A young swordsman's adventure 12

Marejois was, on the surface, the most lavish and extravagant city that Tanya had ever seen, and she got to visit Dubai once. Everything was designed by artists, where cost was no object. A royal palace writ large, sustained by the tax dollars of a global polity.

It was also filled with slaves. To those whose ambition grants them an awareness beyond sight, there was a malaise of suffering blanketing the gilded city, a choking miasma worse than any smog.

When they arrived, their Kingdom was assigned an estate to live in for the seven days of the event. There were only thirty-nine such estates for the fifty-three attendees, each Celestial Dragon family maintaining two of them plus an additional estate reserved for the Nefartari dynasty specifically, so the smaller entourages had to share with each other. Supposedly, there used to be only one each, but six hundred years ago a resolution passed that doubled it for future Reveries, as it was insufficient for the growing federation.

The estate they occupied was on the Figarland family’s lands; Father was specifically invited by his old dueling opponent, and a rematch was scheduled with no stakes beyond pride. Honestly, the only reason he needed to be incentivized in the first place was Tanya insisting that he never go halfway around the world for a duel for free. She never expected Shodai Kitetsu to be be offered as the incentive, but Celestial Dragons overpaying for things was hardly unusual.

Naturally, only having two people meant they had to share. They shared an estate with two other small countries: First, there was Kano Country, a West Blue country ruled by King Ramen, known for their notoriously tough Happou Navy, led by the powerful Qing Jao “The Drill”, who was also attending. Second, there was the Prodence Kingdom, led by “The Fighting King”, Elizabello the second.

This was probably good but possibly bad, given that Prodence was one of the three possible Log pose locations, in addition to Dressarosa and Sphinx Island, that could be set at Gloom Island, with Gloom Island being one of the three options set from Fishman Island or Punk Hazard. In the first half of the Grand Line, the part known as Paradise, with the sole exception of the six or seven from Reverse Mountain, log poses generally set to a single other island, or sometimes one of two options. In the New World, two was the absolute minimum, so you generally used a special Log pose that could lock on to multiple fields simultaneously. Three was considered the basic kind, but you wanted the seven-needle model that was the size of a whole table if you wanted to be sure to get them all. That model lets you backtrack, even.

In other words, Prodence was effectively their neighbor, even if there were nine known islands closer to Gloom than them, including an unoccupied island that had an eternal lightning storm whose climate zone intersected the route. It was still the closest of the three destinations. One didn't need to be a diplomat to understand the potential benefits and risks of this arrangement.

“Gamahahahaha!” Laughed General Dagama, King Elizabello’s advisor. “I can't believe you actually showed up, Hawk-Eyes!”

“Tanya wanted to come, and I didn’t have anything better to do.” Father said laconically.

“Ah, I see.” Dagama said, stroking his bushy moustache. “She wants to find herself a Prince. Understandable, when Prince Elizabello the third is attending for the first time.” He gestured to where the large boy, the spitting image of his brute of a father but two heads shorter, was enjoying a brief boxing match in the center of the ballroom slash battle arena that they were relaxing in after their trip.

Tanya’s arm jolted as she heard that assumption, accidentally throwing the rubber ball out the window as she threw it way too hard. Saifu jumped out after it, as the window was open to let in a pleasant, salt-free breeze. Her face felt aflame as she processed the ugly man’s words.

“She’s a bit young for matchmaking, I think.” Father said, amused at Tanya’s lapse. “She’s only thirteen. No, Tanya just enjoys administering the country, and wanted to try her hand at diplomacy. She’s done very well with our economy, at least.”

Dagama stroked his moustache again. “How well?” He asked, “Also, the Prince is fifteen.” Tanya glanced again at the boy, who was over three meters tall. She’d call bullshit, but the boy’s father was right next to him, at four and a half meters tall, so it made sense.

Father shrugged. “She said we’re on target to recoup our investments into infrastructure and the land purchase within ten years. That sounds pretty good to me.” Saifu jumped back in through the window and dropped the ball back into Tanya’s waiting hand.

Dagama hummed. “Hey Princess, come over here.” Tanya put the ball back in Saifu’s mouth, who swallowed it before jumping up into her arms. “You have my attention. What’s your offer?”

Tanya beamed. “I’m given to understand that you are currently at war with an Alliance of the Mogaro Kingdom and the Doerena Kingdom, due to the disgrace of the Riku dynasty leaving you without a strong, steadfast ally.”

Dagama frowned at Tanya’s bluntness, but nodded. “Yes, this is true. Are you offering your father’s blade to assist? I can’t imagine anything else you have to offer.””

Tanya scoffed. “I was thinking more along the lines of offering succor for any refugees your war happens to produce. I heard,” through chatting up Vice-Admiral Zephyr of G-5 while selling him food, “-that the Marines rejected your request for evacuation aid." While the humandrills had strong backs and skilled hands, they really needed human foremen directing them or they caused problems. They needed real citizens, particularly skilled mental trades that the humandrills couldn't do well. Vegapunk’s loaned experts helped, but they needed a more long term solution.

Dagama blinked in surprise. “...Do you have housing ready for three thousand displaced civilians?” he asked challengingly.

Tanya grinned. “Housing, tools, and farmland. They can stay either temporarily, or immigrate permanently, as they prefer.” she had the humandrills tear down and rebuild the port years ago, and over time built it out for human habitation. Tanya waved her hand vaguely. “Transporting that many might be challenging, but with a destination in mind, I’m sure I can convince Zephyr to lend one of their transport ships for the cause.” Hopefully, a troop transport. More realistically, a prison transport.

Dagama hummed, hiding his thoughts but her Observation read him as impressed. “My King!” He shouted, gesturing for the monarch to come over.

King Elizabello the second had somewhat odd proportions to her old sensibilities, but she's met plenty of men with a similar body shape in this life, so it was barely worth noting. His body from the waist down was fairly ordinary in size and shape, just a bit wide at the hips, which also made his legs further apart than she'd see as standard. Above the waist, however, he was a solid pillar of muscle, putting a new definition to the term ‘barrel-chested’. This was capped off with a very strong chin and powerful arms that looked like they lived up to their reputation of being able to break fortresses with a single punch. “What is it, Dagama?” Back in the arena, the prince was panting heavily and poking at the bruises from the boxing match. Yeah, she's been there.

“Well, I've just been talking with our new neighbors, my King.” Dagama said, somehow managing to make it sound sinister. “They've heard about that problem we've been having with Fidolus island’s former inhabitants, and are offering to assist, out of the goodness of their heart.” The Prodence Kingdom was based on Conatos Island, but had a few tiny outlying islands within its climate zone, as she understood things. They were difficult to defend. Gloom Island had a few too, but Tanya hasn't done anything with them yet beyond checking for squatters.

“Really?” King Elizabello II asked, before turning to Father. “Is this true, Hawk-Eyes?”

Tanya stood up on her chair to get a better angle to speak with him, squeezing the scruff of Saifu’s neck to instruct her to become a backpack again. She slipped the forner dog onto her shoulder. “War is a terrible waste, King Elizabello. Providing a place for the unfortunate who have lost their livelihoods to regain their footing will benefit all involved.”

The King loomed over her, judging her sincerity. The angle of his head, looking down at her, made Tanya glad that she vetoed the dress with cleavage, instead selecting one with a silver choker that the fabric was pinned to, showing her muscular shoulders when she doesn't hold her arms just right, the opposite of flexing. Subtly, she adjusted her stance to emphasize those muscles.

Abruptly, he grinned widely. “I like you, Princess!” Eh? “Yes, I accept your overture of friendship. We’ll iron out the details on the way back from Reverie, on my ship. You simply must try my country's famous beef. Our bulls are the size of elephants!”

Well, that was easy. She expected King Elizabello II to be very welcoming to the idea of an ally after King Doldo’s disgrace, but apparently they undersold the degree of their troubles to the Vice-Admiral.

“Boy! Come meet the Princess, and for the love of Nika, don't make an oaf of yourself!” Ah. Of course.

-------------------------

The largest castle in the world was Pangea Castle, the seat of government for the World Government. Supposedly, it was designed by Saint Jaygarcia Archimedes, one of the original 19 Celestial Dragons and the direct ancestor of Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the current Minister of Science. The outer walls were perfectly circular, with a diameter of a little more than three miles. Tanya suspected that the true diameter was pi, but couldn't confirm it.

“Fascinating.” Tanya said, to keep Princess Nefertari talking.

“You really think so?” She asked.

“I've always been interested in history.” Tanya said, sipping at her tea.

Princess Nefertari Vivi was a young girl, thirteen just like Tanya was. She was slim, but with an underlying strength of spirit that spoke to Tanya's Observation. “Well, I'm glad someone is. There wasn't much to do last night but read.”

“A night spent reading is rarely wasted, I find.” Tanya said reassuringly. Saifu, in her lap, yawned and put her snout on the table, looking up pleadingly at the other princess.

Vivi paused from putting one of the tiny meat-filled pastries in her mouth. “She's so cute.” She said, giving the dog the treat before taking another for herself.

“Yes, she is.” Tanya said, rubbing the corgi’s ears and she ate the pastry. “She's a little thief, though.”

“Oh?”

“I had to empty her out when I was disarming.” Tanya explained, “She coughed up one hundred forty-one socks before we were done.” Which were now lining Saifu’s bed, for when she naps.

Vivi giggled at the image. “I didn't know backpacks could eat devil fruits. How does that work?”

“No idea.” Tanya admitted, “It only works with Zoans, according to Dr. Vegapunk.” It probably had to do with the fact that the zoans had a mind of their own, albeit an animal mind. Even if you could feed the key-key fruit, for example, to an inanimate object, it wouldn’t have the will to actually do anything.

…Actually, that’s probably a bad example. If you infused a key with that fruit you might  still unlock stuff by pointing and twisting it. Could a computer be fed a devil fruit? Could you then program usage of it? An interesting idea…

“So… you’re a pirate, right?” Vivi asked, in a way that made Tanya think that she had decided that smalltalk was over with.

Tanya glanced over to the rest of the aptly-named Socialization Plaza. It was essentially a giant garden, with fountains and greenery interspersed with small tables, some with buffets and some with simple tea services like the one they were at.

Potential eavesdroppers… There was Vivi’s attendant Igaram, a man with elaborately curled hair who stood prim and proper as he served the tea. Nearby, a man named Pell who Tanya’s Observation indicated was fiercer than his appearance suggested. He was also part of Vivi’s entourage. There didn’t appear to be anyone else who was observing them beyond those boys fifty meters away, watching the two princesses from afar while hyping each other up to approach them. They were no threat.

Deeming the conversation safe enough, Tanya shrugged demurely. “That would entirely depend on what kind of question you have for one.” Tanya replied, “I’ve hardly had an ordinary experience among pirates, but I’ve been exposed to several facets of the life.”

“There’s been some… issues at Alabasta, and there’s some evidence of… something organized. Someone trying to stir up a civil war.” Vivi confided.

Hm. Was it the Revolutionaries? She does have the ability to send messages to Lucy… She could ask. “Could you elaborate why you think that?” Tanya asked.

“It all started with a drought.” Vivi began. Tanya winced at the mention. “The odd part was that our capital instead experienced lots of rain. You see, there’s a kind of powder that can call the rain when burned, it’s called Dance Powder.”

Tanya immediately understood the implications. “Ah, it’s taking the rain from the nearby area.”

“Right. You see, someone framed my Father for doing this… but that doesn’t make any sense. He’s not stupid enough to think it would be a good idea.” Vivi explained, “More importantly, Father’s just not a good enough actor to fake his dismay over everything. Someone else was smuggling the powder and burning it in Alubarna, and even planted some in the Royal Palace.”

That was definitely not the Revolutionary’s MO, as she understood things. They’d never stoke civil disorder that wasn’t already there, they’re stretched way too thin fighting the genuine and blatant tyrants to bother attacking the rulers that were liked. From what Lucy said, the Revolutionary Army’s goal was the unseating of the Celestial Dragons, turning the World Government into a true federation of allied countries, and dealing with the inherent problems of monarchy is to be reserved until after that issue is dealt with.

“Do you have any suspects?” Tanya asked.

“Not… precisely.” Vivi admitted, “But there’s an organization of bounty hunters that have risen to prominence in the last few years. They’re called Baroque works, if you’ve heard of them.”

Tanya nodded along. “I met some, yes. They’re the ones with the numerical and holiday code names, yes?” The last time they had to go through Reverse Mountain, four years ago, they met Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday, when they made the terrible mistake of lying in wait for an ambush on them when they stopped at a tiny little non-magnetic island between Reverse Mountain and Vacation Island, somehow not recognizing the jolly roger of one of the Royal Warlords. They admitted to everything in an attempt to get their lives spared… then the poor bastards got killed by an otter with a knife as the two of them left. She’d like to say that it was a very strange occurrence, but it was a little odd at best.

“Right, them.” Vivi confirmed, “Alabasta doesn’t have spies, that I know about at least, but we have a few investigators with information networks. They found evidence that some suspicious purchases were made by a Miss All-Sunday, involving some key ingredients to Dance Powder. It’s our best lead.”

“Hm, kind of weak…” Tanya commented. Vivi nodded ruefully. “What is your plan?” She asked.

“Well, my childhood was not very… let’s say ‘princess-y’.” Vivi explained, “It’s probably nothing compared to your upbringing, but I have some fighting experience, and I've spent weeks at a time pretending to be an ordinary citizen, so I was thinking of infiltrating their ranks to see if I can find out who is masterminding them.”

Tanya hummed, looking over the girl very carefully. Okay, that was a bit of muscle she could see. Not a lot, but she wasn’t entirely helpless. Her inner strength was definitely sufficient to become somewhat powerful, as well. “I’m not going to say that your plan is hopeless,” Tanya said carefully, “-but I’d rate its success rate as low, and risk profile as high. You’d need a lot of luck to make it work.”

Vivi slumped. “Do you have any ideas?” She asked, “I’m in over my head here. But I can’t do nothing, a lot of my people will suffer and die if this goes unopposed!” Coincidentally, it also lets her family retain their power. But Tanya knew that Vivi meant every word. She loved her people and wanted to see them succeed, which was something that Tanya could understand.

“I can think of three things.” Tanya said. Vivi brightened. “First, Sir Crocodile of the Royal Warlords hunts in your neck of the woods, isn’t that right?” Vivi nodded. “You may have better luck getting him to root out this ‘Baroque Works’, but I’m not sure what kind of investigative skills or resources he has. But what I do know is that the man fancies himself an archeologist. I’ve only met him with my father once, when I was eight, but he was hunting down the locations of Poneglyphs at the time. If you have some hidden lore in your family’s library on them, or even an example, you can probably convince him to help you in return for access.” Well, four of them hold the secret to finding the One Piece, so it was understandable that Crocodile was interested in them. There was no way Vivi had access to that, though.

Vivi’s face soured. “I’m afraid that can’t be done. We do have one, but my ancestor, the one who put it there, wrote a warning that it held dangerous information. Only members of the Royal Family are permitted to see it.”

Hm. “Well, my second idea is to request aid from the World Government, in particular, request a few Cipher Pol agents to help root out the insurgency.” Tanya said, sipping at her tea. ‘CP3 would be perfectly capable of providing you the information, although there are drawbacks to this approach.”

Vivi frowned intensely at the suggestion. “The World Government honors my family due to our status as one of the original Kingdoms, although my ancestor refused to surrender Alabasta to a branch house like the others, but that’s all performative.”

“So you don’t think you could trust Cipher Pol to work in your country’s best interests?” Tanya asked. It was a fair assessment, Cipher Pol is kind of… universally hated and feared.

“I’m afraid not.” Vivi said ruefully.

“My final idea is one I think you’ll like, then.” Tanya said, “As it still has you infiltrate Baroque works as you originally wanted.”

“Really?” Vivi asked, “Didn’t you say it was a stupid idea?”

“I said your odds of success are low, as you are.” Tanya corrected, “But there are ways to increase strength quickly. Your best bet, in my opinion, is to purchase a devil fruit and consume it.”

Vivi blinked as she processed the suggestion. After a moment, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. ‘Ehhhh?” She asked.

Tanya raised an eyebrow. “It’s hardly an unthinkable suggestion, Princess. Devil fruits are not a common thing for people to offer Father to, for example, spend a month improving the swordsmanship of a cadre of elite soldiers, but it’s happened a few times.” She gestured to Saifu, who Tanya was idly petting. “This fruit was one of them, but not the only one. In total, we’ve gotten about seven. We sold most of them, which means they can be bought.”

Igaram, the butler, interjected: “I’m sure we can convince your father to part with a fair sum for such things. If we can find a seller.”

“You need connections to buy a devil fruit, Tanya.” Vivi said admonishingly. “You probably sold them to the Marines, right?”

“Mostly, yes.” Tanya agreed, “But more to the point, we still have two of them.” One of them was actually found by the humandrills, a truly bizarre occurrence. “One is of unknown provenance, while the other is the Tweet-Tweet fruit, model: Emperor Penguin.”

Vivi looked baffled. “A swimming bird devil fruit?” She asked incredulously. “Can it swim?”

“No.” Tanya replied, “The Marines didn’t want it.” She thought it was rather short-sighted of them, but she had planned on selling it to the military of a winter island that could take advantage of it.

“Can I see the other fruit?” Vivi asked.

“It’s still sitting in our vaults.” Tanya said, shaking her head. “I do, however, have a sketch.” She pinched a spot above Saifu’s tail and unzipped her back, reaching in and fetching the relevant sketchbook by, essentially, willing the appropriate item to her hand. How a devil fruit oriented around being a dog helped a bag become a magic bag was beyond her, but Vegapunk said it was all basically the power of imagination, so maybe it wasn’t supposed to make sense. After she withdrew the book, Saifu yipped and the opening zipped itself up. “Good dog.” Tanya said before opening the sketchbook to… “Ah. Here it is. This page is my drawing on the Penguin fruit, and this is the unknown one.”

The mystery devil fruit was a pumpkin, yellow with all the swirls one would expect from one of them. The most notable physical feature of the pumpkin, in her opinion, was the fact that the swirls originated on two points, spaced to be almost like eyes. It also had an unsettling tendency to move on its own, although it never moved when anyone was looking. She’ll be glad to see it gone, honestly.

The penguin fruit, in contrast, was a black-and-white kiwi fruit, with vertical stripes mixed up with minor swirling branches. It looked a little odd, and the stem actually looked like a beak.

Vivi examined the pictures, presumably trying to divine what the fruit could be from its appearance. “...I don’t think we can afford to buy a devil fruit for something like this…” She eventually said.

“In the interests of good relations between our countries, I’m sure we can work something out.” Tanya said easily. “Most notably, I’m sure a large and old country like Alabasta has many master craftsmen and learned scholars that could be sent at your expense?” Vivi seemed thoughtful, seriously considering it. “On a temporary basis, to teach, of course. With the option to immigrate permanently with their families, if they so desire.” Read: if they like the generous compensation packages Tanya intends to offer them. “Gloom Island is kind of the exact opposite of a desert, so that might be an obstacle, but the knowledge of mankind is the greatest treasure.”

Vivi smiled. “I think we can work this out, yes. Thank you so much for your help!” Eh?

“You’re very welcome, Princess.” Tanya said automatically. Shouldn’t princesses have a bit more decorum with their deals? “But don’t thank me until you know what you’re getting into. I have no idea what that devil fruit does.” Although she suspects it would be something scary. In the literal sense, not in the dangerous sense. Is there a fear-fear fruit?

Still, this has been a very productive Reverie so far, and it’s just the first day!

-------------------------

When they entered Marejois, they had to disarm, as did all of the other royal’s bodyguards. For this, they provided an opulent display case (with a lock that supposedly only has one key, which was provided) that both Yoru and Shodai Kitetsu were now sequestered, along with Kogatana (Father’s knife), Tanya’s revolvers, rifle, and Cobra. The spare and backup weapons were all put in a crate instead.

The Reverie, in addition to being a political summit, was also nominally a party, where the royalty of the world can mingle with both each other and the World Nobles who deign to join them. As part of the third day of the festivities, a grand ball was held, where Tanya had to wear a dress designated specifically for that event, in addition to the four other dresses that she had to wear (and even that much had to be bargained down from eight total dresses, one for each day plus the ball). That display case was placed in the room, along with treasures and art displayed from the other countries, as a show of wealth and to provoke conversation.

Tanya had never learned how to ballroom dance. What she did learn, on the other hand, was Observation haki, which was excellent for avoiding feet being stepped on, and for predicting her dance partner’s movements more generally. So she improvised.

“You’re a really good dancer.” Prince Elizabello the third said as he struggled with the languid pace the current song demanded. Despite his massive frame, his formal wear fit him perfectly, and he was comfortable wearing it. Even if Tanya’s face was eye level with his stomach, and his- oh hello, intrusive thoughts, welcome back. It’s that time of life again, isn’t it?

Being a teenager sucked. “Swordsmanship is all about footwork. You must retain an awareness of the movements of your sparring partner, even the parts that can not be seen with eyes.” On cue, she moved her foot out of the way of the prince’s clumsy overstep. “You’d probably do better with a faster-paced song.”

“You think so?” He said, clearly uncomfortable. “I’m much better at fighting than dancing. I have to be strong, for Prodence.”

“I can understand that. Being the child of the strongest swordsman in the world comes with expectations.” Tanya said sympathetically. “I never begrudged my father the lessons, and I’ll admit to possessing no small amount of talent for the sword.” Admittedly, a lot of that ‘talent’ was already understanding the value of hard work, and more was the finely honed battle sense she acquired on the battlefield, but what was talent but an inborn advantage? She was born in this world with those things, therefore they were inborn. “But as great as that strength is, there’s not really any purpose to it.”

“Don’t you need to protect your Kingdom?” He asked.

“Maybe in the future, if my father weakens enough.” Tanya admitted. “But now, I’d prefer to protect them by arming and modernizing our army, such as it is, and secure economic prominence in the New World.” Well, after she’s confident that she can leave the place alone for a year or two without disaster striking, she wants to take Father up on that offer to go on a traditional pirate journey through Paradise, but Gloom Island’s future is more important. “Real power isn’t in being the tip of the spear, in my experience.” That just gets you killed.

“That’s… surprising.” He said.

“Excuse me, may I have this dance?” Asked another man. Tanya searched her memory of the dozens of introductions she’s been given this week for his face. Blue hair, curly eyebrow… Ah, this was Niji, the second son of the Germa Kingdom, aged sixteen. They were a North Blue country, so they were on the list of people she wanted to schmooze. Second prince wasn’t perfect, but that was the enemy of ‘good enough’.

“Certainly.” Tanya said demurely. “Good talk, Elizabello. You’ve danced enough that you can safely excuse yourself if you wish.”

The large prince, who could not be mistaken for a full grown man with how awkwardly he held himself, looked torn. “I’ll come back when there’s a faster song.” He said before moving off of the dance floor.

Niji was a much better dancer than Elizabello the third, it must be said. The song shifted to something else a bit more complicated, and for a few seconds she found herself actually enjoying the dance… until she had to pinch him to stop his arm from drifting somewhere inappropriate. At first, his flesh was unyielding, like some kind of metal, but it wasn’t anything a little bit of haki couldn’t overcome.

“So I’ve read a bit on the Germa Kingdom, exports and such,” Tanya said, as a conversation starter. “-but what is it that you, the prince, think is the finest facet of your kingdom?”

“You know, you’d be prettier if you grew out your hair.” Niji said instead. Tanya blinked. What?

“...I’m sorry?” Tanya asked, in confusion.

“You should be.” Niji said, completely missing what she was saying. “Yonji was saying you just have it tied up, but now that I’m seeing it up close, it’s definitely just cut.” He raised the hand he had rested on her back and disturbed the lace decorations in her hair.

…Shit, was this enough offense to warrant a loss of temper? Insult etiquette was hard.

But Niji kept digging a deeper hole, his admittedly handsome face grinning. “But hey, after close inspection, at least he’ll be happy to know that you’re not padding your tits like I though-urk.”

Apparently, the man’s skin and bones were metallic in more than one way, as Tanya’s slap literally deformed his cheek, which did not return to its normal shape, as if she had dented steel. “You bitch!” He shouted. Everyone’s eyes went straight to the commotion.

“I will not tolerate such blatant disrespect.” Tanya said, putting on her best ‘imperious princess’ voice. “Apparently they don’t have manners in the Germa Kingdom. In consideration of the fact that you’re still a mere boy, I will refrain from demanding satisfaction in a duel.”

“But I will.” Said another voice, projecting just like Tanya was. The energy in the room ramped up, but was also restrained as the altercation transitioned from ‘potential disaster’ to ‘juicy drama’. The woman who spoke up was dressed in one of the smallest dresses in the room, a shoulderless number with ample cleavage and a skirt that only went down to her knees. It was very pink, just like the girl’s hair. “While I’m sure my brother provided insult, that is no reason to injure him so. I, Vinsmoke Reiju, challenge you for the title of the World’s Strongest Princess.”

Tanya smiled. Now things were getting interesting… and it was an excuse to change clothes! “Very well, I accept.” Tanya said, “My Father will be dueling the Commander of the Holy Knights, Figarland Garling, tomorrow at noon. How does thirty minutes before that in the same arena work for you? The spectators can watch both matches at that time.”

“She accepts.” Booms the voice of King Vinsmoke Judge.