Of course there had to be a story there!
After Arashi repelled the pirates and saved the capital from disaster, he was immediately hailed as the savior of the kingdom and grandly invited to the palace as the most honored guest.
The banquet had just ended when Sophia impatiently pulled Arashi back to her chambers.
For nearly the entire night, the two of them talked by candlelight—discussing the mysteries of life and exploring the truths of existence.
"Arashi… will Constantin City be the end of your journey?"
"Are you trying to make me stay?"
Arashi turned slightly, smiling at Sophia. There was no way he couldn't see through her little thoughts.
"Yes."
Sophia sat up, her tone firm.
"I hope you can stay… stay by my side, and help me rule this country!"
"Hm?"
Looking at her serious expression—and the ambition flickering in her beautiful eyes—Arashi suddenly realized that this woman was far from simple.
Clearly, Sophia wanted to become the queen of this country.
But on her own, she couldn't achieve it. If Arashi stayed and supported her, the future would be promising.
However, to become queen, she had to maintain her identity as the king's consort. And her relationship with Arashi could never be made public.
In a sense—
Sophia was being greedy.
She wanted both power and love.
But to Arashi, that didn't really matter.
What mattered was—
He wasn't going to change the course of his life for anyone.
"So… you want me to be the man behind the queen?"
Arashi smiled.
"Didn't expect you to have such ambition, Sophia."
Seeing through her so easily, Sophia laughed charmingly.
"I'm just planning for our future. Even if I can't give you a proper title… I promise you this—our child will become the future king of this nation."
"Not a bad proposal."
Arashi's eyes lit up slightly as he glanced at her stomach.
"That fast already?"
"Idiot! I mean in the future!"
Arashi slowly narrowed his eyes.
A future king?
He couldn't care less.
If he really wanted to, he could take over this kingdom himself.
But compared to being some ruler—
He preferred a life of freedom.
"Goodbye, Sophia."
After looking at her for a moment, Arashi turned and left without hesitation.
"Mr. Arashi, you're back!"
As soon as he returned to the deck of the Traveler, Robin hurried over, concern in her voice.
"The banquet must have been exhausting. Would you like to rest? I've already prepared your room."
"Ah, not for now."
Seeing Robin looking like a capable, gentle wife, Arashi waved with a smile.
"Oh, right—"
He glanced around the harbor.
"Where's Mihawk? Did he leave?"
"Yes, Mr. Mihawk has already departed."
"I see."
Arashi turned to look once more toward the royal palace, then said decisively,
"Time to head to the next destination. Prepare to set sail, Robin."
"Understood, Mr. Arashi."
Robin nodded and went off to make preparations.
Soon, the Traveler raised its sails and departed from Constantin City.
Standing on deck, Arashi watched as the Ilusia Kingdom gradually faded into the distance.
Unconsciously, he thought of Sophia again.
Imagining her reaction upon waking up and finding him gone, he suddenly felt like maybe he should get one of those "scumbag perm" hairstyles.
Sophia, however, wasn't the type to fall apart.
Arashi's presence had been important—
But not everything.
What mattered most…
Was that she was a woman with ambition.
Having lived in the palace for so long, her desire for power far outweighed any fleeting romance.
She had already been mentally prepared for Arashi's departure.
Her attempt to keep him was genuine—
But only to a certain extent.
The next morning—
When Sophia woke and found that Arashi had indeed left, she calmly wrapped herself in a robe and walked to the window.
Looking out at the Traveler sailing away, her eyes showed neither sadness nor regret.
"Your Majesty…"
A maid entered and knelt behind her.
"Mr. Arashi has departed."
"I know."
Sophia withdrew her gaze and nodded.
"Prepare my attire."
"Your Majesty… won't you try to bring him back?"
The maid hesitated, surprised by her composure.
"If you send word, perhaps—"
"No need."
Sophia turned slightly, glancing outside again as she spoke softly:
"Love may be separated by mountains and seas. Mountains can be crossed with roads, and seas with ships."
Then she added calmly:
"Go. Help me dress."
Whether Arashi stayed or not—
She would not abandon her ambition.
Now that Topkapı III was dead, her path was clear.
From this moment on—
She would focus entirely on becoming the queen of this kingdom.
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