It has been three months since I last saw him. Veyron was sitting on top of his 'little' pet, his arms hooked by my happy daughter, I'm so envious.
I waved my hands at him with a bright smile, the make-up concealing the bags under my eyes 'You look so beautiful, handsome and young... It is unfair'
He levitated together with Hancock towards me and Gloriosa, the rest of the tribe members departed Gorgon's back and got ready to visit their families after a long period of work.
"Prim, Gloriosa".
"It is good to see you safe, boy... please enjoy your stay in Amazon Lily as always. Have you made any progress in your endeavour?"
"I think I have become stronger, Also the tribe ladies are helping me quite a bit in my construction projects, I have no complaints!~".
"That is good to know, I was afraid we weren't being of enough use to you. We can't allow the alliance to be unilateral, if you have any request from us don't shy away and state it, right, Hebihime?".
!!!
'They mentioned my name, I have to answer... V-Veyron why are you looking so handsome today?' I was drifting, both of them tilted their heads in confusion, especially Veyron since my eyes were technically glaring at him in a 'threatening' manner. Baby it is not like that, I'm just distinguishing your every feature... what's different from three months ago, what hasn't changed, I want to know!
"Prim?" (Veyron)
"Mom?" (Hancock)
"I-It is good to see you, Veyron. How have you been?" I recovered myself fast enough to not look suspicious, I think.
"Huh?"
His gaze was fixed right on me, clearly, he sensed something but I covered up with a broad smile and a kiss on his cheek, I resisted the urge to bite his ear and retreated.
"What is it? am I so beautiful today that you can't bear it?~"
"That's right, you look brighter today than usual. Everything's been well. I'm sorry, I didn't know it was Hancock's birthday. Where are Sandersonia and Marigold?"
He blushed and evaded my gaze, 'Awww baby you blushed for me?~ don't do that now... I'm having a hard time holding myself back. R-Right, Marigold and Sandersonia... yes!'
"They must be training… do you want to come and see them?" I started, trying to divert his attention away from me. This is the time in life I've had the hardest time keeping up with a conversation, everything because all I can do is look at you...
"Hmn… your skin is a little red".
"I-It is the makeup! don't worry about little details let's go!" I walked forward leading the group, Hancock was looking at me with a slight glare and a pout, 'Darling I know you're supposed to be the centre of attention today, I'll do my best for that-'
Veyron grasped my wrist and stopped me in my tracks, "You don't need make-up, Prim. You're delightful to the eyes in all your facets".
*DOCUM!*
'Kyaaaa! Please don't say that to me now, I'll crumble!'
This must have been the hardest palpitation my heart has ever done. I can't let him put his focus on me, any words he says to me today will be lethal!
"Is that so? Come let's not waste time, I'm sure the girls want to see you!".
**
**
Veyron thought Primrose was acting a little suspicious. Was she giving away any signs of disease? he didn't know. If anything the only odd behaviour she was portraying was that she was usually more touchy-feely, she'd kiss him all over, hug him, carry him, feed him... she wasn't doing any of that which made her suspicious. Ever since they saw each other she had only given him a kiss on his cheek and kept her distance.
The usual Primrose would have hugged, pecked, touched... but he attributed that to fatigue. Her skin was also red but she said it was makeup, he didn't know what to make out of this.
'I'll see as the day goes'.
...
*BAANG!*
*BAANG!*
*BAANG!*
Marigold and Sandersonia were training in their snake forms, they looked like slender tall and absolutely gorgeous lamias.
They were using armament Haki to continuously punch the back of the mountain, all of this while using extremely heavy weights.
"Is that a training for Armament Haki?"
"Yes, it is special for them since their physical strength is greater due to their devil fruit. When it comes to Hancock I train her a little differently, but the results are still astonishing, I hope you will have a spar with them soon to see their growth for yourself".
"I'm sure you have taught them the best way, Prim".
He approached both snake girls and spread his arms wide.
"Sandersonia, Marigold!"
"Veyron!"
They stopped whatever they were doing and jumped on him, causing chaos... they forgot they were in their snake forms but he didn't care and hugged them anyway.
"I missed you girls, you've become quite strong... if I remember correctly the mineral of that mountain is very tough, for you two to destroy it to this extent."
Both snakes hissed proudly and lifted up their chest, "That's right, if you were to take us away, we wouldn't hold you down!".
'Oh? I'll see about that' He was eager to spar with them using only his Armament Haki, after a year of training he also didn't have a decent opponent aside from Larry and Nemea to test his strength.
"I know it may be a little late to ask but, when are your birthdays? I don't want to miss them" He still felt ashamed about not knowing when it was.
"Oh? Mine is tomorrow~" Answered Sandersonia.
"Mine is the day after big sister" Chirped Marigold.
"Really? One after the other?"
*Cough!*
"I planned it that way" Primrose coughed a bit and measured his reaction which turned out to be nonexistent, she then spread her arms invitingly, "Since we're all here, let's start with this banquet, we're celebrating all of your birthdays together!".
The Kuja Tribe ladies clamoured for their princesses and the one they already knew was most likely to become the next Empress, Boa Hancock.
**
**
The Banquet started and took place in the main royal hall. On one side were the members of the Pirate Crew, on the other side were key members of Amazon Lily, like Gloriosa and several others. Primrose was sitting on her own while Veyron sat with the Boa sisters and another set of young girls like Aphelandra.
There was food to spare, drinks, music and a happy atmosphere that all three sisters were enjoying to the maximum. Those days in which they were kicked and humiliated seemed to be nothing but a bad dream.
"You know dear? I actually have Conqueror Haki!" Hancock puffed out her chest in pride, she didn't know what it was initially but then her mother explained that it was a unique power that if used correctly, could place her among the strongest in this world.
She didn't care about any of that. She cared that with that power she'd be able to stand by her beloved's side and support him. Regretfully for them, Marigold and Sandersonia weren't that talented.
"Really, how did you know?" He already knew about that power from the manga but had been wondering all this time when exactly she was going to awaken it.
"I awakened it while fighting Mom the other day-" Hancock drifted and explained how she also managed to mix up her devil fruit in her combat prowess, Sandersonia also added a bit or two about how she planned to strangle her every opponent and lastly Marigold showed him the combustion of her poison.
All the young girls from the tribe could only sigh in inferiority, these three were too far apart in terms of strength and they weren't even the oldest in the crew. Even during their teenage years, they were already among the strongest, only second to Primrose.
"It is the truth, I have been training Hancock more intensively since then" The empress added from the side.
"Yes, and since big sister is the only one who has that power among us, we also decided that she should be the one to become the Hebihime".
Marigold and Sandersonia confessed, that their voices sounded reluctant and defeated, but there was resolution in their voice as if they felt genuinely happy for Hancock but faltered because of 'other' reasons.
"Is that okay with you all?" He sighed, aware of what this meant for them... a conclusion that he already knew from the beginning but that only now had confirmed.
Hancock blushed and fidgeted without saying a word, her becoming the Hebihime... also meant she'd be the one to marry Veyron once he turned eighteen.
"Yes… we have all gotten stronger, but big sister has left us in the dust" Marigold confessed, "Her devil fruit may not be destructive, but it is tactically accurate and lethal. Even mom suffered against her".
"That's right... Hancock has the potential to be the strongest Empress in history, the devil fruit she ate in Marie Geoise complements her powers really well".
In Amazon Lily the mythical saying was that beauty translated to strength and no one envisioned this saying more than Hancock, due to her beauty, she could take the highest advantage possible of her devil fruit.
Veyron still remembered how she turned a whole crew of marines into stone with only one movement in the manga and to this day he still wondered what were the limits of that power, 'Could she turn me into stone?'
He knew for sure that he loved her and felt attracted to her, so the answer was a strong yes, 'But there must be a way to avoid it, hmn... the three of them have a lot of potentials now that I think about it'.
"Prim, I want them to start training with me in Rusukaina" He didn't even think twice before proposing that.
"Huh? Why?"
"You already taught them the basics of Haki, right? I think if they train with me now, I can take the potential of their Haki and Devil Fruits even further".
Veyron smiled, thinking about the possible training he could make them go through and didn't notice how the empress' face contorted in pain.
"B-But if they leave then you have no reason to come here. Then… what about me? when do I get to spend time with you?"
The feelings were so overwhelming and palpable that she didn't even notice how her lips spoke on their own what she was thinking, freezing the whole table.
"Prim...?"