"NEOMA, aren't you drinking a little too much?"
"Of course not," Neoma responded to Hanna, then she gulped down the remaining red wine in her glass. "I have high alcohol tolerance, so I'll be fine."
She was still Kim Neoma, after all.
When she was attending S*oul National University, she spent her university days partying hard. But no matter how much she drank soju and beer, she never got drank. She would only get tipsy.
To be honest, she was actually curious about what it was like to black out from too much drinking.
"You really enjoy drinking, don't you?" Hanna asked, smiling while shaking her head. "I didn't think you'd enjoy red wine since you like beer more."
"I used to hate red wine, but for some reason, it tastes better as you get older."
It was probably because of stress.
Anyway, right now, Neoma and Hanna were having a drink in the private lounge of her bedroom.
Well, it was just the biggest guest room in Nero's palace.
[I don't have my official palace yet, but Papa Boss is already working on it.]
After their family dinner (of course, Hanna was included since she was practically the Crown Princess now), Neoma invited her future sister-in-law to have a drink with her.
Of course, only after she sent Maan off since the Mermaid Princess needed to return home.
She then sent Dahlia to Jasper oppa's mansion after the Black Witch said she wasn't comfortable staying in the palace where Nero lived. Jasper oppa said that he'd treat Dahlia like a VIP, so she wasn't that worried.
[I don't want Dahlia to feel unsafe with us.]
"Did you want to talk about Nero's plan, Neoma?"
"Uh-huh," Neoma said in response to Hanna's question. "You should have rejected him when he said he wanted to give our parents a surprise wedding after your engagement party, Hanna. It's supposed to be your day."
"I know, but I'm really not worried," Hanna said confidently. "Moreover, I share the same vision as Nero. I also believe that His Majesty and Lady Roseheart should get married before his coronation."
"Even if you say that, I still think it's up to Papa Boss and Mama Boss."
"His Majesty and Lady Roseheart have been wanting to get married for a long time now," Hanna said. "Moreover, they dote on you and Nero a lot. I don't think they'll mind a wedding prepared by the two of you."
Well, it made sense.
Knowing Papa Boss and Mama Boss, they would surely be happy if we surprised them with a wedding ceremony.
Plus, her mother didn't care about "aesthetics."
Mama Boss even said she was okay with wearing a rental wedding dress when Neoma asked her mother about her dream wedding dress.
Needless to say, Papa Boss was horrified to hear that.
[Well, Papa Boss was raised a royal all his life, so the thought of
"His Majesty and Lady Roseheart could always have a grand wedding later," Hanna said, sipping her wine. "The important thing is they get married before Nero's coronation. You know I'm right, Neoma."
Ah, her future sister-in-law made a valid point.
"Fine, you win," Neoma said, raising her glass to Hanna who was smiling triumphantly now. "Gosh. I can't believe my soon-to-be sister-in-law could easily win an argument with me."
"I should at least be this cunning if I want to be your sister-in-law."
She laughed out loud because that was right.
Then she instantly turned serious.
"Hanna, what was the urgent news that you wanted to tell me before?"
"Ah, I shouldn't have let you drink too much."
"Gosh, you're making me nervous. But don't worry, I don't get violent just because I had a little drink."
Emptying a bottle of red wine wasn't a "little drink."
That was what Hanna's expression at the moment said.
[Let's just ignore her~]
"Neoma, Lord Rubin offered me a deal," Hanna said in a serious tone. "It seems like Lord Rubin has the memories of his past life– the one where you almost married him."
CRUSH.
Neoma "accidentally" crushed the wine glass in her hand. "Rubin remembers his past life?"
***
[I CAN'T cleanse it.]
Neoma clicked her tongue when her hand only passed through the cloud of Darkness that she tried to touch.
Yes, she was back at work after getting a full day of rest.
[They only let me leave the palace after sleeping for ten hours.]
She felt like she wasted too much time resting.
So, as soon as she was allowed to work, she summoned Paige, Jeno, and Lewis.
She could fly just fine with her rose wings, and Paige could use flight magic.
Paige could have used flight magic on Lewis as well, but Lewis chose to ride on Jeno's cloud because he enjoyed it more than flying.
[Lewis is still a baby at heart.]
"I can't touch it and my breath doesn't work either," Neoma said, frustrated. "What the hell is this thing?"
"My purification spell doesn't work either," Paige commented. "It's too weak for us to touch it, Princess Neoma."
"It's weak, but it's multiplying really fast," Jeno added worriedly. "I could barely cover the Darkness with my mist. Fortunately, since the Darkness is weak, it won't be visible to ordinary people. Only Mana users on at least the level of a Swordsman could see it at the moment."
Hmm.
Even so, that sounded bad.
"We must find a solution soon," she said, sighing. "I hate to say this, but we might need Ruto's help."
Lewis, as expected, protested. "I don't mean to question your decision, Princess Neoma. But why that man?"
Pfft.
[He really hates Ruto.]
"Ruto is the representative of the Sun Goddess, and the Sun Goddess is an ally to the Moon God," Neoma explained. "We need as much help as we could. More heads are better than one, after all. Speaking of which, we should also gather our allies now– especially those who have purifying abilities."
[I'm sorry, Baby Skylus and Baby Monik– but we'll need your strength.]
As much as possible, Neoma didn't want to involve children in the upcoming war, but she had no choice since the future saint and saintess would definitely be a huge help.
[This is why a war shouldn't happen.]
***
IT WAS a solemn ceremony.
Aside from the Imperial Family, only a select few were allowed inside the Holy Shrine where members of the Imperial Family were laid to rest: the Quinzels, the emperor's Paladins, the royal twins' knights.
Dion, who just returned to the palace, led the memorial service with the help of Skylus.
The late Empress Juliet died as a de Moonasterio, hence the Holy Shrine was her rightful place.
[I will protect your resting place this time, Your Majesty.]
Neoma felt a bittersweet feeling while watching Monik pray for the late Empress Juliet's soul.
[Monik doesn't know that she's the reincarnation of Empress Juliet, but she probably felt a connection to his previous body.]
Marquis Vincent Lennox was there.
It was actually Neoma who convinced Papa Boss to allow Marquis Lennox to witness the late Empress Juliet's memorial service.
Of course, she didn't do it for the marquis.
[I just have a feeling that the late Empress Juliet would want her grandfather to be here.]
"Neoma unnie?"
"Yes, baby?" Neoma whispered back to Monik, then she squatted down because she wanted to talk to the child properly. "What is it?"
"Do you think Empress Juliet is happy wherever she is now?"
Mama Boss and Papa Boss slightly turned in their direction.
Clearly, her parents were listening.
It couldn't be helped since they were standing behind Mama Boss and Papa Boss.
"I'm sure Empress Juliet is happy now, Monik," Neoma assured Monik, smiling at the child. "She deserves to be happy, after all."
Only then did Monik smile. "I'm glad to hear that, Neoma unnie."
***
"I SEE, YOU'VE lost your mind," Manu said, nodding while responding to what Sienna said. "So, the Sun Goddess is cutting off her relationship with the Moon God just because Lord Levi said. I get it– your relationship with Lord Levi is more important now that the whereabouts of Lord Yule is unknown."
"Do you have to be sarcastic about it?" Sienna complained, obviously offended. "Manu, I'm just the Sun Priestess. Ruto has a higher rank than me."
"So, that child decided to follow his divine father's order?"
His old friend fell silent.
[Ah, I should have gotten drunk first.]
Princess Neoma asked him to reach out to the representatives of the Sun Goddess in order to work together.
Hence, Manu contacted Sienna.
Then they met in the usual pub that they would frequent when they wanted a drink.
He should have known something was wrong when the Sun Priestess said they should talk first before drinking.
"Lord Helstor is threatening the Eastern Continent," Sienna confessed. "He said he'll spread Darkness over our territory if we lend you a hand. Hence, Ruto has to make a decision. He has people to protect, too. Moreover, Lord Levi–"
"Stop it."
"What?"
"I don't want to hear your excuses."
Sienna's face turned red from anger and, perhaps, embarrassment. "Manu, we have duties to fulfill. I serve the Sun Goddess, so I have to follow her orders."
"I know, that's why I'm telling you that you don't have to make excuses," he said. He didn't want to get angry at Sienna, but he couldn't help it. His feelings were hurt, after all. "You did nothing wrong."
The Sun Priestess smirked sarcastically. "Really? Your face says otherwise."
"It was my fault."
"What?"
"It was my fault to believe that our friendship is more important than your duties."
"Don't be ridiculous, Manu," Sienna complained, obviously offended. "Would you betray Lord Yule if you were in my shoes?"
"I serve and worship Lord Yule, but I'm not a blind follower," Manu said, standing up while covering his face with the hood of his robe. "I would question Lord Yule's intention first because I know that the god I serve wouldn't turn his back on his old friend."
***
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