Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

NEOMA was actually bluffing.

The throne wasn't comfortable at all.

In fact, the fucking piece of furniture was trying to freeze her with an ice power similar to Nero's ice. Yes, it was trying to reject her because the throne already recognized her twin brother as the rightful heir.

The throne was shaking so much because it was trying to literally eject her from the seat.

Of course, she didn't allow it to happen.

And so…

"Are you crazy?!" Nero yelled in disbelief, his eyes wide from shock. "Why are you setting the throne on fire?!"

Yep, Neoma set the throne on fire.

After all, the stupid fancy seat was trying to freeze her.

[An eye for an eye.]

Nero raised his hands. "Stop it!"

Zeru, the ice phoenix, came out of her twin brother's hands while howling– obviously with the intention to attack.

ROOOAR!

It was Kingston's growl.

The White Lion emerged from the red flame that swallowed the throne.

And, yes. Kingston's luscious mane was now covered in red flame. Of course, the flame didn't burn the White Lion. In fact, the flame boosted Kingston's power.

"Kingston, get him."

As Neoma cheered for her Elemental Guardian, Kingston lunged at Zeru.

The ice phoenix was only the size of an adult eagle. Nero probably couldn't summon Zeru's full strength because he was afraid to accidentally destroy the throne room.

[Lucky for me~]

Kingston jumped and bit Zeru in the neck, forcing the ice phoenix to come down.

[Heh, that's Grandpa Kingston for you.]

There was a reason Neoma summoned her Elemental Guardian instead of her Soul Beast.

[I might accidentally kill Nero's Soul Beast if I asked Tteokbokki to fight~]

She wasn't being arrogant– she was merely stating a fact.

"How did you get the White Lion from Princess Monik?" Nero asked while glaring at her. "The White Lion is supposed to be Calyx's Elemental Guardian."

"What?"

"My brother should have been the next owner of the White Lion!"

"Cry about it then," Neoma said coldly. "And what do you mean by "brother?" You'll regret calling that crow bastard your 'brother,' you know?"

"Stop cursing at my brother."

After saying that, Nero came at her.

Yep, it should be this way.

[A de Moonasterio only needs their physical body to fight.]

Neoma grabbed Nero by the wrist when her twin brother tried to punch her.

[Gosh, did this punk just really try to punch me beautiful face?!]

"How dare you try to punch your noona in the face?" Neoma scolded Nero, then she pulled him closer to her without letting go of his wrist– forcing her twin brother to grab the armrest with his other hand so he wouldn't crash on her. Then she gave him a suckerpunch in the stomach. "This is your punishment for being cheeky."

Nero let out a painful groan.

She felt bad, but she was actually thinking about knocking Nero out.

But her plan changed when the platform where the throne was shook so hard she almost got ejected from her seat.

And then it happened.

The entire platform suddenly disappeared along with the throne…

… causing Neoma and Nero to fall on the whirlpool waiting for them underneath.

"Goddammit!"

It wasn't Neoma who cursed– it was Nero, shocking her. Of course, she taught her twin brother to curse before. But to hear the grown Nero swear like that made her frown. "Hey, since when did you learn how to curse that way, huh?!"

Nero looked at her in disbelief as if he was telling her it wasn't the right time for that. "Why are you scolding me when we're freefalling to god knows where?!"

***

"DUKE AND Duchess Quinzel aren't in their room," Regina said while putting her black gloves on. "I have a feeling Hanna Quinzel has already gotten in touch with them."

"Is that why you called me here?"

It was Calyx.

The First Prince was plopped down on the sofa while having red wine.

Right now, the two of them were in Hanna Quinzel's bedroom.

It took a while, but after raiding the Quinzel Princess' room, they finally found the key to the Quinzels' treasury room.

The golden key was smartly hidden in one of Hanna Quinzel's plain-looking jewelry boxes.

"I lied to Nero and told him I'd be spending the night in my grandfather's mansion," Calyx said lazily. "Why didn't you just call Dilan to come and help you loot the Quinzels' treasury room?"

"Dilan can't come out as Rubin because Duke Drayton assigned him to guard their treasury room," Regina explained, then she frowned. "It's because of the stupid rumor that says the noble households in the Royal Capital would get robbed tonight. Hence, the security in the entire capital is so tight at the moment."

Fortunately, Jaxson Emmett– the vice-captain of the Black Hawk Knights– along with more than half of the Quinzels' private army, were sent to the capital under the crown's order.

"I've heard about that rumor, too," the First Prince said. "The rumor was started by House Hawthorne."

"It was probably Princess Neoma who spread that rumor."

They had already confirmed that Neoma de Moonasterio had already returned with Trevor Kesser.

[They killed all the people we stationed at the cave.]

Ah, no.

It was only the royal princess who killed all those people according to Taylor Taylor– the sole survivor.

"But why would Princess Neoma spread that kind of rumor?"

Regina fell silent for a moment before she answered Calyx's question with another question. "Calyx, if you were Princess Neoma, why do you think a rich cult like the crows would have the need to steal from a wealthy household?"

Calyx shrugged and answered casually. "If I were Princess Neoma, I would just think the crows stole from House Hawthorne because Jasper Hawthorne is one of her allies."

"Wrong."

"Then what would Princess Neoma think?"

"Princess Neoma probably already realized that the crows are starting to gather more funds to prepare for a big war."

Calyx knitted his eyebrows as if he was in disbelief. "You think Princess Neoma would already realize our plan just because we stole from House Hawthorne? Isn't that too farfetched?"

"We're talking about Princess Neoma here."

The First Prince looked like he was about to protest when his earring– a communication device– suddenly glowed.

Then Calyx listened to whoever was talking on the device.

Regina got nervous when she noticed that the First Prince suddenly turned pale.

[Something bad probably happened.]

"I'm sorry, Regina. But you have to loot the Quinzels on your own tonight," Calyx said while standing up in a hurry. "Uncle Kyle just called and said Princess Neoma attacked the throne room."

Regina closed her eyes tight, frustrated. "Neoma de Moonasterio…!"

***

"YOU'RE the last Silver Fox in the world, Sir Crevan! I'm a fan!"

Trevor almost laughed when Lewis plainly ignored Sanford Devon, then Lewis mercilessly kicked the poor boy.

[That's what Princess Neoma calls 'One-kick Lewis.']

Sanford Devon was sent flying and hit the post behind him– causing it to have long cracks all over. After that, Sanford Devon slid down to the ground while groaning and clutching his stomach.

[He probably broke a rib or two.]

"Son, you're being too harsh," Trevor scolded Lewis. "Sanford Devon is Prince Nero's "son," so that makes him your cousin."

"I'm not your son," Lewis complained, as expected. Then he turned to Trevor with cold eyes. "And I don't want to hear that from you when you're using the unconscious half-dragon as a chair."

Ah, right.

Trevor had already knocked Raku, the half human-half dragon, unconscious.

Since there were no chairs available, and the floor covered with thin ice was too cold, he just used Raku's wide and strong back as a chair.

[He's unconscious anyway.]

Trevor smiled at Lewis "innocently." "I'm just keeping Raku warm since my heart is full of warmth."

"Bullshit."

He gasped out loud. "Lewis, go and wash your mouth! I didn't raise you as a foul-mouthed boy! Where did you learn how to cuss like that, huh?"

"Princess Neoma."

"No wonder you're so good at it," Trevor said, grinning. "Keep up the good work."

Of course, he was joking when he "scolded" Lewis for cursing.

[He's a twenty-one-year-old young man. It's not like cursing makes him a bad person. But I wonder why Lewis doesn't curse in front of Princess Neoma? Could it be…]

"You sly bastard."

Lewis just looked at him as if he was asking if Trevor had already gone crazy.

"You're acting innocent in front of Princess Neoma," Trevor said, smirking. "I heard you and the other children were in a war against the mermaids for over a year. The sailors actually learned how to curse from the mermaids, so there was no way you wouldn't learn how to swear after interacting with those vicious beings for a long time."

"And your point?"

"If you continue acting like an innocent puppy around Princess Neoma, then she'd never see you as a man."

"…"

"Don't be too complacent, Lewis Crevan," Trevor said in a serious tone. "Do you think Princess Neoma will be with us forever?"

His Moon Princess only had five years left in her lifespan.

Of course, Trevor wouldn't let Princess Neoma die that early. Even so, it wasn't easy finding a way to extend her lifespan.

[Especially not when the damned chef is still refusing to cooperate.]

"Is something going on with Princess Neoma?"

[As expected of Lewis, he's really sensitive when it comes to Princess Neoma. I should be more careful with my words.]

"Lewis, did you know?"

"What?"

"Princess Neoma and Ruto Stroganoff seem to be dating already," Trevor said, then he stood up and patted Lewis' shoulder sympathetically. "Misery loves company, so I'm breaking the bad news to you."

Lewis frowned at Trevor. "You sly bastard."

"I'm so gonna tattle on you to Princess Neoma, Lewis Crevan."

***

THE QUINZEL Estate was practically empty tonight, save for some knights and weak servants.

Hence, Regina was able to infiltrate the treasury room easily.

She was worried at first because Calyx had to leave early.

But now that she was inside the treasury room, she thought it was doable to loot the Quinzels on her own. She had all the equipment anyway.

[I should start with the most expensive items– argh!]

Regina didn't know what happened.

The next thing she knew, her body was already sent flying until her back hit the wall– causing long cracks all over it. Then she slid down on the floor while holding her left cheek, dazed.

Only then did she realize that she was slapped.

"What the…"

"For a rat, you're quite ambitious."

Regina raised her head when she heard the familiar voice, then she glared at the elegant lady standing in front of her. "Hanna Quinzel…!"

The Quinzel Princess wasn't alone.

[I believe the woman standing behind her is Paige Avery, the Light Mage.]

"You really don't know your place, do you?"

Regina once again turned to Hanna Quinzel who was obviously looking down ON her at the moment. "Why is it so hard to kill a little bitch like you?"

"Why you ask?" Hanna Quinzel asked, smiling until her green eyes turned into little crescents. "Isn't it because I deserve to live? Plain and simple."

***

"WHY IS IT so hard to kill a little bitch like you?"

Hanna didn't like Regina's question because it reminded her that during the first timeline, this wench and the crows actually succeeded in killing her.

Then they put Regina in her place.

[Not after making Neoma suffer first.]

"Why you ask?"

Remembering Neoma also reminded Hanna that she was alive thanks to the royal princess.

Hanna lived because Neoma believed she was worth saving.

"Isn't it because I deserve to live? Plain and simple."

Yes, the reason why plain and simple.

"But you wouldn't understand," Hanna said while looking at Regina sympathetically. "After all, for you and the crows don't value human lives."

Regina smirked at her. "Are you here to lecture me?"

"Don't worry, I won't kill you."

"What…?"

"Neoma said I can't kill you yet," Hanna said, smiling while covering her hands in her shadows. She could have summoned her Shadow Beasts. But she had a feeling that beating up Regina Crowell with her bare hands would make her feel better. "Neoma didn't say I couldn't beat you to a pulp, though."

The wench suddenly laughed the villainess that she was.

"You weren't the only one who grew stronger the past few years, Hanna Quinzel," Regina said, smiling while standing up properly. "Don't regret this, my precious "cousin.""

***

Hi! I launched a dream project recently, and that dream is to write a story with a male protagonist.

I posted a new story titled 'FISHING FOR DISASTERS,' and the first three chapters are up. You can search it by typing the title on the app or website if it doesn't appear on my account yet.

Here's the summary:

[FISHING FOR DISASTERS]

<You better catch all the Disasters if you want to know the ending of One P*ece!>

That's the reward for saving this world from Sea Monsters and Dungeons that would emerge soon?!

Then Zirkus, who died while stalking a famous Kpop idol and got transmigrated as a minor villain in a dungeon-themed novel, would do his best to catch all the Disasters-in-the-making!

All for the sake of saving the world, of course.

Ahem.

It's time for a nerd to become a hero!

***

Please ADD my story to your LIBRARY to be notified when an update is posted. Thank you! :>