Royal Secret: I'm A Princess!

“IN ALL universes, it’s always me and Neoma– except for one,” Ruto said to Trevor in a serious tone. “There’s one parallel universe where Neoma chose you over me, Trevor.”

“Huh?” Trevor asked, confused. “I know that parallel universes exist because that’s how Gavin Quinzel met Go Areum. But how do you know that you and Princess Neoma were endgame in all those universes.”

“I became a god in the first timeline, and I gained the ability to be omnipresent.”

“Ah, so you were everywhere at all times. Did you check all the universes that exist out there?”

“No, just the ones where Neoma exists.”

“Aigoo, someone is a stalker, huh?”

“I just wanted to see Neoma alive and living well, but since the Neoma of my universe already ceased to exist back then, I had to search for her in other universes.”

“Is that supposed to be your sob story?”

“Trevor, sometimes, you make me want to break your nose.”

Of course, being the obnoxious person that he was, Trevor just laughed. “Were you expecting me to be curious about the universe where Princess Neoma chose me over you?”

“Are you not?”

“No. In fact, knowing that only pissed me off even more,” Trevor said in an annoyed tone. “I don’t care if it was my version in a different version. It’s still not me. The only universe where I want to be my Moon Princess’ endgame is in this universe. Because this is where I exist.”

“My condolences then.”

“Fuck you and your fake empathy.”

“My empathy isn’t fake.”

“So what? Do you want a trophy for being the best man?”

Ruto just sighed and shook his head, then he removed his armor that was splattered with blood.

He only used his swordsmanship because it wouldn’t be fair to use his power against weak humans. But he also needed to show off to the White Lion Knights under his command to keep up their morale. Hence, the blood all over him.

“Give him to me,” Ruto said, opening his arms. “Thank you for bringing the God of Death here.”

Trevor carefully handed the god, in the body of a baby, to Ruto. “Do you think I’m only here to deliver that baby to you?”

“No. But I’m not a mind reader either. I wouldn’t know why exactly you’re here if you don’t tell me anything.”

“Can you be my punching bag?”

Pfft.

[This is why Neoma calls Trevor a tsundere.]

“Neoma is still asleep, so I have time to spare for you,” Ruto said while carefully securing the baby God of Death in his arms. “I can be your sparring partner until she wakes up.”

“You’re not going to be my sparring partner,” Trevor denied. “You’re gonna be my punching bag, okay?”

***

ALUCARD looked at Sharon Carter, the petite woman dressed like a man, and checked if she was physically well enough to pull off the mission.

[His Imperial Majesty can really be cruel sometimes.]

“Why are you looking at me like that, sir?” Sharon Carter asked awkwardly. “Is there any change in the plan?”

The ‘plan’ was to assassinate Marquis Russell Spencer tonight.

Hence, Alucard trespassed the Spencer Estate with Sharon Carter.

[His Imperial Majesty doesn’t want to let people know that the Imperial Family has a hand in this, so he only sent me for this mission.]

That was the right thing to do.

After all, Emperor Nero wanted to make it look like the marquis was killed because of the people who wanted to get their revenge against him.

And then His Imperial Majesty would reveal all the heinous crimes that Marquis Russell Spencer had committed. Because by doing so, people wouldn’t feel any sympathy for the marquis who was killed in his sleep.

[His Imperial Majesty wants people to think that Marquis Spencer deserves to die.]

“No, there’s no change in plan,” Alucard said, checking on Sharon Carter’s condition from head to toe. “Although Lady Avery assured me that you’ve completely recovered by now, I can’t help but hesitate. You just almost died, Miss Carter. Are you sure you really want to do this?”

Sharon Carter frowned as if she didn’t like what he said. “Will I be pulled out of this mission safely if I change my mind?”

“Yes.”

“Huh?”

“His Imperial Majesty said you’re free to back out,” he said. “You won’t get punished even if you do.”

To be honest, it was unlikely of Emperor Nero to say something like that.

But it was thanks to Princess Neoma’s influence that their emperor remained humane despite his craziness.

“B-But what will happen to the plan if I suddenly change my mind?”

“Do you think His Imperial Majesty sent me here with only one plan?” Alucard scoffed. “Even if you back out, Marquis Spencer would still die at the hands of a “vigilante.””

“So, it doesn’t have to be me?”

“It doesn’t have to be you, but His Imperial Majesty wanted to give you a chance to avenge yourself and your brother. It’s up to you whether you want to grab His Imperial Majesty’s generosity or not.”

Sharon Carter’s face suddenly turned determined. “No, please lend me the power to kill Marquis Spencer.”

“Alright,” Alucard said, then he raised his hand. “May I touch you?”

The young miss nodded eagerly.

He then put his hand on top of Sharon Carter’s head. “Miss Carter, I’ll give you a portion of my power. You won’t feel anything at the moment. But once my power leaves your body, you’ll be put in so much pain. Will you still accept it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Alright.”

Alucard then passed down a portion of his power to Sharon Carter. “It’s done.”

Sharon Carter blinked. “That’s it?”

“I already said you won’t feel anything for now,” he reminded her. “Now, you memorized this mansion’s blueprint, didn’t you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then concentrate and imagine the marquis’ room. Once you do, you’ll be transported there since I also lent you the ability to teleport.”

“I understand, sir,” Sharon Carter said firmly, then she closed her eyes. “I’ll try hard!”

The young miss didn’t have to try hard, though.

It only took a moment before Sharon Carter disappeared.

“Good,” Alucard said approvingly while nodding. “I hope she got to the right place, though.”

Hence, he followed the young miss right away.

An agonizing scream.

It was what greeted Alucard when he arrived at Marquis Russell Spencer’s room.

And then he saw why.

Sharon Carter had successfully stabbed the weakened marquis in the heart using the Dagger of Curses that Alucard lent the young miss.

As its name suggested, it was a dagger filled with curses.

It was an item that belonged to the Demon Race.

[Anyone who gets stabbed by the Dagger of Curses will experience all kinds of physical pains that you wouldn’t even wish for your worst enemy to go through.]

But Emperor Nero was a heartless monster.

[His Imperial Majesty wishes Marquis Spencer to die a painful death.]

And…

Alucard pulled out a portable video-recording device and captured the scene of Sharon Carter killing Marquis Russell Spencer.

[His Imperial Majesty wants to see the marquis die.]

***

“DUKE HAWTHORNE! Who gave you the right to do this?!”

Jasper looked at Duke Drayton indifferently.

Right now, his private knight army had seized the entire Drayton Estate. He also sent half of his knights to arrest the vassal families involved in Duke Drayton’s treason.

Since the old duke didn’t expect his attack, the operation went smoothly.

And now, Gin– in his human form– was holding Duke Drayton by the neck.

But Jasper couldn’t let his guard down.

[After all, I can’t trust the person behind me.]

“Who gave me the right to arrest a traitor like you?” Jasper asked, smirking. “Who else can order a duke of my standing in the empire, Your Grace?”

“The Imperial Family?” Duke Drayton asked in disbelief. “But why would His Imperial Majesty Emperor Nikolai suddenly accuse me of treason?!”

“You got two things wrong, Your Grace. First, His Lord Majesty is no longer the empire’s Moon,” Jasper said, then he unrolled the scroll that he had brought with him. “The order to arrest Your Grace came from the new Moon of the empire, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Nero.”

The scroll that he unrolled contained the emperor’s official decree to arrest Duke Drayton and all the people who participated in treason.

Emperor Nero’s name, sign, and stamp were at the bottom of the scroll.

Since the Imperial Family’s insignia was there, Duke Drayton and the rest of the arrested individuals in front of Jasper were forced to kneel as if the emperor himself was there.

[At least they still know how to show respect even after committing treason.]

“Second, we are not accusing you of treason, Your Grace,” Jasper said while folding the scroll. “The investigation is over and we’ve found you guilty of treason. In cases of betraying the Imperial Family, the current monarch has the right to deliver punishments without the involvement of the Imperial Court.”

“Hah!” Duke Drayton scoffed, then he raised his head to glare at Jasper. “I’m curious as to what kind of “evidence” His Imperial Majesty has found for him to believe that I committed treason so easily!”

“Then why don’t you ask your son, Your Grace?”

“What did you say?”

Jasper just shrugged, then he stepped aside.

Rubin Drayton, who had been hiding behind Jasper all this time, stepped forward and removed his hood. “Father, it was me who sent the evidence of your treason to the Imperial Family,” the young lord said firmly. “As long as I am here, I won’t let House Drayton fall just because of your greediness.”

***

“ARE YOU sure about this, Nero?”

“Yes, Father,” Nero said, nodding at his father’s question. “I considered what Hanna said, and I ended up with the same opinion as her.” He tapped his fingers on the table as his brain worked hard. “In normal circumstances, every single member of House Drayton– including the servants– should be punished by death. But I’m going to get rid of that law.

Neoma wouldn’t like it if innocent people were punished for their family member’s crime.”

His father nodded in agreement. “I do agree with that. However, Rubin Drayton is Duke Drayton’s only son. He should at least get stripped of his noble title. If we don’t punish the traitors heavily, then the other nobles would think that the Imperial Family has weakened.”

“And that’s exactly why we won’t reveal Duke Drayton’s treason, Father.”

“What?”

“We will make it look like Rubin Drayton started a revolt to steal his father’s noble title,” he explained to his father. “I’ll make Rubin Drayton a duke that I can order around. Since we can always use his father’s treason against him, I’m sure he’ll be as obedient as a dog to me.”

His father fell silent for a moment, then he nodded. “Alright. Do what you think is better for you and the empire.”

“Thank you, Father.”

It was his father who tapped his fingers on the table this time. “What are you going to do to the Twelve Golden Families this time? House Spencer is no more, and I don’t think House Quinzel will openly support you after your engagement with Hanna was called off.”

“Father, the Twelve Golden Families got their position because they’re the oldest families in the empire. Am I correct?”

“Yes, you are correct, son. What about it?”

“Neoma won’t be needing the Twelve Golden Families once she takes the throne since she’s planning to get rid of the monarchy anyway,” Nero said, shrugging. “So, I only need to keep the Twelve Golden Families around during my reign.”

His father let out a sigh. “You still need them, Nero.”

“I know, Father. And that’s why I’m going to approve these documents now.”

Nero pushed the documents to his father’s side of the table.

Melvin handed those documents to him earlier, but he didn’t approve them yet.

[I want to see Father’s reaction first.]

His father picked up the documents and read them, then he turned to Nero with a small smile. “Count Melvin Lucchesi? Viscountess Sandie Morrisley? Your secretary and Hanna’s academy friend have inherited the noble titles of the Lords of the North?”

“That’s right, Father. The Neutral Faction is no more,” Nero declared, then he looked at his open hands. “The Lords of the North will now serve the Imperial Family.”

“You did well, Nero,” his father praised him with a proud smile on his smile. “I’m proud of you, son.”

Oh.

Hearing those words from his usually stern father made him feel embarrassed…

… and happy.

“Thank you, Father,” Nero said shyly. “Everything I do, I do it to make Neoma proud, though.”

His father chuckled while shaking his head.

***

“AND THAT’s the summary of what happened while you were asleep, Neoma.”

Oh.

Neoma massaged her temples while digesting the information that Hanna dumped on her as soon as she woke up.

Fortunately, her brain was big enough to absorb them all well.

“Okay. I got it. So, the generational shift has started,” Neoma said, then she raised an eyebrow at Hanna. “But aside from being a duchess, I know you did something else, Hanna.”

As expected, Hanna smiled playfully.

“Gosh, spill it already~”

“I made at least ten noble households go bankrupt for the past three days, Neoma.”

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry, but House Quinzel is now officially richer than the Imperial Family,” Hanna said, patting Neoma’s shoulder. “Neoma, I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life. You don’t have to work or even lift a finger as long as I’m here.”

Pfft.

“That’s so tempting, Hanna,” Neoma teased Hanna. “You should include me in your last will while you’re at it.”

“I’ve already done that,” Hanna said, smiling. Then she changed the topic. “All jokes aside, are you alright now, Neoma? You’ve been asleep for days.”

“Yeah,” she said, nodding. “I’m ready to work again.”

“That’s good.”

“Why? Is there a matter that requires my immediate attention?”

“The Imperial Family has announced Nero– I mean His Imperial Majesty’s coronation yesterday, but people have showed up to protest,” Hanna said in a serious tone. “Apparently, a bad omen has spread all over the empire.”

Neoma pinched the bridge of her nose. “Those fucking crows are behind that bad omen, aren’t they?”

***

NOTE: Hi. I’m back. Thank you for waiting, and I’m really sorry for the sudden hiatus. :