Noblesse Privilege 4 (Patreon)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Noblesse Privilege
Chapter 4

-VB-

“A World Noble is here?!”

To say that Nefertari Vivi screeched in horror would have been an underestimation. Everyone in the palace heard her scream it, but everyone also knew about it at that point and had expected this shout from the somewhat always late-to-announce princess, though they didn’t expect her to scream it.

Her father, King Nefertari Cobra of Alabasta, let the stars fade away from his vision from his daughter’s thunderous scream before he spoke. “Yes, and he is requesting an audience with me.”

Needless to say, the reputation of World Nobles was not great. Though mindless and unethical nobles loved the idea of being much more powerful versions of themselves, people like him and his daughter loathed the World Nobles.

“Who exactly is here?” she asked instead, her fists clenching.

“That’s the odd thing,” he sighed. “It’s vel Monstrathum.”

He watched his daughter blink in surprise as well.

“vel Monstrathum? The richest World Noble?”

“Yes.”

“The most powerful World Noble?”

“Yes.”

“The World Noble who controls almost a hundred islands in the Paradise?”

“Yes, daughter.”

“Why is he here?” she asked hoarsely.

He closed his eyes and pinched his nose.

Geoffrey Goldman Achstein vel Monstrathum stood out as an oddity among the World Nobles. He was the only World Noble who dealt with politics outside of Mary Geiose and the Red Line, and controlled a significant portion of the world.

The wealth from his Paradise holdings as well as alliances there with kingdoms, minor and major, made him an untouchable among untouchables.

If attacking a normal World Noble got a Marine Admiral involved, then attacking vel Monstrathum would cause a geopolitical disaster likes of which no one had seen in this day and age. The piracy and infamy of Gold D. Roger would be nothing in comparison. Hell, the revolutionaries would be considered lower in priority compared to the shitfest that would erupt.

And that same World Noble had come to his country which sat at the heart of a civil and military disaster, for what else was a disaster if not the complete loss of power of a nation and siphoning of that power to a foreigner?

“... He could help us.”

It took a moment for him to hear and then connect the dots connecting within Vivi’s head.

“Vivi, no!” he gritted out as he opened his eyes and glared at his foolish girl. “Do you think Crocodile will give up just because a World Noble involves himself with the affairs of Alabasta?”

“But we have to try!”

“So you would invite the Usurper?”

The Usurper.

It was Geoffrey Goldman Achstein vel Monstrathum’s disdained nickname for he was a World Noble who used his privilege and wealth to take over hundreds of islands, small and large. Rulers and royalties whose efforts ran perpendicular to his found themselves removed from power. Pirates died a dog’s death when the vel Monstrathum armada found them. No, pirates weren’t even treated as people. They became animals in vel Monstrathum’s eyes. As much as the man did not practice slavery, he was also awfully easy with how quickly he ordered hundreds of people executed.

If they invited vel Monstrathum to help them, then there was not an insignificant chance that he would remove the Nefertari Royal Family from power permanently.

After all, vel Monstrathum was infamous for stating that a ruler that allowed their kingdom to fall when they could fix something was not worth their position nor heritage.

Indeed, the Nefertari Royal Family was not worthy of their place in power if they were losing more and more of the kingdom to a pirate like Crocodile. Was it not the place of the royalty and the nobility to provide for the prosperity and safety of the commoners? Was that not why the founder of their kingdom, Nefertari Albansha was elevated to the crown?

Because he beat back invaders and pirates alike with his strength?

“I know that exactly, but can we stop Crocodile on our own, father?” Vivi asked him, and he hung his head in shame. “Don’t our people come first?”

They did. Oh, the people always came first.

He opened his eyes once again and stood up.

If the Nefertari Family would disappear from history, then he will not allow it to disappear at the hands of pirates and warlords. If he and his family were destined to become insignificant during his time, then it would be because they brought it down upon themselves, because they willingly gave up their power!

“You are right, Vivi. You are right,” he said. “Igaram.”

“Your Majesty,” the tall blonde man, the captain of the royal guard, bowed.

“Call for the messenger of vel Monstrathum. We will grant him the audience he desires.”

Cobra watched as Igaram held his bowed position for moments, and did not miss the tears dropping to the floor.

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Cobra wanted to close his eyes but he would do so when he went to meet his wife at her tomb. He would confess and confide everything to her.

He hoped that the World Noble was not cruel nor brutal. The rumors depicted him as a fair man, but at the end of the day, a generous and kind World Noble was still a World Noble. He, King Nefertari Cobra, needed to prepare to give up everything, even his own dignity.

-VB-

I sneezed hard, almost doubling over, and sniffled.

‘I was fine up until just now, so why the hell did that just happen?’ I thought to myself before someone grabbed me by the shoulders.

“Don’t tell me you caught a cold!” one of my personal maids screeched as she quickly pulled me away from the deck of the galleon.

Great. Before, I couldn’t get off the ship. Now, I can’t even get on the bloody deck because of a bloody sniffle.

Aren’t I a World Noble? Aren’t I the richest man? Aren’t I-?

“I swear if you go on your spiel again, I’m going to lecture on truly what it means to be a World Noble and not whatever you are!”

Oh yes, this maid was one of the survivors of the Massacre.

Right, she would have ideas about World Nobles that my parents liked.

I shuddered.

My parents weren’t good people.

“No, I’m sorry. I’ll just hole up in my dark and dreary cabin.”

“Good!”

… Seriously, these people of mine.

I loved them all.

And then the setting sun decided right then and there to focus its beam through an ill-made point on the glass and blasted my eyes with its unholy rays.

“GAAHHH!!! MY EYES!!!!”