Bere snorted in annoyance. Not many minutes had passed since she fought with Naeva. It was unexpected, wasn't it? A Naeva could fight with her.
Well, not exactly a fight either.
Maybe it's just Bere's one-sided frustration.
Actually earlier, in the apartment that their party had rented for the time being on the 3rd floor, Naeva accidentally saw a half-empty meat sandwich on the table being swarmed by flies. As an Ice Princess who loves cleanliness... or hates dirty? Naeva didn't like the sight of it. As soon as the sight appeared in her eyes, Naeva smashed the bread without consideration.
And well... As expected, the bread was Bere's.
Bere, who had left her for a while to go buy something, was shocked to see her bread missing. Even though she bought the bread with great difficulty. Considering that almost all of her money was confiscated by Ruka for fear of Bere spending it.
Bere knew Naeva did it. She went straight to Naeva and made an issue of it. However, Naeva herself didn't care at all.
"Food? You mean that trash, just buy some more," she replied flatly as usual.
Bere was sulking. She constantly annoyed Naeva with her nagging and fake crying like a child, until she finally succeeded in getting Naeva annoyed and made her freeze Bere and their apartment and leave without saying anything more.
Luckily, not too long after, Ophelia and Ruka, who had just returned, immediately freed Bere. Of course, by persuading Naeva, bribing her with sweet desserts and expensive tea.
Thinking back on it, Bere was even more annoyed.
"What the hell is that white girl 💢"
"There's still some bread left! What a waste of food! 💢" Bere grumbled all the way as she kicked a rock carelessly.
Judging from her steps, she was now heading to their apartment. Ophelia told her to go out first (shoo :v) to calm her mind. Probably at the same time, she and the others were calming Naeva down right now. It's okay if Bere is the one sulking. It would be very troublesome if Naeva was the one sulking. Well, although that's not easy to happen.
"I'll apologize, only if Naeva apologizes first!" snorted Bere.
TAP TAP TAP
CLEKKKK
BRAAAAGHHH
Without thinking, Bere opened the door to her apartment. Ah, or maybe break it down?
"Oi, Naeva!!!"
"If you apologize and promise not to waste my food again, I'll forgive you!!!" she snapped.
"So apologize now--"
"!!?Bere's eyes rounded perfectly as soon as her eyes caught an oddity in her room [https://img.wattpad.com/ba8504ac145138a3450c8c7fa098024312f98a85/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f435a73474a6d30474d7a325867773d3d2d313338343334383335342e313738376232663934393363383530613438363539363233363834312e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
"!!?
Bere's eyes rounded perfectly as soon as her eyes caught an oddity in her room.
That person, "......"
"....Can you knock on the door first?" he quipped with a look of dislike.
Bere, "......."
"......."
She rubbed her eyes.
"........"
Didn't notice any difference.
"........"
Exit the apartment room slowly.
She looked at the number board above her door.
It said, no. 447.
"........"
Logging in again to confirm what she saw.
".... Oh..."
"I..."
Bere went in and out to compare the no of her apartment with the view inside.
That person, "?"
"I--"
Bere trembled, a moment later...
"I didn't enter wrong room!"
"WHO ARE YOU!!!?" she was shocked as she pointed at the man in the apartment.
That person, "?"
"YOU'RE IN THE WRONG ROOM, WOYY!!! THIS IS MY ROOM WITH MY PARTY!!!!" Bere screamed, still in shock + not knowing where to look.
The man let out a small sigh. He put his clothes back on, from his shirt to his suit.
"Did you hit your head during the walk earlier? Don't digress, Bere," he replied calmly [https://img.wattpad.com/23dd94f1ec0cb687617a1c4514af72fad79e8fd1/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f445f554d62694f4f663352575f673d3d2d313338343334383335342e313738376232666465623066383331613333333633333634303933382e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
"Did you hit your head during the walk earlier? Don't digress, Bere," he replied calmly.
Bere, "!?"
"HOW COME YOU KNOW MY NAME! YOU'RE A STALKER, HUH!!!" Bere exclaimed with goosebumps.
That guy, "💢"
Ignoring Bere's crazy behavior, the man walked to a chair and sat quietly there while pouring tea in his glass. He took his time talking to someone from behind the bathroom door.
"Her brain is getting damaged. Take care your friend, Ophelia."
Bere, "!"
"Lia!?"
The person in the bathroom, just like Bere knew. Ophelia Calliope, coming out of there with wet hair.
"Hmm? Bere? Are you back?"
"Lia!!!"
Bere immediately hugged Ophelia.
"Ara? Why?" smiled Ophelia.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
"THERE'S A WEIRD GUY IN OUR ROOM!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU RUN!!!" said Bere in a high tone.
Ophelia covered her ears slightly because Bere's voice was too loud.
"Ahahaha..."
"You're still upset with Nerva, aren't you? Don't be like that, Bere. Never mind please, Nerva didn't do it on purpose. You don't have to pretend you don't know him, right?" said Ophelia.
Bere, "......."
"NERVA WHOOO!!!?" she thought in shock.
"Ner...va...?" her eyes flashed with confusion.
Ophelia gasped slightly. She quickly touched Bere's forehead, confirming whether she was sick or not.
".... You're not sick."
"What's wrong? Did you hit your head like Nerva said?" Ophelia asked worriedly.
"Where does it hurt?"
Bere swatted Ophelia's hand away.
"I'm not sick! You're the one who's weird!!!"
Ophelia, "......"
"Where's Naeva?" asked Bere.
Ophelia tilted her head.
"Naeva? Who?"
Bere, "!?"
"Naeva! Who else would it be! That person who was your first friend!!! The faint white girl!" shocked Bere.
Ophelia's originally calm gaze became even more worried.
"..... Nerva..."
Nerva, "?"
"Looks like Bere really hit something... She either didn't recognize you or her memory of you was replaced by something," she said super seriously.
Bere, "That said... I'M NOT SIC---"
BRAAAAAGHHHHHH
"!"
The door slammed loudly. Startling Ophelia and Bere.
"NERVAAAA!!!!!!"
A red-haired woman, dashed towards Nerva and hugged her without permission.
"Mou! I asked you to visit, why didn't you come?" said the woman while making a sulking expression.
"........"
Nerva, the silver-haired man, pushed the woman's head away a little.
Ophelia giggled, she helped Nerva let go of the woman.
"There, there, Zeta..."
"Look, if you continue, Nerva might freeze you, you know."
Zeta didn't care, she tightened her hug even more.
"I don't want to."
She chuckled to Ophelia.
"Guys like Nerva, you have to keep up with them! Don't give them any slack. Or the relationship won't progress like yours..."
Ophelia, "!?"
"💢"
Surprisingly, Zeta managed to upset her.
She immediately pulled Zeta as hard as she could.
"Me. Don't. Want. Listen. That. From. You!"
"Bere! Help me get this itchy girl off!" cried Ophelia.
"You're usually the one who gets the most heat when Zeta hugs Nerva! Stop sulking and acting weird! Help me get her off first!!!" she snapped, still trying to get Zeta off.
Bere, "??????"
"Huh...."
Bere, who had been watching them, was naturally confused.
Either because of Ophelia's yelling, or just going with the flow, Bere immediately pulled Zeta, helping Ophelia.
Zeta, "You guys, huh! 💢"
"You guys often monopolize Nerva!!! Why don't you take turns!!!" Zeta was annoyed.
"Yes, but not like this!!!" Ophelia replied just as annoyed.
"That's it! You're fighting over a boy anyway! It's so childish."
Even while grumbling, Bere continued to help Ophelia.
"We don't want to hear that from you!" the two snapped together, startling Bere.
Bere, "Ha-Hahh????"
She released her pull from Zeta.
"When did I do that!?"
"I've never liked any boy! Let alone fight over a guy!" she said unacceptingly.
Zeta and Ophelia looked at each other, looking like they couldn't understand Bere's words.
"Who was the one who asked Nerva to start the second floor exam?" smiled Ophelia.
"Actually, you're the one who's been sticking on Nerva the most, aren't you self-aware?" Zeta quipped.
Bere gasped, "That's me!?"
"Yes."
Bere took a few steps back. She continued to shake her head in disbelief. A Bere? Berenice Ptolemaios Auletes!? Sticking guy!!? That's really not her character!
"This weird..."
"No way... Something's not right!"
Bere started to make a scared face.
"What's wrong with you guys?"
"You..."
Staring at Nerva who could still remain calm in that situation.
"What did you do to my friends, huh?!?"
Nerve let out a small sigh.
"I didn't do anything."
"No way! Everything so weird!" confused Bere.
"From our point of view, it's you who's strange, Bere. What's wrong with you?" asked Ophelia worriedly.
"!"
Bere couldn't take it anymore.
"I..."
"I'll get out!" Bere retorted.
She felt like she would go crazy if she stayed any longer. Without further ado and trying not to get involved, Bere immediately stepped out. It seemed like she was under an illusion or something. She had to find a way to get out of it.
CKLEKKKK
But right when she opened the apartment door...
Bere, "!?"
The figure of a dark brown-haired girl who was carrying a bag of groceries was almost hit by her at the door.
More than being surprised at almost bumping into someone, Bere was surprised at who the person she almost bumped into was.
"Aneue?"
"Going out, huh?" smiled the person.
"Cleopatra!?"
She shook her sister's shoulder vigorously.
"How can you be here!?"
"Your body is sickly! Why did you leave the Ptolemaios Sultanate!?" Bere panicked with worry.
Cleopatra, Bere's twin sister felt a bit dizzy from the shock.
"Wait... Aneue... Stop shaking me..."
Bere, "Ah... Sorry..."
Bere released Cleopatra, but did not stop interrogating her.
"So why are you here!? Why did you leave the palace!?"
"What about your body!? Your duty!" Bere asked.
Cleopatra looked at her with a confused face.
".... How can you ask that now?"
"Is Aneue okay?"
"Just answer me," Bere pleaded.
Cleopatra was silent, she was a bit confused now. But it seemed like Bere was seriously asking, so she should also give a serious answer. Although she herself was not sure why Bere was asking her.
"That..."
"Didn't Hahahue order us to accompany Nerva-sama on her journey? Since my Clairvoyant will definitely help her," Cleopatra replied.
Bere, "!?"
When did her mother give such an order?
Cleopatra brought her mouth to Bere's ear.
"And... T-That... Hahahue also... Asked us to try our best... To make Nerva-sama the Sultan's daughter-in-law..." Cleopatra whispered crimson.
Bere, "Haaahhhhh?????????????"
"Why Aneue? Is something wrong?" asked Cleopatra worriedly.
Bere laughed stiffly.
"Ha.ha.ha.ha."
Bere turned quickly to Cleopatra.
"I... Get out... first."
"O-Okay...?" confused Cleopatra.
Bere wandered aimlessly, without direction, not knowing what to do, not knowing where to go. She tried to digest what had just happened to her. But she couldn't understand it at all.
Who is Nerva!?
Where's Naeva!
Where are the friends she knows?
Why did everything change?????
Then why do the people she knows revolve around this Nerva!???
And more importantly...
Why does this Nerva bastard look so much like her friend?????
Bere's head was filled with such questions. Perhaps because she was too busy thinking about it, she didn't realize there was an obstacle in front of her.
BRUUUUUUUUUUGHHH
"Ouch, uhh..." moaned Bere holding her head that kissed the ground.
"Pffft... Even though there is a signboard indicating that there is road repair there. How come you still fell down?" someone chuckled as he extended her hand to Bere.
How come you still fell down?" someone chuckled as he extended her hand to Bere [https://img.wattpad.com/5fd94a5094c424724c6d38b20ea43eb268d129b6/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f74335862473251545765634743773d3d2d313338343334383335342e313739656231306261373163356366623332383735363138303533352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Bere accepted the hand from the woman wearing sunglasses.
"T-Thank you..."
"Huh? She... why I feel like I've seen her before?" Bere thought as she looked at her helper. "But where?"
"Are you okay?" the woman asked kindly.
"It's okay..." replied Bere, blushing slightly, embarrassed to be seen like that.
The woman patted Bere's head lightly, treating her like a child.
"Fufu, be careful next time. What are you going through that you can't see the road like that?"
Bere recalled, her expression became that of a petulant child.
"Tsk, it's not important. It's just a matter of that cool-ass playboy asshole."
The woman smiled with interest.
"Ara? Boy problem, huh?"
"Who is it? Who knows if Onee-san can help," the woman teased.
Bere's face was completely indifferent to the "bastard".
"Ah, what is it... Nerva or something..."
That woman, "!"
"Ner...va?"
"Hmm? Do you know him?" asked Bere.
The woman gasped slightly. Immediately, she grabbed both of Bere's arms.
Bere, "?"
"Tell me."
"?"
"Where is he?" the woman asked.
"Wh-What?"
"That Nerva you mentioned. Where is he?" She asked again with a gentle smile.
"Eh???"
Bere was confused. Wait, don't tell me...
"She was... In my apartment..."
"What apartment? What room?"
"A-Apartment Tyzahra no 447..." Bere replied unable to resist due to the intensity of the woman's gaze.
The woman nodded in understanding, and let Bere go.
"Okay, thank you. I happened to be looking for it."
Bere was rooted to the spot.
"Eh? Eh? Eh???? Don't tell me--"
"Why are you looking for him?" Bere asked just in case.
The woman seemed to think for a moment, then replied with an ignorant smile.
"Hihi... I want to see a guy who is so proud of my kitten."
"I wonder how cute he is."
Because she had her sunglasses off, Bere could see her expression even more.
"--THIS WOMAN TOOOOOO?????" shocked Bere.
"Okay, thanks kid. See you~!" said the woman as she walked away from Bere.
Bere, "......"
Unraveling falls.
BUUUGGHHH
"Ha.ha..ha..."
Never mind.
Bere doesn't want to know anymore.
"Ah, I know..."
Her head tilted upwards, looking up at the sky with a blank 'never mind' expression.
"This... It must be a dream..."
"Right... Naeva?"