614 NERO THE MENACE
“QUEEN TARA appeared in the banquet just to congratulate Nero?” Neoma asked, then she raised an eyebrow. “Very sus.”
<“Thanks to that, it’s almost certain that Prince Nero will ascend the throne during his coming-of-age ceremony,”> Jasper Hawthorne, whose face occupied the entire wall in front of Neoma, said. <“Princess Neoma, is it really alright to let Prince Nero become the emperor?”>
“Yep,” she said, nodding. “Nero needs the throne more than I do.”
“But how about Your Royal Highness?”
“I’m only lending the throne to Nero. I can easily take it back if I put my mind into it,” she said confidently. “Anyway, this is the perfect time to spread the rumor about the Visual Goddess.”
<“Won’t it just be overwhelmed by the news of Queen Tara visiting Prince Nero?”>
“Then just add the fact that the Visual Goddess has white hair, ash-gray eyes that turn red when angry, and pale skin.”
<“But if we do that, the enemies will know you’re back, Princess Neoma.”>
“Exactly,” she said, scoffing. “I want to give them anxiety while waiting for my comeback.”
.....
Jasper oppa laughed at her response. <“You’re really cute, Princess Neoma.”>
“I know, oppa. Thanks,” she said. “Oppa, you’re looking for Ruto, right?”
<“Of course, I’m looking for him as you requested. But my future brother-in-law is elusive.”>
“Gosh, oppa. What “brother-in-law?” You’re making me shy,” she said, a little embarrassed. “Say it again.”
Her oppa just laughed again.
It looked Jasper oppa was about to say something when the door behind him opened.
Neoma beamed. “Annyeong, Hanna.”
<“Princess Neoma,”> Hanna said, entering Jasper oppa’s office while pulling down the hood of the black robe she was wearing. <“What happened? Is Emperor Nikolai…”>
“Oh, Papa Boss is okay,” Neoma assured her cousin. “He’s currently resting with Mama Boss.”
Actually, she was supposed to be resting.
But she couldn’t ignore the emergency call that she received from Jasper oppa. Hence, here they were now.
<“I’m glad to hear that,”> Hanna said, letting out a sigh. <“I almost broke down into tears when Nero was suddenly basked in Moonglow earlier.”>
Oh.
Maybe it would be a bad choice if Neoma told Hanna that she sacrificed her life span to bring Papa Boss back to life.
[Yep, let’s take this secret to my grave.]
“Is it alright for you to leave the banquet?” Neoma asked worriedly, changing the topic as well. “Where’s Nero?”
<“Nero went back to the palace with Queen Tara meet Empress Dowager,”> Hanna said, then she sat on the chair that Jasper oppa pulled for her. <“I snuck out of the banquet, but I left my clone there.”>
Ah, right.
Hanna once mentioned that she met a friend named ‘Sandie’ who could turn Hanna’s shadow into a perfect clone.
<“Hawthorne! Quinzel!”>
Neoma was distracted when Gin, in his human form, entered Jasper oppa’s office with urgency.
<“The street is filled with crows,”> Gin reported in a hurry, then he turned to Hanna. <“It seems like were followed, child.”>
Oh, no.
“Jasper oppa, take Hanna home safely,” Neoma ordered right away. “Gin, get rid of the crows while Hanna and Jasper oppa escape.”
Gin, Hanna, and Jasper oppa all bowed to her. “As you command, Princess Neoma.”
***
“I DON’T understand why you suddenly declare your support for me, but I appreciate it,” Nero said to Tara, the Queen of the Spirit World. “It looks like you have something you wish to discuss with me. But unfortunately, I have a scheduled appointment.”
Nero brought Tara to the Royal Palace.
To be precise, he brought the queen to the drawing room in the Empress Dowager’s palace– the Larissa Palace.
[Anyway…]
The appointment would be greeting the Royal Family of the Hazelden Kingdom.
They were supposed to arrive tomorrow morning because it was when the portal was scheduled to be completed.
However, the portal was fixed earlier than expected.
Hence, the Griffiths decided to come to the empire earlier in order to return to the Hazelden Kingdom at the earliest.
[It’s obvious that they really don’t want to be here.]
“I understand, Prince Nero,” Tara said, smiling at him. “I’d love to have a conversation with Juliet anyway.”
The queen addressed the Empress Dowager casually, huh?
[I wonder if they were friends.]
His memories of his parents were a little hazy in his memories.
The people in the palace rarely talked about Emperor Nikolai and Lady Mona Roseheart, too. But, he could vaguely remember that his biological mother was the one who was actually friends with the Queen of the Spirit World.
[Well, I also heard that my mother and the Empress Dowager used to be close friends. In short, everyone must have been friends in the past.]
“I’ll take care of Her Majesty, Nero, so you may leave and perform your royal duties,” the Empress Dowager said, then she held and squeezed his hands gently. “Congratulations on getting chosen by the throne, son. I’ve always known you were the rightful heir.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Why are you still calling me that?” the Empress Dowager said, laughing softly. “I am your mother, Nero.”
“I understand,” Nero said politely. “Thank you for always supporting me, Mother.”
The Empress Dowager smiled and cupped his face between her hands. “Anything for you, son.”
“What a lovely scene,” Tara said, smiling at them. “The current royal family is indeed picture-perfect.”
***
AFTER NERO left Tara and the Empress Dowager, he went straight to Blanco Palace.
His esteemed guests were waiting for him in the tearoom.
Sanford opened the door for him, and the knight followed him inside the room, where the guests stood up as soon as he arrived.
“Greetings to the Lesser Moon of the Great Moonasterion Empire.”
The entire Royal Family of the Hazelden Kingdom greeted him politely while bowing to him.
Queen Brigitte.
King Glenn.
Prince Skylus.
And finally, his target for tonight…
[Princess Monik.]
“You may now rise,” Nero said, then he sat on the chair across from the sofa. “And please take a seat, everyone.”
The queen and the king sat on the sofa.
Queen Brigitte had Princess Monik sat on her lap, while King Glenn had Prince Skylus on his lap.
There was only one aid behind the Royal Family.
[It’s Count Nowell Elwood– Queen Brigitte’s cousin. Well, I suppose they don’t need knights. After all, King Glenn was a former Paladin who served my Father in the past.]
Remembering his father made him feel a pang in his chest.
But he set his personal feelings aside at the moment.
“First of all, I’d like to thank you for coming all the way here,” Nero said politely. “I know your kingdom’s law dictates that the entire Royal Family shouldn’t travel together.”
The empire had the same law.
It was to make sure that if ever an accident befall the Royal Family on the way, the heir would survive and continue the royal bloodline.
“But because I summoned the entire Royal Family of the Hazelden Kingdom, you’re all here now,” Nero continued. “I apologize for my selfish request.”
“It’s alright, Prince Nero,” King Glenn said, smiling. “Me and the queen aren’t comfortable to leave our young children at the palace anyway. Fortunately, we only need to use the portal to get here.”
“Moreover, this is the empire,” Queen Brigitte added. “We feel safe and comfortable enough to come over with our entire family.”
Ah.
.....
[Look at the smart queen.]
The queen sounded like she was saying that she felt safe in there because of their kingdom’s close relationship with the empire.
However, Nero interpreted it in another way: ‘You’re going to keep us safe, aren’t you?’
[The queen is actually threatening me to keep their family safe while they’re here.]
“Of course, you’re safe here,” Nero said, smiling. “Unless you don’t give me what I want.”
Now that was a direct threat.
No wonder the ambiance suddenly changed.
Queen Brigitte and King Glenn were obviously on guard now while hugging their children close to their bodies.
[How lovely.]
“Whatever do you mean by that, Prince Nero?” King Glenn asked carefully. “What does Your Royal Highness need from our family?”
Nero picked up the teacup on the table. “My older brother’s birthday is coming up soon.”
“We are aware, Your Royal Highness,” Queen Brigitte answered carefully. “The Hazelden Kingdom has carefully prepared a birthday present for Prince Calyx.”
“Good for you,” Nero said. “Too bad I am yet to find the perfect present for my older brother.”
The queen and king looked at him as if they were something that had nothing to do with them.
[And that’s where they’re wrong.]
“As you know, my older brother doesn’t have a Soul Beast,” Nero said, then his gaze fell on Princess Monik who flinched when their eyes met. “I happen to hear that Princess Monik has an amazing Elemental Guardian. It’s the White Lion, isn’t it?”
The queen and the king suddenly paled after realizing Nero’s goal.
“The White Lion is the symbol of the de Moonasterion Royal Family,” Nero said, smiling at the young princess. “Don’t you think it’s the perfect birthday present for Calyx, my precious older brother?” Even without looking at himself in the mirror, he knew that his ash-gray eyes had turned glowing red by now. “Princess Monik, why don’t you be an obedient little princess and give the White Lion to me while I’m still asking nicely?”
Princess Monik, much to his shock, smiled sweetly at him. “What a lunatic.”
Excuse me?
***
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