Chapter 34: Princess Violet
This was a tranquil afternoon, with the sun high in the sky emitting a dazzling brilliance that was too intense to look at directly, its scorching heat making people drowsy.
Dressrosa’s port.
Salvage ships, crane ships, and floating docks from the Donquixote Family were operating in the port under the blazing sun, salvaging and clearing the sunken ships piled up underwater. The massive workload made the sweat-drenched workers doubt for the first time in their lives whether joining the Donquixote Family had been the wrong choice.
The days of lording it up hadn’t lasted long, and this exhausting life like a dog’s was no different from the past. No, the work environment was even more harsh. If they accidentally angered the cadres above, it wouldn’t just be a matter of losing a job.
Under the sunlight, the national flag hanging at the top of the Eckmond Kingdom warship’s mast gleamed with the golden coffee tree embroidered in gold thread, reflecting the glow named power and wealth.
“Sure enough, being born into a good family is the most important thing!”
A middle-aged man wearing the Donquixote Family’s standard combat uniform let out a weary sigh.
“What are you spacing out for? Get to work.”
Amid his companions’ curses, that brief melancholy turned to smoke and vanished in the sea breeze without a trace. He turned around and continued this grueling work, continuing his laborious life of not being born into a good family.
King’s Highland,
On the balcony of the royal palace.
“This is Dressrosa, the Land of Love, Passion, and Toys!”
His pure white shirt open, revealing his muscular chest and abs, his black pointed shoes clicking crisply on the stone pavement, Donquixote Doflamingo lifted his blood-red sunglasses and looked down at Elus, who was exactly one hundred centimeters shorter than him.
An exaggerated smile hung on his face—three parts madness, three parts pleasure, three parts arrogance, and one part something indefinable.
“Prince Elus, welcome to my kingdom!!!”
He introduced his country in an exaggerated tone, his arms spread wide as if to tightly embrace the nation in his chest.
“King Doflamingo, pleased to… meet you face to face.”
Elus looked up at Doflamingo, who was one hundred centimeters taller than him, a similarly brilliant and pleased smile on his face.
He extended his hand,
Shaking hands.
Coolly dressed women appeared right on cue, bringing alcohol and a warm welcome banquet. These professionally trained women were skilled at igniting the party’s atmosphere, and the Donquixote Family cadres were instantly in high spirits.
“Dillon, you go too!”
Elus waved to his still tense subordinates, “Don’t disappoint King Doflamingo’s enthusiasm.” He smiled toward Doflamingo and raised the wine glass in his hand, toasting the welcome banquet.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Dillon acknowledged.
But he still maintained his rigid posture; his rock-solid stubborn nature couldn’t be changed. Meanwhile, a guy like Dick, upon receiving permission, immediately mingled with the Donquixote Family cadres, toasting and drinking enthusiastically. The boisterous noise swept over the entire balcony like waves.
Eschbach’s personality was somewhat similar to Dillon’s, but he wasn’t as mentally restrained as Dillon.
Elus found it too noisy and was too lazy to discipline Dick at this time, so he simply took his glass and walked to a corner at the edge of the balcony, gazing at the bustling city in front of the royal palace and feeling the salty sea breeze blowing in his face.
“—Clack! Clack!—”
The sound of heels hitting the ground approached.
“Enjoying the view, Your Highness?” A fragrant breeze hit him, and brownish-black hair fluttering in the sea wind caught Elus’s eye first, followed by that bright and glamorous face. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Violet, a member of the Donquixote Family.”
The beautiful woman introduced herself thus, her radiant smile hiding a mouth full of lies.
“Violet?”
Elus tilted his head, looking at the woman who had come close. “That name is probably just a codename, right?”
“Does it matter? It’s just a name, nothing important, right? More importantly, Your Highness, what do you think of this country? Have you been, drawn in by this beautiful country?” Violet pressed close to Elus’s side, her beautiful light brown eyes fixed tightly on his cheek.
“That’s a pretty low-level question, Miss Violet… Do you expect me to say anything bad at a time like this?” Elus asked back with a smiling tone.
“Does that mean there’s something about this country that displeases you?”
Violet said this while subtly lowering her voice.
“That’s what you said, don’t pin it on me.” Elus shook his head in denial.
“Isn’t that what you mean?”
“Haha! Some think the Seven Warlords are the World Government’s lackeys, some see it as the Navy’s concession to the Pirate Era, some aspire to the Seven Warlords’ status, others try to overthrow the Seven Warlords system… The same thing, the same words, interpreted differently by different people. Miss Violet, I can’t control how you interpret my words, but please don’t casually put labels on me!”
He lowered his head slightly, approaching Violet’s ear at extreme speed, his lips parting gently as he whispered in a murmur: “I’m not prepared to go to war with Joker right here and now! Princess Violet, please don’t make any unnecessary moves here.”
His exhaled hot breath brushed her earlobe and temple.
Miss Violet’s face flushed slightly, as if startled by Elus’s sudden closeness, and she hurriedly stepped back a few paces, lowering her head deeply like an ostrich.
“Prince Elus, looks like you’re having a great time!”
Doflamingo walked over unhurriedly, wine glass in hand. The eyes under his sunglasses were like a bottomless black sea. He glanced at the still-blushing Violet, then turned his gaze to the composed Elus, narrowing his eyes and laughing. “My family… didn’t do anything offensive, did they?”
“Not at all, Miss Violet is very beautiful! Getting to chat with such a charming beauty is something I could only dream of! More importantly, my subordinates are getting a bit out of hand—my apologies!” Elus’s gaze turned to the oversized parasol by the pool.
Dick, Senor, Mahabais, Buffalo, and other Donquixote Family members were completely drunk, their noisy clamor audible even from this corner.
“That’s how a party gets exciting! Fufufu!!”
Doflamingo laughed twice.
“If everyone hid away like you, Prince Elus, the party wouldn’t be lively at all!”
“No helping it! My personality is such a hassle—I like excitement but hate noise…” Elus shrugged. “The consequence of being greedy is having to hide in a corner alone watching the view. Luckily, Miss Violet came to keep me company, so I don’t seem too pitiful.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Violet, who was still hanging her head, and smiled lightly.
“Looks like you really like Violet, Prince Elus! Too bad she’s my family—I can’t give her to you as a gift!” Doflamingo sighed as if regretful, then fixed a piercing gaze on Elus and said:
“But soon, Prince Elus, even if you’re standing in the corner, countless eyes will be on you.”
