Olvia's Visit to Wano

Three days later, Olvia was in Wano.

Dressed in a kimono, she wandered the streets at her leisure. Everything here felt peaceful, free of the tension that hung over the seas.

The people wore sincere smiles.

That alone told her a great deal about how Caius, the country's ruler, treated his subjects.

It reassured her and made the thought of settling in Wano even more appealing.

She had uncovered the secret she had most wanted to understand as a historian. With that weight gone, she could think about how she wanted to spend the rest of her life.

For now, she would speak to Caius. If all went well, she would bring her daughter Robin here too.

Having settled her thoughts and seen enough of the country, she set off for the shogun's residence.

Ten minutes later, she stood before its imposing gate. She was nervous, but hesitation would do her no good now. She had come this far. She had to go in.

She spoke to the guards, then waited outside.

Before long, Shimotsuki Shizuka, Shizuko's younger sister, came to the gate and welcomed her inside with a smile.

"Miss Olvia, Lord Caius has spoken of you. Your work as a historian is quite remarkable."

Shizuka smiled as she offered the compliment.

She was all but certain Olvia would stay. A little goodwill now could only help her, and the reasoning was easy enough to understand.

If Olvia formed a good opinion of her, she might put in a word with Caius later. That mattered. There were so many women in the residence that simply waiting for his notice could take a very long time.

An opportunity like this was worth making the most of.

"Oh?"

"Lord Caius has spoken of me?"

Olvia was bewildered.

She had never been particularly famous at sea, and that was still true. If Caius had mentioned her before, did that mean he had noticed her long ago?

"Of course. He spoke of you quite some time ago. Very few people in this age can read the Poneglyphs, and you're one of them."

Shizuka answered gently.

How he had learned about Olvia was unimportant to her. In Shizuka's eyes, as in those of many women in the household, Caius was almost a god.

Olvia remained puzzled, but a little hope stirred. If a man like Caius already knew of her, she had a much better chance of achieving what she had come for.

She chatted pleasantly with Shizuka as they continued, taking the opportunity to learn more.

The residence was large, and its renovations had made it larger still. The two women walked for about five minutes before reaching the reception hall.

Inside, Caius was talking with Imu, Toki, Tina, and the others. He smiled and rose when Olvia arrived.

"Come in. Shizuka, you too. I take it you're ready."

Delighted, Shizuka quickly led Olvia into the room.

Once they were seated, Caius turned to Olvia with a smile.

"How did you find Laugh Tale? Does the world seem different now? The World Government wasn't quite what you imagined, was it?"

Olvia paused. Then, as though something had fallen into place, she answered calmly.

"What I read there was astonishing. But not nearly as astonishing as hearing you ask me that."

She studied him for a moment after speaking.

"Oh, I don't know all the details. Laugh Tale's secrets don't matter much to someone like me. If I wanted to know, I'd just ask my wife. Why sail all the way there? Besides, I might have fought there myself back then."

Caius waved the matter away, entirely at ease.

No one understood Laugh Tale better than Imu. In that respect, he was perfectly correct.

"Your wife?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand. How could she know all this without going to Laugh Tale?"

Olvia frowned, unable to believe what he was telling her.

She could not see how that was possible.

"Enough teasing. Let me introduce my household properly. Imu is my wife. You've probably learned her name by now. She is the ruler of the World Government and the sovereign of the Celestial Dragons."

Caius took Imu's hand as he spoke.

"What?"

"You... she..."

Olvia could not remain seated. She stood, staring at Caius and Imu, then at the other women. None of them seemed remotely surprised.

She understood at once. He was telling the truth.

But how had Caius come to marry a woman of such power from eight hundred years ago?

That fascinated her. The number of wives did not. A man with his power having several wives seemed perfectly ordinary to her.

She let out a long breath.

"What do you intend to do with me?"

Olvia resigned herself to the situation. Imu's presence meant Caius and the World Government were on the same side.

"You could become my wife. I admire women like you."

"You came to Wano for protection. Marrying me would certainly settle that. But if you don't want to, that's fine. Stay in Wano anyway. No one will trouble you here."

Caius offered the suggestion after a moment's thought.

It was only a casual offer. He was not so ruled by his appetites that he expected every woman to accept, and he did not think Olvia would choose it.

"Before I answer, may I ask why you would accept me? I've already had a child. Surely..."

"That doesn't matter. You don't need to ask so many questions. If you want to stay with me, stay. If you don't, find a place to live in Wano. Why complicate it?"

Caius sounded a little impatient.

He had only made the suggestion in passing. He had not expected her to keep questioning it.

"Caius, I think Olvia would be a good addition to the household."

Tina spoke up.

"We could..."

Two hours later, Olvia left the shogun's residence.

She looked back at the building, unsettled. They had known so much about her that it had felt as though someone had been watching her entire life.

Even so, the result was good. Caius had not been the man she expected. His earlier suggestion that she become his wife was now far more appealing.

She blushed at the thought.