"C-Can't you just leave me alone and stop bullying me? I was just joking when we conversed in the arena. Can't you take a joke?" I complained, but the Empress continued to stare at me.

I already knew she wanted something from me, but what is it that she could want?

Connected to the soul? The only thing that is connected to the soul is skills, so what does she want-

I glanced at my status once more, and everything clicked into place, like the last piece in a puzzle.

Stolen Tundra Crown… Tundra Snake… A desperate Empress…

"Ah… So that's why you can't kill me," I muttered as my lips pursed into a wide, evil smile that caused the Empress to sweat a bit.

Her panicked expression was quickly plastered under a layer of confidence as if she was trying to hide the most important thing in the world to her.

"Then… How about we make a deal," I suggested to the Empress, and she suddenly stopped before gripping my shoulder.

"You are in no place to make a deal with me… Even if you found out what it is, you're still weak, and you can't even touch me. It would be best for you to sit still like a good girl and wait for me to take it from you," She said before giving my shoulder one last squeeze and walking away, her cold aura shifting into that of a thick bloodlust.

The servant leading me to my room sweated violently before gesturing for me to follow him again as he didn't want to get on the wrong side of this desperate Empress.

I was a bit more confident in myself now that I knew what she wanted and the backstory behind this skill and race… but there was still a problem.

She was completely correct that I was in no position to make a deal with her since if I pissed her off enough, I have no doubt she'll just take my life in an instant.

"So, I had to be extra careful with my plans and moves; otherwise… I'll end up dying a dog's death without seeing the girls again," I muttered before entering my room, and oh boy, did I not expect how fancy it would be…

Three maids who were very beautiful greeted me as the servant who led me here quickly scuttered away, a bit fearful of me.

"Welcome, we will show you around," The maid in the center of the three spoke up, and her pale white eyes made my face get a little hot since right in my peripheral vision… I could see something very tempting.

"You could wear… less revealing clothing. Your damn tits are about to spill out," I muttered as I covered my face with my hands and turned away.

"These are the clothes given to us by her highness, so we will wear them. Plus, you're just a dirty gladiator, so I don't think you'll be ordering anybody around here," She said, and my perspective of her completely flipped upside down.

"Tch… I like women who are a bit condescending, but this is just too much," I joked around before I followed the maids into the bathroom.

It was pretty simple and nowhere near as fancy as the actual bedroom, but it was sufficient since it had a toilet, sink, and a luxurious bath.

Next, they showed me the walk-in closet with clothes I was supposed to wear… and at this point, I could tell the Empress was really messing with me.

"This motherfucker… Making me wear such cutesy clothes," I muttered through gritted teeth before clicking my tongue and barely listening to the maids' explanation of the room.

There was a massive bed at the center, a soft and almost velvet-like carpet, a small chandelier, and a desk with some makeup that I doubt I would be using, and… that was about it.

"We will be assisting with your makeup and help you dress up for the parties, whether that be in battle clothes or regular fancy clothes," The same maid from before said, and her tone was really condescending now.

"I can change by myself, so don't touch my body without permission," I responded before shuffling to the back of the walk-in closest and pulling out a set of pajamas.

"Stop. You have to dress up in the fanciest clothes because there is going to be a ball later, and the ten must attend whether you like it or not," The maid said as she grabbed my arm, and I clicked my tongue.

"The fuck did I say about touching me?" I muttered as I ripped her hand off me, and I could see a vein in her forehead pop out.

Her prim and proper attitude quickly shifted into something like that of a gangster or thug while also trying to grab my hand.

As she tried to rip me out of the walk-in closet, I continued to get more and more ticked off with everything that was starting to stockpile.

The Empress messing with me, messing with my clothing, my room, and even the maids, who seem like they are intentionally trying to tick me off.

"Get the fuck up, you whore! You're only good for fighting, and trust me! I would've been long gone if I could reject the orders of the Empress! I wouldn't want to deal with your sorry ass!" She shouted, and as ice began to spread around the room, I locked my hand around her throat.

"It's a shame… it sounded like the Empress kind of favored you," I muttered as my flames burned the ice and only the ice as even though I wanted to destroy all this clothing… it was damn expensive.

Growing up poor, I couldn't stand the sight of expensive things just being tossed away.

"Tch… You two, take her away and tell the Empress I'm going to get some well-deserved rest. I'm not attending some stupid party as soon as I arrive here,"

Fearful, the other maids quickly took the unconscious one lying beneath me out of my room, and I quickly changed into pajamas as I snuggled into the soft bed.

…

Clink… Clink… Clink…

When I opened my eyes, I was in a stone brick room, similar to a dungeon you'd see in fantasy movies.

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