Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

"ARE YOU crying?" Nikolai asked Rufus Quinzel in disbelief. "For goodness' sake, don't do it in my presence. Go home to your wife and cry in her arms."

"I'm not crying," Rufus Quinzel denied in a cracked voice. It was obvious that the duke was trying his best not to cry. He was failing, though. "Your Majesty, your son is a thief. How dare His Royal Highness steal my precious daughter from my family this early?"

He couldn't defend Nero this time, so he just sipped his tea.

"My wife and I know that this day would come ever since our precious Hanna declared that she wanted to be the future Crown Princess," the duke continued with his whining. "But no parent would be prepared for the day their little princess would be taken away from them."

"You're being dramatic, Rufus," he said while shaking his head. "It's just an engagement– the children won't get married yet."

"But once they get officially engaged, my daughter has to live in the Royal Palace to take bridal lessons," the duke complained again.

Hanna Quinzel wouldn't just be taking bridal lessons then.

The future Crown Princess would also receive strict education on how to become a member of the Royal Family.

"You can visit Hanna Quinzel anytime you want," he said in an attempt to console his cousin. "I can even prepare a residence for you and your wife in the palace."

"I'd love to take you up on your offer, but Amber would probably scold me."

He didn't doubt that.

Amber Quinzel was the very definition of a perfect noblewoman.

[Which means Amber Quinzel is ready to support her daughter in her journey to becoming the future Crown Princess.]

After all, in the empire, most of the noblewomen's goal was to marry into an excellent family.

"Don't worry too much, Rufus," he said as he put the teacup down on the table. "Hanna Quinzel has Neoma. I'm sure my daughter will always take your daughter's side."

Rufus looked surprised by what he said.

"We will take good care of Hanna Quinzel," he promised his cousin. "The Royal Family is changing now, Rufus."

It seemed like the duke understood his message.

The Royal Family was now changing, and it meant Hanna Quinzel wouldn't be treated like a tool for them to gain more power.

Hanna Quinzel would be treated like family.

"Your Majesty, why don't you start by calling my precious daughter by her first name instead of addressing her by her full name?" Rufus asked, smiling. "After all, my Hanna is going to be your future daughter-in-law."

"I'll do that soon," he said while nodding. "For now, let's focus on the children's upcoming entrance exam first."

The duke nodded in agreement. "Your Majesty, will Prince Nero depart on the day of the entrance exam?"

"That's the plan," he said. "We will take advantage of the fact that everyone's attention will be focused on the "Crown Prince" and the future Crown Princess on that day. Nero will leave for Hazelden on the same day with a few people." He sipped his tea again before he continued. "I already informed Glenn about Nero's arrival. He'll personally take care of my son there."

"If it's Glenn, then my royal son-in-law is in good hands."

Royal son-in-law?

He couldn't help but chuckle. "You just called Nero a 'thief' a while ago, and now he's your royal son-in-law?"

The duke laughed softly. "My Hanna will be sad if I treat Prince Nero poorly. She's so infatuated with the prince, Your Majesty."

"You can't blame your daughter," he said proudly. "Nero is just perfect."

His cousin just nodded while laughing.

"Rufus."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"I have to apologize to you in advance."

"For what, Your Majesty?"

"I said that the children will only get engaged in the meantime, but they might get married earlier than expected," he said seriously. "It might happen even before their coming-of-age ceremony."

The duke gulped. "What's the rush for, Your Majesty?"

He didn't want to admit this, but he suddenly felt bashful, so his gaze fell on the teacup. "Mona will return home soon," he said awkwardly. "Once she returns, I intend to pursue her again. The nobles, including the ones in the Royal Faction, would definitely oppose it."

Well, the nobles might allow Mona to become his royal mistress.

But he didn't want that for her.

"If Mona reciprocates my feelings for her, I will descend the throne and let Nero inherit it early," he declared, looking straight at Rufus' eyes. "Mona already spent thirteen years in that cold place alone. I won't let her become lonely more than she already has, Rufus."

It was embarrassing to be sentimental in front of his cousin.

But he wanted to be honest with him.

After all, his selfishness would affect Hanna Quinzel's life.

Rufus, who seemed to have understood the meaning behind his words, smiled at him warmly. "I understand, Your Majesty. And I will support your decision to leave the empire in the hands of Prince Nero and Hanna." He put a hand over his chest. "I'm saying this not as a duke or a subject– this is me speaking as your cousin who wishes for you and Lady Roseheart to be happy this time."

"Thank you, Rufus," Nikolai, who rarely expressed his gratitude, said sincerely. "I mean it."

***

"I WISH I could send you off properly, but I'm afraid I need to leave for the entrance exam," Neoma said, regretful that Nero had to leave for Hazelden Kingdom at the same time she needed to leave the palace to take the exam. "The entrance exam will last for three days, so Hanna and I will stay at the hotel nearby until then."

Applicants from different parts of the world would arrive tomorrow for the entrance exam.

There were also applicants from the other continents since Royal Moon Academy was that prestigious.

But of course, the Royal Moon Academy had already filtered the applicants beforehand. Not everyone who wanted to take the entrance exam could. Every applicant had to go through a screening first.

Apparently, the academy would investigate the aspirant's background before they let them take the exam.

"I'm glad that you sound confident you'd last until the last day of the entrance exam," Nero, who was sitting on the bed, smiled at her. "Can I expect you to be the freshman representative this year, Neoma?"

She gave her baby brother a double thumbs up. "Consider it done, dongsaeng."

The entrance exam only lasted for two days, technically.

On the first day, the applicants would take the written exam and interview.

Since the Royal Moon Academy would use advanced magic in order to grade the exams, the result would come out on the next day's early morning. Only the applicants who passed the written exam and interview would proceed to the second round.

The second round would gauge the applicants' Mana level.

After all, the Royal Moon Academy wasn't just an educational institution. It was also known to train the finest young bloods to fight in order to bring glory to the empire.

"I'm sure I'll ace the exam," she said confidently. "I also have a feeling that Hanna would do the same."

"Then there might be a chance that you and Hanna would face each other on the final day of the exam."

Only the top two applicants would proceed to the last round of the entrance exam.

"If that happens, I won't hold back," she said. "It will be an insult to Hanna if I hold back during our match."

Her baby brother nodded in agreement. "Good luck, Neoma."

"Call me 'noona' once I become the student representative, okay?"

"Let's talk about it when that happens."

Neoma laughed softly, then she sat beside Nero and hugged him. "I'll come and visit you at Hazelden after the entrance exam."

Nero hugged her back. "I'll be waiting for you, Neoma."

***

"CRUSH them all."

Neoma laughed at her Papa Boss's advice.

Right now, she was standing in front of the royal carriage waiting for her while talking to her father. All the other applicants would probably arrive at the Royal Moon Academy with their parents. But since her father couldn't leave the palace yet, she had to go on her own.

She wouldn't be totally alone, though.

[Hanna and I will go together, and Duke Rufus Quinzel will escort us to the academy.]

"I will bring home the bacon, Father," Neoma said, addressing her Papa Boss formally because they were surrounded by servants and royal guards at the moment. "Let's have a barbecue party after the exam."

Her Papa Boss smiled and gently patted her on the head. "See you on the last day of the exam, my child."

The emperor's presence during the final match between the top two candidates was required.

Thus, even though the law dictates that the emperor and his heir shouldn't leave the palace at the same time, that event would be an exception. After all, during the exam, she wasn't the Crown Prince, but an ordinary exam taker.

Her Papa Boss's declaration that they would see each other on the last day of the exam was a testament to his faith that she'd make it to the final round.

Neoma smiled at her Papa Boss. "See you then, Father."

***

"I THINK Ruto ghosted me," Neoma complained to Hanna. "He refused to let me enter his dream all this time, and he didn't tell me that he was already awake."

Right now, she was in the royal carriage with Hanna.

She fetched her cousin earlier at the Quinzel Estate to show off their "intimate relationship" to the public. Plus, this would be Hanna's first official public appearance after she left the empire a few years ago. Thus, she needed to stay by the future Crown Princess's side.

[I'm still not convinced by the Nero x Hanna ship, but I can't openly oppose their relationship since their decision to get engaged was mutual.]

"We're talking about Lord Ruston here, Your Royal Highness," Hanna, who was sitting on the couch across from her, said calmly. She also addressed her formally because even though only the two of them were inside the royal carriage at the moment, they still had to be careful since they were outside the Royal Palace now. The royal carriage was also protected by a soundproof barrier, but it wouldn't hurt to be extra careful. "I'm sure Lord Ruston has a valid reason for avoiding Your Royal Highness all this time."

"I know, right?" she agreed. But her heart wasn't at ease yet. "I wish he'd contact me the soonest, though. After Trevor betrayed me, I've become anxious."

It wasn't like she didn't trust Ruto anymore.

But after her biggest simp turned her back on her, she felt like everything could happen now.

"Don't worry, Your Royal Highness," Hanna assured her gently. "If you feel the need to storm to the East Continent to confront Lord Ruston, I will bring you there."

She laughed while clapping her hands. "Thank you, Hanna. I appreciate that."

Unfortunately, their girl talk was cut short when they finally arrived at the Royal Moon Academy.

The prestigious school was located in the upscale part of the Royal Capital. Moreover, the security was extra strict today so the line of the carriages waiting to enter the premise was long. But the guards did not stop the royal carriage.

After all, it was her privilege as the Crown Prince to be exempted from the inspection.

"We've arrived at the Royal Moon Academy," Duke Rufus Quinzel, who opened the door for them, said cheerfully. "Your Royal Highness and my precious Hanna."

Hanna smiled at the duke's sweetness.

[Aww… I wish Papa Boss is here, too.]

But she set her personal feelings aside.

She got off the royal carriage first, then she extended her hand to assist Hanna.

At that moment, she noticed the silence while her skin was being pricked by the several gazes directed at them.

Everyone was watching her and Hanna, and nobody was hiding it.

The carriages weren't allowed inside the academy, so the student applicants had to get off their personal vehicles at the academy's main gate. Aside from the aspirants, the teachers and the school guards also gathered at the entrance.

[Welp, I love the attention, so bring it on.]

"Who's the Crown Prince between them?"

Huh?

Did she mishear it?

But according to the confused look on Hanna and Duke Rufus Quinzel, it seemed like she heard the student applicant near them correctly.

Was there a citizen in the empire who didn't know what the Crown Prince looked like?

[Oh, right. There are a lot of foreigners at the Royal Capital at the moment.]

"White hair, ash-gray eyes, pale skin– obviously, the one who got off the carriage with the Royal Family's crest is the Crown Prince."

"The other boy has ivory hair and green eyes, but…"

"Don't say it, silly."

"But he really looks like Crown Prince's brother–"

"Shh!"

Welp, she already heard it.

Hanna remained calm, but her eyes wandered to the direction the other kids were pointing– and Neoma didn't miss the shocked look on her cousin's face.

Duke Rufus Quinzel was also frozen in shock.

She couldn't contain her curiosity anymore, so she turned to her side.

[Oh, fuck.]

The sight sent a chill up her spine.

Ivory hair.

Pale skin.

Green eyes.

The tall boy standing in front of the carriage behind the royal carriage turned to her at the same time she did, so their gazes met inevitably.

He was dressed like a proper noble, but he carried himself like royalty.

And most of all…

[Why does he look like Nero if my twin brother was born with green eyes?]

That meant the boy also resembled her a lot since she and Nero were twins.

No, scratch that.

[That boy looks like the younger version of Papa Boss.]

Now she understood why the kids were confused between her and the boy.

[But how…]

"Lord Calyx, we must head inside," the male attendant of the boy, who looked like her brother, said calmly.

[So, his name is Calyx.]

She couldn't remember anyone with that name from her first life.

[And it's not like there was a person who resembled Nero a lot back then.]

Her thoughts were interrupted when Calyx smiled at her.

[So freaking handsome.]

Calyx bowed to her politely. "Greetings to the current heir of the throne."

What kind of greeting was that?

Everyone around them, including Hanna and Duke Rufus Quinzel, was bewildered by the boy's strange greeting.

"Thank you," she said when she recovered from the shock. Then she gave the boy a business smile– the kind of smile that was reserved for people that she needed to keep an eye on. "I think we should stick together, my lord."

Would it be a plain co-incidence to meet a boy who resembled her and her twin brother on the day she stepped out of the Royal Palace to take the entrance exam?

Maybe, maybe not.

It could also be just her overthinking.

[But it doesn't hurt to be suspicious of people I just met.]

Calyx looked surprised and confused by what she said earlier. "I'm afraid I don't understand Your Royal Highness…"

"Good-looking people must flock together," Neoma said cheerfully. She wanted to appear friendly in order to show people she wasn't 'shookt' by the boy's resemblance to her physical appearance. "It's not every day I get to meet a boy as handsome as me, after all."

***

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