The courtyard of Cudius's pace basked in the warmth of the sun. Cudius was lounging on a sunbed, a gss of jui his hand, and a phone snail perched oable beside him. The se exuded an atmosphere of casual fort, with ughter and versation filling the air.

  Hancod her sisters had been freed from their sve colrs, but Cudius wasn't in a rush to brand them. They still looked frail and undernourished. In the meantime, a vish dining table had bee up in the courtyard, and Hancod the others were seated, sav their meal.

  While eating, Hancock occasionally g Cudius, who was sitting a short distance away. They had been in his paore than two days, yet he hadn't shown muterest 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 insignifit.

  But, as Lenny and Mero had said, life here was uhe nightmare of other sves. The only restri was that they couldn't leave the pace without permission, but otherwise, there were no harsh ands 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 fortable, assighem luxurious rooms that resembled royal suites rather than cells, and provided meals fit for royalty. The harsh metal s that once bound them like animals were nowhere in sight.

  Despite still being teically ensved, everything in Cudius's pace screamed luxury and fort. Hancock, who grew up as a royal on Amazon Lily, wasn't used to such extravagance. Even on Snake Isnd, resources were scarce, and they survived through piracy. Even the queen's meals weren't as opulent as what Cudius seemed to sider everyday dining. Here, fragrant inse bur night to soothe their nerves ahem sleep, and Hancock assumed it must be something rare and valuable.

  As she nibbled on a donut, its sweet and tangy fvor 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 e? She took another bite, sav the burst of fvor 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 pt!" she reminded herself. But then, a small voi her mind whispered, "But it would be a waste not to enjoy the foht? 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 newfouermination. She decided that she would light three inse sticks in her room tonight, no, six—two for each of her sisters. That would really show Cudius!

  Looking over at her sisters, she noticed Marigold and Sandersoing 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 eveer than on Snake Isnd!"

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

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

  Her eyes drifted back to Cudius, who was still deep in versation 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 Cudius, really? And why did he act so differently?

  Elsewhere at the table, Tesoro was cutting a tender piece of steak for Stel, who sat o him. The fvor was so rich that Tesoro felt as if he'd ruly tasted steak before. Each bite was an explosion of taste, and he felt a pang of disbelief at his current circumstances.

  His gratitude for Cudius was immense. When Cudius had taken them away, Tesoro feared he would separate him from Stel, treating her like the other Celestial Dragons had. But Cudius hadn't dohat. He hadn't even shown i in her, despite her beauty. Tesoro didn't know whether to feel relief or fusion, but he was grateful heless.

  More than that, Cudius had assighem a room together. It was almost too much to believe.

  "Yhness, Cudius... as long as Stel 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 pced the steak on Stel's pte and said softly, "Here, try this. It's really good."

  Koa, sitting quietly, g Ace, who ying on the grass with a milk bottle. She hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Brother... Brother?"

  Today, uhe 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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