"Saturn, you stay today!"
Imu scanned the group, finally resting her gaze on Saturn.
"There's no need to teach Aqua anything for now. Wait until she adapts to life in the Holy Land before starting. For now, your task is to come to the Flower Chamber daily. Whatever Aqua wants to do, you accompany her in doing it! During this period, if any of you incur Aqua's displeasure, you will automatically resign from your current position, making way for someone more capable."
"Me, stay?"
Saturn glanced sideways at the princess digging away in the Flower Chamber, the cold sweat on his forehead increasing.
Although Imu doted on Aqua and showed no reaction to Aqua ruining the flower field in the Flower Chamber, he didn't dare to be so careless.
The slightest misstep, and losing his position as a Gorosei would be a minor issue; if Aqua didn't have fun and ended up upsetting Imu, it would mean certain death.
"What, you're unwilling?" Imu's gaze turned cold.Immediately after, an invisible pressure suddenly erupted, startling Saturn into kneeling and prostrating on the ground as he trembled.
"I am willing, but I don't know how to accompany Your Highness, nor what knowledge I should teach her!"
"Didn't I just say? For now, just keep Aqua company and play with her. Once she's accustomed to life in the Holy Land, you can teach her what you're best at. As the Science Defense God, surely you know how to educate a child, right?"
Hearing this, Saint Saturn's eyes lit up.
'That's right, how could I forget I'm the Science Defense God?'
'At Her Highness's age, she should be interested in things like scientific research!'
Thinking this, Saturn breathed a sigh of relief inwardly and said.
"Imu-sama, rest assured, I will accompany Her Highness well. If Her Highness goes east, I will absolutely not go west!"
Imu nodded, then waved a hand, "All of you, step back!"
Before Sengoku and the other four could leave, Saturn quickly scrambled to his feet and waddled over to Aqua with his plump body.
"Princess Aqua, would you like this old man to play with you?"
As soon as he reached the flower field, Saturn forced what he thought was a kindly smile, bending at the waist and leaning toward Aqua with a beaming expression.
"Would you like this old man to play with you? I am the Science Defense God of the Holy Land, Jaygarcia Saturn—"
Before Saturn could finish speaking, Imu in the pavilion abruptly looked up and an immense, invisible pressure surged forth, instantly enveloping Saturn.
'Dammit!'
'How careless of me!'
Feeling the sudden overwhelming pressure, Saturn's heart sank, and he hurriedly corrected himself.
"Young Mistress, from now on, I am your servant. Whatever you need, just command this old servant!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Saturn felt the pressure surrounding him vanish abruptly, and he secretly wiped away a cold sweat.
He had been careless just now and failed to position himself correctly, actually referring to himself as "this old man" in front of Aqua.
If it were any other young nobles in the Holy Land, such a self-reference would be no issue—it might even be seen as humble.
But in front of Aqua, how could he act superior?
With his life and death held in Imu's hands, he could only refer to himself as "this old servant."
Aqua, unaware of what Saturn had just experienced, looked up at him while swinging her hoe and asked excitedly.
"Science Defense God? Are you very powerful?"
Saturn shook his head, "I dare not claim to be powerful in front of the Young Mistress, but outside the Holy Land, this old servant does have some abilities!"
"Is that so."
Aqua blinked, her expression serious as she said.
"Then can you help me find some potatoes? I want to dig up Mommy Imu's entire flower field and plant potatoes. If possible, I'd also like some red chili peppers and tomato seedlings."
"Uh—"
Saturn's mouth twitched slightly.
Just then, Zephyr and Sengoku approached them.
Seeing this, Saturn quickly shot Zephyr a pleading look and whispered.
"Zephyr, aren't you the Agriculture God? Help me out—where can I find what the Young Mistress is asking for?"
Zephyr, holding back a laugh at Saturn's reaction, said, "You'll have to go find Shalria. She's been in charge of managing the Holy Land's farms lately."
"Thank you!"
Saturn dared not delay, offering unprecedented thanks to Zephyr before turning to Aqua with a pledge.
"Princess, please wait a moment. This old servant will fetch it for you immediately!"
With those words, Saturn wasted no time, spinning around and dashing off.
....
Meanwhile.
Beside the Holy Land's Pangaea Plaza, the farmland Zephyr had personally cultivated had transformed into a full-fledged farm under Sharlias's management.
The fields, now brimming with assorted vegetables and fruits, thrived thanks to the Holy Land's favorable climate.
A lush green expanse stretched as far as the eye could see, its mere sight enough to soothe both mind and body.
Orion, who never forgot to visit this place whenever he came to the Holy Land, plucked a fresh tomato and tossed it to Sharlia, smiling warmly as he said.
"Sharlia, if we're talking about who has changed the most in the Holy Land, it's undoubtedly you. As a reward, from now on, you're free to pick any fruits or vegetables from this farm."
"Thank you, Orion-sama!"
Sharlia, catching the tomato, bowed to Orion with a mix of surprise and gratitude, then carefully placed the tomato in her bag, reluctant to eat it.
Orion plucked another tomato and walked over to sit in the chair opposite Sharlia, changing the subject as he asked.
"How is Doflamingo's reformation of the Celestial Dragons in the Holy Land progressing? Since I returned to the Holy Land, I haven't seen a single Celestial Dragon wandering aimlessly in the square. Do you know why that is?"
"Because they know you've returned, my lord!"
Sharlia dared not hide the truth and explained.
"All the Celestial Dragons in the Holy Land now fear you, worried that they might accidentally make a mistake and face your punishment!"
"As for Doflamingo's reformation of the Celestial Dragons—"
At this point, Sharlia paused slightly and mustered the courage to lift her gaze to Orion.
Orion blinked in surprise and asked, "What? Has Doflamingo done something excessive?"
Sharlia nodded cautiously and said.
"Two days ago, a few Celestial Dragons refused to comply with Doflamingo's arrangements. He took them to the edge of the Holy Land's cliffs and made them do high-altitude bungee jumping without ropes. Their bodies haven't been found to this day."
"Yesterday, Doflamingo organized a long-distance race with twenty-two Celestial Dragons participating."
"Since these Celestial Dragons haven't exercised in years, and because the last-place finisher would be sent to experience high-altitude bungee jumping without ropes, all twenty-two of them ran with all their might. In the end, seventeen of them ran themselves to death, while the remaining five are bedridden—three with broken legs and two with sprained backs."
"Among the seventeen who died, two were from the Figarland Family, one was from the Jaygarcia Family, and the rest were from the Donquixote Family in the Holy Land!"
Hearing this, Orion's lips twitched slightly.
"Doflamingo's really treat the Celestial Dragons like livestock!"
"Livestock?"
Sharlia blinked in confusion.
Orion explained, "It's a type of animal that lives on some unknown island in the Grand Line."
"Oh." Sharlia seemed to understand vaguely.
Thinking that Orion was angered by Doflamingo's actions, she cautiously asked.
"Orion-sama, should we stop Doflamingo's madness? If he continues like this, the influential families in the Holy Land will surely unite against him."
Orion waved his hand dismissively.
"Doflamingo has been quite merciful. If it were me, anyone who disobeys the reformation would be nailed to a cross with coffin nails and left exposed to the sun for half a month as a public example."