Morning arrived quietly at Roselith Manor.
Birds sang from the branches surrounding the estate, their gentle calls carrying through the peaceful garden.
Flowers bloomed beneath the warm sunlight, their petals swaying whenever a soft breeze passed through.
Golden rays filtered between the leaves and spread across the pathways, creating patches of light and shadow across the immaculate grounds.
For a place belonging to a Celestial Dragon, the manor possessed an almost unnatural tranquility.
There were no screams.
No chains rattling through the corridors.
No drunken laughter from World Nobles.
At least…
Not here.
"Hancock."
The head maid's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Take this bucket of water to the garden in a moment."
"Yes, Head Maid."
Hancock carefully picked up the bucket.
The water inside immediately made the already difficult task more troublesome.
She walked toward the garden while keeping her movements steady.
After only a short distance, her wrists began aching.
Hancock glanced down.
The Seastone handcuffs were still attached to her wrists.
She had already grown accustomed to their weight, but she could never become accustomed to how they weakened her body.
Seastone was extremely troublesome for a Devil Fruit user.
Even without direct contact with the sea, prolonged contact with Seastone could leave a Devil Fruit user feeling weak and drained.
And Hancock's body had not yet recovered from the starvation and abuse she had endured under Saint Casrot.
She silently sighed.
I should have let that Celestial Dragon young lady remove them.
She had refused Seraphina's help because she didn't trust the World Nobles.
Now she was paying the price.
Carrying water with weakened arms was already difficult.
Doing it while wearing Seastone restraints was even worse.
Still…
Hancock refused to complain.
She continued walking toward the garden.
As she passed along one of the stone pathways, she suddenly noticed someone standing among the flowers.
Her steps slowed.
It was Saint Roselith Seraphina.
The silver-haired young woman stood quietly beside a bed of white lilies.
She gently leaned forward.
Her delicate nose hovered close to one of the flowers.
She breathed in its fragrance.
For a moment, she looked completely peaceful.
Hancock stopped.
She stared at Seraphina silently.
The sight gave her a strange feeling.
A delicate flower growing inside a greenhouse.
Beautiful.
Protected.
Sheltered from the harshness of the outside world.
Yet completely unaware of how cruel that outside world could be.
Seraphina suddenly turned her head.
She couldn't see Hancock in the ordinary sense, but she had sensed another presence approaching.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Hancock."
Hancock immediately straightened.
"Young Lady."
She bowed respectfully.
Seraphina smiled.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Young Lady."
Hancock's feelings toward Seraphina were complicated.
She still didn't trust Celestial Dragons.
After everything she had suffered, she had every reason to remain wary.
But Seraphina was different from the people she had known before.
She had removed Hancock's slave collar.
She had apologized when she accidentally touched Hancock's face.
She had never treated Hancock with the cruelty she had experienced under Saint Casrot.
And perhaps…
If Seraphina had not intervened, Hancock might never have been reunited with Marigold and Sandersonia.
Despite that, Hancock still disliked one thing about her.
Seraphina's innocence.
Her carefree attitude.
The young lady had grown up protected inside the Roselith Family's manor.
She had never experienced the horrors of slavery.
She had never been dragged away from her homeland.
She had never been beaten.
She had never been treated as property.
How could someone who had lived such a sheltered life understand the pain of someone like Hancock?
"Hancock."
Seraphina smiled.
"How have you been since coming here?"
"Thank you for asking, Young Lady."
"I'm fine."
Hancock answered politely.
She didn't want to continue the conversation.
She adjusted her grip on the bucket.
Seraphina sensed the subtle change in Hancock's tone.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Hancock answered firmly.
She didn't want Seraphina to worry about her.
More importantly, she didn't want to become dependent upon a Celestial Dragon.
She had learned too well that kindness could disappear without warning.
Hancock lifted the bucket slightly.
"I have to take this water to the garden."
"I'll take my leave, Young Lady."
She turned around.
Seraphina remained where she was.
She didn't stop Hancock.
But she could sense the girl's footsteps moving away.
Hancock's steps were unusually controlled.
There was caution in every movement.
Seraphina quietly listened.
She could sense Hancock's presence gradually becoming more distant.
She understood something.
Hancock wanted to return home.
She wanted to leave Mary Geoise.
She wanted to return to Amazon Lily.
But she was too wary to say it openly.
Hancock didn't trust the Celestial Dragons.
And Seraphina couldn't blame her.
…
That night.
The moonless sky stretched above Mary Geoise.
The manor had fallen silent.
Most of the servants had already returned to their dormitory.
Marigold and Sandersonia had been assigned to the same room as Hancock.
It was a small privilege that made Hancock feel more at ease.
At least her sisters were nearby.
There were no maids constantly inspecting the rooms during the night.
However, the household had a strict curfew.
The head maid closed the dormitory doors at a fixed time.
Anyone who failed to return before then would have to remain outside until morning.
Hancock looked toward her sisters.
"You two should sleep."
"But, Sister…"
"Go."
Hancock smiled faintly.
"I'll be back later."
Marigold and Sandersonia exchanged glances.
They knew their sister well.
Neither wanted to argue.
"All right."
"Good night, Sister."
"Good night."
Hancock waited until they had settled down.
Then she quietly left the room.
She moved through the manor with practiced steps.
Her body was still weakened, but she had already memorized several routes throughout the estate.
Soon, she reached the roof.
With a little effort, she climbed upward.
The night air immediately touched her face.
Hancock sat down on the roof.
From this height, she could see much of Mary Geoise.
The enormous buildings.
The distant lights.
The walls surrounding the Holy Land.
The countless residences belonging to the World Nobles.
Everything appeared peaceful from above.
But Hancock knew better.
She had seen what existed behind those walls.
She had seen the darkness hidden beneath the beauty of the Holy Land.
Her eyes slowly filled with tears.
She looked toward the sky.
The same sky existed above Amazon Lily.
The same stars.
The same clouds.
The same wind.
Yet she was still far from home.
They hadn't escaped Mary Geoise.
They were still trapped within the Holy Land.
Hancock wiped away the tears with her sleeve.
She didn't want her sisters to see her crying.
She had to remain strong.
Then…
A soft voice came from behind her.
"Do you like watching the night sky too?"
Hancock froze.
She immediately recognized the voice.
She turned around.
Seraphina stood several steps behind her.
Her long silver-white hair moved gently in the night breeze.
Her eyes remained closed.
"…"
Hancock didn't know what to say.
"That's right."
Seraphina smiled.
She slowly approached.
Although she couldn't see Hancock normally, she could sense her presence through Observation Haki.
"Hancock…"
"Can you tell me something?"
"What?"
"Is the moon full tonight?"
Hancock looked upward.
She stared at the sky.
There was no moon.
Dark clouds had completely covered it.
She stared for a moment longer.
Then her expression became complicated.
"There isn't one."
"There's no moon tonight."
Seraphina blinked.
"I see."
Hancock narrowed her eyes.
Wait…
Was she teasing me?
She had deliberately asked about the moon despite being unable to see it.
Damn it.
I'd been tricked.
Seraphina's lips curled upward.
She clearly found Hancock's reaction amusing.
But she didn't continue teasing her.
Instead, she sat down nearby.
The two girls remained silent for a while.
The wind passed between them.
Then Seraphina spoke again.
"Where are you from, Hancock?"
Hancock's expression changed.
She looked toward the distant horizon.
"…"
"The Grand Line."
She didn't elaborate.
Seraphina didn't pressure her.
She simply waited.
The young lady had learned that some questions could not be forced.
Hancock remained seated.
For several minutes, neither girl spoke.
Yet the silence wasn't uncomfortable.
Seraphina seemed content simply to remain there.
Eventually, she spoke again.
"It's late."
"Hancock…"
"Don't you think you've already missed the dormitory curfew?"
Hancock's expression changed.
She looked toward the manor.
It was indeed late.
She had lost track of time.
"You should go back."
"I'll handle it."
Hancock stood.
"I have ways to return."
She wasn't worried.
She could easily reach the dormitory through another route.
Seraphina sighed.
"Sister Narissa is probably going to be very troubled."
"Her maid is sitting on the roof in the middle of the night."
Hancock paused.
Then she turned toward Seraphina.
"You should worry about yourself first."
"You're also outside after curfew."
Seraphina froze.
Hancock continued.
"Would Saint Victor really allow the young lady of the Roselith Family to climb onto the roof in the middle of the night?"
Seraphina's expression became stiff.
She hadn't expected Hancock to turn the argument around.
For a moment, she didn't know how to respond.
Then she smiled.
"So…"
"This is our secret?"
Hancock stared at her.
Seraphina was obviously trying to preserve her dignity.
Despite being a Celestial Dragon, she had the temperament of an ordinary mischievous girl.
Hancock couldn't help finding it slightly amusing.
"Young Lady."
"I'll take my leave."
Hancock turned away.
"Good night."
She didn't wait for an answer.
She carefully climbed down from the roof.
Seraphina remained seated.
She listened to Hancock's footsteps.
They were steady.
Deliberate.
Controlled.
There was something unusual about her.
Seraphina quietly remained silent.
Then another presence appeared beside her.
"Bruce."
"Your Highness."
Bruce stood nearby.
"There's something strange about Hancock."
Seraphina tilted her head.
"Have you investigated her background?"
"Yes."
Bruce nodded.
"Before Saint Victor acquired her, Hancock was already a slave."
"She originally came from Amazon Lily."
"Amazon Lily?"
Seraphina repeated the name.
"Yes."
"It is an island located in the Calm Belt."
"It is inhabited primarily by the Kuja."
"According to the information we have gathered, the Kuja are a warrior culture."
"Most of their women receive combat training from a young age."
Bruce paused.
"Hancock appears to have been abducted by human traffickers when she was still very young."
"She was eventually sold into slavery."
"She was later purchased by a Celestial Dragon."
"Saint Casrot."
Seraphina's expression immediately changed.
"Saint Casrot…"
She remembered hearing the name before.
It was a name that appeared repeatedly whenever the subject of Hancock's past arose.
"What about him?"
Bruce became silent.
His expression was slightly complicated.
"Continue."
Seraphina's tone remained calm.
Bruce hesitated.
"I'm afraid I don't have enough authority to discuss everything concerning Saint Casrot."
"The intelligence regarding Celestial Dragons is heavily restricted."
"Even within CP0, not every agent is permitted access to information concerning the private affairs of the World Nobles."
Seraphina frowned.
"Why?"
Bruce answered carefully.
"Because the Celestial Dragons are not ordinary political figures."
"They are the descendants of the Twenty Kings who founded the World Government."
"Their personal affairs are protected by the highest levels of the Government."
"Even CP0 agents are expected to be extremely careful when investigating them."
Seraphina lowered her head.
"So you don't know what happened to Hancock?"
"We know the broad outline."
"But not everything."
Bruce paused.
"However…"
"I can tell you one thing."
Seraphina looked toward him.
"Hancock is not an ordinary girl."
"I already know."
Seraphina smiled faintly.
"She has survived things that would have broken most people."
Bruce remained silent.
He had seen the records.
He knew how severe her condition had been when Saint Victor acquired her.
He also knew that Hancock had consumed a Devil Fruit while severely weakened.
Even now, she remained restrained by Seastone because her new ability was still uncontrolled.
"There's something else."
Bruce continued.
"Hancock has two younger sisters."
"Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold."
"They were enslaved alongside her."
Seraphina's expression softened.
"So that's why she worries about them so much."
"Yes."
Bruce nodded.
"She appears extremely protective of them."
Seraphina remained silent.
Her thoughts returned to the rooftop.
She remembered Hancock's expression when she spoke about Amazon Lily.
She remembered the sadness in her voice.
Seraphina slowly raised her face toward the sky.
Although she couldn't see the moon…
She could still feel the cool night air against her skin.
"Hancock…"
"She really wants to go home."
Bruce didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
The truth was obvious.
Seraphina remained seated for a long time.
Then she quietly said,
"I wonder what Amazon Lily looks like."
Bruce looked at her.
"Your Highness?"
Seraphina smiled.
"Nothing."
"Let's go back inside."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Bruce followed her.
Neither of them noticed that far away in the darkness…
Hancock had stopped briefly.
She had heard part of their conversation.
Her expression became complicated.
The Celestial Dragon young lady was asking about her homeland.
Why?
Hancock didn't know.
But for the first time…
She wondered if perhaps Saint Roselith Seraphina really was different.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
[SYSTEM: Character Analysis Updated]
[Target: Saint Roselith Seraphina]
[Current Observation Haki: Partially Recovered]
[Kenbunshoku Haki: Active at Low Output]
[Warning: Kenbunshoku Haki does not provide ordinary visual perception.]
[Warning: Excessive use may cause fatigue and reduced effectiveness.]
[Target: Boa Hancock]
[Origin: Amazon Lily]
[Affiliation: Kuja]
[Current Status: Former Slave]
[Current Devil Fruit: Mero Mero no Mi]
[Seastone Restraints: Active]
[Physical Condition: Recovering]
[Psychological Condition: Improving]
[Primary Emotional Drive: Protect Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold]
[Secondary Emotional Drive: Return to Amazon Lily]
[Relationship Update]
[Saint Roselith Seraphina → Boa Hancock: Growing Curiosity]
[Boa Hancock → Saint Roselith Seraphina: Cautious Trust]
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
The night continued peacefully.
Two girls from completely different worlds had looked toward the same sky.
One was a princess of the Kuja who dreamed of returning home.
The other was a blind Celestial Dragon princess who had never known the world beyond the walls protecting her.
Neither knew it yet…
But their meeting would eventually change both of their lives.
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