Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!



THE ETERNAL FLAME.

Apparently, it had been there in Hell longer than Drystan.

Neoma, for some reason, felt the urge to eat the flame.

[Yeah, my appetite is definitely broken.]

"Little princess, you're more powerful, wiser, and calmer than the little princess of the first timeline," Drystan said. "However, the other little princess has something that you do not possess yet."

Neoma raised an eyebrow. "The power to set the world on fire?"

"It's necessary for you to retrieve the power that you owned in the first timeline."

"Gosh, haven't you learned your lesson yet? What if I use the Eternal Flame to burn the world once again?"

"As I said before, you set the world on fire for a noble reason."

"Mass murder is still mass murder. No amount of "noble reason" can justify it," Neoma said. "However, we made a contract. Plus, I've already resigned myself to saving the world since that's what my loved ones call 'home.'"

She didn't have a grand reason for saving the world.

Although some people said she had a 'savior complex,' she didn't really think it was the case. The only people she wanted to save were the ones closest to her heart, after all.

"What do I have to do?" Neoma asked. "I suppose I'm not going to eat the Eternal Flame literally."

"You just need to touch the Eternal Flame," Drystan said, then he paused for a moment before he elaborated. "For reference, not even I could withstand the heat of the Eternal Flame. I tried to touch it lightly once, but I almost got burned to ashes."

A flame strong enough to almost kill an almighty god, huh?

Neoma nodded approvingly. "It's worthy to become my power. Okay, I accept the challenge."

"It's going to be painful for you, Neoma," Ruto warned her. "The Neoma of the first timeline succeeded in owning the Eternal Flame, but not without suffering from pain. She barely came out alive back then."

"But you're not stopping me, Ruto."

"I… just have a feeling that'd be in less pain this time."

"What makes you say so?"

"The Neoma of the first timeline only learned how to use her Mana and divine power after I revived her and taught her the things she needed to know," Ruto explained. "Moreover, you didn't succeed in taming your Soul Beast back then. Hence, you didn't have an affinity with the fire element."

If that was the case, then the Neoma of the first timeline must have suffered a lot.

"Did I awaken my Roseheart Blood after you revived me, Ruto?"

"You did, but you didn't unlock your full potential as a Roseheart back then. And you also never took any Spirit with you," Ruto said. "You fought using your raw power as a de Moonasterio and your gift as a potential Aether. Then, later, you fought using the Eternal Flame."

Hmm?

"Then the Neoma of the first timeline is one hundred times cooler and more powerful than me," Neoma said sincerely. "She grew up as an ordinary lady, but she had to take the role of a savior right after you revived her. She had to learn about using her Mana and divine power at an age where she should have mastered them already."

Unfortunately, 'Neoma Quinzel' was raised as a normal lady.

Hence, teaching Neoma of the first timeline about the basics must have been like teaching a child how to control their power.

"A Roseheart-de Moonasterio who failed to tame her Soul Beast and unlock her Roseheart Blood yet managed to set the world on fire," Neoma said. "That's fucking savage. Neoma of the first timeline was a freaking monster."

"That's right," Ruto agreed. "Neoma of the first timeline's raw power was crazy. The only downside was her Lunacy getting out of control because she didn't learn how to suppress it."

Raw power, huh?

Neoma looked at her hands. "I have never fought using my raw power yet in this timeline. I've always been in control of my power since I'm awesome like that. I wonder what it feels like to have my power control me."

[That sounds fun.]

"That's a dangerous thought, little princess," Drystan protested. "You're far more dangerous than the little princess of the first timeline since you're stronger than her. If you let your raw power control you, your Lunacy might urge you to destroy the world for your own entertainment."

Pfft.

So it was okay to destroy the world if it was for a "noble" cause but not for Neoma's sole entertainment?

[In short, I become the hero or the villain depending on how the world benefits from me.]

What a load of crap.

"Fine. I'll behave," Neoma said, then she turned to Ruto. "Babe, should we kiss before I go and take this dangerous test?"

The way Ruto's face turned red was cute~

***

[TSK.]

Trevor suddenly felt annoyed for some reason.

[That damned Commander Ruto is probably making a move on my Moon Princess!]

"Stop getting distracted Trevor Kesser," Prince Nero scolded him. "You need to explain what's going on."

Right.

Trevor followed Empress Mona and Prince Nero to the Crown Prince's office to explain why he needed their Roseheart Blood.

[I better get this done and over with.]

"The King of Hell is going to fix Princess Neoma's Core," Trevor said. "I need a lot of Roseheart Blood. To be precise, I need an amount that an adult Roseheart has. But if I take that much blood from Empress Mona…"

Empress Mona nodded as if she understood already what Trevor hadn't finished saying. "I'll die if I lose that much Roseheart Blood."

Right.

[It's not like blood transfusion would work since Roseheart Blood is different from ordinary blood.]

"Although I don't mind dying if it's for Neoma's sake."

"Mother, please don't say that," Prince Nero scolded the empress lightly. "I'm here, so you don't need to give all of your Roseheart Blood. Neoma won't be happy if one of us dies in order to revive her. And I also wouldn't let you die, Mother."

Mona smiled warmly at her son. "Thank you for saying that, Nero."

The Crown Prince just blushed at his mother's praise.

Heh~

[It's disgusting to see the cold-hearted Crown Prince act like a good son to his mother.]

"Anyway, I'm in a hurry since there are other "ingredients" that I need to gather," Trevor said. "So, decide how we're going to do this."

Prince Nero knitted his eyebrows. "Why do I hear quotation marks in the air when you said 'ingredients?'"

"Well, you wouldn't exactly call living people as 'ingredients.'"

"Why not? If that's their purpose to revive Neoma, then just call them as ingredients. Who cares if they are living people?"

Ah, right.

Prince Nero was a ruthless bastard.

"Nero, don't say such cruel things," Empress Mona scolded her son. "We should be grateful to people who'll help us revive your twin sister."

"Why should we be grateful to the people who are only doing the bare minimum for us?" Nero talked back to his mother. "Neoma is the Imperial Princess chosen by the gods to save the world. The least thing the people of this world can do for my twin sister is to give up whatever they need to give in order to revive their savior."

Pfft.

Trevor couldn't help but smirk at the Crown Prince's logic. "Your Imperial Highness reeks of entitlement."

"Of course I do," Prince Nero said bluntly. "I was born the Crown Prince of the strongest empire in the world. My existence alone is already a privilege."

[Right, he's really Princess Neoma's twin brother.]

"Let's talk about this again later," Empress Mona said, sighing while shaking her head. Then she turned to Trevor. "Dear, can you increase the amount of Roseheart Blood that you need from me and decrease the amount that you need from Nero?"

"Mother," Nero protested. "Why would you ask that?"

"Nero, we can't be inactive at the same time," Empress Mona said. "If Trevor took away 50% of our Roseheart Blood, then we will be forced to recuperate. It's not like we can do blood transfusion since aside from Neoma, only the two of us have Roseheart Blood in the world."

"I agree with Her Imperial Majesty," Trevor said to the Crown Prince. "Prince Nero, you're supposed to handle the Third Calamity. You can't be down for a long time."

"But if you take too much blood from Mother…"

"I'm not crazy, Prince Nero," Trevor said, sighing. "Why would I put my future mother-in-law in danger?"

"You're crazy," Prince Nero growled. "You delusional bastard."

"Nero, hush."

Surprisingly, the Crown Prince shut his mouth.

"Trevor, dear, how much blood can you take away from me?"

"Taking away 50% of Your Imperial Majesty's blood would leave you bedridden for weeks," Trevor said. "I can probably take up to 80%, but that will be too risky. So, if Your Imperial Majesty allows it, I can take 70% of your blood to decrease the amount that I'll be needing from Prince Nero."

"That's still too much," Prince Nero protested. "How would that affect my mother if taking 50% of her blood would already render her bedridden?"

"Well, Her Imperial Majesty will probably fall into a comatose state?"

The Crown Prince grabbed Trevor by the collar, his ash-gray eyes turned glowing red. "Have you truly lost your mind? You'd put my mother into a comatose state?"

Oho?

Trevor didn't expect that kind of reaction from Prince Nero.

[I thought the Crown Prince would be willing to sacrifice even his own mother just to get Princess Neoma back.]

When did Prince Nero grow a heart?

"Her Imperial Majesty is the strongest Roseheart born in history," Trevor reminded the Crown Prince. "Even if Her Imperial Majesty falls into a comatose state, she'll be fine in her Spirit form while her physical body recovers. Prince Nero, don't forget that you've survived being in a comatose state for almost a decade because your Roseheart Blood allowed you to 'live' in your Spirit form."

He wasn't crazy to suggest something that would put Empress Mona in grave danger.

After all, Princess Neoma and Emperor Nikolai would kill him if he did.

He figured letting Empress Mona fall into a comatose state wouldn't be too dangerous since she was a Roseheart who could survive even without a physical body for a long time.

"Nero, calm down," Empress Mona said. "Trevor is right."

Prince Nero finally let go of Trevor, then he faced his mother. "But Mother, who will protect you if you fall into a comatose state? Father will be facing the Second Calamity, and I'll be facing the third one soon. I can't entrust you with anyone else."

"I have my Spirits with me, son."

The Crown Prince scoffed. "They're weak, Mother."

As expected, Empress Mona's Spirits reacted violently by releasing their bloodlust towards Prince Nero.

Of course, the Crown Prince just ignored them.

"Don't worry, Prince Nero. I have a plan," Trevor assured the Crown Prince, then he turned to the empress. "Your Imperial Majesty, once I'm done collecting 30% of Prince Nero's blood, would you like to come with me to the Cosmic Tree? I'll collect your blood from there so once Your Imperial Majesty falls into a comatose state, the Cosmic Tree will be responsible for your safety until you fully recover."

Empress Mona looked half-convinced and half-worried. "But will it be okay for me to leave the Imperial Shrine?"

"It's alright, Your Imperial Majesty," he assured the empress. "The enemies probably already know that Princess Neoma's body isn't here after Her Imperial Highness' presence disappeared."

"Neoma's presence disappeared?" Prince Nero asked, his face lighting up. "Does it mean Hanna succeeded in using her power to hide from the gods?"

"Yes, Prince Nero. Hanna Quinzel succeeded–"

Trevor was forced to stop talking when the air suddenly turned chilly.

Prince Nero and Empress Mona also noticed the change in the atmosphere.

"The Second Calamity is here," Trevor announced even though he didn't have to. "Prince Nero, Empress Mona, let's hurry up."

***

RUTO'S heart skipped a beat.

Even though he knew that Neoma didn't ask for a kiss for a romantic reason, he still felt excited and giddy.

He had to control his feelings though.

"Are you sure, Neoma?" Ruto asked carefully. "You already know what will happen if we kiss again."

The last time they did, Neoma's unwanted memories resurfaced and drove her mad.

"I need some of my past memories to handle the Eternal Flame," Neoma said, then she looked at him with clear eyes. "But, of course, you don't have to force yourself to kiss me if you don't want to."

Ruto immediately shook his head. "I didn't say I didn't want to."

"Is that a 'yes' then?"

Instead of giving a verbal response, he just moved closer to her.

Then Ruto cupped Neoma's face between his hands.

[Ah, this is crazy. Why is Neoma's face so small? And now that I can see her face clearly, I feel like I'm going mad about how beautiful she is.]

"Ruto, calm down," Neoma teased him, covering his eyes with her dainty hand. "Your eyes are going crazy. Gosh, is my legendary beauty finally getting to you?"

He didn't really care about people's appearances.

Heck, he didn't even care about his own looks.

But Neoma's face was really crazy.

[No wonder even the Goddess of Beauty herself is jealous of Neoma.]

Ruto's needless train of thought was interrupted when Neoma suddenly pressed her lips against his…

… and then he leaned down and deepened the kiss.

***

"YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY, please give up the throne!"

"Please save us!"

"The Darkness is swallowing up the moon!"

Nikolai could see and hear the people protesting in front of the palace.

Most of the commoners were crying while begging him to give up the throne. It was clearly out of fear because the blobs of Darkness had become visible to everyone now.

[The crows' fear-mongering is working.]

"Geoffrey Kinsley, make sure the citizens won't do anything dangerous," Nikolai said while riding on the back of the Azure Dragon, carrying Monik in his arms. "Tell Mona and Nero that I'll be back soon."

"As you command, Your Majesty," Geoffrey Kinsley said, bowing his head politely. "Please be careful."

He just nodded before commanding his Soul Beast to fly up.

It was a shame that he didn't have the time to say goodbye to Mona and Nero, but the situation was urgent.

"The vapor is coming up again," Monik warned him. "It feels different now."

Nikolai looked below them.

The baby was right.

[It seems like the vapor that was leaked earlier was just a distraction.]

"It's a trap," Nikolai belatedly realized. "We're on our own now, Monik."

***

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