Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

TREVOR can't believe that someone as great as him was reduced to recreating the uniform of the thieves that he made explode just last night.

He couldn't do anything about it because it was Princess Neoma's order...

["Trevor, do you still remember what the thieves wore?"]

["Of course, Princess Neoma. Not only do I remember what their uniform looks like. I also know the type of fabric they used, and the protective spell that they used on the uniforms. But since I'm a great Sorcerer, that puny spell couldn't protect them from my sorcery."]

["Is that so?"]

["Moreover, ordinary people wouldn't have noticed, but these great eyes of mine caught the almost unnoticeable crest on the left breast pocket. It was a brown bear."]

["Great. So, can you recreate the uniform?"]

["Huh?"]

["Please recreate the uniforms for at least one hundred people."]

Since Princess Neoma smiled and said 'thank you,' Trevor didn't have the heart to turn her down.

[I'm such a simp.]

"Brown Bear Bandits?"

Trevor, who was plopped down on the sofa while putting a mid protective spell on the uniforms that he just finished making, raised his head. "You're back, hyung?"

Ruto frowned before sitting on the sofa across from him. "Why am I your 'hyung?'"

He just grinned in response.

Trevor was originally alone in the hotel room because everyone left.

Princess Neoma went "shopping" with Lewis.

Paige, Hanna, and Prince Skylus went out early to spread the fake news about the message that the thieves had left after robbing House Hawthorne.

Greko and Dahlia went out to buy ingredients to make medicines and potions, respectively.

[It's for Duke Quinzel who lost weight due to lack of sleep, and Duchess Quinzel who is currently sick in bed. They suspect that the duchess is being poisoned by Regina Crowell. Hence, Greko the Healer, and Dahlia the Black Witch, joined hands to cure the ducal couple.]

The damned chef and his colleagues disappeared after breakfast.

[Ruto hyung came back alone, but it looks like he won't answer me if I asked where his colleagues are.]

Hence, he just asked the damned chef a different question.

"Hyung, how much do you know about the Brown Bear Bandits?"

"They're a rich group of expert thieves."

Trevor smiled because Ruto's answer was precise. "Right? Small-time thieves wouldn't be able to hide from Gin and Tate without a powerful stealth device to keep themselves hidden well. Moreover, they wouldn't be able to sweep up a huge amount of fortune in just one night without an expensive magic device."

All magic devices were expensive in general. But magic devices that keep you hidden and help you store many things in such small baggage definitely cost a lot.

A LOT.

[Here's the thing, though. Devices that could be used for stealing aren't available in the market.]

"The crows are probably backing them up," Ruto said as if he could read Trevor's mind. "Even though the thieves have a lot of money, it still wouldn't be possible for them to find high-quality devices personally made by a good sorcerer."

Trevor sneered bitterly. "Dilan Crowell."

Yep, the bastard who claimed to be Trevor's "brother" definitely made those devices that allowed the Black Bear Bandits to steal right under Gin and Tate's nose.

"Your brother."

Trevor rolled his eyes at Ruto's comment. "What are you saying, hyung? You're the only brother I have."

"Drop the actâ€" you hate me."

"I don't hate youâ€" I just wish Princess Neoma falls out of love with you the soonest."

"..."

"Hyung, you might be feeling complacent right now because Princess Neoma is trying her best to maintain her relationship with you," Trevor said cheerfully. "But, hyung, don't forget that Princess Neoma loves herself more than she loves you. She won't pursue your forever, especially not when she's about to get busy."

"..."

"Princess Neoma isn't your "babe" alone," Trevor reminded his "hyung" in a serious tone this time. "She's the future empress of the Great Moonasterion Empire. Do you think she has time to chase you forever?"

Ruto raised an eyebrow at him. "Should I get provoked? Is that what you're expecting from me?"

"Not at all, hyung," Trevor said, grinning at Ruto. "I want you to be as passive as you are right now so Princess Neoma would get bored of you the soonest."

***

"JASPER OPPA, how's your trip with Duckie?" Neoma asked curiously. "Have you reached the village where you're supposed to go?"

Jasper Hawthorne laughed awkwardly. <"I think we got lost, Princess Neoma.">

"What?"

<"Duckie seems to be... confused.">

"Will you be fine? Should I send Gin to your location?"

Her oppa was about to answer when they heard angry duck noises.

<"I remember it now! This time, I'm sure where the village is! Just trust me, old money bastard! After we're done here, we'll steal back everything that those thieves stole from you! How dare those bastards steal from my diamond mine?!">

Pfft.

Did the duck just refer to Jasper oppa as his "diamond mine?"

[Well, Jasper oppa owns the biggest diamond mine on both the Eastern and Western Continents...]

<"Princess Neoma, it's about time for us to board a ship. I'm sorry, but I have to hang up now.">

"Take care, Jasper oppa," Neoma said worriedly. "You, too, Duckie."

After the call ended, Neoma the called Xion.

Xion was with Jasper and Duckie, but she had a different way of contacting her "son."

Instead of a communication device with a video call function, the one she was using right now was similar to the modern world's wireless earbuds.

Hence, she could only talk to Xion and not see his face.

<"Princess Neoma, my uncle sent me a message just now. The hundred men that you requested from our guild will arrive in an hour.">

"Great," Neoma said. Since she knew that Xion would board a ship with Jasper and Duckie soon, she kept the call short. "Thank you, Xion. Don't forget to give me an update every hour so I'd know you and Jasper oppa are both safe."

<"I will, Princess Neoma. Please take care, too.">

After that call, she finally faced Gin who was still in his human form.

"Princess Neoma, I'm curious," Gin said carefully. "Lord Jasper's information guild has enough men to pose as thieves. Why did you have to hire men from another guild to pose as thieves?"

Yep, that was the plan.

She hired men who would pretend to be thieves later.

[And I'll send them to every rich household in the Royal Capital.]

"Because the crows might already be keeping an eye on Jasper oppa's menâ€" including the ones working in the guild," Neoma said, shrugging. "Moreover, men from Xion's guild are also assassins."

Gin nodded. "I see. So, blood might spill tonight."

"Anyways, I'll send Trevor here later," she said. "He'll deliver the uniforms that I asked him to make earlier. Tell the assassins to wear those uniforms before they pretend to rob the noble households in the capital."

"Pfft."

The black cat in his human form stifled his laughter.

"What's funny?"

"I just find it funny that Trevor acts like he's some big shot when you're not around, Princess Neoma," Gin said while smiling and shaking his head. "But he doesn't mind doing errands for you."

Oh.

Neoma suddenly felt guilty.

[I realized it recently, but perhaps I'm being too casual and mean to someone as great as Trevor?]

"It's okay, Princess Neoma."

Hmm?

It was Lewis.

"It's okay because Trevor allows you to treat him that way," Lewis said as if he knew what she was worried about at the moment. "And it's Trevor's fault for being annoying."

Neoma couldn't help but laugh at what her "son" said. "Thank you for making me feel better, Lewis."

***

"YOUR ROYAL Highness, the nobles are requesting for us to send the royal knights to patrol the Royal Capital."

Nero smirked after hearing what Melvin Luchessi came to report to him. "Are they crazy? Why would I send the royal knights to the capital? The royal knights exist to protect the Royal Family."

"I knew you'd say, Prince Nero," Melvin said. "That's why I already sent a request to Duke Quinzel to increase the number of the Black Hawk Knights around the capital since the duke is in charge of the Public Order."

The Quinzels were allowed to have a private army with more than a thousand troopsâ€" which wasn't allowedâ€" because of the agreement that the Quinzels and the Royal Family had.

It was the agreement that the Quinzels' private army would be in charge of the Public Order.

"Duke Quinzel said he can't lead the patrol tonight, but he'd send Sir Jaxson Emmett along with the additional troop to patrol the area."

It was understandable since Duke Quinzel was busy looking for Hanna.

[But I have a feeling Duke Quinzel is busy with something else.]

Anyway, Nero was doing his best to look for his fiancée, too.

Instead of asking Alucard Dionisio and Lucien Attewell to return to the palace, he asked the two to look for Hanna.

"What's happening to the nobles?" Nero asked curiously. "Every rich household has their own private army anyway."

"The nobles are probably scared of being robbed," Melvin explained. "The amount stolen from House Hawthorne isn't small. It's the same amount as a rich viscount's entire fortune. That's why the nobles are nervous."

He couldn't help but laugh at what his secretary said. "Those stupid nobles."

Melvin looked at him as if he was crazy. "Prince Nero, I know that you don't care about the nobles who aren't useful to you. But as the Crown Prince, it is still your duty to protect them. Remember, the nobles protect the citizens, the crown protects the nobles, and the gods protect the crownâ€""

"House Hawthorne is the richest noble household after House Quinzel," Nero said, cutting off Melvin's long speech. "The thieves managed to loot the second richest noble household in the empire. Do you think they'll steal from nobles below the Hawthornes?"

"Oh. Then why did they leave a message that they will rob the remaining noble households in the capital...?"

"I believe it's only a distraction," Nero said, smirking. "The mastermind behind this pandemonium wanted to scare the nobles so in return, the nobles would pressure the Royal Family to protect their homes. If I sent the royal knights to the Royal Capital, do you realize what will happen then?"

"The security in the Royal Palace will weaken..." Melvin trailed off, then his sleepy eyes suddenly opened wide as if he was already wide awake now. "Prince Nero, are you saying that the thieves' real next target is the palace?"

"It's either the palace or House Quinzel," Nero said, scoffing at his secretary. "If I have the ability and the equipment to steal from the Hawthornes, then I would be bold enough to steal from either House Quinzel or the Royal Family next. I believe Duke Quinzel is smart enough to realize that, too."

Melvin gasped. "Ah. Could that be the reason why Duke Quinzel refused to leave his estate tonight?"

"It's safe to assume that it is, indeed, the case."

"Prince Nero, should I deploy more royal knights to the Royal Treasury?"

"Where's Calyx?"

Melvin looked confused by his question, but his secretary still answered his question. "Prince Calyx went to visit Marquis Lennox. I heard the First Prince would be back tomorrow."

"Great," he said. "Call Sanford and Raku inside."

"Prince Nero, don't tell me you're going to personally guard the Royal Treasury?"

"I promised Calyx I'd give him a tour of the Royal Treasury," he said. "I have to personally make sure that we won't get robbed until he returns."

His secretary let out a sigh as if he was frustrated. "Prince Nero, you can just send Sanford and Raku there. What kind of Crown Prince does the job of a knight?"

"A curious Crown Prince."

Melvin knitted his eyebrows. "What are you curious about, Your Royal Highness?"

"I'm curious about the little thief who dares to steal from ME," Nero said, sneering. "I wonder what kind of bastard they are."

***

NEOMA hissed at nothing.

For some reason, she was suddenly pissed.

[Did someone curse at me behind my back?]

"What's wrong, Princess Neoma?"

"Nothing," Neoma said, then she twirled around in front of Lewis. "How do I look?"

Lewis tilted his head. "Pretty."

Pfft.

"I know," she said, then she looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Gosh, I look pretty even though I'm wearing a bandit uniform."

She was wearing black from head to toe.

There was a black bear symbol on the breast pocket that was barely noticeable.

"Princess Neoma, are you not going to dye your hair and eye color?" Trevor asked. "We're going to the Royal Palace."

"That's exactly why I don't need a disguise," Neoma said in a serious tone. "I don't need to disguise myself at my own HOME."

Plus, Nero was in the Royal Palace.

Her twin brother NEEDED to see her.

[I wonder if Nero will realize I would be there tonight, though.]

***

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