Sugar—
Her younger sister, and a member of the Donquixote Family.
More than that, she was one of the most important ones—so much so that even other officers were assigned to protect her.
The reason, however,wasn't familial favoritism. The Donquixote Family wasn't built on nepotism.
The true reason was something only a handful of the Family's top executives knew.
No one from the outside could possibly know the truth.
At least, that was how it should have been.
Monet clenched her fists, the demon-like voice of that man echoing in her ears.
"Your sister, Sugar, has formidable physical skills—worth at least a ten-million-Beli bounty. Within the Donquixote Family, her position is extremely high, to the point where even Trebol goes out of his way to protect her. After all, she's a Devil Fruit user—the Toy-Toy Fruit, isn't it?"
His calm, deliberate tone continued like a knife tracing along her nerves.
"A terrifying power… one that can turn anyone she touches into a toy of her choosing. The kind of toy depends entirely on her preferences—dolls, plush animals, puppets. Yes, I'm talking about the toys of Dressrosa. Every one of them was once a human transformed by Sugar's ability—former enemies of the Family, weren't they? And those turned into toys lose their place in the memories of their loved ones. Everyone connected to them—family, friends, even casual acquaintances—forget their existence completely, erased by the Toy-Toy Fruit's curse. Only physical evidence remains: their belongings, their footprints, their homes. But that's not even the most horrifying part."
Ren's voice dropped, quiet yet heavy, as if describing something he'd seen with his own eyes.
"Those turned into toys retain their minds and voices. They remember everything that happened, every humiliation, every loss. But they can't fight back. Once the transformation is complete, Sugar makes them sign a contract: Do not harm humans. Serve the Donquixote Family until death.
Any toy that dares approach its loved ones or reveal the truth is treated as a dangerous, insane doll—destroyed without hesitation. Compared to that, I'd say I'm quite the good person, don't you think?"
"You manipulated me! All those so-called lapses of control, those moments of confusion—they were your doing! Just another of your tricks!"
Monet's sudden outburst cut through the air, her tone unwavering.
"I never lied to you," Ren replied mildly, tilting his head. "Why say that?"
"You know too much!" she snapped, her golden eyes narrowing. "You claim you just wanted to pressure me, to make me yield—but that's your flaw! Sugar's information is absolute top secret within the Family. Only a few of us know it. If there was no traitor, how could you possibly know these things?!"
Her voice trembled, but her reasoning was razor-sharp.
"It can only mean one of two things—either there's a betrayer among us, or…"She took a breath. "When you ambushed me back in Mock Town, you knew who I was, where I was hiding, and what disguise I was using. You set your trap perfectly. That's the only reason you won. If it were a fair fight, I wouldn't have lost!"
Her voice shook. "You knew everything in advance. I don't know how, maybe a Devil Fruit, maybe a spy—but something's not right! Otherwise, why can't I attack you even now, even knowing all this? Why can't I kill you, you bastard?!"
Her whole body trembled. Her tone flared and fell, caught between fury and despair.
Her beautiful face hardened into ice. "You said my fusion settings weren't complete—that's just your excuse. The more terrifying possibility is that you've completely changed me. You're just pretending otherwise to toy with my mind. A man who puts Seastone handcuffs on me and still says I can't harm those close to you? How ridiculous. You're mocking me. You just want to watch my reaction for fun!"
There was one thought she didn't dare say aloud: If this man could truly manipulate her this deeply… then one day, he might let her "escape" on purpose. A sleeper agent unaware of her own status—trusted by the Young Master himself. That kind of infiltration could destroy the Donquixote Family from within.
Just imagining it made Monet's blood run cold.
If Sugar fell into enemy hands—if her ability were neutralized, if the truth came to light—Dressrosa, the Family's base of power, would erupt like a volcano.
Those "toys," the forgotten victims, the suppressed truths… all would return in an instant.
And though the weak had no voice in the New World ruled by strength, Dressrosa was still a World Government member nation, and the Young Master—a king beloved by his citizens. The Family needed that foundation.
If the truth ever came out, everything would collapse at once.
The thought drove Monet to the edge of despair. She even felt an impulse to end her life—if only to contain the damage.
If one Pica's death was necessary, then hers would simply be another sacrifice. Her loyalty to Doflamingo far outweighed her fear of death.
"You're quite a sharp thinker," Ren remarked with a calm, unreadable gaze. "So—will you accept? Isn't this what you want?"
Once you leave, I'll end my life. Let's see what tricks you can pull on a corpse.
That thought burned in Monet's heart. His calm confidence only confirmed her fears—her deduction was right.
Outwardly, though, she could only nod stiffly. "As long as you don't harm my sister, that's enough."
"Yes," Ren said evenly. "In exchange for your sister's life, you will not take your own."
Monet froze.
That tone—flat, inevitable—sent chills through her bones.
A deal had been struck.
"You…" Her pupils contracted. "Didn't you just say you wouldn't harm those close to you?!"
Ren smiled faintly. "Now that you've seen through it, does it really matter?"
"You—!" She gasped. "You are deceiving me!"
"Perhaps." His gaze remained deep and shadowed. "But would you refuse my offer?"
Monet fell silent.
Sugar's life—her sister's life—was everything to her.
Not just out of love, but necessity. The enemy already knew about Sugar. If she were attacked, if her power failed, the damage to the Family would be catastrophic.
If Monet's suffering could ensure her sister's survival, then so be it. Even if Sugar lost her will and her powers faded, Doflamingo could still salvage the aftermath.
Unknowingly, Monet had already branded Ren as the Family's mortal enemy. Every thought now turned toward minimizing the Family's losses.
"Well?" Ren asked softly. "Your answer?"
"…Fine!" Monet snapped, glaring coldly. "But don't think you'll win. I'll never submit to your control. You'll never use me against the Family. And don't delude yourself—you could never defeat the Young Master!"
"Heh," Ren chuckled. "Do you really think Doflamingo has a chance?"
"The Young Master is a man destined to be king!" Monet roared. "When you face him, you'll understand what true despair is! Everything you've done will come back to you—in the most brutal way imaginable!"
Her golden eyes blazed with unshakable faith.
Just like in the original tale, her loyalty to Doflamingo was blind and absolute.
Ren merely shook his head. "So confident. I only hope you're still this sure of yourself when Doflamingo falls."
He rose to his feet, expression unreadable, and left without another word.
Monet blinked in confusion as the door clicked shut behind him.
'He… just left?'
Her thoughts drifted in stunned silence until the faint sound of footsteps faded.
Then—
Click.
The door opened again. Vivi stepped into the small, narrow cabin.
Compared to her room aboard the Enlightenment, this space was tiny, cramped. But they were on assignment now; even Ren lived under the same conditions. No one could complain—it was simply the limit of what the weather ship could manage.
Though expanded and partitioned to fit its crew, its bubble propulsion still restricted its load capacity.
Vivi tidied up the small space, then lay down on the narrow bed, staring blankly through the porthole at the ship's bow.
There was nothing left for her to do. Ren was training, Sas was rescuing people, and Nojiko was piloting—making sure the ship stayed stable against sudden climate shifts.
For once, Vivi had no tasks. Even the endless sky outside the window felt dull now.
But inside… her heart was restless.
How could she describe this strange feeling?
Was it because she knew what would happen in that room if she didn't intervene? Or because—perhaps—it wasn't really about that?
She told herself quietly, It's nothing.
She had already seen Ren and Nojiko's relationship once before—back on Ruluka Island, their "first battlefield. "From everyday moments, she'd long noticed the subtle signs between men and women.
She knew that not just Nami, but also Nojiko, shared something special with Ren.
Alright, let's just say it plainly—they're lovers, partners.
Vivi tossed her light-blue hair and buried her face in the pillow. So why… why did I attack Monet? Why did I make such a scene?
The young girl thought and thought, trying to find the root of her turmoil. And though she already knew the answer—
It was jealousy.
At seventeen, Vivi might have been a princess, but she never felt like one. Not in spirit.
As a child, she longed for adventure—for freedom, for the open world beyond Alabasta's walls. Maybe it was because of her mother's death, or her father's protective love.
But the fire inside her had always been there—stubborn, daring, unyielding. Even after growing up and being confined to palace life, that spirit never died.
Her father's love sheltered her, granting her what now seemed like an untroubled, indulgent youth—a princess's peace that could not last forever.
(End of Chapter)