"No way... Sensei...?"
In the editorial department of a publishing house, editor Eddie stood stunned, the letter he had just received still clutched in his hand.
The sender was Sue, a writer he had known since his early days in the industry, and arguably his closest friend. Back then, Sue was still being hailed as a "rising star," and Eddie felt a deep sense of pride in how they had worked together, side-by-side, to reach this point.
Over time, their relationship had evolved beyond mere business partners. They had become close friends, comfortable sharing casual jokes and pouring their hearts into creating better stories together.
But this letter...
Sue, who usually scheduled meetings and handled other communication via Den Den Mushi, had gone out of her way to send a handwritten note.
Curious, Eddie opened the envelope, glanced at the contents, and froze.
(Sensei... a Celestial Dragon? How could this be happening...?)
Celestial Dragons were the absolute rulers of the world, their power guaranteed and protected by the World Government and the Marines. They openly flaunted slaves—despite slavery being officially outlawed—brutally mistreating them and casually destroying the lives of innocent citizens on a whim.
Their cruelty defied description, and to be targeted by them was tantamount to making the entire world your enemy. A normal life would be impossible afterward.
The letter explained that Sensei had unexpectedly encountered a Celestial Dragon in the city and been marked as his "wife." She was being taken to the Holy Land Mary Geoise and wouldn't be able to contact anyone for a while.
She reassured me she would definitely return someday and asked me to look after things until then.
Even though the letter told him not to worry, Eddie couldn't help but feel anxious.
The Celestial Dragons... their cruelty was legendary, enough to make anyone want to cover their ears. What kind of treatment would Sue, whom even a casual observer would call beautiful, endure at their hands? Eddie couldn't bear to imagine it.
But there was nothing he could do. As an ordinary citizen, he had no power to intervene in such matters. All he could do was pray for Sue's swift and safe release.
'I'll be waiting, Sensei. I believe in you and I'll keep waiting, so please, you absolutely have to come back! I still want to help your work reach the world! When I said I'd follow you anywhere... I didn't lie.'
Fighting back tears, she started walking.
First, she had to report this to her supervisor and discuss how to proceed. For the foreseeable future, she wouldn't be receiving any more of her manuscripts, nor could she commission any new work from her.
She also needed to inform Morgans, a mutual acquaintance, about the situation.
There was so much to do. So that when she eventually returned safely, she could welcome her back as if nothing had changed, ready to walk alongside her once more.
***
"There's no other way to put it... she was just incredibly unlucky," the old man said.
"It's always been that way with her... It's as if she was born under a star destined for hardship."
Meanwhile, at Shakky's Rip-Off Bar in the Sabaody Archipelago, the bar owner and an elderly man seated at the counter sighed as they read a letter.
The letter Sue sent Shakuyaku was similar to the one she sent Eddie. It explained that she had become one of the Celestial Dragons' wives and wouldn't be able to contact them for a while, but they shouldn't worry.
However, unlike Eddie's letter, this one also included a request to look after her ship, which was currently docked in the Sabaody Archipelago port, for an extended period.
"If she really wanted to escape, she could have," Shakuyaku mused.
"She probably didn't want to become a wanted criminal or cause trouble for us," Rayleigh added.
Shakuyaku quickly discerned Sue's intentions. The letter was addressed to her as the bar's owner, and Sue consistently referred to Rayleigh as "Mr. Rayleigh." They both immediately understood that this consideration stemmed from their shared past as former pirates.
"It says not to worry, but that's easier said than done... after all, they're Celestial Dragons," Shakuyaku sighed.
"Fortunately, she was taken as a wife, not a slave," Rayleigh reassured her. "I'd like to think she won't face outright abuse. Still, life there will be precarious... but Sue's resourceful. She'll manage."
Shakuyaku sighed heavily. If Sue had been taken as a slave... given the Celestial Dragons' penchant for cruel amusement, the thought of what she might endure was unbearable.
But as a wife, her life should be somewhat distinct from that of a slave. How she lives will depend on the particular Celestial Dragon's whims... but they tend to meticulously maintain these distinctions, so in that sense, we can trust them to some extent.
Still, stories of Celestial Dragons shooting their guards or servants in a fit of pique over some minor mistake were common enough to warrant caution. But then again, that could happen to anyone who wasn't a Celestial Dragon. Best not to dwell on it.
"Surprisingly resourceful, that one," Rayleigh remarked. "She might get bored and tossed aside soon enough, but let's just trust her and wait. Besides... there's this too."
He pointed to the coded message at the end of the letter, chuckling. It wasn't explicitly written, but the moment he deciphered it, he burst out laughing. It was just so... her.
"'It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I'm going to thoroughly investigate Mary Geoise while I'm here'... She probably means it," Rayleigh chuckled. "She's always been so audacious, hasn't she?"
"Who knows? Maybe this experience will inspire her next masterpiece," Shakky mused. "Let's just look forward to the stories she'll bring back... And we need to explain this to Hachi, too. When was he supposed to visit next?"
"He should be here soon," Shakky replied. "That sweet boy will worry himself sick."
It wasn't that they weren't worried.
But more than that, they had decided to trust her completely.
Across the bar counter, the two friends chatted quietly, thinking of their beloved apprentice—the girl they sometimes treated like a daughter. For now, they accepted the lonely hours that stretched before them.
They both seemed to share an unspoken certainty that this wasn't a final farewell. To an outsider, it probably looked like just another ordinary day.
***
Hey everyone, it's Sue! I'm now the "wife" of Celestial Dragon Saint Banosakka.
I'm currently living comfortably in a mansion in Mary Geoise's "Land of the Gods," where I want for nothing.
Yeah, really—I'm living a completely normal life, free from hardship.
So far, at least. Nothing terrible has happened to me, and everything's been perfectly ordinary.
To give you a better idea of how ordinary, let me walk you through a typical day.
First, I wake up in a plush, luxurious bed.
My nightgown is probably made of silk—it feels incredible against my skin. Actually, every piece of clothing I own, from my underwear to my outerwear, feels absolutely divine. I can't even begin to imagine how much it all costs.
Another subtle common thread: all the clothes are made from thin, sexy fabrics. I guess that must be Saint Banosakka's taste.
Even the nightgowns are practically see-through, revealing every curve. It's rather... provocative.
I change as soon as I wake up.
My maid had already laid out my clothes for the day the night before, so I change into everything, right down to my underwear. I use a damp towel to quickly wipe off any night sweats, making sure I'm properly clean.
Honestly, I'd prefer to change by myself, but I swallow my embarrassment and have Stella, my personal slave, help me.
The reason? The dresses I wear as everyday clothes have such complicated designs. I can't manage the back fastenings and decorative cords alone—I need someone else to check them to feel secure.
The dress I wore on my first day... I didn't even know how to put it on properly.
After changing, I left the tidying up to Stella and headed to breakfast.
Meals were taken three times a day at set times in the mansion's dining room, with all the "Wives" eating together. Apparently, it was meant to foster camaraderie among us.
Each meal was lavish beyond belief. I'd overheard that each dish cost tens of thousands of Berry.
Delicious, but the strict table manners made me feel a little stifled.
For the rest of the time, we were free to do as we pleased, as long as we stayed within the mansion grounds.
I could retreat to my room and enjoy some solitude.
Or lose myself in the daily newspapers or the library's extensive collection.
Or socialize with the other "Wives" in the salon over tea or games.
It was perfectly fine to go outside and walk in the garden. The "mansion" we weren't allowed to leave referred to the entire estate. As long as we stayed within the gates, we were free to stroll through the garden.
The garden was quite large. A few laps around the mansion's perimeter made for a decent walk, though my heels and decorative shoes made it rather uncomfortable.
In any case, we were free to do whatever we pleased during the day.
If there was any pressure, it was only that we were encouraged to socialize with the other wives and get along.
The other "wives"... Since I was the 27th Consort, there were twenty-six others. They were incredibly diverse, with different skin tones, eye colors, hair lengths and textures, and body types. It didn't seem like they'd gathered women who shared similar tastes.
The only things we all had in common were that we were beautiful, young, and human.
I hadn't seen any Fish-Men or Mink Tribe members here. Even among the humans, there were none of the more unusual races with disproportionate limbs, like the Longarm Tribe, Longleg Tribe, or Snake-Neck Tribe. And no giants, either.
At first glance, the sight of everyone dining, enjoying tea in the salon, or playing games was dazzlingly glamorous.
But was that the whole story? Well, that depended on the person.
Some, like me, had simply decided to embrace the situation and have fun. Others genuinely seemed to revel in the luxurious lifestyle, radiating cheerfulness and energy. Those were easy to be around, and chatting with them was surprisingly fun. I even learned a lot of tips for surviving here.
Still, there were others who clearly weren't like that. Quiet and aloof types, or those who carried a palpable darkness about them, constantly looking down. Some even had haunted eyes and muttered to themselves, lost in their own dark thoughts.
Some of us were brought here against our will, forcibly separated from our families. I even heard of someone torn away from her husband. I guess you could say it was unavoidable.
Anyway, enough about the "Wives" and their stories. Let's get back to the daily routine.
Lunch and dinner were eaten together in the dining hall, just like breakfast. The rest of the time was mostly free.
In the evening, around nine o'clock, we took baths together in the large communal bathhouse where I'd bathed alone on the first day. I figured it was partly for bonding, but mostly just efficient.
We thoroughly washed away the day's sweat and grime, got clean, and changed into the nightgowns provided.
After that, we could either return to our rooms or relax in the library or salon.
At ten o'clock, lights went out and we had to go to bed. Since the salon and other common areas were closed, everyone retreated to their rooms.
The mansion was patrolled by soldiers and attendants. If they saw lights still on in a room, they'd tell us to turn them off, so it was best to go to bed early.
Just as Stella served me, each of my wives had a female slave as her personal attendant. These women typically went to bed after we did and woke up before us, so staying up late would make their lives even harder. I didn't want exhausted people around me, and I did care about their well-being.
So, that was a typical day for us "wives."
At first glance, it might seem like the ideal, carefree NEET lifestyle. And in a way, it was. We didn't have to do anything, and our food, clothing, and shelter were all of high quality. Even though our entertainment and freedom were limited, we definitely lived better than the average citizen. Plenty of the "wives" genuinely enjoyed this life.
But that was only true as long as nothing disturbed the peace.
Our comfortable lives existed solely because we were Saint Banosakka's pampered pets.
We had to work hard to stay in his good graces, knowing that if he ever stopped doting on us, everything would be upended in an instant, and we'd lose it all.
First, there was the mansion itself. Its most striking feature was the unusually large windows.
Apparently, they were designed to allow a clear view of our villa's interior from the outside—or rather, from Saint Banosakka's main residence.
The windows facing his estate were decorated with gilded latticework.
I imagined that anyone looking in would see something like a giant golden cage, perhaps like a hamster's cage.
We were beginning to realize we were being treated as ornamental pets, kept solely for Saint Banosakka's amusement.
Even the sexy dresses we wore during the day and the alluring negligees we wore to bed were designed to please his eyes. I'd often catch him peering in through the windows, smirking at us.
Sometimes, he'd drop by the mansion unannounced to observe our daily lives. During these visits, we weren't expected to kneel and prostrate ourselves. A polite nod was enough, and we were encouraged to continue as usual—that was the kind of "performance" he enjoyed watching.
As his playthings, our sole purpose was to entertain him. Without that, we had no reason to exist.
What if we became too fat or too thin, losing our appeal? What if we let ourselves become dirty, sweaty, or slovenly dressed, displeasing him?
The moment that happened, we'd be discarded without a second thought.
In the worst-case scenario, we might even face cruel treatment, our status reduced from "Wife" to mere "Slave." I'd heard stories from older "Wives" about others who had suffered that fate.
To prevent that, we had to be constantly vigilant.
We couldn't afford to become reclusive and self-indulgent. We needed to walk in the garden, exercise moderately, and maintain our figures, beauty, and health.
But if we tried too hard and someone said, "Ugh, she's trying too hard," that would be just as bad. Even our exercise routines had to be graceful and refined.
We also had to pay close attention to our appearance. We couldn't let our clothes look sloppy, neglect our skincare, or be careless with our hairstyles.
That's why, when necessary, I had to put aside any embarrassment and let the maids help me dress properly, whether it was a formal gown or nightwear.
This included not only hair care and makeup, but also dealing with morning sweat, bathing, drying myself, and even hair removal. For areas I couldn't reach or things I couldn't manage alone, I needed to accept assistance and make sure everything was done properly.
Being seen naked, even by another woman, being touched, and all sorts of other things... it might be embarrassing, but I couldn't afford to let such concerns bother me.
Maintaining a lovable appearance was essential for survival here.
And that's why, when I deemed it necessary, I did just that. I had resolved to do whatever it took.
Especially for me, with my thick, voluminous hair that takes so much effort to style, I always ask Stella to check if it looks alright and sometimes even to fix it for me.
But even if we maintain our beauty and health, there's no guarantee of safety in this life. That's another terrifying aspect of living here.
The reason is that wives from Saint Banosakka are sometimes whimsically summoned to accompany him on strolls through the Holy Land or when he visits other Celestial Dragons' homes.
And there's no telling what might happen during those outings.
For instance, the Celestial Dragon they're visiting might suddenly declare, "I want that woman! I'll trade you my wife for her!"
Or they might be forced to participate in one of the other Celestial Dragons' "games"—and it's common knowledge that Celestial Dragons' "games" are almost always twisted and depraved.
At its worst, a Celestial Dragon lady might suddenly shoot you for having similar hair or skin, calling you an "unpleasing Amas." Though, since I was supposedly a "Wife," that was supposedly rare.
There were other, less common but equally terrifying incidents. Like rewarding a favored subordinate with a "Wife," forcing tattoos because they were trendy, or making people eat Devil Fruits for entertainment.
After hearing all this, I immediately confessed that I was an Ability User.
Sure, that put me at risk of being paraded around as a spectacle, but that was less frightening than being forced to eat a Devil Fruit without knowing the consequences.
You can't eat more than one Devil Fruit. If you try to eat a second, your body will shatter into pieces and you'll die.
Shortly after my confession, Saint Banosakka summoned me and demanded I demonstrate my ability.
They watched me demonstrate my ability with amusement and laughter, but quickly grew bored and told me I could leave.
'Phew, thank goodness they didn't say something like, "Is your body made of paper? Let's see if it burns!"'
That would have killed me instantly. Fire is my greatest weakness.
After that, I had to wear a Sea Stone bracelet to prevent myself from recklessly using my ability. Apparently, it's low-purity, so it only makes me feel a little sluggish—I can still move normally. And the design is actually pretty stylish.
I didn't even know this world had things like that.
It was also the first time I'd ever heard of Sea Stone having different purity levels.
In the end, I've reluctantly realized over the past few days that the only way to survive in Mary Geoise is to live in constant fear, hoping nothing happens and praying I don't get dragged into anything.
I wonder if I'll ever leave this Holy Land with my body (and everything else) intact...
To be continued...