Chapter 1031: A NEW NIECE
BEAUTY SLEEP, DONE.
Long and warm bath, done.
Dolling up, done.
Neoma once again created a legendary look, as expected of the most beautiful girl in the world.
Even Ruto, who still couldn’t see her face clearly, did a second look.
Heh.
"Aren’t you lucky to be with someone more beautiful than the Goddess of Beauty herself?"
"You’re picking a fight with gods again," Ruto said, sighing while shaking his head. But he walked towards her and planted a soft kiss on top of her head. "But, yes. I can’t see your face clearly, but you’re still the most beautiful to me."
"Not that I’m complaining, but why are you suddenly acting all sweet?" Neoma asked suspiciously. "It’s not your usual style."
"I’m heading back to the Upper World today."
"Tsk. So that’s why."
Neoma knew that Ruto was needed in the Upper World, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t allowed to pout and complain about it.
"I need to keep an eye on Helstor, Neoma," Ruto explained, obviously asking for her understanding. "I only descended to help with a few things here while you were away. But now that you’re back, I can return to the Upper World without worrying about the empire. Helstor and the crows definitely took advantage of my absence, so I need to check what they’re up to."
"Don’t work too hard."
"I’m the one who should be saying that to you, Neoma. You’re still recovering. So, you should rest more."
"Ruto, people like us can only truly rest once either the world is at peace or ending."
"Right. Even so, don’t overdo it."
"Yes, of course. Nero will take care of the immediate matters at hand, and Hanna is in charge of consoling Lewis."
Neoma wanted to console her son, of course.
But Lewis chose to stay near the Silver Foxes.
My presence as a de Moonasterio will only disturb the Silver Foxes, so I’d better stay away from them until the Silver Foxes calm down.
And, so, Neoma entrusted Lewis to Hanna.
My son needs moral support, after all.
Speaking of which...
"Ruto."
"Yeah?"
"I think Lewis has a crush on Hanna."
"Good."
"Good?"
"I can take him off the list of people I should be wary of."
"You considered Lewis a potential rival lover? He’s my son, though."
"That boy doesn’t see you as his mother, so of course, I see him as a rival," Ruto admitted calmly, tilting his head to one side. "I’m always anxious that your feelings for me will change when you retrieve your memories. I wasn’t the best partner to you back then. And I couldn’t give you my full attention right now because of the things we need to do. That’s why I can’t blame you if you find someone else better than me."
"True."
"You’re not supposed to agree that easily..."
Neoma just laughed softly while shaking her head. "Ruto, you’re my only flaw in this lifetime."
"How am I your flaw?"
"A normal person wouldn’t have chosen you again after you’ve chosen the world over me in the previous timeline," Neoma said, shrugging. "But I’m stubborn. I can’t let you go because what’s mine will always be mine. Maybe what I have for you is obsessive love. But even if my love for you isn’t pure, you can’t use that as an excuse to leave me again."
"Yeah, I understand that this is my last chance— I won’t waste it," Ruto said while nodding. "And that’s why I want this war to be over as soon as possible. Let’s work hard for now and retire early, Neoma."
"That’s what I’m saying. We can laze around later," Neoma said, wrapping her arms around Ruto’s waist. "I’ll miss you, Ruto."
***
"MOCHI, when are the kids coming back?" Neoma asked while walking in the hallway of House Eston’s mansion as if she owned it. She was talking to Mochi, her Wind Spirit, who was floating next to her. "I left Paige and Greko under your care."
She summoned Mochi as soon as she returned from the Spirit World because she needed the Wind Spirit’s ability at the time.
But she hadn’t forgotten that she had entrusted Paige Avery and Greko to Mochi before she left.
"Paige and Greko are still receiving their training from the Cosmic Tree, my little princess," Mochi answered. "The Cosmic Tree said they’ll be done soon."
"I see. How about the other kids?"
"I’ve already reached out to the other Spirits. Your children will come home soon."
"Good."
Before Neoma left for the Dead World, she sent her children on different missions.
Jasper Oppa, too.
That was the reason why she didn’t directly contact the kids.
I don’t want to interrupt their mission.
Hence, Neoma did something else first: visit House Exton.
But, of course, she wasn’t there to visit the old duke.
And even though it was rude, she actually dropped by unannounced.
It wasn’t like Duke Exton had the balls to turn her away, so he welcomed her awkwardly.
But Neoma wasn’t that rude.
She came on her own (because she left the Imperial Palace unannounced, too).
And since she could feel where Brigitte was, she politely sent the servants away.
That was how she ended up roaming the mansion alone as if she owned it.
"Neoma!"
"Brigitte Unnie," Neoma greeted the Queen of Hazelden familiarly, like she had been doing since she was a kid. Brigitte was also one of the few people allowed to call her by her name alone in a private setting. "I’ve missed you."
The knights and the ladies-in-waiting all bowed their heads before leaving the room quietly.
Once Neoma and Brigitte were alone in the room...
"I’ve missed you as well, Neoma."
"Don’t get up, Unnie," Neoma stopped the queen when she tried to get up to greet her properly. After all, she was still the Imperial Princess. But there was no need for that, especially when her unnie was holding a precious baby in her arms. "Is this my new niece?"
"That, she is," Brigitte answered proudly. "Her name is Selene."
"What a beautiful name," Neoma said, smiling at the baby, who was looking at her with big, doe eyes. "Hello, Selene. I’m your Aunt Neoma. It’s nice to see you." She glanced at the queen. "May I touch her, Unnie?"
Brigitte smiled and nodded. "You may, Neoma."
"Thank you, Unnie."
Neoma then carefully poked Selene’s cheek with a finger.
Aww.
So soft and squishy.
Selene, the newborn baby, was bigger than a normal baby.
In fact, Neoma would believe it if Brigitte said the baby was already six months old.
Selene is special.
Looking at the baby reminded Neoma of her little Sapling.
She wanted to visit her son, but she knew the Queen of the Spirit World would make a huge fuss if she showed up unannounced.
I can afford to pick a fight with big shots when a war is about to break out.
Hence, she had to send Tara a request letter first.
If Queen Tara ignores my visit request, then I’ll make her regret it.
"Neoma?"
Hmm?
Neoma got distracted not only because Brigitte called her name worriedly, but also because Selene suddenly grabbed her finger.
And wow.
Babies really do have tight grips, huh?
"Selene— argh!"
Neoma gasped for air when she suddenly felt like the wind was knocked out of her.
Brigitte also gasped, but for a different reason. "Neoma, your Soul Beast..."
Right?
Tteokbokki, in his baby dragon form, was forcibly taken out of Neoma’s body.
It was dangerous.
Actually, she summoned Tteokbokki when she returned and asked him to melt the frozen Silver Foxes.
She had no choice because only her Soul Beast could melt the ice.
However, Neoma was being careful not to summon Tteokbokki because Tteokbokki was still unstable.
Honestly, it was like playing Russian roulette each time.
Because I’m not sure whom between Tteokbokki or Crimson would come out.
But, thankfully, it was Tteokbokki who came out again this time.
"T-Thug Princess!"
Neoma looked over her shoulder to shoot Tteokbokki an irritated look. "What?"
"T-That baby is in my head!" Tteokbokki exclaimed, obviously shocked. "She’s asking me to play with her!"
Oho?
"Commander Ruto was here when I gave birth to Selene," Brigitte said as if she suddenly remembered something important. "The commander called my daughter a Monster Tamer."
Ah, that was right.
Neoma remembered that when Brigitte was still pregnant with Selene, the child was prophesied to be a Monster Tamer.
I didn’t expect that the baby’s skill would be activated as soon as she was born...
Oh, wait.
There must be a reason why Selene ’summoned’ Tteokbokki.
"Selene, does your power work on Soul Beasts, too?" Neoma asked, amused. "Can you help Unnie fix Tteokbokki’s mental state?"
I don’t want to play the Russian roulette whenever I’m summoning my Soul Beast.
Luckily, her hunch was right.
Selene giggled as if it were a positive response to Neoma’s question earlier.
Okay, it’s time to deal with Tteokbokki and Crimson before the war begins.
***
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