“Can you read this and tell me if my sister has finally lost it?”

Queen Anna, who had been staring at the letter on her desk for a long time, spoke to Kai.

Lately, Elsa's letters had become infrequent. Even when she visited the castle last Friday, she was restless, acting as if she were the busiest person in the world. She froze Arendelle, woke the spirits... what could possibly be left? Moreover, she had never used such a stiff writing style before. And suspending the River of Memory? That was the service fulfilling people's requests using the memories of Ahtohallan. To think she would suspend her biggest project...

“Former Queen Elsa has had her troubles since her accession...”

Catching Anna's sharp glare, Kai cleared his throat and quickly corrected himself.

“Although there were small incidents since her accession, she was always more thoughtful than anyone else. Given that it is a classified matter, she must have a plan.”

“Which implies?”

“What is clear is that something amazing will happen in three months.”

“I think so too, Kai. But I really can’t forgive her for sending such an abrupt letter. In that case, I can’t just sit still either.”

Anna stood up from her seat.

“Do as she wishes. However, send one sharp-witted person among the applicants to me. I’ll have him dig up every single thing she does.”

Elsa knew Anna well. She also knew Kai, who stood by her sister's side. There must be a reason why they approved this request without much hesitation.

Elsa looked around at each of the 100 people gathered on the shore of the Dark Sea. She offered them a faint smile.

“I know there is a spy among you. But no matter. You will all find out in three months anyway, so there is no harm in knowing in advance. Feel free to observe me and report what happens here. After all, the Queen’s orders must be obeyed.”

At Elsa’s declaration, the crowd began to buzz. Meanwhile, one man felt uneasy. To say it so openly... But for someone stuck in the middle, it couldn't be helped. As the Former Queen said, it was a royal order.

Depth: 300m below the Dark Sea.

The massive ice wall extending from the shore plunged deep into the ocean floor. Like Moses parting the sea, the two colossal walls held back the water. The operation proceeded on the seabed, just beyond the ice barrier. 100 people were searching the ocean floor, encased in air bubbles crafted by the Nokk and Gale.

One man, sensing the air growing stale, opened a door in the ice and stepped into the dry space between the walls. The bag he carried was filled with human bones.

“Your Majesty.”

Seeing Elsa waiting before him, he bowed his head in courtesy. Elsa giggled softly and placed her hand on the man’s shoulder.

“Jakob, how is it? Is the spy activity going well?”

“Pardon? No, I am not a spy...”

Jakob was flustered but quickly gathered his wits. If the Queen’s direct order was discovered...

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Elsa showed him a few letters. They were his own reports—letters revealing what the real Project 20600 was, not the cover story of maintenance.

“You work all day and go through the trouble of writing these at night. I just wanted to let you know that you don't need to write anymore. My own letter must have already arrived for Queen Anna. Doesn't the cover story sound plausible? 'Ahtohallan Maintenance Project.' I’m considering actually doing it once this work is over.”

Panicked, Jakob could no longer hide his expression. He slid down, his back against the ice wall, and sat heavily on the ground. Elsa spoke to him as he looked on the verge of tears.

“It’s okay. I’ll explain everything to Queen Anna. Using Gale to send this letter? It was a clever idea, but you completely forgot whose side Gale is on. Anna can be like that sometimes.”

Elsa sat calmly next to him as his breathing grew ragged. A 300-meter high ice wall stood behind them, and another of the same height loomed right in front. Sunlight reflected off the deep seabed—light that should never reach these depths. And the Snow Queen. The mysterious, silent aura of Elsa gradually stabilized his mind and body. As he seemed to calm down, Elsa spoke.

“There is a reason why this project is confidential. I once visited Ahtohallan with a girl named Anastasia. That child’s father was one of the people who boarded my parents’ ship to find the source of my magic.”

Elsa paused and looked up towards the top of the ice chasm. The sunlight pouring down through that narrow gap into this freezing place felt warm.

“I was a poor Queen. I had completely forgotten about it until that child reminded me. In a way, those people were also victims who left to find the secret of my magic. There were exactly 100 such people, including our parents.”

Elsa pointed a finger towards the top of the wall.

“Do you see up there? We are 300 meters below the surface. Everyone is risking their lives to work here. I’m sorry I didn't tell you in advance. If I had revealed the working environment beforehand, the citizens of Arendelle would have been overwhelmed with worry. I used my authority as the Former Queen for a moment, but I am truly grateful that everyone is helping so positively.”

Elsa stood up gently.

“How is the search device? Is it working well?”

Now completely composed, Jakob took out his search device. It was Elsa’s invention: a device utilizing memories stored in Ahtohallan to locate the 206 bones of a specific person scattered somewhere in the Dark Sea.

Jakob also stood up, bracing himself against the ice wall.

“Of course. I’m already looking forward to what will happen in Arendelle in three months.”

Elsa smiled faintly, thinking of the empty graves—mere cenotaphs—that Anna had guarded all alone.

Now, she could lay her real parents to rest there. Along with 100 others.