Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

[A few minutes ago…]

"BROTHER Dustin, you're not going anywhere~"

Glenn smiled nervously while watching Skylus chase Dustin who was pacing the room back and forth.

Unfortunately for the half-saint and the knight Alucard Dionisio, the two couldn't leave the room after Glenn covered the walls with his power to turn dirt into stone. Of course, he kicked out the normal-ranking royal knights first since he didn't want the room to get too crowded.

He left one window open for ventilation, of course.

Glenn and his wife and queen Brigitte were having tea next to the window to make sure Dustin and Alucard wouldn't be able to use that to escape.

"Play with us, sir," Monik said while pulling the hem of Alucard Dionisio's long coat. "Stop hitting the wall since you can't break our daddy's power anyway!"

Claude, who was clinging to Monik's dress, nodded while laughing. "Noona is right! Our daddy is stronger than you! Hehehe~"

Glenn blushed while listening to his children praise him.

But his smile soon vanished when Brigitte suddenly grabbed the gun on the table, unlocked it, and point it at Alucard Dionisio. "Don't even think about it, sir."

Glenn turned to Alucard Dionisio to see the knight's hands frozen in mid-air.

It looked like Alucard Dionisio was about to grab Monik and Claude by the head, but stopped when Brigitte pointed a gun at him.

"Sir Dionisio, you're currently serving as a White Lion Knight under Prince Nero's command," Glenn said in a disappointed voice. "Harming innocent children goes against the creed of the Order of the White Lion. As the former vice-commander of the Order, I'm disappointed. You're making me want to discipline you badly."

"I wasn't about to harm the children… Your Majesty," Alucard Dionisio said, hesitantly calling Glenn by his title. "I was just thinking of peeling them away from me since I have… uh, some kind of dark energy in me. I didn't want them to get stained by it."

Oh?

The young sounded sincere.

Even Brigitte seemed convinced because she put the gun down on the table. "You don't have to worry about it, sir. My daughter Monik can purify any dark energy approaching her and our family." She then turned to the children. "Monik, Claude, didn't Mommy tell you that you shouldn't touch people and their things without their consent?"

Monik immediately let go of Alucard Dionisio's clothes with a sad look on her face. "I'm sorry, sir."

"I also apologize, sir," Claude said, tearing up. "Please don't scold my noona."

"I'm not mad," Alucard Dionisio said nervously. Clearly, the knight wasn't used to dealing with children. "No need to apologize."

Monik and Claude instantly beamed, then they spoke at the same time. "Then let's play, sir!"

Glenn chuckled while watching his children. "They're so cute."

"It's because they're inherited your cuteness, Glenn," Brigitte teased him while gently touching his leg with her foot. "I'm glad you're the father of my babies."

Glenn blushed, trying hard not to react to Brigitte's teasing.

"I don't intend to interrupt your romantic moment, but can you please remove the stone wall, Your Majesty?" Dustin asked in a frustrated voice. "I changed my mind about playing with Prince Skylus. Can I leave now?"

"No can do, Lord Dustin," Glenn said, sipping his tea. "If we can't go out to attend the trial, then you're also not going anywhere."

"That's right," Brigitte agreed with him, smiling at the child. "Should we play family, young lord?"

"You can be my Uncle Dustin!" Skylus said cheerfully, then the child suddenly fell silent– his eyes glowing like the night sky. "Ah…"

"Monik noona!"

It was Claude who yelled his sister's name.

Monik was also standing frozen on the spot, her eyes glowing like Skylus' eyes.

Glenn and Brigitte immediately stood up and ran to their children. He went to Skylus while his wife went to Monik.

"He's here," Skylus said, the glow in his eyes fading away. "The strongest man in the empire is back."

Glenn had a goosebump after hearing that. "Do you mean…"

"His Majesty," Monik said, the glow in her eyes also fading away. "The rightful OWNER of the throne has returned."

As if on cue, the most majestic man in the empire appeared in the middle of the room out of thin air.

Of course, the emperor wasn't alone.

Emperor Nikolai arrived with Lady Mona Roseheart.

Glenn and Brigitte immediately stood up and bowed their heads, then they spoke at the same time. "Welcome back, Emperor Nikolai and Lady Roseheart."

"Why are you stuck here, Glenn?" Emperor Nikolai asked, clicking his tongue. "Can't you get rid of a single child just because you're a father now?"

Ah.

Glenn couldn't help but smile as he raised his head. "It's really you, Your Majesty."

"Of course," Emperor Nikolai said, scoffing. Then he turned to Dustin, who naturally flinched under the cold gaze of the emperor. "That child is full of dark energy. Should I get rid of him before he becomes a problem?"

Glenn gulped because the emperor's aura was really murderous.

[His Majesty is serious…]

"No, Your Majesty!" Skylus protested, standing in front of Dustin with his arms opened wide. "Brother Dustin is not evil!"

Emperor Nikolai was about to say something, but Lady Mona Roseheart smacked the back of His Majesty's head.

[Only Lady Mona could do something like that.]

"Nikolai, leave the children alone," Lady Mona said while turning to Alucard Dionisio. "One of them is Nero's subordinate."

"Right, we're not here to fight," Emperor Nikolai said, turning to Glenn and Brigitte. "You're going to attend the trial, don't you?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Glenn said. "We just encountered a small problem."

"Come with us," Emperor Nikolai said, ignoring Dustin and Alucard Dionisio who obviously froze in fear because of the emperor's aura. "I'll just go and grab my garments first."

***

PAIGE TOOK a deep breath while looking at the crowd below her.

Juri and Xion had already beaten up– uh, caught the crow bastards who threw bombs at the people earlier. Jeno created a platform made of clouds where Greko was currently treating the heavily injured people who were crushed in the stampede.

Even so, there were still so many people who needed her help.

[If only I could lift everyone up…]

She couldn't use any more power than she was already using because she was saving up her energy.

Even so…

[I'm sure Princess Neoma will understand.]

Paige summoned her main weapon– the White Parasol– to gather enough power to lift most of the people below in order to stop the stampede.

However, much to her shock, the people that she was meaning to save floated one by one.

[Huh?]

"I went ahead and helped you, young lady. I hope you don't mind."

Paige gasped when THE Lady Mona Roseheart suddenly appeared before her. "Lady Mona…" She tilted her head to one side, confused. "Welcome back."

Lady Mona smiled gently at her. "I know you have many questions. Let's talk later. For now…"  She looked at the crowd below them. Fortunately, after many people were lifted into the air (safely, of course), people began to calm down and stopped pushing each other forward. "We have to help the people before the trial begins."

"I know it's hard, but I want everyone to calm down and listen."

Paige's eyes opened wide when the sea of people suddenly split (when there was enough space to do so) to give way to Emperor Nikolai.

Of course, she wasn't the only who was shocked.

"Is that His Majesty?"

"I thought His Majesty was already dead…"

"But why did His Majesty only appear now?"

Emperor Nikolai suddenly stopped walking, causing everyone to quickly shut their mouths. "I know all of you have many questions, and I assure you that my family– my REAL family– will answer all of them one by one during the trial," the emperor said in his usual commanding voice that had the power to make everyone listen to him. "The injured people shall remain here and get treated. However, I encourage the abled ones to follow me– I swear on my name that I will all bring you to the court safely."

Paige didn't want to admit this, but even she was convinced that she would be safe with Emperor Nikolai despite his scary and intimidating aura.

[Ah, so this is where Princess Neoma inherited her charisma from.]

***

NOTE: Sorry for disappearing for three days. I got super sick. Monthly period plus a slight fever/cold is such a terrible combination. Sorry for the short chapter, consider this as an extra chapter explaining how Nikolai and Mona went to court. Will pick up the pace next chapter.

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