Before Salome had even come to a complete stop, Hancock leaped down from the serpent's head, her high heels clicking urgently against the gravel as if every second of waiting was unbearable.
Her eyes, always shimmering with emotion, locked onto Bahr, scanning him up and down. When they landed on the blood at the corner of his lips and his disheveled clothes, her eyes instantly reddened, her luscious lips trembling slightly.
"Lord Bahr!" She rushed to his side, her voice dripping with unconcealed distress. "You're hurt! It's all those damned Marines' fault—how dare they harm you? This queen will tear them to pieces!"
Seeing the Pirate Empress's undisguised concern, the lingering frustration in Bahr's heart suddenly dissipated.
He looked up, taking in the woman before him. A purple qipao-style dress clung to her curvaceous figure, the skull patterns woven into the fabric flickering faintly with her movements, accentuating the breathtaking curve of her waist and hips.
Her long, slender legs were flawlessly sculpted, her skin glowing under the light, while her ankles balanced on stiletto heels—each step seeming to tread on the hearts of onlookers. Her raven-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, the golden hoops at her ears swaying lightly as she moved.
Beside her, Salome flicked its tongue, only amplifying her allure—both seductive and untamed. Yet, the urgency in her eyes at this moment softened her queenly aura, adding a touch of clumsy sincerity.
"I heard about what happened from the Straw Hat Boy," Bahr said, steadying his breath, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Thank you, Hancock."
The moment the name "Hancock" left his lips, the empress's cheeks flushed crimson, the color spreading all the way to her ears.
Under Bahr's direct gaze, the fiery rage that had burned within her moments ago dimmed significantly. Her imposing presence quietly receded, leaving her more like a bashful girl under the eyes of her beloved.
She hastily lowered her head, fingers unconsciously twirling the ends of her hair, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-It's this queen's honor to serve you, Lord Bahr... I always believed you would be alright."
Bahr found her contrast—one moment ready to storm Marineford, the next shyly bowing her head—utterly captivating.
Just as he was about to speak again, Hancock suddenly looked up, her eyes shimmering with hopeful yet anxious light, like a small creature waiting for its master's praise.
"This is war, and you are the Empress of the Kuja," Bahr said, his smile fading as his tone grew serious. "We shouldn't interact too much. Once the war is over, I'll come find you."
The words struck Hancock's heart like a bolt of honey. Her eyes widened, the redness at their corners instantly brightening, her breath quickening. Fireworks of joy exploded in her mind, her voice unconsciously lifting with excitement. "Lord Bahr...!"
He was thinking of her? And he would come to see her? Would he visit Amazon Lily? Did this mean... she had a place in his heart?
Flustered, Hancock raised her hand, reaching into the hidden pocket of her dress to retrieve a neatly folded piece of paper—her Vivre Card, prepared long ago and kept close to her heart.
Her fingers trembled as she tore it in half, carefully offering one piece to Bahr. The back of her hand flushed with exertion, her voice laced with shyness. "This is my Vivre Card, Lord Bahr. With it, you can find me no matter where I am."
Bahr reached out to take it, his fingertips accidentally brushing against Hancock's. The warm, cool sensation sent an electric current shooting through them.
Hancock jerked her hand back, her cheeks flushing crimson once more, her ears burning red. She couldn't help but let out a coquettish huff, her usual regal Haki as Empress of the Kuja completely replaced by a maiden's bashfulness.
"Touching Lord Bahr... this is skin contact. Does this mean the next step is preparing for our wedding?"
That brief touch had already set her heart racing wildly.
Would they live in the main palace of Amazon Lily after marriage? Should she ask her sisters to prepare halls full of flowers in advance? Would Lord Bahr prefer lavish or understated decorations?
Countless pink bubbles seemed to burst before her eyes, her mind a chaotic whirl of such thoughts. Her legs felt weak, as if all her strength had drained away, and she swayed backward.
Just as she was about to collapse onto the rubble, a warm hand steadied her waist.
Hancock's eyes flew open, meeting Bahr's amused gaze. They were so close she could feel his breath, the faint metallic scent of blood mingling with the warmth of sunlight, enveloping her like an invisible net.
The Empress's heart pounded wildly, her fingertips trembling slightly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
Bahr took in the sight of the Pirate Empress, so pliant and inviting, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly. Unlike some clueless fool, he didn't hesitate—he leaned down and captured her quivering lips.
The softness, cool yet yielding, sent feather-light tremors through her heart, electric currents racing down her limbs.
Hancock stiffened for a moment before melting completely, her lashes fluttering like startled butterfly wings. She tilted her head obediently, surrendering to his kiss, even forgetting to breathe.
Only when she was nearly breathless did Bahr pull back slightly, his nose brushing her forehead.
Hancock's face was now so red it seemed about to bleed, her gaze dazed, a blissful smile curving her lips. She slumped bonelessly against him, too weak to stand, her mind consumed by two thoughts: "Lord Bahr kissed me" and "He must love me." All her earlier fury and worry had been swept away by this sudden sweetness.
Bahr pressed his lips together, his fingertips still tingling from the memory of her slender waist. He sighed inwardly: If not for this damned battlefield, he would have already indulged in savoring this beauty who had all but thrown herself at him.
Steadying the limp, pliant Hancock, he murmured, "This isn't the time for reunions. Wait for me at Amazon Lily."
Before the words had fully left his lips, he had already turned and vanished into the smoke with a few swift leaps.
If he stayed any longer, he feared he wouldn't be able to resist staging an outrageous spectacle right in the middle of this raging battlefield.
Hancock collapsed onto the rubble, staring dreamily in the direction Bahr had disappeared.
The memory of that domineering kiss still burned on her lips, his warmth lingering on every inch of her skin, his scent filling her every breath. It left her trembling, weak, and utterly spellbound.
She raised her hand and gently touched her lips, her fingertips brushing against that warm softness before recoiling as if shocked, only to press against them again. A bewitching blush spread across her face.
"He... kissed me so passionately..." she murmured, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, laced with incredulous shyness and ecstasy. "Lord Bahr's warmth still lingers here... This must be... the legendary... marriage..."
At the thought of the word "marriage," Hancock suddenly covered her face, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably as giggles spilled through her fingers—sweet enough to kill.
Her laughter brimmed with unrestrained joy, even the corners of her eyes glowing with delight, a stark contrast to the merciless ferocity she had shown moments ago in battle against the Marines.
"Lord Bahr... I will wait for you... forever..." She slowly lowered her hands, extending slender fingers to carefully trace a heart shape toward the direction Bahr had departed.
In an instant, countless pink hearts burst from her fingertips, like vows cast into the sky, drawing gentle arcs across the smoke-filled battlefield, lingering endlessly.
Salome curled obediently at her feet, flicking its tongue as if sharing in its master's happiness.
Hancock sat amidst the ruins, bathed in dreams of the future, the distant sounds of clashing blades fading into a muffled backdrop—her heart filled only with boundless anticipation for Lord Bahr.
Just then, the corner of her eye caught several Marines raising rifles toward Bahr's retreating figure, fingers already on the triggers. The sweet smile on her face froze instantly, her gaze turning piercingly cold.
"You dare lay hands on my Lord Bahr?" She rose slowly, an overwhelming aura erupting around her, her voice frigid and cruel. "I will tear you to pieces and feed you to the beasts!"
Before the words had even faded, she tapped her toes lightly—a pink arc flashed, and in an instant, those Marines and their weapons turned into cold stone statues, forever frozen in expressions of terror.
She herself turned and leaped onto Salome's back, gazing toward where Bahr had vanished, cupping her cheeks tenderly, her eyes once again brimming with gentle longing.
If it meant waiting for Lord Bahr, what was a little patience?