#gorosei

You laid on the grass in the room of flowers, patiently anticipating the arrival of your partner, you didn't know where they went, and truthfully he often disappeared without informing you. It was fair, they ruled the world after all.

And as their wife, and the second person to look over this world, you were undeniably pissed for your alone time to be interrupted when the snail that was connected to the elders ringed.

You just found a cozy spot too!

Forcing yourself to get up from the comfort of the grass, you angrily walked towards the snail. You know Imu preferred to keep you a secret, the elders have been speaking secretly of a lover to their lord, you have been hearing them, did they really think that a partner of the ruler would be as weak as them?

You softened your voice as much as you could, playing the part of a weak mortal.

“The room of flowers.” You spoke to the snail, anyone passing by would guess you were a mere mortal, answering in place of their lord.

“What? Who is on the other end, only Imu-sama is supposed to pick up!” Whichever one of the elders on the other side was yelling at you like a pig.

“They are not present, What is it that you wish to relay to them?” You answered again, knowing you were just going to order them what to do anyways.

He went on to give boring explanations of the situation of a specific island… You didn’t care much after you heard it was a situation on the surface world, You noted that it seemed to be a certain group that was causing all the ruckus, small enough that it could be dealt with.

“Then they should cease to exist, what are you bothering Imu-sama with.” You replied strictly in a condescending tone, forgetting your earlier soft tone, at best, they would simply feel like you wanted to free your lord of some stress. At worst, they'll order for your execution, which will never happen even if all 5 of them came at you.

The elder gritted their teeth to reply, but you cut him off, “Imu-sama expects a report with their dead body in it.” Then you put the snail down rather aggressively.

The five elders looked at each other stumped, unsure whether or not to follow the instructions of whoever answered the phone.

Their conversations led them to the very solid conclusion that no one allowed to answer the phone would be unimportant, so they followed the command they had gotten.

All while, you are still waiting for Imu to come home. You turn around on the grass again with a pout on your face, “When will they be back!” You exclaimed to the butterflies, they fell on your head, seemingly comforting you in their own way.

Imu did apologize to you that day for being extraordinarily late with the most amount of cuddles one could wish for, they even let you play with their horns!

They were laying their head on your lap when you asked a question, “Why do you keep me hidden, Imu? I used to work in Marijoa, I kept things running smoothly.”

Their face reddens before they turn their whole body towards your stomach, “Mu doesn’t like for unworthy people to see you.

“So you’re jealous.”

Imu pushed up from your lap and stared at your eyes with a sharp glare, you did nothing but bat your eyelashes at them with an innocent giggle.

“…If that’s what the mortals call it.”

“I’ll take it as a compliment, if that helps,” You give them a brief kiss on the nose and giggle once more. “But if you do need a stronger force than those puny elders, I’m always glad to lend a hand.”

“Mu knows, sweetest,” Their hands never leave you for the day, their own variation of how to show ‘appreciation’.

☆☆☆☆☆

After that, you were surprised at how much you can hear when people didn’t know that you were married to Nerona Imu.

You did not wear anything that resembled a promise of marriage, because the partner of the lord of the world did not need to be broadcasted and put on the front lines. Sure, you were strong, stronger than the Holy Knights and the Elders combined even, but quite frankly, there was no need for your strength when you and Imu had this many people under you both to do the dirty work for you both.

More times than not, you offered to help the knights and the elders (despite the… not so pleasant relationship between you two) pass their days a bit easier, helping them with mundane tasks or boring reports, occasionally chiming in with your opinion as well.

Mars specifically would always complain the moment you are out of sight to his fellow elders, you occasionally thought you were intruding on... some romance between them-

Which made you giggle, more often than not, but someone needed to supervise them, and it sure as hell won't be Imu.

Nusjuro spoke the gentlest to you, "There is no need for you to be here, you should go rest," he would say if he noticed your eyebags get slightly larger than normal. You could see he was genuine about it, Mars and Warcury seem to be eying you, almost hoping you'd leave them. Peter choses to ignore you. Saturn is too busy with his own experiments.

"Thank you for your concern, I am here under Imu-sama, so if it is for them I can handle a little fatigue," you often replied politely.

"I'm sure Imu-sama thinks highly of you."

The knights took to you surprisingly well, Shamrock looked forward to having you next to him, considering you were extremely laid back and allowed him to slack off without his father yelling at him. Maffey enjoyed your quiet, you seemed to be one of the few people who didn't let their tongue run for no reason, Gunko appreciated you taking her place when Imu called for her, she was most likely exhausted. Sommers loved to spar with you in his training grounds, considering you were stronger than him, it let him train well. Killingham saw you as a second mother from how close you were to Maffey, and you often snuck him treats for his sweet tooth, he can't help but grin like a kid every time you hand him a chocolate bar.

Who didn't exactly take to you though, were the elders (for the exception of Nusjuro, who was only kind to you to not get on Killingham’s bad side, knowing how dangerous his damn devil fruit was). You have noticed this for several years, but you dared not say who you were, it was funny, really– At least to you.

Imu seemed utterly disgusted by how the elders looked at you, but you were much more relaxed. They wanted to tell them who you were but you insisted on being kept a secret, it was fun anyways, and it wasn’t like they were harming you in any way shape or form, considering they knew you were working directly under Imu..

When you weren’t with the knights, you were with the elders, it was much closer to the room of flowers anyways, so that’s where you most likely were, standing off far to the side as you listened in. You could tell you were making them uncomfortable with your mere presence, but honestly you didn’t care.

They were vermin– Less than vermin in your eyes. A filthy pile of animals that were only there to serve you and Imu. There was no one that could stand above you and your lover, and that was it. Arrogant and stuck up, they were, and you enjoyed staying with the younger knights much more, they were livelier after all, even if they were your soldiers.

Imu had to hold their tongue several times to order them to stand up and bend over backwards for you, or to at least offer you a seat on the expensive seats… that they paid for! You even let that go, you could’ve killed all of them, if you wanted to.

One day, you saw Gunko running around from and to the room of flowers as usual, but this time far too many times, she was starting to get exhausted, naturally, coming from the fact that she even started using her arrows to travel, and even then she appeared tired…

As you were walking, you caught her by the back of the dress to stop her from flying past you.

“Take it easy from here on out, you look spent.” You said with ease.

“Ugh! You don't know! I've been running like a chicken back and forth!”

You patted her head and sent her away to rest.

“Imu!” You yelled at your lover after waking inside their designated room. “Did you notice how tired Gunko was?!” You pinched their cheek as you grumbled at them, looming over them and yelling at them for not noticing how exhausted their most devoted servant was!

“Sweetheart! Mu promises they didn't mean it! Stop hitting– ow!”

You sat on the grass and tilted your head away.

They felt bad immediately– aaah! How could they apologise to you?!!

One of the elders dared intrude and dared to knock while you were both in the middle of a quarrel, you were already in a pretty bad mood with the way you saw Gunko, even if you knew it was an honest mistake. You immediately got up and took a side to Imu and your partner allowed the elder entrance. You were already far too gone in the back of your head to listen to the talk, it was yet again some other report, likely having to be filled by them because you dismissed Gunko.

“My lord, have you dismissed the blue-haired knight? We have been extremely busy all day.”

“I dismissed her.” You answered in an assertive tone, your past sweet tone gone and replaced with venom as you approached the elder. “She is incapable of completing any more tasks up to standards, she needs rest.” Your gaze was firm on him… Which one of them was he? You couldn’t remember, didn’t care too.

“The knights only take direct orders from Imu-sama,” He objected to your words, trying to pinpoint where he had heard your voice before, but failing miserably. You felt your patience run thin for the first time in a while and you were just about to bite back when your lover interjected.

“Art thou saying that Mu keeps trash in this room…?” Imu scowls with a deep voice, their haki filling the room to attack the elder, not harming you or any creature in the room, you placed a hand on your heart as you watched the elder groan in pain, falling to his knees immediately.

”...For such reckless words they should have enslaved him” You think casually before going behind Imu, sneaking a glance from above their shoulder to the elder, who seemed to hesitate to speak.

“No… My lord, forgive my insolence…” He mumbled and bowed deeply before leaving the reports he was delivering and walking away. ”What’s with that damn maid?”

You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding…

“For mu's vicious flower, thou sure has a soft side.” They say with a soft smile.

You roll your eyes, “at least you know you can rely on me more than them”

“That.. mu can,” they kiss your forehead before laying down on the grass, inviting you to join them, and you do so immediately, of course, what's better than the feeling of your lover's chest right under your chest… sounding so slowly that it eases all the tension in your body, until you relax against them promptly. They press a kiss on your head, before they too finally manage to relax for the first time in a while.

It was inadequate… relaxing on grass instead of their soft bed or a couch, but if you were comfortable, all that didn’t matter.

…A few moments pass of peaceful silence, Imu seems to be thinking, but you dare not interrupt their thought process.

“Mu's flower…?” They question softly, you decided to play with their long hair, twirling is mindlessly

You reply with a whisper, “Yes, Imu?”

Their gaze darkens, before tilting their head back to stare at the ceiling instead of you and the few butterflies that flew right over both of you.

“Saint Saturn has been doing awful.”

“Mhm… I agree, he’s been sent to Egghead, and so far I don’t see that boy’s head on a stick…” You snarled at the thought of one of the elders being so weak, not even serving their lord properly.

“Thou would be right, Mu’s flower.”

“How little faith you had in me!” You pouted playfully and giggled, Imu’s expressions softened as they mimicked yours, their mouth turning up just slightly, oh how happy they were to see their flower so full of life. “Well… I’m assuming you’re sick of him…”

“... Thou would be correct, Saint Saturn hasn’t even been a proper vessel to mu since the days of God Valley, when Garling was a little prick.”

You choked on your own laughter as your lover’s backhanded compliment to Garling’s strength.

“Well… Do you have plans for the next elder..?” Your sharp nails scratched the back of Imu’s neck and their scalp, making them groan in satisfaction. They were sharp, as usual, you were ready to follow the order Imu was going to relay to you as soon as possible.

“Sadly, Mu fears no one other than Garling is capable…”

You pull back slowly… “He? Taking Saturn’s place as a scientist?” Your eyes widened as you thought about it, Imu just waited for your conclusion. “Well, his son is his experiment… I guess that’s fair.” You note to yourself, shaking your head at the concept of using one’s own family as experiments.

“Now…” Imu cut your thoughts off and brought your hands to their lips, kissing your knuckles passionately. “Will mu’s precious flower do mu a favour and put an end to Saint Saturn’s life? Mu supposes that we need to… have a variety.”

You press a chaste kiss to their forehead, they instinctively lean their head down slightly to make it more comfortable for you to do so as well, “Why, Of course.” You sheepishly smile, leaning against their chest as you plan how to do your order in your head.

☆☆☆☆☆

Returning with Saturn’s head at Imu’s feet, he makes sure to show you their appreciation with a deep kiss to your lips, you try not to touch them so as to not ruin their delicate skin with the blood, but they bringed you closer regardless, wrapping their tail around your waist to deepen the kiss, you couldn't help but melt under their gaze and touch, and you hugged them back to kiss with the same force.

They helped support you as you shared a kiss, they were always pretty impatient with their kisses. When you two broke the kiss, a string of saliva remained, making your face heat up. Your lord giggled before kissing your face everywhere, you ended up laughing, trying to push them away playfully.

“Thank thou for getting rid of that old elder.”

“I told you, you can rely on me!” You grinned and kissed them suddenly again, just briefly before you saw that expression on their face.

“May mu ask you to promote Garling?”

Hm… sure… You could, but Imu can just order him so why?

“Mu figured with this new knowledge… mu can't keep thou hidden too.”

Your eyes brightened, you honestly missed working with the others, well you already did, just without your position really being clear… and kind of just doing whatever… you played with their hair as you thought really deeply…

They leaned into your touch as you did that.

“You did say we need a change…”

“And a nice chair, for mu's darling to sit on.”

He was undeniably pissed everytime the elders didn't even offer you their seats..

“Alright alright… but I'm really comfy like this…”

You snuggle into their chest, no doubt having ruined their clothes with the blood…

Saturn’s head was long since forgotten. The butterfly that was standing on it, has flown away long away.

☆☆☆☆☆

“Shamrock!” You waved to the commander as you walked inside the Figarland’s residence.

The knight perked up at the excited mention of his name and turned around to find the source of the voice, he skipped over immediately and stood in front of you.

He released a breath before talking,“You haven't been.. here for a while…” he taps his foot impatiently, telling you that he was upset with you not visiting him more often. (Meaning he had to spend more time with Garli-)

“I needed to help Imu, I'm sure you understand!” You explained with an awkward giggle while scratching your neck, “Well, besides that I need–actually – I apologize, okay?” You said sweetly and the commander melted, you really didn't mean for him to stay so much alone.

“Fine… I guess.” He replied with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Do you mind taking me to Garling? I have orders to relay to him.”

“Orders…?” You could tell he was curious, he only ever got that way with you though, his father having taught him that any information given to him was enough, and that if he needed any more then he wasn't worthy of being a knight.

Shamrock began walking to his father's office, trusting you to tell him.

“Well, Imu-sama decided that Garling will replace Saturn’s seat. So I've come to show him to the elders’ room, so he can act stuck up and annoying with them.”

Shamrock stiffened a laugh as he led you deeper into the house, he coughed the laugh down and just walked on. He shyly extended his hand and you held his hand back as you both walked, perhaps he was comforting himself after a long while of feeling alone, you didn't mind.

“It's… the last door in this corridor.”

“Very well, you took me further than I would've expected, thank you, commander,” you giggled and let go of him to walk down to the room, your expression hardening immediately. Shamrock sent a silent prayer to you before disappearing.

“Figarland Garling, you are to follow me by orders of our lord Imu-sama.” You barged in his office without a second care in the world.

Garling silently snarled at you before standing up, he walked past you and you followed, both of you two being extremely rigid, in the sense that the tension in the air could be cut with a knife, he stopped when the door to the elders’ room stopped him and waited for your next actions.

You simply walked past him and opened the door, taking a stand to the left.

“Saint Garling, substitute of Saint Saturn upon his death on my hands by order of Nerona Imu!”

Upon your introduction speech, 2 things happened.

1: Figarland Garling walked in.

2: The elders, for the first time heard that Saturn did not die on Imu's hands.

They shared a worried glance about each other, regarding you, but you did not let their eyes faze you. You simply bowed to them before turning on your heel and leaving.

“Let them ponder that” Imu whispered to you and you made sure you were far enough before giggling.

“Let them run their tiny, rotten, ugly minds…” You agreed, making your way back to the room of flowers.

Supposedly, now Imu should tell the elders about you, and punish them on the way for all the ways they belittled you…

☆☆☆☆☆

Killingham was called on one day, and he obliged of course, enthusiastically even, wanting to see how you've been doing.

Imu was staring at a bunch of flowers when he entered… staring as if it was gonna disappear the moment they look away-

“Killingham.” Imu said, far too strictly.

“Y-yes, my lord, I'm at your service.” Killingham looked around for you and was disappointed when he didn't see you...

“...Could you create a pretty bouquet from these flowers?”

…

“Did you do something to upset them?” Killingham asked Imu, staring at them with an equally intense stare.

“...Maybe Mu has… kept them hidden for a little too long”

“No shit! The elders can't put 2 and 2 together!” Killingham grumbles and approaches the flowers, picking up a wide variety with extreme precision, he presents them to Imu and they approve with great satisfaction.

“Very well, thank thou, Killingham, thou are dismissed.”

“I'm making sure you to apologise to them, I can't miss out on their handmade muffins!” Killingham pouts and walks out.

Imu holds the perfectly neat bouquet and thinks of a way to apologise to you, because they could feel you getting angsty over the past few weeks from being behind the scenes too much, you could be great help!!!

You were already in the room, staring at them thinking while walking around like a maniac.

A grin flashed on your face as you stood in their path and watched them almost stumble into you before their hands reached for your arms to steady themselves.

“Quite mean.”

“You looked adorable, I had to!”

“For thou…” Imu gave you the bouquet a little too roughly and turned away immediately.

You took a deep breath to smell them, “Oh… I adore them.”

“I knew you would, of course.”

Well, Killingham already let it slip that Imu asked for him to arrange a bouquet, but they didn't need to know that.

But… where would you plant them.. they needed at least some water and soil, and putting them back in the room of flowers seemed… counter productive.

“Place them in the elders’ room, make it a bit more personalized… it's a bit bland”

“Really?”

“Yes, really, mu's love may do whatever they wish, naturally.” They almost seemed offended by your doubt. “Thou's in there most of the time anyways, might as well give it a touch of you.” They snuggled into your neck and gave you a kiss on the cheek from behind, making you giggle.

“Ok! But you have to help me put them there! I don’t have as good of a taste as you do!” You playfully winked and made them turn their head away, never in their all years of living had they never been with someone that could make their head swoon with just words.

They reach out, taking your hand in theirs as they lead you out, “Mu supposes… that is fair.”

Your heart relaxed as you follow your lover…

You walked closer and tightened your hand in theirs, “We have not walked together like this in years…” You note, and your face heats up at the knights seeing you two walk together and giving you both a wave, they have already placed 2 and 2 together and occasionally ask how is your relationship going, you happily talk with them about you and Imu, and they don't mind, the knights are trained not to gossip or spread information, so outside of the 5 knights, Killingham grins and you give him a happy smile.

Finally, you're at the elders’ room, and thankfully they were not there at the time being, so you and Imu went inside with a wide smile on your face and began putting your flowers in a bunch of pots and scattering them around the empty room, it made it so much more lovelier!!! Imu clearly took great care of them because they smelled like a breath of fresh air from the often muted atmosphere of this room.

Imu casually gave you detailed instructions on how to deal with each flower and give it the care it deserves, and you wrote everything down with haste, you wanted them to live, of course!!!

The elders came in while Imu was explaining how to take care of lilies of the valley, they dared not disrupt you two's conversation about the pretty flower and simply sat in their seats while keeping an eye on you too, they could tell from the scene that the flowers were a gift from Imu themselves, and they were surprised at your audacity to talk back to Imu and ask them questions so casually.

You eventually stood up after learning everything and Imu immediately gave you a kiss on the forehead, he had been talking for far too much and appreciating you too little. You saw the way Imu wanted to give you more kisses in their eyes, but clearly decided against doting on you in front of the elders, who didn’t even deserve to see you and your beauty.

”Thou will treat them well, they’re precious to mu,” Imu ordered the elders telepathically and spared you a glance before leaving the room.

You did not hear that order, Imu knew you would probably scowl at them for giving them that order, because you were fine with everything anyways. You were still staring at the flowers, silently hoping you won’t disappoint your lover with you taking care of them.

The elders’ were quiet, confused even. It was the kind of quiet you worry that something is behind it. You raised your head from its bent position and glanced at Nusjuro, you felt most comfortable talking to him due to his close relationship with Killingham, “Is… Is everything alright?”

“Of course...” He replied.

“Very well then…” You replied before taking your own leave now, already missing Imu’s warmth.

…

Garling grumbled to himself, not seeing why they should babysit a mere puny servant like you.

Truth be told, Figarland Garling did not care for science as much as the previous elder did. Which very much annoyed you.

The elders were 5 pillars all made for serving your lover, and if one of them faltered then the whole system would fall. So, sitting on the the black throne-like chair that was officially yours in the room of flowers, you decided to confront him.

“Garling, have you been using the lab lately…? The scientists there seem to be having a mind of their own when it comes to work,” You directly asked him and waited for his response while drinking your favourite blend of tea.

“No, Such matters do not concern me.”

“If you are replacing Saint Saturn, then they should concern you.”

“If it matters to you, order them to do whatever you wis-!”

He didn’t finish his sentence before you were up and striking him in the face with a kick that he sadly managed to dodge the full impact of, but not without his head taking a solid hit and his heart beating fast enough for him to question what was wrong with him and you. His (previously Saturn’s) chair flew somewhere and almost hit your flowers!

Your anger at him was forgotten as you picked up the dress so as to not trip and made your way to your adorable little flowers, talking to them and making sure they were alright as if they were your kids.

From behind you, you heard Garling clearly struggling to get up, he felt a liquid trickle down his forehead… Red, unknown to him– Was that his own blood?

”Your kick made him bleed, for the first time in decades.

“Looks nasty, you should get that washed.” You commented while making sure the stems of your flowers were still good.

The elders looked both amused and terrified, but they dared not get in the struggle between you and Garling, knowing how close you were to Imu… Too close for their own comfort

“You did that.” Garling said calmly, directed at you.

“I did,” You brushed off your dress as you got up, ”I am not next to Imu for no reason.

”It is I that pass that judgement that I and Imu see fit.” Your haki flared out, directed at him, he did not even have the strength to activate his own, against you, and the elders turned a blind eye to what was happening.

“This is interesting…” Mars commented while scratching his beard, they have never seen you fight, and could only imagine how you dealt with Saturn when the news came to them.

“It very much is,” Peter replied and Warcury shook his head with a giggle.

…

Suddenly, you felt the familiar lips of your lover on your own, “Mu really needs him alive, can thou not?”

Out of everything, that was enough to snap you out of your trance and immediately get you flustered, “I told you not to surprise me like that!” You yelled at Imu, who seemed to have travelled to this room for the sole purpose of stopping you from taking your anger out on Garling.

You twirled a stand of your hair and looked away, “I was just punishing him for not being up to standards!”

Garling was now leaning against the wall, still holding onto his head.

“Thou did much more than punish him…” They approached Garling and placed their palm on their head, healing the injury that you very much caused.

“He doesn’t deserve it…” You thought and Imu ruffled your hair.

They spoke to the elders, “You all better give my darling wife an easier time, she can’t handle too much stupidity,” They easily carried you back to the black chair that fit them better than they fit you.

The elders eyes darkened as they realized their grave mistakes.

Imu-sama had a wife. And she was right in front of them all of this time.

And they never bothered to give her an ounce of the respect that she deserves.

Peter curses himself for every time he scolded Sommers for only training with you when your display of strength.. Clearly showed you capable…

Warcury wishes to swallow every nasty comment he left to you to order you to do more work.

Nusjuro thanks his mentee for already being close to you for saving his ass.

Garling regrets every underestimating you.

Imu presses their nose in your hair, taking in your smell before directing their speech to the elders, “Now… What were thou talking about?”

☆☆☆☆☆