"It's mortifying to be the one who remembers."

— Ryan O'Connell

The seamster had fussed about her beauty, but the words had rolled off her. It sounded much like how Sanji talked. Easy to ignore.

Each day had brought her more of the same. Usopp talked her ear off about etiquette. On the third day, he had brought her a change of clothes — the corset, a hoop skirt, and so many petticoats to cover her that she wondered if she might drown in the fabric. He had said the gown was just the test fitting for her gowns, but made so she could wear it about to get used to her new undergarments. And moving about in it meant dancing.

She hated it.

If they made her dance with the Lord Conqueror — and she was not about to do that! — she would have to learn to sway with the best.

Traveling in a different carriage had been the best part especially when she just wanted to rest sore feet. She heard that noblewoman, Lady Lily, had to change carriages throughout the trip while the rest had stayed in their own unless forced to move by the noblewoman. Halfway to the palace, someone had finally rented a new carriage for Lady Lily to sit alone.

Nami's own travel companion was another noblewoman, though she didn't bother to look at her much beyond when Usopp tried to drill simple etiquette into her head. For the most part, Nami had played along. Who knew when she would have the chance to pretend to be a well-to-do noble lady in a scam? She would have to use every scrap she could from this trip. Even the dancing had gotten easier once she reasoned this with herself.

By the time the carriage rolled into the palace grounds, Nami's corset had formed to her body, her feet no longer swelled in her new shoes, and her gray ball gown was complete. It even had a day bodice so she could wear it before the ball.

Soon though, the trip had to end.

Nami gaped at the sight of the Lord Conqueror's palace. The walls extended into the distance above her, and she craned her neck, staring at the arched tip of the slated roof with a large balcony overlooking the courtyard. Each window glittered with colors, refracting light from stained glass across their faces while the sun above arched over the sky.

Riding in the carriage, Nami hadn't bothered to look out like her companion whose jaw had dropped despite being another noblewoman. Part of her had thought she was going to egg Nami on. Yet the sheer size before her had her mouth hanging open too. When she dared a glance for anyone laughing at her slack-jawed face, she realized that most of the noblewomen had paled or stared as well while the rest fanned themselves a little too quickly. She relaxed.

If everyone was this nervous, why did she need to be?

Still, she stared at a glimmering stained glass window that showed a sun rising from behind a mountain. The same towering thing that loomed in the distance. It took her a moment to notice the man inside the window pane, walking up the mountainside. And then she recognized it all.

It was the image of the Lord Conqueror climbing the mountain to the cave to defeat his great nemesis. The World Eater.

Nami had to pull her eyes away when Usopp directed her to the palace doors, but she still glanced back during her ascent of the grand entrance. She halted at the door when Usopp stopped, only to flush when she realized a bit of that etiquette had rubbed off. Of course, she had to stop when she entered. They needed to invite her into the house.

No one appeared to be the Lord Conqueror. Instead, a manservant made check marks and notes as the women entered.

"Nami of Cocoyashi," Usopp said.

"Lady Nami, the Lord Conqueror sends his warmest regards. He'll be seeing you at the ball tomorrow night."

Usopp sent her a begging expression over his shoulder. It asked her to not make a fuss about them calling her 'Lady Nami'. Yet, if she made a racket now, that would just catch the attention of the last man she wanted!

So she smiled and curtsied as she had seen others before her. "Thank you."

The man made his check marks, and Nami followed a sweating Usopp. He would really have to stop all that moisture.

"I heard that the seamster is doing the finishing touches on your other gowns."

Nami blinked. Their quickness and skills still amazed her, but … "I thought they were only making one more. We only got two, right?"

"Ah, the Lord Conqueror granted another gown. Apparently, the lottery was small this year."

Tilting her head, she pursed her lips. Lotteries were as large as the number of prizes, weren't they? Wouldn't the Lord Conqueror set that number? Her scam senses tingled again, and she wondered about her worries from before. The Lord Conqueror was known to marry sometimes. Though the bride died not long after, some said.

She shivered, but dared to ask, "What color is it?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't seen it yet."

Nami sighed, yet there was nothing she could do but to wait. She didn't have to wear it anyway if they picked a brightly colored fabric. With her luck lately, she wondered if it was wedding red.

"Whatever it is, I'm sure they wouldn't pick anything that would clash with your complexion."

Whatever it was, Nami could brighten somewhat — three gowns would make her more money! And with them, perhaps people would overlook the jewelry she could sell when she returned home.

"Oh, these? They're a set, of course!" She could hear herself say. Nami beamed. Maybe she could start a business with the revenue. She could take care of Bellemere and Nojiko legitimately!

"These are your chambers." Usopp bowed, raising a hand to the door before he opened it, and Nami stopped at the entrance.

After all the inns she had stayed at to get here, Nami could only stare at the array of fine furniture. Her jaw wanted to drop when she realized the lamps were gilded! And there was a painting over the mantel. She tiptoed inside, searching for the bed as if it might swallow her with its size — nobles had giant beds, right? — before she frowned. "Where do I sleep?"

"This is just the foyer. The bed is in the next room."

She glanced in again and noted the door. Two chambers? For one person? How did people live like that? Nami worried her lip when she saw a dark wooden desk by the window, slipping over to peek out over a little garden, bright with blossoms.

"I apologize for the meager accommodations."

Nami spun only to relax when she saw it was a young man in gold-trimmed black like the other servants. Hand to her chest, she frowned at him. Green hair on a handsome face, he didn't appear to be the Lord Conqueror. She relaxed only so much.

"It's more than I've ever had," she said.

His hard eyebrows never twitched. "For fairness, all the ladies receive these apartments. Even if you've never known this sort of life, I still apologize."

Finally, she rolled her eyes while Usopp pouted after her. "And so? You're just going around apologizing to everyone?"

"Just you. I'll be your bodyguard and—" she finally saw the twitch "—dancing partner for training."

"You don't look happy about it. Don't worry. I won't need any lessons anyway."

He raised one of those hard brows. "You won't?"

"Of course not. I won't dance with the Lord Conqueror." When he glanced at Usopp who just gave a weary shrug, Nami scowled. "I won't!"

"Either way, I'll escort you to the East Hall for instructions," he said. When he stepped forward to offer an arm, Nami sniffed.

"Shouldn't a gentleman introduce himself to a lady?"

"Ah, uh." He winced. "Right, of course. I'm Roronoa Zoro. M'lady."

Nami decided to not stomp on his foot. "I'm not a noblewoman, so you can stop that too. It's annoying."

Zoro shrugged, and she reconsidered the stomp. "This way, m'lady."

He was going to be a problem too.

She took his offered elbow with her nails, and Zoro audibly gritted his teeth. "Lord Conqueror! Woman, I'm just here to help!"

Nami retracted her claws after a moment, shaking her head. "I never asked for this, you know."

Usopp smiled in what he must've thought was a reassuring manner. "It's all right to be nervous."

The snort that ripped through her made them both jump. "Lord Conqueror, I'm not nervous! I just hate all of this!"

"Oh, no, you're going to a ball and being treated like nobility. How dare we." She gaped at Zoro whose lips flattened. "Like it or not, m'lady, this is our job."

Nami smiled and planted her heel firmly onto his foot. Zoro's yelp had doors opening in alarm out in the hall. She turned to Usopp with a pout while Zoro hopped away. "Oh, my. Usopp, it looks like my dance partner has broken his foot. I suppose I could go to the East Hall, but it might be for naught. Perhaps, I could simply watch the other more elegant ladies practice for now."

There, no dancing, and no saying she had opted out.

Zoro cursed something as he limped out.

Not really.

A pale Usopp led her from her chambers and down long hallways and up several flights of stairs. She wasn't unused to walking exactly, but after a week on the road with all the sitting and random bouts of dancing lessons, Nami's feet dragged. She stepped into an immense hall while Usopp turned to a guard at the door to whisper something. Nami pouted at him, but Usopp came back with a nervous smile.

"They'll find you a new partner with uh, sturdier footwork?"

"Of course," she said dryly.

While she waited, Nami wondered what she might do to this next courtier, but she grimaced. Wasn't she possibly getting too much attention? She didn't want that, right?

"Oh, no, you're going to a ball and being treated like nobility. How dare we."

Nami bowed her head, shoulders hunching as she picked at the new gown. The seamsters had said it was just a mock-up for her proper gowns, but it was still far finer than anything else she had worn. And those were for the ball. Not practice. This was plain cotton and linen, it was of fine make if not exactly frilly, and a shocking violet that she had never seen in cloth before. The noblewomen and merchant's daughters had called it mauve. And that had sounded so fancy.

Her hands smoothed over the skirt. She could feel but not see the crinoline hoop skirt beneath, making a large bell of petticoats and skirts around her. Learning to move in it had only taken a bit of effort, but it still shocked her sometimes to look down at the beautiful skirt. But this was a mock-up.

A fake.

She drew her hands back, glancing at the door to see a guard allow a man inside the hall. His smile, bright and warm, so unlike Usopp's stiff, nervous grins, and that wretched Zoro's hard, unfeeling face, almost made her relax. He had a scar under his left eye, but it subtracted nothing, so he was pleasant to look at despite it. The man appeared to be older, though she wasn't sure of his age — perhaps her age or mid-twenties or even as old as thirty. It seemed hard to tell.

When she glanced at his feet in consideration, he chuckled. "Had a little dancing accident with your last partner, huh? Don't worry. You won't step on my feet, I promise. You'll learn fast with me."

Nami pouted only to gape when he took her hand, spinning her closer, and Nami gasped as she made impact with his chest. Her lips parted while he grinned, so mischievous and daring.

"You — you should introduce yourself to a lady first," she stuttered at last.

"Oh, but I heard you weren't a lady."

His next step was to the music playing in the corner, forcing her into one of the basic waltzes. Nami's face flared as her feet moved automatically. She tried to stop herself, but a bold hand on her hip just directed her to move according to the music. She burned darker, daring a glance around. If she made another spectacle now, she might bring the Lord Conqueror straight to her! So Nami willed her face to straighten and tried to follow along with this too bold manservant.

She frowned at his sloppy dress, but it was black like all the others and while his hair was a mess, it almost seemed stylish. Effortless.

When the other dance partners glanced at them in passing, she wondered if they had heard about her mishap with Zoro already. Nami ducked her head away.

He murmured, "Are you shy?"

"Shush! I just don't want to catch the Lord Conqueror's attention." She blushed when he laughed again.

"Oh, I see. Well, I hear the Lord Conqueror doesn't like brats anyway."

She sniffed. "I'm no noblewoman."

"I said brats."

Stiffening, she nearly missed a step, but he moved smoothly to correct her. Nami's face was awash in shame but also awe. Where had they stowed away this dancing teacher? One would have thought he would have been with them the entire journey.

Nami glanced at his face, but the smile was gone, replaced with such disdain that she dropped her gaze.

"I don't want to be here," she whispered. "There's a scam going on. Some kind of trick, and the servants all say it's not true, but we all know it. He's looking for a wife, isn't he?"

"And you think he'd pick someone like you?"

She cringed. "I fear it."

The man quieted for a while, and Nami glided across the floor with him. These stone floors were smooth and meant for dancing, and so she could move without fear of a creaky floorboard or loose nail from an inn or tavern — wherever there had been room to dance. She thought that would have been the end of their conversation. Just dancing silently while the music played and changed to a slower tempo.

"You keep trying to lead," he said. She twitched, but he guided her back into the steps. "That's my job."

Nami snorted. "That's stupid anyway."

"Would you know a scam if you saw one?"

Blinking, she raised her eyes only enough to see pensive lips.

"That's my job." She smiled when he chuckled. "I'm a scammer myself. I would hope I could see one."

"Doesn't that just make you suspicious of everyone? It doesn't give magic powers."

"It's instinct," she said with a sigh, though now embarrassment crept about.

"Instinct is for baser things."

Nami inhaled slowly when he pulled her closer, staring when he smiled, eyes warm once more. Her lips parted. On instinct. But her teeth clicked her mouth shut tight, eyes wide as his gaze twinkled.

"You realized you can't run? That's fine, but don't fight it either."

"This is a little close, isn't it?" She held her breath, but the man chuckled.

"When you dance with the Lord Conqueror, he'll press you even closer if he likes you enough. You'll need to get used to it."

Darkening, she glanced at the doors to the hall, but there were only the guards and a few servants whispering with their heads close together. For a while, Nami had feared the Lord Conqueror would just pop out of nowhere to oversee the young women as they practiced. Yet, he had to be busy.

And he just expected to find his bride in a single ball?

Nami scowled.

"I'll step on his foot too."

The man laughed again. "Then you surely won't be picked. Maybe he'll even kick you out early."

"I suppose that's what I've been trying to do," she said with a sigh. "I just hate all the pretense. Besides, why make a silly lottery that includes poor women like me? It's stupid. I couldn't help him rule a kingdom. And what would be the point? He's immortal, and all his wives die young. Isn't that scary? Half the noblewomen think it's an honor though! It's ridiculous!"

His head tilted while he hummed. "I suppose he has to look for a healthier young woman, in that case."

She shivered. "Lord Conqueror, I wish her all the luck then."

"Where are you from?"

Nami jerked in surprise, but she didn't miss her place in the dance this time. "Cocoyashi. It's a little village near Orange Town? Why?"

"You just sounded like someone from a newly acquired province. They don't like the Lord Conqueror either." He shrugged. "Maybe he needs a young lady from one of those places for perspective?"

With a snort, she said, "I don't care who he chooses, so long as it's not me."

"That so?"

"And I don't hate him. It's just — they all die. Bellemere said his last wife died within two years."

"A weak constitution."

"And the one before that died in an accident."

He raised a brow. "So based on two wives, you believe the position is what? Cursed?"

Nami flushed. "Why wouldn't it be?"

The music tapered into its end, and he stepped back, her hand still in his when he bowed. Still in the motion of it all, Nami curtsied before she scowled at herself. This was ridiculous. All of it. The balls, the dancing, the etiquette.

The Lord Conqueror.

"Worst of all is that my birthday is tomorrow, and I'm out here instead of home with my family."

He considered her, thumb pressing into the back of her hand as if in a squeeze of comfort. "I'm sorry."

Nami's lips twisted before she gritted her teeth. "He's the one that should apologize."

"We'll have to make sure your birthday is memorable."

"It's already memorable enough." She sighed, taking her hand back, only to flush as he placed a hand on her waist, guiding her to the side of the hall to make room for some other dancing partners.

"And who would you marry? Do you have a lover back home in Cocoyashi?"

She glanced at him, but didn't spy any ridicule in his eyes. "Not really. I thought about being a mistress for the lord's son."

"Is that so different from marrying the Lord Conqueror?"

"It's close to home though. And I could take care of my family."

He raised a brow. "You think the Lord Conqueror would leave them behind?"

"Well—" she stopped, pouting at him. "I guess he wouldn't. But why would he care either? Lord Conqueror knows he never has before." Nami blinked. These common expressions while talking about the Lord Conqueror were confusing her.

"I see." He smiled. "Nami, the thief and scammer who loves her family and wants only what's best for them."

Her eye twitched. "If you're making fun—"

"So you have a mother and father? Any siblings?"

Nami stiffened, biting her lip. "Actually, no, I don't have those. Bellemere took me in. And my step-sister too. They're my family now."

His smile warmed. "And stubbornly protective."

Mouth creaking open, she stared at him, uncertain as the urge to bolt came across her. Yet his smile, his eyes held her.

"Are you taking notes for the Lord Conqueror? Before he dances tomorrow?"

He shrugged. "I was just dancing with you, but I don't think you need much more practicing. You're rather graceful too. Graceful, scamming thief who cares for her family who she'd probably die for. I think I got it now."

"You are! You're going to report to him, aren't you?" She pressed closer to whisper, tossing sense aside while he grinned. "Tell him I'm awful. A brat! He hates brats, right?"

"He does." His eyes twinkled now as he tilted his head.

"Tell him how I stomped on Zoro's foot. How I keep yelling at Usopp. I've even had a fight with another brat of a noblewoman. Everyone knows about that now!"

"I'm sure he'll find out."

Nami slumped in relief, sighing out a breath she felt like she had been holding since she had left home.

"Thank you."

"One more thing before I forget."

She raised her head when he took her hand, but his lips pressed against her fingertips. A hot flash of crimson filled her face.

"Thank you for the dance."

The instructor had left soon after a few dances with some other young women. Nami watched him go and frowned.

She hadn't been watching exactly, nor did she see their hands touching his broad shoulders. It didn't seem fair when a man that had such a reaction on her would live so far away.

Nami pushed silly dancing fantasies out of her mind. She wasn't a child anymore. He had at least somehow convinced Usopp and the other staff that she no longer needed instructions for dancing. Ever since though, Usopp had sweated buckets. Had someone given him a talking to about Zoro's foot?

She sighed. She supposed that it really hadn't been fair of herself in that regard. They really were treating her as if she would become the next Lady Conqueror. Nami's face still twisted at the thought, but they weren't acting as if she was picked up garbage from the side of the road. The other ladies — merchant's daughter or milkmaid — they were all doted upon the same way.

When the instructor had danced with that Lady Lily though — the other brat — he had not danced long before he had taken her to the door. She had soon been ushered out.

Nami shivered.

Had Nami dodged some kind of terrible fate? He had called her a brat too.

"She went home? Oh, the poor dear." Nami blinked before she slowly tilted her ear toward the conversation.

"It's such a shame. And from such a great house too."

"Was she unwell?"

"The instructor deemed her unworthy."

Nami's eyes widened, gaping at the women before she turned to the door, but the instructor had been long gone.

The unmitigated scoundrel!

She had told him that she didn't want to be here! And he thought she was worthy enough to meet the Lord Conqueror!? Twitching, Nami's lips wrung into a tight pucker. Brat? Did he want a brat? She would show him a brat!

And get rich out of it too!

Biting her thumb, she went through her mind, shuffling through information while the day went on in the East Hall. The guards at the door still hadn't let her go even though she didn't need the tutelage. What else was there?

"M'lady Nami?"

"Don't call me that!" Nami spun before she blushed. "Oh, Ever. I'm sorry."

The little waitress — dolled up in her finished ball gown — curtsied. "No, I startled you. I apologize, m'lady."

Nami winced, but softened her tone. "I'm not a noblewoman. You don't have to do that, Ever."

"Oh, yes, I suppose." She smiled faintly, red hair bobbing as she shrugged. "The instructor was just so graceful, wasn't he?"

She fidgeted. Graceful didn't seem like the right word exactly to Nami, but she said, "He was a great dancer."

"I was wondering. You see it's just so embarrassing. I kept stumbling with the instructor. All of them." Ever lowered her head, playing with some frills on her skirt.

"What's wrong?"

"He said I needed to keep practicing, but dancing with all the men is just so—"

Nami smiled. "Are you shy?" Only she fought a blush when she recalled him asking her the same. His lips mere inches from her ear.

Ever glanced at her. "Would you practice with me instead? Just for fun, you know."

"I don't see why not. It is a little fun, isn't it?"

Brightening when Nami took her wrist, Ever said, "Yeah! I love dancing!"

It was when the dance ended, while Ever began to step lighter and didn't watch herself so often, that a group of ladies approached.

Nami watched cautiously. These hens did not wear the ball gowns the Red Palace had made for them. They had brought their own. More noblewomen.

One smiled coyly. "Dancing together? I suppose the Lord Conqueror wouldn't want to dance with village women. Unless you want to teach them a little folk dance?"

Pursing her lips, Nami considered before she shrugged. "I'm just sharing what I know with a paying customer. The instructor said I was done with learning after all. I might as well sell what grace I have with others. It's so nice to not need to practice dancing anymore, right?"

When most of them stiffened, she smiled.

Ever covered her mouth, hiding her own grin.

"Oh? He didn't say you could stop? I suppose I might be able to teach you for a price. Ever paid me a silver piece. That sounds right for the night before the ball, don't you think?"

While Ever stepped back, finally smiling at Nami's lie, a few noblewomen stepped in with clutched hands while the leader slunk away.

She didn't hold out for hope that she would be kicked out that night, but at least, she might prove unworthy if she showed enough greed to the Lord Conqueror. Nami could talk to him all night about how she adored all the gowns and jewelry. The silver and gold.

As a stream of noblewomen searched her out for a dance lesson throughout the evening, Nami kept her smile to herself as she padded her pockets with the rich's money.

Nami had returned to her room that night in a lighter step. Her mood had continued even into the morning when she went to break her fast with the other women.

"It's my birthday."

She blinked and turned to Ain, a soldier's daughter from the outskirts of the kingdom.

"Yours too?" Nami asked, but so did several more.

Delight and consternation ran across the tables as Nami watched the confirmation from the rest of the ladies present. Chills ran down her spine.

Beside her, Ever beamed. "Oh! Was that the lottery? That's such a fun idea! We must be all the ladies born twenty years ago."

Nami stared across the table through the rest.

Twenty and eligible for marriage.

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm going to wring Usopp's neck."

Ever gawked. "What happened?"

That lying little charlatan! Oh, it only happens every couple of years or so, huh!? Nami gripped her cutlery before she snapped it onto the table instead. "No, nothing."

Maybe he had been lied to as well. It would have made sense. Lies put on lies upon more lies. She snorted.

The only one that had seemed to be aware of the ruse was that instructor, and now she wasn't sure how much of that had even been a ploy. What did the Lord Conqueror do with his wives that they died so young?

Low constitution he had said. And perhaps accidents would account for a few. Who even knew how many he had married throughout the years?

She frowned. No heir either.

An immortal god didn't really need an heir, did he?

Nami waved aside an inquiry for her health. "I'm done eating is all."

First to stand, Nami's heels clicked through the halls. She had to make her plans.

With the jewelry from Sanji, she could bedazzle anyone. All she needed to do was to inform him how greedy she could be. What could she say though? She couldn't exactly flaunt her own wealth, but she could tell him how silly Sanji looked when he gave her all the jewels.

I'll tell him how good I am at making men do what I want. A boon to the kingdom she could be! Nami smiled. It was nearly perfect! If she had to dance with him, Nami would spill every single thing she had done to get that jewelry.

A scandalous enough tale might make him kick her out of the ball early too.

Nami skipped to her chambers, ignoring the trailing Usopp who had been waiting outside for her.

"You're unusually happy."

"Why wouldn't I be? I'm going home! Tonight or tomorrow, it doesn't matter."

Opening the door to her foyer, Nami stopped short, staring at the maid quivering by the door to her bedroom.

"Conis?"

Tears in her eyes, Conis faced her though her head had sunk into her own shoulders. "Mm — Mistress Nami, I'm sorry! I don't know who—"

Nami stepped closer and stared at torn cloth flung here and there. Silk, cotton. A bit of tulle in the shredded bedding. She sighed before she turned to a thunderstruck Usopp. "When did that noblewoman leave?"

"Uh, ah, earlier during breakfast, I believe."

Usopp jumped when she pointed at him. "Get the other maids. Robin and Gatherine? And the seamster. I still have that last gown, right?"

"Right! I'll get them on it!"

"Bring them here."

He gaped before he nodded, rushing out the door while she patted Conis' shoulder.

"You didn't do it. And it wasn't your job to watch my room anyway." Nami winced while Conis bobbed her head through her sniffles.

"It's such a shame though. All those beautiful dresses."

All that money gone to waste, Nami thought, though she raised a brow at the bedding. Did she really have to make it a hard time on the servants? Nami would miss out on the money, but even then, she still had her secret pocket at her waist. At least, the jewelry wouldn't have been found.

"M'lady!"

When the seamsters arrived, Nami, Conis, Robin and Gatherine — all three fussing about how she was helping — had tidied the shredded fabric into their respective piles. Nami pouted at the epithet, but she rose, taking her apron off.

"As you can see, I need that gown ready for tonight."

"Of course." Camie, the head seamster, ushered Usopp out of the room. "Get my other assistant. Tell her to hurry with that taffeta!" To Nami, she smiled. "If we're going to hurry with this, we'll have to get clever with our time limit."

Nami stared at the petticoat skirt. It was like nothing she had ever seen and such a deep crimson that she gaped.

So much for hiding. Except she knew now that she would have to dazzle instead. She looked over the torn pieces, examining them for the largest parts before she held this and that up to the red petticoats.

Camie smiled warmly. "There's no need for that, M'lady Nami. We'll get you taken care of!"

She straightened, hands on her hips. "An extra pair of hands will get it going faster."

"If that's the case." Camie tilted her head, picking through the remains of the other gowns before she smiled, picking out the gray silk before she folded it again and again until Nami blinked. A gray rose pressed in her hand, Camie took a pin from the cushion on her belt to hold it together. "See if you can make a few more of these."

It took until the assistant seamster arrived with the taffeta for Nami to understand the construction, so she folded a few of the little roses, stitching them together carefully in between them asking her to try on the pieces as they did adjustments. The bodice and skirt were one piece — a cream taffeta with gold embroidery already stitched into the cloth. However, the skirt was so short that it only covered what Nami imagined were the hips of the petticoats.

"This was going to part in the front, but seeing as we don't have the time, we'll have it like this. You'll be the star of this ball."

She tried to smile at that, but it died before it formed. Nami wasn't sure she could snap at this woman who was working so hard to help a poor girl like she could at Usopp and Zoro. So instead, she nodded. "Thank you."

Winking, Camie said, "Don't mention it, M'lady. It's an honor."

How could she tell this lovely woman that it most certainly did not feel like an honor?