The Unfettered Ice Princess [ EN ]

Chapter 45 [ Farewell ]

It took a while for Cleopatra and Bere's room to stop being visited. After Cleopatra's condition had been confirmed to be fine by the Doctor, Bere's party members including Hamer and Ruka visited briefly to see her. But it was not the right time for a private conversation. At that time, Naeva only briefly explained the story that had been embellished.

Naeva intended to visit Cleopatra secretly when she was alone. Unfortunately, that was not possible. Bere did not leave Cleopatra for a minute because of her anxiety. As it was, Naeva had no choice but to speak to her directly. Naeva asked Bere to leave the room as she wanted to talk to Cleopatra alone the next day. Although somewhat hesitant, Bere allowed it. Because she knew that her friend wouldn't do anything to harm her sister. Plus, Cleopatra and Naeva seemed to be close in her eyes.

And now, in Cleopatra's room, the two girls were silent without saying anything. Awkwardness and confusion filled Cleopatra's head. As for Naeva herself, she waited for the girl to ask questions because she was too lazy to explain everything.

"Well... Lady Naeva..." Cleopatra lied.

Naeva who was sitting on the sofa drinking tea also glanced at Cleopatra who was sitting on her bed.
"Hmm?"

"Could you... tell me what exactly happened?" asked Cleopatra cautiously.

"The Sun Priest is dead. But why is there no fuss about it?"

Naeva set down her tea gracefully.
"He's not dead."

".... What!?" Cleopatra was shocked.
She was pretty sure she had killed the Sun Priest back then.

Naeva's crystal silver-blue eyes looked at her rather sharply.
"I froze his time. He's not dead."

"At least not now."

"He... Heh..."
Cleopatra didn't know what to say. She was still in shock at Naeva's answer.

"Can time be frozen!?"

"Bu- But why? Isn't it troublesome to do that?" she asked again.

"It's more trouble if he dies now," Naeva answered honestly.

"The 3rd Floor Ascension Exams are coming up soon. I don't want the hassle of the Sun Priest' death and the inauguration of the new Sun Priestess to hold us back."

Naeva was telling the truth. If the Sun Priest died now, there would be a huge uproar that would be very disturbing. So Naeva made the Sun Priest' time stop and put him in a coma in bed until some time after she and her party left the 2nd floor. After that, whether he died, whether he somersaulted after death and so on, was up to him. Naeva also explained that she had unfrozen the guards. They won't remember anything, all they know is that the Sun Priest is lying weakly on his bed because his Solar Nova is running low. And it was only a matter of time until his nova was completely depleted.

"I- I see. It was indeed Lady Naeva once..." Cleopatra said.

Cleopatra fiddled with her fingers, she was nervous and somewhat afraid to continue.
"Lady Naeva... Thank you... for helping me this far. And I apologize for--"

"Deceived me?" cut in Naeva.

GLEKK

Cleopatra was stunned, she instantly looked down in fear.
"Y-Yes, My... Apologize..."

Naeva grinned slightly.
"You know a little about my powers. But how dare you do that."

"My apologize..."

What Naeva and Cleopatra were referring to now was Cleopatra's moment of life and death. In the beginning, Cleopatra never talked about herself dying because the Solar Nova exploded after absorbing her uncle's Nova. That's because she knew that Naeva wouldn't let her die. In fact, if she had said it at the beginning, there was a possibility that Naeva would have refused to help her. Because guaranteeing her life at that time was more difficult than killing the Sun Priest.