Nero brought Mordred and Artoria to the Science Department.
Nero didn't speak to her two daughters the entire way. She pressed floor seven, and the elevator steadily descended.
Nero leaned there, pinching her brow, looking a bit fatigued?
Mordred and Artoria felt they must have been mistaken. Nero was the strongest person in the world, now just enjoying life every day. How could such a person be tired?
"You two should have already started learning swordsmanship, right?" Nero began to converse with them while the elevator was descending.
"Yes, Momo and I have been studying swordsmanship for a year now. Holio teacher said we're almost ready for the next stage."
Artoria spoke as if reporting work, with plenty of respect but not enough intimacy in her words.
It wasn't that she didn't want to be closer to Nero-kin; it was simply that she wasn't very familiar with her imperial father.
From birth until now, she and Mordred had seen Nero no more than ten times. Neither of them was actually comfortable being around Nero.
"Hmm, it's about what I expected. In swordsmanship, you two have both inherited my talent. Holio has done an excellent job training your fundamentals."
Nero again touched her forehead. In the approximately one minute the elevator had been descending, this was the third time she had made a similar gesture.
"Imperial father, are you not feeling well?"
Nero moved her hand away and was momentarily stunned to see the worried expressions on her two daughters' faces.
Then she naturally lowered her hand, stroked their little heads, and squinted, smiling brightly: "I'm fine, it's just that I put some effort into preparing your gifts."
"Gifts?" x2
The two spoke simultaneously, raising their heads in surprise, their faces full of disbelief at Nero's statement, their eyes filled with suspicion.
"Hmm, what kind of look is that, you two?" Nero's brow furrowed. She pressed down on their heads with force and twisted them around until their golden hair was a tangled mess before letting go.
"My hairstyle is ruined!" Mordred covered her head, glaring at Nero with a flushed face.
Artoria quickly smoothed her hair, with only one cowlick standing proudly upright.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't joke with you about this." Leading them through several twists and turns, Nero finally stopped in front of a heavy iron door.
The iron door had no key, only a hand-shaped indentation. Nero placed her hand on it, then pushed with force, and the heavy iron door made a sound like a chariot advancing.
When the door was fully pushed open, Mordred and Artoria stared at the door. It was about a meter thick, no wonder it made such a sound.
Only after the two children entered did Nero release her hand and follow them inside.
"This is today's surprise!" Walking quickly to the center of two curtains, Nero placed her hands on them and pulled sharply, revealing two sword hilts and half-blades, each plunged into a different wooden block.
"The Radiant King's Sword and the sword of promised victory. In terms of quality, they are even superior to the Supreme Great Swords of the Twelve Crafts. These will be your lifelong companions."
Nero watched their shocked little eyes, her expression also becoming smug: "Undoubtedly, these are two King's Swords, and also sister swords. Not only did they require a large amount of rare materials, but they are also my personal peak creations. Only my Primal Fire can rival them."
"Now, choose! The red one is the Radiant King's Sword, and this blue one is the sword of promised victory."
Spreading her arms, Nero gestured for them to choose for themselves.
"I want this one!" x2
As soon as Nero finished speaking, both of them spoke simultaneously without hesitation, their fingers pointing directly at the Radiant King's Sword.
Mordred and Artoria exchanged glances. Seeing each other's choice, a look of 'just as expected' appeared in their eyes.
"I'm the older sister, I should choose first!" Mordred spoke first: "I can give you everything else, but not this."
"Hmph? When did you become the older sister? I was clearly born first, and I won't back down on the choice of sword either."
Artoria was equally unwilling to show weakness, her eyes burning with a determined fire.
"What did you say, you fellow?" Mordred's temper flared up instantly, and she stared at Artoria with an ill expression.
"I said I also won't give up this sword." Artoria's eyes were bright and spirited. The two were at loggerheads, neither willing to yield.
"The performance of these two swords is almost identical. In terms of quality, even I cannot currently discern their subtle differences. Why do both of you want this one?"
Nero asked, puzzled. Could it be that they thought this was about the succession to the throne? The sword of promised victory was also a King's Sword, after all.
"If you care about the throne, it has nothing to do with which sword you choose. That will depend on which of you is more outstanding later; only then will I pass the throne to her."
"Did you hear that, Lia? In that case, you go choose that sword of promised victory. Consider it me owing you a favor."
Mordred bared her sharp little fangs, attempting to persuade Artoria.
"I have no intention of competing with you for the throne. This sword is mine, the throne is yours." Artoria was indifferent, even willing to promise to give up the throne.
"No, no, I'm not interested in the throne. You be the emperor in the future, and give this sword to me!" Who knew Mordred also promised to give up the throne.
This left Nero bewildered. What did these two little ones mean? Was her position so worthless?
Glancing at the sword of promised victory, as its creator, Nero could clearly sense its aggrieved emotions.
This made Nero a bit awkward. She scratched her cheek, stopped the two who were about to fight, and asked, puzzled: "If it's not about the throne, why are you both so determined to choose the Radiant King's Sword?"
"Because of imperial father!" x2
The two spoke in unison again.
"Because... I?"
"Imperial father is the Scarlet Empress, so I want this Scarlet Sword," Mordred explained.
"Is that all? I'm also the golden empress, why don't you choose the sword of promised victory?"
Nero's brow furrowed. She never expected such an odd reason.
"It's not the same. Imperial father is the Empress of Roses and Gold, and scarlet is still before gold." Artoria also argued eloquently.
But this logic... Nero again touched her forehead. What are little girls thinking these days!
"In that case, since you two are also learning swordsmanship, if there's a disagreement in choice, let your swordsmanship speak."
Nero looked at the two who refused to yield and finally made her decision.
"No problem!"
"Alright!"
Mordred and Artoria both had no objections, glaring at each other without showing weakness.
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