Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

[WHAT an intense fight.]

Neoma was amazed at the turn of events during the fight between Juri and the stalker.

At first, her future daughter had the upper hand. But when the stalker got his momentum back, he was able to deflect Juri's attacks and shoot his new rifle at her. Most of all, the young man had managed to create a huge distance between him and Juri by jumping in the air.

The stalker was using several jelly-like cubes that were lined up in the air like a staircase. He obviously couldn't turn his back on Juri who kept on throwing her sledgehammer at him. Thus, he was jumping backward while firing his Mana-infused bullets at Juri.

[Tsk. This boy is shooting at Juri as if he doesn't care if a stray bullet accidentally hits a civilian!]

And Juri wasn't hitting the bullets in godly speed as if she was playing baseball.

[Ah, my future daughter doesn't also care if the bullets hit other people.]

Those two children were acting like some blood-thirsty beasts, huh?

It seemed like they had also forgotten that she was there. Thankfully, she could protect herself using a Coat. Even if a stray bullet came at her direction, she wouldn't get hurt.

Unfortunately, not everyone was safe from it so she had to make a move.

"Come out," Neoma whispered to herself, then she opened her right hand. "Kimchi."

'Kimchi' was the new Spirit that she acquired half a year ago during her training under Mochi's mentorship. A few months ago, her Papa Boss allowed her to go "camping" in the Mountain of Alyward with Mochi, Lewis, Jeanne, and Dion.

During that time, she met the Spirits of the mountain. Out of all of them, she fell in love with Kimchi, a female Fire Spirit that looked like a Leopard Gecko. Her eyes were bigger than an average lizard which made her look cuter. Moreover, Kimchi's skin was a very light shade of red. Thus, she gave her 'Kimchi' as a name.

Unfortunately, Kimchi couldn't speak the way Mochi and Soju could.

Still, they could understand each other well.

"The Mana-infused bullets are made of flame," she whispered to Kimchi while gently petting its head with her finger. "Kimchi, can you eat the bullets?"

Kimchi smiled at her, then she transformed into a flying lizard with wings. Then, she disappeared. But the Fire Spirit didn't use a teleportation spell. She simply moved fast enough to catch and eat all the stray bullets.

Thankfully, Juri and the stalker were too busy to notice that she just summoned a Spirit.

Moreover, her baby Kimchi was too fast for them to notice as well.

[If Kimchi didn't breathe fire at Tteokbokki in the past, I would have thought that she was a Wind Spirit instead of a Fire Spirit.]

The first time Kimchi breathed fire, she was tempted to name the lizard 'Ch*rmander.'

But her conscience kicked in, and she felt bad for the creators of P*kemon.

Her thoughts were suddenly cut off when she realized that the fight was almost over.

[Ah, what a shame.]

Since the stalker wasn't looking behind him as he was focusing on shooting Juri with his rifle, he didn't notice the huge round cactus-like plant floating in the air. That strange plant sprouted from the green bean that Juri threw at the young man earlier.

When the stalker jumped backward a while ago, his back hit the huge round cactus-like plant. Then, his body was impaled by the "thorns" of the strange plant. The bad news was the "thorns" looked like sharp steel bars.

Of course, the young man bled profusely.

She saw the "thorns" pierced through the stalker's shoulders, chest, stomach, arms, and legs. Thankfully, he managed to lean down to protect his head.

But she hoped that the "thorns" didn't hit the young man's vital organs.

Well, she still needed to know why a grown man like him was stalking a "child" like her. If he turned out to be a pervert, she would end his life with her own hands.

Anyway, her mind couldn't help but analyze the fight that took place a while ago.

It was Dion's influence. That man was usually quiet but each time a fight would break out in front of them, he would always ask her to analyze it. Thus, she began to develop a tiring hobby of using her big brain for such "practice."

Tsk.

[Anyway, the stalker didn't notice the round cactus because he was too busy avoiding Juri's attacks.]

That was exactly why Juri's attacks were aggressive. She was trying to distract the young man so he wouldn't notice the trap that she set up in the air. Juri kept on attacking the stalker so he wouldn't turn his back on her.

[At first, Juri acted like she's just a bloodthirsty beast looking for a fight. But in the end, she proved herself to be a strategist and a fast thinker. She's strong, smart, and brave. I think she will suit the same role as me.]

By the "same role," she meant the position of 'Tank' in her dream team.

Yes, she considered herself as a 'Tank.' After all, she could create shields for the team. Most of all, she liked being in the frontline for some action.

[It's decided then. Juri will be the second Tank of the team.]

She was distracted once again when her baby Kimchi appeared on her shoulder.

"Good job, baby girl," she whispered, then she petted Kimchi's head again. "You may sleep now."

Kimchi made a cute purring sound (like a cat!) before she disappeared.

"Rara, I caught your stalker," Juri said cheerfully while walking towards her, the sledgehammer casually placed on her shoulder as if it wasn't heavy. "Should we hand him to the royal knights for investigation…"

Her future daughter trailed off when all of a sudden, Geoffrey and Lewis appeared on either of her sides.

Neoma smiled charmingly at Juri. "Big Sister, can I invite you to my house?"

***

"PAPA BOSS, I found my Tank and took her home!" Neoma, now dressed as "Prince Nero," reported to her father casually. "I want her on my team."

She didn't need to specify who she was talking about.

After all, she was certain that Geoffrey already reported everything to her father while she was changing clothes.

"Why are you talking like you just picked up some stray cat and took it home?" Emperor Nikolai, her father who seemed to be exasperated already by her "crazy antics," asked while shaking his head. "Do you know who Juri Wisteria is?"

"Geoffrey told me while we were on the way home," she said. "Juri is Madam Hammock's granddaughter, isn't she?"

A while ago, after she invited Juri to her "house," the young lady seemed to have sensed the change in her aura. But luckily, her future daughter calmly accepted her invitation without asking questions.

She asked Geoffrey to escort Juri, then she and Lewis went back to the Royal Palace together.

[Ah, right. Geoffrey also volunteered to take care of the stalker. I'll ask for an update later.]

As soon as she got back to her palace, she changed back into being "Nero" again. Then, she went to her father's office. Surprisingly, she didn't see Sir Glenn or the other Paladins. But it wasn't that unusual to her Papa Boss alone in his office so she didn't think much of it.

"Juri Wisteria is the daughter of Madam Hammock's daughter," her Papa Boss said. "On the other hand, Juri Wisteria's father is the successor of Marquis Wisteria. Do you know what House Hammock and House Wisteria have in common?"

Of course, she knew that answer because one of her duties as a royal princess (or prince since she was acting as Nero) was to memorize all the nobles of their empire. Yes, even the nobles from the countryside.

"House Hammock and House Wisteria both specialize in making medicine," she said. "The difference is House Hammock focuses on making more affordable medicine for the commoners and the poor, while House Wisteria manufactures overpriced medicine for the rich."

Her father paused for a while as if he was thinking, then he nodded. "Ah, your observation is correct."

"I kind of feel scammed, Papa Boss," she whined. "I have tried medicines produced by the Hammocks and the Wisterias. Their medicines have the same ingredients and produce the same result. But the medicines sold by the Wisterias are more expensive just because of their name. And well, the nice packaging. I wonder if the other nobles are aware of that."

"We know, we just don't care," her father said bluntly. "It's our responsibility to spend money for the economy, Neoma."

"Sure," she said, then she changed the topic. "Why did you ask about them, Papa Boss?"

"I want you to see why Juri Wisteria is an enigma of both House Hammock and House Wisteria," her Papa Boss said. "Those two noble households have produced the best doctors, Healing Sages, and pharmaceutical researchers in the empire. Thus, when Juri Westeria was born, everyone expected her to be involved in the medicine field. But she turned out to be a rebel."

"A rebel?" she asked curiously. "How?"

"She used to get into a lot of fights while she was studying at the Royal Tower to become a Healing Sage," her father said. "But the worst thing she did last year caused her to be kicked out by the Archmage of the Royal Tower."

"What did Juri do?"

"Do you remember when your trip with Madam Hammock to harvest the Hisa Tree was canceled?"

She nodded, then she gasped. "Is Juri the reason why it was canceled?"

"Well, you can say that," her Papa Boss said. "Juria Wisteria wrote a petition to me."

Her eyes widened in shock. "What kind of petition, Papa Boss?"

"She demanded me to explain three things," the emperor said in an amused voice. "First, she wanted to know why we can only plant one Hisa Tree every fifty years. Second, she questioned why only the Royal Family could use Hisa Ointment. And third…" The corner of her father's mouth curved into a smirk. "She asked me why I chose House Wisteria to manufacture the ointment and medicines used by the Royal Family."

She covered her mouth with her hands when she gasped. "That's so sick. Did you give her a response, Papa Boss?"

"Before I could do so, Juria Wisteria already sent a letter of apology and told me that I should just ignore her petition," he explained. "At that time, I have a feeling that she was forced by her family to send a letter of apology to me. After that, I heard that she was kicked out of the Royal Tower and was banned from entering the Royal Capital for a year. Madam Hammock, for the first time since I sat on the throne, asked me for a vacation leave. It seems like she wanted to comfort her granddaughter."

"Wait, was the trip canceled because Madam Hammock asked for a vacation leave?"

"Yes," her father said bluntly. "Madam Hammock is the only person I trust to handle the harvesting of Hisa Tree. Thus, the harvesting is delayed until she comes back. Madam Hammock sent me a letter last week and she said she'd be returning today with her granddaughter."

"With Juri?"

"I asked Madam Hammock to bring her granddaughter to me."

"Why?"

"To give her the answers from the petition she asked me before," her Papa Boss said. "I didn't give her a response back then because I know that she'd only get into more trouble if I do. Thus, I decided to personally meet her once her ban was lifted."

"Papa Boss, I'm impressed," she said genuinely while clapping her hands. "I didn't know that you're considerate to other people. Especially to girls since you can be a misogynist sometimes."

"Juri Wisteria reminded me of your stubbornness so I wasn't able to ignore her," her Papa Boss said, then he averted his gaze away from her. "I don't want people to ignore you once your return as 'Neoma de Moonasterio.' Thus, I'm doing my best to set an example."

She was about to tease her father for being awkward when she remembered something important. "Papa Boss, Juri will kill you," she said. "Why did you order Author Sola to be arrested? What did you do to our favorite author?"

"I sent that author to a temple," her father said. "I told her to repent for corrupting the innocent mind of young children through her indecent books."

"Papa Boss!" she complained, then she walked closer to her father just to be able to shake his shoulders (that she was able to accomplish by sitting on the table). To be honest, this was the first time that she did that kind of thing to her Papa Boss. She couldn't help it though. It was for her favorite author. "You have to free Author Sola now! You can't lock her up in a temple for a year just because she writes sexy books! That's human rights violation! It's not her fault that children like me have access to her novels!"

"Good point," her father said, unbothered even though she was shaking his shoulders quite violently. "Should I shut down all the bookstores that sell her books?"

"Papa Boss!"

Much to her shock, a miracle happened.

Papa Boss laughed softly.

She didn't know that the day that she would say this come but no matter how cliché it sounded, her father's laughter was really music in her ears. Moreover, her Papa Boss's smiling face almost blinded her. She didn't expect that moment to warm her heart.

"Daebak," she said in a mix of awe and disbelief. "Papa Boss, you're laughing."

Her father immediately went back to his "poker-faced mode." "No, I'm not."

"Sure, Papa Boss," she said teasingly. "I just imagined it, right?"

He just rolled her eyes at her teasing, then he changed the topic. "Juri Wisteria saw you in your disguise. If you want to recruit her to your team, you have to tell her your royal secret. And once you do, you have to make her take the Oath of Silence."

"I feel like I can trust Juri, Papa Boss."

"Still, you have to make her do that," he said seriously. "Neoma, everyone who knows that you exist has pledged the Oath of Silence. Even Lewis Crevan and the Quinzels."

Except for Jasper Oppa.

After all, she didn't tell her father that she told the young duke her royal secret.

"Once Juri Wisteria accepts your invitation to join your team, make her sign the contract right away," her Papa Boss said. "But in case she doesn't…"

"It won't happen, Papa Boss," Neoma interrupted her father. "I have a feeling that Juri and I are meant to meet."

***

"I'M NERVOUS, Lewis," Neoma said while she and Lewis were walking in the hallway that leads to the tea parlor where Juri was waiting for her. "Do you think Juri will accept my invitation?"

Although she acted confident in front of her Papa Boss, she was still scared that Juri might turn down her offer. Especially since her future daughter seemed to have a hatred for the nobility and the monarch.

"Lady Juri Wisteria seems fond of you, Princess Neoma," Lewis said. "I think she'd accept your invitation."

Ah, her son really knew how to soothe her.

She was glad that only Lewis was with her right now. Thus, the two of them could talk freely to each other.

They were in her father's palace and her Papa Boss didn't like other people coming in and out of his residence. Thus, her servants weren't allowed to accompany her. Only Lewis had the permission to do so.

[Papa Boss's Paladins are waiting with Juri anyway.]

She was about to say something when all of a sudden, she felt a stinging sensation in her right hand. She stopped walking, and so did Lewis.

Then, she raised her hand to check what was wrong with it.

Much to her surprise, Posie, the butterfly that Duke Jasper Hawthorne left her a year ago, emerged from her palm. The fact that it came out without being summoned only meant that it was being controlled by the young duke right now.

Finally, the message that she had been waiting for for the past year had arrived.

[That's a relief.]

She was starting to get worried because before Jasper Oppa left, he told her that he only planned to stay with the slave traders for six months. But that six months had turned into a year. She actually began to look for the young duke. Thankfully, he finally reached out to her via Posie.

["It's time,"] Jasper Oppa said in a hushed voice coming from Posie. ["See you in ten days."]

After delivering the message from the young duke, Posie disappeared quickly.

Neoma and Lewis exchanged knowing looks.

[In ten days, Lewis will be "kidnapped."]

***

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