ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

Caesar was intrigued by this regal woman, drawn to her striking beauty and aloof temperament.

After all, anyone who caught the scent of a true queen would understand her allure.

"I want the Hurricane Fruit! You—I want you! And your kingdom, I want that too!"

In the royal hall of the Vengley Kingdom, Queen Effiete sat on her throne, her expression as cold as ice.

Yet, as she gazed at the man standing before her, the one holding the Hurricane Fruit in his grasp, she found herself unable to conceal the faint blush that crept across her face.

From childhood, she had been raised in nobility, but she had always longed for strength. Her passion for swordsmanship was unparalleled. The blade had been her sole companion, the path of the warrior her chosen road.

As her strength grew, fewer and fewer suitors dared to approach her. Those who remained were weak in her eyes, unworthy of her attention.

After all, she was not just any ruler—she was a queen, a master swordswoman, and one who possessed the rare power of Haoshoku Haki. How could she ever fall for an ordinary man?

"Well, Effiete, have you given it any thought?"

Below the throne, Caesar lifted his gaze to her, his expression filled with both amusement and absolute confidence.

She intrigued him—not merely because of her breathtaking beauty, but because of her raw strength. A woman of this caliber was rare. Her Haoshoku Haki was proof of that.

A queen of her caliber could be more than a consort. She could be a formidable ally.

Caesar had long abandoned the idea of making decisions based solely on personal desire. He had responsibilities now—ambitions too great to be clouded by mere whims.

If he could bring her to his side, the benefits would be immeasurable.

Effiete's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and something else—something she herself could not quite identify.

This audacious pirate had come to claim her Devil Fruit… and now, he sought to claim her as well?

"You wretched pirate!"

Her voice was filled with rage. "So the World Government's reports were correct—you are nothing more than a lowly thief who stole a throne that was never yours!"

Her glare was fierce, but beneath it, her heart was unsteady.

Caesar, however, remained unbothered. Instead, he smirked.

Prideful women like her—they could only be won over by a man strong enough to break through their walls.

And in this world, there were few as strong as him.

"Call me what you want," Caesar chuckled. "But one thing is certain—you belong to me now."

A faint blush crossed Effiete's face, a stark contrast to her usual icy demeanor. She refused to acknowledge the emotions stirring within her.

Caesar, noticing this, tossed the Hurricane Fruit carelessly into the air, letting it hover behind him before taking slow, deliberate steps toward the throne.

Effiete stiffened, her grip tightening on the armrest.

"You..."

Her voice was firm, but her body betrayed her.

Caesar stood before her, reaching out and lifting her chin with a controlled dominance. His golden eyes bore into hers.

"Tomorrow," he declared, "you will announce your kingdom's allegiance to me. And I will move this entire island."

With those words, he leaned in.

For the first time in her life, Queen Effiete felt powerless.

—Some details omitted—

Across the seas, power was concentrated in the hands of the few. Whether among the Marines, the Yonko, the Revolutionary Army, or even the Cipher Pol, only a handful of figures truly stood at the pinnacle.

And soon, the Middle Kingdom would rise to challenge them all.

With Effiete at his side, Caesar's kingdom would gain another top-tier warrior. Including himself, they would have five individuals with power rivaling the mightiest forces on the seas.

This was more than just acquiring a Devil Fruit.

This was about conquest.

The Hurricane Fruit, this queen, this country—everything here would belong to him.

And with his sheer dominance, it was only natural that the rose before him would eventually submit.

Back in the royal chambers, the night passed without words.

The next morning, Caesar awoke to find Effiete beside him. Her star-like eyes were closed, her long lashes trembling ever so slightly.

Feigning sleep.

Amused, he lay on his side, quietly watching her.

She was pretending, but the slight blush on her face exposed the truth.

Smirking, he reached out and brushed his fingers along her cheek.

"Tell them to prepare breakfast," he murmured, "and once it's done… make the announcement."

A soft hum was her only response.

At that moment, the icy queen displayed a rare glimpse of tenderness.

Even the strongest women—when truly conquered—would eventually lean into the warmth of their captor.

An hour later, the voice of Queen Effiete rang out through the kingdom.

"I am the ruler of the Vengley Kingdom, Queen Effiete."

"Today, I have an important announcement to make."

"As of this moment, the Vengley Kingdom will officially become part of the Middle Kingdom."

"King Caesar will move this entire island to the heart of his domain. All citizens—prepare yourselves for this change."

The people were stunned.

For a moment, the entire nation seemed to fall into silence.

And then, the uproar began.

"Wait… what?!"

"Did I hear that right? Our queen—our queen—just handed over our kingdom?!"

"Caesar? The Middle Kingdom? Isn't that the pirate's empire?!"

"We even rejected the World Government's request to join the Reverie—why would we suddenly align with a pirate king?!"

Chaos erupted. Citizens who had always believed in their queen's wisdom found themselves questioning everything.

Even though some had heard of the Middle Kingdom—had read about it on the newly emerging transponder-snail news networks—few ever imagined their own country would one day be part of it.

Their queen had protected them, ruled with an iron will. Why had she made such a drastic choice?

"Your Majesty, please explain!"

"Yes, Queen Effiete, we need answers!"

Though Effiete could not hear their shouts directly, Caesar's observation Haki allowed him to sense their confusion, their anger.

At this moment, he stepped forward, extending his hand.

Without hesitation, Effiete placed the microphone in his grasp.

This was no longer a matter for the queen to explain.

It was time for the king to speak.

A deep voice echoed through the kingdom.

"People of the Vengley Kingdom—my name is Caesar, King of the Middle Kingdom."

His words carried weight. They silenced the crowd.

And in that moment, a new chapter in history began.

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