"Princess Shirley isn't unreasonable; she would never act without cause," Leo insisted, though he silently agreed with Vista. He struggled to accept that a princess of his people could be seen as irrational or overly emotional.
After a pause, Leo sought advice from Vista: "Uncle Vista, what do you think I should do?"
Vista smiled warmly. "It's simple. Take the initiative and admit your mistake. Tell her you were wrong, apologize, and ask Princess Shirley to forgive you."
Leo abruptly stood up. "But I'm right! I did this for our people and Princess Shirley. I'm not wrong."
Vista shook his head, gently correcting him. "That's what you think. But maybe, in Princess Shirley's heart, she feels you dislike her, or worse, that you're bullying her."
"How could I bully Princess Shirley?" Leo protested. "I like her too much for that..."
His words trailed off, his face turning crimson. Nearby, Princess Shirley secretly listened to their conversation.
Peacock, nearby, pouted. "Such ambition for a little guy! He actually likes our Princess Shirley. She's beautiful and lovely, and he's just a brat."
Princess Shirley spoke up in Leo's defense. "I know Leo only wants to protect our people and help me. He doesn't want me to be bullied."
"He wanted me to grow stronger, so he pushed me to eat the fruit Master Chiba made."
Peacock snorted. "Then he doesn't understand care. If he liked you, how could he ignore your feelings?"
"Leo is good," Shirley insisted. "He's just stubborn and sometimes foolish. He doesn't think of everything."
Peacock looked at her in surprise. "Why are you defending Leo now? Didn't you say you wanted to turn him into a meatloaf?"
Blushing, Shirley explained, "I was just angry. I know Leo did it for me and our people. I was impulsive and irrational. I should eat all of Chiba's Devil Fruit."
Peacock shrugged. "Love makes people annoying! If you're not upset, I won't be. But eat that big fruit slowly."
With that, Peacock turned away. Shirley looked at Hina. "Sister Hina, is Peacock angry?"
"Don't worry, that's just her. She'll act like nothing happened tomorrow. But Leo is trustworthy," Hina said, making Shirley blush.
"Miss Hina, what are you saying?" Shirley protested. "I don't like Leo!"
Hina chuckled. "I said he's trustworthy, not that you like him. I think Leo is good; I might find him a girlfriend. Sasha seems suitable."
Hearing this, Shirley grew anxious. "No, Sister Hina, you can't do that!"
"Why not?" Hina teased. "I'm thinking of pairing them."
"No, don't!" Shirley grabbed Hina's hair, who stopped and smiled. "I was teasing. But now you know what you feel. Don't let regret take over. Liking someone isn't shameful."
"Isn't it?" Shirley murmured, glancing at Leo, who was drinking from a huge bottle cap.
At some point, Leo had drunk himself to sleep, and Vista had also dozed off. Hina had left unnoticed.
Seeing them alone, Shirley approached and heard Leo murmur in his sleep, "I'm sorry, Princess, I shouldn't have made you eat that fruit. I'm sorry."
A sweet smile crossed Shirley's lips. She looked at the half-eaten fruit, took a bite, and felt the powerful energy surge through her. Pain returned, but she endured, letting the fruit's energy strengthen her.
Three hours later, she finished the Devil Fruit, but the pain was overwhelming, and she fainted.
Hina appeared, administering a drop of medicine to Shirley, helping her recover.
"Silly girl," Hina sighed. "Without this medicine, your body would suffer."
Hina fed Shirley the medicine, strengthening her. She then nestled Shirley into Leo's arms.
The next day, Leo awoke to laughter. He opened his eyes and found Shirley in his arms, surrounded by their kin.
Startled, he didn't dare move Shirley. She awoke, met his gaze, and quickly fled, embarrassed.
Leo was left bewildered, unsure of what to do.
Gaia approached. "Leo, Master Chiba wants you for an experiment."
"Okay, I'm going," Leo replied, hastily leaving.
Hina watched and sighed. "That Chiba ruined my plans."
[•———•——•———•]
𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧
✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.