Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

<"YOU CRAZY OLD money, little bastard! What do you think you're doing to the GREAT me?! I'm way, way, way older than you are! Show some respect!">

"Sure," Jasper said while moving his finger as if he was leading an orchestra. "Duckie, the more you move, the more my butterflies will annoy you."

Right now, he was testing if the duck was possessed or something close to that.

His butterflies were lesser Spirits. Hence, they could detect if a person, a thing, or an animal was being possessed. Moreover, his butterflies were sensitive to Darkness.

But fortunately, the talking duck appeared to be safe.

[Even so, this duck is clearly not normal.]

<"You better pay me for this humiliation, you little old money bastard! I only accept cold cash, okay?">

"I'm not trying to harm you– I'm just checking if you're imbued with Darkness."

<"Darkness?! How preposterous! You dare accuse me of colluding with Darkness?! I may be a slave for money, but I am not THAT cheap to join hands with Darkness! If this world is swallowed up by the Absolute Darkness again, then how am I supposed to earn money?! Think again before you accuse me of something stupid, you old money little bastard!]

He wanted to tell the duck to stop calling him "old money little bastard," but he couldn't reveal his identity carelessly even though there was no one else in that haunted castle on the cliffe.

It was their meeting place.

Paige Avery would be there later.

They chose the abandoned castle by the cliff as a meeting place because it was one of the places that Darkness couldn't reach. Which also meant the crows wouldn't be able to see them there. And the reason why the castle was a safe place?

[This used to be the base of the "pirates."]

<"Aren't you done with your inspection yet, you little old money bastard?">

As the youngest duke of the empire, he should have been offended by the insults thrown at him by the duck.

But he actually found it fun.

"You're bad tempered, and you have a nasty mouth," Jasper said, amused. "You remind me of someone dear to me."

<"Do they also like money?">

"Who doesn't like money?" he asked back, laughing. "But she's not obsessed with money like you are. After all, she has money to last her a lifetime."

In fact, the entire empire would fall into Princess Neoma's hands later.

<"Then your friend must be rich, too! I want to meet her!">

He was about to say something when he felt the presence of someone else.

"Lord Jasper, did you get yourself a new pet?"

Jasper looked over his shoulder and found Paige Avery approaching him. "No, I didn't," he said. "This duck came to me while I was waiting for you."

Paige Avery knitted her eyebrows as if she was confused. "Then why are you abusing the poor duck?"

"It's a money-obsessed duck who's good at cursing."

"You're talking as if you can hear the duck talk, Lord Jasper."

Now it was his turn to be surprised. "You can't hear the duck talk, Lady Paige?"

"Huh?" Paige asked, confused. "The duck is talking?"

Jasper was too stunned to react.

<"That's right, old money little bastard,"> the duck said smugly. <"Only you have received the privilege of hearing my magnificent voice!">

***

TREVOR raised an eyebrow at Ruto. "What are you hiding from Princess Neoma?"

"Even if you asked me now, I can't give you a proper answer," Ruto said while shaking his head. "My memories are a bit hazy at the moment."

"Tsk," Trevor complained. "Then just answer my question."

"Answer mine first."

"What?"

Ruto looked at him with a serious look on his face. "What's happening with Princess Neoma?"

"Nothing," Trevor said firmly. "And I'll make sure nothing will happen to my Moon Princess."

"You should be more careful next time, Trevor Kesser," Ruto said in a scolding tone. "It's not hard to figure out what's happening when you're this agitated. You're a demon who's attached only to one person. Hence, the fact that you're desperate to learn necromancy could only suggest that you're preparing for that person's death."

The damned chef didn't have to drop names.

[We both know that we're talking about Princess Neoma here.]

"Whatever," Trevor said, blatantly ignoring Ruto's lecture. "I only said these things to you because it's you."

"And what do you mean by that?"

"You don't care about Princess Neoma anymore."

Ruto didn't respond.

[Ah, this conversation is over.]

"Don't tell anyone about this," Trevor warned him. "If you do, I'll make you regret it, hyung."

Of course, he called the damned chef in the most sarcastic way possible.

[It feels good to be an asshole to your love rival sometimes.]

After threatening Ruto, he left the kitchen.

To be honest, it was a risk.

He could trust the Ruto that was obsessed and in love with Princess Neoma, but not the current Ruto.

Even so, he still had to do it because he was desperate.

<"Trevor, come here.">

[Argh!]

Trevor clutched his head tight when Princess Neoma summoned him by forcing a link in their minds. Still, he wasn't mad. "I'll be there, my Moon Princess."

It wasn't hard to find Princess Neoma.

In just the blink of an eye, he was already in the rooftop where his Moon Princess was waiting for him.

[Ah, she looks upset.]

"I put Tteokbokki in sleep, so we can talk freely right now," Princess Neoma said while creating a Dome. It was probably to keep their conversation private. "What did you talk about with Ruto? Normally, I wouldn't ask since it's your business. But you've been busy today, haven't you?"

Of course, his Moon Princess would know.

"Don't worry, Princess Neoma– I didn't tell Ruto about your lifespan."

Princess Neoma looked at him long and hard before he spoke again. "Trevor, I know that I may seem like I don't care about dying. It's not true. Of course, I want to live long and spend time with my loved ones. Heck, I even wanted to retire and enjoy a luxurious life."

"If that's the case, then why are you trying to stop me from finding ways to extend your life?"

"It's not like that," his Moon Princess said while shaking his head. "I just don't have the luxury to think about it since we're very busy at the moment. Hence, I want you to focus on our fight instead of looking for a way to extend my lifespan, Trevor."

He frowned at what his Moon Princess said. "This is more important than fighting the crows, Princess Neoma."

"Don't be a fool, Trevor Kesser."

"Huh?"

"If the crows won this time, I'd die early again," she reminded him. "Instead of finding a wayt to bring me back to life, I want you to focus on our current fight."

"You cannot hide your condition forever, Princess Neoma," Trevor said carefully. "I'm not threatening you. The way you coughed up blood earlier when you used your power wasn't normal."

"Oh," Princess Neoma said. "I was actually wondering about that. Do you know why I coughed up blood?"

"I'm not a doctor, so please take my words with a grain of salt," Trevor said. "But based on my observation, it seemed like your shortened lifespan took a tool on your physical body. Your abundant Moonglow is now limited, and the Mana Core in your heart has shrunk. Hence, it's like there's a gauge in your system now, Your Royal Highness."

Princess Neoma fell silent for a moment. "So, you're saying that I can't push past my limit anymore? The gauge in my body will stop me from using too much Moonglow and Mana. Is that correct?"

He nodded, impressed by his Moon Princess' wit. "That's right, Princess Neoma. You coughing up blood means you've reached your limit."

"Tsk," Princess Neoma said, clenching her hands tight. "That's so inconvenient."

"If you keep on coughing up blood, people will soon realize your poor condition– especially your "children."'

"I'm aware of that," his Moon Princess said, scoffing. "But I have a feeling that my children will respect my wishes."

Trevor smiled bitterly while shaking his head. "You're underestimating your children, Princess Neoma. They loved you more than you know.  I'm sure I won't be the only one who'd get desperate to save you once your secret is out, Princess Neoma."

If it was easy for everyone to accept Princess Neoma's death, then she wouldn't have lived three consecutive lifetimes already.

[I'm sure it's the same even for this lifetime.]

"I want to secure everyone's future first," Neoma said, then she turned her back on him. "I'll think of a way to extend my lifespan after that."

He clenched his hands and bit his lower lip to stop himself from talking back.

Then, in just the blink of an eye, Princess Neoma was already gone.

"I can't make a deal with the Ancient Devil to extend your lifespan, Princess Neoma," Trevor whispered to himself, then he shut his eyes tight. "But if I have to be the Devil to accomplish that, then I'm willing to throw away my remaining humanity for you."

***

"LEWIS, they're here," Hanna said while looking up at the floating island that was slowly descending on the beachside. "The floating island looks cool."

"I'll give you a tour later."

She turned to Lewis who was standing beside her. "Really?"

Lewis turned to her and nodded before speaking. "You helped us decorate Princess Neoma's room in the villa. I want to show it to you."

"That would be nice."

"I want to put you in a good mood before Princess Neoma returns."

Okay, that made her nervous.

"What's going on?" Hanna asked carefully. "Why do you have to go out of your way to put me in a good mood? I'm already happy to reunite with Neoma soon."

"Princess Neoma sent a message earlier," Lewis said indifferently. "She'll come here with Miss Dahlia."

[Oh.]

***

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