Amid the grand and lively music, Teach walked into the wedding hall with a wide grin, Chiffon at his side with an expressionless face.
The guests erupted into applause. The Whitebeard Pirates cheered loudly, their excitement overflowing as whistles mixed with their clapping. In contrast, the Big Mom Pirates remained composed, with some even showing subtle relief that Chiffon had finally been married off.
Step by step, Chiffon approached Charlotte Linlin, her arm linked with Teach's. Linlin only gave her daughter a brief glance before shifting her attention to her new son in law.
Seeing the gaps in Teach's teeth, Linlin raised an eyebrow inwardly.
"This man looks even worse than in the picture."
Unlike her, Whitebeard appeared far more like a caring father. Watching Teach's exaggerated happiness, he let out a satisfied smile and raised his hand to pat Teach on the shoulder.
"Pops," Teach called warmly, playing the role of a devoted son perfectly.
The scene of fatherly affection stirred a trace of envy within Chiffon. In her eyes, although Teach and Whitebeard were not related by blood, their bond felt more genuine than most families. At least, she could feel Whitebeard's sincerity.
As for herself, she had never known her father, and her mother was not someone she could rely on. The fact that Linlin had not killed her after that incident was already a rare display of restraint.
Below the stage, Pudding let out a soft sigh.
"I hope this Teach is a reliable brother in law. Sister Chiffon has suffered a lot over the years."
Everyone in the Charlotte Family knew Chiffon was not favored. Galette, aware of Pudding's closeness to her, spoke gently.
"I think Teach looks quite honest. There shouldn't be any problems."
Hearing that, Lloyd slightly shook his head, a faint, knowing smile forming beneath his mask.
Honest?
On Earth, Teach was labeled a true pirate. A man like him would never play the role of a harmless husband.
Up ahead, Teach and Chiffon had already begun exchanging rings. Their movements were quick, and they barely met each other's eyes.
To most, this was normal. After all, the two had never met before, so a lack of familiarity was expected.
Perhaps sensing the stiffness of the moment, Teach suddenly reached out and pulled Chiffon into his embrace, pressing her against him.
Caught off guard, Chiffon gasped softly and looked up at him in surprise.
Teach intended to display confidence, but the moment he lowered his head, his expression froze.
Chiffon's large, rugged face filled his vision, her bright red lips strikingly bold.
For a brief moment, Teach stiffened awkwardly.
Unfortunately, Thatch misunderstood completely. Thinking Teach was hesitating out of shyness, he immediately shouted,
"Kiss! Kiss!"
The Whitebeard Pirates followed his lead, their voices rising in unison.
Whitebeard burst into laughter.
"Gurarara! Teach, my son cannot hesitate. Do it properly!"
Teach's expression darkened. At that moment, he wished nothing more than to shut Thatch up.
Chiffon, meanwhile, flushed deeply, her face heating up like a freshly cooked pancake.
Under the watchful gazes of both Linlin and Whitebeard, Teach realized he had no way out.
Still, he was no ordinary pirate. Steeling himself, he forced his perspective to shift. In his mind, Chiffon's face gradually turned into his beloved cherry pie.
The effect was immediate.
His eyes sharpened, his lips pressed forward, and without hesitation, he kissed her.
The entire hall fell silent.
The impact of the scene was overwhelming. Even Lloyd froze, his body stiff as if brushed by a surge of Haoshoku Haki.
After a moment, Teach pulled back.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Chiffon staring at him, her gaze unexpectedly gentle.
For a split second, Teach's face reddened, and his heart gave a strange tremor.
He quickly turned his head away, wiping the corner of his mouth. Seeing the lipstick on his fingers, he muttered under his breath,
"I overdid it."
Gradually, the crowd recovered, and an even louder wave of applause erupted. This time, not only the Whitebeard Pirates but also the Big Mom Pirates and the guests joined in. Many looked at Teach with admiration.
Even Lloyd felt a rare sense of acknowledgment.
Others might not understand, but he did. Having seen the story before, he knew Teach's taste in women was consistent. That kiss had not been genuine, it was pure performance.
Stussy remained composed, but Galette and the others were visibly confused.
Pudding, however, was deeply moved. Tears streamed down her face, soaking her bangs as she whispered,
"Is Sister Chiffon finally going to be happy?"
Lloyd's lips twitched slightly as he shook his head.
What came next, however, surprised him even more.
Chiffon suddenly leaned forward and kissed Teach again, this time with clear determination.
Teach froze completely.
Before he could react, her soft voice reached him.
"Husband."
Below, Pudding broke down completely, crying uncontrollably. As she instinctively brushed her bangs aside, her third eye was revealed under the light.
She only realized her mistake when she noticed everyone at the table staring at her forehead.
Galette and Boir remained unfazed, as fellow members of the Charlotte Family, they already knew her secret.
But Lloyd and Stussy were outsiders.
Pudding hurriedly pulled her bangs back down. When she looked at them again, her expression had turned cold.
"You both saw it, didn't you…?"
She slowly raised her hand, preparing to use her Devil Fruit ability to erase their memories.
At that moment, Lloyd spoke.
"Miss Pudding, that eye of yours is quite beautiful. Why hide it?"
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