Saint Garling turned around immediately after giving his order. The oppressive aura that had been suffocating the room instantly disappeared.
Queen Otohime slowly helped Shirahoshi up from the ground. Before she could say anything further, the Golden Armored Guards had already stepped forward and began escorting the mother and daughter out of the chamber.
Once the guards left with them, Saint Garling clasped his hands behind his back and gazed quietly at the ceiling.
After a moment, he sighed.
"Lloyd, when will you finally wake up?"
The quiet room swallowed his words.
For eight years, the man who once shook the entire world had remained in a deep slumber.
---
When Otohime and Shirahoshi arrived at Saint Lloyd's private chamber, the first person they saw was Lucia.
Eight years had passed, and Lucia had grown into a striking woman. Her figure was taller and far more mature, her beauty carrying a cold yet captivating charm.
She gave the impression of a black rose, beautiful, elegant, but covered in thorns that warned others not to approach carelessly.
Even Otohime could not help but admire her appearance inwardly.
Lucia had already learned about Shirahoshi from Saint Garling. She raised her eyes and carefully examined the mother and daughter standing before her.
Her voice was calm and cold.
"Which one of you is Shirahoshi?"
Her tone carried a quiet authority.
Hearing this, Otohime gently pulled Shirahoshi forward.
"This is my daughter, Shirahoshi. May I ask..."
Before she could finish speaking, Lucia lifted a hand and cut her off without hesitation.
"That is enough."
Her gaze settled briefly on the pink haired princess.
"Leave Shirahoshi here. You may return."
Otohime's expression changed instantly. Anxiety appeared across her face.
"Please wait. At least allow me a few more words with my daughter. Also... may I see Saint Lloyd first? How is his condition?"
Otohime did not hold any special feelings toward Lloyd. She simply wished to confirm the condition of the man who had once made promises concerning Fish-Man Island.
Lucia's expression did not change.
She glanced at Shirahoshi's delicate face before speaking in a tone that allowed no refusal.
"The Young Master is not someone you may meet simply because you wish it."
Her amber eyes remained calm.
"You have five minutes to speak with your daughter. When the time is over, you will leave this place."
Otohime opened her mouth, clearly wishing to say more.
Lucia spoke again before she could continue.
"From now on, cherish every moment you have."
At that moment, the bedroom door slowly opened.
A young girl with long hair stepped out.
Her hair was pink, similar to Shirahoshi's, though slightly darker in shade.
Unlike Lucia's cold and dangerous aura, the girl carried a warm and approachable presence, like a gentle neighbor one could easily trust.
This was Ginny.
Eight years had changed her greatly. Her appearance now resembled that of her daughter in the future, Jewelry Bonney, though Ginny herself possessed a calmer and more mature temperament.
Ginny looked curiously at Otohime and Shirahoshi before turning toward Lucia.
"Lucia, who are they?"
Lucia's expression softened slightly when speaking to Ginny.
She briefly explained the identities of Otohime and Shirahoshi, mentioning that the princess had been specifically requested by Saint Lloyd to be brought from Fish-Man Island.
Ginny nodded quietly after hearing the explanation.
"So it was something Lloyd asked for."
Her voice grew softer.
"It would be wonderful if he could wake up and see it himself."
A faint trace of sadness appeared in Lucia's amber eyes.
She stood and walked toward Ginny.
"Ginny, the Young Master will wake up. I believe that."
She gently guided Ginny back toward the bedroom.
"Come inside."
Ginny nodded silently.
She turned and walked back into the room.
Lucia's expression quickly returned to its usual cold composure. She looked toward Otohime and the nearby Golden Armored Guard.
"When the time is nearly over, escort her away."
"Yes."
After giving the order, Lucia closed the door quietly.
---
Inside the bedroom, besides Lucia and Ginny, four other young women were present.
Each of them possessed their own unique beauty.
They were Monet, Sugar, Nico Robin, and Boa Hancock.
Even among such extraordinary women, Boa Hancock stood out the most.
She was the tallest among them, her beauty overwhelming and impossible to ignore. Her long fair legs alone were enough to capture anyone's attention.
At that moment, Hancock was leaning over the bed with a focused expression, carefully wiping Lloyd's body.
Occasionally her movements brought her dangerously close to his face.
It was a scene that would stir any man's heart.
Unfortunately, Lloyd was unable to appreciate it.
He remained deeply asleep.
His face had not changed much over the years, but his body had undergone a strange transformation.
The right half of his bare upper body was covered by a layer of blood red crystals.
The crystals extended upward, reaching the right side of his face.
Instead of making him look frightening, the crimson layer gave him a mysterious and powerful appearance.
Saint Garling had already invited Dr. Vegapunk to examine Lloyd's condition.
The conclusion had surprised everyone.
Lloyd was not injured.
His body was perfectly healthy.
In fact, his blood energy was so vigorous that it exceeded normal understanding.
As for the strange blood crystals covering him, Vegapunk had attempted to take a sample for research.
No matter what method he used, he failed to leave even the smallest mark on the crystal layer.
The frustrated scientist had even suggested that Saint Garling use a blade to cut off a small piece.
Unfortunately for him, he had made this suggestion while Lucia was present.
If Garling had not intervened immediately, Lucia might have dismantled the scientist on the spot.
In the end, Saint Garling personally used Armament Haki and carefully scraped off a tiny fragment of the blood crystal.
The fragment was given to Vegapunk for study.
Even after years of research, Vegapunk had failed to uncover any definitive results.
Eventually, he had no choice but to abandon the investigation.
---
When Lucia returned to the bedside, Hancock immediately straightened and spoke respectfully.
"Lucia-sama."
Lucia gave a small nod.
She stepped closer to the bed with Ginny.
Both of them quietly looked at Lloyd.
Lucia spoke softly.
"Young Master, Fish-Man Island has sent Princess Shirahoshi."
Ginny stood beside her and added in a gentle voice.
"Lloyd Bro, is there something special about Princess Shirahoshi?"
There was no response.
Lloyd remained completely still.
The two women were already accustomed to this silence.
They continued speaking softly to him as they had done countless times before.
However, after a while, Ginny suddenly broke down.
Her emotions finally overwhelmed her.
She collapsed onto Lloyd's chest and began crying uncontrollably.
"Lloyd Bro... please say something to me."
Her voice trembled.
"It has been so long. I haven't heard your voice for so many years."
Hancock and the other girls stood quietly to the side.
Tears had already gathered in the eyes of Monet and Sugar.
Although Vegapunk had repeatedly insisted that Lloyd's body was healthy, a terrifying doubt still lingered in everyone's mind.
If that were truly the case, why had he not awakened?
How long would this sleep continue?
Even Lucia, the strongest among them, found it difficult to remain calm.
Among everyone present, she had known Lloyd the longest.
To her, he was everything.
Slowly, she reached out and gently touched the part of Lloyd's face that was not covered by the blood crystals.
Her lips trembled slightly.
"Young Master... I miss you."
Two clear tears slid down Lucia's cheeks and fell onto Lloyd's face.
Startled, she quickly wiped the tears away.
At that very moment, the blood crystals covering Lloyd's body suddenly released a brilliant crimson glow.
A faint voice slowly escaped from his lips.
"Wait for me..."
===
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