"I'M SORRY, but you can't enter the Crown Prince's office," Sanford said cheerfully whole facing the five intimidating men in front of him. "We will accept your application form at a later time."
Whew.
Sanford was in charge of asking the applicants to leave the Crown Prince's palace, while Lucien sneaked out to inform the other members of the Imperial Family about what happened. Raku, Alucard, and Melvin were in the office while attending to Prince Nero.
[I thought I got the easiest job, but no.]
Sanford had always thought he was cool for being a Sword Master.
But these men in front of him (except Rubin Drayton) were all out of his league.
[I may be stronger than Lord Rubin, but his face outshines mine. He's easily the most handsome man in the room at the moment.]
He couldn't help it, okay?
[I like beautiful people– regardless of gender.]
"If that's the case, then I'll leave first," Rubin Drayton said, turning his back on them. "I'll be back."
"I'll take my leave as well, children," the one who had the same stench as Alucard said, a black hole appearing below his feet. "I'm sure Prince Nero will be fine."
Sanford flinched.
[Ah, they know.]
"It doesn't seem like an attack from the crows or the Darkness," Ruto, the former Royal Chef, said. "I believe Prince Nero was summoned by a Spirit. Hence, calling Her Imperial Majesty would suffice."
"I'll release my butterflies to patrol the area," Duke Jasper Hawthorne said. "I'll be back."
"I don't care about Prince Nero, so I'm gonna peace out now," Trevor, Princess Neoma's Sorcerer, said. "See you later, my dear rivals."
And, just like that, Princess Neoma's strong marriage candidates left one by one.
Only then was Sanford able to breathe properly. "Is Princess Neoma really looking for a husband? Those gentlemen look like a hazard more than a marriage candidate…"
***
[IT'S NOT poison.]
As soon as Prince Nero collapsed, Melvin immediately checked the tea for poison.
Then he asked Raku to put the unconscious Crown Prince on the sofa.
"It's not poison, and there are no signs of being attacked externally," Alucard Dionisio, the Healer of Prince Nero's Order, said while scanning the Crown Prince with his glowing eyes. "But Prince Nero's soul is currently out of his body."
Melvin's eyes widened a bit. "Was His Royal Highness summoned?"
"That seems to be the case."
Melvin gasped softly when, out of nowhere, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Mona appeared. He immediately bowed his head. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Alucard and Raku also bowed their heads to greet the empress.
"Let's save the greetings for later, children," Empress Mona said, then she immediately got down on one knee and touched Prince Nero's forehead with her hand. "His soul isn't here."
Alucard nodded in agreement. "That was also my assessment, Your Majesty."
"You did well, Alucard. All of you did well handling the situation," the empress praised them in her gentle voice. Hence, even if the empress wasn't looking at them, they still felt the sincerity in her tone. "Don't worry. Nero is in a safe place."
Melvin was relieved to hear that. "May we know where Prince Nero's soul is at the moment, Your Majesty?"
***
"HOW DID this happen?" Nero asked, confused. He stood up while wiping the blood off the corner of his mouth. "My consciousness…"
"Yes, I'm the SANE part of you," his other self said, huffing while crossing his arms over his chest. "I know that I'm not exactly a sane person. But I'm not crazy to marry off Neoma!"
He knitted his eyebrows. "You must be the INSANE part of me. Neoma has a duty to the empire. She needs to get married sooner or later–"
"Shut up before I kill you."
"If I die, then you'll die, moron."
"I'd rather die than see Neoma getting married!"
Nero let out a frustrated sigh while massaging his temples. "How is something as outrageous as this possible?"
"This is all thanks to me, Prince Nero."
Hmm?
To say that he was surprised to see William would be an understatement.
"What are you doing here?" Nero confronted the Grand Spirit. "I've been summoning you all this time, but you never once responded to my call."
"I was… scolded by Mona."
"By Mother?"
"Mona entrusted you to me when they were forced to leave this world five years ago, but I couldn't completely protect you from Calyx," William explained, shaking his head. "I had to pretend that I also lost my memories, hence I couldn't openly separate you from Calyx. Moreover, I was busy protecting the Spirit Queen and the Spirit World as well."
He didn't know that William didn't lose his memories.
Was the Grand Spirit that good of an actor?
[On second thought, it was only probably because he has a stoic face in the first place. Moreover, it's not like he interacts with Calyx and the fake Empress Dowager a lot.]
"Anyway, to appease Mona, I had to complete the counterspell that I've been making these past few years."
Nero knitted his eyebrows. "Counterspell? But you're not a Mage."
"I was a Mage back when I was still a human," William explained. "I call it counterspell, but I'm not sure if it will really work since it's been a while." The Grand Spirit turned to his 'replica.' "I created this Nero."
"You created that insane thing?"
The other him just glared at him coldly.
[God, do I look that grumpy???]
"I've observed both you and Neoma since the two of you were toddlers. Moreover, you spent years in the Spirit World," the Grand Spirit continued with his explanation. "I gathered all the memories that you had in the Spirit World, then I secretly took a piece of your soul. That's how I was able to create a replica of the Nero who's obsessed with his twin sister."
Nero crossed his arms over his chest. "And what's the purpose of creating that replica?"
"You just have to absorb this replica that contains the memories and feelings you have for Neoma," William said, putting a hand on the replica's shoulder. "I'm hoping that this little ripple would create a wave inside you and trigger the memories and feelings that you lost."
Nero wasn't sure about his memories, but he could tell that his feelings might get affected.
[Even without the counterspell, I already have conflicting feelings towards Neoma. I want to hate her since she's still a competition to me. However, I can't get her out of my mind.]
"Do I really love Neoma that much?"
Both William and the replica scoffed at his question.
"Nero, do you want to make a bet with me?" William asked, smirking bitterly. "I bet you'd grovel before Neoma as soon as you retrieved all your memories."
The replica nodded firmly. "Seconded."
"Ridiculous," Nero said confidently. "Why would I grovel before my twin sister?"
The replica let out a sigh while shaking his head, then he turned to William. "Forget grovelling in front of Neoma. I bet that fool would strangle himself first as soon as he remembers all the horrible things he did to her. Most of all, he'll definitely kill himself for allowing the selection to happen."
William nodded without so much as a second thought. "Ah, you're right. The Nero I know would rather kill himself than marry Neoma off to someone else."
That sounded ridiculous.
"I don't want to think what kind of image I have on you," Nero said, clicking his tongue. "If I'm going to turn into a weirdo like that replica, then I refuse to retrieve my memories."
"I'm sorry, but it's not up to you," William said sternly. "I don't want Mona to hate me."
"And I must stop the selection for Neoma's marriage," the replica said while approaching him. Then, much to Nero's shock, the replica grabbed him by the collar and gave him a strong headbutt. "Let's merge now, you idiot."
Nero clutched his aching head, glaring at the replica. "I said I don't want to!"
The replica just gave Nero another headbutt.
[Argh…]
***
NEOMA was considering turning into her Spirit form to look for Nero in a different dimension.
But, fortunately, her twin brother stirred to life.
It was a shame that it happened a few moments after Mama Boss and Papa Boss left Nero's bedroom.
The Crown Prince's current condition was confidential.
To avoid suspicions, Mama Boss and Papa Boss returned to their respective jobs. Her parents entrusted her twin brother to her, of course.
"Nero, are you awake?"
She was worried as hell, of course.
Nero was still her beloved twin brother even though he was acting like a bitch these days.
[Oops… I shouldn't curse him.]
Her thoughts were distracted when Nero slowly opened his eyes.
"Finally," Neoma said, relieved when her gaze met Nero's ash-gray eyes that were looking deep into her eyes. "How are you feeling, Nero?"
"I think I love you."
"Huh?"
Nero's hand slowly reached for her face until he was already caressing her cheek, carefully as if he wasn't used to that gesture yet.
"Argh," Neoma complained. "Nero, you should have washed your hands before you touched my face. You know how much I take care of my skin, don't you? My face is my greatest weapon, so you shouldn't touch it carelessly–"
"You're not getting married, Neoma."
"What?"
"Over my dead body will you get married."
That sent a shiver down her spine.
Nero's sharp gaze at the moment was very familiar to her.
[It's NERO– the one who's crazy about me.]
But, even so, she still felt like her twin brother wasn't completely back yet.
[Let's calm him first.]
"I'm not getting married for real," Neoma said because it was the truth anyway. "The selection is only for show."
Nero just smiled "innocently" at her.
Uh-oh.
[Crazy Nero is back.]
***
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