Hancock lay on the bed with her face flushed a deep red. One hand lightly touched her forehead while the other pressed against her chest as she muttered weakly.
"It hurts so much. This concubine… am I going to die?"
Her body felt unbearably weak. It had been ten years since she last felt like this. Even when people entered the room, she did not notice. She only continued gasping softly, panic slowly rising in her heart.
Gloriosa walked forward with her staff while Aether and Luffy remained by the door.
"I heard the Snake Princess suddenly fell ill. What is her condition now?"
The middle-aged female doctor beside the bed answered nervously.
"Elder Gloriosa, the Snake Princess's symptoms seem related to the heart. Her heartbeat is extrely fast, and her body temperature is abnormally high."
In all her years of experience, this was the first ti she had seen such a strange illness. It resembled a certain disease, yet at the sa ti it did not.
After listening to the explanation and noticing the unusual redness on Hancock's delicate face, a bad feeling rose in Gloriosa's heart. She imdiately stepped closer and began examining her carefully.
A mont later, Gloriosa slowly stepped back in shock. The symptoms were far too familiar. They were exactly the sa as the ones she had experienced many years ago.
"How is this possible? Why would the Snake Princess suffer from this illness? Who is it… could it really be him?"
Her sudden reaction made everyone panic.
"Grandmother, how is Elder Sister?"
"Yes, please tell us quickly. We are all worried."
Even in her weakened state, Hancock heard their voices and shouted impatiently.
"Old woman, if you know sothing then say it. This concubine is suffering right now."
Gloriosa hesitated for a mont before finally speaking in a low voice.
"Aether."
The na alone caused Hancock's body to react violently. She clutched her chest tightly and her breathing beca even faster.
That reaction explained everything.
Gloriosa let out a helpless sigh. This seed to be the fate of every Empress of Amazon Lily.
"This is Lovesickness. It is a unique illness among the won of Amazon Lily. When a woman truly falls in love with a man, her body reacts like this. If the feelings are not answered, the illness will continue to worsen. Every Empress in the past has suffered from it."
Her words left everyone in the room stunned. The proud Snake Princess had actually fallen in love with a man. It was sothing none of them had ever imagined.
Boa Sandersonia suddenly rembered sothing.
"Could it be… Elder Sister feels sothing for Aether?"
Boa Marigold imdiately rejected the idea. Among the three sisters, she hated n the most.
"That is impossible. Elder Sister is proud and noble. How could she fall in love with a man so easily?"
Hancock ignored their reactions completely. Instead, she felt embarrassed because her feelings had been exposed. When she thought about Aether's face, a strange sweetness filled her heart. She covered her face with both hands and spoke softly without thinking.
"So this is love… We only t yesterday, yet his figure keeps appearing in my mind."
Gloriosa decided not to waste ti guessing and turned toward the door.
"Aether, co in. Didn't you have sothing you wanted to discuss with the Snake Princess?"
Aether, who had been quietly observing everything, stepped inside. Although he had already guessed the truth, seeing Hancock like this still surprised him slightly.
"You alright?"
The mont she saw him, Hancock's heart began racing again. However, the pain in her body strangely began to fade. Instead, a warm feeling spread through her chest.
The usually proud and confident Empress now spoke with hesitation.
"Aether, do you… do you have any requests for this concubine? As long as they are not unreasonable, I will agree to them."
Her reaction left Aether feeling conflicted. He knew that killing a Celestial Dragon would naturally make her see him differently, but he had not expected her to actually fall in love with him, what about Luffy? he punched one too.
He calmly looked around the room.
"Could everyone leave for a mont? I understand this illness, and I can handle it."
Gloriosa frowned slightly. If possible, she did not want Hancock to beco involved with Aether. In just two days, she had already realized that his ambition was far too great and his thoughts were impossible to read. He was not soone suitable for the Empress of Amazon Lily.
But there was no other choice now. Once Lovesickness appeared, it could not be stopped.
"Everyone, leave the room. Give them so privacy."
Boa Marigold hesitated.
"But Elder Sister is still weak…"
She was pulled away by Sandersonia, who quietly followed Gloriosa outside. Soon, only the two of them remained in the room.
The atmosphere beca strangely quiet.
Aether looked at Hancock calmly. He could clearly see the affection in her eyes. Although he did not love her, he did not dislike her either. After talking with her for the past two days, he had realized that beneath her pride, she was actually a very simple woman.
Hancock lowered her gaze and spoke softly like a shy girl.
"Aether, you already know everything. This concubine… this concubine…"
Before she could finish speaking, Aether stepped forward and gently held her in his arms. Her body felt soft and warm, and the faint fragrance from her hair made him pause for a mont.
Hancock's body went weak almost instantly. She did not resist. Instead, she looked at him quietly, her breathing becoming softer and slower.
Aether hesitated for a mont. He did not want to deceive her feelings, but at the sa ti he could not deny that the woman in front of him was the most beautiful woman in the world.
After a while, he finally spoke in a calm voice.
"It is already late. You should rest."
Hancock nodded quietly. The anxiety in her heart slowly disappeared, replaced by a strange sense of calm. As long as Aether was near her, the pain seed to fade away completely.
The room slowly grew silent as the night deepened, and the Snake Princess finally fell asleep with a peaceful expression on her face.
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