IT WASN'T a bomb.
Neoma could see the marks of a curse placed all over the body of Young Master Shane. It was actually threatening to explode because they mentioned about the bomb.
"Princess Neoma, my name is–"
"Shut up," Neoma said, cutting off the child– her eyes glowing red. "Not another word."
Lewis immediately grabbed 'Young Master Shane' by the arm and pulled them up, then he covered the child's mouth with his hand.
It was pretty rough, but it was an urgent situation.
[I don't have the luxury to be gentle, too.]
If that bomb exploded, many innocent and normal people would be hurt. After all, most of the palace staff were Non-Mana users.
"Paige," Neoma said, calling the Light Mage. "Can you undo the curse?"
Paige, who was standing beside her, nodded politely. "My ability is higher than the caster of the curse, Princess Neoma. However, the process will be very painful for the child," the Light Mage explained, her turquoise eyes glowing while observing the 'young master.' "The curse is etched on the child's skin. Hence, the process of undoing the curse would be like getting skinned alive."
"Can't we numb her senses so the child wouldn't feel pain?"
"I'm sorry, but we can't do that, Princess Neoma," Paige said while shaking her head. "If any potion or spell entered the child's body, then it would get in the way of undoing the curse. We can't even let the child sleep. The child has to be conscious because if the child falls asleep, then it would be harder to find the exact location of the bomb."
That was brutal, and Neoma felt bad for the child.
However, she was currently acting as the Imperial Princess. That meant she must hide her emotions and think logically.
[There are many people I need to protect here.]
But that didn't mean she would sacrifice the life of a young child in front of her, of course.
"You heard my daughter, child," Neoma said solemnly. "We can undo the curse, but it will be as painful as getting skinned alive. The choice is yours to make. If you don't want to suffer, shake your head. I promise you won't be punished for following Marquis Spencer's orders."
The child trembled in fear. However, the life and the determination in the child's eyes remained clear.
[This one is fearless.]
"If you want us to undo the curse, nod your head," Neoma said, leaning against the seat while crossing her arms over her chest. "If you allow us to help you, then I swear to protect you and your brother from the marquis."
The child didn't even hesitate as they nodded firmly.
"Very well," Neoma said, relieved by the child's choice. "Lewis, let the child go."
Lewis nodded politely before removing his hand away from the child's mouth, then he stepped backwards.
The 'young master' knelt and bowed to her once again. "I'm in your care, Your Imperial Highness."
"Don't worry, my child," Neoma said, standing up. "Once you get through this, I will let you join us in destroying House Spencer as one of your rewards."
***
TSK.
Manu couldn't open a portal to let Prince Skylus escape first.
It was because of the black-clothed priests that created a Domain made of Darkness.
Being in those bastards' Domain meant Manu and Prince Skylus were trapped inside. Anyone could enter the Domain, but no one could get out of it on their own.
And there were only two ways to get out of there.
First, kill all the black-clothed priests so that Domain would naturally disappear.
[Aside from the fact that it's pretty difficult, I can't commit mass murder in front of a child. Unless absolutely necessary, of course.]
Second, have an outside force break the Domain from the other side.
[But no one knows we would get ambushed like this.]
"Let's not spill any more blood here, Skylus," Dustin, the 'other' saint, said while extending his hand to the real Moon Saint. "Come with us peacefully. This big brother of yours will take good care of you."
Manu hugged Prince Skylus tighter. "Don't listen to him, Prince Skylus. I'll get you out of here, no matter what."
His divine power was weaker than usual because the body he was using in the human world was nothing but a shell.
As the Moon Priest, his real body was and had always been in the Upper World.
But he wouldn't use that as an excuse.
[Even if this shell breaks, I'll get Prince Skylus out of here.]
"Lord Manu, please put me down."
Manu's eyes widened in shock. "But, my prince–"
"Please," Prince Skylus begged, looking up at him with sparkling eyes. "Please allow me to resolve this in peace."
There was no way to resolve the problem peacefully.
The 'other' saint and the black-clothed priests were obviously there to kidnap Prince Skylus.
"Lord Manu, put me down," Prince Skylus said sternly. "This is an order."
The Moon Saint was higher in position than the Moon Priest.
Moreover, Moon Priests were usually sent to the human world in order to raise the Moon Saint.
To simply put, it was his duty to obey Prince Skylus.
"I understand, Prince Skylus," Manu said, putting the Moon Saint down safely. "I'm just behind you."
Prince Skylus smiled and nodded. "I know, Lord Manu."
Ah, the Moon Saint had really matured now.
[He used to call me 'Uncle Manu.']
Manu snapped out of his nostalgia when Skylus walked towards the 'other' saint.
He was about to follow the Moon Saint but, all of a sudden, the black-clothed priests surrounded him– obviously separating him from Prince Skylus.
[I knew this was a bad idea!]
Manu immediately pulled out his Holy Dagger, ready to fight.
But the black-clothed priests around him suddenly dropped to the ground one by one– a dart pierced through their necks.
[This weapon…]
"Lord Manu."
Even if Manu didn't turn around, he knew that the person who suddenly appeared behind him was Xion– the assassin among Princess Neoma's "children."
"I'll take care of the priests," Xion said in a hurry. "Please grab the saint. Princess Neoma asked me to bring you two back to the palace safely."
"But we're trapped inside this Domain."
"I brought a one-use portal connected to Princess Neoma's palace," Xion explained while throwing darts left and right. "The portal was made by Trevor and Paige. It will work even if we're under someone else's Domain."
The trust in Xion's voice was unmistakable.
That also gave Manu a boost of confidence.
[If it's Trevor and Princess Neoma's "children," then I can trust them.]
"Alright. I'll leave those priests to you, Xion," Manu said, running towards Prince Skylus who was now holding both the hands of the 'other' saint. "Tsk."
***
SKYLUS held Dustin's hands because he wanted to know if his big brother had something to do with the killings.
He almost burst out crying when he saw nothing but darkness.
"Big brother, I'm sorry," Skylus said between sobs. "I should have held onto you tighter."
"If you really feel bad about me, then come with me and stay by my side," Dustin said, grinning– his eyes turning into little crescent moons, making him look creepy. "You want to save me, don't you?"
Skylus gulped hard.
He knew he shouldn't be swayed by Dustin's words.
However, a huge part of his heart felt responsible for his big brother's misery.
"Big brother, what do you want from me?"
"You know what I want from you, Prince Skylus," Dustin said, letting go of his hand to poke a finger into his chest. To be precise, on the part where his heart was beating loud and fast. "Give me your divine power so I could awaken as a full saint."
"I can't do that," Skylus said, shaking his head firmly. "Big brother, I have a responsibility as the Moon Saint."
"Did I ask for your permission?"
"What– mmf!"
Skylus was shocked when Dustin suddenly grabbed him by the face.
[Big brother…?]
"Open your mouth and give me your divine power," Dustin said aggressively. "If you're going to act like a pushover, then act as one until the end!"
Skylus did his best to close his mouth, and was about to use force when, all of a sudden, Dustin let out an agonizing scream.
[What's happening…?]
Dustin's arm, the one connected to the hand that grabbed Skylus' face, twisted in a painful way until it broke.
"For a fake saint, you're too confident, huh?"
Skylus' eyes widened in shock when he recognized the person who appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Dustin by the neck. "P-Prince Nero…?"
The Crown Prince's glowing red eyes fell on Skylus– sending him shivers.
[Prince Nero is s-scary…]
"Prince Nero, I thought you were on probation."
"Well, I'm still the Crown Prince who has royal duties to fulfill so Father couldn't lock me up for so long," Prince Nero said in a response to what Lord Manu said. "Hey, Moon Priest. Grab that baby saint and scram. Neoma's order is to bring the two of you back to the palace safely."
Skylus was startled when Dustin had a fit of cough.
His big brother looked like he was choking because Prince Nero was strangling him by the neck.
And it didn't end there.
Skylus could see Moonglow wrapped around Dustin's body– and that was definitely the reason Dustin couldn't fight back.
[Dustin is going to die at this rate…!]
Skylus was startled when Lord Manu suddenly carried him. "Wait, Lord Manu," he said, his eyes fixed on Prince Nero. "Y-Your Imperial Highness, what are you going to do to Dustin?"
"If he could withstand what I'm about to do, then he'll live. But if not, then he'd die."
"No!" Skylus pleaded. "Please don't kill him!"
"And why should I listen to you?" Prince Nero asked, his red eyes glowing. "You're not Neoma."
"Princess Neoma wouldn't like it if you kill a child!"
Prince Nero laughed like the lunatic that he was. "Neoma only cares about innocent children. I don't think she'd care about children who have killed many people," he said. Then the Crown Prince suddenly pierced his hand through Dustin's chest. "Ah. How do I purify Darkness again? I forgot since I don't use my Roseheart Blood that much."
William, the Grand Spirit who suddenly appeared behind the Crown Prince, responded. "You have the natural talent to purify Darkness, Nero," he said. "Just think about how you want the Darkness to disappear, and it shall disappear."
"Great," Prince Nero said. "Let's start by purifying this little bastard's heart."
Skylus gasped out loud. "No, Prince Nero! Please stop!"
Of course, the Crown Prince didn't listen to him.
Dustin let out an agonizing scream as Prince Nero's white hair quickly turned all pink– a clear sign that the Crown Prince was using his power as a Roseheart at maximum.
[No… Prince Nero is serious about killing Dustin…]
"Lord Manu, please stop Prince Nero!" Skylus begged the Moon Priest while clutching at his shoulders. "At least let me help Dustin first!"
"Prince Skylus, I'm sorry but Prince Nero is doing the right thing," Lord Manu said in a struggling voice. "That child tried to kill you, and he didn't wish to be saved anymore. You don't hear the voice asking you to save him, do you?"
His grip loosened up when he realized the Moon Priest was correct.
The first time he saw Dustin, he heard a voice asking him to save him.
But Skylus no longer heard that voice.
[No… it can't be…]
That awful realization hit Skylus hard, breaking his heart into pieces until all he could do was cry like the child that he was.
***
THE HEART PILLAR.
Manu had a feeling that Prince Nero was supposed to be Princess Neoma's Heart Pillar.
The name was ironic because the actual role of the Heart Pillar was to carry out heartless missions that the Imperial Princess couldn't. It was probably named that way because one had to have a heart of steel to become the Heart Pillar.
And that role fit Prince Nero perfectly.
"Let's go, Prince Skylus," Manu said to the crying child. "You don't have to witness this anymore."
"Take this child with you."
Manu's eyes widened in shock when Prince Nero suddenly dropped the 'other' saint to the ground.
[The child… is still alive even after getting purified in the heart?]
Dustin was unconscious and was obviously in pain, but he was still breathing.
Even Skylus was shocked as he raised his head and confronted the Crown Prince. "Prince Nero, you didn't kill Dustin…?"
"I said it's up to him whether he'd live or not after I'm done with him," Prince Nero said, combing his hand through his pink hair that was quickly turning white again. "Neoma would know what to do next."
What to do next…?
Ah.
"Extracting the divine power," Manu said, the realization that hit him made him feel at ease. "Prince Skylus, you'll finally get back what is yours from the beginning."
***
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