72. Anger

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Vivi felt a shiver course through her body. She had encountered many situations in her life as a princess of Alabasta, but this time was different. This time, she was truly frightened.

"Although this is Alabasta's palace, and it's within your rights to claim authority here, remember: the moment I moved in, I was granted temporary command over this space."

Anos's voice cut through the air like a blade, cold and merciless. He took a step forward, his regal presence growing ever more formidable.

"With such brazen behaviour, is it possible Alabasta wishes for the Tru Kingdom to declare war against you?"

Vivi's heart pounded against her chest. The chill in his words made her realize that she may have crossed a line she wasn't even aware of.

As the reality of the situation set in, she felt utterly small. The man standing before her was not just a foreign guest; he was Anos, the king of Tru Kingdom, and he was furious.

Her hands trembled as she tried to muster a response. Anos's dark, piercing eyes were fixed on her, his expression radiating something she could only describe as contempt.

"Why... why are you being so harsh?" Vivi stammered, tears welling up in her eyes. Her voice, which usually held the confidence of a royal, now wavered with helplessness.

But Anos's demeanour remained as unyielding as ever. There was no sympathy, no flicker of warmth in his gaze.

She was used to respect and gentleness from those around her, but this man, this king, had none to spare for her mistakes.

Just then, a calm, respectful voice emerged from behind her, breaking the icy silence.

"Forgive her, Your Majesty King Tru. Princess Vivi is still young and may not fully understand matters of protocol. I hope you can find it in yourself to pardon her."

Vivi turned, surprised, and saw a figure emerge from the shadows. He was a man in his forties or fifties, with greying hair and an air of quiet strength.

This was Chaka, the Alabasta army commander and a trusted aide of her father. His expression was calm but resolute, a stark contrast to Vivi's shaken demeanour.

Anos's cold gaze shifted from Vivi to Chaka, assessing him with the same penetrating stare that had unnerved the princess.

Chaka met Anos's gaze with a steady, respectful posture, his head slightly lowered as a sign of deference.

Although he maintained his composure, the tension in the air was palpable, and even Chaka seemed to tread carefully in the presence of Anos.

"I, Anos, King of Tru Kingdom, have my principles," he replied, his voice carrying an unmistakable edge. "I hope Alabasta won't let me down again in the future."

Anos's words were more than a mere reprimand; they were a warning. Chaka understood this and nodded gravely, taking full responsibility for the lapse in the respect shown by the young princess.

He did not speak further, recognizing that even one wrong word could potentially sour the diplomatic relations between their two Kingdoms.

The silence stretched as Anos maintained his unyielding gaze, not sparing Vivi a final glance.

He made it abundantly clear that he wanted no repeats of this incident, not from Vivi, nor anyone else in Alabasta.

As Chaka escorted her out of Anos's chambers, Vivi felt a surge of emotions fear, embarrassment, and frustration all swirling within her.

She had not intended to insult or anger Anos, but somehow, in her naivety, she had done precisely that.

The moment they were out of earshot, Chaka turned to her, his expression shifting from respectful diplomacy to fatherly disappointment.

"Princess Vivi, your actions today were careless and dangerous," he said, his tone calm but firm. "I hope you'll remember this lesson. Your words and deeds represent Alabasta, and this time, you could have easily pushed our kingdom to the brink of conflict."

The weight of his words settled on her like a lead blanket. She opened her mouth to respond but found she had nothing to say.

Chaka's face softened slightly, though his eyes retained their sharpness as he continued to study her.

"Uncle Chaka, why was he so harsh with me?" she asked at last, her voice a whisper as tears threatened to spill over again. "Why would he act like that?"

Chaka's eyes hardened, and he answered with an intensity Vivi rarely saw in him. "Because, Princess, he has the power to do so, and he is a King, not your Childhood friend "

The words struck her with a truth she had never fully comprehended.

She had grown up in a palace, sheltered from the harsh realities of diplomacy and power struggles.

But today, she was beginning to understand the immense responsibilities her title carried and the limitations that came with it.

"What kind of power?" she asked, blinking back her tears as curiosity replaced some of her fear.

"That is not for you to concern yourself with," Chaka replied. "For now, you should return to your quarters and reflect on your actions. I trust this incident has taught you the importance of humility and respect, especially toward those with authority."

Without waiting for her response, Chaka turned and walked down the corridor, disappearing.

For a moment, Vivi felt the weight of isolation pressing down on her, realizing that her actions had been careless, born of a sheltered upbringing that had ill-prepared her for the world of politics and international relations.

Chaka reappeared outside Cobra's chamber, his mind racing with thoughts.

He paused, knocked on the door, and waited as Cobra's familiar voice called from inside.

"Who is it?"

The door opened slightly, and upon seeing Chaka, Cobra's face broke into a warm smile. "Chaka! What brings you here today?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

Chaka entered the room, bowing his head respectfully. "I simply felt like visiting. I happened to stop by and thought I should catch up with you."

Cobra gestured for him to sit, his curiosity piqued by the sudden visit. "It's been some time. Where have you been lately?"

"I spent some time in Rainbase, observing the area," Chaka replied. "Upon my return, I heard that King Anos of Tru had come to visit Alabasta. Out of curiosity, I decided to see him, but in doing so, I happened upon Princess Vivi."

At this, Cobra's expression darkened. He could sense the weight behind Chaka's words.

"Did you notice anything wrong?"

Chaka nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, I did. It seems Princess Vivi needs a lesson in humility. If I hadn't arrived, things could have escalated."

Hearing that his daughter was involved, Cobra's face fell, and he leaned forward, concern clouding his features.

He knew his daughter well; she was kind and spirited, but at times, her youthful enthusiasm led her astray.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry.

Chaka took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "She entered King Anos's chambers without permission, speaking without consideration. This angered him deeply. He made it clear that should this happen again, Tru Kingdom would consider it a declaration of war."

Cobra listened in silence, absorbing the implications. He knew that the political landscape was fraught with delicate balance.

One wrong move and even the strongest alliances could crumble.

Chaka continued, his voice steady. "As Alabasta's army commander, I must advise we handle these interactions with the utmost care. King Anos is not a man to take lightly. His reaction today was a clear display of his strength and position. Our princess must learn to navigate these matters more cautiously."

The king nodded slowly, his face etched with worry and contemplation. He understood all too well the importance of diplomatic tact and restraint.

Alabasta's stability depended on it, and he couldn't afford to have his daughter jeopardize their peace.

Cobra sighed, his gaze softening as he thought of Vivi. "I'll speak with her. She has much to learn, and as her father, I must guide her through this journey."

Chaka's expression softened too. Despite his stern words, he held genuine affection for the young princess. "She's young, but she'll learn. Today was a valuable lesson."

Cobra nodded, appreciating Chaka's wisdom. "Thank you for stepping in. Your presence likely prevented a far greater issue."

After a moment's silence, Cobra changed the topic, eager to reconnect with his old friend. For now, he set aside his concerns about Vivi, knowing he would address them later.

But in the back of his mind, the events of the day lingered, a reminder of the complexities that lay ahead for both Alabasta and its princess.

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