Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

[I'M SO effing' tired.]

Neoma almost dragged herself out of the carriage because her body felt heavy.

But she instantly beamed when she saw the person who opened the carriage for her. It wasn't the coachman.

"Papa Boss!" Neoma said happily, then she opened her arms. "Hurry! Carry me!"

Her Papa Boss let out a huff, but he still carried her as gently and as carefully as possible. "Are your short legs tired again?"

She laughed when she remembered the time she asked her father to carry her in the past. "I also remember that moment, Papa Boss," she said, then she whispered in her Papa Boss's ear. "It was when you brought me to the temple to sacrifice me to extend Nero's life span, right?"

Her father let out a (fake) coughing fit while walking back to his palace.

She just laughed at her Papa Boss' reaction.

They were free to talk that way because only the people who knew her royal secret were around them.

She and her envoy used a secret road to enter the Royal Palace. Thus, only her Papa Boss and Geoffrey Kinsley greeted them. Even the people of the empire didn't know that the Crown Prince had returned earlier than expected.

[But Papa Boss will announce the assassination attempt to the public later.]

Anyway, her father dismissed their people earlier.

But she told her people (aka her children) to report to her tomorrow. Lewis looked like he didn't want to leave yet, but in the end, he was forced to do so because she gave several orders to her children.

Since she needed to rest, she let her kids handle the matters regarding Lady Sera Wisteria, Paige Avery, and Xion the Assassin.

[But I'll work with them early tomorrow.]

She was just exhausted after killing a minor god, interrogating Lady Sera Wisteria and Xion the assassin, then paying respects to the Avery Clan that were buried with the Hisa Trees before they left the Golden Field.

Ah, of course, she had to talk to Count and Countess Campbell, too.

[I think I deserve a break.]

"Papa Boss, I know that Dion already sent you a report, but I still want to say it," she said while rubbing her eyes with her hand. "I brought the assassin with me. Jeanne already tortured him, so please spare his life."

Her father frowned at her request. "That damned assassin is handsome, isn't he? You're weak to good-looking people."

"I like his visual– he's the handsome, brooding type," she admitted confidently. "But Papa Boss, that's not the only reason why I want him alive. I want him to be a part of my dream team."

"Neoma, what made you think I will allow you to keep the assassin who tried to kill you by your side?"

"Papa Boss, listen to me," she said patiently. She had to convince her father to let Xion become a part of her team. "Xion's ability is rare and very useful. It's such a shame to let him go. Plus, he didn't actually try to kill me."

Her father let out a deep sigh. "Neoma…"

"I'm stronger than him, so he can't hurt me," she added. "Moreover, I have my children with me."

Her Papa Boss shook his head. "I'm still not convinced."

"I want to gobble up his assassin guild."

Now her father looked interested. "You want to own an assassin guild?"

"Papa Boss, I need a connection to the Underworld and the Black Market," she said seriously. "Although I know that we have to eradicate them, we also have to admit that we needed the information that flows in the Underworld? Do you know what guilds rule in the back alley?"

"The information guild, the merchant guild, and the assassin guild."

She smiled and gently patted her father's head. "Papa Boss is so smart."

Her father glared at her.

She just laughed at his reaction. "Anyway, I have a plan, Papa Boss. Just trust me on this one." She clasped her hands together. "Pretty please?"

"I'll observe that punk first."

That answer satisfied her for now. "Thank you, Papa Boss."

"I heard the person trapped inside the Mother Hisa Tree is a Mage," her father said. "Do you also plan to put her in your team? After all, you also need a Mage."

"Yep, Papa Boss," she said cheerfully. "But only if Lady Avery wants to. To be honest, I'm not expecting much. After what my crazy grandfather did to her clan, I'll accept it whole-heartedly if she turns me down."

Her father fell silent for a while. "Alright, I'll leave it to you."

"Thanks, Papa Boss."

"Should I leave the matter with the Wisterias to you as well?"

"I actually need your help with that matter, Papa Boss," she said, then she covered her mouth when she yawned. "I want to hear your opinion about the punishment I came up with."

"Let's talk about it tomorrow," her father said, then he opened the door to his bedroom. "You should rest first."

Much to her surprise, the head maid, Stephanie was already waiting for her.

The maid brought her sleeping clothes as if Stephanie already knew that she'd be sleeping in her father's room.

[Ah, Papa Boss must have called her in advance.]

"Wash up first," her Papa Boss said as he carefully put her down. "I'll just finish some more work before I head to bed."

"Okay, Papa Boss," Neoma said sleepily while Stephanie was carrying her to the bathroom. "Fighting."

***

[I DON'T have the heart to tell Neoma.]

Nikolai considered telling his daughter about the past memories that he retrieved. But he got scared. He got scared that Neoma might not believe him.

After all, he saw how much his daughter loved Gavin Quinzel.

[Although I hate Gavin Quinzel, I can't deny that he's a better father to Neoma than I am. If I tell Neoma that Gavin Quinzel might have not been honest with me and Mona in the past, would she think I'm just badmouthing her "appa?"]

"Father-in-law, what are you thinking so deeply about?"

Nikolai raised his head to find Trevor, the demon boy, sitting at his table.

It did not surprise him to see this punk here. After all, Trevor already sent a message to him this morning asking him to open the portal for him.

"Who's your father-in-law, you punk?" Nikolai warned the demon boy coldly. "Watch your mouth before I rip it off."

Trevor just laughed and raised his hands in surrender. "Your Majesty, Princess Neoma isn't in her room. Did you hide her in your palace?"

Yes, the reason he brought Neoma to his bedroom was because he knew Trevor would go straight to his daughter's room. And Trevor's arrival was also the reason he returned to his office. He needed to talk to this punk, after all.

"Don't disturb Neoma's rest," he warned the demon. "She's tired."

"I bet she is," the demon said playfully. "Killing a minor god is no easy feat."

It did not surprise him to know that the news already reached Trevor.

[I'm sure even the other gods and powerful beings on the continent have already heard about the "Crown Prince" slaying a minor god.]

He'd worry about that later.

For now…

"Why are you here?" he asked the demon boy. "Did something happen to Nero?"

"Prince Nero is doing well, Your Majesty," Trevor reported to him. "I only came here because His Royal Highness asked me to deliver a message to Princess Neoma."

"It must be urgent if Nero sent you here personally."

"I'm sorry, but even if His Majesty asks, I won't tell you the content of the message."

"I won't ask anyway," he said sternly. "But I want to know if everything is alright between my children. They're not fighting, are they?"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. The royal twins aren't fighting," the demon boy assured him. "Prince Nero and Princess Neoma will tell you about their little secret once the time is right."

"I don't want to hear that from you."

The demon boy had the audacity to laugh in front of him.

[This punk is fearless.]

"I have a job for you, demon boy."

"If will help me earn some brownie points from my future father-in-law, then I will not hesitate to become Your Majesty's servant."

"Stop it or else…"

The demon boy acted like he was zipping his mouth shut.

"Find Gavin Quinzel for me while you're here on the surface."

Trevor's eyes widened in shock. "Are you going to kill Gavin Quinzel, Your Majesty?"

"That's none of your business," Nikolai said while frowning. He could ask his Paladins to find Gavin Quinzel. But why not put the noisy Devil's Grimoire to work, so he could separate the demon boy from his daughter? "All you have to do is find that bastard for me."

***

"I REFUSE to accept that assassin bastard as our teammate," Juri said firmly, then she crossed her arms over her chest. "He tried to kill our Princess Neoma!"

She could speak freely like that because a powerful soundproof barrier of magic protected the basement prison.

Yes, she was in the basement prison cell with Jeno, Greko, and Lewis.

And the four of them were having a meeting right in front of Xion's cell.

It was okay to say Princess Neoma's name in front of the assassin because earlier, Her Royal Highness dropped by and introduced herself to Xion. After that, she made Xion cancel the message that he was supposed to send to his guild.

When Xion complied, Princess Neoma made the assassin take the Oath of Silence.

"Hey, I didn't try to kill Princess Neoma," Xion, who was sitting on the floor while he had a steel collar chain attached to the wall, complained. "I only wanted to gauge her strength."

"You couldn't kill Princess Neoma even if you fought seriously," Lewis said coldly, his golden eyes were glowing menacingly while glaring at Xion. "Don't be arrogant."

Juri nodded in agreement. "I agree with Lewis." She turned to Jeno and Greko. "How about the two of you?"

Greko lowered his eyes to the floor while his fingers fiddled at the hem of his shirt. "I'd l-like to support eomma's decision."

"Me, too," Jeno said, then he yawned while stretching his arms. "I also wronged Princess Neoma when I stalked her in the past. But she still forgave me and accepted me as one of her personal knights."

"Hey, Jeno Dankworth," Juri said while glaring at the young lord. "Is stalking the same as assassination?"

Jeno just avoided his gaze. "We need a tie-breaker."

"Then should I vote, too?"

It surprised all of them to hear an unfamiliar voice.

Juri immediately summoned her sledgehammer and hid Greko behind her. On the other hand, Jeno pulled out his rifle.

The only person who didn't budge was Lewis.

"Scary," the "visitor" said playfully while hiding behind Lewis. "My son, why are your siblings so scary?"

Lewis let out an annoyed sigh. "I'm not your son, Trevor."

Trevor?

Ah, it was the demon friend of Princess Neoma.

Juri's sledgehammer vanished into thin air, and so did Jeno's rifle.

"Hello, my youngest son," Trevor, who teleported in front of Greko, said before he squatted down to meet the child's eye level. "Do you remember me? We met at the camp. By the way, I'm Princess Neoma's future husband, so that makes me your father."

Greko, the innocent boy, beamed. "You're my father?"

The demon boy was about to open his mouth but was forced to shut up when Lewis appeared behind him.

Lewis gave Trevor a dropkick.

But the demon boy was quick, and he vanished with Greko.

"Lewis, you really inherited your mother's nasty temper," Trevor, who was now inside the prison cell with Xion, said. The demon boy was also carrying the confused Greko in his arms. "I can't say that I hate that about you, though."

Lewis, whose golden eyes were still glowing menacingly, grabbed the prison bars. "Come out."

The demon boy laughed. "I don't want to die, though?"

"What's a nasty demon doing here?" Xion complained while looking up at the demon. "You must be crazy if you believe Princess Neoma will marry a low being like you."

Trevor turned to Xion with a creepy smile. "And who's this cheeky bastard?"

Xion smirked at the demon boy. "My name is Xion."

"And what the hell is your deal?"

"E-Eomma said we should decide whether we want Xion hyung to be a part of our team," Greko explained for the demon. "Juri noona and Lewis hyung don't want Xion hyung to be our team member. But Jeno hyung and I are okay with it."

"Ah, that's why you said you need a tiebreaker," Trevor said while nodding. "As Princess Neoma's future husband, I object to this adoption." The demon boy pointed a finger to Xion, who was now frowning at the demon boy. "I don't want a cheeky bastard for a son."

"You don't have the right to vote, you nasty demon," Lewis said to Trevor coldly, then the fox boy effortlessly destroyed the gate that separated him from his "enemy." "I'll kill you first before I kill the assassin."

"Assassin?" Trevor asked, confused. Then he turned to Greko. "My youngest son, what does Lewis mean by that?"

Greko gulped before he answered. "Xion hyung is an assassin who was commissioned to kill eomma…"

Trevor turned to Xion with a murderous look on his face. "You tried to kill my Moon Princess?"

Xion gulped and moved away from Trevor until his back hit the wall. "Let me explain, dude…"

Juri just watched the total fiasco with prime interest.

[Princess Neoma is really popular among the boys, huh? As expected of my master.]

"Are you alright?"

She turned to Jeno, who asked if she was alright while Lewis, Trevor, and Xion were bickering. Greko, the poor child, looked like he was about to cry.

"I'm alright," Juri said with a frown. "Why are you asking a stupid question?"

She knew Jeno was asking because of what was happening to House Wisteria.

As of the moment, Princess Neoma was having an audience with her father and her Aunt Sera. She was worried about her family. But on the other hand, she was prepared to receive any kind of punishment from Her Royal Highness.

[I just hope that I still get to stay beside Princess Neoma as her knight…]

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a hand pat her head.

[What the…]

Juri looked up at Jeno, who was gently patting her head. "What are you doing, Jeno Dankworth?"

"Consoling you?" Jeno said casually, then he shrugged. "You've worked hard, gorilla girl."

"Who the hell are you calling a 'gorilla?!'"

***

NEOMA was supposed to head to the meeting room before her Papa Boss.

But an urgent matter came, so she had to stay at her office a little longer and asked her father to delay the meeting for five minutes. She knew it was rude to do so. After all, she was the one who set up the meeting and summoned the important guests to the palace.

She couldn't help it, though.

After all, she received a letter from Ruto.

[I just need five minutes to read this letter, then I'll head to the meeting room right away.]

She excitedly opened the letter and read the content right away.

But her excitement quickly disappeared while reading the letter. Before she knew it, her hands already crumpled the paper in anger.

"Ruto," Neoma said under her breath. "What the fuck?"

***

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