Arabasta, a kingdom steeped in ancient lore, has always held a certain mystique for One Piece fans. We've known about its Poneglyph, a silent testament to its deep history, but chapter 1084 pulled back a curtain on an even more profound secret: the story of Queen Nefertari Lily.
It turns out, King Cobra, just before the Reverie, had a burning desire to discuss matters of Arabasta's past with the Five Elders. He was particularly interested in the Void Century, a period shrouded in mystery. Cobra, having delved deep into his kingdom's historical texts, revealed a groundbreaking truth about the formation of the World Government. Around 800 years ago, twenty rulers united to dismantle the Ancient Kingdom. Upon establishing Marijoa and placing the Empty Throne at its center, these twenty rulers laid down their weapons as a symbol of equality, becoming the Celestial Dragons.
But here's where Queen Lily's story takes a poignant turn. While nineteen of those rulers ascended to Marijoa, becoming Celestial Dragons, Nefertari Lily, the monarch of Arabasta, chose a different path. She opted to return to her people, to rule them directly, rather than embrace the privileged life in the sky. This decision meant only nineteen weapons were placed before the Empty Throne, a detail confirmed by the Five Elders themselves.
However, the records go silent after the World Government's founding. King Cobra discovered that, inexplicably, there's no mention of Queen Lily's fate beyond her departure from Marijoa. She never made it back to Arabasta. The next ruler was her brother, stepping into the role immediately after the World Government's establishment. The Five Elders, when pressed by Cobra, feigned ignorance, claiming the information was lost to time.
Cobra, it seems, was prepared for their evasiveness. He then posed a question that truly rattled them: the true meaning of the 'D'. This is a secret the World Government guards fiercely, and Cobra's inquiry marked him as a threat, especially given his Nefertari lineage, which they already viewed with suspicion. But the most astonishing revelation came when Cobra revealed the source of his questions: a letter penned by Queen Lily herself, discovered within the historical texts. This letter, passed down through generations, holds clues to her disappearance and perhaps, the very secrets of the Void Century.