"N-no… no problem. I was thinking we could use it in the future too!"
Torch Lily cupped her cheeks, her face growing redder the more she spoke, her voice shrinking to a whisper. If Doflamingo's Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) weren't so advanced, he might not have caught a single word.
"Yo yo, Tori-chan, don't tell me you've fallen in love." Shakky, ever the veteran, teased with relish.
"Ah~ Shakky-nee, y-you—what are you saying?!" Torch Lily was still young; with Shakky's jab, she was even more flustered—especially with Doflamingo right there. She almost wished she could disappear on the spot, yet the hand covering her eyes left a tiny gap to sneak a peek at his expression.
Shakky being this bold honestly surprised Doflamingo. Given his identity, he felt that getting too entangled with Torch Lily wouldn't be good for her—let alone the fact that she was now Empress of Amazon Lily. Spiriting her away wouldn't exactly be friendly to the Kuja.
Even so, he wasn't the type to overdo the self-denial. Villains die from talking too much; villains who stand aside for protagonists end up footnotes. Since he'd found new resolve, he wouldn't be like a certain "canon" self—blind to a worthy girl's feelings—nor would he play the indiscriminate playboy.
Two years had changed Torch Lily from the guarded girl of before into a composed young empress. If she'd still been a bit green back then, now she stood toe-to-toe with Shakky—different kinds of beauty, different strengths. Not the sun-browned vitality of Shakky; Torch Lily's skin was pale as snow, her features clear, her smile gentle, her figure well-proportioned and poised. It was no stretch to call her a future "number one beauty."
Even if Doflamingo wasn't someone who easily fell for others, a sincere confession from someone this lovely was hardly something to brush aside. They were young; he had no intention of taking things beyond their years. But deepening her feelings? That, he could handle.
"Fufufufu… Really? Torch Lily, I wonder who the lucky one is. I hope it's me. If I could marry someone like you, I'd go to sleep grinning and wake up laughing."
The moment he said "marry," Torch Lily's composure shattered. She shot to her feet, scarlet to the ears, pacing as she muttered:
"R-really?! Am I really fit to be your wife?! What should we name our child? If it's a girl, then Luolei; if it's a boy, then Ross—okay? Ahhh, this is so sudden! What do I do… what do I do!"
Doflamingo stared a moment, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Was this a Kuja empress thing? Or did Hancock later learn this from Torch Lily—spinning out daydreams before the relationship was even official?
He shot Shakky a look for help—not because he couldn't handle it, but because if he stepped in now, the "serious talk" might never happen.
Catching his plea, Shakky blew a smoke ring and curled a wicked smile that made him shiver. Truth be told, Shakky's practiced allure wasn't his taste; deliberate provocation only made him uncomfortable.
From the start, Shakky had noticed his coolness toward her. Saying she didn't care would be a lie—she'd bewitched half the world and yet stumbled on a single brat. If she hadn't already found a once-in-a-lifetime love, she might have been tempted to make the kid learn what charm really meant.
"Alright, alright, Tori-chan. We need to talk business next—or I'll tell a certain someone all your childhood embarrassments."
At that, Torch Lily jolted back to reality, sprinted over, and clapped a hand over Shakky's mouth, flustered.
"Ah—! No, Shakky-nee, don't!"
"Okay, okay, let go. Now we can discuss the serious stuff, right?"
She brushed Torch Lily's hand aside and ruffled her hair, doting.
As an observer, Doflamingo felt he'd just missed something juicy. He was a little itchy with curiosity, but this wasn't the time to pry. Once the two Kuja settled, he spoke again.
"Thank you, Shakky—and you too, Torch Lily—for looking after me these two years. I'll give you my word here and now: if Amazon Lily faces danger in the future, I, Doflamingo of the Donquixote family, will lead my people to the front line."
"No need, Mingo-nii. I'm strong. Even if enemies show up, I can handle them. Besides, Shakky-nee will help me!"
Torch Lily's heart fluttered. Mingo-nii cared this much—that had to mean he loved her. So embarrassing!
"That promise is wonderful," Shakky said lightly. "But our little Tori-chan isn't weak. She's a bit behind you, sure, but in the first half of the Grand Line, there aren't many who'd dare provoke her."
Shakky wasn't going to lose herself like Torch Lily. A promise from someone fated to stand at the top of the world meant Amazon Lily would be safe—at least for decades.
As for Torch Lily's strength—Shakky had trained her personally. She truly couldn't compare to Doflamingo yet, but against Marine HQ Rear Admiral–level foes or pirates with bounties over one hundred million, she had more than enough bite.
"Hehe, of course! I'm going to support Mingo-nii too!" Torch Lily squeezed her fists and smiled, confidence returning.
"An unexpected gain," Doflamingo thought. Amazon Lily might not offer immediate benefits, but allies beat enemies any day. Still, business was business, so he probed:
"Torch Lily, I want a cooperation agreement with Amazon Lily. In the North Blue, my family has taken in a number of talented orphans. They're slated as reserve members of the family. I'd like them to train on Amazon Lily for a time."
"Su—" Torch Lily almost agreed on reflex, but Shakky cut her off with a firm refusal.
"No. Amazon Lily doesn't welcome men. You are an exception already—there won't be any others. Not even boys."
(End of Chapter)
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