"FATHER, I'm leaving."
"What?" Nikolai asked, confused as to why Neoma was saying goodbye while holding a huge suitcase. "Where are you going? And why are you addressing me as 'Father?'"
To be fair, Neoma should have addressed him as 'Father' when she became an adult.
However, he had grown accustomed to 'Papa Boss.' It was okay for his daughter to address him formally in front of an audience since they had a reputation to keep. But in private, he wanted his precious daughter to call him 'Papa Boss.'
[Because that's what she used to call me ever since she was a baby…]
"Father, I'm no longer a baby."
Nikolai was startled by what Neoma said. It was as if she read his mind, after all. "What do you mean you're no longer a 'baby?' You're only eighteen, Neoma."
"I'm ALREADY eighteen, Father," Neoma corrected him. "That's why I'm sooo ready to get married now."
Needless to say, he was dumbfounded. "What did you say?"
Out of nowhere, the shadow of a tall man with a blank face yet dressed fancily appeared beside Neoma.
Then his precious daughter hugged that man's arm.
"Father, meet my fiancé!" Neoma said cheerfully, her face bright and flushed with excitement. "I'm getting married!"
Nikolai could only yell in agony. "No, I won't allow this marriage!"
"Open your eyes, Nikolai."
Huh?
Nikolai automatically opened his eyes after hearing Mona's voice. "Love?"
[Did I just have a nightmare…?]
"Yes, it's me," Mona said while wiping the beads of sweat on his forehead. "Are you fully awake now?"
He blinked and looked around, then he realized he was lying down on the sofa in his office. "How…?"
"I went to your office as soon as I felt your bloodlust oozing out," Mona explained. "It looks like you were about to attack Nero, so I knocked you out for a moment."
Only Mona would be brazen enough to knock out the emperor so openly.
"I asked Nero to return to his office, but I already heard the gist of the problem from our son," his wife explained. "You went ballistic after hearing that Nero sent invitations all over the continent in search of Neoma's future husband?"
Argh.
That was definitely the reason he had a nightmare earlier.
"Nero bypassed my authority as the emperor," Nikolai said, frowning. "I know that I've already turned over most of my duties to him since he'll be ascending the throne soon. But he doesn't have the power to marry off his sister, especially when I'm still active as the emperor."
"You didn't listen to Nero properly, did you?" Mona said, sighing while shaking his head. "Nero told me it was Neoma's idea."
Hmm.
He vaguely remembered Nero saying that.
[But I already lost it at that point…]
"Nikolai, our daughter isn't the type to take marriage lightly," Mona said in a scolding tone. "You know she wouldn't marry a random stranger for politics. There must be a reason why Neoma asked Nero to announce her search for a husband instead of asking you. To be frank, our daughter probably knows you'd react this way."
Well, his wife had a very valid point.
"I don't know what our children are thinking," Nikolai said, shaking his head. "I didn't involved them in politics while raising them, but they turn out to be the politicians I didn't want them to become."
"It's in their blood, love. The de Moonasterios were born to rule the human world. Isn't that exactly the reason why most gods hate your bloodline?"
He smirked. "Love, our children deserve the world."
"I want to agree with you, but I know you mean it literally so I'm a little scared."
Nikolai laughed softly, then he touched Mona's cheek with the back of his hand. "Let's talk to Neoma, love."
Mona smiled and nodded. "Only if you promise to be calm and rational, love."
***
"YEP, I'm looking for a husband-to-be," Neoma announced to her Papa Boss and Mama Boss. "And I asked Nero to help me because I know Papa Boss wouldn't allow it easily. I don't have the time to explain and convince Papa Boss, so I went straight to Nero."
Of course, she knew her Papa Boss would listen to her request after some time.
But she needed to move fast, and that was exactly what Nero did.
Now the entire world knew that the one and only Imperial Princess of the Great Moonasterion Empire was looking for a husband, thanks to the Imperial Crown Prince's official (albeit rushed) announcement.
[Nero's indifference is quite useful right now.]
"But I know Papa Boss and Mama Boss already know that I'm not really looking for a husband," Neoma said. "I just need to gather strong individuals on the Western Continent. Hence, I offered my hand in marriage."
"Why do you need to gather strong individuals to our continent?" Papa Boss asked, setting down the teacup on the saucer. "Do you need help in getting rid of the "pollution" that threatens our continent?"
"That's one reason, Papa Boss."
"There's something else?" Mama Boss asked curiously. "Did something happen recently, baby?"
"The Sun Goddess approached me during your wedding ceremony, Mama Boss, Papa Boss."
Naturally, her parents looked shocked.
Neoma was spilling some piping hot tea. She knew it would end up this way. Hence, she covered the tearoom with her barrier in advance.
Aside from her parents, only Lewis was there (standing behind her).
But you couldn't be too safe even in the palace.
"The Sun Goddess was there?" Papa Boss asked in disbelief. "Were we too basked in happiness for us to notice?"
"Nah, Papa Boss. The Sun Goddess possessed an ordinary human."
"Even so, for us not to notice it…" Mama Boss said worriedly. "Nikolai, we need to be more vigilant from now on."
Her Papa Boss nodded in agreement.
[Gosh, so hard on themselves~]
"The Sun Goddess left a message for us," Neoma continued with her explanation. "She wants the entire world to focus on the Western Continent in order for the people of the Eastern Continent to move freely."
Papa Boss sighed. "Ah, so that's why you announced that you're looking for a husband."
"But why does the Sun Goddess need to move stealthily?" Mama Boss asked. "What does she plan on doing while the entire world is focused on us?"
"The Sun Goddess plans to save Lord Yule, Mama Boss."
Mama Boss let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, the major gods are doing their job properly instead of making you do things for them."
Pfft.
"I know, right?" Neoma agreed with her mother. "Fortunately, this time, my job is easy. I just need to gather attention. But Nero and Hanna said I need to raise my value as a bride to attract more men, so please give me my inheritance, Mama Boss, Papa Boss."
"Are you ready to let go of your title as the Imperial Princess?" Mama Boss asked seriously. "Neoma, once you receive your inheritance from us, you'll get a different title. You'd either become a duchess or a grand duchess. Of course, you were born a princess so you'll always be one. However, you'd be using your new title more once you receive your inheritance."
"It's okay, Mama Boss," she assured her mother. "I'll get a new title anyway once Nero ascends the throne. Moreover, even if I become a duchess or a grand duchess, I'll still be working in the palace anyway." She turned to her father. "Isn't that right, Papa Boss?"
"No, I can't accept this."
"…"
"You don't have to use your marriage as a means to get attention, Neoma," Papa Boss said sternly. "The entire world is already looking at us since we excluded most of the world leaders from Nero's engagement and my surprise wedding."
"You have a point, Papa Boss. But the attention we received from that was negative attention," Neoma argued with her father. "We're no doubt the strongest empire in the entire world. But it wouldn't do us good if we make enemies out of the other empires out there."
"Your daughter is right, Nikolai," Mama Boss said calmly. "We have to pacify the offended world leaders first. Neoma's wedding announcement is a good way to distract them from their anger. I bet right now, those world leaders are choosing the spouse candidate to send to our empire."
[Right? I knew Mama Boss would get me~]
But, to be honest, Neoma thought Papa Boss would agree easily after she explained that she wasn't really looking for a husband.
[I don't understand why Papa Boss is being difficult now.]
"Neoma is only eighteen years old," Papa Boss insisted. "I don't want to hear any marriage talks from our daughter until she's thirty years old!"
Mama Boss was too dumbfounded to speak.
Neoma, on the other hand, closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.
[Papa Boss went from a scumbag father, to a doting Papa Boss, and now he finally reached his final form: the OVERPROTECTIVE FATHER.]
***
TREVOR raised an eyebrow when he met Jasper Hawthorne in front of Prince Nero's office.
In order to apply as Princess Neoma's husband-to-be, they must first submit the application form to the Crown Prince's office. Only the most qualified candidates would be shortlisted. Of course, he was confident that he would pass the qualifying round.
"Why are you here?" Trevor confronted Jasper Hawthorne. "I thought you only see Princess Neoma as a little sister?"
Jasper Hawthorne shrugged. "I don't need to explain myself to you, Lord Kesser."
[This punk… should I just kill him?]
"If you're going to fight, can you step aside first? You're blocking the way."
What the…
Trevor and Jasper were both surprised when someone managed to sneak up on them when the two of them weren't your average Mana-users. However, the identity of the person who approached them completely unnoticed explained it.
[Dammit, did he get taller and stronger again???]
"Hey, didn't you read the qualifications listed in the announcement?" Trevor asked, scoffing. "People from the Eastern Continent are disqualified."
"I'm a citizen of the empire, too."
"You have dual citizenship," Jasper Hawthorne said coldly. "I don't think you could claim to be a citizen of the empire if that's the case."
"Don't worry about it," Ruto said dismissively. "I already renounced my other citizenship."
Trevor and Jasper Hawthorne were shocked.
[But isn't Ruto technically a prince from the Eastern Continent, and yet he renounced his citizenship from his own motherland?!]
"Gentlemen, please move out of the way."
This time, Trevor, Jasper Hawthorne, and Ruto Solfrid glared at the unwelcome guest.
[Here's another bastard who could completely hide his presence from even a monster like the damned chef.]
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Noah Solfrid, aka the Ancient Devil, complained. "I'm also a citizen of the empire now, so I'm qualified to apply as Princess Neoma's spouse~"
Trevor, Jasper Hawthorne, and Ruto Solfrid complained at the same time. "You're disqualified because of your old age, you predator."
***
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