Both Naeva and Ophelia were very awkward about the situation they were in. How could they be in the same room with two unattended Princesses of the Ptolemaios Sultanate!?
Moments ago, when the Second Princess Cleopatra greeted her sister who had just returned, she also ordered the guards to leave them alone for a private conversation. Bere also gave the same order. When both Princesses gave such orders, of course the guards could not resist. But they still had to carry out their duties as guards. So a middle ground was taken. The princesses and their two guests entered the twin princess Ptolemaios' chambers, leaving the guards at the door to stand guard.
Although Anubis' hearing was keen and the guards stood guard at the door, they did not have to worry about their conversation being overheard. Because the rooms of the Sultanate Family were soundproof and contained so much defensive magic.
Recognizing the awkwardness of her sister's two guests, Cleopatra was the first to strike up a conversation.
"Let me introduce myself first."
"My name is Cleopatra Ptolemaios Auletes. I am the younger twin sister of Berenice Ptolemaios Auletes. Please feel free to call me whatever you like," she said politely.
Naeva and Ophelia were somewhat surprised. They didn't expect Bere's twin sister to be that polite. Considering how her sister had behaved all this time.
"Ah, my name is Lia. I met Princess Berenice during the 2nd Floor Ascension Exam," Ophelia replied just as politely.
"I'm Naeva."
Bere pressed her lips together.
"Maa... never mind, no one can hear us here. Stop talking politely like that. It's uncomfortable to hear."
Ophelia, "Huh!?"
Cleopatra giggled while covering her mouth.
"Fufufu... Aneue is right. It's fine if you speak more casually. No one will hear it but us."
Ophelia smiled awkwardly, "Okay then."
Since both daughters had given permission, she would not hold back anymore.
"Bere, be honest. You guys aren't twins, right?"
"Hohoho, what does that mean?" smiled Bere in annoyance.
"No, Lia. They're twins," said Naeva.
"Right, listen to Naeva."
"But all the modesty and femininity goes to Princess Cleopatra," she continued.
"Wait! Why are you too, Naeva!?" Bere sulked.
Ophelia, "Pfft... Yeah, yeah."
The atmosphere became lighter than before. Because there was no Hamer here who could immediately break the awkwardness when combined with Bere, so Ophelia and Naeva tried to imitate Hamer a little.
"Alright, that's enough basics. Bere, don't you have a lot to explain now?"
Ophelia pulled the conversation back to its original path.
"!"
Bere froze. She didn't know where to start. Seeing her sister like that, Cleopatra let out a small sigh.
"I'll help explain," Cleopatra said.
"?"
The three of them were confused.
"Aneue only listened to my request. Aneue wouldn't be able to explain it well if she was alone. That's why, upon hearing of your arrival, I rushed over to Aneue's guests."
Naeva and Ophelia had no idea what Cleopatra meant and what her request meant. One thing they could tell was that there seemed to be some actions of Bere that were based on Cleopatra's request.
"Aneue. Please explain what we have sorted out to Mr. Hamer and Mr. Ruka. Some things that only Miss Naeva and Miss Lia should know I will explain myself," Cleopatra said.
In other words, Cleopatra asked Bere to repeat her explanation to Hamer and Ruka in her absence by removing some of the things that the two should not know. Bere nodded, she obeyed her sister without saying much.
"Sure, just leave it to me."
"Thank you."
"Hn."
"Well, let's tell them everything, Aneue," Cleopatra said as she looked at Berenice and her two friends with a friendly smile.
"Yes, I do owe you guys an explanation after all," Bere replied with the same smile.
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****OOO****
Characters Information
Name: Naeva WinterNova: X PlatinumRace: Ice PrincessAge: 30 [https://img.wattpad.com/fe2bcf9cb9cfc1a7f8346c1e10f9e8bb20326815/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5f64635a6d635a36624e61784c413d3d2d313333323830323634392e313739306133653434623632363562643231323539333732393335322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Naeva Winter
Nova: X Platinum
Race: Ice Princess
Age: 30.000+
Status: Irregular
Affiliation: None
-------------------------------------------------
Name: Ophelia CalliopeNova: II OrangeRace: UnknownAge: 17Status: Lady of Calliope FamilyAffiliation: Calliope Familiy [https://img.wattpad.com/4860437cac8471a1fdc25d712bc428cc168548a4/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7a5a41474b53674170516a392d673d3d2d313333323830323634392e313739306133653132336131386132343735373231303830333431322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Name: Ophelia Calliope
Nova: II Orange
Race: Unknown
Age: 17
Status: Lady of Calliope Family
Affiliation: Calliope Familiy
-------------------------------------------------
Name: Berenice Ptolemaios Auletes
Nova: VII Red
Race: Anubis
Age: 16
Status: First Princess
Affiliation: Ptolemaios Sultanate
Name: Cleopatra Ptolemaios AuletesNova: Unknown Race: Anubis Age: 16Status: Second PrincessSun PriestessAffiliation: Ptolemaios Sultanate [https://img.wattpad.com/4209edadcb61a3caaa7192587ba1a4923187b58f/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f42317349594f66336c48565552413d3d2d313333323830323634392e313739306133646138663466396530393334383831383032393139302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Cleopatra Ptolemaios Auletes
Nova: Unknown
Race: Anubis
Age: 16
Status: Second Princess
Sun Priestess
Affiliation: Ptolemaios Sultanate
****OOO****
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Bere was silent for a moment. She wondered where to start explaining all this.
"Hmm... First of all, do you know the traditions of the Ptolemaios Sultanate?"
"Which ones?" asked Ophelia.
"Well, the Princes and Princesses of the Ptolemaios Sultanate were not allowed to show their faces in public and were not allowed to use their names officially until they were adults. This was to train their independence and prevent them from becoming status-dependent," explained Bere.
"We can be considered adults after we pass the tutorial and become Conquerors who return to Floor 2. Normally a few days after returning, there will be a coming of age party which is our debutante."
"Hoo... So that's why you don't use your real name?"
"That's right."
Cleopatra poured tea from the teapot and offered it to Naeva and Ophelia.
"And there is an exception to that tradition."
Naeva accepted the tea, "An exception?"
"Yes. The exception is people like me," Cleopatra said.
Ophelia was a little hesitant to ask, but this awkwardness had been bothering her all along.
"Is it because of your... eyes?"
That's right, it was obvious that Cleopatra couldn't see. Her white irises were not a rare, ordinary color or anything like that. She had been blind from birth. She had been moving around relying on her hearing, so people probably wouldn't have noticed her shortcoming.
Cleopatra giggled, "No need to be so shy. It's not because of my eyes, really."
Bere smiled sadly, "Yes, Cleopatra's eyes don't interfere with her activities. Because she can see through other things. The problem is that--"
"--The disease..."
Bere's chest felt tight as she said that from her own mouth.
"Huh? Disease?"
Ophelia felt that she had offended the twins' sensitive area.
Unlike Ophelia, Naeva immediately realized what was happening to Cleopatra right after she saw her at their first meeting.
"Cleopatra, you're suffering from Immune Tower, huh?"
Bere was wide-eyed in shock. Naeva had unexpectedly guessed it. While Cleopatra herself only smiled slightly, she had expected that Naeva would know.
"That's right. I suffer from Immune Tower."
"I-Immune Tower?" shocked Ophelia. Her expression immediately showed deep sympathy.
[ Immune Tower ]
As the name suggests, this is a disease... Or immunity to the Tower. Cases of a Passenger suffering from Tower Immune are extremely rare. The probability is less than 1%. At first glance, Immune Tower looks great and amazing. The sufferer is immune to the Tower System, its rules, orders, prohibitions and so on. In other words, the Tower does not have the right to restrain them like Conqueror and Passenger in general. For example, Immune Tower sufferers can freely go up and down any floor as they please without the need to take a test. In addition, they are also free from the mandatory tutorial rule of max age 20 years and various other rules. Good? Of course not.
In fact, Immune Tower sufferers have more to lose than gain. The previously mentioned advantages are just a mirage. Having immunity to the Tower System is the same as not getting abilities from the Tower. If it's just a normal ability such as a floor increase reward etc, it's probably fine. What is mentioned here is the adaptability.
The Tower is made up of 100 different worlds. Do you think an ordinary living being can visit those 100 worlds without suffering any side effects when going to the moon without a spacesuit is equivalent to dying? No, right? Tower grants adaptability to all Conquerors once they complete the tutorial. Be it Regular or Irregular. That way, they'll be fine even if they travel between completely different worlds that have different air pressure, atmosphere, air, etc.
Then what about Immune Tower sufferers? Of course they haven't that ability. And that adaptability itself is not something that can be obtained without the help of the Tower. Simply put, even if all the doors of the Tower's floors were open to those with Immune Tower, they wouldn't be able to enter. Because once they entered, their bodies would be instantly destroyed by the world itself.
In other words, Immune Tower sufferers are stuck on their home floor forever.
Can you still say that Immune Tower sufferers are good?
Bere gripped her hand tightly.
".... Cleopatra was officially introduced at the age of 5 because of that too."
"I see..." sad Ophelia. She couldn't imagine how difficult it was to be an Immune Tower sufferer.
Well, Naeva herself didn't feel that sympathetic. So what if you're stuck on one floor until you die? She herself was trapped in the tutorial area for 30,000 years. Anubis wasn't a race that could live for tens of thousands of years, she wouldn't be trapped on Floor 2 any longer than her. Plus, this 2nd Floor wasn't as bad as the one on Earth. There were still many people she could talk to and many fun things she could do.
The girl who was the subject of conversation herself just sipped her tea calmly.
"Never mind, Aneue. Don't overreact. I just can't travel and some other minor problems."
"But Cleopatra--"
Cleopatra's eyes were piercing.
"We're not here to talk about that. And I don't need this kind of pity because I don't mind it myself."
"Uhh..." Bete couldn't fight her sister.
"... Okay."
"Hufth... Where were we?" Cleopatra asked herself.
"Ah yes, I originally brought up the Immune Tower for another reason. I want to say, because I myself cannot travel outside of the Ptolemaios Sultanate, so I asked Aneue to do some things for me," continued Cleopatra.
"Some things?"
Cleopatra smiled softly but somehow it felt a bit scary.
"To bring you to see me."
Naeva and Ophelia, "!?"
Ophelia was speechless.
"Wh-What does that mean?"
Once she realized the implicit meaning, Ophelia immediately turned sharply to Bere, asking for an explanation.
"Bere, don't tell me from the start you approached us because of her!? Because she asked you to do that? Our meeting wasn't an accident!?"
"You've known us from the beginning!?" asked Ophelia persistently.
Bere turned her face away. She couldn't bear to look back at Ophelia and Naeva.
"That's... Sorry..."
"Haha... Seriously...?" Ophelia forced a laugh.
Naeva couldn't guess what Cleopatra was planning either. That girl was hard to read.
"Cleopatra, you act like you knew us from the start. Now you're also saying that you made Bere bring us to you."
"Well, I'll assume you did know us and I won't ask how. What I want to ask is, what do you want from us?"
Naeva was just asking an ordinary question. But the sense of pressure that each word gave off was palpable. Ophelia had seen Naeva in this serious mode several times. But this was the first time Bere and Cleopatra had spoken to a serious Naeva. The pressure she exerted was the same as the pressure an Emperor exerted on a commoner or a Ranker on a rookie.
Cleopatra smiled fearfully, and swallowed.
"Lady Naeva, you are indeed perceptive."
"I do need both of your help for something that will happen in the future. Please don't blame Aneue, Aneue only obeyed me. She had no intention of deceiving you at all."
"Let me explain everything from now on. About what I want from you and how Aneue and I got to know you. Without missing anything."