Early in the morning, Ortoren's internal clock woke him right on time. He opened his eyes to the familiar ceiling, took a moment to gather himself, then sat up in bed.
After a quick wash and getting dressed, he opened the bedroom door and stepped out. Out of habit, he reached into his coat for the Den Den Mushi, ready to call the cafeteria to have breakfast delivered.
But as he pulled it out, the smell of food reached him.
Only then did he remember—he wasn't living here alone anymore.
He shrugged, put the Den Den Mushi away, and walked through the corridor into the living room. There he saw Robin sitting on the sofa with Ace in her lap. The two of them were playing a silly little game, making Ace giggle uncontrollably.
On the dining table nearby, a full breakfast had already been laid out. Rouge was at the side, slicing fruit.
When she noticed Ortoren, she waved with a smile. "You still wake up at the same time as always. Haven't changed a bit."
Ortoren chuckled, scratching his head. "Just a habit."
Soon, they were all seated at the table. Even Ace had his own plate. At just over three years old, he was already able to use utensils on his own, eating neatly by himself. The sight left Ortoren with a quiet sense of amazement—children really did grow fast.
Robin sat across from him, eating while proudly sharing her achievements. Ortoren listened and praised her now and then, making her beam with joy.
"Uncle Borsalino even took me to Punk Hazard once! I saw mother there, and the Doctor, and the scholar uncles. They're all doing great. I told my mother I want to become a Marine and join the Science Corps in the future, and she agreed!" Robin said happily.
"No problem. When our lovely Robin grows up, I'll personally recommend you to the Science Corps," Ortoren said with a smile.
Right then, Rouge set a cut of steak onto his plate and reminded him gently, "You need to eat a proper breakfast to stay healthy."
Ortoren couldn't shake the feeling something about Rouge was… different. He couldn't quite say what, only that she seemed bolder than back at Marineford.
Was it just his imagination after being apart for so long, or was something really there?
Still, he didn't resist. Who would turn down a beautiful, gentle woman willing to tidy his home, cook his meals, and take care of his life?
As for Roger… well, after everything Ortoren had done for him, was it really so wrong to enjoy this a little?
With that odd reasoning, Ortoren convinced himself there was nothing wrong. He gave Rouge a smile and started on breakfast.
After the meal, Robin obediently brewed hot tea and set it on the coffee table. Ortoren had just sat down when Rouge walked over with the day's newspaper. "When are we heading out?" she asked.
Taking the paper, Ortoren glanced at the clock on the wall. "In fifteen minutes. Just enough time to finish reading this."
Rouge nodded, then looked at his chest. "Wearing a suit without a tie?" she asked.
She wasn't wrong. In the past, Ortoren had been far more casual, often walking around shirtless, showing off his muscles. But now, as a senior officer at Headquarters and Commander of G-5, he had taken to wearing suits like the other top Marines. It gave him presence and authority.
But he had never been good at tying a tie, so he always skipped that part.
Upon hearing Rouge's question, Ortoren answered with slight embarrassment. "Not really… I always end up messing it up."
Rouge simply nodded, asked nothing further, and turned to leave.
Seeing that, Ortoren shifted his focus to the newspaper.
There wasn't much in the way of major news. One report of note mentioned that on a hot spring island in the New World, Vice Admiral Garp had once again cornered "Hawk Eyes" Dracule Mihawk and given him a thorough beating. But afterward, an unexpected twist occurred—the Red-Haired Pirates appeared, and in the chaos managed to snatch up the unlucky Mihawk, allowing him to escape Garp's pursuit.
"This makes three times now, doesn't it?" Ortoren murmured, rubbing his chin.
As far as he recalled, since Garp's arrival in the New World, this was already the third time Mihawk had been thrashed by him. To be fair, the old man's efficiency was impressive—though much of the credit went to the Marines' Intelligence Division, CP's ally Spandine, Queen Stussy, and the Big Mom Pirates, whose unrivaled intelligence network constantly supplied Mihawk's whereabouts.
Thinking about it, even when Roger was chased all over the world by Garp, he'd never enjoyed this kind of intelligence support from such a black-gray-white alliance.
"Mihawk, you really are blessed," Ortoren remarked, then turned the page.
Another article caught his eye: the Shichibukai Crocodile had built the largest casino and entertainment complex in the first half of the Grand Line, called the "Rain Dinners," in Alabasta's Rainbase City. His goal was to establish a full-scale entertainment hub for the kingdom.
At the same time, Crocodile had defended Nanohana—Alabasta's busiest harbor—from six consecutive pirate attacks, securing its safety.
In recent weeks, public opinion had clearly shifted in his favor. Backed by this orchestrated image, Crocodile's reputation in Alabasta was beginning to "turn the corner."
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Crocodile was hailed as Alabasta's "national hero," even becoming the "positive face" of the Shichibukai.
"Spandine did say the Nefertari clan has always been at odds with the World Government. Looks like they're finally being put in their place…" Ortoren muttered, raising a brow.
Just then, Rouge emerged from the room, holding a neatly chosen tie. She walked up to Ortoren and said, "Stand up."
He immediately rose to his feet. Rouge paused for a moment—after all, Ortoren's towering height of over three meters was undeniably imposing.
Still, Rouge herself was far from short. Roger had stood at over 2.7 meters, and Garp was nearly three. Next to men like them, Rouge never looked small.
"Lower your head a little," Rouge reminded him.
Ortoren instinctively leaned down, and Rouge stepped in close without hesitation. She slipped her arms around his neck, draped the tie over him, and began tying it with practiced ease.
As she worked, she said softly, "As Base Commander, you need to mind your image and presence. That's how you establish authority in front of your subordinates. From now on, I'll tie your tie for you. Understood?"
Because of the angle, their faces were very close. Ortoren could feel the warmth of her breath and catch the faint floral fragrance clinging to her.
To be honest, it made his heart itch.
"Mm, I get it," Ortoren replied quietly, swallowing as he spoke.
With his natural charisma and deep, magnetic voice, those few words so close to her cheek made Rouge's hands stiffen slightly, her face tinged red.
Even so, she forced herself to stay composed, finished tying the knot, and gave his shoulder a light pat. "All done."
Ortoren straightened to his full height, meeting her gaze. Their eyes locked briefly before both looked away, flustered.
The air felt charged—too ambiguous. Just then, Robin emerged from the inner room carrying Ace, and the tension between them scattered at once.
Ortoren tucked the newspaper under his arm and glanced awkwardly at the clock. "Ahem… well, I should get to work."
"Mm. Be careful on the way," Rouge replied quickly, regaining her composure. Then she asked gently, "Will you be back for dinner tonight?"
"Most likely. Unless something unexpected comes up," Ortoren said.
Rouge smiled faintly. "Anything you'd like to eat? I'll make it."
"I'm not picky. Anything's fine," Ortoren answered with a small smile, adjusting his mood.
After exchanging a few more words with Robin, he finally stepped out of the house.
Once he was gone, Rouge's calm expression immediately broke. Her face flushed hot, and she covered it with her hands, rubbing a few times before she managed to settle herself.
She turned her gaze to the window and murmured, "Gion, I don't have your kind of strength, and I can't give Ortoren the support or influence you can in his career. But… I do have my own advantages…"
Yet guilt still gnawed at her. As a mother and a woman, it wasn't wrong to fight for her and her child's future. But Gion was also her benefactor. To betray her like this left Rouge conflicted.
She drew in a long breath, whispering with little confidence, "But she hasn't even confirmed a relationship with Ortoren yet. I… I… I'm not really a bad woman, am I?"
That day, the weather at the G-5 Marine Base was bright and mild, the air warm, carrying with it the unmistakable sense that spring's blossoms were pressing in, impossible to hold back.