Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

"WHAT a pitiful child you are, Nikolai de Moonasterio," Yule said to the now unconscious kid emperor. Then, he squatted down in front of him and gently poked his cheek. He didn't react, and that meant he was really knocked out. If Nikolai was awake, he wouldn't even let him touch his face. "You're the best emperor this empire has ever had, and the best descendant that I could ever ask for. But in the end, you let love ruin you.'

It wasn't like he could blame Nikolai.

Since he was a close friend of Mona, he was quite knowledgeable about what happened between her friend and Nikolai. Even though he was the Moon God, he couldn't prevent the tragedy between the two. After all, it was inevitable because as far as he knew, the only purpose of Mona and Nikolai being together was to produce a child that was half Roseheart and half de Moonasterio.

In the end, Mona and Nikolai ended up having two children.

Both Ne-Ne and her twin brother Nero are needed by the heavens for its goal.

"Nikolai, they have started moving again so we must move as well," he told the emperor even though he was still unconscious. "You all have the best pieces at your disposal, child."

By that, he meant the young descendants of the Pillars: the Heart, the Fangs, the Shadow, and the Contractor.

When the Great Moonasterion Empire was built, there were four families and clans that protected the first emperor. Eventually, these Pillars became widely known as the 'Pillars of the Moon,' or simply 'Pillars.'

Unfortunately, the other old families thought that the four families had become too powerful. These envious families worked together to end the Pillars. Out of the four great families, only one of them remained strong until now.

It was House Quinzel– the Shadow.

But the current House Quinzel had one huge problem.

"The only daughter of House Quinzel is blessed with Mana far stronger and greater than any of her ancestors. Even Gavin, the genius of the Quinzel family, would pale in comparison to her," he said to the unconscious emperor. "But the young lady's heart can't handle her Mana. I know that you know how to help her, Nikolai. Stop being stubborn and just let Rufus send his daughter to Garret."

He wasn't too worried about that though.

After all, she knew that Neoma wouldn't let Hanna Quinzel die.

The Heart and the Fangs were already in the palace. The Contractor was also in the same place right now, but it was only a temporary stay. Nevertheless, all the descendants of the Pillar had already gathered here.

Nothing will happen though.

It's not yet time.

Someday, the descendants of the Pillars would gather again. And the next time it happens, they would either protect or destroy the Great Moonasterion Empire.

The thought of the descendants coming together sent shivers down his spine.

"I can't wait to see what our Empress Neoma will do in the future," Yule said brightly. "I hope she doesn't end up killing me though."

***

"THE regenerative ability of the Silver Fox Clan is really amazing," Trevor, floating in the air in a sitting position, said when Lewis Crevan finally got up. The young fox had been knocked out for only five minutes. "I knew I didn't need to bring you to Madam Hammock."

Instead of bringing the fox boy to the Healing Sage, he just tossed him in the garden in front of Princess Neoma's residence.

He assessed his son's condition first, of course. When he noticed that Lewis Crevan's burn marks began healing, he realized that he didn't have to bring him to Madam Hammock. Moreover, he knew that his pride would get hurt if Princess Neoma found him in the clinic.

"Princess Neoma hasn't come out yet," he informed Lewis Crevan when he raised his head to glare at him. "If you just glare at me, I wouldn't know what you want to say, son. I'm not your mother."

"Princess Neoma isn't my mother and you're not my father," Lewis Crevan said in a cold voice, then he stood up. "Don't tell Princess Neoma what happened."

"Of course," he said. He already expected Lewis to say that. "I have no intention of telling my Moon Princess that I failed to find her because of some stupid barrier anyway."

It was a shame but he also already lost their bet.

After all, the Moon Festival was officially over. Since the emperor disappeared in the middle of the ceremony, Count Kyle Sprouse gave the closing remark in His Majesty's place while the real Prince Nero stood beside him.

He was pretty sure that the People's Palace was heavily guarded with a powerful barrier. Thus, no one would recognize the difference between the real Prince Nero and Princess Neoma in disguise as the Crown Prince.

"Are you going back to that place?" he asked when Lewis began walking towards the palace. "Aren't you even going to say goodbye to me? I saved your ass, you know?"

Lewis Crevan just waved his hand dismissively.

"Kids these days are so rude," Trevor said to himself while shaking his head. "That little fox acts like a domesticated puppy in front of Princess Neoma– but he bares his fangs at other people."

***

NEOMA was about to accept Ruto's hand when he suddenly pulled it away from her.

She blinked in confusion as he stood straight.

What the hell just happened?

"See?" Ruto said, still calm and composed as ever. "I know how to ask a lady to dance with me."

Okay, that was when it finally clicked on her.

Ruto just asked her to dance with him just to show her that he knew how to ask a lady for a dance. God, how could a grown-up like her get deceived by a young boy?

It's the derp cake, she convinced herself. It seems like I have turned into a glutton.

"Ah, did you think I was serious about asking you for a dance?" Ruto said in a hesitant voice, then he scratched his cheek as if he was embarrassed. "Well, I know how to dance so if you're okay with me, then should we dance?"

Was he taking pity on her because he thought she was disappointed that he wasn't serious about dancing with her?

That kind of hurt her pride.

"I wasn't looking forward to it," Neoma denied, then she crossed her arms over her chest. "Plus, that won't work on other ladies. You only managed to make me say 'yes' because you bribed me with a unique cake. In a normal situation, you wouldn't even get a chance to ask me for a dance." She raised her head and showed him her "beautiful eyes." "This face can make all the boys in the empire propose to me for a dance, you know?"

"I can't see your face but… are you acting pretty right now?"

His question suddenly reminded her of an 'aegyo' that she had seen in a Kdrama in her second life.

"I wasn't acting pretty. I was born pretty," she said while putting the strands of hair behind her ear. When she spoke again, she spoke in a higher pitch that definitely sounded annoying. "But people say I'm acting pretty so it's hard for Miss Ramsay." Then, she moved her shoulders up and down while moving her head from side to side. "Hmph! Hmph!"

Whenever she did 'aegyo' (or acting cute) in the past, her parents, friends, and fans would shower her with praises. To be honest, seeing someone do aegyo in real life was cringey. She just managed to pull it off because of her pretty face.

But unfortunately, Ruto couldn't see her visual.

And thus, his face remained as calm as ever.

"I hope you don't change the pitch of your voice," Ruto said, completely ignoring her aegyo. "I won't be able to recognize you easily if your voice changes suddenly."

Ruston Stroganoff was probably the only person in the empire who would come up with that response after seeing and hearing her aegyo.

Well, at least he didn't make a disgusted face.

"I'll go ahead," Neoma said, suddenly exhausted. She was good at dealing with people. But for some reason, she couldn't decipher Ruto. He was like an alien to her. "Bye, Mr. Black Soybean." She smiled smugly at him. "Just so you know, I won't accept it anymore if you ask me for a dance again."

Ruto just gave her a half-smile and a shrug. "I won't ask you to dance with me again, Miss White Radish."

Neoma was utterly defeated that night.

***

NEOMA, who just returned to her room after taking a bath and changing into her pajamas, froze suddenly.

She noticed that Nero, seated on the bed while holding a book, froze as well.

When they met each other's gaze, it seemed like they ended up with the same conclusion.

It was a good thing that she already sent Alphen and Stephanie out of the room. Since Nero was going to

"Papa Boss is in pain."

"His Majesty is in pain."

She was amused to know that Nero felt the same.

But it was bewildering that she and Nero were able to detect their father's current state. It was normal for the two of them to feel each other's pain because they were twins. But this was the first time that they felt Emperor Nikolai's suffering.

"It's annoying," Nero said with a scowl. "It's as if my blood is literally boiling at the moment."

"And our blood is also commanding us to check on Papa Boss," Neoma added while shaking her head. "Is this the power of the current emperor's blood?"

It was another long night, huh?

When she got out of the Royal Kitchen a while ago, she saw Lewis who looked shocked when he saw her. Apparently, he checked all over Yule's Palace and he couldn't believe that he missed the Royal Kitchen.

She wanted to hear more from her son but because she was tired, she decided to retire for the night. Plus, she thought she'd make the most out of the remaining time with Nero.

Well, her plan was to ask for some 'tea' regarding Nero's dance with Hanna earlier.

But obviously, that plan was ruined now.

"Nero, let's go and check on Papa Boss," she said, then she stretched her tiny arms. "Our blood won't leave us alone until we do anyway."

Nero nodded, then he stood up and extend his hand to her. "I wonder if I'm suddenly going to be the new emperor tonight."

Neoma knew that Nero was only (half) joking, but she still laughed softly at the implication of his "joke." "You'd be accused of starting a coup if somebody else, especially Count Sprouse, heard you," she said, then she accepted her brother's hand. "But I think you still have to wait a little longer before you ascend to the throne, my dear twin brother," she teased him. "After all, bad people live longer than the good ones."

***

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