Chapter 289 – Afternoon Tea
After that I left the bedroom and walked out into the royal garden, where the girls had gathered for tea in the afternoon.
However, only two of them were present.
Kaya and Kuina were sitting at a small table under the shade of a large palm tree, and they were quietly enjoying their tea. The rest of the crew was nowhere in sight.
It seemed Lily had wanted some adventure. After days of intense fighting and even more intense sex, her restless nature had gotten the better of her. She had dragged Ann along and gone off into the city or toward the nearby coast to look for excitement. Ann, for her part, was happy to spend time with her "little sister" after so long, so the two of them were off somewhere together.
Robin, as expected, had gone to explore ancient historical sites. She knew we would be leaving Alabasta in a few days, so she wanted to examine as many archaeological locations as possible while she still had the chance. Once she got absorbed in ruins and old texts, it was difficult to pull her away.
Nami had gone shopping. I wasn't entirely sure what she was buying this time, but knowing her, it probably involved clothes, jewelry, or something expensive.
She had taken Vivi along, but it was not purely out of sisterly affection.
Nami was fully aware that Vivi was the beloved Princess of Alabasta. Shopkeepers would practically trip over themselves to offer discounts the moment they pick the goods. In Nami's eyes, Vivi was less of a companion and more of a walking discount card.
What I did not know was that in some shop, Nami was bullying the innocent Vivi. She was kissing and finger fucking the Vivi in one of the dressing room.
That left only Kaya and Kuina in the garden.
Kaya was sitting with her usual gentle posture and carefully sipping her tea. And Kuina was cleaning her sword with the small clothes.
As I approached them, both of them looked up.
"Alex," Kaya greeted softly with a warm smile.
Kuina gave a small nod. "You're done fucking the Queen?"
I walked over and took a seat at their table.
"For now. Titi is arranging a private meeting with Vice Admiral Tsuru this afternoon."
The two women exchanged a brief glance. They both understood what that likely meant, but they did not want to say anything regarding the topic of Shichibukai.
Kuina only cared about being the greatest swordswoman of the sea, while Kaya thinks that I had the reason for it and she just follows me.
I reached for some of the biscuits, cookies, and small cakes arranged on the table. The afternoon breeze in the royal garden was pleasant, carrying the light scent of desert flowers.
Kuina was the first to speak after a short silence.
"I've been thinking about my sword practice," she said while resting her hand lightly on the hilt of Wado Ichimonji. "The fight against Blackbeard's crew showed me that raw strength alone isn't enough. I need to refine my technique further… especially against opponents who use strange abilities."
I nodded while chewing on a soft cookie.
"You're right. Your swordsmanship is already excellent, but there's always room to grow. When we have more free time, we can spar properly. I'll help you test different approaches."
Even though she had taken various strength-enhancing potions and haki cards. She still needs to refine her skills and get experience to get stronger.
Kuina's eyes lit up with quiet determination.
"I'd like that. Thank you, Alex."
Kaya, who had been listening quietly, suddenly looked a little downcast. Her fingers tightened slightly around her teacup.
"You two always talk about training and fighting…" she murmured. "I can't really join in those conversations."
I turned to her and smiled gently.
"Actually, I already arranged something for you. I asked the royal librarians to prepare a selection of advanced medical texts from the Alabasta Royal Library. There are books on rare diseases, advanced surgery techniques, and even some older research notes that aren't commonly available. I thought you might like to study them while we're still here."
Kaya's expression brightened immediately. A genuine smile spread across her face.
"Really? Thank you…"
"Of course. You're our doctor. The stronger your knowledge becomes, the safer the whole crew will be. Besides…" I added more softly, "I want you to feel just as valued as everyone else."
Kaya's cheeks turned a light pink, but her eyes were warm with happiness.
"Thank you, Alex. That means a lot to me."
Kuina gave a small approving nod.
"It's true. We all rely on you, Kaya. Without you, some of us wouldn't have recovered so quickly after battles."
The three of us continued talking like that for the next few hours. The conversation drifted naturally from sword techniques to medical knowledge, then to lighter topics.
We also talk about various things from the East Blue, funny moments during our journey, and quiet hopes for the future. There was no tension, no lust, no hidden motives. Just three people who cared about each other, sharing a peaceful afternoon.
For the first time in quite a while, I found myself genuinely enjoying a simple, warm moment with my crew mates. No system notifications, no political schemes, no intense battles or sexual encounters. It was just calm conversation under the shade of the trees, the soft clink of teacups, and the comfortable feeling of being with people I love.
The sun slowly moved across the sky as we talked, and none of us seemed in a hurry for the afternoon to end.
But things did not go as planned for much longer.
Mia, who had finished cleaning up after our earlier sex session, approached the table with her usual professional posture. Although her face was clean now, there was still a faint flush on her cheeks and a slightly unsteady walk that only someone who knew what rough fucking would notice.
"Master," she said respectfully, "the meeting has already been arranged. Vice Admiral Tsuru is waiting for you in the private meeting room."
I set down my teacup and nodded.
Kaya and Kuina both looked at me with serious expressions.
"So it's time," Kuina said quietly.
I turned to the two of them and spoke in a calm, honest tone.
"Yes. I've decided to accept the position of Shichibukai. With that title, the Marines won't be able to freely chase us anymore. We'll be able to focus more on our adventure without constantly looking over our shoulders. It will also give us more freedom to move between islands and handle problems on our own terms."
Kaya's eyes softened with understanding.
"That… does sound better for everyone. Less danger from the Marines means we can travel more peacefully."
Kuina rested her hand on the hilt of her sword and looked at me directly.
"If the meeting causes any problem, don't hesitate to take action. No matter what happens, we'll support you completely."
I gave them both a small smile.
"Thank you. I'll handle it carefully."
With that, I stood up from the table. Mia stepped aside and gestured toward the royal palace corridors.
"Please follow me, Master. I will guide you to the meeting room."
I exchanged one last look with Kaya and Kuina, then turned and followed Mia inside the palace, heading toward the private meeting room where Vice Admiral Tsuru was waiting.