"If you want to win her back, there are many ways, but you won't do any of them."
Sora smiled as she looked at Rosse. As an observer she understood clearly. Right from the start Rosse had no intention of winning Robin back.
The fact Rosse asked that question this time was probably because if there really were a chance to reconcile, Rosse would interfere in reverse.
"I've done that to her. If she doesn't hate me after all that, then what is she living for? People need something to live for. If she really just drifts along, I'll let her go right now," Rosse said matter-of-factly. Robin was the first big incident he'd experienced in this world and also his second experiment.
The first experiment was Gion, and as he expected the result, the two of them could now be trusted to watch each other's backs.
The second experiment was Robin. He wanted to see what kind of flower would finally bloom from a seed of hatred he raised with his own hands.
"For a little girl it's a bit cruel. But as long as she sees Olvia more often, it could cement her resolve," Sora sighed softly.
She made no judgment on Rosse's approach to this matter.
The man she chose was never exactly a good man.
If he wanted to do something, she'd be a willing accomplice.
And to be honest, Rosse didn't bear the sole responsibility for Robin's fate.
Rosse's usual principle was to act as an amplifier. He'd magnify the protagonist's every good and evil thought to the extreme, then watch how each person would play out their story.
In Robin's story, she chose Olvia over Saul, but in history and to Robin, Olvia ultimately chose to pull the trigger and shoot Robin.
At the root, it was because Olvia was unfit to be a mother and her obsession with history was too deep.
If roles were reversed, Sora would choose to point the gun at herself and pull the trigger without hesitation.
No need for further explanation, that is her choice.
When life is not controlled by the self, self-liberation is far better than merely existing.
"Anything else?"
By now Rosse was fully dressed. He turned and looked at Sora openly. Stella was beginning to dress Sora; he was enjoying the beautiful sight.
"Also, Arabasta's fleet will arrive at the Holy Land in two days. Zannie isn't coming back this time, but Conia will return with the fleet," Sora said.
"Will Vivi come this time too?", Rosse smiled.
By birth order, Vivi should be his eldest daughter.
There wouldn't be special treatment, but he had a strange feeling.
Predictably, Vivi, having his blood, wouldn't need to worry too much about strength in the future.
This world places a lot of emphasis on inherited talent. Two ordinary people can sometimes produce an extraordinarily gifted child, but most gifted individuals come from at least one strong parent.
"Of course she'll come. My idea is to keep Vivi in the Holy Land. Arabasta is stable now, let Princess Titi stay for two years before leaving," Sora suggested.
She knew Vivi's status and naturally considered things from Rosse's point of view.
After the Wano trip, Rosse wouldn't leave the Holy Land in the short term. Since that's the case, it's better for everyone to stay in the Holy Land for a while.
"Do that," Rosse nodded lightly.
He was lenient with his women, mainly because they were sensible. Sora handled internal affairs, Gion handled external matters. Having those two, he only needed to enjoy himself.
"That's about it. Today I'll negotiate with the Tontatta tribe people and go over the plan we discussed."
Dressed in noble attire, Sora's aura transformed instantly. Every movement exuded an innate nobility, dignified and graceful.
Unlike Gion's sharpness or Otohime's approachability, Sora radiated a born noble presence that compelled admiration.
Of course, that natural temperament had no effect on Rosse. If anything, it only made him want to ravage her.
Since Sora had many things to do today, he could still play around for an hour.
"We'll talk later. You should go to Rouge's place now."
Sora knew Rosse too well. She lightly pushed him and, linking arms, they left the palace.
At the palace gate they parted ways.
Rosse headed toward Rouge's residence, while Sora went to check on the residence arranged for Dressrosa.
Gancho and King Riku lived together; Sora had just taken care of both sides.
Letting Rosse occasionally attend banquets and discuss general directions was fine; the real details and hospitality had to be handled by her.
Fortunately Otohime would accompany her this time; from now on social matters like these would be Otohime's responsibility, which Sora thought would make things much easier.
Now that she had to handle many of Rosse's affairs, she had little time for research. She could only use fragmented spare time to complete the new devices planned for Rosse with the Brain-Brain Fruit.
Those little pockets of free time were enough to realize Rosse's ideas, the plans were already quite complete.
Like harvesters, tractors, seeders, drones, and some ideas for fuel engines, this world already had similar concepts; a bit of rational improvement would do.
Once she activated the Brain-Fruit's overclock state, completing these wasn't difficult.
Compared to that, Sora found negotiating with people more laborious. Not everyone was as clever as Rosse; even communicating with Saint Saturn made her feel like she was about to get idiotic fatigue. These things really should be left to Otohime.
———
Meanwhile, Rosse walked with Stella toward Rouge's residence.
Because of the Holy Land incident, the Jaygarcia family's palace complex had been further expanded, and since those insects were completely cleared, the whole complex now belonged solely to Rosse.
Saint Saturn now just lived in the tower and sometimes stayed in the World Government building; he didn't often go to Rosse's places.
Rouge and Ace were arranged deep within the palace complex, occupying about twenty thousand square meters. Sounds large, but it was actually about the size of a small stadium.
"Madam Rouge has two hundred people assigned to their daily needs, arranged by Madam Sora. They provide twenty-four-hour service. These people were purchased from non-affiliated nations, girls who've joined the Employment Association. They rotate every eight hours, get four days off per month, and each earns 100,000 Berries a month," Stella explained.
"100,000 Berries a month? That's higher than your salary," Rosse teased.
A salary of 100,000 Berries already bought a lot. In countries not short on meat, beef and mutton were 1,000 Berries per kilogram; fish was cheaper, ranging from 200 Berries per kilogram up to 20,000 depending on type. Anything higher belonged to sea-king species or rare delicacies.
Rice and wheat were considerably pricier but still only about half the price of beef and mutton. 100,000 Berries was already a very high wage.
And in their family, there was no worry about meals. Rosse was never stingy about these things; even the maids ate from the household provisions.
Sora did set rules though: the servants' dining and lodging had dedicated areas and personnel. They were a few tiers below the family's standards.
Rosse never concerned himself with that; Sora had a strong talent for household management, so he let her handle it fully and enjoyed the ease.
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