After years of arduous training, Lucci had finally become even stronger. Deep down, he still harbored a deep grudge against Straw Hat Luffy. The humiliating defeat at Enies Lobby, as one of CP9's most powerful agents, had shattered his pride—and cost him his position. However, that didn't stop him from returning to active duty, being reinstated as an agent of Cipher Pol, now in the most feared of all: CP0, directly subordinate to the World Nobles.

His first job in this new phase? Serving as a bodyguard for the daughter of a Tenryūbito. It had been a year and two months since the beginning of this mission. And, as much as he was reluctant to admit it... he was already starting to get used to the princess's presence.

That morning, Lucci arrived early at Mary Geoise and walked through the halls of the castle of the royal family he protected. Stopping in front of her bedroom door, he knocked a few times, waiting for an answer. However, instead of words, the sound of a jar breaking on the other side made his eyes widen. His sharp instincts went on alert. Thinking she was in danger, he opened the door without hesitation and quickly entered the room.

"Princess!" he started to call her, but his voice trailed off when he saw the scene in front of him.

You were lying on the floor, wearing only a robe, with a towel wrapped around your head and your face completely covered by a...Green cream? Apparently, you had just gotten out of the shower and were in the middle of your skincare routine. But, being as clumsy as ever, she spilled lemon in her eyes and tripped over her own foot, falling to the floor.

Lucci watched her in silence for a few seconds, letting out a grunt and keeping his serious and expressionless expression.

"Tsk... What a pathetic state for a princess-"

Minutes later

How he regretted those words... Now he found himself sitting on the edge of the bed, his long hair tied in a ponytail and his face equally covered by the green cream, while he watched you in front of the vanity, delicately applying your products to your porcelain skin.

Hattori, perched on the bed next to him, cooed as if he were laughing, finding the whole scene extremely amusing.

"Tsk... Damn woman..."

Lucci muttered, grumpily, trying to ignore how out of the ordinary that moment was — and, in a way, dangerously familiar.