Chapter 212
**Chapter 212: Monet**
Rosward **froze**, his body trembling violently as if **struck by lightning**.
He swallowed, forcing an awkward smile.
"**Saint Carl, maybe you heard wrong…**"
Carl's gaze remained cold.
"**Hm?**"
Rosward quickly **corrected himself**.
"**My apologies! I truly didn't recognize you earlier. Please forgive me!**"
Then—
The once **arrogant** Saint Rosward—
A **Celestial Dragon who had never bowed to anyone**—
**Kneeled.**
---
Monet **watched in shock**.
Her **entire worldview** was being **shattered** today.
A Celestial Dragon—kneeling?
Before another Celestial Dragon?
---
Carl looked down at Rosward, his **golden and black eyes glinting**.
"**You think an apology is enough?**"
His voice was like **ice**, carrying a **faint bloodlust** that made Rosward's **face go pale**.
Carl stepped forward, and Rosward was so frightened he nearly **wet himself**.
A look of **tearless despair** settled on his face.
---
Carl had no intention of **killing** Rosward—at least not **here and now**.
He didn't have the **authority** to execute a Celestial Dragon.
That power rested with **his uncle, Saint Garling**.
But—
Even if Rosward hadn't **known Carl's identity before**, the fact that he had **threatened to kill Carl's family** meant he couldn't be easily **forgiven**.
Among Celestial Dragons—
Such **insolence** could not go **unchecked**.
The **Figarland family's authority** had to be preserved in **Mary Geoise**.
---
With that in mind—
Carl reached out and gently **gathered Monet and Sugar into his arms**.
Then—
His **wings spread wide**.
The sudden gust sent **Rosward sprawling onto the ground**.
Rosward **dared not make a sound**, watching Carl's **back** with nervous **anticipation**.
Waiting for his **final judgment**.
Carl's voice was **calm**, yet carried **absolute authority**.
"**Return and seek forgiveness from Saint Garling yourself.**"
Then—
Carl's **wings flapped**.
His **figure soared into the sky**—
Vanishing from **Rosward's sight** in the blink of an eye.
---
### **Figarland Estate**
At the **clan estate**, Carl handed Monet and Sugar over to a **maid**.
"**Help them freshen up and get them new clothes,**" he instructed.
The maid **bowed** and immediately led the sisters away.
Along the way, the maid remained **silent**, unsure of **who** they were or **why** they had been brought here.
Eventually—
Monet couldn't **hold back** her curiosity.
"**Um… Sister, who exactly is this Lord Carl?**"
The maid **looked surprised**.
"**Aren't you two brought back by the Young Master? You don't even know his identity?**"
A faint **sadness** crossed Monet's face.
"**Strictly speaking… we were bought by him.**"
---
Hearing this, the maid's **eyes widened** in realization.
"**Oh, so you're slaves!**"
The word **cut deeply** into Monet's heart.
Sugar, too young to fully understand, **sensed her sister's distress** and tugged at her sleeve.
"**Sister…**"
Monet took a **deep breath**, trying to **compose herself**.
---
The maid, however, **showed no disdain** toward them.
Instead, she patiently answered Monet's question.
"**This is the Figarland family estate. Saint Carl is the family's sole heir.**"
The name **Figarland** was well-known among the **Celestial Dragons**.
To **ordinary people**, all Celestial Dragons were **"gods."**
But today—
Monet had **witnessed** something else.
Even among **Celestial Dragons**, there were **ranks**.
She recalled **Rosward's trembling submission** before Carl.
Her **curiosity deepened**.
"**Sister… are there ranks among Celestial Dragons?**"
The maid **nodded**.
"**Yes, though the exact hierarchy isn't for us to know.**"
Then, her voice lowered in **reverence**.
"**But in Mary Geoise, our family head, Saint Garling, holds absolute power over the lives of Celestial Dragons. And Saint Carl… is destined to be the same in the future.**"
Monet's **eyes widened**.
She had already seen Carl's **dominance over Rosward**.
But the maid wasn't done.
"**Did you know? Saint Carl is not only the Figarland family's sole heir—**"
She took a breath, her tone **filled with admiration**.
"**He's also the Navy's Admiral Black Dragon.**"
---
Monet's **mind went blank**.
She took a step back, **stunned**.
"**He's the Navy Admiral Black Dragon?! A Celestial Dragon is a Navy Admiral!?**"
She nearly **shouted** in shock.
The maid quickly **covered her mouth**.
"**Quiet! This is not the place to shout like that!**"
Monet **blinked twice** and nodded.
Only then did the maid continue, her **voice filled with pride**.
"**Despite his young age, the Young Master is incredibly powerful—beyond what we can comprehend.**"
"**He didn't become an Admiral because of his family. He achieved it purely through his own strength.**"
She smiled, a faint **blush** creeping onto her cheeks.
"**That's what Captain Carlos of the guard told me!**"
---
Sugar, watching **closely**, noticed something.
"**Sister, is your face red? Are you feeling unwell?**"
The maid **waved her hand quickly**, flustered.
"**I-I'm fine!**"
But it was clear she was **hiding something**.
---
Monet, **lost in thought**, didn't notice.
She was still trying to **process everything**.
Carl was **strong beyond imagination**.
He wielded **authority over Celestial Dragons**.
He was also **one of the Navy's strongest Admirals**.
For the first time—
Monet felt that the idea of **escaping** no longer made sense.
She and her sister were **slaves**—
But if they **gained Carl's favor**…
There might be **no one in the world** who would **dare harm them.**
---
### **Monet's Past**
Her hometown was **remote**.
The villagers had **never seen a Devil Fruit user before**.
When Monet first **awakened her Snow-Snow Fruit**,
She was **called a monster**.
Even by her **own parents**.
Only Sugar **remained by her side**, just like before.
But soon—
Pirates arrived.
The villagers, **terrified of Monet**, reported her.
Though young—
Monet had **never** used her powers to **harm others**.
But in the end—
Her **kindness** was **betrayed**.
The villagers **led the pirates** straight to her.
Monet, in desperation—
**Unleashed her Devil Fruit's full power.**
The pirates had **no Haki**.
They couldn't **touch her.**
But—
Monet herself was **still too weak**.
The **Snow-Snow Fruit** was not an **offensive** power.
She **froze** the villagers.
She took down **a few pirates**.
But then—
A pirate grabbed **Sugar**.
Monet **surrendered instantly**.
Seastone **shackled** her.
And she was **sold to Disco.**
---
Her life had **spiraled into despair**.
Until today.
Until **Carl.**