Royal Secret: I'm A Princess!

”THE RULE says that the god who declared the war and the god who accepted the invitation are obligated to fight the last round, granted that the fight doesn’t end in two rounds. The rule also says that the two of us are allowed to bring in one human as our ’weapon’ during the fight.”

That was discussed the last time Neoma talked to Helstor in the Upper World.

It was also the reason why she went to the Dead World to train with Lewis and Hanna.

Now that she was back, the first thing she needed to do was choose her three representatives.

Hanna would be her ’human weapon.’

I don’t like that term, but I can’t change it.

That spot was already reserved for the young duchess.

Hence, all she needed was to choose the three Representatives.

Her second choice was Jasper Hawthorne.

It’s pretty obvious who the first choice is, right?

”Why me, Princess Neoma?” Jasper Hawthorne asked calmly. ”I’m not saying that I won’t do it. But I’m curious. You have many strong people around you.”

”Hey, you’re one of those people, too,” Duckie scolded Jasper Hawthorne. ”As my owner, I won’t let you look down on yourself! You have me, Jasper Hawthorne! That makes you one of the strongest people in the empire— no, in the entire world!”

True.

”I’m doing no such thing,” Jasper Hawthorne denied strongly. ”I’m not having a self-pity party here. I asked because I’m curious.” The young duke then looked Neoma in the eye, something that most nobles would criticize him for. One should not look directly in the eyes of the Imperial Family members, after all. ”Princess Neoma, do you have that much faith in me?”

”Of course, I do, Duke Hawthorne,” Neoma said, placing her chin on her hand while looking back at Jasper Hawthorne. She was still addressing her oppa properly because the serious talk wasn’t over yet. ”Even without Wilton, I still would have chosen you. You’re smart, powerful, and loyal to me and me alone. That’s why I thought you wouldn’t mind dying for me.”

”It’s funny to hear that from you now, Princess Neoma. After all, you often say that there’s no mission worth dying for.”

”True, and I still stand by that. This war isn’t worth dying for, but it’s something that we must do in order to protect the weak. As a noble, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, Your Grace.”

”Noblesse Oblige.”

”Correct,” Neoma said while nodding. ”Your privilege as a noble doesn’t come for free. You have the obligation to fulfill to our people, Your Grace.”

”Is that one of the reasons you’ve chosen me, Princess Neoma?”

”Yes, it is. You’re a flawless young man who has everything— looks, youth, wealth, status, and power. And, yet, you’re willing to risk losing all that you have for the sake of protecting the world. Your gallant story will surely boost the morale of our people.”

”You’re planning to ”broadcast” the war?”

Neoma smiled upon hearing a modern world from Jasper Hawthorne.

It just goes to show that Jasper Oppa has been on my side long enough for him to pick up modern terms from me.

”Duke Hawthorne, the power of gods comes from the faith of their devotees. That’s the same for the Imperial Family. Once the war breaks out, I can’t afford to lose their faith in us,” Neoma explained. ”That’s why your participation is important.”

Of course, that was the same case for Hanna.

However— this pained Neoma to say this— people would care more about Jasper Hawthorne simply because he was a man.

The concept of a woman gaining their father’s title was still new to the empire.

It would take time before the people of their empire see men and women in power as equals.

But I’ll make sure that will change after the war— after Hanna wins the war for me.

”You don’t have to decide right now, Your Grace,” Neoma said, leaning against her seat. She relaxed her body now that she was done dropping the bomb on her oppa. ”And you don’t have to accept my offer either. I understand that you have so much to lose. Plus, you also have a territory to protect. Your people depend on you, so I won’t hold it against you if you turn me down.”

”Princess Neoma, you said it yourself earlier.”

”Hmm?”

”I can never imagine you losing.”

”You’re the one fighting, though.”

”You chose me because you trust that I’ll win the battle for you,” Jasper Hawthorne said, grinning. ”I won’t let you down, Princess Neoma.”

”Oppa, I told you that you don’t have to decide now.”

”We don’t have much time left, do we?”

”That’s right, but...”

”Give me five days— no, three,” Jasper Hawthorne said, getting up from his seat in a hurry. ”I need to write my last will and testament for my successor.”

Neoma’s eyes widened in shock. ”You already have a successor, Oppa?”

***

LEWIS took a deep breath when his fellow Silver Foxes fell down unconscious one by one after Lapiz ”spat” them out.

It was over.

The ’memory sharing’ was done.

”Sir Crevan, don’t worry,” Dahlia assured Lewis with a small smile on her face. ”Your fellow clan members are just sleeping. And while they’re sleeping, they’ll be dreaming of the memories that I’ve shared with them. But I don’t know how they’ll react once they wake up, so...”

”I’ll stay here with them,” Lewis said, nodding politely. And then he bowed his head towards Dahlia. ”Thank you, Miss Dahlia.”

Dahila just smiled weakly, and then...

”Hey.”

... Dahlia stumbled and almost fell to the ground.

Lewis tried to catch the Black Witch, but the emperor was faster than him.

In just the blink of an eye, Dahlia was already in the arms of Emperor Nero.

He also noticed that Lapiz, the Blue Whale spirit, had disappeared at the same time the Black Witch had lost her consciousness.

So, perhaps...

”It seems like Dahlia has drained her Mana,” Emperor Nero said, saying the very thing that just crossed Lewis’ mind. And then the emperor raised his head. But he ignored Lewis and only talked to Hanna, who was still behind him. ”Duchess Quinzel, you may stay here with Lewis Crevan if you want. Is it safe to assume that you’ll be staying at the Imperial Palace in the meantime?”

”Yes, Your Imperial Majesty,” Hanna Quinzel answered the emperor in a quiet, blunt voice. ”I’ve already discussed it with Neoma earlier. I’ll be staying in her residence.”

”I see,” Emperor Nero said, quite coldly. ”I’ll see you at dinner, then.”

After saying that, Emperor Nero left the premises with the unconscious Dahlia in his arms.

Without acknowledging Lewis.

Not that I care.

”Are you alright, Lady Hanna?” Lewis asked carefully when he turned around and faced Dahlia. Then he frowned when he saw the duchess’s expression. ”Ah, you’re not.”

”I’m fine,” Hanna Quinzel said, but her eyes and voice said otherwise. ”I should be the one asking you if you’re fine.”

Lewis tilted his head while looking at Hanna Quinzel, wondering what he could do to improve her mood...

”Why are you looking at me like that, Lewis?”

... and then he remembered what Ruto Solfrid would often do for Princess Neoma.

”I can’t cook.”

Hanna Quinzel tilted her head as if mimicking Lewis. ”Do you want to learn how to cook?”

”I can feed Lady Hanna even if I can’t cook. Let’s go.”

”Go where? You’re leaving your fellow Silver Foxes?”

Lewis didn’t want to leave his clan members, true.

That was why he swallowed his pride earlier and bowed his head to Emperor Nero.

However...

”We can return later. Feeding Lady Hanna is more important.”

”I’m not hungry, though.”

”But you’re sad. When Princess Neoma is sad, Commander Solfrid feeds her with delicious food,” Lewis said, gesturing for Hanna Quinzel to walk ahead. ”So, let’s go outside and eat whatever you want to eat, Lady Hanna.”

Hanna Quinzel blinked at first as if she were confused, and then she suddenly burst out laughing.

Ah, it seems like her mood improved a little.

Lewis felt good seeing and hearing Hanna Quinzel laugh.

As expected, Emperor Nero is the root of all evil in Lady Hanna’s life.

”Alright. Let’s have a ’food trip’ outside, Lewis,” Hanna Quinzel said, smiling. She used a term that Princess Neoma had taught them before. ”Let me just send a quick message to Neoma before we leave the palace.”

***

NEOMA had an interesting guest that afternoon.

It was a Shadow Beast shaped like a squirrel.

And that tiny little thing delivered a letter from Hanna.

Reading the letter made her blood boil.

I’m already busy, and yet I still have to babysit my grown twin brother.

Hence, before dinner, Neoma paid Nero a visit in his office.

Sanford Devon and Raku— two of Nero’s Paladins— were standing outside.

The two greeted her nervously before opening the door for her without even announcing her arrival.

She let it slide because she didn’t need to wait for her twin brother’s permission to let her in.

So what if my twin brother is the emperor? I raised that punk.

”Everyone, leave,” Neoma said, glancing at Melvin Luchessi and the two remaining knights under Nero’s Order: Alucard Dionisio and Lucien Attewell, if she remembered their names correctly. ”I need to talk to Nero alone.”

Calling the emperor by his first name was forbidden, even if she were also a member of the Imperial Family.

However, the people who heard him call Nero’s name were people who knew her well.

And they know that Nero doesn’t mind.

Hence, Melvin Luchessi and the others simply bowed their heads before leaving the office.

”What is it this time, Neoma?” Nero asked in a tired voice without looking up at Neoma, even though she stood in front of his desk. ”I’m busy—”

With just one flick of her fingers, all the papers on Nero’s table burned to ashes.

”Neoma, are you crazy... yes, you are,” Nero said, and then he finally lifted his head to glare at her. ”Just so you know, Melvin will cry if he finds out that you burned all the important documents that I need to sign today.”

”Knowing Melvin Luchessi, I’m sure he has prepared several copies of the important documents that you’re talking about,” Neoma said nonchalantly, and then she sat on the now clear table while looking down at Nero. ”How dare you make Lewis bow his head to you?”

Nero let out a sigh, and then he leaned against his seat while glaring at Neoma. ”What’s wrong if Lewis bowed to me? I’m the emperor.”

”You know why I’m acting like this, Nero.”

”I just teased your pet—”

Neoma flicked her fingers again.

This time, the books in the shelf on their right side burned to ashes.

”Your son,” Nero corrected himself, probably afraid that Neoma might end up burning his office to ashes. ”That won’t happen again. It’s just a lapse of judgement on my part.”

”Is your Lunacy acting up again?”

”No.”

”Are you sure?”

”Yes.”

Hmm.

Nero looked irritated, but not to the point that he might lose his mind.

”I’ll let it slide this time because I’m busy. But I don’t want you treating my son like shit again, Nero Roseheart de Moonasterio.”

”Fine.”

”Anyways, make time for me.”

”I always have time for you, Neoma. But what is this about?”

”Where are the ghosts?” Neoma asked curiously. ”The ghosts that were lingering here before I left? I don’t feel them anymore.”

The Emperor Nero from the first timeline.

Aruna and Arche de Moonasterio.

Neoma was talking about those three.

”I sent them somewhere, but I can summon them back anytime,” Nero said, raising an eyebrow. ”What do you need them for?”

”I’m just making sure that you have enough force to protect the empire once I leave with my people,” Neoma said, mimicking Nero and raising her eyebrow at her twin brother, too. ”You have a plan, don’t you?”

***

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