Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

"LADY ROSEHEART, please take a break."

Mona turned to Gavin and smiled. "I'm still fine, Gavin."

"Lady Roseheart, please think about the royal baby in your womb," Gavin scolded her lightly. "Madam Hammock also said that you should be resting a lot in the meantime. You don't want something bad to happen to the royal baby, do you?"

She laughed softly at Gavin's nagging.

He was obviously talking to her as a friend and someone who was older than him. It had been a while since Gavin talked to her this way so it was refreshing.

"Alright, I will take a rest," she said, then she walked toward the sofa.

Gavin, being the gentleman that he was, assisted her and helped her sit. He even put a pillow behind her. Then, he poured tea in her teacup even though it wasn't a part of his job.

It couldn't be helped though. Only the two of them were allowed in the greenhouse at the moment.

[This is why the rumors about me and Gavin don't die– we're always together.]

But she needed to practice summoning her power using the help of Spirit Stones. Gavin, on the other hand, was there to use his Shadow Veil. It was the huge dome-like dark barrier that the commander covered the greenhouse with.

According to Lukas, the Messenger of the God of Eternal Darkness, the Shadow Veil was enough to block the gods' eyes for now. Since she wasn't doing something big yet, the gods wouldn't bother checking what was hidden behind the Shadow Veil.

"Lady Roseheart, your power is really amazing," Gavin said when he stood in front of her. He wouldn't sit because apparently, he couldn't do that while on duty. "You said you were growing weak but to me, it looks like you've gotten stronger instead."

She laughed softly. "Thank you, Gavin. But I believe that it's only because of the Spirit Stones. To be honest, I've been blessed with an abundant amount of Mana so there was never a need for me to use Spirit Stones until this time. It felt strange at first. But now I understand why Spirit Stones are precious. Those things could seriously amplify one's Mana."

"Ah, yes," he agreed while smiling warmly. "I'm relieved that you didn't have to exhaust your Mana because the Spirit Stones help you, Lady Roseheart."

"That's probably the reason why Nikolai isn't complaining now even though he was initially against my training," she said.

It wasn't like she didn't know where Nikolai was coming from.

She was already seven months pregnant. But for the sake of her baby's future, she couldn't stop training to prepare herself to open the door to the other world soon. Of course, she was making sure that her baby wouldn't get hurt in the process.

"Gavin."

"Yes, Lady Roseheart?"

"Why is Nikolai being quiet?" she asked curiously.

The commander flinched before he spoke. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean by that, my lady."

She smiled while shaking her head.

[Of course, Gavin will cover up for his precious cousin.]

But she felt iffy about Nikolai's silence these days. She knew that something was up but she couldn't pinpoint it. After seeing Gavin's awkwardness, she was now certain that Nikolai was doing something behind her back.

"Gavin, you're really loyal to Nikolai, huh?"

Once again, Gavin flinched. Then, he bowed to her. "I'm sorry, Lady Roseheart."

She chuckled while waving her hand. "It's alright, Gavin. You don't have to apologize to me. Nikolai is your master and not me."

"Lady Roseheart…"

"Hmm?"

"I'm on your side," Gavin said seriously. His eyes were clear and it looked like there was a meaning behind his words. "I also wish for the royal baby to be born healthily."

She felt a chill down her spine after hearing those words from the commander.

But she didn't know if it was really because of his words or the tone that he used when he talked. To her, it sounded like Gavin was expecting that her royal baby wouldn't be born at all.

[I knew it! Gavin really knows what Nikolai is up to!]

She abruptly stood up and was about to confront the commander when all of a sudden, she felt an excruciating pain in her stomach. It felt like her baby was being pulled out of her womb. And for some reason, her strength was being drained fast.

[No, my baby…] Mona thought to herself while hugging her swelling stomach tight. [Hang in there, baby…]

"Lady Roseheart!"

***

MONA couldn't believe that she was crying from pain now.

She didn't even shed a tear when William stabbed her in the heart the first time she summoned that bastard.

She also didn't cry when she watched Nikolai and Juliet get married in the past even though that was the moment her entire world collapsed.

But now…

"It hurts," Mona cried weakly while clutching her baby bump. "Madam Hammock, is my baby in pain?"

She could tell that she was in the bedroom that she shared with Nikolai.

Madam Hammock was the only person in the room right now. The Healing Sage had a pale expression on her face while her glowing hands were on her stomach.

"The royal baby is very hungry, Lady Roseheart," Madam Hammock said worriedly. "They are very hungry."

Did she hear it correctly? ""They?""

"Lady Roseheart, I didn't notice it before but this time, I can sense two beating hearts inside your womb," the Healing Sage reported to her. "But the other royal baby seems to have a weak life force and their Mana is very small." She gasped as if she just realized what was happening. "Lady Roseheart, the second child is very weak and it's dying. It's the reason why we haven't detected them until now."

She was too shocked to react.

[There are two babies in my womb? They are twins?]

"The second child is the one eating at your Mana and life force, Lady Roseheart," Madam Hammock said in a panicked voice. "We have to stop them now!"

"Stop what?" she snapped at the Healing Sage. She didn't mean to be nasty to the person trying to save her. But she was in pain, and she didn't like what she heard. "Are you saying that we should let my baby starve?"

"But Lady Roseheart, you'll die if this continues!"

"If I die, open my stomach and take my babies out safely," she said in a weak yet firm voice. "I'm already seven months pregnant. I heard that babies born this early could still survive. If it's you, Madam Hammock, I'm sure that you can keep my babies alive."

Madam Hammock was about to open her mouth when they heard a loud bang.

"What nonsense are you saying, Mona?!"

She didn't need to look to know that the angry and chilling voice came from Nikolai. Then, she was forced to get up when she saw Madam Hammock fall on the floor. She didn't have the time to ask if the Healing Sage was okay when she saw Nikolai.

"Mona, I won't allow you to die," Nikolai said coldly, then he raised his now glowing hand. "I'll relieve you of your pain now."

Relieve her pain…?

She gasped when she realized that Nikolai would kill her babies! So this was why he had been quiet all this time, huh? He had decided to let go of their babies just to keep her alive!

"Nikolai," she said in a very cold and angry voice. "Do you wish to die?"

He ignored her warning and proceeded to attack her. It seemed like he was aiming for her stomach. She also noticed that his hand was covered with an unfamiliar spell.

[Is it a spell to kill our children?]

An ungodly amount of anger rose up to her chest.

[This is why he has been quiet all this time– he found a spell to kill our babies!]

Since it was Nikolai, it was probably a spell that would kill the children in her womb without killing her in the process.

After all, he loved her more than he loved their babies.

"Nikolai de Moonasterio!" she screamed at the top of her lungs as different colors of Mana appeared and created several layers of shield for her. "I will never forgive you if you touch our children!"

He looked surprised when she said "children" but he didn't stop attacking the shield created by her Spirit Guardians.

[He's really serious.]

Nikolai drew Calypso, his sword, and began attacking her shield with it.

She could feel the aura of the emperor's four Soul Beasts infused in the sword's blade.

"Master, your lover is crazy!" Blaze, the Fire Spirit, said in a panicked voice. "Why is he trying to kill our little masters?! Let's burn him to death! Burn! Die! Perish!"

"But the mad emperor is also crazy strong! Why is it always the lunatic ones?!" Marina, the Water Spirit, complained. "Master, break up with him now! For loving yourself, justice for the little masters, and tragic ending with the crazy emperor!"

"M-Master, the shield we created won't last long," Olive, the Wood Spirit, said worriedly. "Should we take you to the Spirit World?"

"I'll fight the crazy emperor," Rockwell, the Stone Spirit, said. "Please escape now, Master."

"I'll stay with Rockwell, Mona," Gale, the Wind Spirit, said in an annoyed voice. "Little Nikolai is pissing me off! I'm going to teach him a lesson!"

"Me, too! Me, too!" Blaze yelled determinedly. "I'll burn the crazy emperor to ashes!"

"The little ones are correct, Mona," Roseanne, the Light Spirit, said with concern. "You're not in the condition to fight the crazy emperor. I'll open the gate to the Spirit World now."

Mona didn't have the heart to argue with her Spirit Guardians.

She knew that she didn't have the power to fight Nikolai now that her stomach still hurt like hell. Moreover, she wanted to make sure her babies were safe first. Tara, the Queen of the Spirit World, could and would surely help her save her children.

[I have to get away from Nikolai first.]

"Mona."

It was Nikolai who suddenly stopped attacking her shield.

His eyes were glowing red at the moment so she thought she'd see a fierce look in his gaze. But much to her surprise, she saw desperation and grief in Nikolai's eyes.

Ah.

He probably noticed that Roseanne opened the gate to the Spirit World.

"Mona, don't leave," Nikolai begged her in a cracked voice. "Please choose me."

It broke her heart to hear Nikolai beg her like that. But she had already made up her mind. It wasn't her responsibility anymore if he couldn't accept her decision.

"I'm sorry, Nikolai," Mona said sadly as Roseanne's light engulfed her. The Light Spirit had successfully opened the gate to the Spirit World. And now, she was about to teleport to that world. Since she was the Daughter of Nature, she was allowed to enter the Spirit World with her physical body. "But I'm choosing our children over you and I will never change my mind."

***

A PORTION of Nikolai's palace was destroyed after his fight with some of Mona's Spirit Guardians. But the Spirits left as soon as the gate to the Spirit World closed. Even if he was the emperor, it was a place that he couldn't enter especially since Tara hated his guts.

[Mona left me…]

"Your Majesty, you're hurt," Madam Hammock, who stayed in the corner as he fought earlier, said worriedly. "Please allow me to treat your wounds–"

"Get out," Nikolai said coldly. "Get out before I kill you, Madam Hammock."

The Healing Sage knew him well enough to know that he was serious.

Madam Hammock bowed before she quietly left the room. If it was still considered a room after the roof collapsed.

But he wasn't able to enjoy some quiet time alone.

"Your Majesty."

It was Gavin.

He frowned at the commander who explained immediately.

"I asked Glenn and the others not to follow me," Gavin said as if he was comforting him. "Shall I follow Lady Roseheart and bring her back to you, Your Majesty?"

He smirked bitterly. "Mona ran away to the Spirit World, Gavin. Can you follow her?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He was shocked to hear that. Actually, he was being sarcastic when he asked the commander if he could follow Mona. He didn't expect that kind of response from him.

[But Gavin is not the type of person to spout nonsense.]

"Lukas, the Messenger of the God of Eternal Darkness, is an elf," the commander explained when he probably noticed his confusion. "Elves have access to the Spirit World. I will ask Lukas if he can help me enter the Spirit World and talk to Lady Roseheart."

That sounded plausible.

Mona and the Spirit World didn't hate Gavin unlike him. Moreover, the Spirit World would accept humans from time to time. But of course, only at the "entrance level." Still, it was better than not sending anyone to follow Mona at all.

[Moreover, Mona listens well to Gavin.]

"Gavin, I'm leaving it to you," Nikolai said, his voice sounding hopeful. Then, he put a hand on Gavin's shoulder and squeezed it. "I trust you."

Gavin smiled and nodded. "Thank you for the trust, Your Majesty."

***

WHEN MONA opened her eyes, Tara's beautiful yet worried face greeted her.

[I made it to the Spirit World…]

She immediately touched her stomach and was relieved to feel that her baby bump was still there. Moreover, she could feel that her babies were still in her womb.

[They're safe…]

She was still shocked that Nikolai seriously tried to kill their children. But for now, her heart was contented to have gotten away from him. She knew that he loved her crazy but not to the point that he would sacrifice their babies just because she was having a difficult pregnancy.

[Nikolai, you've crossed the line.]

"Don't worry, Mona," Tara assured her. "Your children are alright."

"Thank you, Tara," Mona said weakly, her voice hoarse. The Spirit Queen helped her get up. Then, she gave her a glass of water. She drank a bit before speaking again. "The pain in my stomach is gone. May I know what happened?"

"I just fed your children some of my Mana and life force," the Queen said. "They wouldn't get too hungry in the meantime."

Tara said it was as if it was nothing.

But for the Queen of the Spirit World to give her own Mana and life force to her unborn children was a big deal. The reason Tara stayed in the Spirit World was because a lot of beings coveted her power. Every inch and every part of the Queen was special.

"Thank you, Tara."

"You don't have to thank me, Mona," the Queen said kindly. "We're friends, aren't we?"

She smiled warmly at her friend, setting aside the future that the black tree had told her about. The Spirit World wasn't Tara. Her friend wouldn't harm her children.

[I'll make sure that Tara will protect my children instead.]

"Mona, your pregnancy is dangerous," Tara said worriedly. But her eyes looked serious. "Look, I don't like Nikolai and his toxic love for you. But this time, I can see where he's coming from. Your life is at risk because your children are eating at your life force."

"I understand your concern, Tara. But I already decided to keep my children," she said to her friend, then she smiled at her. "Help me, please."

Her vision about Nikolai killing her babies had come true.

To be honest, she didn't know where that vision came from since the Cosmic Tree was in a deep slumber. But she had a feeling that it was the black tree this time.

[The Nameless Royal Princess is probably helping me in place of Mother Tree.]

The Queen let out a sigh. "You know that I can't say 'no' to you, don't you?"

"And that's why I love you, Tara."

Tara laughed softly while shaking her head. "Ah, before I forget, Commander Gavin Quinzel is at the entrance of the gate that connects to the Elf Village," she said. "Do you want to see him?"

She hesitated at first since she knew that Nikolai sent Gavin to bring her back to the palace.

But then, she remembered when Gavin said that he was on her side. The commander also said that he wished for her babies to be born in this world.

[Gavin isn't the type of person to lie. He's always sincere and upright. I can trust him.]

"Yes, Tara," Mona said with a smile. "I'd like to meet Gavin."

***

"COMMANDER, you're such a good actor."

Gavin smiled kindly at Lukas. "I don't know what you're talking about, Lukas."

Right now, he and Lukas were at the garden of the Elf Village where the latter was from.

There was a huge tree in the middle of the garden with a door. Apparently, that door led to the Spirit World. But of course, they couldn't simply open the door and enter. Lukas had to send a message first.

Now, they were waiting for a response.

"What do you plan to do once you meet Lady Roseheart, Commander?" the elf asked. "Are you going to convince her to return to the palace?"

"Of course," he said. "I shall follow His Majesty's command."

"It looks like you're planning something though."

That was correct.

He was indeed planning something.

Now that he was certain that both His Majesty and Lady Roseheart trusted him, he was getting more confident. He wanted to hurry because Lady Roseheart was about to give birth soon. But he still needed to be careful.

"I'm going to take advantage of their miscommunication," he said to the elf. "After what happened today, I'm sure that Lady Roseheart won't be able to trust His Majesty again. His Majesty, on the other hand, isn't good at communicating. At their current state, the two won't be able to hold a proper conversation."

Lukas laughed as if he was amused. "You're going to destroy the two's relationship with just words?"

"Yes, and I plan to proceed to my next goal," Gavin said seriously. "I will convince Lady Roseheart to erase His Majesty's memories."

***

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