Chapter 136: Sweet and Warm

Evening. In an inn room, Monet, lying on the bed, slowly drifted back to consciousness. As Monet opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Sugar, fast asleep, slumped beside the bed. A warmth spread through her heart, and a smile touched her lips. She raised her still-movable hand and gently stroked Sugar's head. Not wanting to disturb Sugar's sweet dreams, she withdrew her hand and then took in her surroundings: a very clean and luxurious room.

"It seems we finally met some kind people," Monet murmured to herself, a soft smile still playing on her lips.

Monet tried to sit up, but the pain that shot through her body made her cry out involuntarily. This small movement startled Sugar, who hadn't been sleeping very deeply. Hearing her sister's voice through a sleepy haze, Sugar quickly lifted her head to check on Monet. Sugar raised her head, her eyes meeting Monet's. Seeing that her sister was finally awake, the worry in Sugar's heart finally eased.

"Big sister, it's so good you're okay! Sniffle, boo-hoo..." Sugar flung herself into Monet's embrace, her words muffled by sobs.

"Ah, it's alright now, Sugar," Monet winced as Sugar's movement jostled her injuries, but she endured it, hugging Sugar back and gently stroking her hair.

"Big sister, don't leave me ever again."

"I won't, Sugar dear, be good."

This was a precious, warm moment shared between the two sisters. They held each other for a long time. Eventually, it was Monet who couldn't hold back any longer; she had so many questions for Sugar! For instance, who had saved them, and what had happened to that awful man?

"Sugar, um, where are our benefactors?" Monet asked, still holding her sister.

"You mean Big Brother and the Big White Bear?" Sugar replied.

"Mhm!" Monet nodded.

"They're right outside! Big sister, you don't know, you were unconscious for three whole days and nights! Big Brother saved you, and he personally bandaged and cleaned your wounds! And he watched over us for a long time," Sugar reported, tilting her head up to tell Monet all about Doflamingo's actions over the past few days.

"Ah, this! He truly is a good person, then!" Monet mused, listening to Sugar. A thought flickered in her mind – she wasn't an ignorant young girl anymore. But he had been kind, and he had saved her. Such a small thing… what did it matter?

"Yeah! Big Brother is the best!" Hearing her sister also praise Doflamingo, Sugar's eyes lit up in agreement, though she didn't notice the subtle nuance in Monet's expression.

Doflamingo, who had been resting against Bepo by the door, heard the commotion inside and knew Monet was awake.

"Bepo, stop sleeping," Doflamingo said, ruffling Bepo's head to wake him.

"What is it, Young Master? Is it time to eat?" Bepo opened his bear eyes, still groggy.

"Yes, it's time to eat," Doflamingo replied, a hint of exasperation in his voice at Bepo's question.

"Really? I was starving!" Hearing that food was involved, Bepo immediately perked up.

"Bepo, go tell the staff to send some food over! They must be hungry too," Doflamingo instructed.

"Huh? Oh, alright!"

Watching Bepo leave, Doflamingo turned, opened the door, and stepped into the sisters' little sanctuary. Monet and Sugar, startled by the sudden opening of the door, both looked towards the person entering. A young man with short golden hair, a well-built physique, and an extraordinary air, dressed in a rose-red suit, walked in. However, his sunglasses obscured the deep gaze beneath them. As Monet looked at the man who entered, her heart inexplicably began to race, and a blush crept onto her cheeks.

"You're awake. You must be hungry. I've already sent Bepo to get some food," Doflamingo said gently to the two sisters.

"Big Brother, you're here!" Seeing Doflamingo, Sugar happily wriggled out of her sister's embrace and ran towards him, tugging at his trouser leg.

Doflamingo crouched down and patted Sugar's head. Monet, half-lying on the bed, watched this heartwarming scene, feeling a sense of joy herself.

"Big sister, this is the Big Brother who saved us!" Sugar turned back and introduced Doflamingo to Monet.

"Thank you so much for saving our lives," Monet said, quickly trying to get out of bed to express her gratitude.

Doflamingo saw Monet's movement and hurried forward to support her.

"Your injuries haven't healed yet. Don't move around too much. Rest well and recover!" Doflamingo said, steadying Monet, his tone slightly chiding.

Although Doflamingo's words were a bit scolding, to Monet's ears, they sounded incredibly pleasant and gentle.

"Big sister, why is your face so red? Is your fever back?" Before Monet could say anything, Sugar innocently pointed out Monet's flushed state.

"Ah! Is… is it?" Monet stammered, feeling very shy.

Doflamingo gently placed Monet back down and then laid his hand on her smooth forehead. "No problem here, Sugar. You don't need to worry," he said seriously.

"Oh, good!" Sugar patted her chest in relief. Then, noticing her sister's expression again, she asked curiously, "But why is your face getting even redder, big sister?"

Lying down, Monet was already embarrassed by Doflamingo's intimate gesture. Now, with her sister's comment, she felt utterly mortified. Doflamingo remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was thinking, It seems Monet has quite a favorable impression of me! Excellent. It looks like these two won't escape my grasp.

"This is normal. No need to worry too much," Doflamingo glanced at the blushing, silent Monet and smoothly covered for her.

"Oh! Is that so?" Sugar replied innocently.

Hearing their exchange, Monet secretly peeked at Doflamingo and breathed a sigh of relief, though a tiny flicker of disappointment also stirred within her.

"Young Master, the food is here!"

Bepo, pushing a cart laden with food, suddenly appeared, effectively dispelling the strange atmosphere in the room.

"Bepo, you're here!" Sugar's eyes lit up at the sight of the big white bear, and she eagerly rushed towards him, wanting a hug from his warm, fluffy embrace.

Bepo quickly gathered Sugar into his arms, a slightly helpless expression on his face. It seemed cute things truly were devastatingly effective against females. Monet also looked at Bepo with considerable curiosity.

"Sugar, let's eat first! You must both be hungry," Doflamingo said, seeing the scene.

"Okay!" Sugar said a little reluctantly, then hesitantly emerged from Bepo's hug.

A child's emotions come and go quickly; upon seeing the abundant food, her excitement returned.

"Big sister, look! There's so much food!" Sugar exclaimed.

"Mhm," Monet nodded in response.

Soon, the three humans and one bear prepared to eat. However, Monet was still indisposed, and one of her hands was quite badly injured, making it difficult for her to eat properly. She would need help. Naturally, this task fell to Doflamingo. Although Monet protested and refused a thousand times, she eventually accepted. Her sister seemed to have completely forgotten her existence, thoroughly engrossed in playing with a bear. But Monet didn't blame Sugar; in her eyes, Sugar was just a child. Bepo played with Sugar, while Doflamingo gently fed Monet. This was the first time Doflamingo had ever waited on someone like this. Monet stared at Doflamingo, watching the approaching spoon filled with fresh, delicious, nutritious soup. She parted her lips slightly, cooperatively accepting Doflamingo's feeding. However, the blush on her face clearly indicated that her heart was anything but calm. Monet, her face flushed, finally finished her meal. She hadn't really registered the taste of the food, but her heart had been pounding relentlessly. After gently feeding Monet, Doflamingo began his own meal. After dinner, Sugar held a box of grapes, her fingers plucking them one by one, leisurely popping them into her mouth and chewing, enjoying her after-meal dessert.

"Big sister, do you want some?" Sugar, sitting by the bed, offered the grapes to her sister.

Monet shook her head. Seeing this, Sugar happily polished off all the grapes herself.

"Rest well!" Doflamingo finished his meal. He didn't bring up any serious matters with Monet and Sugar, merely offering a concerned farewell before leaving with Bepo.

"Ah, okay," Monet hadn't quite reacted before Doflamingo and Bepo were gone.

Just what kind of person are you? Monet wondered, her curiosity about Doflamingo growing intensely.

Seeing Doflamingo and Bepo leave, Sugar, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, leaned close to Monet's ear and whispered. "I know, big sister! You like Big Brother, don't you? I can tell!"

"What are you talking about, Sugar?" Hearing Sugar's words, Monet's face instantly turned a deep crimson. Having her innermost thoughts exposed by a child made her feel incredibly embarrassed.

"It's okay, big sister, I support you!" Sugar encouraged.

"Was I… that obvious?" Monet asked, somewhat dazed.

"Mhm!" Sugar nodded. Your face is so red, even a child could tell! I may be young, but I'm not stupid!

Monet, flustered, turned her head away, no longer paying attention to Sugar. The room fell silent once more.