Jasmine was momentarily stunned when she realized what Grayza was thinking. She quickly spoke up:
"That's a treasure your father spent hundreds of millions of berries on from the Grand Line!"
"Well~"
Grayza stuck out her tongue playfully.
"You can only eat one Devil Fruit anyway. Since my father gave it to me, I have the right to decide what to do with it."
"I can't offer Captain Gawain any real help as he heads into the Grand Line… but this Devil Fruit is different."
Jasmine pressed her fingers to her temple, sighing in frustration. A flicker of resentment flashed in her eyes—not toward Grayza, but toward Gawain.
Before Gawain entered the picture, Grayza had been, in her eyes, the perfect noblewoman—aside from her rather plain looks.
Brave, wise, educated, and kind. She embodied every virtue emphasized in the noble etiquette classes. In just a few short years of managing the port, she had earned the admiration of all. It wasn't unthinkable that she could one day contend with her brothers for the family inheritance.
But after meeting Gawain, she changed—almost like she had been possessed!
So what if he was handsome, strong, and kind-hearted?
"..."
Okay. That does sound attractive.
Jasmine thought back to Gawain's face—like something out of a fairy tale—and muttered weakly:
"Miss, we haven't even identified the fruit. We don't know what its power is. Have you thought about what would happen if it turned out to be useless?"
"Uh..."
Grayza blinked in surprise.
"Then let's wait until we find out what it does before giving it to Captain Gawain."
"Jango said he won't be setting sail for a while yet, right?"
"Yes, exactly."
Jasmine nodded quickly, eager to change the subject. She shifted to something she had heard at the port:
"By the way, I heard the sea restaurant Baratie will be arriving at Raven Port tomorrow. They'll be staying for three days."
Grayza's eyes lit up.
"The Baratie? The top-rated restaurant in the East Blue according to the World Economic News?!"
"That's the one."
"Then we're going tomorrow!"
The Next Night
Raven Port was bustling under the glow of lanterns.
A long stretch of ships lined the harbor, their decks converted into shops selling exotic goods from across the East Blue and even some from the Grand Line.
People wandered through the port, cheerful and relaxed. The scars of the recent war had faded, and now that the Gawain Pirates protected the area, the surrounding waters were safer and more prosperous than ever.
Amid the shops, one ship stood out—a massive vessel shaped like a giant fish.
"Baratie~"
Grayza slowly read the name aloud.
Several guards followed her, alert yet visibly distracted by the mouthwatering aroma wafting from the ship. Just one sniff was enough to leave a lasting impression.
Before long, a young man around sixteen or seventeen, with short blond hair, a handsome face, and polished manners, approached Grayza at a brisk pace.
It was Sanji, still in his days as a trainee cook at Baratie.
The moment he saw Grayza, Sanji's heart skipped a beat. He hurried to her and bowed deeply, speaking like a true gentleman:
"Madam, please allow me to escort you. I'll provide you with the finest service tonight."
"Thank you."
Grayza offered a polite smile and followed him into the restaurant.
A Few Minutes Later – Second-Floor Observation Deck
Sanji attentively poured red wine into Grayza's glass. His movements were practiced and graceful—but his eyes lingered on her face a little too long, his breathing a little too heavy.
Grayza, however, had her attention caught by a bounty poster on the wall.
"Knight Gawain—85 million berries? Captain Gawain's bounty has gone up again?"
A faint smile played at her lips.
Over time, she had come to understand that a bounty reflected more than notoriety—it was also a testament to strength. The increase confirmed what she already suspected: the Navy now considered Gawain a serious threat. His name was eclipsing all other pirates in the East Blue.
She couldn't hide the look of pride on her face.
Jasmine nodded beside her.
"Miss, you didn't know?"
"That was over a month ago. After the battle at Raven Port, Captain Gawain's bounty was officially raised to that amount."
Jasmine paused. Her voice softened when she noticed the fatigue in Grayza's eyes.
"Everything at the port is back to normal now. You should take a break."
Grayza shook her head with a quiet smile.
"Captain Gawain is chasing his dream. I can't afford to fall behind."
"At the very least, we need to make this the most prosperous port in the East Blue."
As the two women spoke, neither noticed that Sanji had stopped moving.
His eyes were cast downward, his face unreadable. He only spoke once their conversation tapered off:
"Ladies… I'd advise you not to admire that man too much."
"He's a bastard who abandoned the princess who loved him, and now he sails the seas alone."
"A man like that doesn't deserve to be called a knight!"
There was raw anger in his voice.
Grayza's expression darkened.
"The Gawain I know risked his life to face Admiral Krieg's fleet—for the sake of Raven Port's people."
"That man would never do something so cruel."
Sanji clenched his jaw, voice rising to a near shout:
"Don't you get it?!"
"Princess Guinevere was executed less than three months after that man set sail!"
Grayza froze.
She opened her mouth to respond, but a sharp voice cut through the tension.
"Sanji!"
"You're scaring our guests!"
They turned to see an old man with a towering chef's hat and a peg leg glaring at Sanji. His expression was thunderous.
"You little punk, have you forgotten what I taught you?! You never speak to women like that!"
Sanji hung his head in shame.
Zeff sighed, then turned to Grayza with an apologetic tone:
"Please forgive him. Princess Guinevere… she meant a great deal to this kid."
"After all—"
"Shut it, old man!"
Sanji cut him off and turned to leave—only to be kicked straight into the sea by Zeff.
Splash!
The sudden noise drew the attention of other diners.
Zeff turned back and bowed slightly to Grayza and her entourage.
"I apologize for the disturbance. Tonight's meal is on the house."
"That won't be necessary."
Grayza's expression had gone cold. She no longer felt like dining and turned to leave with Jasmine and the guards in tow.
Outside the Restaurant
Sanji, drenched and standing alone, watched Grayza walk away. He silently lit a cigarette, letting the smoke drift skyward.
He stood there for a long moment before turning and heading back inside Baratie.
He murmured under his breath:
"Looks like I'm the one unworthy of being called a knight."
Meanwhile – Somewhere in the East Blue
The skull-and-shield flag of the Gawain Pirates fluttered in the sea breeze.
On deck, the crew lounged around as Nami projected a movie from the Den Den Mushi.
A fairy tale played out on screen—
The beautiful princess who fell in love with the loyal, silent knight.