"Hancock, your skin is so smooth."
Seraphina slowly moved her fingertips across Hancock's face, carefully memorizing the contours of her features.
Her fingers were delicate and gentle as they traced Hancock's cheeks, the bridge of her nose, and the outline of her jaw.
Seraphina had always relied heavily on her sense of touch to recognize people.
Although her Observation Haki allowed her to sense the presence of living beings around her, Kenbunshoku Haki did not simply restore ordinary eyesight.
It could not show her a perfect visual image of someone's face.
For Seraphina, touch remained the most reliable way to remember someone's appearance.
"Is… is that so?"
Hancock's cheeks became slightly warm.
She had never experienced something like this before.
Not only was her own skin sensitive from the unfamiliar contact, but Seraphina's hands were exceptionally soft.
There was no hostility in her touch.
There was only curiosity.
Seraphina continued examining Hancock's features.
Her fingers slowly moved lower.
Then…
Her hand suddenly encountered something hard around Hancock's neck.
The Seastone collar.
Seraphina's delicate eyebrows immediately drew together.
Her expression changed.
Hancock noticed it.
She didn't understand why the white-haired girl suddenly looked angry, but somehow, Seraphina's angry expression appeared strangely cute.
Seraphina slowly lowered her hand.
Then she called out in a quiet voice.
"Bruce."
"Your Highness."
A man in a white suit suddenly appeared in the doorway.
The moment Hancock saw him, her expression changed.
She would never forget that white suit.
CP0.
The masked agents who had once crushed their attempt to escape from Saint Casrot's manor.
However, this time, the man wasn't wearing his mask.
"What's going on with Hancock?"
Seraphina asked.
As one of her CP0 protectors, Bruce should have known where Hancock came from.
She had already sensed that Hancock's background was unusual.
More importantly, she wanted to know why a slave was wearing a Seastone collar inside her home.
"It appears Saint Victor acquired her from outside the Holy Land."
Bruce answered honestly.
"Her background is still being investigated."
"However, preliminary information indicates that she was previously under the control of another Celestial Dragon."
Bruce had investigated Hancock because of Seraphina's safety.
Even though Hancock appeared weak, Bruce couldn't afford to underestimate an unknown person who had suddenly been placed near the daughter of a powerful World Noble.
Of course, this investigation was only preliminary.
The information channels available to Adolf were far superior to Bruce's.
Adolf possessed greater authority within CP0 and access to intelligence that Bruce could not obtain through ordinary means.
Since Adolf had permitted Hancock to remain near Seraphina, Bruce had no reason to interfere.
"Is that so?"
Seraphina's expression became increasingly displeased.
She thought for a moment.
Then she extended her hand toward Bruce.
"Take me to Father."
Bruce hesitated.
Seraphina immediately corrected herself.
"No."
"I'll go to him myself."
"I want to ask Father what happened."
She couldn't understand it.
Victor knew her personality better than anyone.
How could he bring a slave wearing a Seastone collar into her home without explaining anything to her?
"Don't worry."
"My darling daughter, you don't need to come looking for me."
A warm voice suddenly came from outside the study.
A large, plump figure appeared at the doorway.
It was the owner of the manor.
Saint Victor.
The patriarch of the Roselith Family.
The moment Victor saw Seraphina's expression, his smile became slightly stiff.
He immediately realized that his daughter was angry.
"Father!"
"Saint Victor."
Seraphina and Bruce immediately greeted him.
"Father!"
"What happened to Hancock?"
Seraphina's voice carried unmistakable displeasure.
It was a rare sight.
Everyone in the Roselith household knew how gentle Seraphina usually was.
She rarely raised her voice.
She rarely became genuinely angry.
In most situations, Victor was the one who became irritated over small matters, while Seraphina was the one who calmly persuaded him to settle down.
Seeing his daughter's current expression, Victor immediately felt guilty.
"What happened?"
"Why are you so upset?"
"You mean this slave?"
Victor looked toward Hancock in confusion.
He had never expected Seraphina to become so attached to her new maid after such a short time.
His original intention had been simple.
He had noticed that his daughter had been increasingly lonely.
She spent most of her time inside the manor.
She rarely had anyone around her own age with whom she could speak freely.
After learning about the girls Saint Casrot had obtained, Victor had decided to acquire several suitable companions for Seraphina.
He had never expected the matter to become this complicated.
"Your father was worried that you were bored."
"So I brought some girls here from another household."
"I thought they could keep you company."
Victor spoke quickly.
He was trying to explain everything before his daughter could become even more upset.
But Seraphina wasn't satisfied.
"The key."
Her hand remained extended.
Victor stared at her.
Then he sighed helplessly.
He knew that once his daughter made up her mind, arguing with her was useless.
He first glanced toward Hancock.
For a brief moment, his expression became cautious.
Victor knew that Hancock was not an ordinary girl.
She had already demonstrated an extraordinary level of determination.
Even after consuming most of a Devil Fruit while severely weakened, she had continued resisting until her body could no longer move.
He didn't want Hancock suddenly attacking Seraphina.
Fortunately, two CP0 agents were nearby.
And Seraphina herself possessed a level of strength that made ordinary threats almost meaningless.
Victor finally surrendered.
"Adolf."
"Yes, Saint Victor."
A man suddenly appeared.
Adolf had been standing outside the room.
He reached into his suit and removed a small key.
It was designed to unlock the slave collar.
"Give it to my daughter."
"Yes, sir."
Adolf immediately handed the key to Seraphina.
Seraphina accepted it.
She carefully held the key between her fingers.
Then she took a step toward Hancock.
Because she couldn't see the collar normally, she slowly reached toward Hancock's neck.
Her fingers brushed against the metal.
"Please don't be afraid."
"Hancock…"
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't know you were wearing this."
Seraphina carefully searched for the keyhole by touch.
Her Observation Haki was active, but she did not use it as a substitute for ordinary vision.
Instead, she relied on her senses and her fingers to locate the mechanism.
After several attempts…
Click.
The collar opened.
It fell away from Hancock's neck.
Hancock froze.
For an instant, she couldn't believe what had happened.
The collar…
Was gone.
Seraphina had actually removed it.
"You don't have to wear that anymore."
"I'll tell Father to let you stay here without it."
Seraphina's expression softened.
But then she noticed something else.
There was another restraint.
Hancock's wrists.
The Seastone cuffs.
"And your hands…"
Seraphina reached toward them.
"Are those also restraints?"
She carefully touched the cuffs.
Hancock remained silent.
Seraphina immediately understood.
"Adolf."
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Remove them."
"Young lady…"
Hancock suddenly spoke.
Her voice was colder than before.
"No need."
Seraphina froze.
Hancock slowly pulled her hands away.
"You don't have to do that."
Everyone in the room became silent.
Seraphina tilted her head.
"Why?"
Hancock didn't answer immediately.
She had spent too long around Celestial Dragons.
Kindness from a World Noble made her suspicious.
Promises made by World Nobles had already betrayed her too many times.
She didn't know whether this was another trap.
She didn't know whether Saint Victor would suddenly change his mind.
And she certainly didn't know whether Seraphina was truly different from the others.
So she chose caution.
"I'm fine."
Seraphina remained silent.
She could sense Hancock's presence clearly.
She could also sense the hesitation in her movements.
But Observation Haki couldn't read every thought inside another person's heart.
It couldn't simply tell Seraphina everything Hancock was thinking.
For now, she could only respect Hancock's decision.
"All right."
"I won't force you."
Hancock was surprised.
The young lady really didn't force her.
That was strange.
Very strange.
…
After that incident, Hancock returned to her daily life.
Her life became strangely peaceful.
Too peaceful.
The days passed quietly.
She cleaned the manor.
She assisted Seraphina.
She occasionally accompanied the young lady through the gardens.
But beneath that calm exterior, Hancock remained deeply lonely.
Mary…
Sanda…
Angelina…
Those names repeatedly appeared in her thoughts.
Whenever she was alone, she couldn't help wondering where her sisters were.
Were they safe?
Were they being treated well?
Had they been separated permanently?
Hancock sat quietly in her room one afternoon, her head lowered.
Her mind was filled with memories.
Then suddenly…
A familiar voice came from outside the window.
"Sister!"
Hancock's head snapped upward.
Her eyes widened.
She knew that voice.
There was no mistaking it.
"Mary!"
"Sandersonia!"
Hancock immediately rushed toward the window.
Two familiar figures appeared outside.
Marigold.
Sandersonia.
Her younger sisters.
The moment Hancock saw them, the loneliness that had filled her heart disappeared.
"Sister!"
The two girls rushed toward her.
Hancock opened her arms.
The three sisters embraced tightly.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Hancock's heart finally relaxed.
"What are you two doing here?"
"How did you get here?"
Marigold wiped her eyes.
"We were suddenly found by some guards."
"They removed our slave collars."
Hancock froze.
"They removed your collars?"
Sandersonia nodded quickly.
"Yes!"
"Then, somehow, the woman in charge of the servants assigned us here."
"We don't really understand why."
"But…"
Sandersonia smiled.
"Sister, we're all maids in this courtyard now!"
Hancock stared at them.
"You idiots!"
She couldn't help smiling.
Then she quickly examined both girls.
"Are you hurt?"
"Did anyone mistreat you?"
"How have you been?"
The two sisters exchanged glances.
Then they smiled.
"We've been fine!"
"The woman responsible for the servants here is actually very nice."
"She only makes us wash dishes and help with the laundry."
"That's nothing!"
"We're Kuja!"
"We're Amazon warriors!"
Marigold proudly puffed out her chest.
Sandersonia nodded enthusiastically.
"Exactly!"
"We can handle work like that!"
Hancock couldn't help laughing.
"You two…"
"You even remember that you're Kuja."
"You say it with such confidence."
The two younger sisters immediately looked proud.
"Of course!"
"We're warriors of Amazon Lily!"
Hancock's smile gradually softened.
At least they were safe.
That was enough.
She didn't care about the work.
She didn't care about the servants' quarters.
She didn't care about the clothes they had to wash.
As long as her sisters were alive…
As long as they were together…
That was all that mattered.
"Still…"
Hancock looked at the two girls carefully.
"I'm glad you're both all right."
Marigold suddenly looked at her.
"What about you, Sister?"
"Are you being treated well?"
Sandersonia also became concerned.
"Are they hurting you?"
"Did someone force you to do anything?"
Hancock shook her head.
"No."
"My life here isn't bad."
She paused.
Her thoughts immediately drifted toward the white-haired young woman.
Saint Roselith Seraphina.
The blind young lady of the Roselith Family.
The girl who had removed her slave collar without hesitation.
The girl who had apologized after touching her face.
The girl who asked her to describe the flowers in the garden because she couldn't see them herself.
Hancock couldn't deny that Seraphina had left a deep impression upon her.
"Not bad…"
She repeated quietly.
Then she smiled.
"There's only one person here who is a little strange."
Marigold tilted her head.
"Who?"
Hancock hesitated.
"The young lady of this manor."
"The daughter of Saint Victor."
Sandersonia became curious.
"What's she like?"
Hancock looked toward the doorway.
She remembered the feeling of Seraphina's gentle fingers against her face.
She remembered the sincere apology in her voice.
She remembered how Seraphina had refused to force her to remove the Seastone cuffs.
Hancock lowered her eyes.
"I don't know yet."
"But…"
"She's different."
The two sisters looked at one another.
Hancock didn't know what that difference meant.
She didn't know whether Seraphina could truly be trusted.
She didn't know what kind of future awaited them inside the Roselith Manor.
But for the first time since being taken from Amazon Lily…
Hancock felt that perhaps the Holy Land wasn't the only place where monsters existed.
Perhaps…
There were still people capable of kindness.
And perhaps the blind young lady named Saint Roselith Seraphina would become someone important in her life.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
[SYSTEM: Relationship Update]
[Hancock's Relationship with Saint Roselith Seraphina: Initial Trust]
[Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold: Reunited]
[Hancock's Current Status: Stable]
[Slave Collar: Removed]
[Seastone Handcuffs: Still Active]
[Primary Objective: Protect Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold]
[Secondary Objective: Survive within the Roselith Family's Household]
[New Character Connection Established: Saint Roselith Seraphina]
[System Observation: Hancock's psychological condition has improved following the reunion with her sisters.]
[Warning: Trust toward the World Nobles remains extremely low.]
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
Hancock looked at her two younger sisters.
For the first time in a year…
She felt that tomorrow might actually be worth looking forward to.
Not because she believed the nightmare was over.
Not because she had forgotten the suffering of the past.
But because she finally had her sisters beside her again.
And somewhere nearby…
The blind young lady of the Roselith Family was waiting for her.
Saint Roselith Seraphina.
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