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Vivi was not shy and sat directly across from Anos, her eyes widening as she gazed at the spread of food on the table.

The delicious smells filled the room, making her stomach growl loudly, causing her to blush in embarrassment.

Anos, sitting calmly, noticed her discomfort and broke the silence.

"How did you get here?" he asked, casually taking a bite of the roasted meat in front of him.

Without hesitation, Vivi began to explain, her voice full of excitement, "I followed Igaram-san. I overheard my father saying that the King of Tru kingdom was coming here, and he talks about you so often that I got really curious. I wanted to see what you looked like for myself!"

She paused for a moment, then added with a mischievous smile, "So I secretly followed Igaram-san."

As she spoke, her small hands eagerly grabbed pieces of food, her cheeks puffing out as she ate hurriedly, as if she hadn't eaten in days. Her enthusiasm was both adorable and amusing, prompting smiles from everyone at the table.

Suzu and Daiki, seated nearby, exchanged glances of surprise.

They had never imagined that such a young girl could be so bold as to follow an important figure like Igaram. Her determination was impressive, and both of them silently admired her bravery.

"She's quite something," Suzu whispered to Daiki, who nodded in agreement.

Vivi continued eating, her face lighting up with every bite. "This food is amazing!" she exclaimed between mouthfuls. "We don't have anything this good back home."

Just as they were finishing up their meal, a loud commotion suddenly erupted outside the room.

The clanking of armour and hurried footsteps echoed through the halls.

Moments later, the doors to the dining room burst open, and Igaram, looking flustered, entered with the guards.

The moment Igaram saw Vivi, his expression softened, and he let out a long sigh of relief. "Princess Vivi, how could you leave the palace like this? His Majesty has been worried sick!" he said, a mix of relief and frustration in his voice.

Vivi, still chewing, looked up at him with innocent eyes. "I'm sorry, Igaram-san. I was just too curious, so I came here. But there's nothing to worry about now," she said with a sheepish grin, her mouth still full of food.

Igaram, clearly exasperated but relieved that Vivi was safe, turned toward Anos and bowed respectfully. "My sincerest apologies, Your Majesty King Tru. It seems our princess has caused some disturbance. I'll take her back to the palace right away."

But Anos waved him off with a smile. "No need. She can stay here tonight. We'll head to Alubarna together in the morning," he said, his tone lighthearted and reassuring.

"Are you sure, Your Majesty?" Igaram asked, his brow furrowed in concern. He was still worried about Vivi's safety.

"If you're uncomfortable, you're welcome to stay outside with your guards tonight," Daiki suggested as he stood up from the table, trying to offer some comfort to Haruya's concerns.

Anos, however, smiled again and gestured for Igaram to relax.

"Sit down and have something to eat with us. There's plenty of food, and no need to rush," he said, offering his guest hospitality.

"No, Your Majesty," Igaram declined politely, his voice respectful.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"We have our duties to tend to, and I wouldn't want to impose. Since Princess Vivi is here, I may have disturbed you more than I intended. Please forgive me for the trouble," he said, bowing once again.

Anos chuckled softly. "There's no need for such formality. Princess Vivi is quite charming. She can stay here tonight and have some fun. It'll be a good experience for her," he said, glancing over at Vivi, who was still happily munching away at the food.

Vivi, feeling more at ease now, turned to Haruya with a wide smile. "Igaram-san just tell my father I'll be back tomorrow morning. There's no need for him to worry!" she said, her voice filled with confidence.

Igaram sighed deeply, realizing there was no arguing with her. He turned and exited the room, pulling out a transponder snail to contact the palace.

Back in Alabasta, the palace was in chaos. Servants and guards were running back and forth, their faces filled with worry.

King Cobra stood at the entrance to the palace, his expression was stern but anxious.

He had not seen his daughter since the early morning and was growing increasingly concerned.

As Cobra waited, pacing back and forth, a middle-aged man came rushing toward him, holding a transponder snail. "Your Majesty! We found her!" the man shouted breathlessly.

Cobra's eyes widened, and he quickly stepped forward, grabbing the man by the shoulders. "Where is she?" he asked urgently.

"Princess Vivi followed Captain Igaram and secretly travelled to the seed fields. She's currently staying at the palace there with King Tru," the man explained, his voice steady now that the situation was under control.

Cobra let out a long sigh, a mix of frustration and relief washing over him. "This girl...," he muttered, his earlier anger quickly fading as he processed the news.

The man continued, "Captain Igaram reported that King Tru will bring Princess Vivi back to the capital tomorrow morning. He's stationed his guards outside the palace to ensure her safety, so you don't have to worry anymore."

Cobra nodded slowly, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. "That's good to hear. Make sure Igaram keeps a close eye on her. We can't let her wander off again," he instructed, his voice calmer now that he knew his daughter was safe.

Back at the palace, the group had finished their meal, and they now sat on the sofas in the large sitting room.

Without much in the way of entertainment, they sat quietly, exchanging glances, unsure of what to do next.

"You don't seem very old," Vivi said suddenly, breaking the silence as she looked directly at Anos, her big blue eyes filled with curiosity.

Anos blinked, caught off guard by the comment. Before he could respond, Suzu, seated nearby, laughed and answered for him.

"Our king is only seventeen years old. Not only is he good-looking, but he's also quite capable. In a few years, maybe you can ask your father to arrange a marriage with him!" she teased, winking at Vivi.

Vivi blushed at the remark but giggled. "Maybe in a few years, that wouldn't be impossible," she said playfully.

Daiki, not wanting to miss out on the fun, joined in. "I think it's a great idea! Though you're a little young right now, Princess," he said with a laugh.

Anos sighed, shaking his head at his two companions. "Can you two stop teasing her? She's still a child. Don't say things like that in front of her," he scolded gently, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

But before he could say anything else, Vivi stood up and walked over to him, looking him up and down with a serious expression.

After a moment, she nodded and said, "You're not bad-looking. My father talks about you a lot. You must be very capable. Maybe in a few years, their suggestions won't be so crazy after all!"

Anos caught completely off guard, choked on his saliva. He coughed, trying to recover from the surprising comment.

"Ahem...!" He cleared his throat; he is not a paedophile like Drake & diddy.

Meanwhile, Daiki and Suzu couldn't help but laugh at the scene, their laughter filling the room.

"Your Majesty, it looks like you've made quite the impression on Princess Vivi," Daiki joked, still grinning.

Even Suzu, who was usually the more composed of the two, was covering her mouth to stifle her laughter.

Everyone in the room was laughing, except for Anos, who sat there, feeling utterly lost.

As he watched Vivi return to her seat, he found himself thinking about what she might look like in a few years.

It wasn't entirely out of the question. Alabasta was a powerful and wealthy kingdom, and a marriage alliance would be politically advantageous.

But it's against his moral standards. He won't marry if he doesn't love that girl or the girl doesn't love him; it will destroy both of their lives.

"Suzu, please check if the bedrooms are ready. Let's get some rest," Anos said, standing up and stretching. He was eager to end the conversation and avoid any more teasing.

"Right away, Your Majesty," Suzu replied with a smirk, standing up and heading toward the doors.

As Suzu left the room, Vivi turned to Daiki and asked curiously, "What's wrong with the king? Did I say something weird?"

Daiki chuckled and patted her on the head. "Don't worry, Princess. Our king is just a little shy. If you want to marry him someday, you'll have to wait a few more years until you're all grown up," he said with a wink.

"That's right, Princess Vivi. Our king is one of a kind. With his help, Alabasta will surely overcome its current struggles and thrive," Suzu said as she re-entered the room, her tone playful yet sincere.

Vivi, oblivious to the deeper implications, simply smiled and nodded, pleased with the attention she was receiving.

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