"Cleopatra… It's really you."

"Caesar!? N…No! T-There's- No! How can this be!?"

Cleopatra was seconds from collapsing, but she held strong if only through sheer disbelief. She had finally gotten her wish to see Caesar again, and she hadn't even been in Chaldea for a week. Frantically, she began searching after learning of his residence thanks to her new Roman acquaintance. It had only been a few hours since, but she would not give up until she saw him again. Just now, she got the jump on him after hearing his voice, that tone she loved so much, conversing with Gudao around a nearby corner. With speed, grace, and a pounding heart, she charged around the bend and screamed his name.

But what she saw upset her stomach, though her heart still beat furiously.

Caesar stared back in surprised panic. He stared at the woman he had fallen so hard for, who had not changed in the slightest from the form that captured his soul. Even in just a simple, white dress and heels, she was the defined beauty that conquered almost every moment of his sleep. His arms slowly fell limp to the sides of his red battle uniform as Gudao peered around the large man. With a crestfallen expression, the master watched Cleopatra take an instinctual step backwards.

Caesar looked to her with worried eyes; The proud and bold demeanor of the emperor was long gone. To Gudao's dismay, even the famous orator seemed at a sudden and total loss of words. "Cleopatra, please!"

"No… How can… What happened to you!? S-So… grotesque!" This was not her Caesar. This had to be a mistake.

This saber was clearly not the man who was worth her effort.

He ignored the shred in his heart and stepped forward. "No! Please, you don't understa-"

"I understand enough! This… This is appalling! I seriously just want to die looking at you!" She yelled, causing the saber to wince very visibly.

"Cleopatra!"

Without another word or upheld grace, she ran down the hallway before slowly disappearing into spiritual form. As her face vanished, her tears of disappointment slipped to the ground among the disintegrating dust, unseen by the two men. But Caesar would not have seen anyway, as he fell to his knees on the spot. He too did not care at that moment of his status or title, only that his wish had shattered into pieces before his eyes.

The master could only stare at the back of the proud saber in pity, even if he didn't want any. Cleopatra had seen him after he had tried so hard to avoid her for two days since learning of her arrival. There were no tears of sadness, because that's not who the great Caesar was. However, the broken and defeated look on his face was also a far cry from the great Roman hero. Listening to only the sound of his slowing heartbeat, and his rough breathing, the saber felt content to just kneel there in shame.

Gudao had been looking at the saber's back with a frown. What Caesar had approached him about was no small matter, and the male master had been sympathetic for his plight. After the most recent display, he was certain this was something he should not be the one to handle. Negotiations and combat strategies were his forte, not helping with intimate social problems between other people…

Gabrielle on the other hand…

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

Fragment 25: All Roads Lead to You

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

The Roman saber stared into his wine glass as he idly tilted it, swirling the liquid within while waiting for dinner. His eyes was a thousand kilometers away, yet his mind rested with a servant within Chaldea's arms; How he wished she were actually within his embrace. Caesar sighed as the red liquid swirled gently in its container, silently musing how this was likely what he deserved. He had no control over what class he was summoned into, nor the material body granted by his legend. It was only now that he truly began to hate it, his former pride crushed beneath the judging words of the one he loved.

"My child, this isn't like you. What has happened?"

Caesar looked with mild surprise towards Romulus. With a thin smile he shook his head. "It's nothing… I'm just thinking too much lately."

"Something… wrong…" Caligula grunted through his mad enhancement.

"Yes. It is very clear it has gotten worse today." He looked across the table at Altera, clothed in a white blouse, while she stared into his soul. There was a hint of curiosity, but more concern, in her eyes. A few months ago, they were filled with challenge and disappointment, a far cry from how the two of them were now. To think the great Attila the Hun would one day be sitting among many of Rome's finest and be able to call them friends… Yet here she was now, just as worried as the two male emperors who flanked him at dinner.

"I do not wish to speak of this matter any further." He sighed, bring the glass to his mouth to sip-

"Cleopatra talked with you, didn't she?" Altera remained stalwart and defiant as he lowered the glass with narrowed eyes

"Love… of… Mediterranean…"

Romulus' face grew more concerned. "The famed lovers… surely she was happy to-"

To the table's surprise, Caesar's frustration doubled as he roughly placed the wine glass back onto the table. With grit teeth, and pain in his eyes, he addressed them all quietly yet firmly. "I will be excusing myself for tonight."

"Wait, my chil-" Romulus couldn't even finish the sentence before the saber dematerialized into golden dust. The act drew a few looks from surrounding tables, causing extra murmurs to erupt. With a discontent sigh, the lancer shook his head and looked towards his remaining dinner companions. Caligula looked about as emotionally expressive as the berserker could ever get, but his continued stare towards the saber's empty seat said everything. Altera's concern showed in her eyes only, but she was usually very conservative about displaying her feelings anyway.

"Altera… Do you have any details on this confrontation?"

She shook her head. "I only know of the Fashionista Pharaoh's interests thanks to Nero… so I can only assume she had some choice words for Caesar's body."

Romulus sighed. "So even if they were lovers, superficial qualities remain paramount. She is indeed the diva the rumors are saying."

"I wish to help Caesar."

The two Romans stared towards Altera. The concern was still there, but was now overshadowed by the palpable determination that cascaded from her eyes. All of them knew very well how the saber often got when she set her mind on something, especially when it came to her well-established friends. "As do I… but how?"

She simply nodded. "I have a few ideas I wish to try tomorrow."

"I'm back! My chat with Tamamo was a little long, but was fun, so I won't apologize!" Nero happily chirped as the toga wearing saber took her seat next to Altera. As she placed her napkin back onto her lap, she realized the sudden missing presence. She frowned quickly. "…Where's Caesar?"

Altera shook her head. "I will tell you at yoga tomorrow… Until then, please, let us enjoy a nice dinner."

Footsteps quickly approached them, earning the glances of the booth as Gabrielle approached in her master uniform with a firm expression. By the quickness of her approach, and the strong eye contact, it was clear she had something in mind. It was apparent the conversation was going to happen now.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ III ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"Where are the Britons? I thought there was a surprise football game that involved us?"

Caesar was wearing the only set of gym clothes he owned, which consisted of some oversized red shorts and a black shirt; Both had only been worn twice. Nero had always tried to convince him to join them at the gym, even so much as getting him the clothes he never requested in the first place. She had given up rather quickly, but would have been delighted to know Romulus and Altera managed to convince him to come for once… or rather, deceived him into doing so.

The overweight Roman Emperor was many things, but he was not stupid. The clues were obvious. He had asked the questions rhetorically, for a battle between nations was not something conducted lightly in Chaldea; Respect was shown by giving ample time and knowledge to any partakers, as well as possibly garner some spectators. Regardless, his mood was sour, and if they wished to do something curious, it was leagues better than moping in his room. Gods knows he had done far too much of that already after hearing his beloved Cleopatra's brutally rending words.

"There isn't." Altera spoke flatly as she stared at him in battle attire. The saber sighed, knowing full well where this was going. "I'm sorry for tricking you, but we wish to help you with your problem."

His pride would not allow it. He had already suffered a devastating defeat only yesterday, and the mighty war leader could not handle another. Cleopatra had been clear to him, and there was no way to change that with his current material body. His war was over until a memorial essence possibly arrived. "I do not require any help with-"

"I believe you do, Caesar," Romulus declared, earning a curious glance from the saber. There were a few females on the outskirts eyeing his combat outfit with obvious interest, but his attention remained with his dear companion. "You're holding your head lower and lower, something a Roman Emperor should never do. So we will help you raise your spirits again. We will return the shine of Roma onto your presence!"

He sighed again. "I am aware and understand the two of you mean well, but this is something I must handle myself."

"We are helping you whether you like it or not," Altera ended flatly. To his surprise, Romulus nodded as well. "Caligula will be here shortly. Do you accept our help?"

Caesar remained silent as he studied the two. Normally, he would use his oratory skills to the top of its abilities to persuade them otherwise. With a slow heartbeat, he begrudgingly acknowledged that he was nowhere being his usual, confident self. Those words Cleopatra spoke only yesterday repeated endlessly in his head, but as he stood before his determined friends, its purpose changed. A slight glimmer of hope rested with the ridiculous idea he presumed they had in store. Judging by the clothing, he knew what was about to occur, and as ludicrous as it was… he placed his bets on it.

The man was used to being against the odds, after all. What was one more impossibility? "Alright, alright… Yes... If it is to make Cleopatra content with me, I shall agree to this… What will you have me do?"

Their simultaneous, mischievous smiles quickly unnerved him.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IV ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

With the holidays around the corner, the Clothing Department was in full swing once more.

In the spacious, mirrored fitting room, Cleopatra had her arm raised to the side as Medea made small adjustments to the worn cloth. The caster had begun helping her dear friend in the Clothing Department a lot more recently, especially with the present rush. Thankfully she didn't mind, and Vlad occasionally came in as well to help speed workflow with the rest of the staff. But the most recent addition, Cleopatra herself as a volunteered model, had been quite the surprise after she barged in with a conceited tone that radiated her Egyptian dominance. But it was suddenly different from yesterday.

Today it was forced.

Medea silently eyed the pharaoh as she stood in her normally proud demeanor, all the while fixing any potential issues with the lace of the modeled blue gown. It was a small prototype for a new line Naomi was going to offer soon, and one that the modelling volunteer was allowed to keep for themselves after any kinks are worked out; Keeping unique clothing she liked was the main reason Cleopatra had volunteered. The supervisor shook her head at how some of the lacing on the straps looked off. Two needles with thread swiftly approached Cleopatra, though she did not even blink as they began remodeling the top as Medea fixed the bow at the waist.

The assassin was very much lost in thought, not having said a single word as compared to the day before when she had been her usual self; Even with her newfound patience, it had visibly grated and tested Medea's nerves. However, not a single prideful word or statement had been uttered since she arrived and changed into the prototype gown. Naomi, stressed and overloaded with the orders recently, appreciated the silence greatly as her eyes darted to a nearby clock.

The assassin knew the caster was understandably more curious, because heroic spirits do not just abandon who they were within a day. Something big had happened to Cleopatra, but she didn't know Medea. She would not tell her something so personal that pained every fiber in he-

"Cleopatra!" A familiar voice called from outside.

The room quieted down for a split second, only to continue unabated as footsteps swiftly approached the fitting room. Naomi sighed to herself, rubbing a hand over her face as her manipulated needles retreated for a brief second. With a steeled expression, she quickly redoubled her efforts to fix the strap while Medea shot a consoling look to her friend. The door to the specialized fitting room was quickly wrenched open by an empress in a red sundress. It was a good thing it wasn't locked, otherwise they would have to call engineering to fix the broken lock… again.

"Nero, can it please wait? We're making good ti-"

"I can't allow this to wait, Naomi!" Nero declared as she quickly rounded the modelling servant to stand between her and the large mirror.

The supervisor groaned as Medea got up and gently grasped her forearm. "It seems important. Let's work on some of the main orders in the meantime."

"No! We can't! T-The schedule! The gown design needs to be ready for the After Christma-"

Medea chuckled as glimpses of her once absurdly strict and orderly nature began to pop out once more; They always did when stressed. "They'll be done, even if we have to call Vlad in more often to help."

With no way to escape the servant's much more powerful grasp, Naomi simply whimpered in defeat as they disappeared out the door. As it shut behind them, Cleopatra met Nero's eyes blankly. The empress placed her arms akimbo, staring into the soul of the assassin as she breathed slowly and quietly. "I have been told of what transpired yesterday."

Cleopatra faced forward and sighed gently. Thinking about yesterday was not on her to do list. Every hopeful ray of sunshine in her heart had been ravaged by a terrible storm, wrecking the pristine shores of her cherished dream. Caesar was in Chaldea, but he was not the man she remembered. He did not appear as her glorious, beloved Roman Emperor who stole her breath with every word and action.

Instead, she was at a loss. The ever proud and mighty Pharaoh of Egypt had been crushed once more by the weight of troubled love. It was not a degrading and pained tear between two lovers, but the realization the one she believed in was not even a shadow of his former self. She was still in denial about what she had seen, but that did not keep her from a painful night in her room crying herself to sleep. She didn't even care if her neighbors heard, for she was definitively devastated.

Which was why there was only one proper response for the Empress. "There is nothing that we shall discuss."

"There is much that we shall discuss, Cleopatra."

Cleopatra sighed and crossed her arms. "I've only known you for-"

"Three days, but I've known Caesar for far longer, but you even more so."

She narrowed her eyes and sighed. Though the image of him reviled her, she couldn't ignore the spear that tore through her heart. "So then you're present on his behalf… I see he does not wish to personal-"

Nero frowned at the clear disappointment in her speech. "I am here on his behalf, but of my own accord. He does not know I'm here."

She ignored the fact she had been interrupted twice, partially since she got along rather well with the empress. The saber had somehow gotten word of the incident, and she wondered if it was Caesar or the male master to tell her of it. There had been two of those robots in the hallway, but those mechanical contraptions never talked about anything save for their routines and protocols anyway. She would have to find out later exactly who had informed her, but for now, she would at least lend an ear to her newfound acquaintance.

"I'm here because you never gave Caesar a chance… yet it is your wish to be with him again. So as I declared before, there is much that we shall discuss."

Cleopatra didn't know Nero that well, but from what she's heard around Chaldea, she can be very upfront and overbearing; It was usually meant well, apparently. There was no doubt she meant well, but this was not her problem. This was a personal dilemma that should only stay between her and Caesar, though it had already been resolved. Regardless of the truth of the matter, that clearly wasn't going to stop Nero from making her opinion known.

With another sigh, she relented. "… Then I demand we do it in private... or at least, not here."

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ V ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"Keep running, Caesar!"

"This is not what I had in mind!"

Caesar was running around the track of the gymnasium as countless observers watched in total enjoyment. With both hands grasping the limbs of the larger Romulus, Caesar ran with him in a fireman's carry. Romulus, chuckling in amusement, looked back as Altera ran behind them with her sword at the ready. To see two large servants running from the King of Combat in her revealing clothes was already worthy of pictures, but to the spectators' delight, it was simply the icing on the cake; Altera wasn't the one Caesar was worried about, rather, she was the one keeping them safe.

"Roman oppressors! I will catch you!" Spartacus yelled with his creepy smile as the muscular, gray servant charged after them.

Of all the people she had to choose, she had to grab the unruly Spartacus. The man knew nothing but rebellion, and he had a particular love for chasing the Roman servants when he could. How many times had he run from the angry former slave? He couldn't blame the man for how he felt, but that didn't stop him from being exasperated and annoyed at how straightforward he was. At least a battle-ready Caligula ran behind the bigger berserker as a fail safe.

The female saber glanced back to see Spartacus and Caligula closing the distance slightly. "He's gaining on you. Do you want that, Caesar?"

"Of course not!" He replied, far more panicked than he would have liked, as he increased his strides. The chubby saber pumped his legs, but only maintained the distance between him and the berserker. Truthfully, he had that safety net of Chaldea's no violence policy in mind, so he currently had no palpable fear of Spartacus' usual chase. With the female master nearby, there was definitely no worry should they need to convince the former slave to halt his actions of his own accord. Unfortunately, it appeared Altera understood this.

"I apologize for this, Caesar." With a serious expression, she gazed into his back. He looked behind him and caught her apologetic stare as she stated, "...I saw Cleopatra walking besides Iskandar this morning."

"…What!?" Within a second, the muscles in his arms tensed. Caesar felt both sadness and a boiling anger as he ran, causing even Romulus to stop chuckling. Altera sighed, though whether in relief or sadness he couldn't tell at the moment. He was unsure if she had told a half truth, similar to what the Roman General may have done himself. He had honestly glimpsed that scene himself but refused to think about it. She had already moved on, and it was painful to acknowledge. They had indeed been walking rather close, with Cleopatra seemingly interested. It was the fuel to his new resolve.

Iskandar and Caesar had talked many times about strategy and war. There was a mutual respect between them as leaders, one which he appreciated greatly. For him to take his girl from her... it was offensive. He felt betrayed, almost as terribly as when Brutus and the other stabbed him from behind. The pain was amplified, but his legs would not give out. He was a Roman leader, and they do not falter under adversity. Instead, the newfound pain forged him forward.

He had been through worse. He had fought harder for littler gains. However, he would not loose Cleopatra! Her words had stung, but he could not sink in that pit of despair. Caesar had led many great campaigns, and this would be just another. He would succeed in proving he was truly worthy to be with her in some way, but first he had to get through their strange way of distracting his mind. He missed Altera and Romulus' shared smirk as he ran faster out of sheer anger.

Gabrielle groaned on the sidelines, command seal at the ready. She sat in gray yoga pants and a loose, white shirt while Scathach leaned against the wall beside her; Her own, skin tight battle attire showed she was ready to act at a moment's notice. With the tiniest hints of a smirk, the lancer watched Caesar run. At least she was enjoying it, rather than the down spirited master who would likely rather be doing other things on her day off.

"This is not what I had in mind…"

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

Candle light flickered within the luxurious room, lighting no one save for the lone, muscular man in a red woolen tunic. While his metal helmet with plume laid on the ornate, wooden desk, his cuirass remained in place to protect him. Light shined off the pommel of the gladius that rested in its sheath at the brunette's side, his toned arms crossed as he stared out the window. Green eyes darted across the legionnaires on the grounds, prepping their equipment for what battles may come tomorrow.

Caesar paced back and forth slowly within one of the palace's grand bedrooms. Some of his men informed him Ganymedes had poisoned the water supply, but Cleopatra assured him she knew of other outlets. A recent skirmish with his legionnaires, in an attempt to increase the buffer zone, came under prolonged attack near the Library of Alexandria. They had managed to pull back with minimal casualties, and delivered the news of sabotage thanks to the previous viewpoint. His hopes rested with the messenger that was snuck out of the siege a week ago, and his newfound ally who entered his life on an unrolled carpet.

To say the general was love struck was an understatement; He practically fell for her the instant she delivered that warm smile towards him. Negotiation tactics or not, he had willingly let her in, which was no doubt a main reason for the Roman's current predicament. But he did not regret it. As he stared across the moonlit courtyard, eyeing his centurions as they did their inspections, he eagerly waited for her return, good news or not.

The wooden door creaked open, causing the candle-made shadows to flicker across the fresco walls. The woman stepped in, her luxurious white dress covering her entire body but leaving her arms bare. A golden piece covered Cleopatra's shoulders, matching a belt that tapered the dress above the waist. Her golden bangles clinked gently on her arm as she approached Caesar. The man turned to face her with a welcoming smile, even if his eyes looked tired, which she gladly returned as her heartbeat increased.

"You waited in armor."

"Had you been a minute late, I would have searched myself."

Cleopatra giggled, and thankfully her warm smile remained. "My loyal workers are cutting new wells. We will have fresh water by tomorrow morning."

"That's good news, for once," he joked dryly as he stared out the window once more. "Your brother has been a tad more vocal tonight..."

She sighed, and took a few steps towards him. "I still believe you should have left for reinforcements as I declared… Ever since the banquet-"

"I am not abandoning you, Cleopatra," his voice boomed quietly, in a way only he could do. Her eyes remained fixed to him as he turned back once more. "We will see this through. For the glory of Rome and Egypt, I will ensure you take your rightful place."

"Your men are growing tired, Caesar. While I'm flattered you would do this for me, there's only so much four thousand can do against five times their number."

"I am confident reinforcements will be coming to assist." He slowly walked towards her.

She shook her head. "Not if they arrive by sea. Ganymedes has burned the ships in the harbor, and he-"

She stopped talking as he gently took her right hand in his, lifting it gently to his face to stare at her golden jewelry. Two bangles rested on her right wrist, but another from that morning was missing. "What happened to the third one?"

Surprised, and partially annoyed, at his sudden change of conversation, she huffed quietly. "If you must know so urgently, it was damaged by a careless servant."

"Then I will acquire you a new one to replace it."

With a slight lift of her eyebrows, she eyed him carefully. "An exact match? Do not play lightly with your words, Caesar. I am very particular with my jewelry."

"I do not understand why, since any jewelry would be more exquisite if worn by you."

With an erratic heartbeat, she watched as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. Once more, as only he could do, she lost control as her cheeks lightly flushed. Like a flash, the memory was embedded as she admired his strong smile, coupled with equally sharp features, as he stared at her confidently. In the same manner as when they first met, she had lost her ability to properly control the other party in negotiations; To be fair, they had both lost to each other at first glance.

"I have to check with my centurions about tonight's patrols. Get some rest. I shall see you in the morning, Cleopatra."

With one final nod and a smile that nearly made her shiver, he left her room with gentle clinks of his armor. Holding an amused smile on her face, with the faint hint of a blush, she watched the door close behind him and shook her head. To calm her concern, he had diverted her attention for the briefest of moments. Of course, she was still worried about the entire situation. Her own life was on the line, but so was the Roman General that captured her heart.

She smiled. "Julius Caesar…"

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

With a heavy heart, Cleopatra sat within the walls of the Pyramid, as the Egyptian room had come to be called. Fingers mindlessly fiddled with one of the bangles on her right wrist. A ghost of a smile crossed her sorrowful face, silently thanking the throne that the third one had been a part of her battle attire. The third one, easily as ornate as the two below it, really did shine that much brighter in her eyes. Even as Ozymandias entered, dressed in his own combat clothing, she did not glance away.

"Your fighting technique displayed in that practice was spectacular, Cleopatra! Your attacks shine like the sun! You carry yourself and dance across the battlefield with such composed grace and dominance! Indeed, as expected of one of Egypt's finest pharaohs!"

"Coming from the greatest, I am honored," she smiled back, though it lacked a noticeable amount of her usual pride. Ozymandias noticed, much to her chagrin, but thankfully said nothing.

With a smirk and nod, he turned towards one end of the room and walked towar- Her eyebrows raised slightly. Before she could get lost in recent thoughts, both from an inquisitive Nero and her recent discovery involving Caesar, she had glanced the unusual object that now rested on the table. Had she been too busy to not notice it recently thanks to all the recent events? If Nitocris noted the sudden appearance of the religious object, she would have surely been curious as well.

After all, it wasn't exactly Ancient Egyptian religion to be lighting a candle on a Menorah.

It was very clear by his slight hesitations, and indecisive movements, that he had no idea which candle to light or when. Holding a separate candle in one hand, his face remained contemplative as he visibly tried to recall something; She understood religious traditions were hardly a priority piece of information provided by the grail or throne. With a sigh, he laughed heartily. Cleopatra mentally guessed, despite his progress, he was still the great pharaoh who was too prideful to ask for assistance or information; So was she.

"I'm not sure how the gods would see this…" she decided to tease.

He turned to her with a fond smile. "With understanding eyes, I hope. I thought I'd try this… an act of remembrance. I learned of the concept from Amakusa."

"Like a memorial?"

The rider nodded as he appeared to light a random candle this day. "One does it in their honor, in hopes they have good fortune."

Cleopatra nodded slowly, quickly putting the pieces together to form the picture. A small smile graced her face, knowing the biblical tale of a prophet and a pharaoh. It was clear who Ozymandias was doing this for, but it still surprised her. The information gifted to her was that they did not get along, but it was clearly a different story. Here he was, lighting a religious symbol for someone who should have been considered an enemy for what he brought upon Egypt. Yet for everything that was done, the pharaoh still saw him as a friend to remember.

Then there was her, who had cast aside a love of her life so willfully. So many words of endearment and love-filled nights that ended in a sleeping embrace, only to be marred by her own harsh language. His new form was grotesque to her eyes, and it was only natural for her to feel that way; She loved the visual form, but the belief undoubtedly made her petty. It was a flaw, which is something a pharaoh should not have. It was something so very trivial compared to what terrible sin and offense he had gladly forgiven with a hopeful smile.

With her small smile vanishing, she realized she still had a long way to go to see the grace and height of the pharaoh before her. "What was he like?"

Ozymandias chuckled. "Not as perfect as the world makes him seem… but that's why my half-brother was perfect."

Confused, she stared at him as he turned to face her. "We pharaohs are perfection personified… but the same cannot be said for everyone else. No matter how great, they will never reach our heights, but that is to be expected. Still, there comes the rare few who show they are perfect in ours eyes, regardless of flaws… You have one yourself, do you not, Cleopatra?"

With a proud smirk, he nodded towards her before walking towards the exit. "I shall return… There is a card game happening in the salon I was invited to, and I must affirm Egyptian domination in the name of us pharaohs."

Giggling quietly, but forcefully, she nodded towards Ozymandias with a half-hearted smile. Thankfully he did not notice as the doors swung closed behind him, allowing Cleopatra to sigh in discontent. His words had far more meaning for her than he could have realized, sending her once more into a confused meltdown.

There was no denying her feelings. She absolutely loved Caesar, which was why the revelation hurt her so badly. Nero's inquisitive conversation yesterday left much to be desired, and her open invite to meet her in the salon between select hours remained. With the choice in her hands, she did not appear yesterday, nor did she wish to this afternoon either. What was there to talk about when she was clearly divided? The man she had come to love turned into everything her eyes held disgusting.

Once more, the doors parted and allowed Nitocris into the room. With a satin white strapless, she slowly walked towards the table and noticed the fellow pharaoh's down-turned mood. It was too late to conceal it, even as Cleopatra forced a smile and a quiet greeting to the other female. The caster simply looked at her in concern.

"Cleopatra? May I ask what's bothering you?"

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VIII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"Keep your back straight, Caesar! Do these correctly!" Romulus laughed heartily from their spot in the center of the gymnasium. Day two was already as interesting.

"Why are these only getting more dangerous!?"

"If you have breath to question, you have breath to keep working hard!" Altera growled as she swung her rainbow sword dangerously towards his legs. He leapt over it.

He ducked beneath another strike, very concerned by how close it came to actually hitting him; Perhaps a few hairs on his head were a little shorter. Still, he kept doing the squats with the two loaded barbells balanced carefully on his shoulders. He would occasionally jump or duck underneath random strikes, as Altera, Caligula, and Romulus swung their weapons swiftly at him from any side.

They circled him like hawks in their battle attire, serious faces eyeing him with both determination and fiery resolve. The female saber swung, forcing him to jump as the lancer thrust his weapon into his flight path. Caligula threw a seeping leg kick, but the saber leapt over it with a grunt. Using absurd agility, that looked equally as unbelievable, Caesar tucked, flipped, and dodged both.

"Good! Another hour more and we shall start the next one, my child!" Romulus complimented, earning a groan from the saber. "We will have you back to your confident self in no time! And perhaps, a few pounds less!"

Their idea with helping him with forced physical exercise... It was a ridiculous notion at its core, since no amount of exercise would actually benefit a heroic spirit's material body. Containers and saint graphs simply didn't shift with physical exertion, and all they were doing was forcing him to burn excess mana which would likely be questioned by the masters. It frustrated him, and yet regardless of how asinine this activity was, he found himself convinced to return for this second day. At least today he wasn't being chased by an overzealous Spartacus.

Irritation was no longer pointed at himself, but rather at his two companions. They were making this excessively difficult, but he finally concluded its difficulty was the point. With every swipe and lunge, they continued to keep his mind from more depressing thoughts. Frustration was mounting against the current situation, and not with what happened with Cleopatra. Rather, when he did think of how she reacted, he felt more compelled to continue this practically worthless training seminar. For the several hours each day they did this, they successfully distracted him.

Deep down, he secretly hoped against the impossible, and that this would cause him to shed weight. Caesar just wanted to make her happy.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IX ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

Nero sat on one of the plush sofas in the salon. With a few hours until dinner, she waited once more on the couch to see if Cleopatra would accept her invitation to talk. It was already two days after the first confrontation with her, and as much of a reputation as she had in the Clothing Department, Nero didn't want to take too much time from Naomi's work. Sadly, it seemed the pharaoh did not wish to talk two days ago, but she anticipated it by giving a time frame she would be in the salon each day. Truthfully, she never stayed here to begin with, but for her fellow emperor's sake she would gladly be patient.

As time ticked by, she appeared to be ready to give up for this day as well. Dantes had disappeared from his sofa, leaving her alone among the windows, with just the French servants manning the bar and vacuuming robots as remaining company. With a sigh, she smoothed her red blouse and black pencil skirt before casually getting to her feet. She watched the snow falling for another few second before she turned aroun-

The saber obviously forgot Cleopatra was an assassin with presence concealment as she found herself staring at the Egyptian beauty only a few meters away. She had one hand on her hip, and stood regally in her black wrap dress with matching leggings. The firm stare she was giving the empress, coupled with her posture, made her appear both frustrated and dominating; It was a far cry from how she truly felt. The pharaoh's even more prideful attitude to others, more than even her usual, was simply masking her uncertainty and disappointment, but that was not something she hoped Nero would not bring up immediately.

"You came…" Nero observed in surprise.

Cleopatra nodded slowly then sighed. "…I'm surprised I did too… I will admit, it was rude of a pharaoh to keep another ruler waiting… I apologize."

"It's fine. I acknowledge we're not exactly friends yet but… I just wish to help both of you."

"So it seems. I'm still unsure how you're going to do that but… if the great pharaoh can give others a chance, then it is only proper I follow his example. I will give you audience, Empress Nero."

"Umu~! Let us be seated then."

Quickly, the girls took seats on the sofa, while Nero gave ample space for the pharaoh. Her prideful demeanor remained, only amplified by Nero's own as she crossed her legs. Cleopatra glanced towards the empress before casually looking away, still uncertain about where this diplomatic meeting would turn. She had often worked with envoys, and negotiating with other powerful figures was one of her specialties. From smaller nations to great leaders like Caes- no… She couldn't think of him at this moment. It pained her too much to do so, and it was paramount she should not show further weakness in front of another leader.

"I will not waste our time. From what I understand, as an admirer of beautiful things, Caesar's current form is everything you despise."

"That is… partially correct. Not everything…" She admitted, earning a blank gaze from Nero. The pharaoh met her stare evenly. At Nitocris' suggestion, she had decided to accept Nero's open invitation for a meeting; It appears even the other female Egyptian believed this was best. There was no harm in seeing what was to be said, but she was at the negotiation's disadvantage. While it was common place to play cards carefully, her hand was already clearly exposed. She would be truthful.

"I will not lie… that… overweight form is repulsive. My entire being screams upon sight of its ugliness… but his familiar voice is what led me to him. There was no mistaking that voice for anything."

"So there are still qualities you love about him."

"I loved everything about him," Cleopatra declared firmly, though sighed. She looked away and clenched her fists as the horrendous image of her lover assaulted her mind, screaming against every standard of beauty she held dear. "…That's why it's so difficult to see him as he is now. So… So…"

"Beautiful."

"…What!?"

Cleopatra looked at Nero skeptically, not bothering to hide her discontent. The empress simply stared at her as a robot casually placed tea on the coffee table for both of them. Taking a few moments to pour them the drink, Nero handed her companion her cup and saucer as she took her own. Even while the pharaoh continued to stare in silence, Nero gazed out into the falling snow outside. With a small sigh, she simply held the cup in her hand.

"Caesar is beautiful. His life and outlook have defined his grace. Even now, in a form he never wished for, he fights and lives as he once did. Many have laughed at his overweight stature, though none would deny how he moves with the refinement of any of the muscular heroes. It is mysterious how he can move so agile with such a form, but I have simply seen it as beautiful. When the odds are set against him, he shines once more as he had in your time."

Cleopatra's gaze softened as Nero took a small sip of her tea, glad to hear he acted as he always did. The steam continued to float from the surface, swirling its reflection in the eyes of the Empress as she continued. "Umu... Against such adversity and negative reactions, he carries himself with admirable pride and confidence… Which is why it was very clear to me you could be the only one to break him so severely."

The empress turned to look blankly at Cleopatra, a silent reassurance she held her responsible, but did not denounce her for it. The pharaoh was thankful, as her heart panged against its constraints within her chest. Confliction was mixed with uncertainty and heartbreak. In her own instinctual disgust and sadness, she had openly shown her reaction to Caesar's face. The last image of his chubby but soft face was soon mixed with the possibilities of ensuing depression and anguish.

To her inner horror, she realized she had likely dealt a vicious blow to his pride. Oh by the gods... why hadn't she thought of that sooner!? Was she that selfish? He was supposed to be her loved one, and she had been so unbearably harsh and vain! She was supposed to be the master of negotiating, but she had openly committed such a vile act through impulsive action and speech... A true pharaoh would have never been that discourteous regardless of how disappointed they were!

"I… I hurt… There's no way I could have possibly-"

Nero slowly nodded her head. "Caesar took it terribly. I haven't seen him ever mope so much… and that is truly disgusting."

"But his confidence… It's unshakeable! How could I have possibly hurt him… Angered and frustrated, but he has never been depressed." The assassin simply stared as Nero smiled somberly.

"You're not the only one with an 'absurd little selfish wish,' as you called your own, Cleopatra," she spoke softly, carefully ensuring there was no hint of pride or unwanted emotion; Nero obviously didn't want anything to sound insulting. It worked, as the pharaoh stared in even more uncertainty. "You were also his personal wish."

Her heart leapt for joy, only to fall atop the rending stakes once more. "…I was his wish?"

Nero sighed. "I shouldn't say anything... but I will deal with the consequences as opposed to watching this tragic play..."

She did have a point. For someone else to reveal Caesar's wish to her was nowhere in her rights, even as a friend and fellow leader of the Roman Empire. But Cleopatra wanted to know, and Nero clearly was ready to face the music. She didn't know her well, but Cleopatra knew enough to realize Nero was someone who followed her passionate heart regardless of where it led. With pride shining brightly, Nero faced her firmly and laid the the bricks that would pave the way for her future reconciliation with the man she had come to love.

"To reunite with Cleopatra and recognize both her and Caesarion… Yes, you are his wish. That was Caesar's wish for the true holy grail if he ever got his hands upon it." Nero looked to the Egyptian with calm eyes, watching as her companion's own fought between joyous realization and horrified understanding.

'And I…' To think it was not only her dream that had been crushed in that instance. He had also wanted to see her. No, he wanted much more than that and it crushed her further. In her moment of total revulsion, she had failed to withhold her true feelings. Dissatisfied would best describe her inner diplomat, but distress is what surged through every muscle and nerve within. Her wish had failed to manifest in its complete form, and so she unknowingly denied him of his own.

What's worse, is she's kept him like this for a few days without a single thought. Where was the courteous pharaoh who loved him unconditionally and placed him first, just as he did for her? She was questioning herself, but her resolve was building. Nero watched the fires ignite through her eyes, and pressed further.

"With that body, you don't see him as beautiful, but I do. I, too, am fond of pretty men and women as you are, but I also see there are many forms of beautiful things in this world, Cleopatra. All I ask, for the sake of yourself and Caesar, is for you to give him another chance."

While her heart tore at itself, Cleopatra desperately wanted to give him a second chance. Besides Mark Anthony, which, to be fair, could have possibly been a rebound love interest at its core, Caesar was the one who gave her everything. But every time she thought of him physically, her body shivered for the worst reasons. She was being judgmental, this was undeniable, and she didn't bother to mask it to herself. From her own standards and outlook on beauty, she could not lie about what he had become… but he was still the man who could be her everything again.

As a minute passed, she remained in silent turbulent thought, and Nero sighed.

"I knew it wouldn't be as easy as that… Stand, Cleopatra. We will be off, and there's much to see."

Without any approval from the other spirit, Nero stood and grasped the pharaoh by her wrist. "Where are you taking me?

"Altera and Romulus are trying their best to lift his spirits and renew his resolve, but it's been slow… I merely want you to witness for yourself that the man you love is as beautiful as he always was, if not more."

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ X ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"You're growing sluggish, Caesar!"

Cleopatra stared from their hidden spot on the saddle. Nero had her own concealment cloak, which looked more like a fluffy white coat, that both concealed her like the assassin next to her and kept her warm; Servants weren't affected by temperature, but Xuanzang, the empress, and a few others really brought that fact into question for some. Through the veil of snow, they watched silently as the male saber was assailed by Altera and Romulus at the same time.

Caesar yelped as one of the opposing saber's attacks struck too close, creating a shallow cut down the side of his arm and forcing his guard open. The assassin felt her heart heave more than her stomach as she watched the overweight emperor pick himself up, his arm bleeding severely. The opponents waited until he was back on his feet before attacking again. Caesar raised his guard-

Schlick! He groaned as one of Romulus' thrusts glanced off his attempted parry and tore through the fabric at his side, causing a serious, but nowhere near fatal, injury. With heavy breathing, he gripped the new wound with his free hand as he fell to one knee. With no chance for respite, he was forced back as Caligula dropped from the heavens, cratering the ground where Caesar once knelt. With a groan, he collapsed to his knee again.

"CAESAR...! RISE!" Caligula demanded. They had never been this aggressive in their training until minutes ago when they suddenly suggested combat training.

"Don't…" Cleopatra found herself whispering, drawing a blank glance from the empress.

Nero was right. There was no doubt in her mind as she looked upon his unwavering determination, that he definitely was still the man she fell in love with. His body was heavier, but those eyes filled with resolve proved everything. It was just a training, granted one that had gotten very violent, but he still faced it with his whole being. She watched as he grit his teeth, slowly forcing himself up.

"Roman Emperors stand to the last! You are truly Julius Caesar, are you not!?" Romulus boomed over a gust of wind.

As the snow brushed his face, Cleopatra watched as Caesar wavered slightly on his feet, but showed no signs of backing down. "I am!"

Cleopatra blinked, noticing any revulsion of his form was being smothered by her total concern for his wellbeing. Nero noticed the glint in her eyes and sighed; Their show was not supposed to get this violent. "It's been like this for days. He's been training in hopes of changing himself to be worthy in your eyes again."

"But that's not how material bodies work… yet…"

"He knows this. At first it was reluctance, but now Caesar is holding on to that impossible, beautiful idea tha- Cleopatra! Wait!"

Nero, with a tiny smirk, found herself dashing after the assassin as she charged towards the trio. Caesar had just gotten to his feet, and Altera had her weapon placed in front of her as it began to spin; She was charging her noble phantasm! Romulus and Caligula simply watched on her flanks, ready to bat away any attack from Caesar to allow the female saber to charge unhindered. But Cleopatra was quicker, and she gracefully landed in front of Caesar with a vicious glare locked on Altera. Nero landed nearby, looking between the two groups in anticipation.

"Cleopatra…?" Caesar breathed as she continued to scowl at the offending servants.

"I am partially familiar with Roman training, so unless this is that Huns' idea of practice, this is going too far! How dare you hurt my Caesar!"

"He agreed to this," Altera replied flatly, stopping the charge of her blade. She planted it gently at her feet as Cleopatra continued to glare. "He was doing it for you."

"Trying... for... Cleopatra..." Caligula agreed while crossing his arms.

Quietly, Cleopatra turned around to look at the wounded saber. He looked down in shame with closed eyes, forcing his auto-healing to activate faster so she wouldn't be even more appalled. With mixed emotions of joy and sadness, he kept himself turned even as he heard footsteps slowly approach him. Eyes only opened when he felt the gentle touch of a hand on his wounded arm. He looked down to see Cleopatra staring at the injury as it visibly healed.

"Once more… you endangered yourself… for me?"

He sighed as she refused to make eye contact. "I'm alright… but I may have taken it too far this time."

"Yes, you did. You're unbelievable sometimes," she chastised quietly as the injury finally vanished. There was a ghost of a smile on her face. "… It really is you."

"I did not wish for this form," he proclaimed in a hurry. "But I have no choice. I was searching for ways to change this so-"

"I would be happy…" she finished for him sadly. "...Watching you get injured does not make me happy, regardless of how I feel about your… body's shape."

She finally looked up at him with a frown and a light glisten of tears in her eyes. He found himself without his voice once more. The great orator, speechless again in so few days. With slow breathing, he could only watch as Cleopatra shook her head. "Just stop… You already make me happy. I was just too fickle to realize how love is truly blind."

"You mean you-"

With noticeable hesitation and a slight cringe, she wrapped her arms as far as she could around the overweight saber's stomach, taking care to avoid the injured area. She didn't like the feeling, and her mind was partially disgusted with what she was holding in her embrace, but she ignored it. The assassin held still as Caesar's arms wrapped around her slender frame, and she enjoyed the warmth it caused her. It was clear to her that she had much to learn, and a lot to adapt to, but for the man who gave her the world, Cleopatra would do more than try.

Shaking off any remaining discontent with his weight, she closed her eyes and squeezed harder. "I am at fault for all of this… please forgive me, Caesar."

With a content smile, he chuckled. "You were just being the bold, beauty loving queen I fell in love with."

Cleopatra sniffled silently, though no tears fell. Snow gently fell around them as they forgot about the world and any lingering insecurities. As they continued their embrace, it was only when the sniffling increased that they opened their eyes to part. They gazed longingly at each other, but neither was crying, even if their eyes were glistening. Rather, they turned towards the others as a slow round of applause started from the suddenly gathered group. They looked at the increased numbers in surprise as Nero's sniffling mounted due to the threat of uninhibited crying.

"UMU~! That was so beautiful! Even more so because I helped!" Nero bawled out as tears quickly fell down her cheeks. Altera chuckled beside her while Romulus and Caligula laughed heartily. Gabrielle patted the Empress on the head, making her clench her fists before her in delight.

The newest arrivals, the two masters and Mashu, were wearing their standard Chaldean uniforms coupled with warm concealment cloaks. The white fluffy familiar rested happily on Mashu's shoulder, also with a cute cloak of its own. It was no wonder they were able to appear from seemingly out of nowhere as they clapped for the reunited couple. Slowly, the two servants approached the rest of the small group in curiosity. They were smart though, and it soon dawned on them what had happened. With a quick glance and embarrassed chuckles, the two looked at each other before turning back to the masters.

"First… Congratulations you two. And second, I'm sorry to say, unless a possible memorial essence brings a class change, there isn't a feasible way to adjust the material body," Gudao stated with a sympathetic smile. "I'll talk with Roman and Scathach again if there may be any other possibility."

"You were looking for a drastic way to change?" Cleopatra began as she looked to Caesar.

He nodded slowly. "Any possibility..."

So that's what he had been talking with Gudao about on that day. She felt even worse, but turned towards the two masters with newfound admiration. Barely a week into her stay, and he had already done much to help her- no, both of them. Perhaps she would have to give Ozymandias' newfound outlook a try, but her fashion sense was nonnegotiable. She had her pride as a Fashionista that would never be crushed.

"I must thank you, Master Gudao and Gabrielle. For everything."

He shook his head gently. "This was all Gabby's plan. I'm not good with this kind of strategy."

"I didn't expect them to be so rough though..." Gabrielle groaned as she tossed an annoyed look towards the offending trio. They chuckled.

"The most honest feelings surface when the danger is high. It had to be done for their sake," Altera nodded firmly. Caesar and Cleopatra did not seem as amused as Romulus.

"We'll have to have a talk with them later about unnecessary risks... I didn't think I had to be this specific..." After an exasperated sigh, Gabrielle smiled towards the two. "I'm just really glad it all worked out in the end! I have your friends to thank for being so cooperative and… creative. Even Iskandar and Ozymandias helped!"

"Iskandar...?" Caesar found himself mumbling, but was met with a happy nod from Gabrielle.

"Sorry, Caesar! It was supposed to be a jealousy thing to make you think something else!"

He turned to Cleopatra who squeezed his hand in reassurance. "I was unaware... Iskandar approached me and started boasting about my dedication to you. I was admittedly a downcast but he tried to cheer me up as a fellow pharaoh."

Gabrielle beamed as Caesar made a mental note to apologize and thank his fellow leader. "See? cooperative friends!"

"Anything for the sake of Rome and its allies!" Romulus boomed over the gust as Caligula released a roar of victory. With more chuckles slowly rising, he turned with the rest to see Nero cheeks turned into waterfalls.

Cleopatra and Caesar smiled at the empress. While Gabrielle had simply told her of the situation, she had accomplished much with the help of the others. The female pharaoh no longer held any slither of a doubt that she wished to be real friends with the beauty loving saber. "Nero… I don't know how to thank you."

"T-Thank me b-by being happy! B-But more praise w-would be great!" she whimpered with a smile, making her fellow Romans laugh. Fou chirped happily at the sight.

"Gladly." Cleopatra felt Caesar's arm wrap around her shoulders, and she suppressed the urge to shiver both from slight physical disgust, but mostly joy. She really did need to get used to this fast.

"I-I w-will f-forever rem-member t-t-this!" she whimpered with a happy grin. She looked around for a tissue, only to find Gudao as the closest possibility. Ramming her head into his chest, she openly wept in joy as a flabbergasted Gudao stared down. Mashu, though visibly jealous, looked unperturbed on his other side… until her eyes slowly widened. Gudao looked at her strangely before quickly shooting a glance towards the saddle.

Kiyohime glared towards him, and he felt his blood freeze. Gabrielle watched tentatively, as did many of the others, knowing full well how Kiyohime gets when there's excessive amounts of affection of any kind being shown. Cleopatra remained confused at the new development, while Nero was rubbing her head deeply into Gudao's chest with a tight embrace; This was definitely going to be a trigger. He raised his hands in a show of surrender, fully intent on doing everything possible to show-

The female berserker's eyes lightened, only to turn partially confused. Yet Kiyohime still glared, though her fidgeting increased. Suddenly in a mix of visible bewilderment and rage, she stomped out of sight and towards Chaldea. Though the moment between the two servants had been interrupted, no further violence erupted. Gabrielle had watched her carefully disappear with a slow nod before turning back to the others with a small smile.

"Well… Since we seemed to have dodged a bullet, how about we get back inside before my best friend and I turn into popsicles?"

"That'd be nice… but first…" Gudao, confused at Kiyohime's lack of violence, could only sigh and shake his head. There was still the sniffling empress. "Someone get Nero off me."

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ XI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"Seeing you unraveled was one of the highlights of my life."

Cleopatra giggled. "While I agree, I prefer our grand sail down the Nile. My people never stopped talking about it."

They chuckled together. Thankfully, the pharaoh found it easier to talk to him. To their delight, the masters had reserved a private table for their dinner that evening. Instead of a toga, Caesar wore a rather nice, red suit while Cleopatra kept to her wrap dress.

His pride almost fully restored, the saber was acting like the man she adored, and the assassin appreciated every moment of it. She could silently feel the eyes of the Egyptian and Roman tables on her, but she paid them no heed. Chaldea had granted them the wish they wanted, even if it was far from ideal in her perspective. His body would take a long time to get used to, and to her guilt, she didn't want to consider taking it to the bedroom just yet. Cleopatra knew she was being mentally unfair, but it was still too soon.

Time was needed to adapt, but she would follow through resolutely for him and make up for her terrible offense. With now unwavering resolve that could rival his, she would accept what has been given to her, since she had the rare chance to be with Caesar once more; It's just too bad Caesarion, the real last pharaoh, wasn't here as well. With warm eyes, and a renewed hope, she stared into the emperor's eyes as she took a sip from her wine. In the background, Mozart shifted keys as Jeanne began singing the last song of the evening before the main course was brought out.

~~Take me as I am~~
~~Put your hand in mine now and forever~~

As soon as the first words of the song left Jeanne's lips, the lyrics resonated with Cleopatra. She rolled her eyes, and fired a teasing smile his way.

~~Darling here I stand, stand before you now~~
~~Deep inside I always knew~~

"Really, Caesar? Did you request this?"

Her hand slowly reached across the table to rest in his own as Jeanne continued singing. The emperor simply chuckled. "I might have."

~~It was you, you and me~~
~~Two hearts drawn together bound by destiny~~

Yes… She had been wrong. He was clearly the man worth everything to her.