Time passed day by day.
The quiet routine of Roselith Manor gradually became familiar to Hancock.
She cleaned the rooms.
She assisted the other servants.
She accompanied her sisters whenever she had the opportunity.
And, whenever no one was watching, she continued observing the manor's layout and memorizing possible routes.
She hadn't abandoned her desire to escape.
Not for a single moment.
But after what had happened during her previous attempt, Hancock understood that rushing blindly toward freedom would only place herself and her sisters in greater danger.
For now, she had to endure.
She had to become stronger.
She had to wait for the right opportunity.
"Hancock."
The head maid approached her one morning.
"You can go directly to the young lady's bedroom tomorrow when you begin your duties."
Hancock stopped cleaning and looked toward her.
The head maid's stern expression had softened somewhat.
Over the past several days, Hancock's work had been consistent and reliable.
She had proven that she could be trusted with more responsibility.
"Yes, Head Maid."
Hancock nodded mechanically.
There was no excitement in her voice.
She simply accepted the order.
She still had to remain here.
Her two younger sisters were here.
As long as Marigold and Sandersonia were safe, Hancock could endure almost anything.
She had already learned that patience was sometimes more important than courage.
…
The following morning arrived.
"Hancock?"
Saint Roselith Seraphina had awakened earlier than usual.
She sensed someone waiting outside her bedroom.
When she realized it was Hancock, a small smile appeared on her face.
She assumed Hancock had finally become comfortable enough to visit her directly.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Hancock entered quietly.
"Young Lady."
Seraphina smiled.
"Hancock, is this why you came so early?"
Hancock glanced toward the table.
Breakfast had already been prepared.
The aroma immediately reached her.
Her stomach growled.
She hadn't eaten breakfast before coming to Seraphina's room.
She had been so focused on completing her duties that she had forgotten to eat.
Hancock quickly looked away.
"You should eat first."
Seraphina tilted her head.
"No."
Hancock was startled.
"You need to eat."
Seraphina's tone became firm.
"I'll eat slowly."
She picked up a small piece of bread and took a tiny bite.
Hancock stared at her.
Then she looked at the breakfast.
Then back at Seraphina.
That girl…
She was deliberately eating so slowly!
Hancock clenched her fist beneath her sleeve.
Then she immediately relaxed.
Seraphina suddenly extended her hand.
"Hancock."
"Come here for a moment."
"You—"
Hancock had barely spoken when Seraphina accurately reached toward the table.
She picked up a small steamed bun and gently pressed it toward Hancock's mouth.
Hancock froze.
"Even a little bun can keep you quiet."
Seraphina smiled mischievously.
Hancock's cheeks immediately reddened.
She reluctantly accepted the food.
Only after swallowing did she realize how hungry she actually was.
The taste was simple.
Warm.
Soft.
Freshly prepared.
Yet to Hancock…
It was incredible.
After everything she had endured, even ordinary food tasted precious.
She had eaten worse things while starving.
She had swallowed food simply to survive.
Now she was being given a warm breakfast without anyone demanding anything in return.
Her expression unconsciously softened.
Seraphina noticed.
"Do you want another?"
"Gulp."
Hancock's throat moved.
She immediately looked away.
"No."
Her stomach betrayed her again.
Seraphina smiled.
"Really?"
Hancock remained silent.
Seraphina picked up another small steamed bun.
"Come on."
"Open your mouth."
Hancock stared at her.
She desperately wanted to refuse.
But her hunger was stronger than her pride.
Slowly…
She opened her mouth.
"Ah…"
Seraphina carefully fed her.
Hancock swallowed.
It's not that I wanted to eat it.
It's just…
It was too delicious.
Seraphina smiled brightly.
"Hancock, you're adorable."
Hancock's face became even redder.
"Young Lady!"
Seraphina laughed softly.
For the first time in a long time, Hancock found herself sitting at a table without fear.
She still didn't trust Seraphina completely.
But something inside her was beginning to change.
…
Another night passed.
After saying goodnight to her sisters, Hancock quietly left the dormitory.
She climbed toward the roof of the manor.
The night sky stretched endlessly above Mary Geoise.
Hancock had already begun memorizing the surrounding structures.
Every night, she observed.
The guards.
The patrol routes.
The entrances.
The walls.
The distance between the manor and the outer roads.
She knew it wasn't enough.
But it was the only method available to her.
She reached the roof.
Then suddenly…
Someone was already there.
"Hancock."
The voice came from nearby.
"Are you going to be a thief again?"
"Young Lady!"
Hancock nearly jumped out of her skin.
She hadn't expected Seraphina to be waiting there.
As Hancock climbed onto the roof, Seraphina's face had suddenly appeared close to hers.
For a moment, Hancock's heart nearly stopped.
"Wh… what is a thief?"
Hancock blinked.
Seraphina thought about it.
"Hmm…"
"A thief is someone who sneaks around at night."
"…"
Hancock stared at her.
That explanation was completely useless.
She wasn't a thief!
She was planning an escape.
There was a very important difference.
"Hancock."
Seraphina's expression gradually became serious.
"Are you afraid of Celestial Dragons?"
Hancock's expression immediately changed.
She remained silent.
Afraid?
No.
It was more than fear.
She hated them.
She hated what they represented.
She hated the chains.
She hated the slave collar.
She hated the way they looked at human beings as objects.
She hated the memories they had carved into her heart.
But what could she do?
She was still trapped.
She was still weak.
And her sisters were still inside Mary Geoise.
Hancock lowered her head.
Seraphina waited.
"If staying here makes you uncomfortable…"
"I can ask Father to send you home."
Hancock's head snapped upward.
"You can?"
"Yes."
"I promise."
"If you truly want to return home, I'll ask Saint Victor to arrange it."
Seraphina's voice was sincere.
"Hancock."
"You can go home."
Hancock stared at her.
Then her expression changed.
"You don't understand anything!"
Her voice suddenly rose.
"You don't understand what it's like!"
Seraphina remained silent.
Hancock's emotions surged.
"You don't understand what the Celestial Dragons are!"
"You don't understand what they do!"
"You don't understand what it's like to be treated like property!"
"You don't understand anything!"
She turned around.
She wanted to leave.
But Seraphina suddenly reached out.
She caught Hancock's arm.
Hancock's eyes widened.
Seraphina pulled her back.
Because of the tremendous difference in physical strength between them, Hancock was unable to resist.
She stumbled backward and fell directly into Seraphina's arms.
"What?!"
Hancock stared in shock.
She had never expected the seemingly delicate young woman to possess such strength.
Seraphina held her carefully.
"Hancock…"
"I'm sorry."
"I know I can't understand everything you've experienced."
"But I am trying."
Her voice became quieter.
"I don't have enough authority to solve everything."
"There are things even I cannot change right now."
"But…"
"You can trust me."
Hancock remained frozen.
"I won't lie to you."
"If you want to leave, I'll help you."
"If you want to return home, I'll help you find a way."
"If you want to protect your sisters…"
"I'll help you protect them."
Seraphina's emotions surged.
She had been trying to remain calm.
But for a brief instant…
Something powerful erupted from her.
A pressure unlike anything Hancock had felt before swept through the rooftop.
Hancock's pupils contracted.
Her body stiffened.
The air itself seemed to become heavy.
This wasn't ordinary intimidation.
It was Haoshoku Haki.
Conqueror's Haki.
Seraphina had released it unconsciously.
She had not deliberately attacked Hancock.
She hadn't even intended to use it.
It was simply a momentary manifestation of her overwhelming will.
Hancock's consciousness shook.
Her body couldn't withstand the sudden pressure.
Her mind became hazy.
"Ha…"
Her knees weakened.
Seraphina immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Hancock?"
Hancock's eyes lost focus.
Her body went limp.
Seraphina caught her before she fell.
"Hancock?"
No response.
Seraphina's expression changed.
"Wait…"
"Did I…"
"Did I knock her unconscious?"
She looked genuinely horrified.
"Oh, no…"
She carefully lowered Hancock.
"Hancock?"
Still no response.
Seraphina gently waved her hand in front of Hancock's face.
Nothing.
Her expression became helpless.
"She's unconscious…"
"I actually did it."
Seraphina sighed.
"This is terrible."
…
Some time later.
Hancock slowly opened her eyes.
"Where am I?"
Her vision was blurry.
She looked around.
This wasn't the dormitory.
It was a large bedroom.
Soft sheets surrounded her.
The room smelled faintly of flowers.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
"You're awake."
"This is my room."
Seraphina sat nearby.
Relief filled her voice.
Hancock immediately recognized where she was.
Her expression changed.
Seraphina stood.
"I was worried."
"You suddenly collapsed."
"I didn't mean to use Haoshoku Haki."
"I still have difficulty controlling it."
She lowered her head.
"I almost hurt you."
Hancock stared at her.
Seraphina stepped closer.
Hancock immediately grabbed the blanket.
"Don't come any closer!"
Seraphina stopped.
Her expression fell.
Hancock's eyes were filled with fear.
She didn't understand what had happened.
She only remembered the overwhelming pressure.
The feeling of her consciousness slipping away.
She instinctively feared that Seraphina might hurt her.
Seraphina understood.
She slowly stepped backward.
"All right."
"I won't come closer."
She looked genuinely saddened.
Hancock watched her.
The young lady wasn't angry.
She wasn't threatening her.
She simply backed away.
Seraphina turned around.
"I'll leave you alone."
She walked toward the door.
Hancock remained silent.
The door closed.
Silence returned to the room.
Hancock slowly looked down.
Something felt different.
She moved her wrists.
The Seastone handcuffs were gone.
She froze.
The restraints had been removed.
She hadn't even noticed when.
"Seraphina…"
Hancock whispered the name quietly.
…
Outside the bedroom.
Seraphina walked through the corridor.
Bruce immediately appeared beside her.
"Your Highness."
He looked at her worried expression.
"You really don't need to do this."
"We can arrange for someone to escort Hancock and her sisters out of Mary Geoise."
Seraphina stopped.
"Would you go?"
Bruce fell silent.
Seraphina turned toward him.
"Would you personally escort them?"
Bruce lowered his head.
"I'm sorry."
"I cannot leave you unprotected for an extended period."
"As your CP0 bodyguard, abandoning your side would be a dereliction of my duty."
Seraphina looked away.
"I understand."
She remained silent for a moment.
Then she sighed.
"Forget it."
"I don't trust anyone else."
Bruce's expression became complicated.
Seraphina had grown up surrounded by people who obeyed her because of her status.
Yet she trusted very few of them.
And now…
She was beginning to trust a former slave.
A girl who had every reason to hate her family.
Bruce understood the danger.
But he also understood something else.
Seraphina wasn't trying to possess Hancock.
She was trying to help her.
And that distinction could eventually become very important.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
[SYSTEM: Haki Manifestation Detected]
[User: Saint Roselith Seraphina]
[Haki Type: Haoshoku Haki]
[Current Control: Incomplete]
[Manifestation: Unconscious]
[Target Affected: Boa Hancock]
[Result: Temporary Loss of Consciousness]
[Warning: Continued uncontrolled release may injure allies or incapacitate nearby individuals.]
[Recommendation: Develop conscious control before attempting sustained Haoshoku Haki emission.]
[Observation Haki Status: Active]
[Note: Kenbunshoku Haki detects presence, intent, and movement but does not function as ordinary eyesight.]
[Relationship Update]
[Boa Hancock → Saint Roselith Seraphina: Cautious Trust]
[Saint Roselith Seraphina → Boa Hancock: Protective Concern]
[Current Objective: Protect Boa Hancock, Boa Sandersonia, and Boa Marigold without violating their autonomy.]
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
Inside the quiet room, Hancock slowly sat upright.
She looked toward the closed door.
She still didn't completely trust Seraphina.
Not yet.
Trust could not be rebuilt in a single night.
But the Seastone handcuffs were gone.
And for some reason…
Hancock believed Seraphina had removed them because she genuinely wanted her to be free.
Perhaps that was why the young lady had frightened her so much.
Not because Seraphina was cruel.
But because Hancock was beginning to realize that not every Celestial Dragon was the same.
And that realization frightened her almost as much as hatred once had.
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