[ Nami is right. Most nobles that Hilda knows probably wouldn’t gasp in surprise at coming face to face with a pirate. She could practically hear the scandalized voices now — pirates were no good crooks, stealing and wrecking havoc upon every ship they crossed. Fortunately, Hilda isn’t one of those nobles. Growing up she had been fed a diet of grand adventures and romance books and had practically devoured them night after night, kicking up a fuss when her nanny or mother tried to put her down to bed.

As much as she claimed to dislike reading, she loved stories. And pirates had been known to be featured in them. It had been a long time since her childhood naivety got the best of her, but that same excitement still carries through to this particular moment. If her attention wasn’t rapt on Nami before, it certainly is now. There’s no need to question if she’s putting on a show. There’s a buoyancy in her that hadn’t been here moments ago. ]

They’re around. But I’m from a landlocked territory. I’m sure you can imagine that piracy probably doesn’t thrive there. What we lack in pirates though, we make up for in other dashing mercenaries. And knights - if you’re into that sort of thing.

[ She scoots herself a little closer. ]

Tell me more about your world though! It sounds fascinating. Why are there so many pirates right now?