In the morning, before Nero had even opened her eyes, Hathaway's voice came promptly as usual.
"Your Majesty, it's time to get up!"
"Mmm~" Nero rolled over: "Five minutes... no, five hours! Call me again in five hours!"
"Oh dear~" Hathaway sighed, pulling the swaying Nero up.
Washing her face, brushing her teeth, changing clothes... When Nero opened her eyes and sat at the dining table, she could still feel the steam rising from her body, as if she had taken a bath?
But Nero felt no surprise, picking up her chopsticks and grabbing a piece of deboned fish.
"Mmm, Hathaway, this fish is so delicious! Prepare a few more pieces for me!"
Her actions were incredibly natural, leaving the three people opposite her dumbfounded.
Are all emperors such social recluses?
Kuina felt her impression shatter quite a bit; this was the Worlds Greatest Swordsman?
She felt that if no one took care of her, she wouldn't survive a month outside.
And where did this maid come from? Why is she so naturally using my kitchen to cook!
The food on the table dwindled, and Nero's appetite was truly infectious; even though she had just eaten, Kuina's mouth still watered.
Finally, the food on the table was finished, and Kuina felt the time was right, though she had rehearsed it many times in her mind, when she finally spoke, she still stammered.
"Th-that!"
"Mmm?" Nero's gaze was drawn over, an apple in her hand, her expression puzzled.
Taking a deep breath, Kuina suppressed the panic in her heart and bowed her head to the ground: "Please accept me as your disciple!"
"Eh?" x2
"..."
"Eh!!!" x2
Zoro and Genzo cried out in shock, especially Genzo, whose eyes widened in astonishment.
"Your reaction time is way too slow, you two!"
Nero first complained about their slow reaction time, then refused Kuina: "No! I have no intention of playing with children."
"Damn it! Are you really thinking that? That's despicable, Kuina!" Zoro immediately followed, also bowing his head to the ground: "Stink... Hey, Nero! Accept me as your disciple too! I will definitely become the Worlds Greatest Swordsman!"
"Were you just about to call me a stinky woman? You rotten brat! And can't you understand what I'm saying? I've already refused!" Nero retorted, exasperated.
"Please make an exception for this!" Kuina didn't even lift her head, just raised her voice.
"That's right, Nero, think of a way! And please accept me first!" Zoro echoed.
"What?" Kuina looked up, incredulously staring at Zoro, not expecting him to still harbor such thoughts.
"My strength is greater, so by all accounts, I should be the Senior Disciple, right?"
Zoro, with 2001 losses, was speechless, only able to say fiercely: "Damn it, then I'll let you have the title of Senior Disciple for now!"
"Hmph, naturally!" Kuina lifted her head, looking a bit tsundere.
"moshi moshi! Can you hear me? I think I refused."
Nero, with drooping eyelids, interrupted their argument.
The sound of bickering vanished, and the room was so quiet that even breathing was barely audible.
"Please accept me as your disciple!"
"Nero, accept me as your disciple too!"
The two were silent for a moment, then once again bowed their heads to the ground.
"By the way, didn't this scene just happen once already?"
"Please find a way to make an exception!" x2
"If you want to kneel, then kneel. I'm not a woman who will soften just like that." Nero cast a sidelong glance at Genzo.
"Besides, this four-eyes is your master, isn't he? He seems to be unaware of this."
"Huh?" The two looked at Genzo, suddenly realizing.
'Four-eyes' Genzo felt an arrow pierce his chest. He himself had no opinion on the two wanting Nero as their master, even welcoming it.
But looking at the two of them, they hadn't thought of this at all. Zoro was thick-headed, but even the usually meticulous Kuina... Genzo was very distressed, and finally, Nero's two words 'four-eyes' were truly hurtful!
"Father..."
"Master..."
The words didn't come out, but the meaning of the two little ones was very clear.
"Ahem... If His Majesty Nero has no problem with it, I don't mind."
Genzo cleared his throat twice. Setting aside grand futures like dreams, if they could learn a few tricks from Nero, it would definitely be beneficial and harmless.
"I mind very much! Little brats who haven't even laid a solid foundation, I have no intention of playing house with you." Nero turned her head and refused again.
Genzo spoke again, offering an assist: "I also beg you, Your Majesty Nero, during your stay on this island, could you occasionally guide my unworthy disciples in your free time?"
Retreating to advance, Genzo knew that asking them to become disciples immediately was absolutely impossible. Not to mention the issue of status, Nero's feelings for them hadn't reached that point.
However, if it was just occasional guidance in her free time, then the chances of success would be much greater.
The rest depended on their individual fortunes. If Zoro and Kuina could truly impress Nero and become her disciples.
Then the position of the Worlds Greatest Swordsman might not be entirely out of reach.
"How troublesome. Do all three of you not understand human speech?"
Nero felt a headache and pondered for a moment: "Mmm, how about this: I will stay on this island for three days. If you can swing your swords three hundred thousand times within these three days, I will stay for another week to specifically guide you, how does that sound?"
"Okay! Then it's a deal!!!"
Zoro looked up and immediately agreed, so quickly that Kuina didn't even have time to cover his mouth.
"Mmm, it's a deal, of course!" Nero agreed with a mischievous smile.
Genzo quickly spoke: "Your Majesty Nero, this is an impossible task for two children. Could you change it?"
"Mmm, Xilainai! That's your problem."
"Huh? It's just three hundred thousand swings, watch me do it!" Zoro still said, looking completely confident.
Kuina finally couldn't bear it and grabbed his collar: "Idiot, how much do you think three hundred thousand is? There are only eighty-six thousand-odd seconds in a day, even if you swing once every second without sleep, you won't make it in three days!!!"
Zoro finally grasped the concept of three hundred thousand, looking at Nero in disbelief: "You cheated us? You're an adult, yet you use such tactics against children. Don't you feel ashamed?"
"Oh, I always thought I was talking to a swordsman. Were they just two children? Then it seems I did go a bit too far."
Nero pretended to scratch her head in distress, an expression of having made a mistake.
"Mmm, wait a moment, I'll think of some conditions that are more suitable for chi-ldren!"
"No need! Just wait! Three hundred thousand it is!!!" x2
"Then bamboo swords are fine too!"
"Only real swords!" x2
Genzo: "..."
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