This... I'm afraid I can't promise you, Your Majesty," Rin said with a half-smile, half-sigh. He was caught between awkwardness and amusement—after all, Artoria was already by his side, and Kuina was still waiting for him somewhere. Adding Princess Shirahoshi to the mix? That was more than he could handle.
"Ah, so Lord Rin already has someone dear to him?" King Neptune noticed Rin's conflicted expression and instantly understood. This man had already given his heart to someone else—perhaps even more than one person.
"That's correct—actually, more than one," Rin admitted openly. He wasn't the type to feign modesty. In the world of One Piece, where the seas were ruled by kings, pirates, and freedom itself, it wasn't uncommon. And now, with power equal to that of the Admirals, Rin had the ability to protect both Artoria and Kuina.
"One of them is probably that lady Artoria, right?" Neptune chuckled knowingly. Over the past few days, he'd observed Rin's deep concern for Artoria. The way Rin reacted when Artoria had been poisoned—his panicked face, his care spoke volumes. A blind man could've seen it. They weren't just comrades; there was love there.
"Let's set aside emotional matters for a moment," Rin continued. "Even just speaking of age, I'm several years older than Princess Shirahoshi. And more than that—I already have two women I care about deeply. If your daughter were to marry me, she wouldn't find happiness. And" Rin paused awkwardly, "—frankly, there's the matter of her size. She's a giant mermaid. Even now it's manageable, but in the future... I honestly have no idea how that would even work physically."
"You need not worry, Lord Rin," King Neptune said, trying to wave off Rin's concern. "I won't ask you to marry Shirahoshi until she comes of age. Until then, you may marry as many others as you like—as long as, eventually, you agree to marry my daughter." It was a bold promise, but Neptune meant it. He was thinking of the future of Fish-Man Island.
"Your Majesty... you're gambling your daughter's happiness," Rin said, his tone serious now. "I suggest you think this over very carefully. It seems clear to me you're not asking this for love but for protection. You want a Warlord to be tied to your family, so no pirate will dare threaten Fish-Man Island." Rin saw through the politics. He had thought Neptune was a loving father after all, the king had rushed from the palace to protect Shirahoshi days earlier. But now, Rin saw a ruler playing chess with his daughter's life as a piece on the board.
"That's right! I don't agree with this at all!"
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out. It was Queen Otohime, standing weakly in the doorway. She had just regained consciousness but had heard the conversation between her husband and Rin and she was not pleased.
"Otohime! Why are you up? You should be resting!" Neptune immediately rushed toward her, alarmed that she was moving after just being poisoned.
"You were about to marry off our daughter!" Otohime exclaimed, voice trembling with restrained fury. She'd heard enough from the hallway, and she had not agreed to any such arrangement.
"Otohime, please, don't make this difficult. I'm discussing important matters with Lord Rin," Neptune said, clearly wanting to handle this matter without interference. He knew that Otohime was a firm believer in love-based marriage and she'd never approve of this political matchmaking.
"Lord Rin," Otohime turned to him directly. "I owe you my life. Had your shadow clone not moved me away during the explosion, I would've died. But never, not once, did you ask to marry my daughter. You acted selflessly not with expectations."
"Exactly," Rin said. "And I truly hope you, Your Majesty," he looked at Neptune, "will reconsider this. A kingdom's safety is important—but if you barter your daughter's future for it, you'll never forgive yourself." With that, Rin turned and began walking out. He didn't need applause or fanfare. But in that moment, he felt something shift within he was now more than just a warrior. He was someone who stood by his principles.
What disappointed him most was realizing that Shirahoshi herself had no idea she didn't know she was being offered as a bargaining chip for peace. Just days ago, Rin had respected Neptune for risking everything to protect his daughter but now he saw how that same daughter was being sacrificed for diplomacy.
---
"Look what you've done!"
Neptune bellowed after Rin's departure, turning on Otohime in frustration. He had hoped to seal the arrangement with Rin an alliance that could safeguard the island. But now, thanks to Otohime's interruption, it had all unraveled.
"Neptune! Shirahoshi is our daughter! Not a tool to trade for political favor!" Otohime shouted back, voice cracking with emotion. "If she knew her father tried to sell her to secure national security she would be crushed!" Her disappointment ran deep. She had fought for peace her entire life, for equality, not deals made behind closed doors.
"I know she's our daughter! But I also have a duty to this nation!" Neptune roared. His heart was torn. He wasn't blind to the cost but he carried the weight of his people on his shoulders.
"I should've seen this coming," Otohime said bitterly. "Maybe I shouldn't have brought Shirahoshi into this world at all. I've spent years outside, speaking on behalf of peace trying to reconcile the divide between Fish-Men and humans. And you? You're here plotting to marry off our daughter! It's shameful!"
"Marrying Rin Pandora might not be such a bad thing," Neptune said defensively. "Think back weren't you forced to marry me by your own father? He wanted to connect our royal lines, and you hated me for it. You even tried to run away! But didn't things turn out well in the end? We built a good life. We had our sons and Shirahoshi. You were happy eventually, weren't you?"
Neptune was trying to justify it. He saw history repeating itself but what he didn't understand was that Queen Otohime's dream had always been to break this very cycle. The idea that a woman's life, even a princess's, could be traded for political security was exactly what she had fought against.
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