SησωƁιяɗ Aɗνєηтυяєѕ

Taking place almost three months after she gives birth, Monet is all by herself looking
 for a place where to raise the baby.

Nysa.

     It was one of the very few free islands of the New World, not ruled by any of the Yonko despite of their attempts through the years. Most of the cities had been devastated in the beginning of the Pirate Era, but a few buildings and the magnificent forests of said island remained. Nysa was the only island that produced Adam Wood.

The northern portion of the island was comprised of rugged mountains, alpine tundra and heavy brush. Sitka spruce forests were prevalent in lowlands and lower mountain slopes. The interior of the island was covered by dense vegetation, with dense thickets of willow, alder and elderberry abound.

The main cities of Nysa were always bustling, with merchants coming from all over the Grand Line to shop for their wood and leave rarities brought from exotic places. It wasn’t an overly populated country, but aside of the redwood and sitka spruce forests, there wasn’t much available space to build cities. The first time she had stopped in that island, around ten years ago, Monet had found it rather interesting. People were polite and kind, but they minded their own business. The climate was perfect in the cities she visited. As an autumn island it went from the still warm days, in which the summer’s heat is slowly disappearing to a stillness in which everyone could anticipate the coldness of the winter. It didn’t rain as often there in other side of the island, but she couldn’t care less. Monet had never been a fan of the rain, and anyway, the atmosphere had already enough humidity. If it was hot it would be too sticky for her liking.

She chose a small village, one with less than a thousand inhabitants, as their new home. It was called Thule, and it had been built on the hillside, near the shore of a lake fed by six streams. The houses were built in rows , forming the main street and the ground in the center of the village was paved with stones.

She had Lynette secured with her right arm, both of them wrapped in that huge cerulean coloured cape. Her green locks were hidden by the big hoodie with white furry edges. The baby had been sleeping almost the entire time since she left the inn in Lemuria, the capital of Nysa, around five hours ago. Monet was honestly glad to have such a quiet baby, because Lynette did nothing but to sleep and eat all day long. She rarely cried, and Monet was thankful for it.

Her left hand tightened around the little bag she was carrying with her very few belongings. Her favourite book, baby stuff for Lynette and enough money as to buy a house in that village. That or renting one for a long time. She wasn’t planning to spend all the money in a house, because she would need the money in case she didn’t find a job soon. If worse came to worse she could always.. well, be a pirate. But she didn’t want people to fear her already.

Her boots made barely any noise on the stone road as she headed towards the first person she saw walking the streets. A woman in her mid-forties, all dressed in dark blue tones. Monet took off the hoodie and asked her about the location of the inn. The woman explained that the inn had burnt to the ground a week ago, and now the construction builders were slowly cleaning the place and, hopefully , would start rebuilding it soon.

She sighed. That definitely was something she hadn’t been expecting. Monet had known there would be a bump somewhere, but she wasn’t expecting it to appear that soon. Law and his endless complaints came to her mind quickly, but she pushed that thought away. She would find the way. “Don’t distress ye'self” the woman said. “If ye are planning to stay a few days you can ask the Mayor, he’ll find a place for you to stay” she added helpfully.

And thus Monet decided to visit the Mayor’s house, the only house she had seen so far completely built with stone. Knocking at the door before opening it, her golden hues quickly scanned the area, promptly focusing in the only person in the room. A chubby man around her height with a rather ugly moustache, wearing a suit. Wasn’t that village to small for their mayor to wear a suit? She would have expected someone much more humble looking, but as long as he was able to help her, everything was fine.

“Who are you?” his inquisitive, slightly hostile tone was something she didn’t appreciate. “What are you doing at my house?”

“Excuse me, sir.” she apologized whilst Lynette moved in her arm, her sleep disturbed, but she didn’t wake up yet. “I’m new in this village and I was looking for a place where to spend a few days. I’ve been told the construction builders are busy–”

“There’s no place for you here.” he cut her, and Monet’s eyes narrowed. That man remembered her of her father, and she didn’t like it.

“I’m sure there has to be someone who wouldn’t mind renting me a room for a few days–”

“ No. Not here in my village.” Her brows drew a frown. Why so hostile? She could feel the small, beady eyes of that man scanning her, narrowing at her green locks and at the sleeping baby on her arm. Monet was tempted to turn and leave, but that was exactly what he wanted, so she stood still.

“I’m sure there has to be some place where I can stay.” she insisted. She could see how the face of the mayor started to turn red. He was undoubtedly angry at her insolence, but that wouldn’t discourage her. It was the first time in a lot of years she was treated like that by a complete stranger.

The shade of red that had appeared in the mayor’s face slowly disappeared, but his eyes were fixed on Monet’s. If that was some sort of challenge that little man was messing with the wrong woman.

“There’s a Mansion on the other side of the forest” he started, his tone that sugarcoated that it gave Monet reasons to think something was up with that place. “.. it’s very big and beautiful, with plenty of free rooms. Only an old woman lives there. Talk to her and maybe she’ll let you stay.” his smile, far from being warm, was certainly creepy.

“Fine.”she said, turning her back firmly on the mayor and heading towards the door.“That will do meanwhile. Thank you.” She said coldly.

When she closed the door she could hear the mayor snickering.