"Then? Did he mention anything about your engagement?".
!!!
That was all it took for her to get immensely flustered but also, a bit afflicted.
"I also got a letter from him regarding that, I haven't opened it..."
"Oh is that so? let's read-"
By the time he finished, Viola was gone back into her room.
...
'Dear Viola.
I apologise if you may have felt I have not paid attention to you. My days have been hectic and my evenings busy... I wish you health and want to let you know I'll be going to Dressrosa soon, I have a few important projects that require all of my attention but once they're finished, I intend to tie all my loose ends. We can spend some time together and get to know each other... I want to make sure you can sort out your feelings until then to know if being with someone like me is what you truly want.
Yours, Dracule Veyron'.
**
**
For a whole lifetime, I thought I'd get married to someone I didn't love, or even like... with luck, it would be someone I even knew. That is the fate of a princess... to be married for political reasons, to make their family stronger. I love my father... I know he would never impose this fate on me, but I know that it is for the best.
I had already decided that whoever was decided for me, I wouldn't decline... for the sake of Dressrosa and my family.
But who would have thought... who would have thought!?
That the person who I have to marry... is someone I want to marry. From the first moment I saw him, when I was a toy... I knew it had to be him. But there were obstacles or so I thought. He's already married to big sister Hancock. At least that's what's known publicly.
But I was wrong just like the whole world was.
'You have our blessing~'
That's what Lady Primrose, Hancock, Sandersonia and Marigold told me when they came for a visit a few weeks ago. It turns out, in a complete twist of events... they're all married to him... and there are more that I'm not even privy to.
I was initially devastated... is that how love is supposed to be? sharing? there was disappointment... but I was shocked myself to find out that there was more hope than disappointment.
'That means I can be with him too' was all my mind was thinking.
But they warmed me; Veyron is very busy, he is a very lovable person... but he's also extremely focused on his objectives and doesn't let anyone get in his way... not even his loved ones. He could spend a long time working without seeing their faces even once.
I can deal with that... I can absolutely handle it!
If I'm going to marry someone, it has to be him. No one can make me more happy and no one can do more for my Kingdom.
'Someone like you? I have already sorted out my feelings... I want to marry you'
I clenched my fist and promised myself.
'When you come for a visit, Veyron... to inspect how things are going... that's when you're going to fall in love with me~ I'll show you why Dressrosa is known as the Kingdom of Passion'