In the Holy Land of Mariejois, within the palatial quarters of Claudius, a certain quietness had settled in. With Crocodile off on his own adventures, the palace felt emptier, and Enel, left without his usual companion, seed a bit lonely. To fill his ti, he threw himself into intense training.
anwhile, Claudius sat leisurely by the pond, enjoying a chat with two beautiful rmaid sisters who had been gifted to him by his cousin, Doflamingo. They had beco quite the conversation partners in the otherwise grand but quiet palace.
"So, is Fish-Man Island really as amazing as you say?" Claudius asked, a smile on his face. "One day, I'll have to visit. Maybe I'll bring you two along for the trip."
The two rmaids were eagerly sharing tales of the island's enchanting beauty, the unique underwater scenery, and the vibrant, colorful coral reefs. It was clear they missed their holand, and they painted a picture of Fish-Man Island as a true paradise under the sea.
Yet, as Claudius ntioned taking them back soday, he noticed a mix of excitent and hesitation in their expressions. Seeing this, Claudius chuckled softly.
"When the ti cos, you'll be free to return ho," he said warmly.
One of the rmaids, nad ro, looked at him in surprise. "Truly, Your Highness? You would let us go?"
"Of course. When have I ever broken my word?" Claudius replied, a genuine smile playing on his lips.
The other sister, Lenny, slapped her tail against the water in excitent, her face lighting up. "Your Highness, you are truly kind!"
After their initial excitent, the sisters exchanged looks, and ro added with a touch of sadness, "But... after all this ti, it would feel strange to leave. You've treated us well, Your Highness. Unlike others, you never saw us as re 'fish' or slaves. Life here, though different, has been comfortable. It's hard to imagine leaving."
"Are you saying you'd miss ?" Claudius teased.
Both rmaids blushed slightly, and ro admitted, "Perhaps a little. We'd worry you'd be lonely without us here."
Claudius glanced around his grand yet mostly empty palace. Unlike most Celestial Dragons, he kept few servants, only Nia and a small group of maids to manage his affairs. He wasn't exactly surrounded by throngs of people.
"Lonely, huh?" Claudius murmured, as if considering it for the first ti. Then he laughed and reassured them, "Well, if I do start missing you two, I'll just co and drag you back. How does that sound?"
The sisters laughed, and Lenny replied, "We'd gladly co back if Your Highness called for us. We could never forget our ti here."
"But don't get too excited," Claudius said with a grin. "It'll probably be a year or two before I actually make the trip. Until then, you'll just have to make do with Mariejois."
The sisters pouted in mock disappointnt, splashing the water playfully. "Your Highness, you're so wicked! Telling us now only to make us wait."
"Hey, I'm a Celestial Dragon. Being a little wicked is practically my job," Claudius said, laughing along with them.
As they enjoyed their light-hearted banter, Stussy walked into the courtyard, a smile on her face. She greeted the rmaids politely before turning to Claudius. "Your Highness, Vice Admiral Garpsent a ssage. He's inviting you to join him for a 'vacation' in South Blue."
"A vacation?" Claudius scoffed, seeing right through the proposal. "That old dog Garp just wants to drag into his sches. I'm sure this 'vacation' has less to do with relaxing and more to do with his... side mission in South Blue. Marine and CP have been crawling all over that region, trying to snuff out any traces of Roger's legacy."
Claudius was certain Garp's true intentions lay with Rouge, Roger's lover, who was rumored to be hiding out in South Blue. Although Claudius respected Rouge as the mother of Roger's child, he knew any involvent on his part could invite a world of trouble. If he were seen aiding her, it could undermine the trust Five Elders had placed in him, complicating his standing within the World Governnt.
"No, I won't be going," Claudius said, shaking his head. "Let Garp handle his own business. I'm not about to risk my position for his whims."
"Understood. I'll politely decline on your behalf," Stussy said. "Do you need to co up with an excuse?"
Claudius waved his hand dismissively. "No need. He'll figure it out."
After a mont, Claudius's eyes brightened with an idea. "Stussy, don't you think it's about ti we had our own ship?"
Stussy looked at him, slightly surprised. "Our own ship, Your Highness?"
"Yes. I'm tired of grabbing whatever vessel happens to be available in Mariejois's port. It's about ti I had sothing custom-built to my own tastes," Claudius said, a hint of excitent in his voice. "A powerful ship, designed exactly how I want it. We could travel comfortably, without relying on the standard issue Marine ships."
Stussy chuckled. "If you want a ship, Your Highness, I'm sure there are plenty of shipwrights who'd be eager to build one for you. In fact, you'd probably have a fleet of luxury vessels gifted to you if you asked."
Claudius shook his head. "No, this has to be different. I want one of the best ships in the world... or at least one that rivals them," he said, clearly envisioning sothing grand.
Seeing his enthusiasm, Stussy asked, "And do you have a particular shipbuilder in mind?"
Claudius grinned. "Yes, the best. I'm thinking we should head to Water 7. Roger's ship, the Oro Jackson, was built by a shipwright there a man nad Tom. I want him to build our ship."
"Should I make the arrangents?" Stussy asked.
Claudius nodded. "Yes. Let's leave as soon as possible. Knowing Garp, he might decide to drop by here if he doesn't hear from soon. I'd rather avoid getting roped into whatever he's planning."
"Understood, Your Highness. I'll start the preparations imdiately," Stussy said, already turning to handle the details.
After Stussy left, Claudius turned back to the rmaid sisters, who had been listening intently. "Would you two like to co along? I imagine you get pretty bored stuck here all the ti."
"Really, Your Highness? You'd take us with you?" ro asked, her eyes wide with excitent.
"Of course," Claudius said with a reassuring smile. "It's a small thing. Consider it a change of scenery."
The sisters looked at each other, grinning, and Lenny bead, "We'd love to go, Your Highness!"
Claudius laughed. "Good! Then get ready. We're off to Water 7 to commission the grandest ship the seas have ever seen!"
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