My Dearest Daughter,
I pray this letter finds you cheerful and in good health, circumstances aside. It's most saddening to know that I could not be there at your side on one of the most important occasions of your life. Missing the sight of you in your wedding gown is a regret I will forever carry. There is nothing to be done about it, I'm sure you'd tell me. In any consolation, at least you had accompaniment from someone who cares for you. There is no other man I trust more to have been at your side than Daigon.
Though I could not attend your ceremony, I only hope it brought you happiness in some capacity, and that your now-husband is someone you may find fulfilling companionship with in future. Daigon tells me this Katakuri fellow is a brutish man, cold and ill-mannered. The thought is very disconcerting for myself and your brothers. Perhaps it was a vain hope to think that he would be everything you deserve. But I have seen you turn even the darkest of characters with your lovely smile and sheer stubbornness. Both traits you received from your Mother, of course. No doubt spending time with you may somehow thaw his icy disposition, and mold him into a man worthy of a lady of your integrity.
It is still difficult for me to accept that you are on your own in a far-off land, the territory of an Emperor of the Sea no less. I fear what your Mother would think of me, allowing you to make such a dangerous decision. You know just as well as I how terrifying her loving wrath could be. Bless her compassionate soul, Lisse's no doubt cursing me with a shaking fist from the heavens. I'm sure to receive the verbal lashing of a lifetime when I one day pass on and return to her...
Seiiki has undergone many changes since your departure. They are too numerous to list in their entirety, though rest assured, slaver attacks on our shores have entirely ceased since your union. Weeks have passed and, other than cursory scouts from off in the distance, we've seen no further sign of the slavers. Big Mom's flag now flies atop each of the navy barracks at the ports, a warning to all. It pains my heart to see our country's colors beneath the likes of a pirate's jolly roger, and many of the seamen are chagrined, but the sight of an empty ocean beyond it is too great a relief to give voice the displeasure.
For many years, I believed I would not live to see the day when this country was fully liberated from those fiendish men. I am old, and have been old for longer than I care to acknowledge. True peace felt like nothing more than a distant wish, one most likely fulfilled by one of my beloved children, or even your own children some day in the far future. Seeing it with my own eyes, in my lifetime...that is something I can't quite put into words.
The fear that once gripped the hearts of our people has begun to dissipate. The change has been gradual, but there nonetheless. At first, no one was sure what to think would become of the country once you married into Big Mom's family. Day by day, however, I see an ease settle into their daily routines. That feeling of comfort, of safety, is beginning to return. And though I still foresee obstacles to overcome in allying to the Emperor-our immediate concern is boosting production of our caramel to meet the monthly tribute outlined in the treaty-I can't help but begin to think that this was the best outcome we could have hoped for.
However, knowing it cost me giving away my daughter to a country as terrifying as Totto Land...As your King, I must thank you for your willingness to sacrifice yourself for your country. As your Father, I must beg your forgiveness for the rest of my days. I will say nothing more on that matter. Disparaging it further would only dishonor your decision, and you do not deserve that.
Your brothers are well, physically, though it is clear your absence affects them more than either is willing to admit. Genji can hardly be coaxed out of his chambers or the library, and it is difficult to decipher how he feels about matters. That boy has always been quiet, private, but never to this degree. As for Denji, his anger has only grown. I would not be surprised to learn he in some way resents me for choosing this path. Dinners together are tense, and I feel a distance has settled in where none has ever existed before. With time and luck, hopefully they will come to recognize your sacrifice and honor it, rather than despise it.
That aside, do not concern yourself with any of Seiiki's troubles. Your brothers and myself can handle the country now that slavers are no longer a threat, and time will mend the rift that has settled in the castle. Big Mom's family is large, and I can only imagine the hardships you will face integrating yourself into their culture and political order. For once, set aside your duty as Princess and focus only on yourself, your own future. If I must command you as your King, I shall, though I do hope you'll save me the trouble and accept that you must put yourself first now.
Tell me of your experiences there, of your new husband, and of the many friends I am certain you are already making in your new home. People naturally gravitate towards you, and your kindness will be your greatest ally in such an unfamiliar place. I wish to hear everything about your new life.
They say Totto Land is a paradise. I've always wondered how deep the idyllic veneer truly ran...but I digress. I can only hope and pray that it is indeed everything it appears to be, and that you find great joy in your life there. I anticipate receiving your reply to this letter, and will pray for your endless happiness.
With Love, Father
Her many days of exploration were beginning to pay off. Yuna now knew the most important aspects of her new home, or at least how to get to them, should the need arise. The main plaza and most of the side streets of Hakuriki Town, several smaller towns dotted along the eastern and western coasts, the factories to the north for flour production, and the many wheat fields set towards the middle of the island.
The landscapes proved a valuable incentive to explore further. Given she had absolutely nothing to do on any particular day, it gave her the opportunity to truly appreciate Komugi Island as a whole. Depending where you were, you could see a whole myriad of colors as you went: pale and golden yellows from the wheat fields, or the vibrantly green grass surrounding the lake in town, to the pinks, purples, and blues that painted the town's buildings a wonderland with the various colors of frosting applied to the exteriors. It was a beautiful place, and much bigger than she would have expected. No wonder there were days at a time when she would not see hide nor hair of her husband.
Yuna had been out on an afternoon walk, aimlessly wandering, when it happened. Skirting the yellowy fields of grain, taking in the natural beauty with a small smile, she came across the unfortunate scene. A young blonde boy, perhaps 10 at most, crying in the grass beside his upturned bicycle, clothes disheveled and one of his sleeves torn. Evidence of his collision could be seen on the bark of the nearest tree, a section missing where the bicycle had sheered it off.
"Are you alright?" Yuna headed over to his side, kneeling beside him and spotting the knee that he was cradling close. She felt it was redundant to ask, but did all the same. "What happened?"
"I-I tried...catching up..." He sobbed between sniffles and choked whimpers, tears and mucus dribbling down his face. "My friends were ahead of me...but, I went...too fast and hit the tree..."
"They didn't stop to help you?" His shaking head made her frown. "Well, let me take a look at it, and we'll get you all fixed up. How does that sound?"
She coaxed him with a gentle hand, and the boy eventually moved his hands so she could get the full picture, unable to stop the sobbing due to the pain. The skin of his knee was red and angry, bits of tree bark and dirt lining the red lines where the bark had scraped off. Small tracks of blood was smeared around it where his fingers had touched.
"Oh dear, that surely doesn't feel nice at all." She remarked, then looked up at him with a small smile in reassurance. "I'm going to heal your knee, but I have to touch you to do that. It might sting for a moment, ok?"
Another long sniffle, before the boy nodded. "O-ok."
Yuna placed her fingers around the edges of the wound. The pain in the boy's eyes was now overshadowed by a curiosity, and he sat up straighter in order to see what she was doing. They widened once her fingers began to glow, and before his very eyes, the scraped knee faded and shrank until it was entirely gone.
Yuna winced, then schooled her face back into a smile and allowed her fingers to fade once the wound was entirely gone. With a swipe of her fingers, she brushed away the leftover dirt and bark bits that were there, leaving it just like new. Yuna sat back on her heels and looked at him. "How does it feel now?"
"It doesn't hurt." He said, stretching out his leg to see that the skin was blemish-free and not in any pain. "Thank you, big lady."
"You're very welcome."
The boy looked down the presumed direction he had been intending to go, and gave a pout. One of his small hands swiped across his face to get rid of the tears, but it only served to smear some of the mucus from his nose on his cheek. "My friends are all gonna laugh at me for hitting a tree and crying like a baby..."
"Well, we can't have that, can we?" Yuna reached down for the hem of her dress' skirt, careful to glance around and make sure no one was close by to see underneath, and used the fabric to wipe away the boy's tears and snot. Luckily it had many layers, and did not reveal anything to the young boy either.
"I don't need help. Besides, your dress is gonna get all dirty." He complained, trying to ward off her wiping, but she kept him in place with a hand on his head.
"Be still, now." She gave a low chuckle. "It's only a dress. I have plenty more at home."
His pout deepened, but did cease his resistance and let her continue. They sat in silence for a moment while she tended to his face, before she spoke up again. "Your friends don't sound like very good friends if you expect them to laugh at you."
"They are my friends. That's just how they are."
"And why is that?"
"We all want to be strong and tough like Katakuri-sama, so we can't depend on other people." The boy said with as much of a puffed chest as he could manage. The impression really didn't land, but Yuna could see what he had been trying to go for. "He doesn't cry or ever get hurt, or ask for help from anyone."
Her brow raised in interest, deciding not to point out that he seemed completely fine allowing her to assist him now. "Is that so?"
"Mhmm."
Seeing as the boy didn't seem to recognize her, she felt it was a great opportunity to ask something she was very curious about. What did Katakuri's people think of him? An adult would worry about speaking out of turn about someone in authority, but perhaps a kid wouldn't care, or even know to care at all about such things. "What makes him so great?"
"He's the strongest of the ministers and the four Sweet Commanders in Totto Land!" The boy exclaimed with clenched fists, excitement giving animation and life to his movements. His grin was wide and his eyes alight with awe. "He could take on any pirate crew singlehandedly. He has no weaknesses, and he's invincible. And he even married a princess!"
"Really?" Yuna couldn't help her amused smile. "A princess?"
"Yep! I haven't seen her yet, but all my friends say she's really pretty. She'd have to be, though, if Katakuri-sama was going to marry her. She'd have to be just a perfect as he was." He calmed himself a bit, perhaps realizing just how enthusiastic he sounded. "Everyone thinks he's the coolest, even his family does too. He isn't afraid of anything, and protects everyone. I wanna be like that one day."
"You seem like a strong-willed young man. I'm sure you'll do just that." Yuna said, quickly finished up clearing the remnants of his crying and hiding her amused smile. It shouldn't have come as a surprise to know that Katakuri's stoic and composed exterior had impressed upon many of the younger boys of the island. He was spoken of as if a mythic figure. It was only natural for them to gravitate towards 'cool' things, she supposed.
His eyes were still a little red and puffy, but by the time he made it to wherever he was going, it would fade. "There. Now you'll return a brave man, and none shall laugh at you."
Some of his mirth died away. "They still will...they probably saw what happened."
Yuna tapped on her cheek thoughtfully. "Then, would you like me to accompany you there? Perhaps I can persuade them not to."
"I guess, if you want."
Yuna allowed the boy to stand, and she rose as well, dwarfing him with her superior height. A large patch of her dress was now wet with his tears and snot, but she didn't mind. He went over to his fallen bike and turned it upright, inspecting it all over to make sure nothing was damaged. Then, he pointed off in the direction Yuna had been walking all along.
"My town is that way. It's not too far."
She nodded. "Lead the way."
It was a short walk to the boy's town, a collection of a dozen or so houses and shops built mainly for the farmers who tended to the massive wheat fields they were situated next to. With it's small size, it was more accurately a village than a town, but it was lovely all the same.
Leon, as she learned the boy was called, pedaled his bicycle slowly, so as not to overtake her even pace walking beside him. He filled the space with mindless chatter, regaling her with tales of Katakuri's strength and coolness. Many, Yuna suspected, to be the imaginations of a starstruck young boy.
The edge of the village came into view, and off in the distance 2 boys around Leon's age sat waiting on their own bicycles. Yuna noticed Leon tense up in worry as he recognized his friends, and she smiled to herself. Oh, how trivial the concerns of a young boy were in the grand scheme of things.
Once they were close enough to distinguish faces, she saw both boys startle in place, talking together in whispers and pointing their general direction. They were still too far away to hear, but she had a feeling what they were discussing. Whatever they'd said must have been loud enough to attract attention, because several more children and even a few adults stopped to watch them approach.
Yuna leaned down to her traveling companion. "Just follow my lead, alright?"
He only gave a confused nod.
Both of the boys waiting on their bikes stared up at her with wide eyes as they reached the edge of the village, and Yuna smiled wide at such a quaint place, clasping her hands together in front of her. "Your village is beautiful, Leon. I'm very thankful you took the time to help guide me all the way here. Your kindness knows no bounds."
Leon looked at her with confusion, but her widening smile made him shrug. "You're welcome, I guess. It wasn't a big deal."
"Oh, but you have done so much for me today, even becoming injured for my sake! I feel healing you wasn't enough to repay you..."
"Huh?" One of his friends questioned out loud, looking comically between his friend and the much taller woman. "I thought you crashed into a tree. You were even crying and everything! What is Yuna-sama talking about?"
"Y-Yuna-sama!?" Leon blanched, nearly falling off his bike as his head snapped up to look at the woman who'd helped him. Finding out who she was now must have come as a shock, particularly when he had been talking about her directly to her face without realizing it.
Before he got the chance to say anything further, she gave a wide smile to those who had gathered. "I fear I am to blame for it. I lost my way and am certain my cry for help made him distracted just long enough to lose control and crash. The way he pushed through his pain to help me was so valiant."
"I didn't hear anything when we were out there..." The second boy muttered, clearly distressed that he had failed to realize the situation. He exchanged a look with the other boy, who shook his head in confusion.
Yuna gestured down to the boy, who was currently trying his best not to look like the rug was just pulled from underneath him. "Leon came to my rescue and even took the time to guide me to this village. I don't know what would have happened to me if I had been left to wander the countryside alone. His strength reminds me so much of Katakuri-sama, and I am ever grateful. It's all thanks to him that I made it here."
The few adults in the crowd all smiled knowingly, but the boys were clearly affected by her words. Speechless, their mouths hung open and shocked stares were locked on her. Leon's face had grown quite red, but his tight-lipped expression reddened cheeks made it clear he was trying to hold it all together.
"Now, I must be on my way, but it was wonderful to see all of you." She bid, deciding to start heading back towards the capital. With a courteous bow, she turned and waved them all goodbye. "Thank you so much for your kindness!"
Scattered goodbyes sent her off, and behind her she could hear the incredulous questions Leon's friends were currently bombarding him with. What she didn't hear was mocking laughing of any kind, and she smiled for it.
Hakuriki's port was abuzz with activity. This alone wasn't exactly unusual. On any given day, there were several transport ships docked at the port, men carrying crates from onboard the vessels to the food depositories in the district. Their arrivals were greatly looked forward to. Ingredients from the various islands of Totto Land were distributed throughout the empire to supply the citizens with any range of food they wished.
Yuna thought it incredible. Totto Land was practically self-sufficientt, thanks to the continuous acquisition of nearby islands into it's empire. They need not rely on imports from foreign countries to keep them fed and with a variety of different cuisines available. Among the 30 or so islands in the territory, they had access to everything they'd ever need.
Biweekly visits meant that one never ran out of a particular ingredient, and it was always fresh. Most imports wound up on Whole Cake Island, of course, but none of the islands were left forgotten. It was an important daily routine everyone among the country could anticipate.
This particular day, however, was different. While the transport ships were still in full force along the dock, receiving shipments most notably from the nuts, beans, and cracker islands, a massive warship was docked alongside them at the far end. Its size alone made it stand out from the others, if the colorful, candy-themed design and many chess soldiers stationed aboard the deck didn't already. Yuna, who'd been nearby to watch the imports be received that day, approached with curiosity.
Who was here? Each Charlotte sibling had a ship with their name boldly emblazoned across the sail, but while docked it was furled and looked just like every warship the siblings had available to them. Which of Katakuri's brothers or sisters were visiting? Surely, this wasn't a typical occurrence. In her weeks of visiting the town, she'd never seen another warship dock at the port. Curious, Yuna wandered closer to examine the vessel, waiting around to see if anything noteworthy would happen.
A figure eventually emerged from the deck, descending the gangplank in several lengthy steps. His broad, circular shoulder guards and barrel-chested body clad in blue made him stand out from anyone else in a crowd. Well, unless it was a crowd of his own siblings, she supposed. The Charlotte Family was comprised of so many unnatural-looking people, he blended right in.
Daifuku-Katakuri's fellow triplet brothers were some of the few she had easily been able to remember the names of-looked around the port, eyes squinting as he searched for...something. No doubt Katakuri.
Frowning, his gaze swept over her form. Despite not being as tall as either of the two Charlotte triplets, she still stood several heads above the rest of the people in Hakuriki. After a moment of pause, he began heading towards her. Yuna stamped down the rising inclination to leave while she still could. If she were ever to live happily here, as her father dearly wished, she'd have to get used to interacting with the in-laws without fear.
They were all intimidating, but perhaps under their brusque exteriors, they were lovely people? It wouldn't do to judge before she'd even had a single proper conversation with him.
Daifuku stopped a few feet away from her, crossing his arms. "You. You're...Yuta, right?"
"Yuna." She corrected, covering her disappointment with a smile. At least he hadn't immediately insulted her, as Akimeg and Allmeg did. Small mercies. "Good morning to you, Daifuku-san."
"Hmm. Maybe for you it is." Either the Minister was displeased with Komugi Island, or the severe expression was his naturally resting face. Yuna knew better than to ask. His perpetual frown never lifted, and he swathed his eyes across the streets behind her. "I'm looking for Katakuri. He was supposed to meet me at the port when I arrived, and I got here five minutes ago."
"He is late?" Yuna never considered him the type to run behind if it could be helped. He seemed like such a punctual individual. A perfectionist, even. "That's unusual."
"Yes, yes...Where would he be now?"
"I couldn't say. Unfortunately, Katakuri does not notify me of his whereabouts during the day." She admitted with a sigh. "I wish I had more to tell you than that."
"Tch. If you want something done..." Daifuku's scowl deepened, if at all possible. Clearly her unhelpfulness had displeased him. His dug into his breast pocket and produced a small den den mushi that looked remarkably similar to himself. With a few presses of the dials on the side of shell, the snail began to make noise.
"Puru puru puru...puru puru puru..." It droned quietly, waiting to connect with whoever he was calling. Katakuri, no doubt. As the seconds passed with no answer, Daifuku's frown deepened further, but finally the den den mushi's eyes opened with a sudden 'gatcha.'
"Katakuri! I'm here at your port and you're nowhere to be seen. You know how much I don't like to wait." Daifuku said without preamble.
Yuna glanced at the people nearby, noticing that they all gave the Charlotte sibling a wide berth, lest they anger him unnecessarily. Hearing his unhappy tone only made them hurry along faster. Should he suddenly get the urge to act with aggression-as she'd heard he tended to do-she was right in the range of danger. But she stayed in place, determined not to be cowed.
The snail's eyes, now looking identical to those of her husband, narrowed at Daifuku's harsh tone. "Have you checked the time, brother?"
"Of course! It's 9:30, right when I said I'd be here."
"We agreed to meet at 10, in case the shipments ran late. You're early." He pressed with that typical deep monotone, blinking with measured patience.
"Nonsense. I don't remember saying that."
"If you hadn't, I'd be there now and we'd have no need for this conversation."
Daifuku growled under his breath, reaching for his other breast pocket and producing a small watch as if it would hold the answers to his confusion. He stared at the clock face, Katakuri waiting silently as his brother cursed under his breath. Perhaps he'd remembered suddenly their previous conversation and felt a fool. Or perhaps he still could not remember and felt even more ridiculous for it. No one liked being wrong. Daifuku especially.
"Damn it." Some of the anger left his shoulders. "Well, I'm here now. I have business back on my island and can't be here all day." He surmised. "Where are you anyway?"
"The flour factory district. My duties here won't take long. Wait for me at the port."
He scowled, obviously unhappy with that suggestion. "I'm your dear brother, not one of your disposable subordinates."
A low sigh came through the snail, and it's eyes closed. "This matter is pressing and unexpected. Have patience, Daifuku."
The blue-clad sibling shook his head but held back whatever negative remark he had been going to say. He put obvious effort into tampering down some of his rising anger. "Very well. But I won't sit and wait here with your useless wife forever."
The snail frowned in tandem with Yuna, who didn't appreciate the harsh description in the slightest. When pressed, the maids had reluctantly told her a little about some of the more notable sibling of the Charlotte Family. Daifuku was supposedly the most verbally aggressive of the three triplets. It was less rumor and more so fact, in her opinion. Was there really a need to be so rude?
Yuna gave a small bow in his direction, hands clasped together in front of her. "I apologize, Daifuku-san. I'll strive to be more helpful next time."
His side-eye glare let her know exactly how much he cared for her apology. Instead he directed his attention back to the den den mushi. "Hmph. Katakuri, tell your wife where you will be so I don't have to call to find out."
"You would have called regardless." Katakuri said, eyes blinking slowly. "And my responsibilities do not concern her."
Yuna opened her mouth to disagree, but snapped it shut when she figured doing so in the company of his brother-in public, no less-wasn't the best idea. Disagreements between husband and wife should be done privately, and Yuna didn't think Katakuri would appreciate her bringing it up in this setting. Not only that, but his position as minister made preserving a reputation even more important.
The key to any stable governing body were the people behind it working in tandem. Allowing their citizens to see discourse between them would only serve to shake their confidence in herself and Katakuri. Her jaw clenched with the effort of holding back her tongue, but reason won out over injured pride.
Daifuku gave a long-suffering sigh. "Don't drag your feet. Finish whatever you're doing and meet me here."
"Of course, brother."
The imitation of her husband's eyes closed, and the den den mushi gave a quiet 'gatcha' as the connection ended. Daifuku stuffed the small snail back into his pocket and took a seat on one of the nearest wooden crates along the dock. He settled himself in a comfortable position, clearly preparing for a long wait. When it became apparent she had no intention of moving, he looked to the seafoam-haired woman.
"What are you still doing here?" He all but snapped, head upturned to look down on her. Even seated, he still towered a few feet above her. "Don't you have something better to do than stand here and bother me?"
"Actually, I don't." She responded with honesty, deciding that she'd been passive long enough. Yuna could tolerate verbal jabs, but only for so long unprovoked. And something about Daifuku felt different than Allmeg and Akimeg. She couldn't put it to words even if she tried, but something about him left her tired of forcing her typical kindness.
"I have no responsibilities to attend to, and am left to my own devices to fill my time. Your arrival is the most interesting thing I'll likely experience today."
"I never agreed to be your entertainment."
"That may be so, but I would still prefer to stay."
Boldly, she sat on the crate beside him, crossing her own arms in a small display of frustration. Not expecting such a move, he leaned away slightly, but didn't stand, which was sign enough that he wouldn't demand she leave. Probably. Her eyes trailed along the dock and the many people milling about the town this close to the water.
"I've explored most of the island, and can find my way anywhere I may need to go. I've spoken with many of the residents, and grown close to a few I see often. I've visited nearly all of the shops in Hakuriki Town, and a few from the smaller villages surrounding." Her hand gestured dismissively to the direction of her home. "I've even resorted to assisting our in-house staff with home chores, simply to kill my boredom. Not that I mind, of course, but compared to the jobs I used to do in my home country, it feels absolutely menial."
Yuna found herself giving a long sigh, shaking her head. "I may have been a princess, but I was raised to lead a country, not sit back and look pretty while everyone else did all the work. I realize I've only lived here a few weeks and don't know many of the policies that go into running one of Totto Land's islands, but I want to do something meaningful."
"Eh? Why are you telling me this? What makes you think I care?" Daifuku's tone made it clear that, truly, her problems were not of his concern whatsoever.
"Nothing at all." She said. Strangely enough, it felt less intimidating in this moment to be blunt with him. Her attempts at unabashed kindness had been met with stale glares so far. Maybe he was a man who preferred candid honesty over anything else. And as she felt before, something about him made her feel comfortable saying things straight.
"I know my problems don't matter to you. Admittedly, I'm not entirely sure why I'm even saying all this. But it feels nice to get it off my chest to someone who I feel won't mind that I speak with complete honesty. Maybe you don't care. Maybe I'm making an utter fool of myself right now, but at least I already know that going into this conversation."
"And yet you still keep talking."
"And yet you're still listening."
One of Daifuku's brows raised, staring at her in a mix of bewilderment and contempt. He didn't immediately reply. "You're a strange woman."
Yuna couldn't help but smile. "So I've been told."
The Charlotte son scoffed, shaking his head. He shifted in his seat, but surprisingly didn't rise to get away from her. This was good progress, Yuna told herself. Tackling the Charlotte Family favor would be a slow process, one at a time, but she had to start somewhere. Daifuku was as good a person as any. And seeing as he hadn't left yet, she felt he was at least more open to the idea of talking with her.
"People say that Katakuri is the perfect person, perfect son...Perfect everything. It's as if he has no flaws to him." Yuna mentioned casually, returning to watching those that passed by on the docks. Daifuku's crew had finished distributing their crates to Komugi's warehouses, and many returned in teams to the ship to await departure. "Is that really true?"
"Of course it is. He's our best fighter and the most respected among the family." He stated simply. "His bounty of over a billion is also the highest, other than Mama's herself."
Yuna took a moment to blink several times, processing that astounding bit of information. The existence of his bounty wasn't the surprise, but the extreme number was. Over a billion? Dear lord...Her entire home kingdom was worth only a fraction of that.
"I see. I don't understand how anyone could actually be so flawless. He's human too, isn't he?" She muttered. Her task had never felt so daunting. New challenges, one after another, kept presenting themselves the more she discovered about her new home and those who ruled it. Then, another thought took precedent over the rest. "I suppose people expect me to be perfect right alongside him."
"I wouldn't bother trying. You're weak and vulnerable." He pointed out, gesturing to her person. "You're nothing like him at all."
Was that entirely a bad thing? "I suppose that's true."
Daifuku's arms tightened around himself, no doubt a sign that he was finished talking. But Yuna had endless questions and all the time in the world.
"You're the Minister of Poripori Island, right?" She ignored his annoyed sigh. "What is it like there? Are all the buildings built to look like beans?"
"Are you always this annoying?"
"Well, I'd like to say no..."
"Tch..." He didn't reply, eyes steadfastly locked on something towards the direction of the town square. Any person would pick up on his desire to end the conversation there.
"So? Do the buildings look like beans?" She pressed, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Yes."
"How many different types of beans does your island produce?"
"Like I'm supposed to know an exact amount?"
"If you were to take a guess-?"
He sighed heavily. "Over 200."
"Amazing." Her head cocked to the side, trying to imagine such a place where the fields were planted with beans. "All of Totto Land sounds like something out of a fairytale. I want to see the other islands one day, though I'm not sure how I would manage to travel between them-"
"I don't care. Shut up."
"Maybe not, but surely talking with me is less irritating than having nothing to do until Katakuri arrives." She pointed out, which only made him growl under his breath. "You're a very important person, Daifuku-san. Important and interesting. You can't fault me for wanting to know more."
His scowl returned in full, pinning her an angry glare. "If you weren't Katakuri's wife..."
"Whatever you're threatening, I'm sure that alone wouldn't stop you from enacting upon it." Despite the hostile words, Yuna smiled back at him. "I'm only trying to get to know my husband's family better, Daifuku-san. I don't mean to irritate you, but I have to start somewhere if I'm ever to get to a point where you all don't despise me. That may be a long ways from now, but I'll keep working at it whenever possible."
The hubbub of passersby settled in the space between Yuna and Daifuku. The former Princess decided that she'd meddled enough with his patience and stayed silent as time went by. Pushing too many buttons would do the opposite of what she'd been hoping for. As she figured with her maids, there was no rush. She had the rest of her life to try-
"Why do you care about the family liking you?" He asked all of a sudden, yanking her attention back over to him. His ever-present frown and closed eyes meant it was difficult to tell if his mood had shifted at all.
Rather than answer immediately, Yuna gave the question some thought, wondering to herself the true reason she intended to gain their favor in the first place. Daifuku was candid with her. She felt it only fair to do the same for him.
"My homeland and everyone I once knew are hundreds of kilometers away." She began. "Everything about this country is unfamiliar to me, and any good relationships I hope to have I must work to build myself. Katakuri included."
Yuna shrugged. "We may have married from political necessity, but I won't allow that fact to keep either of us from being happy. From the little I know of him, I can tell family is extremely important. He wouldn't work so diligently if that wasn't the case. If something or someone is important to him, then they're important to me as well. Plus...I know that having friends in all kinds of places can help me in the future."
A long pause settled, and Yuna wondered if he thought she was simply a conniving woman, unhappy with her place in her new life. It was easy to see he typically had a negative look on things. What sort of assumptions had he made about her before he truly knew her? Perhaps that she was prudish, from her modest clothing, or even ditzy from the endless-
"Hmph. You're definitely annoying, and you talk too much. But for a sister-in-law...I guess you could be worse." He interrupted suddenly, making her blink.
Yuna's shoulders lifted a little, surprised by his admittedly insulting sort of compliment, in a way. But it was the first admission that she was not the absolute worst so far in her time here, and she would enjoy it for all it was worth. She flashed a happy smile.
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment. Don't go thinking I like you or something equally ridiculous." He shot back, finally standing from the crate and stepping a few feet away. "You're still a nobody to me."
She didn't let him venomous reply get her down in the slightest. "Noted."
The faint jingle of spurs alerted both of them to Katakuri's arrival on the docks. How he'd arrived so quickly after being on the other side of the island was anyone's guess. Hmm. Maybe his sister's mirror ability had something to do with it. It seemed a handy way of traveling quickly between long distances.
Yuna looked over, easily spotting her tall husband moving among the crowd of citizens and chess soldiers alike, making his way over to where his brother was standing. Dressed in his usual punk style, each step a warning and a reassurance all in one, depending on who you were. People made sure to get out of his way, so as not to slow him down.
It had been a day or so since she'd last seen him, but it was difficult not to stare whenever she did get a glimpse. All corded muscle, piercing eyes, and something inherently male. Strength and capability personified to an extreme degree. There weren't any men like him in Seiiki, that she was sure of. The intensity in his expression never seemed to wane.
If he was surprised to see his wife still waiting for him alongside his brother, the scarf covering his face hid it well.
Daifuku rolled his neck to work out the kinks, facing his brother once he stopped beside them. "Finally. I wasn't sure how many more annoying questions I could handle."
"They weren't that bad, were they?" Yuna asked in amusement.
"Worse."
"Hmm. Then, you're welcome for the company, at the very least."
"I didn't want that either." He sneered with a roll of his eyes, but Yuna only chuckled to herself.
Katakuri looked between the two of them with his ever-observant red eyes. As usual, it was impossible to tell what kind of mood he was in. Whatever the business at the factories had been, there was no sign as to if it had angered him, or if he'd left happier for having resolved it. The man was a total mystery.
Yuna turned her smile to her husband, unperturbed by his staring. Despite being strangers, it was still nice to see him. "Good morning, Katakuri."
Rather than a reply, her husband gave a silent nod, then turned towards his brother. In doing so, he missed the minute deflation of her smile at being snubbed. "You're not the only one with much to do today, Daifuku. Accompany me to the warehouses and we can discuss your business along the way." He said in his deep timbre.
Straight to business. No time for idle talk. As usual...
The blue-clad man grunted in response, making to follow after him as the Minister of Flour turned to walk back along the docks towards the distribution warehouses. As quick as he'd come, so did he go. It was like her being nearby didn't matter at all, or even provoked him into leaving sooner than he normally would have. Was he that repulsed by her? He'd still not given any indication what he thought of her overall. What a sobering thought...
Yuna stood from her seat on the crate. Perhaps she could convince them to allow her to tag along. The first step to getting closer would naturally be spending time together. And since Katakuri didn't have much free time in his busy and dutiful schedule, the next best thing would be to accompany him while he worked. Not only would it cure her boredom, but she'd get to see how things around here were done-
"Yuna." Katakuri suddenly paused and turned back to look at her. Blinking, she caught the tail end of his eyes fading from their red glow. "I know what you're about to ask. The answer is no."
All at once, her hopes were dashed. Damn his future sight. She was reminded how frustrating it could be to try talking with him. Half the time, some mix of his impatience or desire to not talk with her made him foresee what she would say and answer before she got a chance to even speak it. She blinked once, then twice, meeting his gaze and trying to come up with a response in defense.
She wanted to protest, but couldn't. They were still in public, and she figured no amount of arguing her perspective would sway his decision. There was no hesitation in his eyes, and could clearly see that he didn't want her to push the issue here. For now, she would abide by what he wanted. Much as it displeased her.
Yuna took on a pleasant expression, hoping he couldn't see how she wanted to disagree, and clasped her hands behind her back. "I understand. I might go to the eastern coast village and enjoy the scenery, then. If that is acceptable?"
Almost imperceptibly, one of his eyes twitched. One would have missed it if you weren't looking at him directly, as Yuna was. Whichever part of her response annoyed him, she couldn't be sure, and he turned back around to rejoin his brother. "You're free to do as you wish. Nowhere is barred to you."
Except wherever he happened to be, it seemed.
The words almost sprang from her lips, but she held them back in time, knowing saying such a thing would be a mistake. She resorted only to lifting a brow as both of the Charlotte brothers walked away from her. Their towering figures stayed in sight much longer than a regularly-sized person would. Neither gave her a glance back.
Once they were out of earshot, her shoulders sagged in disappointment. Left standing on the dock with, once again, nothing to do. The thought of more exploring after weeks of doing just that was off-putting. She'd much rather hang around the lake and watch the people enjoy themselves in the water. Seeing their happy expressions, and perhaps having a few short conversations, would lift her spirits now.
She turned and went to do just that, before spotting the library nearby and turn towards it on a whim. Maybe a thick book would do the trick, too.
A dozen or so children were waiting for her when she reached her usual bench to rest and observe. It was a popular place for the younger kids to play, but the fact that they all turned their attention to her and ran closer when she arrived was a little strange in of itself.
"Hello, can I help you all?" She asked, taking a seat and setting the book that had sounded vaguely interesting beside her.
Boys and girls of various ages and races all stood closer, looking up at her superior height in an unexpected awe.
A little girl with a missing front tooth tugged on her dress skirt. "Yuna-sama! Is it true that you have healing powers?"
Ah, word must have gotten out from the boy she'd helped a few days before. Yuna should have expected as much, but the thought hadn't even crossed her mind.
"Yes, I do."
"Woah..." A few mumbled under their breaths, as if the very thought of such a thing were supernatural. They lived in a land of fantastically odd things, and something as mundane as a healing devil fruit amazed them? Yuna couldn't help her chuckle.
All at once, they started talking over each other.
"Can I see?"
"Does your hands really glow when you use it?"
"What about your eyes? Do they glow too?"
"Alright, alright...one at a time, please." She held out her hands to stop the multitude of small voices talking at once, and they quickly settled down a bit. She smiled at them patiently. "It only works if you have an injury that I can actually fix. And that doesn't mean to intentionally hurt yourself!" She added when several of the kids looked around on the ground for something to scrape on their arms or something similar.
"I have one." A long-neck girl said, raising her hand and waving it in the air. "I tripped on one of the stairs at home and hurt my arm."
"Let's see it then." She said, gesturing her forward, and all the other kids gathered round to watch. The girl lifted the sleeve covering her arm and revealed a large bandage underneath.
"How bad is it?" One of them asked, and the little girl resorted to peeling back the adhesive covering the wound.
It wasn't anything serious, but Yuna could clearly see the skin around it was red and angry, and it had bled at one point, the small cut having scabbed over with dried blood.
"Can you fix it, Yuna-sama?" Another kid asked in excitement.
"Of course." She replied, reaching down to press a few fingers on to the girl's arm.
Her fingers began to glow, and an amazed murmur went through the small crowd of children. As the wound itself began to shrink and fade, they pointed and proclaimed how cool it was to see such a sight. And when it was completely gone, nearly all of them were smiling in awe.
"Thank you." The long-necked girl said, beaming with glee. Then, she turned around and ran to play with the others that were on the further side of the lake. "I got healed by Yuna-sama!" She cried out loud, and several of the kids who had stayed to watch began to run after her.
"Me too!"
"Do me next!"
"I have a bump right here, can you fix that too?"473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FJf3gMNDD
