Amidst the grandeur of ceremonial music, the grinning Teach and the expressionless Chiffon slowly walked into the wedding venue.
The attendees erupted into applause. On the Whitebeard Pirates' side, the cheers and whistles were especially boisterous, as though they had been injected with adrenaline. Meanwhile, the Big Mom Pirates appeared more subdued, with some even exuding a sense of relief, as if finally "getting rid" of Chiffon.
Chiffon, arm in arm with Teach, made her way to Big Mom. The latter cast a mere glance at her daughter before shifting her gaze to her new son-in-law.
Big Mom raised an eyebrow upon noticing the gaps in Teach's teeth, thinking to herself that he looked even uglier than in his photos.
In contrast, Whitebeard played the role of a benevolent father figure. Seeing Teach's "joyful" demeanor, he smiled, raising his hand to pat Teach on the shoulder.
Teach called out affectionately, "Pops!" It was a picture-perfect scene of fatherly love.
Chiffon couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. To her, Whitebeard's bond with Teach seemed stronger than blood ties, his affection genuine and heartfelt. In contrast, she had never even seen her own father and had barely survived her mother's wrath. The fact that Big Mom hadn't outright killed her over past incidents was the closest she'd felt to maternal love.
Down below, Brûlée sighed.
"I hope this Teach guy turns out to be a reliable brother-in-law. Chiffon has had such a hard life all these years."
Charlotte Family members were well aware of how poorly Big Mom treated Chiffon. Galette, knowing how close Brûlée was to Chiffon, offered comfort.
"Teach looks simple enough. He might not be so bad."
Hearing this, Carl shook his head with a wry smile.
Teach? Simple? On Earth, he was hailed as the epitome of a true pirate—no one better at playing the pirate game.
Meanwhile, the ceremony was proceeding, with Teach and Chiffon exchanging wedding rings. Their actions were brisk, neither sparing the other much of a glance.
To most onlookers, this was understandable. After all, the two had never met before the wedding. A little awkwardness was only natural.
Perhaps realizing his earlier stiffness, Teach decided to show some initiative. After the exchange of rings, he reached out with his large, dark hand, pulling Chiffon close, pressing her against him.
Caught off guard, Chiffon yelped, looking up at Teach in surprise.
Teach, intending to display his charm, glanced down—only to be met with Chiffon's masculine, square-jawed face and startlingly vibrant lips. He froze in place, his expression stiff.
His crewmate Thatch, however, misunderstood the situation, assuming Teach was shy. He immediately began chanting, "Kiss! Kiss!"
The Whitebeard Pirates, known for their camaraderie, quickly joined in. Even Whitebeard laughed heartily.
"Gurararara! Teach! My son, don't be timid! Do what you must!"
Teach wished he could tear Thatch's mouth off. This wasn't pressure—this was a full-on roasting.
Chiffon, on the other hand, had gone bright red, her face like a searing-hot pancake.
With Big Mom and Whitebeard watching closely, Teach knew there was no escaping this. If a pancake had to be eaten today, so be it.
Teach, the infamous schemer, took a deep breath. In his mind, Chiffon's face transformed into his favorite cherry pie. Summoning his resolve, he leaned down and kissed her.
The room fell silent.
The sheer intensity of the moment left everyone stunned, even Carl, who sat frozen in his chair, as if struck by Conqueror's Haki.
After what felt like an eternity, Teach finally lifted his head, meeting Chiffon's gaze. Her eyes glistened with emotion, soft as water.
Unexpectedly, Teach's face turned slightly red, his heart skipping a beat. Hastily, he looked away, wiping at his lips and muttering under his breath, "Damn it! I overdid it."
The room erupted into thunderous applause, louder than before. This time, even members of the Big Mom Pirates and various guests joined in, their gazes filled with admiration for Teach. Carl, too, was reluctantly impressed.
Nobody knew Teach better than Carl. The man's taste in women was discerning, to say the least. Carl was certain that the kiss had been nothing more than a calculated move.
Stussy seemed unaffected, but Brûlée was utterly convinced, tears streaming down her face.
"Sister Chiffon is finally going to find happiness!"
Carl grimaced, shaking his head. The day wasn't over yet.
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+255 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg