Royal Secret: I'm A Princess!

"IT SEEMS like Neoma won't be a part of the ceremony," Nero said as soon as he got to the top floor of the People's Palace. "Let's begin right away."

He was talking to Lord Manu.

The Moon Priest was in charge of officiating the crowning ceremony.

Prince Skylus of the Hazelden Kingdom was also there to observe the ceremony closer. The young prince was yet to be officially declared as the new saint, so he could only observe and not officiate the ceremony.

[But I plan to declare Prince Skylus as the new Moon Saint soon.]

The new saint couldn't be declared officially before the new emperor.

But the entire empire already knew about Prince Skylus' position since the young prince had been doing prayer rallies with the Moon Priest recently.

[There's so much to do.]

"Then we'll go ahead with the crown ceremony," Lord Manu said. "I'm worried about the 'weather,' so we must make haste, Your Majesty."

Of course, the 'weather' the Moon Priest mentioned wasn't really the weather.

[It's the enemies manipulating the 'weather.']

Nero looked over his shoulder and talked to Melvin. "We'll begin the ceremony right away."

Melvin nodded politely, and then he paused for a moment and pressed the piercing in his ear. "Yes?"

It must be an emergency.

[No one would reach out to the emperor's secretary if it wasn't important.]

"I understand," Melvin said, and then he turned to Nero with a serious look on his face. "It was Commander Ruto, Your Majesty. The commander has arrived with the White Lion Knights, and he told us to prolong the ceremony for as long as we can."

Ah.

[So it means Neoma is planning to attend the ceremony at the last minute.]

"Alright, I got it," Nero said, nodding. And then he glanced at Prince Skylus. "Your Highness, can you lead the opening prayer and make it as long as possible?"

Prince Skylus smiled and nodded. "As Your Majesty commands."

[I wonder what Neoma is up to right now.]

***

NEOMA was running like her life depended on it.

Fortunately, her palace was already empty.

Ruto left her side in order to attend the crowning ceremony.

[The commander of the White Lion Knights and the Order of the new emperor cannot miss the ceremony, after all.]

Neoma was having a good time 'playing' with Crimson anyway.

[It's a good thing no one can enter my training ground.]

Hence, the chance of accidentally hurting innocent bystanders was low.

"For someone who has an inflated ego like you, I didn't expect you to run like a mouse, little princess!"

That was Crimson's taunting.

Hah!

As if Neoma, the queen of shit-talking, would fall for such a cheap provocation.

[You cannot beat me at my own game!]

"Why are you running away from me?!" Tteokbokki continued with his taunting. "Are you afraid, Neoma de Moonasterio?!"

"Don't overestimate yourself, dude," Neoma said, laughing. "I'm only afraid of my own potential!"

[Potential in destroying the world, that is.]

"Then why are you running away?!"

"Because you're chasing me, duh!"

Well, that was actually fine with her.

[I need a bigger space for my next move, so it's a good thing that Crimson is chasing me.]

And now that she was out…

[It's showtime!]

Neoma stopped running, and then she turned around to face Crimson. "Stop, you crazy god-slash-ketchup-colored-donkey."

Her words weren't just a string of insults, of course.

Crimson looked shocked when his body stopped moving against his will.

"You're surprised, aren't you? It's because I spoiled Tteokbokki a lot," Neoma said, and then she explained why Crimson's body followed Neoma's command immediately. "A Soul Beast is a de Moonasterio's servant. I hate that word, but it is what it is. The Soul Beasts were created to serve my trash family. Hence, you're programmed to follow my commands whether you like it or not."

But she believed in free will, so she never really asked Tteokbokki to do things for her that were against his will.

[Except during the times I wanted him to leave my side in order to protect him.]

"Hah!" Crimson scoffed. Based on the veins popping out on his foreheard, neck, and forearms, it was obvious that he was forcing his body to move. "Do you think your mere words are enough to stop me?!"

"Of course not, silly," Neoma said, raising a hand– her palm facing Crimson. "Dude, I need you in your dragon form."

Because her grand entrance would only be possible with the Red Dragon.

And, so, Neoma set Crimson on fire.

***

[NEOMA isn't here.]

Hanna was surprised to see Commander Ruto leading the White Lion Knights. The Order of the White Lions surrounded the People's Palace.

[Neoma was supposed to enter the scene with Commander Ruto, but she didn't show up.]

That only meant the Imperial Princess had encountered a problem.

Again.

[Neoma seriously can't catch a break.]

"I wonder if everything is alright on Princess Neoma's end."

Hanna discreetly glanced at Duke Jasper Hawthorne who was standing next to her.

It wasn't just the young duke.

Sandie was also standing in the front row with them.

"Neoma probably encountered another problem," Hanna whispered back, her face remaining indifferent. She barely opened her mouth either. But the young duke had sharp senses anyway. "But if Commander Ruto left her side, then I'm sure it's just a small hitch."

Duke Jasper Hawthorne nodded in agreement. "You're right, Duchess Quinzel. But this means the plan that Her Imperial Highness discussed with us is already useless, right?"

"Yes, Duke Hawthorne. Neoma is probably doing whatever she wants."

As usual.

Duke Jasper Hawthorne broke into a wide smile. "And Princess Neoma is probably expecting us to move accordingly?"

Hanna smiled and nodded. "Let's suffer together under an unpredictable princess 'boss.'"

'Boss' was a term that both Hanna and Duke Jasper Hawthorne learned from Neoma.

"Duchess Unnie, Duke Oppa~"

"Duchess Noona, Duke Hyung~"

Hmm?

Hanna and Duke Jasper Hawthorne both turned to the royal children who approached them.

Both Princess Monik and Prince Claude of the Hazelden Kingdom handed them an umbrella.

Ah.

[Princess Monik probably had a vision.]

"Thank you, Princess Monik, Prince Claude," Hanna said as both she and Duke Jasper Hawthorne accepted the umbrellas from the royal children. "Is it going to rain?"

"Yes, Duchess Unnie!" Princess Monik said excitedly. "It's gonna rain blood!"

Uhm, what?

***

THIRTY MINUTES.

It was Nero's plan, but he almost fell asleep while listening to Prince Skylus' opening prayer.

And it didn't help that the young prince had a soothing voice.

[Prince Skylus' prayers sound like a lullaby.]

"I think we should end the opening prayer here, Your Imperial Majesty," Lord Manu whispered. "We can't delay the crowning ceremony more than we already did."

Nero nodded, and then he raised his hand. "Open the curtains–"

The curtains behind Prince Skylus suddenly opened without warning.

And then there was the disrespectful brat who was responsible for that, sitting on the railing while his hand was on top of Prince Skylus' head.

Calyx smiled at Nero. "I've missed you, Your Imperial Majesty."

Nero made a disgusted face. "You're as disgusting as ever, Calyx de Luca."

***

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