In the Alabasta Kingdom's Atla Mountains, Sephiroth lounged on a single sofa in the wooden villa's hall. He swirled a glass goblet filled with purple-red grape juice, his gaze lazily following Princess Vivi as she danced before him in her blue dancer's outfit. "Yes, that's it," he drawled, a smirk playing on his lips. "Twist your waist more. Make your eyes and expression more alluring... Stick out your butt and shake it."
Vivi's movements faltered. Her forehead vein pulsed, her right fist clenched, and her teeth ground together. She stopped mid-step, glaring at him. "You insufferable jerk! I'm your secretary, not some bunny girl, nurse, maid... and definitely not a dancer! Can you please stop making me do these ridiculous things?"
Sephiroth raised the goblet to his lips, taking a deliberate sip of grape juice. He smacked his lips, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Nana, I just love that rebellious, unwilling look on you. It's simply... too adorable! Hahaha!" His laughter echoed through the hall, carefree and mocking.
Vivi stared at him in silence, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation. Handsome? Absolutely. If only he'd lose the ability to speak.
"Alright, alright," Sephiroth said, still chuckling. "Since you don't want to dance anymore, take a break." He grabbed an empty goblet from the table, filling it with chilled grape juice from a glass bottle. He handed it to her with a flourish.
Vivi took the goblet and sipped, replenishing the moisture she'd lost from dancing. She muttered under her breath, "You're so weird, drinking grape juice from a goblet."
"Can't help it," he replied with a shrug. "It's a habit I picked up from drinking red wine."
"Then why don't you just drink red wine?"
"Alcohol clouds my judgment," he said, swirling the grape juice in his glass. "I quit drinking to keep my mind sharp."
Vivi watched him, a fleeting thought crossing her mind. If he weren't so insufferably smug, his demeanor and looks might actually be appealing. He could probably charm half the kingdom if he tried.
"What are you staring at?" Sephiroth teased, catching her gaze. "Did you fall for me?"
"I did not!" Vivi snapped, slamming her goblet down on the table. She turned on her heel and strode toward her desk, ready to dive into the day's paperwork.
Suddenly, a frantic shout pierced the air from the street outside. "Come quick! King Cobra's gone mad! He's planning to execute all the relatives of the rebel army! It's true—there's video evidence! If your family joined the rebellion, prepare yourselves!"
The sound of documents scattering filled the room as Vivi froze. Her hands trembled, and the papers she'd been holding tumbled to the floor. Her rational mind told her this couldn't be true—her father would never do something so absurd. Yet her body moved on its own, propelling her out the door and into the street.
Her gaze swept the crowd, quickly landing on a group gathered around a wall. A projection snail sat on the ground, casting a flickering image onto the surface. The video showed King Cobra making a shocking declaration, vowing to execute nine generations of rebel army relatives.
"How could this happen?" a voice cried from the crowd. "My brother joined the rebels—does that mean I'll be executed too? I didn't do anything!"
"My uncle's part of the rebellion," another wailed. "Oh gods, why would the king make such a decision?"
"Damn it!" someone shouted, his voice rising in anger. "If King Cobra won't give us a way out, we're dead anyway. Might as well rebel!"
"Rebel! Rebel! Let's all rebel together!" the crowd roared in unison.
...
The streets erupted with fury as civilians connected to the rebel army shouted curses at Cobra. Even those without ties to the rebellion, witnessing Cobra's outrageous statements, joined the outcry, their anger fueling their resolve to rise against him. Shock, astonishment, and suffocation gripped the air. Vivi stood frozen, her body trembling as she stared at the projected image on the wall.
Her eyes widened, disbelief etched across her face. She whispered hoarsely, "No! This can't be true! That man isn't Father! He would never do something like this!"
Sephiroth, standing beside her, shook his head slightly. "From the looks of it, the evidence is undeniable. The people aren't blind, Vivi. They can see clearly—your father, Cobra, seems to be finished."
Vivi's head snapped toward him, her expression a mix of shock and betrayal. "You...!? You knew my identity all along!?"
"Of course," Sephiroth replied, a sly smile curling his lips. "Did you really think I didn't know who you were this entire time?"
"You!... You!" Vivi's voice trembled as she raised a shaking finger to point at him. Tears streamed down her face, her heart overwhelmed by a storm of anger, sorrow, and pain. Her thoughts spun wildly, her mind struggling to process the betrayal.
So Sephiroth had known her true identity from the start. He'd been toying with her ever since she became his secretary. But why? Why would he openly interact with the Revolutionary Army in front of her, knowing who she was? The Revolutionary Army... This was their doing! It had to be!
According to the World Government, the Revolutionary Army often sowed chaos within nations, inciting internal strife before overthrowing them. The events unfolding in Alabasta mirrored their methods perfectly. It was all too similar—too calculated.
In that moment, Sephiroth's smile seemed cruel and mocking, a triumphant smirk that confirmed her worst fears. He and the Revolutionary Army's chief of staff had orchestrated this turmoil, plunging Alabasta into civil war. "Damn it, Sephiroth! You bastard! I'll kill you!"
Her hands flew to the Peacock Slasher at her waist, unfastening it with furious speed. But before she could even raise the weapon, Sephiroth's fingers jabbed sharply into her neck. Her vision darkened instantly, her body collapsing into his arms.
With practiced ease, Sephiroth caught her and turned to the crowd, who had been drawn by her outburst. "Ah, my apologies," he said smoothly. "My secretary and I had a little disagreement. I hope we didn't disturb anyone."
Without waiting for a response, he scooped Vivi up in a princess carry, strode into the wooden villa, and shut the door behind him.