"Young Miss…"
Hancock hesitated as she stood before Saint Roselith Seraphina.
She wanted to apologize.
She had previously thought Seraphina was nothing more than a sheltered flower growing inside a greenhouse.
A beautiful young lady who had never experienced the cruelty of the outside world.
Someone protected so thoroughly by her family that she couldn't possibly understand the suffering of someone like Hancock.
But Hancock had been wrong.
The power Seraphina had displayed the previous night had completely overturned her understanding of the young lady.
Hancock had thought Seraphina knew nothing about strength.
She had thought she knew nothing about the darkness of the world.
Yet Seraphina possessed Haoshoku Haki.
Even if she couldn't control it properly, possessing Conqueror's Haki at such a young age was extraordinary.
More importantly…
Seraphina had never once used that strength to threaten Hancock.
"Just call me Seraphina."
The white-haired young lady noticed Hancock's unusually stiff behavior and smiled.
"I don't like being called 'Young Miss' all the time."
"Hm…"
Hancock hesitated.
"Seraphina…"
"Yes!"
Seraphina's smile immediately brightened.
"Hancock!"
"You're finally calling me by my name!"
Hancock looked away.
To be honest, after spending so much time as a slave, she had experienced enough of the world's cruelty to understand that kindness was rare.
She had experienced people who smiled while hurting others.
She had experienced people who pretended to be kind before revealing their true intentions.
She had learned that powerful people could change their attitude toward the weak whenever they pleased.
But Seraphina was different.
She was cheerful.
Gentle.
And strangely sincere.
Most importantly, she treated Hancock like a person.
Not property.
Not a slave.
Not an object.
Not even someone beneath her.
She simply treated Hancock as Hancock.
That confused the young Kuja more than anything else.
"Seraphina…"
Hancock finally spoke.
"I don't feel like you're a Celestial Dragon at all."
Seraphina tilted her head.
"Why?"
"The way you speak."
"The way you behave."
"The way you treat people."
Hancock stared at her.
"Everything about you is different."
"It's almost…"
"Like you're lying to me."
The words escaped before Hancock could stop herself.
Yes.
That was exactly how she felt.
Everything was too strange.
Too peaceful.
Too kind.
No one would genuinely treat a slave this well for no reason.
Not in Mary Geoise.
Not among the Celestial Dragons.
Hancock had learned that lesson the hard way.
A brief silence settled between them.
Seraphina remained quiet.
Then she suddenly smiled.
"You guessed correctly."
"Huh?"
Hancock stared at her.
Seraphina's expression became completely serious.
"I am lying to you."
Hancock's eyes widened.
"I want to trick you into going home obediently."
She said it so naturally that Hancock's mind briefly went blank.
"…"
"Huh?"
Hancock stared at Seraphina with wide, bewildered eyes.
"You…"
"You're serious?"
Seraphina nodded.
"Of course."
"I've been trying to trick you into trusting me."
Hancock's expression became complicated.
"But why?"
Seraphina smiled.
"Because you clearly want to go home."
"And because I don't think someone should be forced to stay somewhere they hate."
Hancock remained speechless.
Then Seraphina laughed.
"I was joking."
Hancock's expression darkened.
"Seraphina!"
"Hahaha!"
For the first time, Hancock realized something important.
Seraphina wasn't merely kind.
She was also mischievous.
And that made her even harder to understand.
…
Elsewhere in Roselith Manor.
Saint Victor had just returned from visiting his daughter.
He walked through the corridor while thinking about her recent behavior.
"Adolf."
"Yes, Saint Victor?"
"Have you noticed that my daughter seems to be in a better mood lately?"
Adolf nodded.
"Yes, Saint Victor."
"Young Lady Seraphina's mood has improved considerably."
Victor's eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Do you know why?"
Adolf calmly considered his answer.
"From my observations, the most likely reason is Boa Hancock."
"Hancock?"
Victor frowned.
For a moment, he couldn't remember the girl's name.
"What's her name again?"
"Hancock."
Adolf answered immediately.
"Right!"
"Hancock!"
Victor slapped his palm against his forehead.
"That's the girl."
He suddenly smiled.
"She's been making Seraphina happier?"
"Yes, Saint Victor."
Victor's expression became pleased.
"Then make sure everyone treats her properly."
Adolf nodded.
"Yes, sir."
"She is important to Seraphina now."
Victor's tone became serious.
"Anything that brings happiness to my daughter should be treated with care."
"Understood."
Adolf bowed.
He already understood what Victor meant.
From this moment onward, Hancock's position within Roselith Manor had changed.
She was still technically a servant.
Her slave status had already been abolished within the manor.
But more importantly…
She had become someone personally valued by the daughter of the Roselith Family.
That distinction mattered greatly among the World Nobles.
…
"Hancock!"
Seraphina called from the dining room.
"Don't just stand there."
"Come and eat with me!"
Hancock stopped.
She looked toward the table.
Then she looked around the room.
She hesitated.
"Young Lady…"
Seraphina frowned.
"What?"
"You should eat."
Hancock remained uncertain.
"But…"
"No buts."
Seraphina's tone became unusually serious.
"We're friends now."
"Come here."
Hancock stared at her.
Friends.
The word sounded strange.
She couldn't remember the last time someone had genuinely called her a friend.
"Come on."
Seraphina reached out.
"Hurry."
Hancock finally sighed.
"All right."
She walked over.
Seraphina immediately smiled.
"That's better."
Hancock sat beside her.
Seraphina picked up her chopsticks.
"Try this."
She carefully picked up a piece of meat and placed it into Hancock's bowl.
"It's delicious."
Hancock looked down.
Then she tasted it.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Seraphina noticed.
"You like it?"
"It's…"
Hancock paused.
"Good."
Seraphina smiled.
"Then try this too."
Another piece of food landed in Hancock's bowl.
"And this."
"And this one."
"And that."
Hancock stared at the growing pile of food.
"Seraphina…"
"Yes?"
"You don't have to give me everything."
"I know."
Seraphina smiled.
"I want to."
Hancock fell silent.
She understood what Seraphina was doing.
The young lady was trying to make her feel comfortable.
Trying to make her forget the chains.
Trying to make her feel like an ordinary girl.
But Hancock still couldn't let her guard down completely.
Not yet.
She still had a plan.
She still wanted to leave Mary Geoise.
She still wanted to return to Amazon Lily.
And she would never stop protecting her sisters.
However…
For now, she was willing to remain.
Because she trusted Seraphina more than anyone else in this place.
That was already enough.
…
"Hancock."
The head maid approached her later that afternoon.
"The young lady is asking for you again."
"I know."
Hancock nodded.
She and her sisters had been organizing their quarters.
Marigold immediately looked excited.
"Sister!"
"That's wonderful!"
Hancock glanced at her.
"What?"
"You've already won over the young lady!"
Marigold grinned.
"Otherwise, why would she keep calling for you?"
Hancock's face immediately changed.
"Idiot!"
She lightly struck Marigold on the head.
"Ow!"
Marigold covered her head.
"Why did you hit me?"
"Keep your voice down!"
Hancock glanced around.
She didn't want the other servants listening.
Sandersonia watched the two sisters bicker.
Then she hesitated.
"Sister…"
"What?"
"Can we meet the young lady too?"
Hancock looked at her.
"We've never actually seen her."
Sandersonia's expression became curious.
"She was the one who helped us."
"I want to meet her."
Marigold nodded.
"Me too."
"We should thank her."
Hancock thought about it.
Seraphina probably wouldn't object.
"All right."
"I'll ask Seraphina."
The two younger sisters immediately smiled.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Hancock nodded.
"Really."
Sandersonia's eyes brightened.
"So her name is Seraphina?"
"Saint Roselith Seraphina."
"What a beautiful name."
Hancock smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"It suits her."
…
Later that day.
Hancock stood behind Seraphina with a comb in her hand.
She had already become accustomed to helping the young lady with her daily routine.
Normally, Hancock was the one who combed Seraphina's long silver-white hair.
But today…
Seraphina suddenly had an idea.
"Hancock."
"Yes?"
"You've been combing my hair every day."
"That's not fair."
Hancock blinked.
"What's not fair?"
"Today, I'll comb yours."
Hancock froze.
"What?"
Seraphina reached toward the comb.
"I said I'll comb your hair."
"But…"
Hancock didn't know how to respond.
The blind girl was actually volunteering to comb the hair of someone who could see perfectly.
There was something deeply strange about that.
"Seraphina…"
"What?"
"You can't see."
"I know."
Seraphina smiled.
"But I can still touch things."
She reached toward Hancock.
"Give me the comb."
Hancock hesitated.
"But…"
"No buts."
Seraphina quickly took the comb.
Then she gently pushed Hancock toward the chair.
"Sit."
Hancock had no idea what to say.
"Yes…"
She reluctantly sat down.
Seraphina stood behind her.
She carefully felt Hancock's hair.
It was long and smooth.
Seraphina gently separated a section between her fingers.
Then she began combing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The comb moved through Hancock's hair.
Unfortunately…
The result was far from perfect.
Seraphina's movements were awkward.
She occasionally pulled the wrong section.
Sometimes she combed too quickly.
Sometimes she missed a tangled portion entirely.
Hancock could feel the difference immediately.
But she remained silent.
Seraphina continued working with absolute concentration.
After several minutes, she finally stopped.
"There."
She smiled proudly.
"Finished."
Hancock slowly turned her head.
Her hair was…
A mess.
One section was neatly combed.
Another section was slightly tangled.
A few strands were sticking out at strange angles.
Hancock stared at Seraphina.
Seraphina immediately became embarrassed.
"Um…"
"It doesn't look very good, does it?"
Hancock couldn't help smiling.
"No."
"It doesn't."
Seraphina lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."
"It's my first time."
Hancock's smile softened.
"That's okay."
She reached up and touched her hair.
"Thank you."
Seraphina's expression brightened.
"Really?"
"Really."
Hancock looked at the blind young lady standing behind her.
For someone who couldn't see…
Seraphina had somehow managed to make Hancock feel seen.
That realization touched something deep inside her heart.
Seraphina smiled.
"Then I'll practice."
"Next time, I'll do it properly."
Hancock laughed softly.
"All right."
"Next time."
And so…
Saint Roselith Seraphina accomplished something she had never done before.
She had combed someone else's hair.
It wasn't perfect.
It wasn't even particularly good.
But it was the first small accomplishment of its kind in her life.
And for Hancock…
It was another small reason to believe that perhaps this strange Celestial Dragon really could become her friend.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
[SYSTEM: Relationship Development Detected]
[Boa Hancock → Saint Roselith Seraphina]
[Current Relationship: Cautious Friendship]
[Trust Level: Increasing]
[Warning: Complete trust has not yet been established.]
[Saint Roselith Seraphina → Boa Hancock]
[Current Relationship: Close Friend]
[Protective Instinct: Increasing]
[Observation: Hancock continues to conceal her desire to escape from Mary Geoise.]
[Observation: Hancock's primary reason for remaining is the safety of Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold.]
[Family Influence Detected]
[Saint Victor has issued instructions that Hancock is to be treated respectfully within Roselith Manor.]
[Current Household Status]
[Boa Hancock: Maid and personal attendant to Saint Roselith Seraphina]
[Boa Sandersonia: Servant within Roselith Manor]
[Boa Marigold: Servant within Roselith Manor]
[Slave Collars: Removed]
[Seastone Handcuffs: Removed]
[Current Objective: Protect the Boa sisters while maintaining their freedom and safety.]
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
Hancock looked at Seraphina.
For the first time since being dragged away from Amazon Lily…
She allowed herself to smile without forcing it.
Perhaps this strange girl really was different.
Perhaps…
A friendship could exist even between a Kuja slave and a Celestial Dragon princess.
Hancock still wanted to go home.
That desire had not changed.
But until the day she could return to Amazon Lily…
She would protect her sisters.
And perhaps…
She would protect Seraphina too.