Nami picked through the letters on her desk, humming while she glanced through a new one from her mother. Her lips pinched in concern.

It seemed that part of their alliance was having issues with the ongoing war. They hadn't expected the need to feed so many men so soon. Their stores were emptying, and the orchards weren't quite ready for harvest.

'If I didn't know better, I would say that they're stockpiling foodstuffs. Are there really so many on the frontline as to make us destitute? Our cousins in House Victoria are requesting food as well.'

She glanced at the letters from her husband, frowning. Her lord husband didn't speak of the war very much from what she had. Nami did not know how many were gathered on the front lines. When discussion of war was at the dinner table, Luffy would either order them to cease or invite them to a private chamber.

From what she had heard so far, they had pushed the rebellion into the north, hopping from one fort to another in quick succession.

The war seemed to be going well. Almost too well.

Had Luffy sent her husband to his death?

Nami fingered the corner of his last letter and frowned. There had been few enough, but again, he had asked her to write more.

Hadn't she sent him five last week?

Rising, Nami left her study - her husband's in actuality - and frowned in her thoughts. Not enough pieces, but enough to point out that something was off. Were the reports not true? Was their information incorrect?

She recalled the king had been forthcoming with information about the battles of the succession. No one on their side would lie about what was happening.

Would they?

Nojiko came into the foyer with the laundry basket and was startled when she saw her standing in the doorway to the office. "M'lady? Are you all right?"

"Hm? Oh, it's nothing, Nojiko." Nami chewed her lip to worry, but shook her head. "I feel like I'm missing something, but I don't know what."

Her maid smiled, her hand over her mouth while she kept the basket braced to her other hip.

"I should say so, m'lady."

Stiffening, Nami stared at her and blinked. "How would you know what I've missed?"

"I certainly haven't found it in the laundry as of late."

Suddenly terrified, her mind did circles, struggling to remember if Luffy may have left something behind during a day visit. Sometimes, she had to remind him that he had worn a shirt to her room. Nami flushed with concern. If Nojiko found out - but she wasn't a gossip!

In fact, she said she didn't like many of the maids her husband had left behind.

Nami could reason out why that might be.

Half were pregnant, after all.

She took a deep breath. "What would I have left in my laundry?"

"It's not in it at all, m'lady," Nojiko said, a twinkle in her eye, and Nami tilted her head. "You haven't bled! It's been over a month and you haven't bled!"

Her eyes widened, and her stomach flipped several times before she could press a hand to it and another to where her womb lay inside of her. Nami swallowed nothing as she gaped at Nojiko's warm smile.

"Do you think?"

"You should see the midwife. She would know better than I, but even I know that's a telling sign."

Nami glanced back at the desk with its letters and secrets, but now her mind spun on a top. A baby?

His or ...

His?

Nami's shoulders hunched as she stared at Kureha who swished the fluid in her mouth. When she spit it back into the cup, she wanted to sink into nothing.

"Congratulations, Lady Nami! You're taken with child."

Oddly, she felt relief flood her, though relief of what she was uncertain. Nami stared at her a moment longer before she licked dry lips. "What else can you tell?"

Kureha shrugged. "Nothing yet. We might try other tests later to see whether it's a son or daughter. Like if you carry it high or low."

"Right, yes," she said with a blush. Nami placed her hand against her lower abdomen as if she might feel it already, but she couldn't tell if anything was different. Would it being a bastard make anything different? She couldn't ask her that though.

If Luffy ordered it, would the aged crone keep it secret?

"Take it easy from now on. You need to watch your step on the stairs and by balconies."

A thought bubbled, and she squirmed, but she could not bring herself to ask it. Would the continued coupling be all right for the baby? She burned, knowing it wasn't for her lord husband that she wanted to know. Nami thought of the man she climbed secret stairs to see.

Perhaps, since it was a bastard, it would not matter how lustful she was. Her king would want to know though.

Kureha had turned to her bottles and books, writing something down in one of them before putting in a fresh bookmark. "And let the cooks know. They shouldn't serve you any heavy alcohol. Some white wine or mead will be light enough."

She nodded, though her mind was far from food or drink even though she did not have the sickness that came with childbearing yet. Instead, the ill sensation seemed to stem from something else entirely. Nami couldn't tell the midwife to keep it a secret. Sanji wasn't there after all. The one she wished to surprise was in the castle.

Nami rose from her seat and glanced at the door. "Mistress Kureha, I must get back to my apartment to write to m'lord husband."

Though she wanted nothing more than to sink into dark red velvet blankets and wait for her lover.

Kureha cackled, but she said, "Better write your will too."

A chill ran through her, but she thanked the midwife before she left her behind.

She plucked out a fan from her sleeve that Lady Pudding had given to her. She was always giving her this and that. Their talk had amounted to nothing that Nami could tell, though she thought she smiled a little too long at certain mentions of her lord husband.

Luffy had told her about the affair Pudding and her lord husband had been involved in, but to face her day after day was putting a strain on her. Apparently, her husband had told Luffy every lurid detail. Even when he had been talking about the arrangements of Nami's betrothal to him. With every smile, did Pudding think to mock her? She carried a bastard too after all.

Nami made herself put the woman out of her mind though.

It wasn't important.

Her heart pounded, and she touched her belly again. Could she feel it yet?

"Lady Nami."

She froze, but turned to the other woman, staring almost dazedly at the raven hair. "Lady Robin?"

Instinctively, she looked at Robin's belly, but hers was flat under her gown. The heat didn't appear to bother her, but her family was from this area and used to the summers here.

"Are you feeling well?"

She opened her mouth, an urge to blurt it out - to share with someone else - but she said, "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"A visit to the midwife?" She smiled. "You're lucky to have gotten with child, if that's the case. Sometimes, it can take forever to carry, I've heard."

Nami darkened, but she shook her head. If Luffy found out before she could tell him, she didn't know what might happen. How would he react in front of others? He needed the chance to smile with her.

A horrible thought occurred to her, but she clung to it despite the terrible reality of its truth. She said, "Please, don't let anyone else know. They're so fragile, you know. If the babe dies in the womb ... I want to tell the father myself. I don't want someone else's letter to get to Lord Sanji first."

The truth, every word, and yet she could feel her tongue stick to the roof of her mouth in terror. Don't tell anyone, please.

Robin smiled, a soft beaming ray. "Of course. I keep many secrets."

After a moment, Nami's eyes widened. That smile seemed so suggestive - too knowing in that instant. She swallowed hard when she recalled that the Ohara House, led by their lord, was known for using its vast networks as spies for the royal house. Or, led by their lady, in this case, as Lady Robin was still unwed. .

She knows, Nami thought, her heart lodging in her throat. Those passages could be used by more than herself and Luffy, after all. Who else knew? Surely not just Robin walked in those secret corridors?

As her face flushed in ashamed red, Robin clicked her tongue. "I keep especially important ones to myself. Go along. Tell the father already."

Nami bit her lip, but cobbled a hasty curtsy before she rushed away, her eyes still bulging. She knew!

But she wouldn't threaten the king's unborn babe. Or tell him herself it seemed.

She found herself at her apartments instead of the hall where Luffy would hold audiences, though. Under no circumstance could she tell him there of all places. Nami stood in the foyer and quivered - on the cusp of running to him anyway. Just to be near him.

Nojiko had looked away from her mending, and Nami tried not to remember how that shift had ripped. She had told Nojiko that it had caught on something, but she was not sure her maid believed that. Did she know too? How many others did? However, Nojiko smiled and set her work aside.

"M'lady? Is it ...?" Nojiko beamed and seemed to bounce on her toes.

"I'm pregnant," Nami said, and the smile was impossible to stop. Those simple words strung up the other feelings of hope and anticipation. She was finally carrying his child.

"Congratulations, m'lady! I'll get pen and ink ready!"

"Ink and ...?" Nami blinked before she blushed. "Oh, yes, thank you." Nodding, she tried to conduct herself as if she was excited to tell the real father. She checked herself, hoping that she hadn't made any strange face to Nojiko.

She went into the study to set the paper on the desk with a nervous flick of her tongue over her lips. What would she say?

After Nojiko brought the pen and ink, she started with how she usually addressed him, but then she paused.

"What do I say? Just saying I'm pregnant doesn't seem to be enough."

Nojiko smiled. "Tell him how happy you are, m'lady. How you miss him so."

She chewed her lip, but nodded. "Right."

Nami dipped her pen in the ink.

"If it isn't too crude, maybe guess which night it came from?" Nojiko winked, and Nami darkened.

"Ah, yes, perhaps."

If Nojiko knew, she was much better at hiding it than Robin had been. How strange. Maybe Robin had meant for her to know. But for what purpose?

When she left, Nami shivered before she wrote.

'I wish for you to remember our nights together' - and the days where he whiled away with her when the sun blistered, and no work could be done - 'when you laid with me.' When he stroked her to high arousal. 'You are all I truly ever wanted.' Until he had come.

'Yet one of these moments brought me more than I could have ever wanted. A child' - a bastard - 'from you,' - from her sovereign and lover - 'my darling. I love'

Nami stared at the words in front of her. Who was she writing to? Her hand shook until she finally put her pen down and stood, shuddering.

She clutched her belly and blinked away the sting of tears before she turned from the letter. However, in her foyer, she stood in the doorway and stared at her maid. Nojiko lifted her head with that smile, but it dropped away in confusion.

"M'lady?"

"I don't feel well. Would you tell the king that I ..." She stopped and swallowed nothing. Nami had no symptoms yet, but even so, she felt so faint. If Nojiko told the king anything before she could, it felt wrong even if Nojiko said nothing about her pregnancy.

"Do you need to lie down, m'lady?"

Biting her tongue, she considered her dear maid before she said, "No, no, I think I just need to take a walk in the cool breeze to clear my head."

The castle had no cool breeze, only the heat of his lust. Nami whisked out of her apartment, ignoring Nojiko's bewildered call. Her heart and thoughts were set on him.

She did not expect to see him walking with dignitaries of his and other kingdoms. Had the audience ended so soon?

He's beautiful, she thought as he strode down the hall. His hair was growing a little longer, which made a few ends curl, and the day had made him part his shirt for the slightest comfort to reveal the start of hard pectorals and his scar.

When he noticed her, he raised a hand to the others and nodded. Something he said was lost in the hall, but he approached her alone with a smirk.

Nami realized she had worn a slinky gown which had been made for stylish, cool comfort, but only revealed more skin to men. He had ordered her to wear it for him - to see her in it and watch her squirm.

Her king licked his lips. Without thinking, she rushed to his arms, and he chuckled into her ear. "Do you want to get caught out here? I should punish you for risking it like this."

In his arms at last, breaking down, Nami sobbed. "I'm pregnant."

He did not appear surprised in the least. Luffy grinned wider. "Finally. I was going to tie you to the bed if it took much longer."

She flushed and wiped at her tears, her hands shaking.

"Why are you crying? You begged for a bastard last night, remember?" His voice dropped, and Nami sniffled with darker cheeks as his words reverberated in her ears.

"I was writing a letter to the father," she whispered.

Luffy's smile slid away, and he studied her before he offered his arm to escort her. "Let's go read it then."

Her heart seized in her throat, but Nami bowed her head and curtsied when she saw others appear down the hall. As she took his elbow, they headed back to her apartments.

Nami tensed at the sight of Nojiko, but she flowed to her feet with a smile. "Your Majesty. M'lady. Would you like some refreshments?"

"Yes, of course," Nami said, feeling calmer than she had. Nojiko wouldn't betray to the king how she had been acting moments before, either. "But some white wine or mead for me, Nojiko."

"Perhaps a little water on the side? It's scorching out." At Luffy's raised brow, Nami realized that Nojiko had never served the king. Her maid's straightforward manner and suggestions often bewildered other lords. She held her breath when Nojiko turned to him. "And for you, Your Grace?"

He eyed her maid long enough that Nami worried, but he smiled. "A sweet red."

Luffy grinned at Nami's flushed face as Nojiko disappeared out the door.

"I nearly forgot how forward your staff is."

Nami huffed at that, pursing her lips before she glanced at the door to her study, and she cleared her throat. "Did you want to see ...?"

"Later. I want to make you blush more."

His hands touched her belly, and her jaw unhinged, gaping at him while her cheeks flared like a wildfire. Didn't he know what he was doing? What if Nojiko saw them!?

"Sire!"

His hands neatly engulfed her hips, and he yanked her against him with a smirk. "Not fat with my bastard yet. But how are you to serve me until then? I can't let you suck my cock until you are, m'lady tart. Maybe I should reward you regardless."

She tried to scowl. "It's a good thing I brought you here for something else."

He grinned. "And you truly believe that?"

Nami whimpered as unyielding lips took her throat, and she clung to his arms before she wrung away. "Your highness, the - the letter ..."

Luffy snorted and kissed her cheek while her cheeks flared. "Go get it."

"Right ..." Nami touched her throat where his mouth had been, wondering at any marks he might have tried to leave. That happened sometimes. It forced her to wear higher necks in the sweltering summer heat.

In the study, she tried not to think of how he could press her over the desk again, or pull her under. She slipped the paper from where it had been drying and stared at the words - the final two in particular - before she cleared her throat.

Spinning around, Nami thrust the paper to him like a shield, and he took it, smiling with lowered lids. His eyes drank her in, inspecting her before he finally read the paper.

Aloud.

She tried to swipe it aside as he said, "'I wish for you to-' M'lady, I'm trying to read this. '-remember our nights together when you laid with me.'" Luffy chuckled as he dodged aside another rogue hand. "'You are all I truly ever wanted.'"

"You don't have to read it aloud!"

He spoke louder, laughing when she scowled and smacked his chest. Luffy looked radiant. Black eyes shone while they danced in the study for the paper. Her entire body flushed with both desire and mortification. She had brought him here to read it and see her thoughts, but something prickled in her. Wouldn't it be better to sit him down and say it herself? To his face? Nami hadn't even finished the phrase!

Was it even for him? Surely, it was for her lord husband on the front!

The king went on though, grinning like she had not seen in a long time. "'Yet one of these moments - this is very endearing, m'lady. Very sweet - brought me more than I could have ever wanted." Nami huffed when he lifted the paper high over his head, tilting so he could read it while she attempted to jump for it. "A child from you, my darling. I love-'" She squawked as a hard hand pressed on her back, yanking her against him. Luffy peered into her eyes, his eyes dark, yet sparkling. "-you."

She dug her nails into his shoulders, hissing in surprise while he stroked her back. "If - if she sees-"

"She just left. Kiss me."

Nami swallowed nothing, staring. What hell was reserved for her? She wanted it. Him. The bastard. This.

Knees trembling, her fingers twitching for his cheeks, she pulled him to her, sucking on his tongue when it delved into her mouth. Wickedly, Nami pressed against him, whimpering as his hand found her hair.

Summer blazed enough to rival hell here. Even winter would sear away in this inferno.

When he slapped the letter down, her rear against the desk, Nami pulled the front of her gown down for him, crying out as his lips found a teat.

"My king," she whispered. "I-"

The door to her apartments opened, and her eyes flew wide open before she scrambled to right her gown. Luffy only had to step back, licking his lips.

At least, the study's door had swung to close. Nojiko couldn't have seen anything. Flushed, Nami straightened her hair and glowered at him, but he only chuckled.

"It's a sweet letter, m'lady. Any father would be ecstatic to receive it."

Nojiko slipped into the room and set her tray on the desk. While she poured glasses for them, Luffy pursed his lips at the maid. For an instant, Nami could feel a pit of anxiety bob in her belly, but she shoved it aside when he turned back to her with a lewd grin, hidden from Nojiko by how he faced away from her.

Nami sweated, unable to even dream of what must have occurred to him.

"I ... yes, thank you, sire. I ... I'm so nervous."

When he took her hand to squeeze it, her eyes widened, glancing at Nojiko, but he pulled her hand to his lips to kiss it.

"Never fear while you are in my castle. All know your husband fights against the rebellion far away, but that shouldn't put any suspicion on you. You must have been ... pardon me, but you and the father must have been busy for you to carry so soon."

Her face erupted in color, and she picked up the white wine to sip it to cover her reaction, but even Nojiko could see it, and her maid covered her grinning mouth. Just because her maid did not know did not give him the right to flirt with the truth so! Besides, he knew how busy they had been.

"And I believe I forgot to give my good wishes. Congratulations, Lady Nami."

A silly smile rippled her lips, but she curtsied with a bow. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Luffy kissed her hand again before he released it, and Nami suppressed the urge for it to quiver. This act in front of Nojiko was strangely exhilarating and exhausting all at once.

"I don't mean to order your servants, but could we have some privacy? We can serve ourselves. I have something to ask a married lady. Advice, as it were."

Nami's head snapped to attention, confused, until she realized that perhaps he wished to celebrate another way. He had never done this before, after all. It seemed exciting. Somehow, she kept the red from creeping to her cheeks, and she nodded to Nojiko. "Go on, Nojiko. Rest a while."

When she bowed and turned to go, Luffy followed her out into the anteroom to sit on a sofa while Nojiko curtsied and left the apartments.

Left with her king, Nami counted ten heartbeats before she spun to him.

Luffy frowned softly though. As she stared, he raised a brow for her. "Get one of your maid's dresses and an apron."

Her eyes widened, twitching in her confusion. What was this about? "What do you mean to do with them?"

"Go or I'll have to punish you even though your bawdy body finally listened to its king."

Nami sniffed, but she went into Nojiko's room, pouting at the small wardrobe before she found a clean dress and apron hanging inside.

She froze when he called after her. "Change into it."

What kind of talk was this!?

Except she knew.

After a little thought, Nami threw the gown under the bed for now. She could always tell Nojiko that she changed into something cool because of the heat - that was a true enough statement. Not that she could let Nojiko know that she had also changed into her dress. As Nami tied the apron on, she blushed in the tiny mirror, hands pausing behind her.

Wasn't she about to serve him?

She swallowed nothing before she fiddled with her hair. Finally, she braided it back and out of her way. Working women didn't wear their hair down and loose to get in the way after all.

When she stepped out into the anteroom, she gave Luffy a deep curtsy, face aflame.

Yet, he still gazed at her in that odd way.

Nami bit her lip. "Your-?"

"I received three letters this week."

She blinked. "Your highness?"

Luffy frowned past her, and a chill shot through her from that gaze. "Alabasta, Ryuuguu and Dressrosa have each offered a marriage proposal."

Her jaw dropped.

Small kingdoms nearby, each of them had a suitable princess to offer to a reigning king. Half the talk had been about why they had sent nothing yet. Each kingdom had reigned for generations with the abilities their houses held. Now though, with the war, they must have offered him a chance to strengthen his claim. However, it was possible they had sent similar letters to the rebellion.

It would be best for him to choose one of the three for the added support.

However, the horror must have shown plain on her face, for he smiled. He snapped his fingers. "Bring the wine."

She had to have moved without thinking because she realized she was bringing the tray from the study into the anteroom. As she set the tray on the table beside him, he smiled.

"Well?"

Nami jerked, staring at him before she took his empty wineglass to fill it with the sweet red he had wanted. While it filled, her mind turned back to a dirty tongue that had sucked wine from her breast, and she shuddered.

"What do you think I should do?"

Blinking, bewildered, Nami stared while he took his glass to sip.

"About the letters?"

He grinned. "Yes. The letters."

Nami could not put any emotion into her voice as she said, "Ryuuguu has a fine armada I've heard, and there are many places to harry the rebellion up and down the coasts in the north. They'd be a good choice."

"I don't know their house's ability, but rumors say they can talk to fish. I don't know what help that could be, but their armada is formidable. I've not met the princess, but they say she's everything a full-blooded man could wish for."

She bit her lip, fists tightening on the wine bottle.

"But Alabasta has a large standing army they would lend aid to the fighting," he said with a sigh. "And I've met Princess Vivi. Very pretty. She'd make a pleasant-"

Nami dropped the bottle only to jump, reaching down to keep it from spilling. "I - I'm sorry! I need to get a towel or something ..."

"Don't worry. It's your rooms."

Still, Nami ran for Nojiko's room to fish out her gown. That would be reason enough to change. She flushed while she dropped the gown onto the spill to soak it. If Nojiko found the wine-

Luffy grabbed her arm to yank her onto his lap. "So you do care."

"Of course I care!" She smacked his chest, and he grunted. "Why would you bring this to me!? As if I want to hear you talk about other women! Women who will have everything I want!"

When he cupped her belly, she trembled though. "Not everything."

"Not yet," she whispered, pressing his hand harder as if to imprint it there. "Why are you teasing me? Do you want me dressed like this to shame me more? I know already! I'd be a terrible match. My lands are poor and we have little that could help in the war. No money. No large armies. I can't even give your bastard an ability from my own house! They'll bring you wealth and power in a way I never could."

Her house was old, honored, and worthless besides others that had shot up in station or riches. They had made alliances to gain abilities like toys. As much as she wished for her king to never marry, he needed an heir! He had to marry!

Theirs would be a little secret shared here while her husband warred - until he died or returned.

Either way, there was no happy ending.

She would go home with her bastard, who might never even develop their father's ability. Nami would go home with her lecherous lord husband.

"I don't want to hear about other women." She gripped his hair, shaking and gazing into coal-black eyes. "I've heard enough about my husband's! Please, while I'm here ... while your bastard is in me ..."

"I wish you could stay like this."

Nami's eyes widened when he pulled her onto his lap, making her straddle him on the sofa. Her knees spread wide on either side of him as he ground against her. "Sire!"

"If you weren't a noble lady ... if I weren't a king. What do you think of that? What if I made you my bawdy little maid? My personal servant?"

He reached between them to undo his vest's buttons, his breath against her ear making her shiver.

"Would you like that?"

Nami blinked tears away. "More than anything," she whispered.

Vest and shirt whisked away, Nami pulled at his trousers, opening them while he thrust a hand under her skirts. Rough fingers found her moistening to his touch.

"Next time, you should serve me in the dining hall instead of in your lady's rooms," he said with a lascivious grin, tongue languidly running over her lips. "I'll dress you like a castle servant, and you can clean my cock while I eat. I bet no one would notice it's you."

"Your Majesty, that's lewd," she said. Nami lifted her hips to grind against his hand before she found his length to rub, hands moving quickly to lengthen and harden him. There was no telling when Nojiko would return after all. "Please, I don't want someone to catch us! If anyone suspected-! Your baby ..."

"Your king wants you like this. Like a wanton, willing maid." She gasped as he yanked her higher, his cock threatening to impale her.

Except, Nami thrust down herself and squealed. His eyes widened, crying out while she engulfed him. Heat filled her, and Nami trembled, but her hips rocked to meet him. Panting, she watched him under her. Luffy rolled to take her thrusts with a smile. Each one made him hiss in delight.

When she clamped around him, Nami choked on moans.

"Your Highness, you can cum in me all you want. The baby won't mind!"

His hands took her hips, and she could only strive to hold on while he jerked her on his lap. "It's a bastard! Of course, it won't care!"

As her back hit the sofa cushions, Nami bucked, moaning when he grabbed her ankle to keep her spread wide, his other hand pressing a thumb to her clitoris.

"Make your king cum in you already. I don't want any other cunt! This is the only one I'll take!"

She tightened, face burning while he rocked to her womb with his full length. Even now. But she melted and sobbed to his touches. His thumb stroked, and Nami moaned. She struggled to find the tightness he wanted. The sensation that would take her king over for her.

In her.

Nami knew though. Spread under him and sobbing for his touch, she knew he would have to choose. Another woman. Her throat clenched.

His other baby.

The heir.

He needed one, and Nami could not give him that as a married woman.

Under her, the sofa legs creaked, and Nami tensed, arching against her king. She had to accept it. His lusts and seed even though he had already taken over her womb. Nami knew he wouldn't stop there. He had to do it elsewhere soon too.

He had to become like her lord husband and take another womb.

She squealed, shutting her eyes tight. "Please, cum in your maid's dirty pussy!"

With one last jerk of his thumb, Nami's mind snapped over the sofa cushions, her throat raw though she didn't remember screaming. When he pulled out, Nami shuddered, but he shifted to offer the dripping cock to her mouth.

Her eyes bulged as sweet, salty memories returned.

"You're a maid, aren't you?" He smirked. "Clean your filth off."

Nami swallowed him, still shaking. Luffy thrust into her mouth, one hand on the backrest while the other stroked her belly.

Stomach fluttering, she knew it was anticipation. How she had missed their mixed lusts on her tongue. Nami moaned as her tongue laved over ridges for more - to find the bits he was hiding from her. He must have missed her too, for his thick cock blocked her throat before seed coated her mouth.

"That's it," he said in a grunt.

She slurped their passions down, moaning when he extracted himself from her lips.

"I knew you'd like that."

Nami nodded. Drunk on seed and cock.

As she licked her lips, she could taste summer. Soon it would cool to fall and winter with the growth of their bastard, but surely, they could keep one another warm.

She tried not to think about the letters.