Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

"GRANDMA, you want me to adopt someone?" Neoma asked, confused. "Are they… your child with Lord Yule?"

Roxana covered her mouth with her hands when she giggled. "Do I still look young enough to have a child with my husband?"

She gave her grandmother a double thumbs up. "Totally."

The Light Goddess bobbed a playful curtsy for her. "Thank you for the compliment, my precious granddaughter. You made this old woman happy."

She just laughed softly as a response, then she turned serious. "Grandma, I don't mean to complain. But I've been struggling all this time and yet, the moment we met each other for the first time, you asked me for a favor. Granted that I didn't ask for help, I still feel like you and Lord Yule are treating me like a pushover. You both give me near-impossible tasks to accomplish while giving the bare minimum support."

To be honest, she felt bad for saying those things to her grandmother.

But she already promised herself before that she would no longer work for free.

Plus, her life was too precious for her to just simply accept all the tasks given to her by her ancestors. She knew that those tasks were meant to help her win the war. But she wouldn't blindly follow them just because of that.

"I understand," Roxana said, then she sat beside her. But it looked like she was sitting on an invisible chair because there was nothing underneath. "This may sound like an excuse, but it was really hard for me to meet you, Neoma."

"May I know why is that the case?"

"I'm someone who's not supposed to exist anymore."

That came as a surprise to her.

"Grandma, do major gods like you die, too?"

"Of course," the Light Goddess said. "During the Ancient Period, both Yule and I gave up our divine bodies to descend on the human world. In order to send Yule back to the Upper World to reclaim his spot as a major god, I chose to sacrifice myself. After all, only one of us could ascend during that time."

She waited, but it looked her grandma didn't have any intention of elaborating.

"But why does it have to be Lord Yule to ascend to the Upper World? Why did you have to sacrifice yourself, Grandma?"

"One of us had to stay in the human world to keep the Darkness at bay," the Light Goddess explained gently. "I am the Light Goddess, so it's my responsibility to hold the Darkness down. In order to fulfill my duty, I had to give up my physical body. Then I used my remains as humanity's last defense against the Darkness."

"Gosh, that was brutal."

Her grandma just laughed softly. "I scattered my Essence all over the world. And it's exactly the reason why the Darkness hasn't taken over the human world yet. While I'm holding the fort here, Yule and our friends are doing their best to stop the Darkness from spreading in the Upper World."

"Is the Darkness polluting the air in the Upper World?"

"That seems to be the case, my dear."

She almost clicked her tongue, but she held back because she didn't want to be rude in front of her grandmother.

[The Darkness is the one polluting the air up there, but I'm the one "destined" to purify it?]

Holy bullshit.

"You said you're not supposed to exist anymore, Grandma," she said, changing the topic to calm herself. "But you're here…"

"You're only talking to a piece of my soul that I left in the Light Temple," her grandmother explained. "The piece of soul I left there "wakes up" when a female de Moonasterio is about to get her first period. Usually, I only appear before them once they take a bath in my temple."

"Ohh," she said, a little surprised. "Is that the reason why it became a tradition for female de Moonasterios to take a bath in your temple when they get their first period?"

The Light Goddess nodded. "That's correct. Once a female de Moonasterio gets her first period, it signifies her entrance to womanhood. And once that happens, my blessing activates."

"Blessing?"

"I had a vision where the lives of the female de Moonasterios born in our family were clouded by darkness," Roxana said in a sad voice. "Thus, I decided to bless them with my protection. Yule's blood is thicker in the male de Moonasterios. But mine is thicker in the women in the family because of our period."

Hmm.

[It seems like getting your period here is pretty important.]

Come to think of it, if she remembered it correctly, the word 'menstruation' was etymologically related to "moon." The terms "menstruation" and "menses" were actually derived from the Latin 'mensis' (month), which in turn was related to the Greek 'mene' (moon).

Well, that was from the world in her second life.

"Every female de Moonasterio gets their period in a full moon."

Oh.

[Period is related to the moon here.]

"And you will get it every full moon."

[Nice, I have a physical reminder of when I'll be getting my period every month.]

She couldn't remember if that was the case during her first life.

"Grandma, why didn't you show up when I got my first period during my first life?"

"I'd like to know, too," the Light Goddess said with a sad smile on her face. "Unfortunately, I am nothing but a conscious piece of what I used to be. I do not have the memories of the past. Every time I wake up, Yule fills me in on all the latest events that happened in this generation's current Royal Family."

Oh, she didn't find the answer that she wanted to hear again.

[Why was I neglected in my first life if I was supposed to be special? And why does Ruto doesn't want me to find the truth yet? I feel like instead of special, my existence was actually a threat in the past.]

It would be a sick plot twist if she turned out to be the real villain in her first life.

But she was probably just imagining it.

Right?

"I woke up a few days ago, so I already have a grasp on what's happening to the current Royal Family," Roxana said, then she turned to her. "Hence, I asked to adopt the child that I secretly raised all this time."

"If you raised them "all this time," they can't be a child."

"Physically and mentally, she's still a little girl."

She beamed instantly. "Oh, my gosh! It's a baby girl?"

Roxana smiled and nodded. "Unfortunately, that's the only thing I can say for now."

She knitted her eyebrows. "Then how in the world will I find this baby girl?"

"I'll guide her to you once the right time comes."

"Can't you give more hint, Grandma?"

The Light Goddess shook her head apologetically. "The Darkness has eyes and ears everywhere, my dear. In order to keep her safe, you must not speak about this to anyone. You also cannot mention that you met me."

"Not even to my parents and my brother?"

"That's right," the Light Goddess said firmly. "The Darkness fears me the most. If the Darkness finds out that there's a conscious piece of me left in this world, they would come and destroy me. In my current state, I cannot fight them off." She paused, then she smiled sadly. "And Yule can't protect me, either."

Oh, god.

[Why do the most amazing women in my life have to suffer the most, too?]

"Alright, Grandma, I'll keep my mouth shut," she said while shaking her head, tired of the fact that their gender always had to suffer for the dumbest reasons. But still, she couldn't abandon her grandmother. "Girls have to stick together at times like this."

"Not every female de Moonasterio thinks the same way you do, Neoma," the Light Goddess said. "Your predecessors rejected my existence, including Nichole de Moonasterio."

"I know it sucks, but you have to understand them, Grandma," she said gently. "All the royal princesses in the past were treated like shit."

Ah, damn.

She cursed.

[Why couldn't my damned mouth stay polite for at least a few more minutes?]

"I'm not different from the other female de Moonasterios that you've met, Grandma," she said, acting like she didn't say a vulgar word a few moments ago. "But I'm only accepting your request because I hold grudges. I want to fuck up everyone who gave me hell so bad. In short, I'm not fighting for world peace– I'm fighting to get my revenge." She put a hand over her chest. "It's my ego that fuels my motivation to win this war."

Roxana looked shocked at first, then she laughed.

[Gosh, even the way she laughs is elegant.]

What a queen.

"Dear, Yule was right– you're really interesting," Roxana said, smiling widely at her. "I'm really grateful that I got to meet you."

"I know, right?" she said, smirking. "There will never be a dull moment with me."

How could there be a dull moment with her when she was always fucking chased by people who wanted her dead?

[This is the curse that I must live with as the main character.]

"Anyway, Grandma, I agree to adopt your child," she said, changing the topic. "But I'm afraid I need to ask for compensation. You see, I'm a single mother. My funds are also running low because I just paid the academy a huge sum of money for the things I broke during the exam. Gosh, those things are expensive."

[That is what I got for showing off.]

"But I also accept compensation other than financial support," she said. "So, if you could offer something that may help me win my upcoming battles, I'll welcome them with a generous heart."

"I wouldn't ask you a favor without compensating you, my precious granddaughter," Roxana said, smiling warmly at her. "I will pass down my technique to you."

That was tempting, but…

[Learning another technique only means I need to work again.]

Argh.

Couldn't she have something that she could enjoy?

"Learning my technique requires you to stay in a place that could contain my power," Roxana said. Although her pupils were pure white, she could tell that her eyes were sparkling with mirth. "That means you also get to own the private islands I own– islands that are hidden from the world."

"Oh, I see."

"Those private, hidden islands are filled with Mana stones and other precious gemstones."

She did a fist pump in the air. "Now we're talking, Grandma. You're the best!" She put her hands above her head, creating a heart using her arms. "Saranghaeyo!"

"Are you in a good mood now, my beautiful granddaughter?"

Okay, that made her nervous.

Even her grandmother's smile was suspicious now.

"W-What is it this time, Grandma?"

The Light Goddess smiled apologetically at her. "I usually appear when a royal princess gets her first period. But I showed up earlier than scheduled because I came to warn you. I heard from Yule that you're about to have a match soon."

She gulped hard. "What about it, Grandma?"

"During the time a female de Moonasterio has her period, she wouldn't be able to use her Moonglow," Roxana said, her face filled with worry. "And you'll be physically weaker, too. But that's the reason why I'm here…"

Neoma shut her eyes tight, too annoyed to continue listening to what Roxana was saying. "Fuck my life."

***

"PARDON?" RUBIN asked, shocked by what his father had just said. "Father…"

"You heard me the first time," his father, Duke Drayton, said firmly without even looking up from the newspaper in his hands. "Don't make me repeat myself, you dumb child."

His father wouldn't even look him in the eye, even though he was standing in front of his desk.

He clenched his hands tight.

His father summoned him to the study, and he came prepared to be scolded again for whatever it was that the duke had nitpicked on him this time.

But what happened was worse than what he thought.

"Father, my engagement with the royal princess has been broken off a long time ago," he said firmly, yet carefully. "What do you mean by we must proceed with the engagement?"

His father let out a sigh, then he put the newspaper down and raised his head to glare at him. "We were informed by the mole we planted in the royal palace about Mona Roseheart's return," he said sternly. "It just shows His Majesty's intention to make Mona Roseheart the empress this time. Prince Nero and the hidden royal princess will become more powerful once their mother becomes the new empress."

He bit his bottom lip to stop himself from smirking bitterly.

[Father wants to cling to the Royal Family like the parasite that he is.]

"There are rumors that the hidden princess has returned to the empire," his father said coldly. "Find the princess and make her yours– by any means necessary."

He didn't want to.

After all, he was still waiting for Regina to return.

[I believe that she's still alive somewhere…]

"Answer me, you fool!" his father yelled angrily, then he threw the newspaper at his face.

His father covered the newspaper that he threw at him with his Mana. Thus, the papers became as sharp as a knife– cutting him as a result.

Blood trickled down his face.

It hurt, but he was used to the physical pain caused by his own father.

"I understand, Father," Rubin said indifferently, then he bowed to hide his glowing blue eyes from his father– his nails digging deeper into his palms until they bled. "I will find the royal princess and marry her."

***

NOTE: I just posted a new side story on my ko-fi page. Episode 2: Nichole and Nikolai's 13th Birthday: [In which Nikolai gave Nichole the best and the worst birthday present a brother could give his twin sister.]

The side stories come with a simple art from me, so please check it out. Hehe.

Link to my ko-fi account (or just type sola_cola on the search bar): ko-fi.com/sola_cola

Link to the story: https://ko-fi.com/post/EPISODE-2-NICHOLE-AND-NIKOLAIS-13TH-BIRTHDAY-T6T3CTBAL

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