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'A wedding? Is someone in this country getting married?' Ikki wondered. 'And Cobra is in charge?'
Ikki looked at Cobra and Chaka strangely. Although they had spoken quietly, it was hard for anything to escape Ikki's ears with his enhanced hearing. He had clearly heard their conversation.
Soon, Ikki's eyes fell on Vivi beside him. 'Is it going to be Vivi's wedding? The original story never mentioned this. Could it be that he knows Vivi is about to sail with me on a long voyage, so he's planning to settle her marriage before she leaves?'
Ikki frowned slightly, then shook his head after thinking for a moment. 'Cobra would never let Vivi marry someone casually. Let's see what's going on.'
Unable to figure it out, Ikki simply followed Cobra's lead. Soon, they arrived at the banquet hall in the inner courtyard of the palace.
"The banquet is ready, Ikki, Miss Nojiko, and Miss Nami," Cobra said with a smile. "Please enjoy yourselves."
Chaka and Pell stepped forward and pushed open the doors to the banquet hall. The scene inside made Ikki and Vivi's eyes widen in shock.
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations to Mr. Ikki and Princess Vivi!"
"Today is such a happy day!"
"Yeah, Princess Vivi has grown up to the age of marriage."
"It's awesome that her partner is such an outstanding man."
In the banquet hall, a group of maids clapped their hands and approached with smiles on their faces.
"Princess Vivi, come with us," one said. "We've prepared the most beautiful wedding dress for you."
"And Mr. Ikki, we've also got traditional Alabastan clothing for you," another added.
The maids pulled Vivi and Ikki into the banquet hall without further explanation. By now, the stunned pair could see that the entire hall was decorated with messages congratulating Ikki and Vivi on their wedding.
"What's going on here?" Nami blinked, running quickly to Cobra. "I think there's been a mix-up."
"Yeah, King Cobra," Ikki said, raising his eyebrows. "Is it because I saved your country that you plan to marry Vivi to me? By the way, what's the age of adulthood in your country? Vivi isn't even eighteen yet, and you're so eager to marry her off? Though she is pretty cute."
Ikki glanced at Vivi, whose face had turned completely red, then looked back at Cobra. He finally understood who the wedding Cobra and Chaka had mentioned was for. Besides Vivi, the intended groom was himself!
"Eighteen? In our country, sixteen-year-olds are considered adults," Cobra replied with a laugh. "Ikki, Vivi, I know I didn't tell you beforehand. But since you're already expecting, it doesn't matter if you hold the wedding sooner or later. You might as well have the wedding while we're celebrating Baroque Works' defeat. It's like having two good things happen at once."
"Father, what are you doing?" Vivi finally grabbed Cobra's collar, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Why would I marry Captain Ikki!"
"Huh? But don't you already have a thing with Ikki?" Cobra asked, confused. "Wait, aren't you two planning to get married? What about the baby? What should we do about the baby?"
"Baby... what baby?" Vivi tilted her head, feeling completely lost.
"There seems to be some misunderstanding," Ikki said, rubbing his forehead. "King Cobra, can you tell me about this baby?"
"Nico Robin told me that you and Vivi are already expecting a child. Isn't that true?" Cobra asked. He was beginning to realize something was wrong.
"I knew it!" Ikki shook his head. "That sneaky woman did this to me."
In the original story, Nico Robin did have a rather mischievous side. Thinking about her behavior on the Explorer, Ikki wasn't too surprised.
"That woman!" Vivi exclaimed, looking at her father with a crimson face. "And you, Father! Why did you believe what she said so easily? The relationship between me and Captain Ikki is nothing like what she told you!"
"Ah..." Cobra's cheeks twitched as embarrassment washed over him. The people around looked at each other, their faces also showing discomfort.
"I... Vivi, I've been tricked," Cobra admitted. "I thought you and Captain Ikki were really... together. I'm sorry, Vivi, and you too, Captain Ikki. I should have been more careful and asked you directly."
Cobra clasped his hands and bowed his head in apology to Ikki and Vivi.
Nearby, Nami and Nojiko both sighed in relief before exchanging glances and breaking into laughter.
"Seriously, don't do stuff like this anymore to make everyone laugh," Vivi said, putting her hands on her hips and looking at her father helplessly. What could she do? After all, he was her father. Though it was a joke, she could only ask him not to be so gullible next time.
'That Nico Robin,' Vivi thought, clenching her fists. 'The next time I see her, I'll have a serious talk with her.'
"Well, Vivi, how about we just go ahead with the wedding anyway?" Cobra suggested. "I think Ikki is a pretty good guy. If you marry early, I can rest easy."
"What are you thinking, Father? Why are you still saying such things?" Vivi protested.
"But Vivi, tell me, do you like Ikki?" Cobra asked directly.
"Hey!" Vivi glanced at Ikki, who was smiling beside her. "Yeah... I like him, but it's the love between crewmates, not between lovers."
"That's still liking him. Vivi, I think Ikki is a good match. If you marry early, I'll feel better about you going to sea," Cobra persisted.
"Father! Seriously, why are you so set on me marrying Captain Ikki? If you say anything else, I'll ignore you," Vivi threatened.
Seeing Vivi's blushing but serious expression, Cobra didn't press the issue further. However, the look in his eyes as he glanced between Ikki and Vivi seemed somewhat guilty.
"King Cobra, about Vivi and me..." Ikki began, noticing Cobra's expression. "You've made other arrangements, haven't you?"
After hearing Ikki's question, Cobra's body trembled, and he let out a long sigh.
"Actually, before you arrived here," Koza stepped forward with a complicated expression, "His Majesty had already announced the marriage between Vivi and Mr. Ikki to the people of Alabasta through various ways like flyers and Den Den Mushi broadcasts."
"The stuff with Baroque Works and the mistakes that were made have caused too much suffering in this country," Koza continued. "So, the king's idea was to lift everyone's spirits through Vivi's marriage to Ikki."
Although Cobra had proposed the plan, Koza had approved it. Even the rebels who trusted him had helped distribute flyers and make calls. He never imagined that the whole thing would turn out to be one of Nico Robin's pranks.
"Flyers? Den Den Mushi broadcasts?" Vivi looked at her childhood friend, then at her father. "Koza, does that mean... everyone in Alabasta already knows about this?"
Koza pressed his lips together before answering, "It hasn't reached every single person yet, but it's close."
BOOM!
Vivi felt like a bomb had exploded in her mind. Her face turned bright red, and she seemed to be steaming.
"Everyone... all over the country knows," she murmured. "I'm... married? To Captain Ikki...?" She looked at Ikki shyly.
Cobra and Koza both gave Ikki and Vivi apologetic looks.
"There's nothing to worry about," Nami said, crossing her arms and pouting. "Since it's a misunderstanding, wouldn't it be enough to fix it? Hey, King! You need to tell the people now that Captain Ikki and Vivi's wedding was just a mistake. They're not actually getting married, let alone having a baby."
"Yeah, since it's a mix-up, it shouldn't be hard to explain to the people," Nojiko added.
For them, the sudden wedding of Ikki and Vivi was somewhat difficult to accept.
"Nami and Nojiko are right, Vivi, we—" Ikki put his hand on Vivi's shoulder, but was interrupted by an agitated Vivi before he could finish.
"No... no!" Vivi exclaimed. "A royal wedding cannot be treated as a joke. If my wedding is treated as a joke, the reputation of the royal family will be damaged. Although the civil war has calmed down, the drought problem hasn't been solved yet. If I tell the people now that my wedding is fake, they'll be super disappointed."
Vivi took Ikki's hand, lowering her head as her body trembled slightly.
"Then what should we do? We can't really get married, can we, Vivi?" Ikki asked.
Hearing his words, Vivi couldn't help but grip Ikki's hand tighter.
"Captain Ikki, let's get married!" Vivi raised her head, blushing, and stared directly into Ikki's eyes.
As soon as the words left her mouth, everyone in the room was shocked. Nami, Nojiko, Cobra, Koza, Chaka, and the others all jolted and quickly looked over.