The peaceful days went by so quickly. Thanks to their status as VIP guests of the Sultanate Family, no one dared to seek trouble with Naeva and the others on the 2nd Floor. Perhaps because of that, the lull in waiting for the Ascension Exams was so boring.
It had been more than a month since Princess Berenice's Debutante was held. At first, Naeva quite enjoyed the sights and the cultural differences between the Sultanate and the other Floors. But the girl grew bored quickly. There was honestly no special entertainment in the Sultanate that caught her attention. It was mostly the usual entertainment that could be found anywhere such as music, acrobatics, circus, etc.
"Salty," Naeva mumbled lying on the sleeping pillow floating in the Palace lake.
Not that Naeva liked conflict either. It's more like, the Sultanate is too monotonous for a long-term vacation.
"Ophelia accompanied Bere who was confined to the Princess Palace while reading books in the Palace library. Hamer practiced forging on the Sultanate's blacksmiths. I also haven't seen Ruka since he rejected my offer," Naeva thought sleepily.
That's right, Naeva's offer during the 2nd Floor Ascension Examination ended up being rejected by Ruka. Naeva herself still remembered clearly what Ruka had said at that time.
"Naeva Nee-san. I appreciate your offer. To be honest, it was very difficult to refuse. I didn't know how strong and rich you were or what your background was like. But after observing you for a while, I know that I can grow rich and strong easily with you. It's even possible that Nee-san can also make me a Ranker and Top Informant."
"Unfortunately, that's not my goal. My goal is not to become a Ranker or Top Informant. My goal is to return to my village, to my home safely. I have no interest in becoming a Conqueror or an Informant. I just want to live peacefully with my family in my village."
"I see. What can I do," Naeva replied at the time. After all, Rokka wasn't just Ruka.
"I'm sorry for disappointing you. In exchange for Naeva Nee-san, I have a little advice for you."
"?"
"I really don't want to get involved with Tower any more than this. But I know a Rokka who's good at digging up information and loves money. Unfortunately she's agoraphobic, so she always runs away when people are looking for her to buy information."
"I think she would be interested in an offer as a private informant. Because there's a lot of money to be made and she doesn't have to meet many people."
"Hmm... Who is she? Is it okay to introduce me to her?" asked Naeva.
Ruka imagined someone's face, his expression instantly becoming a bit lazy.
"She's my aunt. My father's sister."
"I didn't introduce you to her for free either. There are conditions."
"Conditions?"
"Yes. Naeva Nee-san, you must take me or make me return safely to my village. In exchange, I will introduce you to Auntie and help persuade her. Just so you know, entering Rokka Village is impossible without Rokka's approval."
"Hmm... So you're negotiating with your life? Then the exchange is unequal. I'm at a disadvantage here."
"That's-- that's true too. Umm... Let's put it this way. Until we return to Rokka Village, I'll be your personal informant without pay. How about it?" Ruka bargained.
"Rokka Village is on 5th Floor (Labyrinth Island). They built the village on the first floor so that the Rokka who left the village for the tutorial could more easily return to the village. A personal informant is free for 3 more floors. Moreover, he will help me meet a better Rokka as an informant, not bad either," Naeva thought.
"Alright."
That was how Naeva and Ruka came to a mutually beneficial agreement.
Naeva would protect Ruka and make sure Ruka returned to his village safely no matter what. And Ruka would give Naeva the information she wanted during that time and introduce her to his aunt once they arrived in Rokka Village. No matter what kind of imbalance there is in this deal, as long as neither of them feels disadvantaged, then the deal is already the best solution.
"Ah, on second thought... I haven't asked what her aunt is like. He just said his aunt's name is Mika."
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****OOO****
Characters Information
Name: Naeva WinterNova: X PlatinumRace: Ice PrincessAge: 30 [https://img.wattpad.com/d8e63400b3d82f0bfc4680e245cc0ca371668aad/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f2d4f4165492d387955314a5f68773d3d2d313333363132373136322e313739306564623635373535666433623837353033393732363336372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Naeva Winter
Nova: X Platinum
Race: Ice Princess
Age: 30.000+
Status: Irregular
Affiliation: None
-------------------------------------------------
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Name: Berenice Ptolemaios Auletes Nova: VII RedRace: Anubis Age: 16Status: First PrincessAffiliation: Ptolemaios Sultanate [https://img.wattpad.com/7d34c4c87cc89fb36bddf4c84bbb7a35700fe498/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f536e3752673755576c52487157673d3d2d313333363132373136322e3137393065646161663665326233616233383235323730343431342e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Berenice Ptolemaios Auletes
Nova: VII Red
Race: Anubis
Age: 16
Status: First Princess
Affiliation: Ptolemaios Sultanate
-------------------------------------------------
Name: Cleopatra Ptolemaios AuletesNova: Unable to Access Nova Race: Anubis Age: 16Status: Second PrincessSun PriestessAffiliation: Ptolemaios Sultanate [https://img.wattpad.com/e6d7e081d89cc317af74e65795a508f50411e208/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f422d6933594a5f354e61686779413d3d2d313333363132373136322e313739306564613833663237306338323233363135363831333232362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Cleopatra Ptolemaios Auletes
Nova: Unable to Access Nova
Race: Anubis
Age: 16
Status: Second Princess
Sun Priestess
Affiliation: Ptolemaios Sultanate
****OOO****
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"Naeva."
"......."
Suddenly someone's face appeared above her head from behind (this is Naeva still lying down).
Naeva immediately sat up and turned to the owner of that face.
"Bere?"
"Why are you here? Where's Ophelia?" asked Naeva after realizing Bere was not with Ophelia. For the information, Bere was now splashing into the lake. Since the water was only knee-deep, Bere didn't get too wet.
"Ah, Lia's in the library," replied Bere.
"Why are you looking for me?" Naeva asked again.
Bere looked around her.
"I bumped into Cleopatra coming out of the restroom. When I went to say hello, she was gone."
"Gone?"
"Yes," nodded Bere.
"That child doesn't go out with guards or maids. That's why I wanted to nag her a little. But I saw other nobles coming to the palace."
"I intended to hide for a while, but instead I lost Cleopatra. Did you see it?" asked Bere.
Naeva shook her head. It was true, the lake where she was now was in the outer area of the Princess Palace. But she didn't see anyone other than Bere approaching her.
"I see, okay. That's too bad. That girl... I know she's smarter and more calculating than me. But sometimes her behavior can be extreme. So I can't help but worry about her. At least I have to make sure she doesn't go out alone," Bere said, recalling some of the past events.
"I'm going back to the library, I don't feel comfortable leaving Lia for too long. If you see Cleopatra, please let me know or tell her I'm looking for her."
"Hmm," Naeva replied briefly.
Bere left, leaving Naeva alone by the lake. After a while, Naeva could feel that Bere's presence was far enough away from her. Instantly, Naeva turned her head towards the decorative trees and bushes by the lake.
"How long are you going to hide there?" Naeva quipped to someone.
SSSRRRRKK
The person Naeva was referring to revealed herself.
"You were the culprit, you didn't see me," said the girl, Cleopatra remained calm.
Naeva's floating pillow began to pull away.
"I said I didn't see. Not I didn't feel."
"Well... That's right. You're making use of wordplay, huh."
After the floating pillow reached the surface, Naeva got off it and put it back into the Inventory.
"It's been a while since you've been hiding there. What's wrong?"
Cleopatra looked at the direction Bere had gone.
"I wanted to talk to you. But I immediately saw Aneue walking here. So I decided to wait for Aneue to leave first."
"Hmm... She said she wanted to talk to you. Are you avoiding her?" Naeva asked to make sure.
Cleopatra nodded slowly.
"Yes... Although it doesn't show, Aneue is actually the kind of nagging older sister. The last time she scolded me, three hours passed because of it. It seems like Hahaue's nature has rubbed off on her."
"Then why did you come alone? (Not with maids and guards)"
Cleopatra gave a small sigh with a 'what can I do' smile.
"Because I don't want our conversation to be overheard by the maids and guards."
"?"
Cleopatra gently took Naeva's hand, inviting her to sit in the gazebo by the lake.
"It's been a while since our last talk about the future. Isn't it time now?"
Naeva remained silent, letting Cleopatra pull on her hand.
"Hmm, I see. The plan will be done in a little while?"
"Yes. Things have calmed down. We need to do it quickly before the solar energy in the Sun Temple is completely depleted and the Temple activates the energy emergency mode," Cleopatra replied.
The two of them sat on a soft rug in the gazebo. The warm breeze and the clear view of the lake brought a peaceful atmosphere all around.
"Before that, I intended to answer all your questions, Lady Naeva. But you haven't looked for me at all since then."
"Ah..."
Naeva just realized.
It wasn't that she hadn't meant to look for Cleopatra or that she had forgotten. It was just that, when Naeva looked for her to continue the conversation back then, Cleopatra was always preoccupied with Debutante Bere or important conversations with the Sultanate Family or nobles. And when finally Cleopatra was no longer approached by them, it was Bere who was always clinging to her, guarding and making sure she was okay. So Naeva decided to wait for things to calm down and for the two Princesses to stop being so busy. But maybe she got too carried away. It didn't feel like she had put it off that long.
"This is my fault. I didn't have the chance to be alone before, so it must have been difficult for you to see me. That's why I'm now running away from Aneue, guards and maids, so I can see you in private," Cleopatra smiled without guilt.
"Is that... okay?" asked Naeva imagining how panicked Cleopatra's maids and guards would be right now.
Cleopatra herself didn't seem to care.
"It's fine. I've left a note saying 'I'm bored, want to be alone for a while. Don't look for me' like that."
Naeva now realized that Berenice and Cleopatra were indeed twins. Although covered up by her polite and well-mannered demeanor, Cleopatra was actually not that different from Bere in many ways.
After letting out a small sigh, Naeva decided not to think too much about it.
"Alright. Since you offered it yourself. I won't refuse."
"Unn!" exulted Cleopatra.
Naeva glanced outside the gazebo. It was quiet and there were no other people. But it would be troublesome if suddenly someone else came later. Naeva took precautions. Along with her left hand touching the wall of the gazebo, the area around the gazebo quickly froze. Not just the surface. Naeva also froze the air and formed an ice ball around the gazebo.
At first, because the ice ball enclosed the gazebo, Cleopatra couldn't see anything and the air became cold. But after Naeva blew the cold air from her position, the cold air inside the ice ball seemed to be absorbed by her and made the place warm again. Not only that, the blowing made the ice ball that enclosed the gazebo very transparent and it didn't look like there was an ice ball enclosing them.
"It's protective and camouflage magic," said Naeva.
"No one can get through my ice and no one can see or hear what's going on here."
Cleopatra's eyes rounded slightly.
"Excellent magic, Lady Naeva."
"Not really. Forget that and get started."
Naeva glanced at Cleopatra with her cold eyes.
"The first and foremost thing I want to know. Tell me all about my immortality."