"THAT'S WHY you should be worried– Hanna Quinzel may be dethroned as the Crown Princess at any moment now."
Ah, so that was what the crows were aiming for?
The dethronement of the Crown Princess simply because Hanna was a Darkness attribute user?
Neoma burst out laughing. "That's funny. I would have believed had you said I would be removed from my position as the Imperial Princess. But Hanna? To be dethroned? That's not gonna happen, dear."
She had always known that she was no match for Nero or Hanna when it came to politics.
Her twin brother was calloused while the Crown Princess knew how to set boundaries.
And those were two qualities that she lacked.
That was why Nero and Hanna were good "business partners."
[Plus, Hanna is the only person who could manipulate Nero better than I do.]
Hence, Neoma wasn't really worried.
Regina raised an eyebrow. "Do you trust Hanna Quinzel that much, Princess Neoma?"
"Hanna isn't simply a member of the Imperial Family– she's a bonafide politician," Neoma said, smirking. "A heartless one, if I must say."
***
HANNA wondered why the royal carriage suddenly halted.
She could also hear loud voices outside.
Even the royal knights that served as her escort were shouting.
[I'm going to be late at this rate.]
She had an appointment with the journalists as she was chosen as the Imperial Family's representative.
But she couldn't leave the palace since there was a commotion at the main entrance.
Sandie, who was with her in the royal carriage, opened the window and asked one of the knights outside. "Sir, can you tell me what's happening?"
"Of course, Lady Morrisley. There are people gathered at the main gate. Most of them are commoners. They're demanding an audience with the Imperial Family, insisting that it was Princess Neoma who told them that they are allowed to hold a protest in front of the palace."
Oh, right.
Hanna remembered that Neoma did tell everyone they were allowed to protest.
[Did the people come here to demand the truth about the Darkness that threatens the empire's sky?]
"Should we use the secret passage instead of going through the main gate?"
"No," Hanna said, opening the door of the carriage. "Open the gates and let the people in."
The royal knights who were assigned to escort her all bowed their heads and didn't question her decision.
"As you command, Your Highness."
"Are you sure you want to face the people alone, Your Highness?" Sandie asked worriedly. "They sound angry."
"It's my duty as the Crown Princess to care for our people, especially when Neoma isn't here," Hanna said, then she stepped out of the carriage. "I need to know what's the issue, too."
"I understand, Your Highness," Sandie said politely, opening her hand until vines emerged from her skin and hugged her arm like snakes. "Then I shall send an urgent message to the crybaby to let the Crown Prince know what's happening."
The crybaby would be Sir Melvin, Nero's (overworked) secretary.
Hanna nodded. "Send a message to Dahlia as well."
"As you command, Your Highness."
When the gates opened, the angry people immediately swarmed in. The royal knights were pushed back, unexpectedly. It was probably because the royal knights were instructed not to harm the citizens.
[I didn't expect this number of people to show up…]
The ones in the "frontline" were children who were running towards Hanna.
"Don't you dare use violence on the children," Hanna warned the royal knights sternly, making them freeze on the spot. "Just defend and don't attack the people–"
She was forced to stop talking when the children suddenly threw a few bottles at her.
Hanna's shadow automatically blocked the bottles, but the liquid poured on her head.
Sandie gasped. "Princess Hanna…"
Rotten milk.
Hanna was pretty sure that the thing that the children threw at her was rotten milk.
Needless to say, she was shocked by what happened.
The royal knights immediately surrounded her and pushed back the crowd harder than they did earlier.
"How dare you harm the Crown Princess!"
"Arrest everyone!"
"Such insolence towards the Imperial Family shall not be forgiven!"
But the people fought back.
"Princess Hanna is a Darkness attribute user!"
"The Darkness has arrived to swallow the entire world!"
"A person who wields Darkness doesn't deserve to be the Crown Princess!"
Ah.
Hanna smiled while combing her fingers through her wet and sticky hair, then she addressed the commoners with a cold gaze that shut them up instantly. "Do I scare you, my beloved citizens?"
Propaganda.
She instantly realized that the "protest" was actually propaganda against Darkness attribute users like her.
Hanna was a Darkness attribute user with the highest social ranking in the empire, making her a perfect target if the crows wanted to make an example of her. If the crows succeeded in removing her from her position as the Crown Princess, then it would be easier for them to ostracize the rest of the Darkness attribute users.
But that wasn't the crows' goal, since most of those bastards were also Darkness attribute users.
Mass panic.
That was the crows' real goal.
[Those cowards are good at spreading fear– I'll give them that.]
"T-The Darkness is here to swallow the world like during the Ancient Period!"
"But unlike then, we don't have the Light Goddess anymore!"
"Hence, it's normal for us to get scared of Darkness attribute users like Your Highness! After all, we heard that the Darkness attribute users could contribute to the Darkness that's slowly swallowing the world as we speak at this very moment!"
Hmm.
That was vague.
It was obvious someone just fed these people lies to scare them.
[And to force them to have bad feelings against Darkness attribute users.]
"I hear you," Hanna said calmly. She quickly pulled herself together. Hence, she was pretty sure the cold look on her face earlier had already disappeared. "I understand that as humans, we were born with the natural fear of Darkness. However, I want to remind everyone that Darkness isn't inherently evil– it is still a part of Nature."
"Exactly! We should fear Darkness attribute users like Your Highness because we don't know when you'll turn against us!"
Hanna smiled "sweetly." "So, is the solution to get rid of the Darkness attribute users before we turn against humanity?"
No one dared to answer her loudly.
But the people talked among themselves.
Fearmongering.
It was an act of deliberately arousing public fear.
This was definitely the work of the crows.
However…
"I wouldn't suggest getting rid of the Darkness attribute users, though. After all, that would mean you have to get rid of the Quinzels," Hanna said playfully. "If we disappear, the empire's entire economy would collapse. And I'd rather ruin our own businesses than have them stolen by someone else. If we fall, we're bringing the economy down with us. Imagine how many people would lose their jobs and livelihoods if that happened. Scary, isn't it?"
"Are you threatening us, Princess Hanna?!"
"That was just a mere warning," Hanna said, keeping her smile "sweet." "But I don't really get what you're afraid of. Even if Darkness starts to act up, and even if some Darkness attribute users turn against humanity, you'll still be safe."
Now the noise among the crowd had turned to confusion.
And that was the moment she was waiting for.
"Someone said the Light Goddess was already gone, but it didn't mean no one else is capable of purifying Darkness," Hanna said confidently. "Isn't the Imperial Family the descendants of the Moon God AND the Light Goddess? Don't forget your history, people."
"B-But the de Moonasterios couldn't stop something as powerful as the Absolute Darkness!"
"That's right! The gods had to come together back then!"
"But the gods aren't allowed to descend to the human world anymore because of the de Moonasterios. We know our history, Your Highness!"
"You're still forgetting something vital– the de Moonasterios are the gods among humans," Hanna said firmly. "And one of them was born the direct agent of the Light Goddess. That person received the power to stop the second coming of the Absolute Darkness."
"Who are you referring to, Your Highness?"
"Is it the Crown Prince? But I heard the Crown Prince was mentally unstable at the moment…"
"And I also heard that the emperor is sick…"
Ah, those damned crows.
[They also launched a smear campaign against Nero and His Majesty, huh?]
"Moreover, the Imperial Princess is also dying…"
Hanna knitted her eyebrows.
[The crows even spread the fact that Neoma is dying?]
Perhaps she shouldn't be surprised.
[The day Helstor discovered Neoma's secret, we should have already expected him to share it with the crows.]
"I heard that's the reason why the Imperial Princess is rushing to find a groom…"
"Then does it mean the Imperial Family's downfall is near…?"
"The downfall of the Imperial Family won't happen," Hanna said loudly. "Because Princess Neoma, our one and only Imperial Family, was born as the Light Goddess' direct agent. Moreover, Princess Neoma also received all the blessings that the First Emperor had received from the gods in the Upper World."
A loud gasp erupted from the crowd.
The fear about the approaching "end" of the Imperial Family had turned into curiosity about the Imperial Princess.
Propaganda.
Hanna was going to use propaganda against the crows' fearmongering.
"That means Princess Neoma is The One chosen by the gods to save the entire world from getting swallowed by the second coming of the Absolute Darkness," Hanna lied with a convincing smile on her face. "Princess Neoma is the Light Goddess' successor, which makes her the Light Princess. If we want to be saved, we should devote ourselves to Princess Neoma from now on."
[I'm sorry, Neoma, but I'm starting a religion dedicated to you.]
She had to lie and exaggerate things to sound convincing.
What were the gods going to do about it? Punish her? Haaah.
[I'm not afraid of them.]
"Princess Neoma has the power to get rid of a powerful Darkness attribute user like me, and so you don't have to worry about the Darkness attribute users acting up. We are no match for Princess Neoma's divine power," Hanna said, smiling. She even clasped her hands together as if she was praying. "Let's put our faith in Princess Neoma, our Light, our savior."
***
FOR SOME REASON, Neoma felt a chill down her spine.
[Is it just my imagination or someone is saying something creepy behind my back?]
"Are you trying to make me envious of your friendship with Hanna Quinzel?" Regina Crowell asked bitterly. "But then again, it's not like friendship could save you and the empire."
Neoma burst out laughing. "This is why you're a villainess, Regina– you don't believe in the power of friendship."
"Excuse me?"
She just scoffed, then she crossed her arms over her chest. "You didn't seem like you came here to fight. Do you have something to tell me?"
"I do."
"I'll give you three minutes to speak before I attack."
"Are you really going to attack me?" Regina asked, laughing. "Princess Neoma, you can't kill me, can you?"
Neoma raised an eyebrow. "What makes you confident I "can't" kill you?"
"Because only I can extend your lifespan."
Ohh.
[Now we're talking.]
***
NOTE: PLEASE CHECK MY KOFI PAGE (just g0ogle kofi sola_cola). I've posted a Q&A portion.
Here are the questions that I answered:
1. WHAT INSPIRED sola_cola TO WRITE ROYAL SECRET: I'M A PRINCESS? (hehe i'm not a hater, oki?)
2. WHY ISN'T LEWIS THE MALE LEAD? (i'm so sorry)
3. WHY IS RUTO THE ML? (defending Ruto with my life, lol)
4. WILL WE GET TO SEE MORE OF NEOMA'S FIRST LIFE? (chuckles nervously)
5. WHO WILL NERO END UP WITH? DAHLIA OR HANNA? (wiggles eyebrows)
6. WHO IS sola_cola's MOST FAVORITE CHARACTER ASIDE FROM NEOMA? (wink, wink)
7. WHO IS sola_cola's VISUAL INSPIRATION FOR NEOMA? (please don't judge my type haha)
8. WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE LAST ARC? (smiles innocently)
9. MESSAGE FOR OUR DEAR READERS <3 (:'>)
10. SERIOUS QUESTION FOR THE READERS (please answer honestly~)
Hope you visit my page, and donate coffee if you can. Hehe. Thank you. <3
***
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