Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

"NOTHING?" Nero asked Melvin Luchessi, his secretary, in disbelief. "You've confirmed that Queen Brigitte, King Glenn, and their children are back in the Hazelden Kingdom. And yet, they didn't release any kind of news related to the empire?"

He was talking about the Griffiths being attacked by Calyx, of course.

For some reason unknown to him, the First Prince tried to abduct Prince Skylus. And when the Griffiths fought back, Calyx tried to massacre the entire family.

But the Griffiths escaped with the help of two powerful individuals.

He was actually expecting the Hazelden Kingdom to send a demand letter asking for Calyx's explanation for the attempted murder he committed.

The worst-case scenario in his head was Hazelden declaring war against the empire.

On the other hand, the least thing he was expecting from the Grifitths was exposing the fact that Calyx tried to kill them.

"Why are they keeping quiet?" Nero wondered out loud. "The assassin who showed me the video of Calyx's crime helped the Griffiths escape along with the mage. I'm sure they recorded the video, which means they have solid evidence against the First Prince."

But why were they being quiet?

"Hazelden Kingdom is a small country," Melvin Luchessi, who was standing in front of him, said. "They can't afford to declare war against the empire."

"Even so, I at least expect them to threaten Calyx," Nero said while leaning against his chair. "But they're not even doing that."

He was waiting for the Griffiths to send a demand letter.

After all, he would use that as an excuse to confront Calyx.

[I can't let Calyx know that I know what he did to the Griffiths. He'd just lie if I confront him about it.]

He didn't know why he had a feeling that his own brother would lie to him, though.

[Perhaps I don't trust Calyx as much as I thought I do.]

"If the Hazelden Kingdom is keeping quiet, then it's also possible that the Griffiths have wronged Prince Calyx, too," Melvin said in a tired voice. "Perhaps the assassin who visited you only showed you the part that they want you to see, Prince Nero."

That was also possible.

But his gut feeling protested.

Nero's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Sanford Devon's voice from the other side of the door.

The fallen prince was guarding the door with Raku, the half human-half dragon.

"Your Royal Highness, Prince Calyx has arrived."

Nero wasn't expecting Calyx to visit him in his office today, but it wasn't like he could turn him away. "Let the First Prince in."

The doors opened and Calyx entered the office with a bright smile on his face.

Melvin quickly bowed his head and politely excused himself from the two princes before leaving the office quietly.

The First Prince only spoke when the door behind him closed.

"I'm back, Nero."

"Welcome back, Calyx," Nero said indifferently. "Did you have fun during your brief vacation?"

"Yes, I did. It was a fruitful trip," Calyx said while standing in front of his desk, then he put a hand over his chest. "I found the blessed person who would help me cement my status as the empire's true 'First Star.'"

He raised an eyebrow at what his older brother said. "You talk as if there was a 'fake' First Star out there."

The First Prince just shrugged.

It seemed like Calyx had no intention to explain, so Nero just changed the topic.

"So, what brings you to my office?"

Calyx smiled playfully. "I heard you didn't get the present that you wanted to give me."

Ah, the White Lion.

He wanted to give Calyx the White Lion because his brother didn't have a Soul Beast. Unfortunately, Princess Monik refused. And he didn't have the chance to negotiate because the young princess messed up with his mind.

Now he suddenly remembered the conversation that he had with Princess Monik…

["She told me to tell you this if you started like a villain."]

["What–"]

[""You sorry excuse for a little brother,"" Princess Monik said, cutting him off rudely. ""I will beat the living daylights out of you once I returned.""]

[He was shocked to hear the young princess say those vicious words in a cheerful voice.]

["Prince Nero, you're lucky that my unnie doesn't want me to use harsher words," Princess Monik said, laughing. "What I told you was actually the watered down version. The original was harsher."]

["Who said–"]

["Didn't I already tell Your Royal Highness that it was an unnie who looks like your female version?" Princess Monik continued taunting him. "It's a pretty unnie with white hair, ash-gray eyes, and pale skin just like you, Prince Nero~"]

The "unnie" that Princess Monik mentioned was obviously the foul-mouthed girl who kept showing up in his dreams.

But the young princess implied something unbelievable.

[Princess Monik is saying that the foul-mouthed girl is my sister.]

"Nero?"

"What?"

Calyx laughed at his reaction. "Are you that pissed because you didn't get me the present you wanted to give me?"

He just nodded because he didn't want to tell the truth.

"Aw, that's so sweet of you," the First Prince said. "But you can get me another gift, my dear brother."

"I know. I already got you something else," he said, then he raised an eyebrow at his older brother. "But you sound like you have something in mind."

"Can I say it?"

"Of course. I'll give it to you if it's something I could get within my powers."

"It's really simple, Nero," Calyx said, then he sat on the armrest of Nero's chair and wrapped his arm around his shoulders while giving him a light hug. "Can you give me a tour inside the Royal Treasury?"

Only Nero had the Royal Treasury because he was the official Crown Prince. Moreover, the throne had already recognized him as the next emperor.

Hence, the Royal Treasury's room wouldn't open up for anyone else except him.

But bringing Calyx with him wouldn't be a problem.

"Why, though?" Nero asked curiously. "Are you sure you only want a "tour" inside the Royal Treasury?"

Calyx grinned sheepishly. "Will you let me get one item from the Royal Treasury as a birthday present, my beloved Nero?"

***

"HOUSE HAWTHORNE was robbed?!"

"Yes, and I heard that the amount stolen from them was equivalent to the entire fortune of a rich viscount in the capital!"

"That's a huge amount then!"

Neoma smiled and hummed while listening to the gossiping ladies around.

Right now, she was with Lewis while shopping for pretty clothes.

Paige prepared simple yet expensive clothes for her. That was why even the boutiques known for being snobbish didn't turn her away.

[Well, my face already screams "majestic." The shopkeepers who have keen eyes when it comes to discerning the rich from the rich RICH could tell that I'm the latter despite my "humble" clothes.]

Plus, even though she had fewer accessories than the other noble ladies, the gems that adorned her from head to toe were all high-quality.

[After all, there were gems from Paige herself.]

"Young lady."

Hmm?

[She called me a 'lady' even though I introduced myself as 'Miss Ramsay.']

In short, she didn't introduce herself as a noble.

Neoma, who was having tea while looking through the catalog of a famous dress shop, looked up at Viscountess Clarence– the shop owner and a well-known tailor among the noble ladies.

This shop wasn't owned by Hanna since her cousin focused on businesses that catered to higher nobles.

Although Viscountess Clarence was a respected tailor, she catered more to ladies from the middle class and nobles that didn't belong to the high society. Even so, the quality of the dresses that Viscountess Clarence's shop sold was comparable to the dresses worn by the socialites.

[I asked Hanna to pull Viscountess Clarence to her side, but sadly, she failed.]

Even in Neoma's first life, Viscountess Clarence didn't leave her small shop even though several higher nobles tried to convince her to cater to the nobles from the high society.

[Viscountess Clarence was firm about keeping her clothes affordable to the middle class.]

The viscountess knew that if she moved to the Grandiose Avenue, the prices of her clothes would skyrocket. It meant more profits, but it also meant that only the same people could wear her clothes– only those who could afford it, of course.

"Young lady, you should be careful."

Neoma smiled at the older woman. "Whatever do you mean by that, Viscountess Clarence?"

"Apparently, the thieves who robbed House Hawthorne left a message," Viscountess Clarence whispered to her. "Haven't you heard about it? According to the rumors, the thieves said they will rob the nobles in the Royal Capital starting tonight."

Heh.

Of course, Neoma had already "heard" about the news.

[Well… I was the one who started the rumor, after all.]

"I appreciate your warning, madam. But I don't understand why you have to go out of your way just to warn me," Neoma said while smiling politely. "I am not a noble."

Viscountess Clarence smiled. "My lady, you can't hide the majestic aura that you exude."

Oh.

"I suppose I should pretend I didn't notice you were a high-ranking noble lady," Viscount Clarence said while smiling playfully at her. "Then this nosy old woman will take her leave now. Enjoy shopping, "Miss" Ramsay."

Neoma just smiled at Viscountess Clarence and watched the old noble lady disappear to the second floor of the shop. "I like the viscountess."

Lewis, who was standing behind the chair that she was sitting on, let out a sigh. "You can't adopt her, Miss Rara."

Her "son" had to address her that way because they were outside while disguised as children from a middle-class family.

She turned to Lewis with a hurt look on her face. "Lulu, do you think it's my hobby to adopt "children?""

Lewis tilted his head "innocently." "Is it not?"

Aigoo.

"I'm just thinking of commissioning Viscountess Clarence to make the dress that I'll wear for Calyx's birthday party," Neoma said, smiling. "But I wonder if the viscountess would agree since she knew I'm not an ordinary young miss."

***

"WELCOME, Princess Neoma."

"It's been a while, Gin~" Neoma greeted Gin, in his human form, when she entered the private office in Sinkhole– the information guild that Jasper Hawthorne owned. She and Lewis went there discreetly after their shopping spree. "It's good to see you again."

Gin bowed to her with a wide smile on her face. "Same here, Princess Neoma."

"You and Tate did a good job spreading the fake news," she said while patting Gin's shoulder. "Now I'm sure all the nobles in the Royal Capital will tighten the security in their estates. And I'm also certain that even the nobles all around the continent would do the same."

And, if that happened, the crows would find it hard to steal from the nobles.

That was her main reason for spreading the fake news.

Neoma turned to the wall where a projector-like screen showed Jasper oppa's serious face. "I'm sorry, oppa. We were too late. Your treasury room was already robbed when Trevor arrived there."

<"It's alright, Princess Neoma,"> Jasper oppa assured her. <"I already talked to Tate earlier. He said none of the family heirlooms was stolen.">

"That was a relief," she said. "Oppa, thank you for agreeing to spread the news that your house was stolen."

Of course, she wouldn't spread that news without Jasper oppa's permission.

<"It's nothing to be ashamed of,"> Jasper oppa said. <"What's your next plan now, Princess Neoma?">

"I'll watch over Hanna's reunion with Duke and Duchess Quinzel tonight," Neoma said casually. "After that, I'll go and rob the Royal Treasury."

Jasper oppa and Gin looked shocked by her casual declaration.

Lewis broke the silence. "And we're going to wear the same uniform that the thieves who robbed House Hawthorne wore."

Heh.

Neoma smirked and nodded. "An eye for an eye."

***

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