One Piece: King of the World

The courtyard of Claudius's palace basked in the warmth of the sun. Claudius was lounging on a sunbed, a glass of juice in his hand, and a phone snail perched on the table beside him. The scene exuded an atmosphere of casual comfort, with laughter and conversation filling the air.

Hancock and her sisters had been freed from their slave collars, but Claudius wasn't in a rush to brand them. They still looked frail and undernourished. In the meantime, a lavish dining table had been set up in the courtyard, and Hancock and the others were seated, savoring their meal.

While eating, Hancock occasionally glanced at Claudius, who was sitting a short distance away. They had been in his palace for more than two days, yet he hadn't shown much interest in them. It was strange; she expected harsh orders or demeaning treatment, but there was none of that. He simply let them be, as though their presence was insignificant.

But, as Lenny and Mero had said, life here was unlike the nightmare of other slaves. The only restriction was that they couldn't leave the palace without permission, but otherwise, there were no harsh commands or punishments. Hancock didn't mind staying inside. She knew how terrifying the world outside these walls could be, how it teemed with threats. What if another Celestial Dragon saw them and took them away? That would be a disaster.

Nia treated them with kindness, far from the cold, stern figure Hancock had known under Corrinnelu. Nia made sure they were comfortable, assigned them luxurious rooms that resembled royal suites rather than cells, and provided meals fit for royalty. The harsh metal chains that once bound them like animals were nowhere in sight.

Despite still being technically enslaved, everything in Claudius's palace screamed luxury and comfort. Hancock, who grew up as a royal on Amazon Lily, wasn't used to such extravagance. Even on Snake Island, resources were scarce, and they survived through piracy. Even the queen's meals weren't as opulent as what Claudius seemed to consider everyday dining. Here, fragrant incense burned at night to soothe their nerves and help them sleep, and Hancock assumed it must be something rare and valuable.

As she nibbled on a donut, its sweet and tangy flavor made her pause in delight. It was so good that she felt a pang of guilt for enjoying it. The taste seemed to linger with hints of citrus—perhaps lemon or orange? She took another bite, savoring the burst of flavor before she mentally chastised herself.

"No, Hancock, don't be fooled by the kindness here. This is how he wants to break your will, make you soft and complacent!" she reminded herself. But then, a small voice in her mind whispered, "But it would be a waste not to enjoy the food, right? Besides, eating more means more expense for him. I'm not being greedy—I'm fighting back! Yes, this is revenge for what he and the other Celestial Dragons did to us. I'll eat him out of house and home!"

Her resolve set, Hancock bit into the donut with newfound determination. She decided that she would light three incense sticks in her room tonight, no, six—two for each of her sisters. That would really show Claudius!

Looking over at her sisters, she noticed Marigold and Sandersonia eating with wide smiles, stuffing their faces without a care in the world.

Marigold noticed Hancock's gaze and, with a mouth full of food, said cheerfully, "Sister, the food here is even better than on Snake Island!"

Hancock couldn't help but smile, reaching over to ruffle Marigold's hair. "If it tastes good, eat as much as you want. We don't need to hold back."

She picked up a glass of freshly squeezed juice and took a sip. It was as if a garden of fruits had blossomed in her mouth. The flavor was rich and refreshing, and Hancock's mind wandered. Just how wealthy was this Claudius? What if he decided to share some of this wealth with Amazon Lily?

Her eyes drifted back to Claudius, who was still deep in conversation with the person on the phone snail. She couldn't shake the thought that he looked different from the Celestial Dragons she despised. There was something about him that was... intriguing?

"No, this is nonsense. I won't let myself be taken in by him," she assured herself, shaking her head. But the fear she felt when she first arrived seemed to be slipping away.

"What fear? I refuse to fear those vile Celestial Dragons!" Hancock told herself. Yet, the curiosity lingered. Who was this Claudius, really? And why did he act so differently?

Elsewhere at the table, Tesoro was cutting a tender piece of steak for Stella, who sat next to him. The flavor was so rich that Tesoro felt as if he'd never truly tasted steak before. Each bite was an explosion of taste, and he felt a pang of disbelief at his current circumstances.

His gratitude for Claudius was immense. When Claudius had taken them away, Tesoro feared he would separate him from Stella, treating her like the other Celestial Dragons had. But Claudius hadn't done that. He hadn't even shown interest in her, despite her beauty. Tesoro didn't know whether to feel relief or confusion, but he was grateful nonetheless.

More than that, Claudius had assigned them a room together. It was almost too much to believe.

"Your Highness, Claudius... as long as Stella can live like this, I don't care what happens to me. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth," Tesoro vowed silently.

He placed the steak on Stella's plate and said softly, "Here, try this. It's really good."

Koala, sitting quietly, glanced at Ace, who was playing on the grass with a milk bottle. She hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Brother... Brother?"

Today, under the gentle warmth of the sun in Mariejois, everything seemed oddly peaceful, almost as if the harsh realities of the world were nothing more than a distant memory.

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