Chapter Text
The best day of Law’s life was being given away.
He hadn’t known that fact the morning of.
Since his eighteenth birthday, Law spent every waking day anticipating the moment Doflamingo would have him shipped off to entertain some king he needed to win the favor of. He did not spend a moment fighting against it. Nothing could ever change Doflamingo’s mind.
Law made his choice during his teenage years, proving himself to be a liability rather than a tool that Doflamingo could mold and sharpen to his liking.
And Law understood the finality of his words when the chains were placed on his wrists and ankles, shackling him to the castle to better prevent any chance of escape.
The chains meant nothing to Law. There was no other place for him to run to.
Years Law spent training for the day he would be handed over. The potential king’s or queen’s name kept changing as time passed, Edward, Kaido, Linlin, Hancock, Teach.
One morning, seven years after Doflamingo’s threat, Law finally had the name of his new king.
Monkey D. Luffy.
“Have you heard?” Doflamingo hummed, sitting back on his rich velvet chair.
The older man watched as Law was fitted and adorned with sparkling jewels. The women and male servant worked to fit the expensive, revealing golden-colored dress onto Law’s body. Law struggled to hold his arms up straight out, the shackles around his wrist weighed his limbs down. His long dark hair was pulled off to the side for them to work. He felt his arms begin to tremble.
Law stared off at nothing, pretending Doflamingo wasn’t there at all. The blond freak had no sense of boundaries and invaded Law’s consistently with his imposing presence.
“That Monkey king is rather picky. A brute. Some say uncivilized .” Doflamingo continued to talk to himself.
Law barely blinked.
He withdrew himself from uttering a single word to Doflamingo. It made it easier for Law to remove his mind entirely from the reality of his life. His body was no longer his own anyway, it hadn’t been for years. All that held his body up were the suffocating, sharp puppet strings wrapped around and embedded in his skin.
The King of Dressrosa picked up the glass of wine from the tray of the servant next to him. “But I just knew saving you for a difficult ruler like this would prove useful.”
Difficult had to be an understatement.
Win the favor of one and the other two would follow.
Such a structure of government fascinated Law. But since Doflamingo hadn’t considered the Goa Kingdom to be of any importance, he never had the opportunity to learn of it like he had the other kingdoms. The politics of other kingdoms was a topic that heavily interested Law, but he was rarely given the time to hone his knowledge on others besides Dressrosa.
Doflamingo’s tune drastically changed about those three kings, enough so to send Law as a gift to their youngest king.
Law quickly glanced at Doflamingo and regretted doing so. The blond king stared to analyze his movements.
“But he’s a thorn nonetheless.” Doflamingo scoffed. “Knowing that brute, you’ll serve as a pleasant distraction at the very least.”
Law kept a neutral expression, he didn’t dare to give away how he was attempting to see the chess board occurring in Doflamingo’s mind.
There simply had to be more than this Luffy being perceived as strong. Law saw it in the way Doflamingo clenched his jaw when he thought others weren’t looking. This king clearly made his mark somehow.
Why? Why is this the king that puts you of all people on edge?
Law didn’t dare to look at Doflamingo.
Too many conflicting rumors were spread about that king. He was either sent from the heavens or a devil spawn that crawled straight out of hell.
Law did not have high hopes. No king, no man with so much power and influence, could possibly be benevolent. Everyone Law knew with power had to fight, cheat, manipulate, overpower, and steal. Steal until their heart's content, until their greed consumes their every waking moment.
Doflamingo proved that fact to Law years ago. Over a decade ago.
A cool breeze hit Law’s skin, causing him to suppress a shudder as Doflamingo continued to ramble on. The words swirled into incomprehensible nonsense to Law.
Law despised how much of his waist and his flat chest was exposed in the golden, black dress. The embroidered gold swirled details along the sash and the heart-shaped neckline at least looked nice. One of the servants was adjusting the draped, slit sleeves as Law’s arm slowly began to dip downward.
Traditionally, concubines that are gifted to another kingdom would be adorned in the colors of their new kingdom.
Frowning deeper, Law understood how Doflamingo was playing with fire. Doflamingo had Law dressed in yellow to represent Dressrosa, instead of the fiery red that represented Goa Kingdom.
Doflamingo’s actions contradicted his visage of unease.
The king stood from his chair, sauntering over to Law. The heel of his shoe pushed down against the expensive scarlet rug.
Law kept his eye level the same. The servants immediately halted their movements, finally taking their hands off Law.
A hand reached down, grabbing Law’s chin to force his gaze upward.
Doflamingo’s smile was wider than usual.
Probably the widest Law had seen directed at him in a long time.
“Remember Law.”
Law suppressed the urge to shiver.
“You choose this path. Betrayal after betrayal. You could have had it all, had you chosen to remain loyal to me.” Doflamingo taunted.
Doflamingo’s voice was far too good at pulling Law’s mind back to reality. The king’s close presence put his whole body on edge. Law wished his mind could have disappeared in the moment to avoid hearing Doflamingo talk any longer.
“But do not fret.”
The King of Dressrosa let go of his chin, and flicked his big hand back dramatically. The pit in Law’s stomach only grew, even as he walked away from him.
“If all goes well, I’ll bring you right back home once he’s been dethroned.”
Law watched the country of Dressrosa slowly disappear into the ocean. The bright, vibrant colors of the city blurred and muddled together the farther they sailed.
On one hand, he wished to never set foot in Dressrosa again. He’d never wish to be in a kingdom where Doflamingo was its ruler. Although Law rarely was ever allowed to leave the castle, he caught glimpses of the slave work being used for Doflamingo’s black market trade. The worn down bodies, the dark stains all over the floor, the stench of something that appeared inhuman.
None of it ever left Law’s mind.
However Dressrosa still held his last memory of Corazon. The remnants of what Law called ‘home’ resided there.
He wished that all the pictures of Corazon hadn’t been burned all those years ago.
Law tore his eyes away from the ocean, forcing his mind to detach from his surroundings.
He could not bear to ponder about his new life, such the type of entertainment he’d be forced to perform. Or how the little freedoms that he had and could vanish instantly. The images of Doflamingo’s own concubines kept popping into Law’s head.
Their bodies were battered and bruised. They were always so exhausted, lounging around with glassy eyes, taking too many glasses of wine to the point where their minds were barely present.
Law’s vision felt so far away now. The sounds of the ocean waves and the crew talking blurred together into a muffled noise.
He did not speak a single word to the crew the entire trip.
It wasn’t hard. Law had gotten used to ignoring the Donquixote family, especially Dellinger. The bratty sixteen-year old took it upon himself to remind Law of how he was to be some old king’s whore. The blond teenager never got tired of the repetitive taunts.
He’d grown numb to the insults of the family. Fighting back only egged them on, one degrading comment after another until they all had said their thoughts about him all at once. It was as if they all knew they freely could with Corazon gone.
Law did not dare allow Giolla to complete his makeup on the day of their arrival.
Dipping his fingers into the powder substance, Law looked back up at the mirror from his seat, wondering if all the effort was worth it. His dark circles made it take a while to get his eyes right. Law looked at the red pigment on his finger, considering how the small amount would contrast with the dress.
He remembered Doflamingo's concubine's complexions, the colors of their makeup smearing, the way they got yelled at if their tears ruined what should have been pretty, perfect faces.
Taking a breath, Law spread the red color below his bottom lash. He moved with precision, he’d repeated the motions a hundred times before. The cold chain occasionally touched his arm, the metal pressed against his wrist.
Law didn’t think he could ever get used to the way the cuffs moved against his skin, sometimes leaving his skin worn and nearly cut. He glanced at the mirror with his tired eyes, grimacing at the extra chain on his neck for the exchange.
His nails dug into the table. He fought against the thoughts of shattering the mirror, as the sound alone would alert Monet, who was outside the door, waiting for him to slip up.
Instead he opted to pick up the heavy brush, gliding it through his long hair. He began at the end as usual, working his way towards the top. His lengthy, thick hair served as another reminder of Doflamingo’s control.
Despite his many, many protests, Doflamingo forbade Law from being around any type of sharp objects unless necessary. Managing his hair was not one of those reasons. In fact, Doflamingo made it a point to Law that it only added to his appeal.
Law suppressed a shudder.
Law finished brushing his hair and left the room as the sight of land came into view.
The handoff was meant to occur at the rear docks of Goa Kingdom’s east island, leading straight to the main castle of that island. Goa Kingdom was comprised of three interconnected islands. The other two kings, the brothers of Luffy, had their own castles in the other two islands.
The rear dock of the east castle was far from the main dock that housed many of the citizens and its markets. The castle itself was out in the water, only connected by bridges to get to land. They were to dock at the private loading area, on its own separate bridge in the middle of the water, far from the main villages.
A castle so connected with the sea.
Law only had two other kingdoms to compare it to, but it still stood as a magnificent and grand piece.
However, instead of a grand, formal ceremonial event with soldiers of both kingdoms, a long-nosed man arrived, out of breath.
Law had watched the long-nosed man hastily run over with his dirtied overalls, his hair tied back and away from his face. Once their ship anchored, the long-nosed man quickly made his way to dock. Law stepped out of sight as the stranger came closer.
“Uh, hello there! My name is Usopp. I’ve come to greet you!”
Diamante, the one left in charge of the handoff, appeared rather displeased.
“A single man?” Diamante scoffed, glancing around the empty bridge. The plank was lowered onto the bridge’s dock. The waves crashed up against the tall, brick bridge and the jagged rocks next to it.
There was not a single soldier in formal armor in sight. No adviser or noblemen and noblewomen. And certainly no king.
“Hey, messenger!” Diamante called out. “Where is your King?”
“Oh, Luffy doesn’t feel like coming all the way out here for uhhh… what was the gift again?”
“And he couldn’t be bothered to send a guard? A soldier?” Diamante mocked.
“Hey! I’ll have you know, I am a warrior and the best archer in all of this kingdom!”
The two’s bickering left the crew at a standstill. Standing out in the heat in his dress annoyed Law. He wished the fabric was a bit lighter, as it truly wasn’t meant for sailing or traveling to warmer parts of the globe. He’d heard about Goa Kingdom’s islands having more diverse weather patterns.
Law glanced to the side to see Diamante leaning over the railing, his arms bent like a wing, screaming back at the man for a disgrace of a gift ceremony.
Dellinger giggled at the sight before being swatted by Giolla to stop. Dellinger made a disgruntled face, before looking back to Law and smugly grinning at him.
Surprisingly, it was Monet to be the one to speak up first.
“Diamante, remember what Doffy said?” Monet asked, tilting her head. Diamante paused to turn back to face her. “Their king has no manners at all. Arguing against their kind is a waste of our time.”
“She’s right!” Giolla interjected. “Law is the one that’ll be blamed if this goes wrong anyway. He’s not even worth coming out to see!”
Law suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Even when he was leaving, they couldn’t help but throw more insults at him, despite him being numb to them.
Grumbling, Diamante agreed. Law could hear Diamante cursing under his breath, stating how Pica should have been there instead. But by the looks of the foolish messenger, it appeared to be for the best. If Pica had spoken around Usopp…
A blood-stained dock would be the least of the crew’s problems.
A few of the Dressrosa soldiers exited first, standing in perfect formation on a firm line on either side of the deck. Usopp, on the other hand, appeared to be rather impatient with all the formalities. The case of Law’s items that he had not even been allowed to pack himself was placed down by a soldier on the bridge.
When it was Law’s turn to walk out, he briefly made eye contact with Monet and Dellinger who had to stay behind with the rest of the soldiers. Both smiled as though they were happy to be finally rid of him.
He had expected as much.
The only member of the family to be sad about his leave was Baby Five, even after Law pushed her away all the years ago. He alone would take the brunt of the family’s insults and abuse. He didn’t need her pity.
Law took a step onto the plank after Diamante, as he was the one holding the end of Law’s chains.
Usopp appeared really unimpressed with the situation until Law came into view. The man’s jaw dropped a bit with concern and shock.
Oh great. Not even the messenger believes I am fit for this role.
The messenger cleared his throat.
“So uh, right the gift—”
“Your King will be the one to receive the concubine.” Diamante snapped, towering over the shorter man.
Usopp grimaced, almost annoyed by the situation. He hesitantly glanced back to Law, to the chain in Diamante’s hand, and sighed. “Ah well, I don’t know about entering but—”
The door at the end of the bridge opened. A person stepped out, catching everyone’s attention, especially Usopp, who visibly lit up.
A green-haired man glanced around the area, approaching them.
The chain around Law’s neck might as well be choking him from the dread circling him. Despite this, Law kept his head up high, preparing for the worst once those doors opened.
“Hey Zoro! Thank god.” Usopp called out.
If the name wasn’t enough for all of them to recognize him, the three swords that sat by the door next to the green man would be indication enough. The right hand of the King of Goa, Roronoa Zoro, was said to be one of the strongest and most skilled swordsmen in the world. Whispers of his name often were synonymous with the word ‘monster’ or ‘demon.’
Said ‘demon’ turned to look with his one good eye at Usopp’s calling with another annoyed look. Zoro continued onward, appearing unimpressed with the soldiers of Dressrosa as well.
Usopp ran ahead in haste, putting his hand up to cover his mouth as he spoke to him. The swordsman yawned again at whatever Usopp was telling him, who was doing a bad job at hiding how suspicious he was of Diamante.
Diamante on the other hand took this as an opportunity. He motioned the soldiers and Law forward a couple of steps.
“The famous Roronoa Zoro. What a pleasure to finally meet you, one swordsman to another.” Diamante grinned, halting the soldiers in their tracks.
Zoro stood up, putting the three swords on his side. He glanced at Diamante with disinterest, before settling his sights on Law for an uncomfortable amount of time. Law held his gaze, his shoulders tensing and his hand clasping his other tighter.
This was no man that Law ever wished to cross.
Law worriedly wondered if Diamante had realized this fact sooner than he did.
“I haven’t heard much about the Dressrosa’s swordsmen.” Zoro said, bluntly. “Remind me of your name?”
Usopp gawked next to him, and put his hand over his face.
Law wished he could smirk at the sight of Diamante’s eye twitch and forced smile.
“Diamante. The Hero of the Colosseum of Dressrosa. I’m sure that must ring a—”
“Nah.” Zoro said, arms crossed. “What kind of a Colosseum needs a hero anyway.”
Usopp took a step behind Zoro, not wishing to be in the middle of the general's discussion any longer.
Diamante’s whole face was turning red, gritting his teeth and sneering at the swordsman. “And what kind of a King needs his second in command to pick up his whore?”
Diamante, you fool.
Every nerve in Law’s body screamed at him to interfere to not worsen the situation. But his speaking up would do just that. Damn, he wished Giolla was there with them for once to bring down the man’s ego.
However, Zoro stared directly at him, not Diamante.
Usopp tipped toed to be right in his ear, frantically whispering something.
“Luffy is busy.” Zoro said, not taking the bait by Diamante.
There it is again. They refer to their King casually by his name. Are they also considered close to the king? At first, Law had considered what Usopp said to be a fluke, considering how he appeared to be some random soldier, not very high-ranked.
“I will be taking him to Luffy. I can’t allow you or your soldiers inside. You’ll have less work to do and you all can go back on your merry way to your ship.” Zoro said with finality, holding out his hand.
Scrunching his nose in distaste, Diamante obliged. He must have been sick of having to stay in this kingdom any longer. The taller man moved to place the chain in Zoro’s hand.
Law’s heart raced, his hand trembling. He hated how he couldn’t tear his eyes away. For years he had known Diamante, and sure, they never had a good relationship, but the sight of Diamante so easily giving him away cracked his spirit.
Zoro’s hand pulled away from Diamante’s.
Law nearly let the concern show on his face. Diamante frowned deeper at the action, greatly irritated.
“The keys.” Zoro said, putting his hand out again.
“Of course.” Diamante sneered, reaching into his pocket and uncaringly dropping the keys into Zoro’s hand.
Motioning with his head, Zoro told Law directly. “Come on.”
Law hesitated but took a few steps forward. Zoro continued to refuse grabbing the chain, and it slowly slipped out of Diamante’s grip, landing with a thud on the ground.
“Usopp, see them off.”
Usopp tried to stop him, grabbing his shoulder. “Wait, you’re actually going to take him?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Man, just don’t get him lost.” Usopp sighed, before walking past Diamante to see them off. “Alright, let's go everyone! Thank you all for your brief visit!”
Diamante scoffed, muttering rather loudly under his breath about how this was the worst he'd ever been treated in any kingdom. The tall swordsman barely gave a disgusted glance to Law, walking away like he was nothing.
Then Zoro began to walk towards him.
The reality of his situation crashed over his head. Law was left completely at the mercy of this man. This was not even the king he was meant to be with. Law fought the urge to take a step back and sprint back to the ship, something he never considered he’d have the need to do before.
“Here.” Zoro said, holding out the keys.
Law stared at them blankly.
“Take them. And get those chains off.”
Once Law found the will to grab them from the strange man’s hand, Zoro walked right past him. Law stared at the keys in his shaky hand.
Law quickly found the keyholes to unlock the chains from his wrists to his neck. The shackles satisfyingly thudded against the brick ground. His body was instantly lighter than before, a heavy weight lifted off his exhausted bones.
Why did he have me take them off? Does he not care enough to do it himself?
He did not have the time to wonder about it. While looking at his worn wrists, Law panicked seeing Zoro was already a distance away, walking down the bridge. He hurried after Zoro, but did not let go of the keys, hiding them in his dress.
“What’s your name?” Zoro asked, marching along.
“Trafalgar Law.”
The green-haired man opened the doors to the inside of the castle. He stepped aside, motioning for Law to follow. Law entered but did not have a moment to take in his new surroundings as the door slammed behind himself.
“Alright, let’s cut to the chase.” Zoro said, walking closer.
Law stiffened. There were no soldiers in sight. Law would only have to escape the grasp of one man for a brief moment. He had not a clue of what kind of layout the castle had or how many soldiers were around to catch him. Law didn’t like his odds of that being successful.
“Do you want to be here?”
The man spoke so casually about it, worsening Law’s anxiety.
Some sort of test of loyalty? I have to be careful.
“I do.” Law spoke with feigned conviction.
Zoro must have noticed it as well, for he raised an eyebrow at his answer. “Listen. You may have heard this kingdom does not operate like others, besides how there are three kings here. Luffy and his brothers don’t operate like other kings. All the concubines in Luffy’s harem are here by their own free will.”
Law found that notion ridiculous. Concubines were a form of slavery, sexual slavery at that. Who in their right mind would be willing to stay?
“He may never decide to sleep with you. So I will ask again, do you wish to be part of Luffy’s harem?” Zoro said, crossing his arms. “If you leave now, we can set you up somewhere in town to survive on your own.”
“I have long accepted my role.” Law said, calmly. His expression barely changed, to not give hints to his underlying frustration.
It did not matter what the man offered him. If Law left this castle, Doflamingo would find out. Law would constantly be watching his back, anxious at all times. Still trapped in his own mind.
He’d rather be some other king’s plaything than get roped into Doflamingo strings again. Doflamingo’s wrath would make him wish for death.
As if he wasn’t walking straight into a fate worse than death.
“I will be staying.” Law confirmed.
Zoro looked exasperated, looking around once again.
“Alright, let’s go see him… As soon as I find the North East tower. Where did that damn door go?”
Law thought the man said that as a bad joke of some sort.
It took about an hour for the two of them to make through the whole castle, without finding the North tower.
Along the way, there were far too many people glancing over in their direction. Staff openly pointed and whispered, confusing Law. He’d grown used to the servants of Dressrosa that held their head down and only spoke when spoken to. Here, the staff openly giggled and chattered.
The lively atmosphere and open halls of the castle somehow suffocated Law further.
He wasn’t used to seeing this amount of sun everywhere and barely any soldiers in sight. He counted around three or four, including Zoro himself.
“I swear, the room was here. Oh, no, this is the dining hall again.” Zoro said, closing the door again. “You aren’t hungry, are you?”
“No.”
Not since twenty minutes ago when you led us to this hall again.
Law wondered if they would arrive at their destination faster if they took the opposite direction that Zoro thought they were supposed to go. Or if he took the lead instead, despite only being in the castle for less than a day.
“Zoro! Where are you going?”
A large man with a scar on his face asked, walking up to them in the hall. Zoro had been between two doors, considering which one to take.
“Oh Jinbe. I’m heading to Luffy to introduce them.”
The large man walked right up to them and bowed his head slightly to Law, shocking him. Law thought quickly, bowing back as a courtesy.
God, he felt like he was constantly on his toes, rapid-fire analyzing his surroundings to adjust. He nearly missed the routine he had back in Dressrosa. He had no freedom, but at least he could predict everyone’s reactions around him.
“My apologies. My name is Jinbe.” Jinbe stated, moving back to see Law.
“Trafalgar Law.”
“Well, I hope you enjoy your stay here.” Jinbe said. “You’re looking for Luffy? He’s with Vivi still, they’re straight down the hall. Please don’t miss it, Zoro.”
“I won’t. I won’t.”
They nearly did.
Law finally spoke up to stop Zoro from turning into a wall, not wishing for this horrid ‘tour’ to go on any longer.
Before opening the door, Zoro turned back to him. “I am reminding you. You can always change your mind. He has no need for concubines, we accepted you out of formality.”
“Of course.”
Law already figured this was the case. But it bothered Law how insistent Zoro appeared, with the intentions of his release unclear.
Without another word, the door opened.
Law would not get to see much of the king.
The king appeared to be rather busy talking to some old friend, a woman possibly named Vivi with bright blue hair and a concerned expression.
The name Vivi rang a bell for Law, but he was unsure if she was in fact the princess of Alabasta. She wasn’t dressed formally at all, and spoke to the king rather candidly.
Law observed the build of the king from the back, large, muscular, and jet black ruffled hair. He didn’t wear flashy, sparkling, bright clothes or jewels like other kings. Instead, the youngest King of Goa wore worn, duller colors like a normal peasant would.
Zoro attempted to speak with Luffy and Law stood quietly at the door, waiting to see if he would be addressed. But Law did not get even a glance of King Luffy’s face, as Luffy waved Zoro off to continue his discussion with the woman. He was far too invested in the conversation to spare Law the time of day. Vivi, at the very least, gave a warm smile in Law’s direction.
The king said something to the woman as Zoro walked away, then threw his head back with a loud laughter.
The sound resonated through Law’s body. There was no undertone of malice, just a pure jolly sound.
Law didn’t think that type of sound could ever come from a ruler. He tensed up, waiting for the man’s next action to prove him right.
Zoro was quick to drag Law out of the room.
As they walked out, Law caught himself nearly frowning.
That was rather disappointing. This is the man that stirred Doflamingo’s interest.
Doflamingo could have theoretically sent him to the other unmarried king of Goa but he hadn’t. He had chosen Luffy and yet Law still had not a clue as to why that was.
“See? He doesn’t care for concubines much.” Zoro said, leading him in another direction. “I’m going to hand you over to Robin. She’ll help you get settled in and meet the rest of the harem.”
“There you are Mosshead!” an angry voice yelled out.
The two turned to see a grumbling blond man march up to them. Law caught a glimpse of the older swordsman’s equally disgruntled expression.
“How have you managed to waste so much time! Where do you need to be now?” the blond man demanded. His anger dropped once he spotted Law. “Oh, who’s this?”
“Trafalgar Law.” Zoro answered for him. “He’s a gift from another kingdom but… he wants to stay.”
“Ah…”
The blonde gave him a sympathetic expression. “Well, it’s good to have you here. My name is Sanji and I have to apologize. You’ve been given the worst tour guide ever.”
Zoro scoffed, crossing his arms. “I got him to meet Luffy. Now I just need to get him to Robin. Nami yelled at me not to bother her until Vivi leaves.”
“Well with me leading you it’ll go quicker. I need you to come with me to town after.” Sanji said, latching his hand onto Zoro’s arm to drag him forward.
Law had no choice but to follow after the two bickering men. He noted how Zoro didn’t shake Sanji’s grip off of him.
They arrived at a study where a dark-haired woman was reading from a rather thick book. Her striking appearance nearly took Law aback. She appeared more well put together than the two men, radiating elegance with her knowing, kind smile.
“Oh, hello there Zoro, Sanji.” the dark-haired woman greeted.
“Hello Robin.” Sanji greeted her with great enthusiasm.
She nodded then looked to Law with a comforting smile. “Welcome. I am assuming that you have chosen to stay with us.”
Us?
“He’s really dead set on it.” Zoro commented. “His name is Trafalgar Law. I take it you have it from here, Robin. The Cook needs a personal bodyguard now—”
“Hey! I need you to do your job and get the soldiers out of the market like Sabo said.” Sanji chidded.
The two men bickered the entire way out the door, completely engrossed in their own conversation and leaving Robin and Law alone. Robin made no remark or reaction to them, and neither did Law.
“I am assuming you do not know much of Goa Kingdom, correct?” she asked, and took a final sip from the tea cup next to her.
“I am allowed to know as much as I am permitted to.”
There was a slight dip in the woman’s smile.
Did I say the wrong thing?
Kings had the tendency to keep their concubines uneducated. Unless a concubine was specifically trained to be a king’s adviser or match their intellect with games such as chess, an intelligent concubine was not the most sought after.
With no idea of what his king would prefer, Law stuck to not revealing all of his skills just yet.
“Well, here you are able to access the library as you wish. Both the East and West wings.” Robin stated. She closed the book she was reading with a marker at where she left off. “Here I am sure there are many texts that may appeal to you.”
Law simply nodded. He had the urge to question whether this was with permission from the king but held his tongue.
Robin stood up, holding the book close to her chest. With her kind smile, she spoke, “Please follow me, Trafalgar.”
It felt refreshing to follow someone who truly knew where they were walking. She gave him a quick overview of the rooms, in case any were missed, while explaining the more vital pieces of information.
“This kingdom is not ruled by one single king, contrary to popular belief.” Robin said. “It is ruled equally by three brothers, Ace, Sabo, and Luffy.”
What a strange system.
But not unheard of. Law remembered years ago, when he was last able to access the Dressrosa library freely, there was a record history of a group of people running one kingdom. He couldn’t recall the exact number.
“The three brothers, Ace, Sabo, and Luffy rule together with their own advisers. I serve as one of Luffy’s advisers. I’m sure you might have heard Sabo and Ace are located in the winter and autumn islands?” Robin asked.
“I have heard of it.”
“You may see the other two brothers come around from time to time. Especially when it comes to international and military affairs. I believe this system will make more sense as you experience life here.” Robin said. “It is a bit difficult for newcomers to understand. We take pride in helping one another. Whether they are a noble, or merchant, or farmer, all play a vital role in upholding this kingdom, and thus are treated as such.”
Robin must have been able to tell from Law’s blank expression alone that he did not fully trust the words she spoke.
It all sounded too unlikely, too pure and righteous.
“I will be in that study or the library if you need me or have any questions at all.” Robin reassured him. “I understand fully that this adjustment period will take you time.”
“I appreciate that.”
“There is one more person that will be able to help you, nearly any time.” Robin said. “The King’s favorite, Koby. He is always eager to help new concubines.”
‘He has no need for concubines,’ The words from Zoro repeated in his head.
Law exhaled with slight relief.
Likely because one has already been chosen long before I arrived.
They came to a stop in front of a large double door. The door had wooden engravings of leaves along its side, as if alluding to the garden that lay beyond.
“This is the commune where the concubines are allowed to stay. You do not have to, of course. It is simply a space that is available to you at all times.”
The door opened to lavish carpets, colorful drapes along the walls and ceilings, and rich, soft furniture strewn about. Like the rest of the castle, it had ivory walls and gold accents littering it’s furniture. Many of the concubines lounged about the large room, some playing games, reading, chattering amongst each other.
The room’s energy was just as lively as the rest of the staff.
Law didn’t know what to think.
All of the concubine’s eyes shone with excitement, their smiles were not forced or continuously seductive. Some casually sipped a cup of wine, talking without a care in the world. Most importantly, none of the concubines had bruises or marks along their bodies. They didn’t move with the underlying hint of fear or apprehension.
“Hello everyone, I am here to show Trafalgar Law around.” Robin announced as all of them began to look up. “He will be joining you all as of today. Please be sure to help him if he needs it.”
The women and men in their rich attire collectively greeted him. A few stood up with excitement, eagerly waving. But one of the concubines immediately stood out with their beaming confidence.
“Hello!” the pink-haired one said, quickly making his way to Law. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Koby.”
The fellow concubine held his hand out for Law to shake. Law looked over his appearance.
The man had to be younger than Law was but not by a lot. His pink fluffy hair framed his cute, roundish face perfectly. The dress he wore was on the more modest side with flowers embroidered, wrapping around to the bottom of the dress. There was a scar at the top of his head.
He’s a concubine with that scar on his face? How did he even end up here?
Koby’s hand began to falter, seeing as Law did not take it. Law nodded to acknowledge the gesture, “Trafalgar Law.”
The happy attitude Koby remained strong as he pulled his hand away. “I hope you are enjoying your time here so far. Come by the commune any time you wish, we’re very happy to have you.”
The younger man appeared like a bright pink, blooming flower, ready to be picked.
No wonder he is the favorite.
A few of the other concubines began to shout their questions.
“What kingdom are ya from?”
“Is that dress velvet?”
“You have tattoos! Can we see?”
“My apologies. I am still showing him around.” Robin said, holding back their questions. “I am sure Trafalgar will be back soon once he is settled in.”
The others obliged, visibly disappointed, waving them off as they left. Koby gave him one more smile before the door closed.
Once they left the room, Law could breathe easier. He had thought his emotionless expression would put them all off, but it did nothing to stop all their insistent questions. The amount of new faces began to disorient him. All of which he will have to learn and assess.
Robin brought him to the individual rooms of the concubines, each one of them had their own room with their own key. It was the second key Law received that day.
“There is another key to your room held by the staff, only for emergencies. Do not worry, no one will be coming in, even to clean it unless you specifically request it.” Robin explained, placing the key gently in his hand.
“Thank you.” Law said, truly meaning it.
Finally, a space for himself. The room wasn’t as large or lavish as the rooms in Doflamingo’s castle, but they appeared more set up for comfort. A decent sized bed with soft blankets and pillows. A window that let in light directly over the small vanity and table. A shelf and drawers of his own that were mostly empty. But the item that caught his eye most was the familiar case in the middle of the room.
“Oh, is this yours?” Robin asked.
“Yes.”
That man named Usopp must have brought it back for him.
He was not looking forward to sifting through all the dresses Doflamingo left for him to where to enchant his new king. He couldn’t even sneak out an item or two thanks to the family taking everything from him, giving what he apparently needed .
“Well, I’ll leave you to unpack.” Robin said. “You remember the way back to the commune?”
“Yes, I do.”
“If there are any more clothes or items you need during your stay, you can always inform me or Koby.” Robin reminded him, making her way to the door.
“I understand.” Law was impatient waiting for the moment of silence and solitude he’d been craving since he was forced onto the boat. He didn’t need any more of these formalities.
She gave him a sad smile.
“I hope you can grow comfortably here, Trafalgar.”
And with that, the door shut.
Law hated to admit it, but life in Goa Kingdom wasn’t bad at all.
It had taken Law a while to learn how the concubines were free to leave the castle whenever they wanted.
Koby attempted many times to invite him out to come with the other concubines to the town’s market a few times. Law refused, thinking there was a possibility of getting in trouble. He had no reason to trust Koby so quickly, regardless of Robin’s words. Second-guessing others' intentions kept him sane for a very long time after all.
However, it bothered Law how there was no hard schedule for everything in the castle.
He had been used to structure. Structure allowed for Law to know which halls or rooms to avoid to get away from certain people.
For the first week, Law split his time between staying in his room for hours, dreading to leave the safety of its confines, and lounging in the concubine’s commune area. There was no set time for Law to arrive in the commune, yet he chose to arrive and leave at a certain time every day for his own sake.
The issue came when Law realized their meals were not delivered directly to them. The quality of the meals consistently impressed Law. Whoever was in charge of the food clearly had a talent for cooking that easily beat Doflamingo’s personal chefs.
One of the dining halls in the castle would pass out meals for all of the castle’s staff, soldiers, and even a few nobles joined to sit and eat together, although most of the concubines ate in the commune area anyway.
Likely because not many of the staff were hesitant to interact with the concubines.
Still, the concept struck Law as completely odd.
To solve this problem, Law found out the times when that hall was most empty. If he happened to miss the time, he went to his room hungry. He couldn’t stand being around that many strangers, too many unknown faces with unknown personalities. Not to mention, most of them often stared at him no matter what dress he wore or how he did his makeup.
The pressure of appearing perfect came whenever they laid their eyes on him.
The thought made his stomach sick, and ruined his appetite.
Avoiding people in general wasn’t the most difficult task ever. A lot of the concubines realized how dry he was for conversation rather early on. It didn’t stop them from attempting from time to time.
For the first two weeks, he continued to keep to himself no matter what efforts Koby made.
However, avoiding one person proved to be more difficult than he originally thought.
Law could only avoid his new king for so long.
At times, he heard the man’s voice or laughter in the halls. He’d instantly turn in the opposite direction and hurry back to the safety of his room. Even in the commune, Law would keep his face out of sight, turning his back as the rest would happily greet their king. Since all of the others desired the attention, it was easy for Law to remain unseen in the back.
For a while, Law’s strategy had worked out fine.
It certainly helped that Koby occupied most of the king’s time. Law did not have a clue how the pink-haired man managed to keep so much of his energy, between entertaining the king and making activities for the concubines to do together.
Law did take the time to remember the names of each concubine. Koby, Conis, Camie, Bartolomeo, Cavendish, Maria, Leva, Marguerite, a total of eight concubines not including himself.
It appeared that most of them came as gifts from other kingdoms.
However, Koby of course was different, hand-picked by Luffy himself as the rumors went. The only concubine said to have slept with the King twice , unlike the others who’d slept with him once. He thus, spent more time outside of the commune with the king then they did.
“He was so good in bed. Ugh, what I would give for another chance.”
Law overheard Marguerite loudly say in the commune. Law took one of the books on medicine out of the library to occupy his time spent at the commune. They were less likely to bother him if he was engrossed in the text or they did not notice him listening in on their conversations.
“That will be King Luffy’s choice, not yours.” Barto chided her. All this man could ever talk about was his amazing King Luffy. “He knows best after all.”
“What do you mean by that?” Marguerite accused.
“Don’t be so rude.” Cavendish interjected. “Luffy is obviously going for an emotional connection. He’s not just picking the prettiest or who’s best in bed… Otherwise I’d be the favorit—”
“I must disagree.” Conis said rather bluntly. “Koby is very beautiful and kind. Of course, Luffy favors him.”
“You think they’ve slept together more than twice?” Marguerite asked.
“I believe only they would know.” Conis answered with a shrug.
Law kept all the things he heard stored away in the back of his mind. Any piece of information could matter immensely at any time. Law knew information was powerful when used cleverly. And, of course, the other concubines rarely had these types of conversation in front of Koby.
It struck him as odd, however, to see them all constantly praise Luffy so much.
As if most of them had a genuine connection, attraction to their king. They talked of him like some great man that they wished would turn their way for even a moment. Not one of them ever mentioned the desire to become the chosen one and become queen.
Law wondered if they’d all been brainwashed.
Around the third week, he settled into a routine. Law found his way around the castle much easier. Slowly and steadily, he was spending more time searching through the library to prevent going back to the commune.
At the commune, he had the occasional intrusion of Koby or another concubine.
The only concubine Law didn’t mind interacting with was Leva. The dark-haired man was mute, only gesturing with his hands occasionally to vaguely communicate. And Law found Leva’s chess games gave more insight into him than any attempt at a written conversation anyway.
Leva was the only one of the concubines to provide Law with a real challenge when it came to chess. Playing against an opponent with fresh strategies was intriguing to Law.
It greatly annoyed Law to see Koby walk in on one of their chess games in the commune. He smiled so proudly at the sight of their intense concentration. Koby becoming part of the spectators encouraged the others to do the same, surrounding the two of them as they played.
Cavendish was easily the most disruptive, making a comment at every move, severely frustrating Law.
Law let the frustration fuel his motivation to win faster, playing aggressive moves that Leva would match the energy of.
When Law eventually won, the rest clapped like they were interested in their game. Law knew most of them were much more interested in the outcome than the actual game itself.
Koby attempted to compliment Law and ask for a game himself, but Law refused. He couldn’t stand the thought of another game with so many eyes watching his every move. He wasn’t even sure that Koby would be a good match against him anyway.
Law chided himself after the incident, telling himself not to draw attention to himself.
He couldn’t stand how quick they were, especially Koby, to find an opening for conversation. He thought the concubines would be more competitive and quick to turn their back on one another depending on their status. But jealousy was not as prominent as Law thought it’d be.
If the others did get to spend quality time with Luffy, they’d gush and fan themselves over the smallest of acts. Law remembered being severely unimpressed while Barto gushed over Luffy’s smile to him for a full twenty minutes. Or when Maria mentioned Luffy bringing her to the gardens.
The more they spoke of the king, the more curious Law became.
Of course, he was never curious enough to allow himself to be within sight of the king. It was truly a wonder how he managed to avoid the large, imposing man for so long. Although the man’s loud voice and the sound of his sandals often served as a key warning for Law to leave the area he was in. No one else in the castle wore sandals all the time, as far as Law was aware.
And the library was generally a safe space. He never heard of the king entering either of the wings of the library.
The fact still remained that every one of the concubines appeared more than comfortable with the king. They never ran short of praises for him.
Occasionally, a few of the concubines would interrogate Koby to share details of the outing the two had, if any at all. He would only share if asked.
“Hey Koby!” Conis called out to him one day after she came back from the dining hall. Dinner had just been served. “How was it with Luffy today?”
Law sighed quietly, realizing how loud the room was going to become.
“Oh, we went to the stables.” Koby said with a sheepish smile. “Took Sunny and Honesty out again for a ride on the outskirts of town. The forest is wonderful this time of year.”
At times like this, he wished he continued to read in the library. All the words on the page in front of him were jumbling together with the other’s voices.
“We should take a small trip there one of these days.” Marguerite said excitedly.
“We likely need a guard to come with us.” Maria pointed out.
“Oh, I am sure Sanji would come if one of us girls asked.” Camie said with a chuckle.
“You forget we don’t need a guard.” Cavendish said, crossing his arms. “I am an excellent swordsman, we’d be in no such danger.”
“And where is your sword now, Cavendish?” Conis asked.
“It’s in my room!”
“But last time you had it you said you didn’t want to use it or you’d have to polish it to see your reflection in it ag—”
“Maria!”
“Some swordsman.” Bartolomeo chided.
“Oh, but we should all go.” Camie said, then turned to Leva and then Law at different parts of the room. “Leva, you’ll come? Trafalgar?”
Leva nodded.
“I will pass.” Law said. He used the same words whenever Koby insistently invited Law out to the market with them. None of their small trips intrigued him, neither did the amount of strangers that would be walking and shopping around.
Law felt his stomach turn at the thought of seeing the villagers stare at him, considering him as nothing more than an object for the king. The little sense of autonomy Law had would be diminished in seconds.
Besides, traveling into the forest sounded rather dangerous for the whole group of concubines to visit with one measly guard. It sounded like a disaster waiting to happen.
Camie acknowledged his rejection, turning back to the group’s passionate conversation. But Koby’s eyes lingered on him, taking note of the refusal.
“Maybe even a picnic there would be nice.” Conis offered. “Is there a place to set that up, Koby?”
“Oh,” Koby said, his attention brought back to the conversation. “Yes, there is a rather nice clearing.”
“Then we certainly should ask Sanji to come with us.” Camie said. “His cooking is the best!”
“We should invite Chopper too!”
“What is Chopper going to guard us from? Infection?”
“No, I just want him to come with us!”
“He is really sweet.”
“And so intelligent! We shou—”
“Trafalgar?” Koby asked suddenly.
The conversations on the side quieted, eyes curiously turning to him.
“Yes?” Law asked, reluctantly taking his eyes off the page. Annoyance creeping into his voice.
“Have you eaten at all today?” Koby asked, worriedly. “I know the dining hall will be closed soon—”
“I don’t see how that is any of your concern.”
The rest of the room was now completely silent.
Law had to admit his tone came off harsher than he intended. However, he did not need Koby constantly asking him such nonsense questions or pushing him out of his comfort zone. He’d rather be posed with a question of greater importance.
Koby was caught off guard by the response. “Oh… I just wanted to make sure. Since the dining hall will be closing soon.”
But you must ask me directly instead of anyone else in this room?
Law frowned.
He’s looking down on me.
“I do not need you to remind me to eat .” Law stated.
Law watched Koby’s face pinken, nearly matching the color of his own hair. The younger man stuttered to get an answer out, but a jumble of words came out instead. The rest of the concubines were throwing not so kind expressions in Law’s direction.
Finally, Koby seemed to have his words in order. “Ah, yes, I was just worried. You don’t appear to eat much. I just want to make sure everyone here is doing fine, including you.”
“Then I will tell you once. Don’t bother.” Law informed him.
“But—”
“Come on, Koby.” Conis said, tugging his arm to let the conversation go.
Koby reluctantly obliged.
Law returned back to his text, ignoring the glances of the other concubines. Eventually, he left the commune early, unable to stand the constant chattering.
The rest of the concubines obviously held resentment for his words the day before.
The word seemed to have reached the rest of the staff of the castle. Law realized the whispers around him were louder than before. A few gave him a dirty look or two. Some disapproving glances.
To say he had miscalculated his actions was a severe understatement.
He hadn’t even considered his words to be all that harsh. Rumor will do what rumors do. He had no idea what his words had been twisted into, but it must have been very nasty to get the rest of the staff to whisper every time he was spotted.
Other than the attitude of the staff and the cold shoulder from the other concubines, Law was finally able to live uninterrupted.
The few that would still reach out to him must not have heard of the conflict. Robin and Zoro had no problems talking to him, no matter how approachable he appeared.
But at least with Robin and Zoro, conversations were much more intriguing.
Zoro, being a general, had much more useful information about the soldiers and the training that he was putting the newer recruits through. Zoro offered to show him how to wield a sword but Law denied.
Law had not held a sword since the day Corazon died.
On the other hand, Robin held a goldmine of knowledge that Law couldn’t pull himself away from. One simple question would lead to an hour long discussion thanks to her extensive knowledge of the history of the kingdom. Law could stay in the library or her study for hours, listening to the recounted stories of older kings and queens and how they fell.
“Why do you have an interest in history?” Robin asked him, looking up from her book.
“I could ask the same to you.” Law said, sitting back against the second, comfortable chair in Robin’s study.
He glanced out the window to see the sun setting. Law reminded himself that he should be in the commune at least once before the end of the day, no matter how many looks he received from the others. He was still a concubine and had to know his place.
“Well, I’ve always had an interest in learning and reading.” Robin said, resting her chin on her hand. “The world is massive and so are its stories. Discovering forgotten or lost ones can be the most exciting to me.”
“You spend your time searching for them?” Law asked, glancing at the pile of half dusty books on her desk. “I don’t see how that’s possible from such a small study.”
Robin chuckled. “I go on expeditions with Ace or Luffy sometimes.”
“I haven’t heard much of his name around here.” Law stated. He’s heard more about Sabo and Luffy, maybe even seen Sabo in passing once in the halls during his visits to the main castle. The servants never made it a big deal when another king came to visit, so Law assumed it was a rather regular occurrence.
“Ace? He is rather far away as of right now.” Robin said. “Consulting with different rulers is not an easy job.”
“Can only imagine.” Law said, thinking back to Doflamingo. His shoulders tensed up at the mere thought. “At least some of the responsibilities of the three are split.”
Robin hummed in agreement, then tapped her chin curiously. “You haven’t answered my question, Trafalgar.”
What is my interest in history? He paused, considering what kind of answer she was expecting. He didn’t want to admit how many hours he spent in a room by himself, reading every book he managed to grab and hide. Each book would draw his attention away from his surroundings, especially the health or history-related textbooks.
“The stories are intriguing.”
Law’s vague answer didn’t appear to satisfy Robin. But his time was nearly up.
“I must go to the commune for a while.” Law said, standing up from the chair. He put the book he had to the side, knowing full well it belonged to her study. “Thank you for your time today, Nico-ya.”
Robin wasn’t surprised by his sudden leave. She merely put up her hand to stop him. “You can take that book with you if you’re still interested in it. I won’t need it back for a while.”
Law thanked her once more, picking the book back up. She waved him off as he closed the door to her study behind him.
Walking down the halls, Law heard only the sound of his shoes clicking against the ground and the sound of his dress moving. Most of the staff was gone by this time. At least he didn’t have to deal with their stares as he walked to the commune.
Law entered the room, seeing the concubines give him a glance or two but quickly returned back to their own conversations. Koby still gave him a smile to greet him.
The door behind him shut loudly.
Not willing to give their reactions more thought, Law took a couple steps inside.
The door suddenly opened as Law was walking to his usual spot in the back.
“Hey everyone!” Luffy’s voice boomed in the room.
Law jolted at the sound. He quickly sat down at the nearest couch, facing away from the door. His fingers tightened over the cover of the book.
“It’s great to see everyone!” Luffy said, greeting them all.
“Luffy!” Barto was one of the first to jump up from his seat to run up to Luffy. Law internally thanked the green-haired man for getting in Luffy’s line of sight.
Law tried to scoot further down the couch, but figured it was too noticeable and stopped at once. The other’s voice blurred together, asking the king question after question. Each person was answered by the king with enthusiasm.
At some point, Law felt he was finally able to breathe normally. Soon the king would be off on his way and Law would be able to lock himself in his room again.
Then the footsteps got louder.
Koby’s voice was disappearing in the floating conversation.
Law switched his gaze to stare down at the book in his lap. His fingers twitched, wanting desperately to open its pages and disappear between them.
A shoe came into view. Law had to question whether this was really the king for a moment. He had been under the impression sandals were what he mostly wore. His doubts vanished once Law looked up to see the King of Goa standing right in front of him.
If the others were talking, Law could not hear any of it. All his senses were focused on the man in front of him.
Luffy bent down to Law’s eye level.
“Hey, what’s your name?”
Oh, he is quite handsome.
Law understood why there were many that wished to get close to the king. The portraits served him no justice, as none of them could truly capture the warmth of his smile and the shine in his deep, rich brown eyes.
“Trafalgar Law.”
“Well Torao—“ Luffy leaned in closer, his eyes looking into Law’s.
Law did not dare to move or change his blank expression.
“I haven’t seen you here at all. Pretty sure I would have remembered a face like yours. Or those tattoos you have.”
Law tensed up, waiting for the moment Luffy would grab his arm, his waist, even his neck. His body broke out into sweat just by the thought of Luffy’s hands groping and invading every inch of his body, tearing him apart and leaving the pieces for him to pick up.
He hated it.
He thought he was prepared for this moment. But it took every nerve in his body to keep himself from shoving Luffy away from him to have a sliver of a chance of escape. Law did not want this.
“Would you like to come to my room tonight?”
“No.”
Law’s eyes widened slightly.
Had he said that?
Did he really say that?
Luffy’s eyes widened as well.
Law’s breathing stopped. His whole head felt dizzy with too many thoughts running through it at once. There was only one clear thought Law could make out.
I am going to be executed.
The king broke out into laughter, pulling himself away from Law.
Law’s shoulders loosened. He accepted his fate, awaiting the order to be given.
“Sure thing, Torao. I’ll visit you later!” Luffy called out while walking out of the room.
Law watched the king leave the room, and the door shut behind him. He finally got a glance of the other concubine’s expressions that were watching the interaction.
Most of them gave shocked looks to one another, glanced at Law and then quickly turned back to one another. Koby, in particular, had his hand over his mouth, a flash of hurt appearing on his face.
Law chose not to acknowledge the situation at all, turning back to the book in his hands.
He desperately tried to ignore the hushed whispers and curious glances thrown in his direction.
Law’s heart did not stop racing for a while after the incident. His hands shook with every page he turned. His eyes would wander back to the door, pondering when the soldiers would come in to take his head.
There was no reason for Luffy not to sentence him to death. He refused to do the one thing he was meant to perform.
Law glanced at his bare hand. His fingers slightly shaking.
Somehow, he had evaded the grasp of death once again.