Royal Secret: I'm A Princess!

NEOMA blinked in confusion while looking at the variety of food spread on the long table.

It looked like a feast even though only her and her Papa Boss were at the Royal Dining Hall at the moment.

To be honest, she couldn't really remember how she got there.

When she came to her senses, she was already sitting across from her father.

"Chef Stroganoff cooked all your favorite dishes in this world, while Commander Ruto cooked all your favorite Korean food," her Papa Boss said. "Eat while the food is still warm."

"Papa Boss…"

"You're not going to say you don't have appetite, are you?"

She couldn't say anything because that was what she really wanted to say.

[How can I eat in this situation?]

"Your child wouldn't magically get revived even if you starve yourself."

Ouch.

"Even if you kill the Queen of the Spirit World, nothing will change."

Haaah.

Neoma was usually fond of her Papa Boss, but not at the moment.

"And even if you glare at me with those glowing red eyes of yours, I'm still right."

"Papa Boss, you're making me upset."

"I have no doubt that you deserve to be the empire's first empress regnant," her Papa Boss said carefully. "But you still have to learn how to control your emotions. At a time like this, you must act as logically as Nero."

"Don't compare me to my twin brother, Papa Boss."

"I'm not comparing you to Nero– I'm asking you to learn from him."

"That's worse."

"Then calm down and do better."

That was annoying.

But, at the same time, Neoma calmed down.

Her father's egging on her actually worked.

"Papa Boss didn't teach me to control my emotions," Neoma complained while pouting. But since she was upset, she suddenly felt hungry. And, so, she grabbed the knife and started cutting up her steak. "You always let me go wild."

"Well, you have a child now."

Oh.

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"Papa Boss…"

"I will only talk about this once," Papa Boss said, frowning. "I know that you're not mentally a child. You lived several lives already. And I'm happy that you weren't totally alone during your first life. You had Commander Yoan and your child. That's why even though I hate to imagine it in this life, I know that you still need them here."

"Papa Boss, you're gonna make me cry."

Her father smiled bitterly. "You're only eighteen, Neoma. In this life, that is. I know that I don't have the right to say this because your mother and I had you and Nero early. Even so, it still pains me to think that you're already worried about your child at your age. You're still a baby to me, you know?"

"Now you're really gonna make me cry," Neoma said in a cracked voice. "Thank you, Papa Boss."

"If you're really grateful to me, then eat," Papa Boss said. "You don't have to carry everything, Neoma. Your mother and I will always be here for you and Nero."

***

"MOTHER and Father are headed to the Spirit World?" Nero asked his mother, surprised. "And you're leaving already?"

Who needed sleep when his dangerous coronation was approaching?

Hence, he was still at his office in that ungodly hour while talking to his mother.

Since their conversation was confidential, he asked everyone to leave the office earlier.

"It's something that we can't delay for so long," his mother said. "We need to secure a decent piece of land for the Garden of Life that we're trying to recreate."

"Then are you going to declare war on Tara? She's on the neutral side, and she's pretty territorial. I don't think she'd lend you a hand even if it's you, Mother."

Nero had spent his childhood in the Spirit World.

Although the Queen was fond of him and treated him well, he never felt attached to her.

Aside from the fact that his heart was too small to accommodate people outside his family, Tara didn't exactly make it easy for him to like her.

[She never bothered to hide her greed.]

In fact, Nero was actually surprised when he found out that his mother and Tara were actually "friends."

"I know Tara as much as you know her, son," his mother said calmly. "I already expected her to shun us."

"But you're still going, Mother?"

"We need to help Neoma protect the life of her precious child."

Nero frowned.

He already knew the situation about his unborn nephew.

It wasn't like he hated the child.

[I hate the father, but half of the child belongs to Neoma. So, I can't hate him.]

What he hated was Neoma's situation at the moment.

[Why can't those damned gods leave my twin sister alone?]

"Nero, your father and I may not make it to your official coronation," his mother said apologetically. "We're very sorry."

"You don't have to apologize, Mother," Nero said while shaking his head. "The formal coronation is only for show, anyway."

"We hate to make you feel alone and lonely, son," his mother said softly. "We don't want you to think that we only care about Neoma."

"That thought never crossed my mind, Mother. I know that you and father love us equally," Nero said, and then he paused for a moment. "To be honest, I'd like it if you love Neoma a bit more than you love me. So, in case Mother and Father need to choose between me and Neoma, you'd choose her."

He was being honest.

But, clearly, his mother didn't like his honesty.

"Don't say such things, Nero," his mother said sternly. "If your father and I were forced to choose between you and Neoma, we'd choose the two of you even if it means giving up on our lives."

Oh.

He really didn't mean to make his mother upset.

But he was moved by his mother's warm words.

"I'm sorry, Mother– I misspoke."

"As long as you understand," his mother said, and then he hugged him while rubbing his back. "Your father and I will be back as soon as we can."

"Neoma and I will be waiting for you and Father," Nero said, hugging back his mother. "Please take care, Mother. Use Father as a shield if you have to."

His mother laughed at his joke, hitting him on the back playfully. "Your father would cry if he heard you, sweetheart."

***

HUH?

[It's already morning?]

Neoma was surprised when she opened her eyes and realized that it was already morning.

Fucking hell.

She told herself she would only sleep for a few hours.

"Good morning, Princess Neoma."

Neoma got up and saw Dahlia waiting for her.

[Oh, right. She's my secretary, but why is she acting like she's one of my ladies-in-waiting.]

Wait.

[I don't have ladies-in-waiting.]

To be honest, ever since she was finally acknowledged as the Imperial Princess, her family wanted her to have ladies-in-waiting. But she refused because she didn't like making other people do what she could do.

[Plus, my children are attentive to me.]

"Princess Neoma, would you like to take a bath first or have breakfast now?" Dahlia asked politely. "Actually, Prince Nero asked you to have breakfast with him if you have time."

"I'm unemployed, so I have time. Thank you for letting me know, Dahla," Neoma said while stretching her arms. "I'm gonna take a bath first before having breakfast with Nero."

***

"MAMA BOSS and Papa Boss already left for the Spirit World?" Neoma said while gently stirring her mushroom soup. "They should have waken me up."

Nero scoffed at what she said. "As if our parents would do that when we all know you need sleep."

Right.

Neoma remembered her Papa Boss and Mama Boss tucked her into bed last night and bid her goodnight.

[That's probably their way of saying goodbye to me.]

"Mother tried to open a way to the Spirit World last night, but the Spirit World refused to let her in," Nero said, and then he paused. "We owe Commander Ruto again."

Ruto?

Neoma tilted her head to one side. "Did Ruto force a door open to the Spirit World?"

"Commander Ruto is usually reserved and calm," Nero said, clicking his tongue while shaking his head. "I didn't know he had that side. Your violent personality probably rubbed off on him."

"Yah," Neoma complained halfheartedly because she couldn't say she wasn't a bad influence without hurting her conscience. "What did Ruto do?"

***

[Last night…]

"I CAN't believe the Spirit World is blocking our entry."

Nero clicked his tongue after hearing what his mother said.

His mother used her magic staff to try and open a door that led to the Spirit World.

Of course, his mother succeeded in one try.

A whirlpool appeared on the wall of his parents' room, a clear sign that a door had been opened.

But, in just the blink of an eye, it disappeared.

"The Queen probably knows why we want to go to her land," his father said, clicking his tongue. "Should we call William?"

"I can try opening a door if you allow me, Your Majesties."

Hmm?

Everyone turned to Commander Ruto.

Since they didn't have any better ideas left, they let the commander in charge of creating a door leading to the Spirit World.

Ruto did open a door…

… with just one punch.

This time, the door couldn't be closed from the other side. There was a whirlpool that appeared on the space that opened up. And, inside the whirlpool, there were zigzag lines that were sparkling brightly.

[It must be his lightning power.]

"You may enter now, Your Majesties," Commander Ruto said politely. "The door will not close unless Queen Tara uses half of her power, which I doubt she'd do."

Nero was in disbelief just like his parents.

[Neoma, your man is a monster.]

***

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