Chapter 91

Mihawk and Hepha walked in silence. They entered the castle and walked along its long corridors. Hepha suspected that even someone with a decent sense of direction could get lost in the castle.

They eventually entered a room. Hepha instantly recognized what it was, judging by the tools, furnace, and anvil inside. They were in a forge.

"Hammer," Mihawk said, his hand extended towards Hepha. She did nothing and just stared at Mihawk's hand.

Mihawk, however, was an incredibly patient man. His hawk-like eyes unblinkingly stared into Hepha's. Eventually, Hepha relented and gave Mihawk her Clear Sky. She felt naked, not having her hammer with her.

But, it was a gesture Mihawk reciprocated. Hepha gave him her Clear Sky and Mihawk gave her his Yoru.

"...wha-?"

"Dinner is at seven," Mihawk said, before walking out of the room. He stopped by the huge oak double doors. "Be late and I'll feed your portion to the baboons."

Hepha watched Mihawk close the doors on her. It took her a moment to understand what was happening. Somehow, and she had no idea why, Mihawk permitted her to take a look at his blade. And that's what Hepha did.

With careful hands, Hepha inspected Mihawk's beautifully crafted sword. Whoever made it was a true master, Hepha realized. The balance was perfect. The blade was straight. The hilt and the handle felt solid.

Hepha was even more impressed with the state of the blade in her hands. Usually, blades and other weapons that are frequently used should show nicks or dents. However, Yoru had none.

It was clear to Hepha just how much Mihawk valued this blade. So, she studied it with similar respect. She treated Yoru as if it was a baby.

It took Hepha a few minutes to finish inspecting Yoru as close as she wanted. Next, she aimed to replicate it. She tore off her shirt and began working, welcoming the familiar heat of a forge…

Two hours into Hepha's work, the doors to the forge opened. Mihawk stepped inside, dressed rather casually. Surprisingly, the temperature inside the room didn't bother him.

"What is it?" Hepha asked as she tempered the steel she was working on. "Dinner is still an hour away."

"I won't be dining with someone rather… filthy," Mihawk said, seeing how sweaty and dirty Hepha was.

"Well excuse me, your highness," Hepha said, bowing mockingly to Mihawk. "Working in a forge is such a filthy job, after all."

"Spare me your cheek," Mihawk said. "Follow me."

"...fine."

Hepha left the metal she was working on. She cooled it down first before placing it on a working table.

Mihawk led Hepha to a bedroom that was big enough to be considered a living room. He then pointed at a door inside the bedroom.

"Take a bath, then get dressed," Mihawk said.

"With what?"

"There's a closet there," Mihawk said before walking out, leaving Hepha in the bedroom.

"...fuckin' bastard," Hepha said under her breath. She only obeyed because she knew that he had her life in her hands. She should've been dead by now, but she wasn't.

So, Hepha just gratefully accepted. She sensed that there was something Mihawk needed from her…

Hepha entered the bathroom and marveled at the sight of it. It was complete with a hot tub and a shower. It was obvious that royalty used to live here.

"Don't mind if I do," Hepha said before turning on the faucet to the hot tub, filling it with hot water. She relaxed inside it and used as much of the toiletries available.

After taking a bath for what seemed like half an hour, Hepha got out and checked the closet. What she found inside filled her with dread.

"...seriously?" Hepha stared in horror at the walk-in closet that was filled to the brim with dresses, heels, and other articles of clothing that women of noble stature wear for parties. "This closet is full of girly shit!"

Then, it clicked for Hepha. A budding suspicion of what Mihawk wanted from her grew in her mind… but she remained doubtful of it. She had to see it for herself.

Hepha wanted to rip apart the clothes in front of her, but she knew better. She had to play along if she wanted to escape from this island in one piece. (A/N: Pun intended.)

So, mustering up all the femininity she had left inside her, Hepha got to work on choosing what would look best on her. She eventually chose a spaghetti strapped red party dress, white opera gloves, red high heels, and a little white ornamental flower as an accessory.

Hepha looked at herself in the mirror and scowled.

"...I hate this."

Still, Hepha decided to go with it. She was about to exit the bedroom when she realized that Mihawk never told her where they would eat. So, she closed her eye and reached out with her Observation Haki.

Hepha felt Mihawk's presence inside a room two floors above her. So, that's where she went.

She entered the dining room as loudly as she could. With a bang, the doors opened and she entered. A small smirk found itself on Hepha's face when she saw Mihawk's eyes widen ever so slightly at seeing her.

"Well… you certainly put in the effort to look presentable," Mihawk said in what was the equivalent of a compliment for him.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you intentionally wanted me to, leading me to a closet full of these," Hepha said before twirling around to show Mihawk her whole outfit. Mihawk hummed in appreciation and in thought.

"Then, I suppose I should return the favor." Mihawk stood up and walked to Hepha. He then held out a hand for her. Hepha looked at Mihawk's hand for a moment before placing her hand in his.

Mihawk led Hepha to the other end of the long dining table. Of course, Mihawk sat on the other end. He pulled Hepha's chair and gestured for her to sit. Hepha did, and Mihawk pushed the chair closer to the table before walking away.

"Just a moment," Mihawk said before entering a set of doors. The doors were only opened briefly, but a delicious smell still wafted out from the other side of it, enticing Hepha's senses.

Mihawk was gone only for a moment, just as he said. He was pushing a cart carrying their meals. He placed the plates on Hepha's side first before going to his. Hepha's sense of smell was immediately stimulated by the aroma of the dishes in front of her. Mihawk then went back to return the cart to what Hepha suspected was the door to the kitchen.

Seeing Mihawk's courtesy towards her, Hepha decided not to piss him off by eating ahead of him in her usual manner like a slob. She wasn't born a noble and neither did she have any experience in the kind of setting she was currently in, but she had enough modicum of respect to try and be someone she never thought she would be: just a simple yet graceful lady.

Mihawk returned from the kitchen. He then sat on his side of the table.

"I am no cook," Mihawk said. "Feel free to berate me if the food isn't to your liking."

Mihawk then started eating. Hepha observed him for a moment. His hands moved with such firm yet gentle grace that Hepha for a moment forgot that the man in front of her is the most fearsome swordsman in the world.

The low growl of her stomach pulled Hepha away from her thoughts. She started eating, trying to emulate the movements of Mihawk's hands. She was not at all happy to see how awkward she was compared to Mihawk.

A soft chuckle from the other side of the table made her look up. She was surprised to see the cold face of the swordsman she just fought today seemingly melt slightly as the edge of his lips curved upward in an amused grin.

"Eat however you want," Mihawk said. "I'm not here to judge your table manners."

Hepha did exactly as Mihawk said. His words made her relax greatly. Her shoulders weren't so stiff anymore and her posture slouched a bit. She placed her left elbow on the table as she began eating with just the spoon in her right hand.

A silent dinner ensued. Dull clanging noises echoed from Hepha's side of the table as her spoon made contact with the porcelain plate. Mihawk on the other hand was completely silent as he ate. He was the perfect image of grace and elegance.

Seeing Mihawk so incredibly silent unnerved Hepha a bit. Once again, she was in doubt of Mihawk's true motives. Why did he exactly welcome her in his castle? That was the question ringing around inside Hepha's mind.

"You look troubled," Mihawk said, his words catching Hepha by surprise. "Is my cooking that terrible?"

"No, it's great," Hepha said quickly, not wanting him to think she was ungrateful or anything. "It's just… what am I doing here exactly?"

Mihawk eyed her strangely. Somehow, Hepha couldn't face his stare head on like she did when they fought earlier.

"You're a beautiful and strong woman," Mihawk said so casually that Hepha choked on her spit. "I suspected you'd provide good company. So far, I'm proven correct."

"Oi, oi! Are you seriously trying to get me in your bed?" Hepha asked, flustered and blushing slightly.

"Not at all," Mihawk said, effortlessly brushing off Hepha's question. "I'm no beast that lays with a woman he just met."

"Then-?"

"But, I would be lying if I said I don't want to," Mihawk said, quickly adding to his previous statement. 

Mihawk's eyes locked on to Hepha as he said his previous words. Hepha couldn't help but meet Mihawk's gaze as if she was caught and captured by his piercing yellow eyes.

"You see, I became a swordsman to satisfy my ego," Mihawk said with a slight sneer. "Seeing an opponent look at me in horror and resignation fills me with a unique kind of pleasure. Right now, I'm sure seeing you squirm below me would do the same. Maybe even more… and that is exactly why I shouldn't."

"...you're weird," Hepha said after a few moments of silence. Her words made Mihawk chuckle.

"There is truth in that," Mihawk said. "It's training you see."

"How boring," Hepha said. "What kind of training stops you from having sex?"

"Haki."

Mihawk's answer stunned Hepha slightly. She didn't understand how Mihawk's 'training' improves his Haki, so she prodded further with her questions.

"How does that work?"

"Did you forget what Haki is?" Mihawk asked with a brow raised.

"...a person's will," Hepha said, slowly understanding what Mihawk meant.

"Correct. When one has more control over his base instincts and needs, his conscious willpower becomes stronger as his discipline becomes more pronounced," Mihawk said. "Accepting my desire to have you in my bed as just a passing whim will make me stronger. Although the improvement is incremental, it would still be beneficial."

Hepha understood Mihawk's strange training method. Still, despite her not wanting to admit it, she was a little disappointed. Mihawk knew this.

"Your oozing disappointment amuses me," Mihawk said with an arrogant sneer.

"Shut the fuck up." Mihawk let out a rare laugh.

"Although, you raised a good question in my mind," Mihawk said. "If I obey my desire to have sex and develop a liking to it after getting a taste of it, would ignoring my lust then be more difficult and thus provide more beneficial training…?"

"Is training seriously all that's in your mind?" Hepha asked rather exasperatedly.

"I should test it on an apprentice someday," Mihawk said, ignoring Hepha's question. "What are the odds of a man and a woman ending up here in my castle…?"

(A/N: You guys can't tell me you didn't feel an ounce of sexual tension between Zoro and Perona in Sabaody LMAO)