Cleopatra, on the other hand, found herself even more captivated. There was an arrogance in Nathan, yes—but it wasn't empty bravado. He radiated confidence, the kind forged in battle and sharpened by ambition. He stood close to her without trembling, without the desperate need to impress or please.
As Nathan and Cleopatra began to walk through the grand corridor, the faint echo of their footsteps reverberating off the polished marble floors, a sudden presence halted them in their tracks.
From the shadows ahead, a figure emerged—regal, striking, and filled with disbelief.
It was Arsinoe.
No longer the disheveled and weary girl who had once been captured, Arsinoe now stood tall and poised, dressed in fine robes that shimmered under the torchlight. Her hair had been combed and adorned with delicate ornaments, and though her posture was composed, her expression betrayed the turmoil within. Her eyes widened the moment they landed on Nathan—but even more so at the woman beside him.
