The land area of Dressrosa was not large, even smaller than Punk Hazard.
Although located in the New World, its overall strength ranked among the top of the allied nations, yet the total population of Dressrosa was less than one million, completely incomparable to the Four Seas.
In less than 30 minutes, the carriage went from the harbor to the royal palace of Dressrosa.
Rosse had just gotten out of the carriage when a commotion came from behind.
Turning his head, Rosse raised an eyebrow, looking back, and couldn't help but lift the corner of his mouth.
"What a lively little girl."
"This is the first time I've seen you so welcomed," Gion teased beside him, "Didn't expect it, that princess who looked gentle and quiet, turns out to be such a lively type."
With the observation haki of the two, even without looking, they knew what was happening back there.
It seemed because King Riku didn't want Scarlett to attend the banquet, he and Scarlett had some unpleasantness, and right now Scarlett was throwing a big tantrum.
"Saint Rosse, His Majesty asks that you head inside first."
Rosse hadn't walked toward Scarlett yet, when a burly guard in a red cloak blocked his way, neither humble nor arrogant, gesturing toward the palace.
Although the guard looked like he was just doing his duty, even Zephyr could see, this guard had hostility toward Rosse, inner resistance, and clearly didn't want them going near Scarlett.
"What's your name?", Rosse glanced at the guard.
"I am Kyros! Captain of King Riku's army! The strongest warrior of Dressrosa!", Kyros introduced himself in a deep voice.
"I don't like you," Rosse said lightly, "Tell King Riku, later I want to see either your head, or Scarlett."
With that, Rosse strode straight into the palace, no longer bothering with King Riku's side, nor with Kyros whose face had turned extremely ugly.
Plenty of people disliked him, not everyone was worth a real glance.
A mere captain of the guard wasn't qualified to make him lift a hand.
Once Rosse and the others left, the other nobles and guards all looked at Kyros differently.
Some with admiration, some with disdain, some with fiery eyes, some with greed.
This strongest warrior of Dressrosa, because of Rosse's single "I don't like you," suddenly drew countless malicious gazes.
The nobles dreamed of being linked with Rosse. Now with such a good opportunity before them, they didn't want to miss it.
"Tch! Damn bastard..."
Kaido walked behind Rosse, but his observation haki kept watching behind. He couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
Back when he was young, he never liked the ways of these nobles.
No skills at all, yet basked in the adoration of tens of thousands.
In all his years as a great pirate of the New World, only with Kurozumi Orochi had he enjoyed similar treatment.
Not that he liked flattery, but instinctively it felt uncomfortable.
'What nonsense is this?'
'Praising useless trash, yet looking down on those with true strength, hese common people are truly ignorant.'
But this time it was Rosse, and Kaido felt there was no problem.
Rosse's strength, indeed, deserved such treatment.
After Rosse entered the palace, Kyros's face shifted between gloom and sternness.
Meeting the malicious gazes around, Kyros especially picked out a few nobles and glared straight back.
Looking for trouble with him?
His sword has never failed.
But Kyros didn't dare delay either, striding quickly toward King Riku's side.
He had already seen some guards leave just now, surely going to report the matter to King Riku.
"Father, why won't you let me attend the banquet! I am the crown princess of Dressrosa, in such a solemn occasion, of course I should appear. Otherwise it will damage the etiquette of Dressrosa!"
Scarlett looked stubbornly at King Riku. Even though King Riku's darkened face made her a little afraid, she didn't back down one bit.
"The banquet is for adults. You already went to the harbor for the welcome, what follows has nothing to do with you, no need for you to stir this up," King Riku's face stayed stern.
Rosse's strength and status might be world-class, but he was no good match.
Letting Scarlett interact more with him would only push her into the fire pit.
He'd rather find a simple, honest man without great strength than someone like Rosse.
Just as King Riku finished speaking, the guard beside quickly took the chance to step forward, hurriedly repeating Rosse's earlier words.
The guard's voice was low, but Scarlett still heard it.
Her eyes lit up at once, chin proudly lifted, "Father, then I won't go this time, I want to return to my chambers!"
Kyros's head versus her attendance at the banquet, these two conditions weren't equal at all. She didn't believe King Riku would choose the former.
Kyros and King Riku were very close friends. Kyros treated King Riku as the most respected person, and King Riku valued Kyros highly.
But Scarlett herself had no good feelings for Kyros.
Always hanging around the palace was bad enough, but he also forbade her from doing anything in the name of protecting her.
Earlier when Scarlett learned of Rosse's strength, she even swallowed her annoyance and sought Kyros, asking him to teach her swordsmanship.
Who would have thought, Kyros not only said a princess had no need to train, but also claimed she had no talent, unsuited for sword practice.
Did she not know her own shortcomings?
What kind of person was that, when asked to teach just teach, whether she could learn was her own matter, why be so stubborn.
"Nonsense!"
King Riku glared at Scarlett. Seeing her smug look, his face grew darker.
Sensing the atmosphere turning wrong, Scarlett awkwardly withdrew her smile.
"Fine, I'll go then. It's not like you can actually stop me," Scarlett muttered softly, she only wanted King Riku to coax her a little, why couldn't he just speak nicely.
And she guessed, soon King Riku would start lecturing again.
Those grand reasons she all understood. Like the bearing of a princess, not letting her people lose heart, and so on.
But living like this was really exhausting.
She was willing to work for the people of Dressrosa. She even held the vice president position in Dressrosa's mercenary guild.
When nobles expressed dissatisfaction back then, it was she who went personally, family by family, persuading, until everyone accepted giving commoners more pay.
And she had freed all the slaves, adopting an employment system.
Even in Dressrosa's most famous gladiator arena, she achieved what no Riku before had done.
Those gladiators had complicated origins, but basically were no different from slaves.
With her reforms, they all joined the mercenary guild. Though there were still death matches in the arena, they were basically voluntary for money.
Anyone who wanted to leave could withdraw at any time, not forced to achieve a certain number of consecutive victories.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.