"Tell me all about my immortality."
Although the sentence was spoken casually. Cleopatra realized how much weight and pressure each word carried.
From now on Cleopatra really had to guard her words. She must not say anything wrong. If she offended Naeva, she would surely die instantly.
Cleopatra took a deep breath first, trying to calm herself down. Once she felt okay, the girl opened her mouth.
"Lady Naeva, before explaining about that. I must first explain how much I know about your past."
Naeva, "Continue."
"I saw flashbacks of your past from the shadow of the future. You are actually an ordinary human from a world that was made into a tutorial area by Tower. The boss of that area was the Ice Queen. Together with your friends, you were able to conquer the Ice Queen. But only you survived from there. As a reward for your conquest, you became the heir to the Ice Queen's ability that allows you to manipulate ice like now. You, who have become proficient in using it, finally enter the Tower as the Conqueror," Cleopatra explained.
Naeva quietly listened, she did not blame or correct anything Cleopatra explained even though her explanation was incomplete.
"But, Lady Naeva. Actually, the Tower only bestowed the Ice Queen ability on you. The immortality and other things you obtained were not gifts of conquest but rather someone's gift."
"Gift... Someone...? Who? And why?" Naeva wondered.
Naeva honestly didn't want to ask this. But a question kept nagging at her.
"Hearing you not call it a curse, but a gift... Can I assume that person meant me well?"
Cleopatra nodded, and it was an answer Naeva did not want to hear/see. She didn't want to think the source of her thousands of years of suffering was someone's gift. Because it would be easier for her if that person gave her a curse so that Naeva could return it without having to think twice.
Cleopatra wore an unpleasant expression.
"I don't know the details of what happened. What I saw was you telling Lady Ophelia far in the future that you could not and would not hate that person. Because after all, that person gave up everything to keep you alive."
"The person who gave up everything for me..." murmured Naeva reminiscently.
No matter how far Naeva dug into her past, she did not remember at all about the person who had such a close relationship with her before becoming an Ice Princess. All the people like that in her memory were dead before she woke up.
"Who was that person?"
Naeva gave up, it would be faster if she asked.
Unfortunately, Naeva's question was met with a shake of Cleopatra's head.
"I apologize, Lady Naeva. In all my future visions, I did not find any instance where you told me the details of that person."
Hearing that made Naeva frown. She knew it was in her nature not to share too much personal information. But still, it was a little annoying.
Noticing the change in Naeva's expression, Cleopatra quickly explained something else so that Naeva's mood wouldn't be ruined.
"But I know something that can help you discover the identity of that person, Lady Naeva."
Naeva, "What is it?"
Cleopatra took out a piece of paper and a pen from her pocket. She drew some arts describing certain floors in the Tower.
"Lady Naeva, one of your close friends besides Lady Ophelia once said that you found the answers to your life on these two floors."
"?"
Naeva brought her face closer to the paper.
In the first art, there was an area with many misleadingly shady trees and fog surrounding it. In addition, there were strange squiggles that formed cracks in the sky.
"26th Floor (Connecting Space). A place where many space rifts and random teleportations occur," Cleopatra explained.
In the second art, Cleopatra shows an abstract area like a subspace with many clock scenes from various civilizations.
"Then 42nd Floor (Time Runner). A floor that has a strange flow of time. Where the future, past and present are mixed up and sometimes collide."
"On these two floors, you will find the answers to your questions."
Naeva thought for a moment. The 26th floor with the space rift and the 42nd floor with the time rift. It couldn't be a coincidence. Naeva had various conjectures regarding the possibilities that happened to her in the future.
"So that's it..." muttered Naeva after finally one of the most plausible guesses came to mind.
Cleopatra overheard and spontaneously asked.
"What did you realize, Lady Naeva?"
Naeva let out a small sigh.
"Not anything out of the ordinary. It's not like I entered the 42nd Floor when I found that answer through the exam. It's possible... When I was on the 26th Floor, I was dragged by the space rift and teleported to the 42nd Floor. That's where I found the answer."
"If it was on the 42nd Floor, it's possible that the people I met there were people from the distant past or future."
A look of admiration escaped Cleopatra's eyes.
"Well, you are indeed amazing, Lady Naeva. You guessed it right away."
"Easy," Naeva replied shortly.
"Right, it must have been easy for you," Cleopatra smiled in agreement.
"Do you have any more questions, Lady Naeva?"
There was honestly nothing else Naeva was interested in. Knowing too much about the future would only make one ignore the present. Naeva chose to let it remain a secret, she found it uninteresting to play a game if she heard spoilers at the beginning.
"Nothing, other than my immortality, nothing else is--"
Or that's what Naeva was thinking before she remembered something.
"Lady Naeva, one of your close friends besides Lady Ophelia once said, that you found the answer to your life on these two floors."
"--Wait, did you say one of my close friends?" asked Naeva incredulously. Using the word close friend did not sit well with her.
Cleopatra understood that, but now the girl's heart tingled with amusement. As much as possible Cleopatra tried to hold back her laughter.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
"Yes. One of your close friends. You were a few years in the future in a group with Lady Ophelia as the head. You all seem to get along like any other Conqueror."
"Familiar? Me?" Naeva's mind was in disbelief. She was indeed in a party right now, but the relationship between them was that of colleagues. Neither friends nor close friends.
".... How many members are in that grub?"
"Twelve people including you, Lady Naeva."
"12!? That many..." Naeva was shocked.
She couldn't believe it. How could their group have grown to that many and she either allowed it or was still there (not leaving).
"Now there are already 5 people. Ophelia wants to add 7 more!? Does she want to form a guild!!!?"
Naeva really didn't understand. Looking at her nature, Naeva should not want to be in a large group or be tied to an organization. Why exactly was her future self doing something that wasn't her style?
"Seriously..."
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****OOO****
Characters Information
Name: Naeva WinterNova: X PlatinumRace: Ice PrincessAge: 30 [https://img.wattpad.com/6d3306bcae6c084309c78ea447ffdfc08f1df138/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6e68714e3552615f46337a7841413d3d2d313333363237313839352e313739306565353962333866373963623939303435303339373933382e6a7067?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/048bc04b13dd759ea0e26aff7953ad7722affbbc/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5a3364647a4253757033486268673d3d2d313333363237313839352e313739306565353766343366396630333533353337323437363336362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Ophelia Calliope
Nova: II Orange
Race: Unknown
Age: 17
Status: Lady of Calliope Family
Affiliation: Calliope Familiy
-------------------------------------------------
Name: Berenice Ptolemaios Auletes Nova: VII RedRace: Anubis Age: 16Status: First PrincessAffiliation: Ptolemaios Sultanate [https://img.wattpad.com/90a4a7d0c7aebedc1f7f9948e83bcda1e0cdc1fd/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f385345674c6d4749646c667553773d3d2d313333363237313839352e3137393065653535623538633932653437363232383038303230302e6a7067?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/925053edb05402af554ef42db20083b089ada3e3/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7262694b575561633050314d62773d3d2d313333363237313839352e313739306565353335623661636338323437373539393435323633352e6a7067?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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Since everything that Naeva had been curious about so far had been answered, Naeva released the ice magic that locked them up. Just in time, not far away, Ophelia and Bere were walking together towards them. If the magic had lasted just a moment longer, they would have realized Naeva was using her magic.
"What? Cleopatra? Where did I think you were, I was looking for a guard. It turned out to be Naeva," said Bere after realizing the presence of her sister and friend in the Gazebo.
"I had a feeling I met Naeva earlier, there was no you. Since when have you guys been together?" asked Bere.
Cleopatra smiled kindly.
"Not long ago, Aneue. While I was on my way back to the Princess Palace, I accidentally saw Lady Naeva by the lake, so I engaged her in a little chat."
Bere furrowed her brow.
"Back to the Princess Palace? Where have you been?"
Ah, Cleopatra had unconsciously dug her own grave. Although she flinched, Cleopatra immediately regained her composure.
"I was just spending some time with Arsinoe. Because it's been quite a while since I last played with her."
It was a good thing Cleopatra had actually stopped by the Queen's Palace to see her sister and talk to her a bit.
Bere immediately believed it. She approached the gazebo with Ophelia and took a seat there.
"Ohh... I thought where to go, to leave such a suspicious letter. It turned out that I only met Arsinoe. If that's all, you didn't have to leave your maid behind, right?"
"I don't like meeting to be supervised by maids and guards. You yourself are the same, aren't you?" said Cleopatra.
"... Alright, alright. I understand. But next time at least talk to me. It could be serious if you faint suddenly without anyone near you," said Bere.
Ophelia who had just sat next to Naeva was a little confused.
"Fainted?"
"Ah, yes. This child... Because her body is a bit weak, so sometimes heatstroke can make her faint. That's why maids and guards are always with her," Bere replied.
"Heh... If that's the case, you should also take better care of yourself, Princess Cleopatra."
Cleopatra smiled wryly, "I see. Thank you for your concern."
To prevent the atmosphere from getting heavier, Bere took the initiative to change it. Her expression, which had been stern towards Cleopatra, returned to her usual cheerful Bere.
"Okay, back to the topic. What were you two talking about? It's unusual to see Naeva chatting alone with someone else. I thought you were the type to avoid conversation as much as possible."
For some reason Naeva was a bit annoyed.
"Not to that extent."
Cleopatra giggled.
"Just talked a little about the future. I offered to answer the future that Lady Naeva wanted to know about. It's to compensate me for doing what I did to Lady Naeva and Lady Ophelia before."
"Is that okay, Cleopatra? Isn't telling the future taboo for you?" Bere asked worriedly.
Cleopatra smiled warmly.
"It's okay, Aneue. As long as it's not a future I can't tell you about."
"That's fine if you say so. By the way, what did Naeva ask?"
The curious look in Bere's eyes made Naeva somewhat overwhelmed.
"Nothing specific. Just what my condition will be like in the future."
"Like what!?" asked Bere again.
"Secret."
"Mouu... It's not fun, Naeva."
Bere scowled.
"What do you see in Naeva's future, Cleopatra?"
"Aneue, if the person doesn't want it mentioned. I don't have the right to say."
"Apart from the issue of immortality, it seems that Lady Naeva doesn't want Lady Ophelia and Aneue to know that in the future, they will form a guild."
"Ukhh... What a cheapskate," Bere quipped to Naeva.
"Never mind. Forget about Naeva. What about Lia's? You said earlier that this change has inconvenienced Naeva and Lia, right? If so, Lia can ask too."
"Eh, me!?" Ophelia was surprised to suddenly be involved.
Cleopatra nodded slowly.
"Of course, Lady Ophelia may also ask questions. You have the same rights as Lady Naeva."
"That's right, ask away. Anything goes, Cleopatra will sort out what you can and can't know," Bere continued.
On the surface, Bere seemed to be offering interesting things to Ophelia, but Naeva knew her hidden intentions. Bere clearly wants to know the future of herself and Ophelia. Because her own failed, so she targeted Ophelia.
Ophelia was confused. She didn't know what to ask. Could she just ask about her future when she was suddenly offered something like that? Yes, there were so many things she was curious about. But there was no way she could ask them all. She had to choose what Cleopatra wouldn't reject and what she really wanted to know. For the information, Ophelia had no intention of asking about her family. Because that was a future she should strive for, not one she should know about.
"Well then... Can I ask you three questions?" Ophelia asked, wondering if it was too many questions.