Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

Chapter 1032: UNPROFESSIONALISM

"SELENE!"

Oh.

"Brigitte Unnie, please calm down," Neoma said, consoling Brigitte who panicked when Selene suddenly fell unconscious. "Selene is fine. She just used too much Mana. Her small body wasn’t able to handle it."

Tteokbokki also disappeared at the same time Selene had fainted.

That meant the baby’s summoning power disappeared along with her consciousness.

"Selene is fine, Unnie," Neoma said while holding Selene’s small hand. "Let me give her some of my Mana."

Neoma gave Selene a drop of her Mana.

She only gave the baby a very small amount because her small body wouldn’t be able to handle more than that.

Thankfully, it worked.

Selene slowly opened her doe eyes.

The baby was awake, but she looked sleepy.

Moreover...

"She’s hungry, Unnie," Neoma said, looking at Brigitte’s relieved face. "Feed her first, and put her to sleep. That should be enough for Selene to recover her strength naturally."

"Thank you, Neoma," Brigitte said, smiling in relief. "It seems like my baby is really special."

That, the baby was.

And that made Neoma feel guilty.

Selene looks big for a newborn baby, but she’s still a baby nonetheless. Why did I think of using her ability to help me separate Crimson from Tteokbokki? I’m so selfish. It doesn’t matter even if a literal war is about to break out. How can I think of using a baby to help me? Selene is practically my niece, at that.

She failed as an adult.

No, I failed as an aunt.

"Neoma?"

"Yes, Unnie?"

"Our family is always here to help the Imperial Family," Brigitte said in a serious tone. "I know that my children are still young. And, admittedly, I’m worried as their mother. However, I’m also aware that if we don’t fight the enemies with everything we have, then the world will end. I want to see my children grow up in a peaceful world, Neoma. If this is the sacrifice we have to make for that to happen, so be it."

Ah.

Neoma realized that Brigitte had read her mind.

It probably showed on her (beautiful) face that she felt guilty about using Selene’s ability, as Selene was a literal baby.

And everyone who knows me knows that I have a soft spot for children.

"Thank you for saying that, Unnie," Neoma said, smiling. "If I end up borrowing your children’s strength, I’ll protect them with my life. I promise you that."

"I know, Neoma. And that’s why I can entrust my children to you with all my heart," Brigitte said, smiling back at her. "But please remember that I want you to be safe, too. This may be rude to say to the Imperial Princess, but you’re like a baby sister to me. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you either."

Aww.

Neoma was truly loved in this lifetime.

That was the reason why she was fighting those damned gods and crows with her life on the line.

A peaceful world for the kids I care about— yeah, that’s always been the goal.

And, yes, Nero was included in the kids that Neoma wanted to protect.

He’s my baby brother, after all.

"Unnie, I’m really glad to see you again," Neoma said, grinning this time. "You just gave me the motivation I need to work harder."

"I don’t think you need an additional motivation to run wild, our dearest Neoma," Brigitte said teasingly. "But Neoma?"

"Yes, Unnie?"

"Not that I’m complaining, but why are you calling me ’unnie’ again?"

Ah, right.

Neoma had been calling her Brigitte Unnie ’Aunt’ ever since she married Glenn.

It slipped my mind since it’s been a while for me.

She had only been gone for a while.

But she stayed in the Dead World for a long time since time flew differently there.

"I guess I haven’t fully adjusted to reality yet," Neoma said, smiling apologetically at Brigitte. "It’s really been a while for me, Aunt Brigitte."

***

"NEOMA, why did you leave the palace without telling us?"

Oops.

Neoma was caught by her Mama Boss and Papa Boss when she returned to her palace.

She thought she made it back safely, but her parents were already waiting in her room.

I guess Mama Boss and Papa Boss have free time now that Nero is in charge of the empire.

"Hello, Mama Boss, Papa Boss," Neoma greeted her parents cheerfully. Acting cute always worked like a charm, after all. "Your prettiest daughter is back."

Her parents answered at the same time: "You are our only daughter, Neoma."

Right.

Anyways...

"I just visited Brigitte Unnie and Baby Selene," Neoma explained, giving her parents a kiss on the cheek to ease their anger. "I didn’t bring Lewis with me because I don’t want to interrupt his reunion with his clan. And honestly? Who can guard me when I’m the strongest person in the world?"

She was right, and her parents knew that.

Hence, Mama Boss and Papa Boss couldn’t refute her words.

"I made it back safely, so please don’t scold me," Neoma said, slightly whining at this point. She also smartly changed the subject. "Baby Selene showed off her ability to me."

Bringing up the baby worked on Mama Boss immediately.

My mother has a soft spot for children, too.

"So, you’ve already met Selene," Mama Boss said, smiling. "How did Selene show off her ability to you?"

"The baby is Monster Tamer, isn’t she?" Papa Boss asked. "Did the baby try to tame you, Neoma?"

Look at Papa Boss picking a fight with Neoma.

Of course, she wasn’t offended, so she just rolled her eyes.

It was obvious that her father was just being annoying on purpose.

Are all dads really prone to making corny jokes?

"How dare you imply that our daughter is a monster?" Mama Boss scolded Papa Boss lightly, even smacking Papa Boss’ arm. When Papa Boss just smirked, Mama Boss rolled her eyes before turning to Neoma again. "So, what did Selene do?"

"She summoned Tteokbokki."

That information clearly shocked her parents.

"A baby without an ounce of our blood managed to summon your Soul Beast?" Papa Boss asked in disbelief. "To be fair, a Soul Beast is also a monster. But our Soul Beasts should only be responding to our calls."

Right?

"Maybe it’s because Tteokbokki is an anomaly," Neoma said, shrugging. "Anyway, Mama Boss, Papa Boss..."

She trailed off when she felt a person’s presence outside the door.

Then someone knocked politely.

"I apologize for interrupting," the voice said. It was Geoffrey Kinsley— one of Papa Boss’ Paladins. "Her Imperial Highness’ children— er, Order has returned."

Oh.

Neoma beamed with happiness. "My kids are back."

***

NERO crossed his arms over his chest.

He could tell that the Silver Foxes were cursing at him.

But, thankfully, he couldn’t hear them. He could read their lips, but he decided to act like a benevolent emperor.

Hence, he simply ignored the curses.

"Is it done?" Nero asked, turning to Dahlia. "Is that all you need to do?"

By ’that,’ Nero was referring to the fact that Dahlia had put the Silver Foxes inside the stomach of Lapiz— her giant Blue Whale.

The Blue Whale reduced its size.

It was just big enough to contain all the Silver Foxes inside its belly.

And since the Blue Whale was a spirit, its body was actually semi-transparent.

Hence, they could see the Silver Foxes inside.

And the Blue Whale’s stomach had nothing but water in it.

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty— my preparation is done," Dahlia reported politely. "Once Lapiz activates her power, the Silver Foxes will see the memories that we want to show them in their head."

"By drowning them?"

That was a joke, but Nero’s dead eyes and cold voice probably made him sound serious.

No wonder Dahlia went pale and immediately shook her head. "N-No, Your Imperial Majesty. The ’water’ inside Lapiz’ belly isn’t really water— it’s Mana. Since the Silver Foxes are strong beings, they won’t drown. Lapiz’ Mana is gentle, so..."

"Calm down," Nero said, scoffing at Dahlia’s reaction. But since he was reminded that he was talking to a crybaby, he spoke as gently as he could. It wasn’t his fault that he was born with a scary face and voice, okay? "I’m not accusing you of trying to kill the Silver Foxes..."

Hmm?

Nero trailed off when he saw Hanna gently put her hand on Lewis’ back.

Does Lewis let anyone other than Neoma touch him?

That sight didn’t sit well with him.

He let Lewis and Hanna come with them because Neoma wanted Lewis to be as close to the Silver Foxes as possible.

But, come to think of it, why did Hanna have to accompany Lewis?

Why is a duchess consoling a mere knight?

Tsk.

"Lewis Crevan, get out of here."

Nero only realized that he said it out loud when Lewis and Hanna both turned to him.

It was too late to take it back, so he doubled down.

"I don’t know why you need to be here," Nero said coldly. "But I want you out of my sight."

Lewis glared at Nero.

But it wasn’t the fox who talked back to him.

"Neoma allowed us to be here, Your Imperial Majesty," Hanna said calmly, but she shot Nero a cold look. "Tell us why Lewis needs to leave. If there’s a valid reason why Lewis should leave, then we’ll listen to Your Imperial Majesty’s order."

Nero clenched his jaw, his chest suddenly tightening painfully.

And right in front of his face, at that.

He didn’t like it— not one bit.

Why is Hanna taking Lewis’ side?

***

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