One Piece: The Eldest Brother

…

As he looked at the sleeping beauty, Edam couldn't help but have an extremely satisfied expression on his face as he ċȧrėssed her sweet rosy cheek, brushing her sweat-soaked black hair stuck on her face before covering her with the blanket lest she catches a cold or something.

Although he could still go for a few more rounds, she was in contrast completely exhausted, so he knew that he should stop here and let her rest properly. He had already been quite greedy to do her so much for her first time, so now… 

But the thing was that, even though he decided to stop here, Eden Jr was still pretty lively, as such, Edam closed his eyes to completely call down for a minute or two.

"Phew…" He breathes out quietly as his eyes then automatically darted on her.

"Hmm, let's clean up a bit…" 

And so with that, he started to clean up the room, and while he was changing the bedsheets, his gaze came to rest on a spot stain with blood.

"...?" Edam pondered as Zaz's spirit flashback came into his mind to speak with him, teaching Edam the way a man should act with a woman after the deed.

Zaz would be what one would call an early bird, so he really knew his stuff, having done it at fifteen years old, kinda early, but who was Edam to judge right?

...

['And don't forget to cut the blood-stained part. For a reason that we men cannot comprehend, women have the strange tendency to keep this as a memento of their first time, don't throw it into the trash, like me…sniff...']

At that time, Edam innocently replied…

[That's… kinda disgusting...throwing it into the trash would be more appropriate-...]

[No!… sniff... just keep it… it's in your interest… women are complicated by nature…! But that's also why they are fascinating...] Zaz said like a true master of the way.

"Oh… alright then…" Edam seemingly nodded at Zaz's spirit as the bedsheets flew into the air carefully showing the blood and one of Eden's fingers lit up with ki sharpening out as he cut the intended part before putting it into a spatial pouch.

Even until now, he never understood such a strange practice, but well, if it could make her happy… 

He was also wondering whether he should bathe her or not? Would that be too much? He didn't know, it was his first time too and Zaz never mentioned it.

And after having cleaned everything, he finally felt a bit sleepy...

"Yawn…!" He lazily decided to sleep with her, cuddling her in his arms and forgetting everything as his mind faded away and he slept.

…

…

… 

*Tomorrow morning…*

"Yawn…" As he opened his eyes, he stretched his limbs and saw the little marmot sleeping soundly, still tired from yesterday's event.

Looking at her, he wanted to sleep alongside her again...

Or so that's what he wanted when something struck his mind.

"Ah, sh*it, Eri…!" With that thought, he stood up, creating a dome of ki around Hancock to prevent any disturbance before running to take a quick shower and dress himself up with new clothes, washing away the indecent odors.

In the heat of yesterday's event, Edam just totally forgot Eri...

Could he be blamed though? Edam wasn't the kind to do a lot of babysitting, apart from Luffy back then, but that was his little brother after all...

Anyway, it's been a long time now, and Edam's sense of responsibility was sh*tty!

But anyhow, after hurriedly dressing up, Edam opened up the door and went out.

"Ah, l- lord Eden…" He saw a young woman acting like a servant or secretary waiting obediently at the door, looking a bit surprised when she saw Edam coming out.

"Welcome back…" She bowed her head in greeting.

"...? Oh, you're… uh, Eliza was it?" 

"...It's Elaine…"

"...Yeah… anyway, do you know where Sandersonia and Mariegold are?"

"Hm? Ah, Sandersonia and Mariegold-sama are currently outside eating breakfast with the little girl lord Eden brought back." She explained clearly and simply.

"Oh, okay thanks and forget about the lord part… my name alone is fine."

But in response, she shook her head. "No no no, the Empress made herself clear that we must call you lord…"

"...uh…"  Edam wanted to say something but in the end chose to let it go as he went on his way. 

"Ah, is the empress okay?"

He nearly stumbles when he hears her question. "Cough… well yes, she's just… anyway don't worry…"

…

He left the palace to arrive at a huge terrace, where he saw Sandersonia, Mariegold, and Elder Nyon along with Eri sitting around a round table eating breakfast.

"Hello, everyone, I'm sorry for yesterday…"

Seeing him, Eri leaped out of her chair and ran to him to hug him in silence.

Seeing this, he felt kind of guilty in an instant.

"...sorry to have let you alone Eri…" He said and rubbed her head.

"I'm fine, you said it was important after all…" She mumbled under her breath.

"Well, yes, thank you…"

"Ahem!" While they were speaking though, Gloriossa interrupted them as she glared with one eye open at Edam.

"Anyway, how is the Snake Princess? You didn't bully her too much right?"

"Wha-?" Face with this, even Edam's thick skin couldn't block the embarrassment. 

"Elder Nyon!" Sandersonia and Mariegold shouted with embarrassed expression but no can do that old hag still spouted her line.

"Don't break her…*sigh* I swear, youngsters those days, doing it all day long and for the first time at that…" Gloriossa said while shaking her head.

"Elder Nyon!" Sandersonia put a hand on her mouth, as she then told Edam.

"E- Edam come and eat something, don't listen to her…"

"Oh, yeah, I'm really hungry!" Edam exclaimed and said as he came to the table to eat, totally forgetting the unpleasant conversation.

…

…

And he began to fill his stomach with a mountain worth of food while explaining to Eri how eating was one of the most marvelous things in the world.

"...? Then what is the most important?"

"Hmm… although my answer would be kinda cliche but I guess it would be... to protect your loved ones…? Or simply to live as you like?"

Edam said with a pondering expression before looking at Eri again, shrugging his shoulders. "In the end, everyone has their own unique objective that pushes them to become stronger…"

"Anyway, just eat, It's too early for you to think about that…" Edam said as he happily took another bowl of rice and meat.

"Hmm… Hey, kid, now will you tell us who's this little girl?" Elder Nyon said with narrowing eyes.

"You didn't cheat on our princess, did you?"

"Huh? No, not at all, can't you tell it, we don't even look the same, old hag…" Edam's face twitched as he couldn't stand such accusations.

"Because of a certain event, she followed me here and-…" Edam stopped in the middle of his sentence.

"...? What is it-?" The three asked as they watched him disappearing from their eyes.

Swing!

"Hello there…" His face drew a faint and playful smile because...

Behind the wall of the exit, a beautiful black-haired beauty was currently hiding when out of nowhere seemingly, Edam appeared right in front of her eyes.

Facing him, her face turned red in embarrassment...

… 

Happy Valentine or not...

the 14th is actually the day I'm born so, I don't care being single in case....heh😎