Sugar took a moment to recover. Once the nauseating taste in her mouth subsided, a strange sensation surged through her body.
She tried activating her ability, and in the next second, her entire body transformed into a mass of azure energy, swiftly surging toward Carl and the others.
A powerful gust of wind rushed over them, lifting the skirts of the women present, revealing an array of colorful undergarments. A chorus of startled yelps filled the air.
The women instinctively pressed their skirts down, their faces turning crimson. Monet took a step forward and, without hesitation, flicked Sugar on the forehead as she re-materialized with a mischievous grin.
"Ow, ow, ow! What was that for?!" Sugar whined, clutching her head with a look of grievance.
Hands on her hips, Monet scolded her, "What do you think? You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Sugar quickly threw herself into Carl's arms, pouting.
"So what if I did? He's the only man here anyway. What's the big deal if he sees?"
Monet was momentarily speechless. Sugar wasn't wrong—the only man present was indeed Carl. Neither Shalria, Boa Hancock, nor Robin refuted her words.
Boa, who was rather shy, stole a glance at Carl before blushing and lowering her head. Shalria, on the other hand, had already regarded Carl as her husband in her heart. Instead of objecting, she nodded in agreement.
As for Robin, the intellectual and reserved beauty, she had read extensively but had little practical experience. She found herself feeling something… different.
In the end, Monet had no way to deal with Sugar and could only say,
"No using your ability recklessly in the house! If you knock something over, I'll make you stay in the library by yourself!"
Sugar pouted and turned her pleading gaze toward Carl. "Master, Big Sister is bullying me!"
Carl chuckled, ruffling Sugar's light-green hair. The moment reminded him of Carrot—if she were here, she'd probably get along well with Sugar.
Originally, Carl had planned to bring Wanda and Carrot over first. However, Garling had been in urgent need of him, so he left the two women at Marineford for the time being.
With that thought, Carl effortlessly picked Sugar up with one arm and sat down on the sofa. Monet sat to his left, while Hancock and Robin tidied up the table that had been disturbed by Sugar's gust before standing behind Carl, each placing their hands on his shoulders and gently massaging them.
Shalria initially wanted to sit to Carl's right, but as soon as she bent down, Carl raised his hand and gestured for her to stop.
"Shalria, sit across from me. I need to discuss something with you."
Hearing this, Shalria's heart pounded wildly. She hurried over to the opposite sofa, sitting down with the refined posture she had been rigorously taught by her family.
She placed her hands on her lap and gazed at Carl without blinking.
Carl spoke calmly, "Shalria, when you return to your family, tell your father, Saint Rosward, that Marines will be stationed in Mary Geoise for a while. He must ensure that the family behaves appropriately and treats the Marines with the dignity expected of World Nobles. I don't want to see them strutting around like arrogant upstarts."
Shalria had initially thought Carl was about to discuss marriage with her, so she felt a little disappointed. Still, she obediently nodded and replied,
"Rest assured, Saint Carl, I will relay your words to my father exactly as you said. But even if you hadn't mentioned it, our family would never treat the Marines like commoners. After all, they are your people."
Carl smiled slightly. "It still needs to be said. If anyone steps out of line, they will be made an example of."
"Huh? Saint Carl, what do you mean by 'made an example of'? Who could possibly control us Celestial Dragons?"
Carl's tone remained indifferent. "Me. Before coming here, I instructed the Five Elders to relay my words to all the noble families. Anyone who dares to insult the Marines will be executed on the spot if the offense is serious enough."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Shalria, Monet, and the others were all visibly shaken. Hancock and Robin, who had been massaging Carl's shoulders, froze in place.
Did they hear that right? Executing Celestial Dragons?
In the eight hundred years since the formation of the World Government, when had a Celestial Dragon ever been executed?
And the Five Elders—these were the rulers of the world. Yet, Carl had used the word "instruct." It was as if he viewed them as mere subordinates.
As a Celestial Dragon herself, Shalria had a much deeper understanding of the Five Elders' status than ordinary people. Carl's words had shaken her to the core.
She sat in stunned silence, at a complete loss for words.
Carl continued, his voice steady. "I know the character of the nobles in Mary Geoise. No doubt, some fools will completely ignore my warning. This will be the perfect opportunity to clean up the Holy Land. However, I hope your family won't be among them. Do you understand?"
Shalria snapped out of her daze. At first, Carl's words had sent a chill through her, but now, she felt a warmth in her chest.
Carl was clearly treating her as one of his own.
Her eyes welled with tears. She had been raised in Mary Geoise as a proud Celestial Dragon, considered a beauty even among noblewomen. She had always been a privileged "daughter of heaven."
But ever since meeting Carl, she had worked tirelessly to change herself—abandoning her arrogance, integrating herself into the Figarland family, and getting along with Carl's other women.
For her, this transformation had been anything but easy. Yet, she had persevered. And now, at last, she was seeing the results.
Saint Carl, the man she had once thought unreachable, had finally acknowledged her.
Seeing the tears in Shalria's eyes, Carl reached out and beckoned her over. "Come sit here."
Shalria quickly wiped her eyes and, without hesitation, stood up and sat down to Carl's right. She kept a respectful distance, not daring to get too close.
Carl turned to look at her and asked, "Shalria, do you want to marry me?"
His words were like a thunderclap in Shalria's mind. Her response was immediate and instinctive.
"Yes! Carl, I want to be your wife!"
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+180 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg